Genre: Action/Thriller
Director: Lee Jong-pil
Cast: Lee Je-Hoon, Koo Kyo-Hwan, Hong Xa-Bin
Runtime: 1 hr 34 mins
Rating: NC16 (Some Violence & Mature References)
Released By: Golden Village Pictures
Official Website:
Opening Day: 11 July 2024
Synopsis: In a military camp near DMZ of a divided land, Sergeant Kyu-nam has been planning to escape the North, land of repression, to head to the South, land of freedom. But he gets caught while trying to help another deserter. At risk of execution, Kyu-nam starts the chase for freedom.
Movie Review:
There is something queer about this action thriller, and it is not the plot which sees a North Korean soldier dreaming of a life with better possibilities across the Korean Demilitarised Zone (DMZ). Movies like Steel Rain (2017), The Spy Gone North (2018) and Hunt (2022) have explored the tension between South Korea and North Korea, as well as the sentiments of the people from both countries.
Hence, Lee Jong-pil’s movie about a man who is doing all he can to escape from North Korea to South Korea isn’t something new. Instead, it is the character of the antagonist, a North Korean State Security officer, that is oddly fascinating – because the story written by Kwon Seong-hwi and Kim Woo-geun suggests that he had a secret romantic relationship with another man. How does this underlying tone work for a movie that is marketed as an action blockbuster?
Sergeant Lim Gyu-nam, portrayed by Lee Je-Hoon (Time To Hunt), is the protagonist of the movie. He has been meticulously planning his escape, only to be discovered by fellow soldier played by Hong Xa-bin (Hopeless). The two men eventually get arrested but when Major Li Hyeon-sang, portayed intriguingly by Koo Kyo-hwan (Escape from Mogadishu) enters the scene, Gyu-nam is transformed into a hero for his valiance to prevent a deserter from escaping. It turns out that Gyu-nam and Hyeon-sang are childhood friends.
When we first see Hyeon-sang, we sense that this character has a thing for the finer things in life. He uses lip balm (who would have thought tough men in the North Korean military would have time for self care?), and in a later scene, he delivers a magnificent performance on the piano. It turns out that he was lauded at international piano competitions, and has someone in his phone whose name is saved as “The Bastard That I Loved”. Of course, there are also the glances he exchanges with a party guest played by popular TV actor Song Kang.
Did we digress? Isn’t this 94 minute movie about Gyu-nam, who launches a full scale escape after he seizes the opportunity when Hyeon-sang promotes him to a higher rank in the force? Lee takes on the role with conviction, and we are fully committed to his escape throughout the duration of the movie. We see the poor guy run across fields, dodge bullets, get trapped in a quicksand mud, and fighting till his very last breath so he can make it across the border. If this writer was in Gyu-nam’s shoes, he would have given up before Hyeon-sang takes it upon himself to make sure the escape doesn’t succeed.
There is also an interesting exchange between the two men where they talk about whether life in South Korea will really be better, and the price to pay to take that plunge. It is also at this juncture we wonder whether Hyeon-sang would have grabbed the chance to live a different life, and it’s especially captivating to consider this from a queer character’s perspective. The movie also has a satisfying conclusion where we are reminded of Gyu-nam and Hyeon-sang’s poignant friendship.
Movie Rating:
(This movie about a man who dreams of a life beyond North Korea has he right dose of drama and action - it also explores an interesting viewpoint from a queer character's perspective)
Review by John Li
Genre: Action/Drama
Director: Kim Tae Gon
Cast: Lee Sun Kyun, Ju Ji Hoon, Kim Hie Won, Moon Sung Geun, Ye Su Jeong, Kim Tae Woo, Park Hee Von, Park Ju Hyun, Kim Su An
Runtime: 1 hr 36 mins
Rating: PG13 (Coarse Language and Intense Sequence)
Released By: Encore Films and Golden Village Pictures
Official Website:
Opening Day: 11 July 2024
Synopsis: Stranded on the Airport Bridge on the verge of collapsing, all survivors become targets! Due to sudden deteriorating weather conditions, visibility on the Airport Bridge is severely impaired, leaving people stranded and at risk of the bridge collapsing due to a series of chain collisions and explosions. Amidst the chaos, the canine subjects "Echo" from the military experiment "Project Silence," who were being transported in secret, break free, and all human survivors become targets of relentless attacks. Various individuals find themselves stranded on the Airport Bridge for different reasons - a government official from the presidential office (LEE Sun Kyun) who was seeing off his daughter (KIM Su An) at the airport; a tow truck driver (JU Ji Hoon) who was on his way to a multi-collision scene; an elderly couple (MOON Sung Geun, YE Su Jeong) who were returning from a trip abroad; sisters (PARK Hee Von, PARK Ju Hyun) who missed their flights, and Dr. Yang (Kim Hie Won), the researcher responsible for Project Silence - and a desperate struggle begins for them to escape to safety. In the wake of the worst chain of disasters, an extreme fight for survival begins!
