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 60^th 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

SYNOPSIS: The eagerly awaited follow-up to 2020’s action comedy, My Spy The Eternal City reunites a beloved cast led by Dave Bautista and Chloe Coleman in a feel-good family adventure set in some of Europe’s most storied destinations. When Sophie’s (Coleman) high school choir is selected for an Italian tour culminating in a performance for the Pope in Vatican City, JJ (Bautista) sees this as an opportunity to bond with his new stepdaughter, so he volunteers to help chaperone the group through the Venetian canals, across Florence’s renowned bridges and into Rome’s most historic sites. Instead he finds that he and Sophie have become unwitting pawns in a terrorist plot that could end the world as we know it. 

MOVIE REVIEW:

Dave Bautista, Chloe Coleman and director Peter Segal returns in My Spy: The Eternal City, the unnecessary follow up to the 2020 original.

Since the events of the last movie, JJ (Bautista) has married the mother of Sophie (Coleman) and has officially stepped into the shoes of a stepdad. But Sophie has grown from a precocious ten year old to a fourteen year old teenager. While JJ prefers to work as a backend, 9 to 5 agent, remotely oversee missions in the CIA office, Sophie wants her freedom not working out in the dojo or aim to be a spy anymore.

And when Sophie’s school choir is selected to perform at the G7 summit in Italy, JJ volunteers to help chaperone not knowing a terrorist plot is unfolding. The busy plotting involves a nuclear bomb waiting to be detonated in the Vatican and the son of the head of CIA convert operations, David (Ken Jeong) being kidnapped. Obviously all the busy shenanigans isn’t going to make things more interesting than it is.

The first half of The Eternal City feels like a prolonged showcase of family dynamics that worked better in the original than here. Sophie is more into crushing on boys and ignoring the presence of her BFF, Collin (Taeho K) who secretly pins for her and the antics of JJ being the overprotective stepdad. Honestly, all the drama proves to be a drag, not a single charm or comedy is spotted even if the chemistry between Bautista and Coleman is still there.

CIA techie Bobbi (Kristen Schaal) is also back and Ken Jeong has a bigger part in the sequel. Unfortunately none of the jokes and gags ever land despite the efforts of Segal, writers Jon Hoeber and Erich Hoeber. Probably the only funny gag in the nearly two hour movie is the attack birds sequence which at least result in a chuckle or two.

Because the movie can’t decide if JJ is a competent action hero or a clumsy rusty agent, Bautista is often thrown into some absurd situations opposite resident German bad guy, Crane (Flula Borg). As you know, there’s always Sophie to save the day, Kim Possible style. And who can forget the movie’s main antagonist, Nancy played by Anna Faris. In actual fact, no one can remember exactly what happened and what is Nancy’s motive in blowing up half the continent.

My Spy: The Eternal City fares like a cheap Mission Impossible instalment which features a handful of Italy’s famous places, landmarks and a few clumsily shot action scenes. The comedy is painful and the long running time doesn’t help either. We hope there isn’t a three.

MOVIE RATING:

Review by Linus Tee

SYNOPSIS: In a remote Irish village, a damaged Finbar is forced to fight for redemption after a lifetime of sins, but what price is he willing to pay? In the land of saints and sinners, some sins can't be buried. 

MOVIE REVIEW:

Set in the 1970s during the violent IRA conflicts, In the Land of Saints and Sinners marks the reunion of American director Robert Lorenz and Liam Neeson after The Marksman. It’s a Neeson action vehicle all right but a much better one.

Neeson plays Finbar Murphy, a contract killer disguising as a book seller that lives in a small Irish town where everybody knows everybody. His small circle of friends consist of the local constable, Vincent (Ciarán Hinds), his lady neighbour, Rita (Niamh Cusack) and his handler, Robert (Colm Meaney).

Things seem to be fine until a group of IRA terrorists came hiding in the small town after carrying out a car explosion days before. Taking matters to his own hands, Finbar decides to rid the goons once and for all with the help of another young hitman, Kevin (Jack Gleeson).

