Genre: Horror
Director: Joel Schumacher
Cast: Henry Cavill, Dominic Purcell, Emma Booth, Michael Fassbender
RunTime: 1 hr 32 mins
Released By:  Cathay-Keris Films
Rating: M18 (Violence And Gore)
Official Website:

Opening Day:  27 October 2011

Synopsis: In 1936, the Wollners, a German family living in Town Creek, West Virginia, are contacted by the Third Reich to host a visiting scholar. In need of money, they accept Professor Ricard Wirth into their home, unaware of the Third Reich’s practices in the occult or Wirth’s real mission, which will keep the family bound for decades to come. Now, in 2007, after mysteriously disappearing two years ago near Town Creek, Evan Marshall’s older brother Victor suddenly returns, very much alive and having escaped his captors. Evan asks no questions; at his brother’s request, he loads their rifles, packs their boat and follows Victor back to Town Creek on a mission of revenge that will test them in every possible way.. 

Movie Review:

One suspects that Joel Schumacher’s name has been forever besmirched in Hollywood after his infamously misguided decision to put ‘nipples on the Batsuit’ in “Batman and Robin”- yes that was the last Batman movie before Christopher Nolan rescued the franchise from the doldrums. After all, that about is the only reason we can think of why “Blood Creek” was unceremoniously released in just a handful of theatres in the United States before getting dumped on home video?

Sure, this occult-heavy flick isn’t a classic by any standards, but it is nonetheless a surprisingly well-made horror thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat throughout its brief 90-min runtime. Yes, we might go as far as to say that despite the almost unanimous flak Schumacher has received for his movies in recent years, this is one of his leanest and most efficient works, a movie that knows what it has set out to do and accomplishes it handily.

A brief almost black-and-white prologue beautifully establishes an ominous tone- in 1936 West Virginia, a family of German immigrant farmers in post-Depression America receive a cheque in the mail from the German government in return for providing board and lodging for a historian from their home country. Turns out the family was selected for a much more sinister reason- their house sits on one of a few Viking runestones that could be the key to unlocking some dark power for the Third Reich.

Writer David Kajganich however chooses to set the bulk of the story in present-day America, where we are introduced to Evan (Henry Cavill, next-in-line to be Superman in the upcoming Zack Synder film), an EMT who has to grapple with a war hero brother Victor (Dominic Purcell) gone missing on a camping trip they took two years ago, and a father who constantly regards him as Victor’s lesser half. Schumacher wastes no time in getting to the meat (or rather the blood) of the plot, so soon after we first meet Evan, Victor suddenly returns one night to recruit Evan on a mission of vengeance.

The unquestioning manner by which Evan joins Victor on his quest for revenge is hokey to say the least, and one of the casualties of the breakneck pace Schumacher has adopted to tell the story. But anyhow, Victor soon reveals that he had been held captive at the same farm from earlier for the past two years, and has returned to kill a vampire living on the very premises. And oh, the German family from decades earlier? They don’t seem to have aged one bit.

As night falls, it becomes clear who Victor and Evan are up against- the very houseguest the German family was supposed to play host to, who apparently is on the verge of obtaining immortality and the power of the third eye. Their only refuge is the farm house, where the doors and windows have been painted with ancient symbols by the family’s teenage daughter (Emma Booth) designed to keep the creature out.

If you think this sounds familiar, it is, and Schumacher plays it out like a typical ‘house siege’ horror- a la “Night of the Living Dead” and “The Evil Dead”- where the occupants have to try to keep evil inhabitants from entering. So too must they stop the transformation of said creature, and the last third of the movie which builds up to an insanely tense climax that has Victor and Evan hatching a plan to kill the beast.

Admirable though it may be that Schumacher manages to keep at a breathless pace from start to finish, the film could very much do with stronger and more fleshed-out characters. Luckily, Prison Break’s Dominic Purcell and The Tudors’ Henry Cavill compensate with their engaging performances, making the best of what complexities and nuances of their brotherly bond that the script allows for. On the other hand, Michael Fassbender (who will play Magneto in the upcoming X Men: First Class) is completely wasted as the German historian turned vampire, his face hidden most of the time under heavy makeup.

But granted that Schumacher probably never made this film one to watch for the performances, going by the cavalier way he basically throws character development out of the window. He has meant this to be a straight-forward B-grade supernatural horror thriller that delivers action and thrills in equal measure, and in this regard, he succeeds handsomely. Lean, mean and brutal, “Blood Creek” has a violent simplicity you’ll appreciate. 

Movie Rating:

(A tense and terrifying supernatural horror thriller that unfolds at a relentless pace from start to finish)

Review by Gabriel Chong

In Mandarin with Chinese and English Subtitles
Genre: Action/Martial Arts
Director: Felix Chong, Alan Mak
Cast: Donnie Yen, Sun Li, Jiang Wen, Andy On, Chin Siu-Hou, Alex Fong, Chen Hong, Dong Yong, Wong Bo Chieh, Shao Bing, Wang Xuebing
RunTime: 1 hr 49 mins
Released By: Encore Films and GV
Rating: PG (Some Fighting Scenes)
Official Website:

Opening Day: 5 May 2011

Synopsis: During the warring period of the three kingdoms, ancient China is in turmoil. To unify the country, general Cao Cao, the real power behind the emperor, enlists the aid of the greatest warrior in the land Guan Yun Chang (Donnie Yen).