Movie Review:
Project Silence is a CGI-heavy fest that stars the late Lee Sun-Kyun (Parasite) who committed suicide in December 2023 after a series of drug allegations. As for the movie which is touted as a disaster action flick, the movie by Kim Tae-gon is anything but silence.
The story has it that Cha Jung-Won (Lee), a bureaucrat and aide to the upcoming Presidential candidate is sending her daughter, Kyung-Min (Kim Su-an) to the airport. However, as fog engulfs the bridge leading to the airport, a multiple-vehicle pile-up happened after a reckless sports car stopped in the middle of it.
Besides the pair of father and daughter, there’s a tow truck driver, Jo Park (Ju Ji-Hoon) and his beloved dog, Jodie, a pro golfer Yoo-Ra (Park Ju-Hyun), her manager-sister Mi-Ran (Park Hee-Von) and also an elderly couple (Moon Sung-Keun and Ye Soo-Jung) trapped on the collapsing bridge. We will come to the collapsing part later.
The biggest threat of all is a pack of mutated killer canines on the loose. The dogs are part of a government secret plan to create hunting dogs to be deployed for wars. The researcher, Dr Yang (Kim Hie-won) in charge of the experiment is also trapped with Cha and the gang. The device used to control them seems to be wonky and their only hope is the SWAT team deployed to rescue them.
Project Silence to be frank is more of a creature flick than a straight up disaster movie. The aforementioned collapsing bridge is a result of a rescue effort gone wrong so it doesn’t really count as a natural disaster of sorts. Taking a cue from John Carpenter’s The Fog and Frank Darabont’s The Mist, the perpetual foggy atmosphere allows Kim Tae-gon to stage a handful of creepy moments however, he seems to lack the patience to deliver the necessary thrills, scares and relied heavily on the CG created canines for the most part to showcase the madness. Bear in mind, it’s also an effective way to hide the less than convincing visual effects.
Aside from the canine attacks, most of the character development focused heavily on Cha and his rebellious teenage daughter. Having just lost their wife/mother to cancer, the exchanges between father and daughter is at best icy until this unfortunate incident which ironically allows them to mend their near broken relationship. On top of it, Cha’s boss, Jung Hyun-Baek (Kim Tae-Woo) might be connected to the deadly experiment given the heavy hinted political conspiracy. Of course it doesn’t take a genius to figure things out.
Another obvious problem is the tone. Instead of being a dark comedy, Project Silence is too serious for the whole time except Ju Ji-Hoon who threw in a couple of laugh-out-loud moments as the movie’s sole comic relief. In addition, there is the obligatory dementia-stricken spouse, a pair of squabbling siblings and the selfish researcher, characters that don’t really matter to the whole affair.
Still, Project Silence is the sort of mindless CGI entertainment that Hollywood used to churn out. The pacing is relentless while the action scenes are relatively well-choreographed. As compared to other superior creature and horror flicks liked The Host and Train to Busan, the movie lacks the essential ingredients, treatment to make it a memorable effort. Characters are flat and the computer generated hounds simply lacks the terror and bite to scare the wits out of us. The surprising tame PG13 rating doesn’t help in showcasing the brutality too.
Movie Rating:
(Ju Ji-Hoon shines in this somewhat entertaining but mediocre creature flick)
Review by Linus Tee
SYNOPSIS: Detective Axel Foley (Eddie Murphy) is back on the beat in Beverly Hills. After his daughter’s life is threatened, she (Taylour Paige) and Foley team up with a new partner (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and old pals Billy Rosewood (Judge Reinhold) and John Taggart (John Ashton) to turn up the heat and uncover a conspiracy.