Even though Lorenz is an American, In the Land of Saints and Sinners is set and filmed entirely with an Irish cast and in the lush, beautiful County Donegal. For his part, Lorenz infuses the action thriller with genuine Western elements liked barren rugged landscapes and the occasional shootouts and heroism.

Strictly speaking, the movie is not about the political conflicts and the motives of the IRA. It’s more about the fierce loyalty and beliefs of Finbar and the main antagonist, Doireann McCann (Kerry Condon) that ignites the riveting collision of these two individuals. The former is a lonely suffering hitman who craves for redemption while the latter truly believes in her actions and fighting for what is right for her country.

Intentional or not, there’s a dark sense of comedy littered throughout. Before Finbar shoots his victims, they have to dug their own grave and his favourite tactic seems to be throwing his victim into the boot of his car. Neeson might be doing his same shtick for years but his performance as the suffering Finbar Murphy is far more enjoyable and relatable than his average outings as an aged action hero.

Balancing a good amount of drama and action sets, In the Land of Saints and Sinners is an indie action movie that is surprisingly immersive and well-executed. The excellent cast performances is a bonus as well.

MOVIE RATING:

Review by Linus Tee

SYNOPSIS: Daisy Ridley stars as the accomplished swimmer who was born to immigrant parents in New York City in 1905. Through the steadfast support of her older sister and supportive trainers, she overcame adversity and the animosity of a patriarchal society to rise through the ranks of the Olympic swimming team and complete the staggering achievement – a 21-mile trek from France to England. 

MOVIE REVIEW:

Young Woman and the Sea belongs to the category of old-fashioned sports cliched drama that Disney often churned out in the past. While indeed old school, it’s nevertheless an inspiring effort from director Joachim Rønning (Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales), producer and star Daisy Ridley and Jerry Bruckheimer.

Based on the book “Young Woman and the Sea: How Trudy Ederle Conquered the English Channel and Inspired the World” by Glenn Stout and adapted to the screen by Jeff Nathanson (Catch Me If You Can), the drama tells the story of Trudy Ederle who famously made history as the first woman to swim across the English Channel in 1926.

Having nearly succumb to measles at a young age, Trudy manages to convince her mother, Gertrude (Jeanette Hain) and her German immigrant butcher father, Henry (Kim Bodnia) to allow her to take up swimming. Under the guidance of Charlotte Epstein (Sian Clifford), Trudy soon impresses everyone by winning local swimming competitions, breaking records and that including participating in the 1924 Paris Olympics.

However, the 19 year old isn’t resting on her laurels as she is committed to swim across the English Channel from France despite the dangers involved.

Family dynamics is largely the main theme here given Trudy is supported by her various family members throughout her arduous journey. Her mother, Gertrude is the first in the family to voice her support in learning swimming. Her elder sister, Meg (Tilda Cobham-Hervey), a more than competent swimmer herself jumps into the cold oceanic water to encourage the tired Trudy and her father who initially is against her idea accompanies her all the way on the English Channel swim as well.

Despite everyone knowing the ending, Rønning manages to keep things tight, rousing and authentic with obstacles littered throughout Ederle’s swim. The sabotage by a jealous coach, the dangerous jellyfishes and the dark, choppy ocean are just a few things to keep the movie going.

Daisy Ridley delivers an impressive performance as the determined Trudy Ederle. It’s a bit tricky consider Annette Bening just received an Oscar nomination for her portrayal of swimmer Diana Nyad in Nyad. While both dramas featured a rather similar theme, there’s still a lot to like about Young Woman and the Sea with topics liked sexism and hurdles being tackled. Ridley for her part unquestionably channels the spirit and enthusiasm of Trudy.

Adding to the exceptional casting, Brit actors Stephen Graham stars as Bill Burgess, the second person to successfully complete a swim of the English Channel and Christopher Eccleston as long distance swimmer Jabez Wolffe.

Young Woman and the Sea is the perfect movie for the entire family. Despite being too predictable, the messages and themes are solid and uplifting. Gertrude “Trudy” Ederle deserves to be remembered for her outstanding achievement.