However, Guan Yun Chang is a loyal friend of Cao Cao’s enemy Liu Bei. To persuade the peerless warrior to fight, Cao Cao takes his beloved Qi Lan (Sun Li) hostage.

After leading Cao Cao’s forces to victory Guan Yun Chang sets out with Qi Lan to rejoin Liu Bei. But now Cao Cao has deemed him too great a threat to live, and on the journey he must face all the forces at the emperor’s command sent to destroy him.

Movie Review:

It took these people quite a while, didn’t it? Who else did they think could don that imposing armour, wield that threatening blade and still exhibit grace and agility? Who else did they think could command enough screen presence to sport a scholarly moustache and beard? And who else did they think could take on the role of real life Han dynasty general Guan Yu who personifies courage and righteousness?

The perfect candidate is none other than Hong Kong action superstar Donnie Yen, of course.

After a decent success that was Ip Man (2008), Yen has been wowing his fans with his slick moves (okay, the redundant All’s Well Ends Well 2011 was a breather) in one action flick after another. Here, he takes on the titular role in a historical epic drama based on one of the characters in the classic novel Romance of the Three Kingdom. A fictionalised tale set in AD 200, this high budget production has its attention on the relationship between General Guan and the infamous Cao Cao, who is out to conquer the whole of China. Despite Cao Cao’s repeated attempts to recruit Guan Yu, his loyalties lie with Liu Bei, whose concubine Guan Yu has a soft spot for. The 107 minute movie follows Guan Yu as he faces treacherous ambushes while escorting the lady home to his sworn brother.

Yen has proven his acting chops in works like Bodyguards and Assassins (2009) and Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen (2010), and he delivers a decent performance here as the recognised deity in Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism. He personifies the gallantry, trustworthiness and uprightness that Guan Yu is known for. But all eyes are on Mainland actor Jiang Wen as the tyrannical Cao Cao. The acclaimed actor steals the show with his ability to instill an intelligently sly sense of intimidation in all the scenes he appears in.

Supporting characters are played by Sun Li (Fearless), Andy On (True Legend) and many other Mainland artistes (Li Zonghan, Shao Bing and Hei Zi amongst them), ensuring ticket sales in the Mainland China market. Familiar faces like Alex Fong (as Liu Bei) and Chin Siu Hou (as a slain general) also appear as cameos.

The spectacular actions scenes are no doubt the highlight of this highly recommended movie. Guan Yu’s famous expedition of “crossing five passes and slaying six generals” plays out in an episodic manner, with each sequence showcasing a unique martial arts style. Choreographed by Yen himself, action fans will be pleased to see various blades, spears, crossbows and arrows on display, as they come into use during the countless fight scenes.

Action scenes aside, the drama is often intense and serious, with elevated dialogues written by directors Alan Mak and Felix Chong. This may not be Infernal Affairs material, but expect to be engaged in a high octane drama that features some truly intelligently dramatic lines.

Those unfamiliar with the original novel may be thrown off balance with the massive setup of this period piece. But given its very impressive production values, you will be taken along for the ride. With luscious cinematography by Chan Chi Ying (Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame), masterful production design by Bill Lui (Lust, Caution), and an emotional score by Henry Lai (Echoes of the Rainbow), this is one Chinese production truly worth watching on the big screen.

Movie Rating:



(An ambitious production that will make the Chinese community proud)

Reviewed by John Li

Genre: Drama
Director: Liao Jiekai
Cast: Ng Xuan Ming, Jason Hui, Thow Xin Wei, Oon Yee Jeng, Yeo Shang Xuan, Ong Kuan Loong, Chen Mei Guang, Haruka Ashida
RunTime: 1 hr 36 mins
Released By: 13 Little Pictures
Rating: PG
Official Website: www.reddragonflies.sg

Opening Day: 5 May 2011 (Filmgarde Cineplex, Iluma)

Synopsis: Rachel and her two friends explore an abandoned railway track that runs through a dense forest, but an unforeseen incident brings their little adventure to an abrupt end. Elsewhere, 26-year-old Rachel rekindles an old friendship with a high school friend. When a little boy from her past reappears, Rachel finds herself retracing a trail of iron and wood. Wistful and mysterious, the film depicts a world littered with incongruity, absences and traces of childhood dreams.

Movie Review:

We are not going to pretend that we understand what exactly went on in this first feature film by local director Liao Jiekai. How difficult can it get to get the gist of this film, you ask - considering that the plot is about three friends who go on a trekking trip through a dense forest, and a seemingly connected storyline about a returning homegrown artist who revisits old friends and familiar sights?

Quite difficult, actually. And to a certain extent, frustratingly so.