MOVIE REVIEW:
Nostalgia plays a huge part in the latest entry of the Beverly Hills Cop series. If you can recall, the successful franchise spawned three sequels, the last being released in 1994 to mixed reviews and weak box office.
Given Eddie Murphy's career resurrection in recent times, nothing can stop the return of Axel Foley, the fast-talking, street-smart cop from Detroit. He is back in Beverly Hills yet again to investigate a cop-killer case involving her estranged daughter, Jane (Taylour Paige) who is working as an pro-bono attorney. Her life is in danger as the cartel might be planning to silence her.
With the involvement of his old partners, Detective turned private investigator Billy Rosewood (Judge Reinhold), Chief John Taggart (John Ashton), Jeffrey Friedman (Paul Reiser) and newcomer, Detective Bobby Abbott (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), they uncover a massive conspiracy ring involving crooked cops and drug trafficking.
The reunion means more to those who have been following the franchise since the early 80s. So what transpire after the rousing prologue where we see Foley busting a robbery at a hockey match is inconsequential as it proved that Axel Foley has not lose his trademark comedic touches even after a span of almost 30 years.
With writer Will Beall who just gave you Bad Boys: Ride or Die onboard, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F moves at a break neck pacing delivering both wacky action and comedy bits even if the main villain is revealed early in the movie. Eddie Murphy is in his finest form yet. The comic legend knows the character of Foley has aged over the years and while he still more or less manages to deliver the level of maniac energy, he also provides a subtle touch opposite his onscreen estranged daughter. The father-and-daughter relationship is after all a surprise addition to all the madness happening.
The extensive on location shoot around LA and Beverly Hills also bring viewers back to a time where movies are actually shot at least partially on a real street or at a real mall. The action is mostly over the top but executes with way more flair and excitement than the average contemporary action movie.
Playing opposite the veterans is Joseph Gordon-Levitt who plays the straight man to the absurd Foley, a cop that can basically talk himself out of any sticky situations without resorting to violence. Also Kevin Bacon who needs no introduction what kind of role he is playing here.
Again, nostalgia can be a tricky thing when it comes to a classic franchise liked Beverly Hills Cop. Fortunately, everything is in top form especially Murphy and his improvisation. Certainly, it lives up to be a worthy entry in the flagging franchise. That’s saying a lot for someone who is not much of a fan of reboots, remakes and revivals.
MOVIE RATING:
Review by Linus Tee
SYNOPSIS: Tiffany “Rex” Simpson (Emma Roberts) has always dreamed of going to space, and with a “doctored” application she gets into NASA’s ultra-competitive astronaut training program. In over her head, can this Florida girl get through training and into the cosmos before she blows her cover?
MOVIE REVIEW:
Even though it might be a tad hard to pinpoint Emma Roberts’ most memorable onscreen effort, the former child star doesn’t seems to age over the years since we first noticed her in Aquamarine and Nancy Drew. In Space Cadet, besides starring in the lead role, she has taken on a role of a producer as well.
Roberts plays Tiffany “Rex” Simpson, a gung-ho Floridian girl who works as a bartender, occasionally wrestles gator, helps at her father’s ghost tour business, save manatees among many other ventures. But her biggest wish has always wanting to be an astronaut if not for the unfortunate passing of her mother. Family comes first for her and college somehow never happened.
One day after meeting her ultra-successful former classmate, Rex decides to apply to NASA. However, her best friend, Nadine (Poppy Liu) submitted a phony resume on her behalf and Rex somehow gets into NASA training program and the rest they say is history. No, of course not.
Space Cadet wants to be Legally Blonde in Space but lacks the charm, jokes and story to make things work. Although there are some positive messages about pursuing your dreams etc, it turns out to be an insult to those women who have worked so hard to get into NASA. You know you need a long list of qualifications and not just a gutsy, street smart attitude to be an astronaut, right? It’s one thing to celebrate the accomplishments of women but to fully demonstrate the true meaning of it is another.