MOVIE RATING:

Review by Linus Tee

Genre: Animation
Director: Kiyotaka Oshiyama
Cast: Yumi Kawai, Mizuki Yoshida 
Runtime: 58 mins
Rating: PG
Released By: Encore Films
Official Website: 

Opening Day: 8 August 2024

Synopsis: Based on award-winning manga by Tatsuki Fujimoto, creator of Chainsaw Man. The overly confident Fujino and the Shut-in Kyomoto couldn’t be more different. Their love of drawing manga is the one thing connecting these contrary girls. One day, however, something happens to them that shatters everything… A heart-wrenching and impactful story of growing up.

Movie Review:

This coming of age anime film has a runtime of 58 minutes. Yet, in about an hour, it packs an emotional punch that can last a lifetime, especially if you have gone through a similar episode as the film’s protagonist.

Based on the one shot web manga of the same name written and illustrated by Tatsuki Fujimoto, the story first sees Ayumu Fujino drawing really funny manga for her school’s weekly newspaper. Her creativity is quirkily funny, considering there is death in the work we see.

Fujino basks in the glory of her popularity, until she finds herself challenged by Kyomoto, another who has been submitting her works from home because her social anxiety condition prevents her from attending classes in person. It is clear that Kyomoto’s skills are superior, and Fujino is not pleased about that.

Circumstances then brings Ayumu to Kyomoto’s residence, where the two girls eventually finding themselves working on a manga together. It also turns out that Kyomoto has always been a fan of Fujino’s offbeat humour. All’s good up to this point with this tale of how two individuals forming a heartwarming friendship, and we didn’t know that what follows will shake our senses.

Without giving away too much, we see the Fujino and Kyomoto transiting into adulthood, and as we already know by living life, this journey comes with both uplifting and heartbreaking experiences that may leave a lasting impact, or a lingering melancholy that never goes away.

This anime film adaptation is directed by Kiyotaka Oshiyama, who is also credited for the screenplay and character designs. The animation style is pleasing to the eyes, and while it doesn’t blow you away with dazzling effects, there is a sense of honesty in how the film is visualised. Fujino and Kyomoto feel like real people you know – Fujino is the good natured and confident classmate that is always fun to have around, while Kyomoto is that person in your phone book that you wish you could get to know better. When Kyomoto first appears on screen, you can sense with her jitteriness, thanks to Oshiyama’s superb character design.

Yumi Kawai and Mizuki Yoshida are the two main credited voice cast for delivering fine performances as Fujino and Kyomoto respectively. The heartrending score composed by Haruka Nakamura complements the story, and the end credit tune "Light Song" composed by Nakamura and performed by Urara is a fitting close to the film, and it will leave you in your seat till the screen goes black.

This writer hasn’t read the original manga, but he is guessing that fans will embrace the film adaptation, judging from the number of people who were holding to official memorabilia at the screening. Like other critically acclaimed anime productions like Your Name (2016), Mirai (2018) and Weathering With You (2019), there is a fantastical element that involves time travelling in this movie. It is treated with absolute elegance and when this part of the story unfolds on screen, you will feel a slight heartache and think about what life could also have been if you had made a different choice.

Movie Rating:

(A poignant anime film that tells a beautifully melancholic story about growing up)

Review by John Li

Genre: Crime/Thriller
Director: Sam Quah
Cast: Wang Chuanjun, Ning Chang, Francis Ng, Wang Sheng Di, Chin Shih-chieh, Xu Jiao
Runtime: 1 hr 59 mins
Rating: NC16 (Mature Theme & Violence)
Released By: mm2 Entertainment
Official Website: 

Opening Day: 15 August 2024

Synopsis: A middle school girl named Huijun falls to her death after being bullied, leading to a series of mysterious deaths among the bullies, and violence towards Huijun’s best friend at school, Xiaotong. As the investigation progresses, old secrets of concealment and corruption are about to be revealed.