We are supposing that director scriptwriter Liao made this award winning work to challenge his audience’s senses. Liao’s background in the arts has served him well for this surrealistic piece: The graduate from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago has made abstract shorts like The Inner City (2009) and White Days (2009), and is also a contributor to this year’s Singapore Biennale. It is no surprise then, that the 96 minute full length feature deals with intangible concepts like memory and loss through symbols and connections.

When you see three young students donning backpacks hiking through a dense forest, attempting to explore the trails left behind by an abandoned railway track, you think that this is a film about three friends on an adventure. Through their conversations, you decipher what their personalities could be like and the dynamics between the three of them.

Another plot inter-cuts this forest adventure, and you think that the female protagonist here is the grown up version of the bespectacled young girl rambling through the greeneries in her school uniform. In this storyline, we see an artist returning to Singapore (complete with the American accent, no less). She meets up with an old friend, talk about how things have changed since she left Singapore, and goes to locations which had imprinted impressions in her years ago.

So it’s a fairly straightforward and simple story involving nostalgic flashbacks and catching up with old friends, you think? The last third of the film will prove you wrong – very wrong.

As the film progresses, congruity increasingly becomes less of a concern (we will not give too much away here, except that things are definitely not what they seem), and it definitely takes effort to follow what the filmmaker is trying to say. Through a series of visuals which convey juxtaposing messages, the film challenges you to think about what the past means to you as an individual, and how symbols like a red dragonfly, a stretch of rusty train tracks, and a towering green forest have effects on the human mind. It is not an entertaining movie by any means. The shaky cinematography, the sparse editing, the somewhat inconsequential dialogue, the absence of soaring orchestral music, and the choice of non actors to play the film’s central characters - these are all traits of an independent film which was made without the intention to entertain the masses.

This production plays out more like an art installation than a conventional cinematic piece. When the film ends with a series of home video footages documenting Liao’s hiking trip during his high school days, you may take a moment to ponder about the memories and loss that you have misplaced in a corner of your mind years ago.

Movie Rating:

(An unconventional work that challenges you to relocate those lost pieces of memories)

Review by John Li

In Japanese with English & Chinese Subtitles
Genre: Action/Thriller
Director: Eiichiro Hasumi
Cast: Hideaki Ito, Ryuta Sato, Masaya Kato, Ai Kato, Sohee Park
RunTime: 2 hrs 9 mins
Released By: Cathay-Keris Films
Rating: PG
Official Website:

Opening Day: 5 May 2011

Synopsis: While a menacing typhoon approaches, an accident at the giant natural gas plant Regalia occurs. Japan Coast Guard rescue divers Daisuke Senzaki (Hideaki Ito), Tetsuya Yoshioka (Ryuta Sato) and engineer Hiroshiichirou Sakuragi (Masaya Kato) head together to the gas plant. During their rescue efforts an explosion occurs that traps Daisuke, Natsu Nishizawa Kazue Fukiishi and worker Hisayoneo Kizima (Gaku Hamada). Meanwhile, at the head office, the Japanese coast guard tries to find a way to rescue the trapped people, but the government officials put national interests first. Tension arises between these two parties. Daisuke's party, who is still trapped in the giant plant, has only one last option….

Movie Review:

Umizara: The Test of True Courage is latest film from the Umizaru series. This series have achieved immense commercial success in Japan and have been exported to many countries as well. Despite clichéd plots in the previous films, this time round a more profound message prevails…

The rescue coast guards are assigned the mission to rescue the trapped people from the crippled offshore giant natural gas plant, Regalia, as the typhoon is draws near. Majority of the workers are being transported to safety while 5 remained trapped in the gas plant, namely, the main engineer of Regalia (Masaya Kato), a doctor (Kazue Fukiishii), a regular worker (Gaku Hamada) and two rescue divers (Hideaki Ito, Shohei Miura). At the other side, the authorities are struggling with the dilemma: to save the lives of the 5 or sacrifice them for the sake of the joint national multi-million investment? Well, the answer is clear, but it remains a real struggle.

Undoubtedly, Senzaki Daisuke (Hideaki Ito) is the main hero of the movie. Not only does he overcome the adversity, he also imparts what he learnt over the past experiences to the rookie rescue diver Hotori Takuya (Shohei Miura). There must be people in the crowd that can empathize with Hotori. He does not know what is his calling in life, and has been job hopping and running away from responsibilities. However, this trial has essentially made him realize what is his purpose and role in life! Note that there can be some over-dramatization here and there, but of course this is very much balanced off the acting from the strong cast. The regular cast in the Umizaru series such as Hideaki Ito has definitely matured over the years since the first Umizaru film in 2004. Also, the ffecting acting well pulled off the young actor Shohei Miura led him to win the ‘Rookie of the Year’ award at the 34th Japan Academy Prize Awards.