Director and writer Liz W. Garcia fills her movie with an ensemble of characters that you probably have seen in other movies. The stuck up doctor, the self-doubting geek, the all too cool military woman and man, characters that don’t contribute much to the entire story or gags unlike the now cancelled Netflix series, Space Force who consists of a wide variety of entertaining characters.
That leaves Emma Roberts. Honestly, Roberts delivers the goods as the plucky Rex. You can tell that her character is a genuinely wonderful human being who will let no one or herself down. The romance angle with one of NASA directors, Logan O’Leary (Tom Hopper) is cute rather than awkward. Liu gets to ham it up as Rex’s moronic buddy and contributes a few laughs here and there. And who can forget about Gabrielle Union who is totally wasted in the whole affair.
Space Cadet is a feel-good comedy for the entire family but we can’t recommend it for its silly treatment of the subject matter.
MOVIE RATING:
Review by Linus Tee
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BOOK REVIEW #50: FRIENDS, LOVERS AND THE BIG TERRIBLE THING Book ReviewPosted on 08 Jul 2024 |
Genre: Action/Adventure
Director: Shawn Levy
Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin, Morena Baccarin, Rob Delaney, Leslie Uggams, Karan Soni, Matthew Macfadyen
Runtime: 2 hrs 7 mins
Rating: M18 (Violence and Coarse Language)
Released By: Walt Disney
Official Website:
Opening Day: 25 July 2024
Synopsis: Wolverine is recovering from his injuries when he crosses paths with the loudmouth, Deadpool. They team up to defeat a common enemy.
Movie Review:
At one point in this highly anticipated superhero flick, Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds doing his thing) wonders whether he has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Understandably so, because the Merc with a Mouth has been talking almost non stop since the movie started, and we’re guessing it’s not just his on screen partner Wolverine (Hugh Jackman in a role that is meant for him and no one else) who wishes he would shut the f*ck up.
Listening to Deadpool go on and on and on (sometimes even breaking the fourth wall to speak to audiences) is like listening to a kid trying damn hard to please his friends. And that is also somewhat true for this sequel to Deadpool (2016) and Deadpool 2 (2018).
If you are reading this review, it is probably not news to you that this marks Wade Wilson/ Deadpool’s debut appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Fanboys and nerds have been eagerly waiting for the release of the 34th movie in the MCU, and they won’t be disappointed because the 127 minute ride is a thoroughly enjoyable one, chockful of cameo appearances (and we mean MANY - with some that will send viewers howling and applauding in approval), as well as countless Easter eggs (you probably won’t be able to spot of them in just one viewing). Heck, even trying to catch all the names under the cast list during the rolling end credits is a challenge.
So we are happy to report that the movie does an exceptionally fantastic job at pleasing fans, while managing to deliver a very funny (and violent) standalone comedy for those who do not know what the Time Variance Authority is. After all, not everyone is a MCU fan who watched the Loki TV series on Disney+. For the rest of us, just watching the sequences featuring *NSYNC’s “Bye Bye Bye” and Madonna’s “Life A Prayer” are worth your time.
What does this latest entry in the MCU do for the franchise, especially in terms of how the storylines across the various multiverses is going to move forward? Not much actually, because director Shawn Levy (Free Guy) and his team of writers probably know that the current status isn’t looking too good, and the least they could do is to make things worse – they even managed to get Deadpool to admit this on screen.
Instead, the filmmakers chose to focus on something that’s a sure win. Both Deadpool and Wolverine are characters from 20th Century Fox’s film series, and this is the first time they are teaming up since the studio was acquired by Disney in March 2019. There are many jibes at how Disney hasn’t been the most welcoming when it comes to NSFW content (f-bombs, crude jokes, blood and violence), and this M18 movie approaches these jokes in an entertaining way while retaining the naughty humour. We even found ourselves reminiscing some of the good ol’ days of watching Fox’s superhero movies.
Fans are also hyped up for this movie because it is the first official appearance of Wolverine in the MCU. A favourite from Fox’s X-Men franchise, we thought the studio had already sent the character off in the very well made Logan (2017). So it is to our surprise that this MCU movie brought him back in a respectable way, and with it, a much needed emotional aspect to the film. We really can’t think of a better actor than Jackman to portray the mutant.