Movie Review:

This movie directed by Malaysian born Sam Quah is difficult to watch. Don’t get us wrong, we mean this in a good way, because the crime thriller forces audiences to see up close the horrors of bullying.

In particular, there is a scene in the 119 minute movie which can be extremely disturbing for some viewers. It involves a girl with special needs (Xu Jiao) getting bullied by a group of cruel schoolmates. The sequence goes on for quite a while, and it makes you think about the tremendous physical and mental pain the victim has to go through should this happen in real life. Expectedly, this incident ends in tragedy.

Based on a news article about a mother's efforts to find her murdered daughter which Quah came across while pursuing his master’s degree, the movie wastes no time in gripping your senses. In an early scene, we see a group of mean girls messing up a mute girl named Xiaotong (Wang Sheng Di) with glue. The victim is the daughter of the school cleaner Li Han (Ning Chang), who gave up her well paying accountant job to spend time with her child. It also turns out that one of the bullies is the daughter of the school principal, which explains why these misdeeds have not been reported.

The bullies begin to disappear, as if they have been gotten rid of for their sins. Through a series of flashback sequences and ultra violent scenes, the story begins uncovering the truth to what really happened, with a number of red herrings thrown in.

Like any other movies of the similar genre (Ko Chien-Nien The Silent Forest comes to mind), there are other characters that will have audiences guessing who the killer is. There is a mysterious man (Wang Chuanjun) working for a charity foundation, a world weary police detective (Francis Ng) assigned to the case, and a shady young man (Huang Minghao) who has been showing up at the crime scenes. Elsewhere, there is a bossy landlady (Cai Ming) and a wise educator (Chin Shih-Chieh). Oh, did we mention that Li Han has a history of abusing Xiaotong?

The movie isn’t subtle by any means, and emotions are on full display as the ensemble cast go all out to express their anger, sadness, anguish, regret and desperation as they each experience different episodes. Viewers are brought along for the ride and charged sensations are felt throughout the movie.

Bullying is an issue that audiences can easily feel for, and even if the story goes over the top, one feels for the characters. Coupled with stylishly shot scenes, impressive setups against a fictitious Southeast Asian backdrop (the movie was primarily shot in Penang), and plot twists that keep you at the edge of your seats, this is an engaging watch from beginning to end.

After the success of Sheep Without a Shepherd (2019), Quah has proven himself to be a competent filmmaker. It is also interesting to note that this is a remake of Quah’s own 2022 movie of the same title and premise. He recast the actors after the original male lead Jag Huang was embroiled in a #MeToo scandal, which prevented the film’s release in China. This remake opened in China earlier in July, and was ranked second for the highest box office takings for the summer season. It sure looks like the efforts paid off, and in a grander scheme of things, there is increased awareness of bullying and the heartbreaks that follow.

Movie Rating:

(This emotionally-charged drama thriller forces you to look at the horrors of bullying and the tragedies that follow)

Review by John Li

Genre: Crime/Thriller
Director: Lee Yo-sup
Cast: Gang Dong-won, Lee Mi-sook, Lee Hyun-wook, Tang Jun-sang
Runtime: 1 hr 40 mins
Rating: NC16 (Some Violence)
Released By: Shaw Organisation
Official Website:

Opening Day: 8 August 2024

Synopsis: A thriller about the boss of a contract murder organisation facing with unexpected accident. There is a company that has been killing for contracts as their business. One day, Young-il (GANG Dong-won) gets an offer to kill the most potential candidate for attorney general. After a neat and specific planning, his team finally takes action to kill the target. However, an unexpected accident happens and leads to a big one. The Client, the client’s insurance company and other crew members of his own… there is no one who Young-il could believe!

Movie Review:

In 2009, Hong Kong filmmaker Soi Cheang directed a lean action thriller titled Accident, and the critically acclaimed movie produced by Johnnie To featured a protagonist (Louis Koo) whose expertise was making murders look like accidents. Fifteen years later, we get an adaption from helmed by Lee Yo-sup, with the premise transplanted to South Korea, where sinister political and financial conspiracies are running aplenty.

