Genre: Suspense/Horror
Director: Zoë Kravitz
Cast: Naomi Ackie, Channing Tatum, Christian Slater, Simon Rex, Adria Arjona, Kyle MacLachlan, Geena Davis, Alia Shawkat
Runtime: 1 hr 43 mins
Rating: M18 (Violence & Coarse Language)
Released By: Warner Bros
Official Website: https://www.blinktwice.com.sg

Opening Day: 22 August 2024

Synopsis: When tech billionaire Slater King (Channing Tatum) meets cocktail waitress Frida (Naomi Ackie) at his fundraising gala, sparks fly. He invites her to join him and his friends on a dream vacation on his private island. It’s paradise. Wild nights blend into sun soaked days and everyone's having a great time. No one wants this trip to end, but as strange things start to happen, Frida begins to question her reality. There is something wrong with this place. She’ll have to uncover the truth if she wants to make it out of this party alive.

Movie Review:

Channing Tatum plays a charming tech mogul named Slater King in this movie. With a power soaked name like this, coupled with chiseled good looks, it will be hard to say no when this man invites you to a private island for a fun getaway. We admit we wouldn’t think too long before agreeing to this invitation, which is almost too good to be true. It doesn’t matter whether he stepped down as CEO for unspecified past behaviour, because a well executed public apology is all it takes to make doubts about his dubious character go away.

And that’s the premise of this directorial debut from Zoë Kravitz. You know something bad is going to happen to the protagonists Frida and her friend Jess (Naomi Ackie and Alia Shawkat) when they go gaga over Slater after the cocktail waitresses pretend to be guests at an event and manage to get up close and personal with the handsome dude.

How bad are things going to be? Enough for the studio behind this thriller to issue a trigger warning before its release, stating upfront that the film is about the abuse of power, and while it is a fictionalised movie, there are mature themes and depictions of sexual violence. That should be enough to alert viewers who are expecting a rom com where Tatum plays someone’s Prince Charming.

All seem good at first when Frida and Jess arrive at a luxurious villa with Slater and his friends and business partners, including a photographer (Christian Slater), a private chef (Simon Rex), a DJ (Haley Joel Osment) and a young graduate (Levon Hawke), as well as three other female guests (Adria Arjona, Liz Caribel and Trew Mullen). There is also the ultra efficient but somewhat uptight assistant (Geena Davis) and a very proper therapist (Kyle MacLachlan) who shows up midway through the vacation.

Viewers who have seen enough thrillers would know this ensemble of characters would be the list of suspected bad guys to scrutinise when something goes wrong. And when Frida finds Jess missing one morning after a night of partying (of course it involves alcohol and drugs), she is forced to look closer at the things and people around her, and try her very best to leave the island alive.

This movie stands out from many other titles of similar genre because of how images and sounds are put together inventively by the filmmakers, possibly with Kravitz’s confident direction. You are forced to pay attention to every detail, and every recurring pop of the champagne bottle, every repeated clink of the champagne glass, as well as every echoed fizzle of the champagne bubbles seems to be a clue to uncover a secret. There is also the lighter that people just can’t seem to find, the red flowers that are planted around the villa, and the snakes that the locals have to perpetually get rid of – all these elements keep bugging you as the characters go about having pool parties and enjoying lavish dinners.

Kudos also to the ensemble cast for delivering committed performances, especially to Ackie who is totally believable as a single woman who goes along for a fun ride before realising how she needs to fight back to survive, and Tatum who probably had a great time playing the attractive villain. He’s the sort of guy you know is up to no good, but it’s a matter of whether you can resist his charisma to stay out of trouble.

Movie Rating:

(While seeing the attractive people enjoy their island getaway, the thriller constantly grips your senses with its slick editing and unsettling themes)

Review by John Li 

Genre: Drama/Romance
Director: Justin Baldoni
Cast: Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni, Brandon Sklenar, Jenny Slate, Hasan Minhaj, Isabela Ferrer, Alex Neustaedter, Amy Morton
Runtime: 2 hrs 10 mins
Rating: PG13 (Some Scenes Of Intimacy)
Released By: Sony Pictures
Official Website: 

Opening Day: 5 September 2024

Synopsis: Global publishing phenomenon IT ENDS WITH US (Colleen Hoover’s beloved book) becomes an inspiring theatrical event. Lily Bloom (Blake Lively) leaves her small hometown to embark on a new life in Boston, chasing a lifelong dream of opening her own flower shop. A chance meeting with charming neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid (Justin Baldoni) sparks an intense connection, but as the two fall deeply in love, Lily begins to see sides of Ryle he has attempted to keep hidden. When Lily’s first love, Atlas Corrigan (Brandon Sklenar), suddenly reenters her life, her relationship with Ryle is upended, and she realizes she must rely on her own strength to make an impossible choice for her future.

Movie Review:

You may have read reports of the purported feud between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni during the filming of this movie, which apparently got so severe that both stars refused to be photographed together during the press tour. No matter what the truth is, their off-screen animosity is hardly noticeable amidst their on-screen chemistry – indeed, as florist Lily Bloom and neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid respectively, Lively and Baldoni are effortlessly charming as a couple who spend the first half of the movie discovering how well they complement each other.