The film also cuts back at the scenes whereby it shows the emotional torment on Kanna (Ai Kato), Senzaki’s wife. Contrary to the general impression of Japanese women to be exceptionally subservient and abiding, she proves herself to be able and can rise up to the occasion. Through her tears, you don’t see an inch of weakness, but sheer determination to carry on and remain hopeful. It was definitely opportune and a sure-win to play the emotional card to win over the hearts of the viewers.

If this is not enough, the film was also given a more generous budget, which only means that sharp and high quality picture will be projected onto the big silver screen. The CG effects are realistic and well integrated into the film as well. Although a 3D version was available in Japan, don’t get too disappointed with the 2D one we have here in Singapore. Since the film was not shot in 3D, so the 3D version is only a product of post productions.

All in all, there’s one eminent message that resounds in the film: the future lie in our hands. The future lies in the hands of men, and not in those multi-million investments; the future lies in the hands of men, who bring up another generation of people who will prove to be a country’s greatest assets. Even though men can be folly and in no way play God, no monetary assets can surpass the strength of human beings who overcome the true test of courage!

Movie Rating:



("One for all, all for one" As the movie has exemplified, adversity will only push humans to do incredible things, and bring out one’s true potential. That’s indeed what the human fighting spirit is all about!)

Review by Tho Shu Ling

If there’s one film composer whose music can readily soothe our nerves, it is the talented Alexandre Desplat. Born in Paris, the Oscar nominated composer has been in the limelight recently for the high profile mainstream projects he is involved in. Amongst them is this score from the critically acclaimed film about the stammer afflicted King George VI.

The music direction is clear in this 45 minute soundtrack album. If one is familiar with the French composer’s works, the elegantly orchestrated music on this disc wouldn’t come as a surprise. It is, in fact, apt to regard it as a safe score that is easy on the ears.

“Lionel and Bertie” sets the stately mood with an undemanding presence of strings and woodwinds. The ever pleasant melody from the piano then takes centrestage and a solo tune from the classical instrument is heard. The piano is also featured in upcoming tracks, and plays the score’s main theme in “The King’s Speech”, “My Kingdom, My Rules” and “The Royal Household”.

Elsewhere, the cues performed by a relatively small ensemble are lightweight and almost contained, leaving minimum emotional brunt on the listener. Tracks like “King George VI” and “Queen Elizabeth” do not leave much impression, albeit being very agreeable cues. Otherwise, there are small spurts of playfulness in “The Rehearsal” and tinges of peril in “The Threat of War”, adding some variety to an otherwise customary score album. The last three tracks “Speaking Unto Nations”, “Epilogue” and “The Logue Method” engages listeners with classical music by Beethoven and Mozart.

With this lineup of music which is neither pompously striding nor ostentatiously deafening, some listeners may not see the point of listening past Track 3 of the album. However, this restrained but pleasurable style of music works perfectly for Tom Hooper’s successful film, which is a forerunner of the 83rd Academy Awards with 12 nominations.  Having worked on another British historical drama The Queen, Desplat handles this approach of scoring with ease, and is clearly a master at creating a regal yet enjoyably accessible score.

ALBUM RATING:

Recommended Track: (7) The Royal Household

Review by John Li

Posted on 6 February 2011

Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Director: Oxide Pang
Cast: Aaron Kwok, Liu Kai Chi, Patrick Tam, Izz Tsui, Cheung Siu-Fai
Runtime: 1 hr 41 mins
Released By: Shaw & InnoForm Media
Rating: PG (Some Intense Sequence)
Official Website:

Opening Day: 12 May 2011

Synopsis: Mysteries keep revolving around TAM's life. Not only does the ex-police officer and now private detective struggle to make sense of the mysterious death of his parents, TAM is entangled in a case which escalates out of control into serial killings since his childhood buddy FUNG showed him some crime scenes photos. Pressure runs high as more people are being dragged into the serial murders - a man is found dead in his home, a female body is dumped in garbage dump and a teenage girl died of uncertain cause. All the clues indicate that the murderer is a psychopathic killer. Can TAM find the real killer and solve the case?

Movie Review:

What do we remember of Oxide Pang’s 2007 movie “The Detective”? Well for one, it was one of the very few movies from the Pang Brothers that didn’t suck- thanks to an intriguing buildup, some nice character acting from Aaron Kwok and a gritty but lively setting down in Bangkok, Thailand. It seems reasonable then that Oxide would attempt to make a sequel to the movie, since it does count as one of their most successful efforts outside of “The Eye” series. But alas, despite an equally campy but entertaining performance by Aaron, “The Detective 2” falls way short of its predecessor’s standards.

Aaron once again plays the showy private detective Tam, and like the original, the case before him is a string of murders that has been seemingly committed by the same person. While the first movie brought out a tightly plotted investigation, the mystery here is far less satisfying and perhaps no more than a half-baked attempt at connecting the dots. Indeed, how else would you describe Kwok’s private detective Tam’s rationale for thinking the killings are related just by the fact that the killer was trying to cover his tracks?