It almost seemed like we can expect an exciting thriller to keep us at the edge of our seats, but there is something unsatisfying about the movie that left us wondering whether there’s more than what we saw on screen.

Gang Dong-won (Dr Cheon and the Lost Talisman) plays Young-il, the leader of a criminal group which designs murders to appear as accidents. He is joined by a veteran planner (Lee Mi-sook) whose age and health is taking a toll on her, a gay man (Lee Hyun-wook) who often cross dresses as a woman during the execution of their plans, and a young rookie (Tang Jun-sang) who is getting the hang of things. These people have no official records in the government’s system, which makes it difficult to track them down for their misdeeds.

While continuing with their crime capers, the team is also grieving the recent death of another member (Lee Jong-suk) who lost his life in a supposed accident – everyone feels heavy hearted and down. But life has to go on and we see the team go about planning the accident of a prosecutor general nominee. Things get increasingly murkier, and Young-il becomes obsessed that there is another group of people manipulating things at a higher level that is beyond his control.

The 100 minute movie starts off with a fascinating execution of how an accident at a construction site is more than what it seems, while we get ourselves ready for a thrill ride to uncover all the dark secrets of seemingly straightforward freak accidents. However, the story takes a few meanderings and cannot decide what it wants to focus on. We get it that each of the characters have his or her own demon to fight, but we do not feel convinced and these slower moving sequences drag down the movie’s pacing instead. Also, we aren’t exactly sure why the plot included the cross dressing character. There seems to be something that the screenwriters want to say whenever he appears on screen, but the result feels half baked.

The performances from the ensemble cast are fine, and Gang does a great job at playing a man who gets drowned in his own mind. There is absolutely no cheer in the protagonist, and we hope it didn’t affect him on a personal level as we can imagine how mentally draining it can be to play a character like that. The series of planned accidents are conveyed effectively on screen, but the movie feels stalled at several junctures. When the story eventually progresses and an ending is in sight, we feel that this is a missed opportunity to deliver an exhilarating popcorn thriller. 

Movie Rating:

(Gang Dong-won delivers a committed performance as a criminal who is consumed by his own mind in this South Korean adpataion of a superior Hong Kong production)

Review by John Li

Genre: Action/Adventure
Director: Eli Roth
Cast: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, Edgar Ramirez, Ariana Greenblatt, Florian Munteanu, Gina Gershon, Jamie Lee Curtis
Runtime: 1 hr 41 mins
Rating: PG13 (Some Violence)
Released By: Encore Films
Official Website: 

Opening Day: 8 August 2024

Synopsis: Based on one of the best-selling videogame franchises of all time, welcome to Borderlands. Lilith (Blanchett), an infamous treasure hunter with a mysterious past, reluctantly returns to her home planet of Pandora to find the missing daughter of Atlas (Ramirez), the universe’s most powerful S.O.B. She forms an unexpected alliance with a ragtag team of misfits – Roland (Hart), once a highly respected soldier, but now desperate for redemption; Tiny Tina (Greenblatt), a feral pre-teen demolitionist; Krieg (Munteanu), Tina’s musclebound, rhetorically challenged protector; Tannis (Curtis), the scientist who’s seen it all; and Claptrap (Black), a persistently wiseass robot. These unlikely heroes must battle alien monsters and dangerous bandits to find and protect the missing girl, who may hold the key to unimaginable power. The fate of the universe could be in their hands – but they’ll be fighting for something more: each other. 

Movie Review:

We’ve never played the 2009 sci-fi shooter RPG on which this movie is supposedly based on, so pardon us for not knowing how or what certain characters or situations from the game should be. What we were instead looking forward to was an off-kilter, wacky adventure comedy, not quite unlike Marvel’s ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ – and despite what others might think, we wouldn’t have minded if it turned out looking much like ‘GotG’ as long as it were similarly be filled with wit and heart.