It is evident that Reynolds and Jackman’s on screen chemistry serves this movie well. Their friendship in real life probably adds to the charm, and while we wished to see more of Emma Corrin’s Cassandra Nova (aka the evil twin sister of Charles Xavier), we know that the real draw here are the two best bubs – engaging each other in bloody fights and dirty jokes, while gloriously decked in their signature ketchup and mustard superhero outfits, no less.
Movie Rating:
(With countless cameos and Easter eggs, together with an abundance of crude humour, this extremely entertaining MCU movie will please fanboys and nerds, as well as viewers who just want to have a blast watching Deadpool and Wolverine exchange f-bombs)
Review by John Li
Genre: Action/Adventure
Director: Ridley Scott
Cast: Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger, Lior Raz, Derek Jacobi, Connie Nielsen, Denzel Washington
Runtime: 2 hrs 28 mins
Rating: M18 (Violence)
Released By: UIP
Official Website:
Opening Day: 14 November 2024
Synopsis: From legendary director Ridley Scott, Gladiator II continues the epic saga of power, intrigue, and vengeance set in Ancient Rome. Years after witnessing the death of the revered hero Maximus at the hands of his uncle, Lucius (Paul Mescal) is forced to enter the Colosseum after his home is conquered by the tyrannical Emperors who now lead Rome with an iron fist. With rage in his heart and the future of the Empire at stake, Lucius must look to his past to find strength and honor to return the glory of Rome to its people.
Movie Review:
More than two decades after one of the most definitive films of his storied career, Ridley Scott returns to the Roman arena for ‘Gladiator II’. Picking up 15 years after he was sent away by his mother Lucilla (Connie Nielsen) to escape the treachery of Rome, the sequel establishes Lucius as a happily married soldier named Hanno (Paul Mescal) living a simple life in the North African province of Numidia. As fate would have it, Numidia is invaded by a fleet of Roman warships led by General Marcus Acacius (Pedro Pascal), and after losing his wife in the ensuing battle, Hanno returns to Rome as a slave, vowing revenge on Acacius.
It is no surprise that Hanno’s road to vengeance will lead him into the gladiatorial arena, trodding the path that his father Maximus had taken. Despite that familiarity, there is indeed still strength and honour in Scott and writer David Scarpa’s do-over, as Hanno rises not only in prominence with each successive match in the arena, but also rises up as a rallying figure amidst the decay of the Roman empire under its twin-brother emperors, the fey Geta (Joseph Quinn) and the even more fey Caracalla (Fred Hechinger). There is also plenty of political intrigue, what with Lucilla now married with Acacius and plotting to overthrow the kings with the help of a loyal 5,000-strong army.
We all love a good underdog story, which is why we are predisposed to embrace Lucius’ comeback. That said, those expecting it to be as rousing or poignant as that of Maximus will probably go away disappointed; unlike Maximus, Lucius is driven for the most part singularly by brooding intensity and simmering rage, and only begins to embrace a larger ideal in the last half hour of the movie. For that reason too, as accomplished as Irish actor Mescal is in the role, he lacks the keenness and gravitas that Crowe had as Maximus. It is also somewhat a pity that Lucius is relegated as a pawn in the machinations of the supporting characters around him, especially his master and mentor Macrinus (Denzel Washington), a former slave who leverages Lucius’ prominence to get the attention of the emperors for his own Machiavellian intentions.
It says something indeed that we are more intrigued by Acacius and Macrinus than we are by Lucius, in part because both veterans Pascal and Washington steal the show. Like he did in the excellent HBO series ‘The Last of Us’, Pascal brings both depth and nuance to his role here, a true Roman patriot who sees the decline and excess around him and is motivated by his duty to country. On the other hand, Washington leans into the enigmatic role of Macrinus with absolute gusto, portraying him as a canny player of greed and ruthlessness. Washington calibrates his performance with utter finesse, combining charisma, steely authority and sly humour into an mesmerising vision of ambitious evil.
On his part, Scott keeps the proceedings pacey and tight throughout the film’s two-and-a-half hour duration. Scott’s commitment to big-screen spectacle remains undiminished, and he pulls out all the stops for the big-action arena scenes. Besides brutal man-on-man fights, Scott kicks things up a notch with savage baboons, a man riding on a giant, marauding rhino, and even a re-enactment of a nautical battle within the flooded, shark-infested pit of the Colosseum. Those criticising the film for its lack of historical accuracy miss the point; ultimately, at the grand old age of 86, Scott has simply let himself loose to unleash a couple of no-holds-barred set-pieces, bad CGI be damned.