Endeavouring to maintain continuity with the first film, Tam is brought in by his old pal Chak (Liu Kai-Chi) who thinks that their successful partnership may once again yield the same analytical insight as in the past. Oxide tries to convince his audience of this, but even with the benefit of hindsight, it’s hard to buy into this when all Tam does is walk around the crime scenes and then just somehow put it all together in his head. Sure, Tam is again using his camera phone to take pictures of the crime scene, and piecing it together with his blackboard scribbles, but the connection Oxide tries to draw is too convenient.

In fact, it seems as if Oxide himself were aware of this- he sets up a parallel story thread involving a young schoolboy who develops an obsession on his older sister and who becomes prone to violent outbursts whenever he sees her with another guy. Right from the beginning, it’s clear that said young boy is somehow connected to the murders, and true enough, the revelation when it comes is too predictable. Equally disappointing is the motivation behind these killings, more abstract than in the first movie, and undoubtedly less convincing.

Oxide has also apparently pandered to the Chinese market, so unlike the original, there isn’t any supernatural twist here which made the mystery the first time round more fascinating. There are hints of Tam’s past as an orphan after both his parents went missing, but that is quickly forgotten for the most part of the movie, and then perplexingly revived at the end to set up the possibility of another sequel. Ditto for Patrick Tam’s supporting role as a chief inspector Chak is made to report to, the supposedly tense relationship between the two fizzling out all too quickly.

As if to compensate for the lacklustre story, Aaron’s tendency to overact seems to have gone into overdrive. While certainly not as bad as the utterly deplorable “Murderer”, there is a distinct sense that Aaron is straining to give his character more depth than the screenplay allows- especially in the climax where Tam comes face to face with the murderer holding Chak hostage. Still, Aaron exudes the same playful charisma he did in the first movie when he isn’t trying too hard to emote, and manages to carry the whole movie with the able help of veterans Kai-Chi and Eddie Cheung (who plays a psychopathic suspect).

Unfortunately for the film too, Oxide goes for a less down and dirty feel compared to the first film, and the result is a movie that loses the visual style which enhanced the original. Couple that with a less than satisfying mystery, and a pared-down performance from lead star Aaron Kwok, and you’ll find that this sequel is yet another disappointing entry in the Pang Brothers’ filmography lacking in the very elements which made the first movie an unexpected success.

Movie Rating:



(The title here may be “B+” instead of the original’s “C+”, but this sequel with its lazy plotting is more than a grade down from the original)

Review by Gabriel Chong

In Japanese with English & Chinese Subtitles
Genre: Sci-Fi/Action
Director: Shinsuke Sato
Cast: Kazuanari Ninomiya, Kenichi Matsuyama, Yuriko Yoshitaka, Kanata Hongo, Natsuna, Tomorowo Taguchi, Takayuki Yamada
RunTime: 2 hrs 30 mins
Released By: Encore Films & GV
Rating: TBA
Official Website: http://gantz-movie.com/index.html

Opening Day: 12 May 2011

Synopsis: Summoned by the mysterious black sphere known as “GANTZ”, humans are coerced into fighting an existence known as “seijin” or aliens that take on various forms …

Protagonists Kurono (Kazunari Ninomiya) and Kato (Kenichi Matsuyama) find themselves in an outrageous situation from which they cannot escape unless they exterminate enemy aliens. Kurono chooses to fight for survival while Kato refuses to engage in battle, rejecting the world that is controlled by vio lence. Kurono, Kato and the others sharing the same fate are pushed to their limits as emotions clash. In their relentless battle against the aliens, what is the ultimate decision they will make in this absurd world?

GANTZ, the charismatic manga series that attracts readers with its out-of-the-box plot – about people getting spared from death only to be summoned by GANTZ to battle enemy aliens – debuted in the July 2000 issue of Weekly Young Jump (Shueisha). It is a sci-fi action manga, one of the magazine’s most popular series, whose 290volume “tankobon” comic books have sold over 13.5 million copies (as at November 2010).

Movie Review:

GANTZ is first of the two movies (the other being “GANTZ: Perfect Answer”, a sequel that follows GANTZ, which should be due to release in Singapore too!) adapted from the manga and anime of the same name. A whole lot of hype is made out of the movie, since there was much anticipation owing to the popularity of the manga and anime in the Japan local community as well as overseas. Does this live-action movie truly live up to its name?

One of the most anticipated aspects of the movie is how the action sequences would turn out to be. On this regard, a generous budget of USD$22 million was spent on CGI, stunts, and special effects exclusively. Other costs such as the special suits that gave the characters superhuman powers, reportedly costs USD$6000 each and thus the total movie budget amounts to approximately USD$45 million. Moreover, having the top-notch members in the production team means quality in the CG work. Indeed, the graphics are extremely fine and seamless that it’s easy to get sucked into the world of made believe. However, hard-core GANTZ anime and manga fans may get slightly disappointed that nudity and violence is toned down for the life-action movie, so as to engage a larger audience crowd. Having said that, it does not imply the movie is anything less than a solid adaptation of the manga and anime.