Unfortunately, this messy and unexciting video-game adaptation hardly lives up to any sort of expectation. It offers only snatches of crude enjoyment that do not justify a somewhat interminable one-and-a-half hours – like how Kevin Hart’s rogue soldier Roland quickly discards the gothy Stormtrooper get-up that he first appears in, sneering, ‘What a stupid helmet’; or how Cate Blanchett’s bounty hunter Lilith cannot quite care to let a new prospective employer or his goons finish talking before shooting them; or how Ariana Greenblatt’s unhinged teenager Tiny Tina seems to have an endless store of exploding stuffed bunny dolls.

Aside from these occasional bits of anarchist humour though, ‘Borderlands’ is busy but ultimately boring. The MacGuffin here is a vault hidden on the planet of Pandora, which contains valuable technology left behind by an extinct alien race called the Eridians; no thanks to the vault, Pandora is now overrun by corporations, criminals and treasure hunters. One such corporation is Atlas, whose founder of the same name (Edgar Ramirez) hires Lilith to find Tiny Tina, believing her to be one of three keys needed to open the vault. Long story short, despite her initial reservations at returning to Pandora, Lilith finds Atlas’ monetary offer too good to pass up, and upon landing on the planet, quickly forms a ragtag alliance with Tiny, Roland, their hulking partner Krieg (Florian Munteanu) and a sassy robot Claptrap (voiced by Jack Black).

What ensues is a chaotic road trip that takes the unlikely band of heroes across the planet, from a flatland called Piss Wash Gully (take that literally) to a bustling city called Sanctuary to a vast underground maze known as the Caustic Caverns and lastly to none other than the Great Vault itself. Each of these is a set-piece in and of itself, but there is little inspiration in any of these loud, frenetic sequences; other than a whole lot of pew-pew-pew gunplay in equally grungy settings, there really isn’t much to distinguish one from the other, and for that matter, for any of our heroes to truly flex their respective strengths in combat. Not even the needle-drops can enliven the action, or for that matter, the energy that Blanchett tries to inject into the leaden proceedings.

Oh yes, say what you will about how the Oscar winner is slumming here, but Blanchett carries her role with much pizazz – and we’re not just talking about how cool she looks with holsters strapped across her hips ready for some lightning-fast gunslinging. Her fellow Oscar winner Jamie Lee Curtis also acquits herself well in a smaller role, playing an eccentric xeno-archeologist named Tannis. Alas, the same cannot be said of the rest of the storied cast; in particular, Hart barely registers after the aforementioned quippy start, with his natural humour oddly tamped down, and Black is stuck with unfunny wisecracks that are not much better than a visual gag of Claptrap expelling bullets in a crude torrent after taking fire in a gunfight.

To be frank, we’re not even sure if the blame should fall on director Eli Roth, notwithstanding that both the movie and the story are credited to him. While he is no James Gunn, Roth is more than capable of pulling together a delightfully gonzo adventure, and it is indeed surprisingly this cluttered caper is the best that he and co-writer Joe Crombie (whom we suspect is a pseudonym for someone who did not want his real name on this project) could have come up with, especially given the rich source material available through the bestselling video game series. As it stands, this final product is sloppily assembled, and smacks of too many cooks post-production, so much so that Craig Mazin (co-creator and co-writer of HBO’s ‘The Last of Us’) reportedly chose to remove his name from the project.

That said, it doesn’t take familiarity with the games to know that ‘Borderlands’ won’t satisfy that core audience, or we dare say, any audience. It isn’t utterly unwatchable, but what made it onscreen is hardly worthy of the amount of talent involved – and that is a pity, considering the number of years it purportedly took for a big-screen adaptation of the series to come to fruition, hopes which were further raised by the pedigree of the likes of Blanchett, Hart, Black and Curtis. The only silver lining is that it leaves the door wide open for a reboot some time down the road, one that would truly channel the gleefully perverse and graphic nature of the games into an R-rated anarchy that could very well give ‘Deadpool’ a run for his money.