And to his credit, ‘Gladiator II’ remains a giddily entertaining popcorn epic from start to finish, even if it doesn’t match up to the brilliance of the original. It is still an engrossing mix of battles, swordplay, bloodshed and Ancient Roman intrigue, this time with a lot more camp than the previous time round, but there is good reason why ‘Gladiator’ won both Best Picture and Best Actor for Crowe. As much as we respect the collaboration between Scott and Scarpa over the past few years, we hope Scott finds a stronger writer for his next few works, because it is ultimately no coincidence that the one weakness across his last few films has been a less than compelling narrative.
Movie Rating:
(While not quite matching the magnificence of the original, 'Gladiator II' is still an engrossing swords-and-scandals epic that packs gladiatorial action, bloodsport and camp with some delicious political intrigue)
Review by Gabriel Chong
Genre: Thriller
Director: Ishana Night Shyamalan
Cast: Dakota Fanning, Georgina Campbell, Oliver Finnegan, Olwen Foué, John Lynch, Alistair Brammer
Runtime: 1 hr 42 mins
Rating: PG13 (Horror & Some Violence)
Released By: Warner Bros
Official Website:
Opening Day: 6 June 2024
Synopsis: The Watchers follows Mina, a 28-year old artist who gets stranded in an expansive, untouched forest in western Ireland. When Mina finds shelter, she unknowingly becomes trapped alongside three strangers that are watched and stalked by mysterious creatures each night.
Movie Review:
Being a nepotism baby can be a tricky thing even though actor Jack Quaid embraces the label and agrees he is indeed an immensely privileged person. However, expectations can be sky high when your parents are as famous as American’s sweetheart Meg Ryan or renowned filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan.
With the release of The Watchers, all eyes on Ishana Night Shyamalan who is making her debut screen feature under her famous dad’s production label, Blinding Edge Pictures. Adapted from the novel by Irish horror writer A.M. Shine, the younger Night wrote and helmed the suspense horror feature. It’s no surprise why Ishana choses The Watchers to be her debut feature as the material fares close enough to her dad’s earlier works such as The Village and The Lady in the Water. Part mystery, part fantasy and the obligatory big twist. It’s all there whether you like it or not.
Still, you can’t undermine Ishana Night Shyamalan’s talent despite the presence of his father who is the movie’s producer as well. For a start, The Watchers is brilliantly shot with the help of cinematographer Eli Arenson (Lamb). The movie is heavy on atmosphere, creepy and visually enriching absolutely fitting for a mystery, suspense feature. To add on, the lush forests and greenery in Ireland does contribute to the various ominous scenes.
But wait, let’s detour to the story. Mina (Dakota Fanning), an American woman for reason unexplained works in a pet shop in Ireland. One day, her boss tasked her to transport a parrot named Darwin to a zoo in Belfast. Coincidentally, her car broke down in the middle of a forest, she is stuck with no signal and what should you do when you hear mysterious loud hungry noises? Panic might be a good start.
Lucky for Mina, a mysterious white-hair lady, Madeline (Olwen Fouéré) led her to a bunker-like building, nicknamed "The Coop”. There’s also another young woman, Ciara (Georgina Campbell) and young man, Daniel (Oliver Finnegan) inside the room. Mina is told by Madeline not to leave the bunker during night time as there are some mysterious violent forest creatures observing them via the two way mirror as if they are some sort of actors.
Needless to say, we are approaching spoiler territory if we continue with the story. Apparently some chilling Irish folklore is weaved into the whole narrative if you insist on knowing. The good thing is Ishana manages to keep her cards close to her chest which also explains why things can be a little sluggish for the first half. The premise starts to pick up in the second half with interesting mythology and fantasy elements thrown in to make it a thoroughly intriguing fairy tale.
Mina remains the most interesting layered human character in the entire movie. She is tortured by the death of her mother which sadly was indirectly caused by her own stubbornness. Though the movie never really explains why she prefers to lead a solitary life away from her twin sister, you sort of know it’s guilt, trauma perhaps. Dakota Fanning is a tour de force despite the minimal dialogue and often intense environment. Georgina Campbell on the other hand is kind of shortchanged and Olwen Fouéré will likely be remembered as the creepy white haired lady.