GANTZ consists of three story arcs. In each story arc, the people who are saved from their deaths have to exterminate the aliens in order to live on in their real lives. The aliens not only take on different forms, but interestingly exhibit different traits. As mentioned, even though the nudity and violence is more toned down, it is still the selling point of GANTZ. Hence the alien exterminations do contain a certain amount of gore that can get a little over the top. There is not too much to expect from the action sequences, since the characters are supposedly to be amateurs, being forced from their regular lives to partake in the battle with the enemy aliens. However, kudos for keeping the atmosphere tensed up and thrilling. Breath-taking, as you would say.

Narrative wise, the focus of the movie is placed on the character development of Kurono Kei (Ninomiya Kazunari). Fluctuating back and forth from reality and the world of GANTZ was initially a mental torment, but Kurono gets tougher and tougher with each time. As the movie progresses, he arrives at an enlightenment, finding meaning and answer to his existence, thus awakening his heroic instincts. This gives an emotional depth to the movie. The relationship between Kurono and Kato Masaru (Matsuyama Kenichi) also provides a basis on which the story progresses.

Moreover, the two main characters are outstanding and well-loved actors in their generation. Ninomiya Kazunari, a popular idol from Johnny’s group Arashi, proves depth in acting through his known roles in Clint Eastwood’s movie, “Letters from Iwo Jima”, as well as the award winning role in the television drama “Ryusei no Kizuna”. On the other hand, Matsuyama Kenichi is known for his versatility in acting, exemplified by his roles in successful manga adaptations of “Detroit Metal City” and “Death Note”. Definitely another perk to catch the movie!

The end of the movie hints at the beginning of something new. The movie ends with a nice lead-in to the sequel, which hints at the revelation of the mysteries behind GANTZ. It seems like what all you see is not all you get! The movie is plain addictive, get going and find out the perfect answer!

Movie Rating:



(To sum up: violence begets violence, toughness begets a greater toughness. A spectacular Japanese export not to be missed! )

Review by Tho Shu Ling

Genre: Fantasy/Romance
Director: Daniel Barnz
Cast: Alex Pettyfer, Vanessa Hudgens, Mary-Kate Olsen, Neil Patrick Harris, Peter Krause, Lisa Gay Hamilton, Erik Knudsen, Dakota Johnson
RunTime: 1 hr 38 mins
Released By: Shaw
Rating: PG
Official Website: http://beastlythemovie.com/

Opening Day: 12 May 2011

Synopsis: Beastly is a teen romance about learning how to see past false surfaces to discover true inner beauty. Seventeen year old Kyle (Alex Pettyfer) is the spoiled, shallow and incredibly popular prince of his high school kingdom. Entirely captivated and empowered by his own physical appearance, Kyle foolishly chooses Kendra (Mary-Kate Olsen), a goth classmate rumored to be a witch, as his latest target for humiliation. Unfazed by his cruel behavior, Kendra decides to teach him a lesson outside as he is on the inside. Now he has one year to find someone who can see past the surface and love him, or he will remain “Beastly” forever. His only hope, an unassuming classmate he never noticed named Lindy (Vanessa Hudgens), may be his best chance to prove that love is never ugly

Movie Review:

No second guessing, this young adult satire is helmed from the much beloved classic, Beauty and the Beast. From cartoon to TV series, much of its iteration of love and acceptance has been attained, bumping it up to fit into the Y generation was apparently, saddened to say, ghastly to bear.

This is the case of riding on the twilight wave, Beastly follows a tale of a young handsome man, bathing in his glory of his popularity, intelligence, wealth and given good looks while dissing upon his fellow school mates to ridicule. With all the opportunities laid before him, one unfortunately develops such a mean characteristic that he is willing to put down anyone who tries to retaliate. Too bad he chose the wrong target as he sets out a major embarrassing situation which resulted him being cursed, transforming his physical attire to everything he despise.

Now, to everyone who already know the story of this unforgettable plot, it’s a feel good film with a moral ending which wraps up the film very much like a Disney flick. It shouldn’t be a spoiler anyway unless your childhood was deprived of such tales. But for those uninitiated, please do turn a blind eye to the next few line. This is a tale as old as time, it’s song, as old as rhyme (See what i did there?), and yet it manages to confuse us with such predicament with such a slow pace but yet feels rushed. Filled with groan-inducing lines and muddled with its poor acting and terrible script, i must say that the demographic of such visual entertainment has to be spot on, targeting to the young teenagers out looking for true meaning of beauty and acceptance. Sounds like like a straight to video material doesn’t it? Not that it had bad taste all around though. There were a few gems along the way which detoured itself from the cookie-cutter much like the haunting moment at the zoo makes it clear of how much better the film could have been or potential to be and less of a fairytale.

As mentioned before, the 2 stars, Alex Pettyfer and Vanessa Hudgens are pretty much a natural eye candy who never saw the light of commitment in their emotion and barely just skimmed through their role in the film. Light hearted you may argue but i have to confess, they did perform on par as much as the film fared. Having extreme stereotypical views, both roles played by these idols are too mundane to even care. Saving grace were the supporting roles from Neil Patrick Harris and Lisa Gay Hamilton who were merely fillers to spice up the monotonous flick.