Movie Rating:

(Barely borderline watchable, this cluttered, uninspired and unexciting adaptation of the bestselling video games is hardly worthy of the pedigree involved, or for that time, your time in the cinema)

Review by Gabriel Chong

Genre: Sci-fi/Horror
Director: Fede Alvarez
Cast: Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Isabela Merced, Spike Fearn, Aileen Wu
Runtime: 1 hr 59 mins
Rating: NC16 (Gore & Violence)
Released By: Walt Disney
Official Website: 

Opening Day: 15 August 2024

Synopsis: A truly terrifying cinematic experience from producer Ridley Scott and director/writer Fede Alvarez, 20th Century Studios’ “Alien: Romulus” opens in theaters nationwide August 16, 2024. The sci-fi/horror-thriller takes the phenomenally successful “Alien” franchise back to its roots: While scavenging the deep ends of a derelict space station, a group of young space colonizers come face to face with the most terrifying life form in the universe.

Movie Review:

This reviewer doesn’t recall how he got to watch Alien (1979) on VHS when he was a kid, but what he remembers is how the Ridley Scott’s science fiction horror movie scared the hell out of him. And that was an age when he thought aliens are cute creatures from space – turns out that the Xenomorph is a terrifying creature that you pray never to come across. The elongated skeletal frame and dripping maw are what nightmares are made of.

The movie turned out to be a hit with a total worldwide gross of $143 million, and it took home the Best Visual Effects prize at the 52nd Academy Awards. It also made a star out of Sigourney Weaver, who portrayed the no nonsense and independent Ellen Ripley.

More than four decades have the passed, and fans have been anticipating the seventh instalment in the Alien franchise. We are pleased to report that the movie is one daunting roller coaster ride that will make your heart race.

The story takes place between the events of Scott’s Alien (1979) and James Cameron’s Aliens (1986). There’s nothing to shout about the plot as it sees a group of teenagers trying to seek out a better life by escaping a planet controlled by a corporation. Amongst them are Rain Carradine (Cailee Spaney), a female protagonist who manages to leave an impression, as well as Andy (David Jonsson), an android companion that you will find yourself empathising with. Together with other supporting characters, the young space colonists find themselves in an abandoned space station and no prizes for guessing what creatures are lurking in the corner.

Directed by Fede Álvarez (Evil Dead, Don’t Breathe), this movie is essentially a back to basics horror flick set in space. The characters are killed off one by one, and it is not difficult to know who will be offed next. What makes it extremely fun (or distressing for some) is how the human beings are hunted by the aggressive extraterrestrial species. Depending on what kind of movie goer you are, you will scream, gasp or watch in shock when a Facehugger grips someone’s head, or when a Chestburster pops through someone’s ribcage, or when a Xenomorph ends someone’s life very, very violently.

If it’s the first time you are hearing about the abovementioned creatures, it probably means that you are unfamiliar with the franchise. It is nothing to worry about though, because this movie works splendidly as a standalone movie – it may even make you go hunt down the previous titles. If you are short of time, you may want to skip Alien vs. Predator (2004) and Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007), although it did seem like a cool idea to bring two of cinema’s most fearsome creatures together.

Back to Álvarez’s movie – the Uruguayan filmmaker has delivered a science fiction horror masterpiece for today’s audiences. As a viewer, you feel like you are frantically navigating through a haunted house with an overwhelming sense of dread. Thanks to the use of practical effects, the tension throughout the 119 minute movie is exhilaratingly suffocating, and the engine of terror is running at full throttle. Yet, when the camera exits the claustrophobic interiors, there is an unspeakable awe when you see the vehicles glide through space, especially when you the movie on an IMAX screen.

The movie also scores with its bonkers finale, where you will see a truly grotesque creature which we believe is introduced to the franchise for the first time. Because no one can hear you scream in space, you definitely do not want to mess around with this frightening mess of a being.

Movie Rating:

(The latest entry to the Alien franchise is horrifyingly good - you will scream, gasp or watch in shock as the Facehuggers, Chestbursters and Xenomorphs unleash slimy and gory terror upon the helpless humans)

Review by John Li