In the end, The Watchers is more of a modern fairy tale than an all-out horror story. If you approach it from the right angle, we are pretty sure you are going to enjoy Ishana’s directorial feature. As Palpatine says, we will watch her career with great interest.
Movie Rating:
(Give this imaginative Irish-inspired fairy tale a chance)
Review by Linus Tee
Genre: Drama
Director: Jeff Nichols
Cast: Austin Butler, Jodie Comer, Tom Hardy, Mike Faist, Damon Herriman, Boyd Holbrook, Michael Shannon, Emory Cohen, Beau Knapp, Karl Glusman, Toby Wallace, Norman Reedus, Happy Anderson, Paul Sparks
Runtime: 1 hr 56 mins
Rating: M18 (Sexual Scene and Coarse Language)
Released By: UIP
Official Website:
Opening Day: 20 June 2024
Synopsis: The Bikeriders captures a rebellious time in America when the culture and people were changing. After a chance encounter at a local bar, strong-willed Kathy (Jodie Comer) is inextricably drawn to Benny (Austin Butler), the newest member of Midwestern motorcycle club, the Vandals led by the enigmatic Johnny (Tom Hardy). Much like the country around it, the club begins to evolve, transforming from a gathering place for local outsiders into a dangerous underworld of violence, forcing Benny to choose between Kathy and his loyalty to the club.
Movie Review:
There’s book club, chess club, film club, sports club and what else, bike club of course. Jeff Nichols’ latest feature is based on a photo book by American photographer Danny Lyon which depicts the lives of the Chicago Outlaws Motorcycle Club in the 1960s though fictionalized under the moniker Chicago Vandals here.
The trailer hints of a violent, outlaw biker movie that stars Tom Hardy in yet another unrecognisable accent and the up-and-coming suave Austin Butler. A kind of buddy rodeo actioner that is going to set everyone’s level of testosterone soaring. The violence is there so is the testosterone and masculinity. Yet fortunate to speak, this is not that kind of movie you are expecting.
Told from the perspective of Kathy (Jodie Comer), the wife of Benny (Butler), The Bikeriders maintains a surprising light tone in recalling the stories of the men from Vandals. The story focused primarily on Benny and leader of the gang, Johnny Davis (Hardy). The respect and loyalty between the two men is remarkable. But Kathy wants Benny to leave the club and he is torn between his alliance to Johnny and the love of his life. Simply said, motorcycles alone can’t make a living or a future and ironically most of them seems to have a day job including Johnny.
In addition to the main three characters, Nichols peppered the narrative with plenty of colourful characters including Cockroach (Emory Cohen) who secretly wants to be a policeman, Funny Sonny (Norman Reedus) who helms from California, a failed soldier named Zipco (Michael Shannon), Johnny’s trusted right hand man, Brucie (Damon Herriman) and a hippie Cal (Boyd Holbrook). There are enough fascinating stories from each individual to make up for a mini-series and that for sure is a good thing.
While there are scenes of violence especially those surrounding Benny being beaten by two thugs in a bar because of his association with a bike club. Nichols’ intention is not about the fights, threats but showcasing the true meaning of the original bike club, one that actually stray away from drugs and prostitution unlike the behaviour of a young wannabe (Toby Wallace) who turned things upside down.
The flawless classic soundtrack, the cinematography, the set and costume design add to the authentic experience of watching a 60’s midwestern America comes to live on the screen. The biker culture is beautifully brought to fruition under the sturdy hands of the director. Ultimately, it’s the cast members that really elevate the material. We have two English actors playing the leads and both Comer and Hardy (minus two points for Hardy’s sometimes incomprehensible accent) is amazing.
With his good looks, Butler proves he can still be a good actor and charismatic leading man after Elvis. The supporting cast including Michael Shannon, Norman Reedus, Boyd Holbrook, Damon Herriman and Toby Wallace deliver equally strong performances. The Bikeriders is the kind of movie you initially thought wouldn’t work since the biker culture is not something everyone is familiar with. Strangely, the nearly two hours running time feels like a breezy cool ride with the various drinking and riding buddies. Definitely worth visiting.