Admittedly, following a footstep of the Brothers Grimm tale has to be a daunting task, much a grandure setting and storyline which forces you to blur the lines between fantasy and reality in a modern setting. Unfortunately, the film has fallen into the trap of not knowing which direction to go with and decidedly to dabble into every genre to cater to the masses and managed to dilute it along the way. At this point in time, I'll rather they start breaking into song and dance. Still, this 21st-century fairy tale doesn't wilt, but it's not quite refreshed, either.

Movie Rating:



(True to its title)

Review by Lokman B S

Genre: Horror/Action
Director: Scott Charles Stewart
Cast: Paul Bettany, Cam Gigandet, Maggie Q, Karl Urban, Stephen Moyer, Christopher Plummer, Brad Dourif, Madchen Amick, Lily Collins
RunTime: 1 hr 28 mins
Released By: Sony Pictures Releasing International
Rating: NC-16 (Some Violence)
Official Website: http://priest-movie.net/

Opening Day: 12 May 2011

Synopsis: "Priest" is set in a world ravaged by centuries of war between man and vampires. Paul Bettany is Priest, a legendary warrior priest during the last Vampire War, who now lives in obscurity among the other human inhabitants in walled-in dystopian cities controlled by the Church. But when his 18-year-old niece is abducted by a murderous pack of vampires in the desolate wastelands outside, Priest breaks his sacred vows and ventures out to find her and seek vengeance upon those responsible, especially their brutal leader (Karl Urban). Priest is joined on his crusade by his niece's boyfriend, Hicks (Cam Gigandet), a local outpost sheriff, and Priestess (Maggie Q), a member of his former legion of vampire-killers who has otherworldly fighting skills.

Movie Review:

Oh Paul, how in the world did you end up being the strange man/messiah whenever Hollywood approaches you to play along? Seems like even those rippling abs didn’t batter any eye for a more serious role in LaLa land. Not that Priest isn’t a serious film, helming from the much acclaimed Korean comic mister Hyung Min-woo, a story long told about an ancient war between man and vampires fought viciously by the legendary Warriors who were now hidden behind walled cities of The Church after much toll disappeared into the dark. But all is about to break loose when the savages abducts the niece of Warrior Priest. Upon being shun by the Church of the savages existence and not helping with his cause, he breaks his vows to find and save her with the help of the wasteland sheriff. Simple enough story isn’t it? That’s the reason why the film is a merely 88 minutes roller coaster. Doesn’t beat around the bush much and goes straight to the point. Sounds like how all film should go about raking its hair but unfortunately, it is also it’s demise.

Pretty much in stock of 16 volumes, dating back since 1998, the dark post-apocalyptic sci-fi western horror thriller that sets in an alternate world would have been an awesome satire to envelope us pretty much how Underworld did with medieval ages with modern times but unfortunately, the story takes a new route and pathed us a new way of an unknown timeline but still retain the western schlock of horror. Knowing Korean on how they love the theme of revenge, basing it on the movie atmosphere abound from the theaters, Priest, from its Comic form is basically a revenge storyline, avenging the death of his love one to all who were involved in the pact. A lone ranger going across the western desert, stopping at each city to dwell and fight the foe at hand and proceeding to the next. Very typical Korean action drama huh? Well i would have taken this storyline hook line and sinker anytime but alas, Hollywood ain’t so accustom to how Asians deal with violence.

Violence - A major draw on the film if done correctly. Much to how its drawn on the bounded papers of into the hands of the graphic novelist/comic dwellers, director Scott Charles Stewart, known for his previous work, Legion, (oh wait, that’s where I've seen this visually enticing spectre before. What a rip-off. Can you actual rip yourself off?) knowningly decided to strip off almost all of its uber violence of in hopes to get a lower rating to garner more appeal to the masses. Sadly the only visual cue of what shred of blood that can be seen are the muted dark liquid sprayed across the wall ( or was it because of the 3D glasses causing the visuals to be darkened?) and the entertaining illustrated intro, unfolding to tell the history of it all. Rippped heads, mangled body and all. It just too bad the whole film didn’t follow on the style of that nature.

Not that the set-up of Priest was anything to jeer about. Impressively stunning and apt was how the set was presented. Post-apocalyptic. Check. Western influence. Check. With a touch of modern application. Check. Would have loved to have more of such range as the duo went from one town to another and explore the era that unfolds. Its always such a joy to see a marriage of 2 genre that normally go together, end up being so awesomely spectacular, just like how they did Wild Wild West, with Will Smith or the up coming action flick Cowboys and Aliens.

All round of applause for all the roles presented throughout the film. With cast like Paul Bettany, Karl Urban, Cam Gigandet and Maggie Q, its hard not to diss about them, although the latter did feel much a cause for a proper gender balance for the whole scene. It’s rather important that such film, being in a realm of fantasy that one must not take oneself too serious. Luckily for all, roles were played out with such vigour and comic determination that it fit the bill and made the viewing so much more bearable.

Will this be a trend of genre that we’ll face in time to come? Has western attire made  a come back to the silver screen again with a twist? From the looks of it, it very well may be the case and i for one welcome it with open arms. But with such re-introduction of something good, hopefully it’ll be a more complete output to a new era. The one gripe i had with Priest is its running time and true enough, the film played out very much like a quick introduction of whats more to come in the future. A teaser if you may, to ease you into the world of apocalyptic western, gothic horror which if not played well will make the audience feel alittle cheated of the real story behind every character. Alot of questions are left unanswered or rushed to fill in in order to proceed with the storyline. Pray that the sequel that may come be fully fleshed out.

Oh, by the way, you should know that this is a post-production 3D conversion. You know what to do right?

Movie Rating:



(Won’t win any originality awards but it’s a definite popcorn entertainment. Let the fight between clergymen and vampires begin!)

Review by Lokman B S

Genre: Adventure/Comedy/Sci Fi
Director: Greg Mottola
Cast: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Seth Rogen, Jason Bateman, Kristen Wiig, Bill Hader, Jane Lynch, Sigourney Weaver, Jeffrey Tambor, Blythe Danner, David Koechner, John Carroll Lynch, Jesse Plemons, Joe Lo Truglio, Mia Stallard
RunTime:1 hr 46 mins
Released By: UIP
Rating: NC-16 (Coarse Language And Violence)
Official Website: http://www.whatispaul.com/

Opening Day: 12 May 2011

Synopsis: Simon Pegg and Nick Frost (Hot Fuzz, Shaun of the Dead) reunite for the comedy adventure Paul as two sci-fi geeks whose pilgrimage takes them to America's UFO heartland. While there, they accidentally meet an alien who brings them on an insane road trip that alters their universe forever.

For the past 60 years, an alien named Paul (voiced by Seth Rogen) has been hanging out at a top-secret military base. For reasons unknown, the space-traveling smart ass decides to escape the compound and hop on the first vehicle out of town - a rented RV containing Earthlings Graeme Willy (Pegg) and Clive Collings (Frost).

Chased by federal agents and the fanatical father of a young woman that they accidentally kidnap, Graeme and Clive hatch a fumbling escape plan to return Paul to his mother ship. And as two nerds struggle to help, one little green man might just take his fellow outcasts from misfits to intergalactic heroes.

Movie Review:

Yes, every geek out there in the universe wishes to be a hero – just like the heroes in their favourite TV series, comic books and Hollywood movies. A true geek knows every single piece of trivia related to his idol. This probably involves some psychological explanation, but a self respected geek sees himself being the hero in day to day situations. And somehow, he can always envision himself saving the day every time he sees a movie like this one directed by Greg Mottola.

It’s times like this when we feel proud to be movie geeks.

The science fiction comedy movie written by Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, who are best known for their starring roles in Shaun of the Dead (2004) and Hot Fuzz (2007). Here, the English comedians play two British comic book geeks traveling across the United States and come across an alien outside the famed secret military installation Area 51. The duo help the alien escape the compound on their rented RV. What ensues is a road trip adventure involving menacing federal agents, a lovely Christian girl, a overly controlling father and an old woman who has suffered years of ridicule because of what she saw 60 years ago.

Sounds like a hoot? It definitely is, thanks to the sharply humourous script written by Pegg and Frost. Who better to portray the two best friends than the people who created them on paper? Science fiction fans will have a blast of a time identifying the countless references to other science fiction films. Look out (or should we say, listen out) for a cameo by Steven Spielberg, the man who gave the world E.T. (1982). One would almost wish he was on set at Comic Con convention with the stars, soaking in the fandom that only those with a fine appreciation for comics and related popular art can understand.

After numerous collaborations, Pegg and Frost have a natural chemistry, so much so that it is used as a gay joke in the movie. Their co stars include Jason Bateman as a shady government agent hot on the protagonists’ heels, Bill Hader and Joe Lo Truglio as two inept FBI agents, Kristen Wiig as a creationist Christian who is about to have her life changed forever, John Carroll Lynch as a violent father, Blythe Danner as a shamed old lady and the Alien busting Sigourney Weaver as, well, an alien busting villain. This ensemble cast delivers performances that will have viewers breaking out in laughter throughout the movie’s 106 minute runtime.

The production values aren’t too shoddy either – the $40 million production boasts of impressive computer generated graphics and special effects that are on par with a modest Hollywood blockbuster. Perhaps the attraction of the production is none other than Paul, the titular alien himself. Completely created by CGI, this foul mouthed joker voiced by Seth Rogen gets a large amount of screen time. Audiences would marvel at the close up shots of this creature, and may just want to reach out to touch its reptile like skin and crystal blue eyes.

The movie is clearly a love letter to science fiction movies, and its brand of humour is witty and sometimes rather naughty. It’s a movie all geeks and, dare we say it, earthlings would enjoy.

Movie Rating:



(This one’s for the members of Sci Fi Movie Geeks United!)

Review by John Li