Movie Rating:
(Nichols simply revved up the engine and never let go)
Review by Linus Tee
Genre: Drama/Sports
Director: Adrian Teh
Cast: Jack Tan, Farid Kamil, Fabian Loo, Wan Raja, Yasmin Hani
Runtime: 2 hr 6 mins
Rating: PG13 (Some Smoking Scenes)
Released By: Golden Village Pictures
Official Website:
Opening Day: 18 July 2024
Synopsis: Cheah Liek Hou, a talented and determined badminton player, faced early challenges in life due to his disability – Erb’s Palsy. Despite this, he persevered and became an 11-time world champion. During his prime, badminton was not included in the Paralympics program, and age caught up with him after years of waiting. In 2018, his dream of winning gold reignited after learning that para-badminton would be included as a medal sport at the Paralympics. With the help of badminton legend Datuk Rashid Sidek, one of the heroes in the 1992 Thomas Cup, Cheah secured Malaysia’s first-ever Paralympic Gold medal in the badminton SU5 category, creating a historic moment for the country.
Movie Review:
You already know the ending of this Malaysian sports biography even before watching it. You know the protagonist is going to get a prestigious gold medal at the end of the movie, and there will be trials and tribulations along the way. Yet, you are willing to sit through the two hours of predictable drama because you know this will be a feel good movie about the strength of the human spirit. And this may just be the boost to keep you going.
The 124 minute movie chronicles Malaysian para badminton player Cheah Liek Hou’s journey to clinching the gold medal in the men’s singles SU5 event during the 2020 Summer Paralympics. This is a big deal for Malaysia, because Cheah is the first Malaysian athlete to win a medal in para-badminton, and also the first ever paralympic champion in para-badminton. You can imagine how proud Malaysia and its people when Cheah stood on the sports winner podium to receive his gold medal.
And this is just one of the victorious moments captured by Adrian Teh’s sincere and heartwarming work. Throughout the movie, you will see how Cheah was ostracised in school by a better badminton player, how his father wholeheartedly rooted for him, how his world almost fell apart when he was diagnosed with Erb’s palsy (a condition which causes his right hand to have less strength and stability), and how he trained to compete in both able bodied and para badminton tournaments.
It doesn’t stop there, because the movie will also show you how Cheah lost his father, how life circumstances led to him taking up on a corporate job, how a sedentary lifestyle made him put on weight (which obviously means he is in a bad shape to play badminton), and how he eventually got his groove back when the Paralympic Games announced the inclusion of badminton as a sport, giving him the determination to pick up the racket again.
Phew, that’s really quite a bit to cover in a two hour movie. But the story flows well, and much of the plot involving strong family support is relatable to viewers in this part of the world. The idea may sound cheesy, but seeing Cheah’s father (played adorably by Freddie Ng) give the “ok” hand gesture while saying “win this match for yourself” just works. There is also an especially touching scene where Cheah’s mother (played by Lynn Lim) gives her full support when he rushes home to announce that he is going to give up his full time job to train for the Paralympic Games.
But the biggest credit goes to Malaysian actor Jack Tan, who gives a passionate performance as Cheah to make this biographical drama work. Talk about method acting – he gained 20kg to portray an unfit Cheah, and while the results are not as dramatically drastic as Chinese actress Jia Ling who lost 50kg for her role in YOLO, it is still quite a feat to see him on screen from being fit to fat, then going through hellish training to become fit again.
It's not just about the body transformation for Tan, who was nominated in the Best Supporting Actor category at the 60th Golden Horse Awards for his role in Abang Adik (2023). He delivers an endearing performance as Cheah, and the committed performance will have you cheering for Cheah from beginning to end. Complemented by a more serious performance by Farid Kamil who portrays Rashid Sidek (bronze medalist on 1996 Olympic Games in men singles category and Cheah’s coach in 2020 Paralympic Games), Tan’s The likeable boy next door vibe will remind you of the friend you want to wholeheartedly root for. We’re pretty certain Cheah himself would be proud.
Movie Rating:
(Jack Tan delivers a winning and wholehearted performance as Malaysian para-badminton player Cheah Liek Hou in this feel-good sports biography)
Review by John Li
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