Yet as those who have read the bestselling Colleen Hoover book will know, this is only one half of the story. The other – and we dare say, the more intriguing half – concerns both of their past lives, and how their respective traumas continue to cast an ominous shadow over their present-day personas. For Lily, it is both a past love in the form of former high school flame Atlas Corrigan and her late father’s physical abuse of her mother; and for Ryle, it is a family death from his childhood that was the result of a tragic accident. To say more would be to spoil the surprise for those who have not read the book, but suffice to say that it is what elevates the material beyond just another romance.

To the uninitiated therefore, while it may come across as just another love triangle between Lily and Ryle and Atlas, ‘It Ends with Us’ proves to be a lot more complex and we dare say, sophisticated. Sure, it does the usual meet-cute between Lily and Ryle – atop a rooftop where Lily is just returning from her dad’s funeral where she drew a blank delivering his eulogy (which the movie will fill in the blank of later) and Ryle is coming off a bad day at work – but it also leaves hints as their relationship progresses that there is something more troubling that is why Lily blacks off at occasions when Ryle loses his barely controllable temper.

Likewise, though the re-appearance of high school crush Atlas (Brandon Sklenar) may come across utterly contrived, it ultimately becomes a narrative instrument for Lily to remember a part of her past that she had buried, as well as to make a decisive choice eventually on her present which she had been trying to avoid. Like we said, it is in the second half of the movie that the construct of the narrative truly starts taking shape, and with the various pieces falling into place, the film – including its stars – do take its audience to genuinely tense places.

We admit we had not thought much about Lively as an actress before this, but it is to her credit that she juggles both the flower-loving, funky-dressing free-spirit side of her character with that of a wounded, self-protective soul deftly. Whatever her disagreements with Baldoni might have been, Lively’s performance is well calibrated across the course of the movie, carefully revealing layers until she finally addresses the pain of her past and wrests free from its all-consuming influence.  Baldoni is a magnetic foil next to Lively, charismatic, sharp but with an edge that you cannot quite place until the third act, and no matter their feud, their on-screen relationship is captivating from start to finish.

To be sure, this is not a perfect film – most glaringly, how it manages the tonal shifts from its beginning to its end – but Baldoni, who also directed the movie, handles the important stuff well. Female viewers might think the material would be better handled through the lens of a female director; still, Baldoni’s sensitive treatment of themes like abuse, trauma and recovery is thoughtful, measured and thorough. It is on these bases that the film truly finds its footing, and how it becomes a lot more than just soapy Lifetime Movie-schmaltz. Comparisons with the book will no doubt be inevitable, but this adaptation does a convincing job of persuading those with similar stories to tell to be brave, bold and to make a decisive change.

Movie Rating:

(More than just a soapy love triangle, this story of how we come to terms with our past to avoid a repeat of the present is sobering, nuanced and even quietly compelling)

Review by Gabriel Chong

Genre: Horror/Thriller
Director: Sébastien Vaniček
Cast: Théo Christine, Finnegan Oldfield, Jérôme Niel, Lisa Nyarko, Sofia Lesaffre, Ike Zacsongo, Marie-Philomène Nga, Xing Xing Cheng
Runtime: 1 hr 46 mins
Rating: NC16 (Coarse Language)
Released By: Shaw Organisation
Official Website: 

Opening Day: 29 August 2024

Synopsis: Kaleb is about to turn 30 and has never been lonelier. He’s fighting with his sister over a matter of inheritance and has cut ties with his best friend. Fascinated by exotic animals, he finds a venomous spider in a bazaar and brings it back to his flat. It only takes a moment for it to escape and reproduce, turning the whole place into a dreadful web trap. At the same time, the police lock down the building where the residents are ambushed. Only option for Kaleb and his mates - find the way out, to survive.

Movie Review:

When you think of Paris, the Eiffel Tower and luxury shopping comes to mind. Definitely not killer sharks or in this case, deadly spiders.

This French thriller stars Théo Christine as Kaleb, a young man who sells black market Nike shoes and collects bugs and creatures in his spare time. Enlisting the help of her friends including Kaleb’ ex-buddy Jordy (Finnegan Oldfield), Mathys (Jérôme Niel) and Lila (Sofia Lesaffre), his sister Manon (Lisa Nyarko) is busy refurbishing their old apartment to sell after the death of their mother.

Unfortunately, Kaleb’s latest acquisition of a desert spider escaped from its shoe box and their apartment building soon becomes infested with thousands of the eight-legged creatures. Deadly and fast, one by one, the residents fall victim to the spiders. Kaleb and his friends attempt to escape the building only to find out that the authorities has quarantine the place and blocked their only escape route.

Sébastien Vanicek’s directorial debut is an impressive one. First and foremost, it’s a creature flick destined to send chills to those who suffer from arachnophobia. Atmospheric is the most outstanding factor here as ducts, stairways and dark corners are the favourite haunting places for spiders. Vanicek stages some remarkable energetic jump scares in the mostly confined location in the vein of REC (2007) and Attack the Block (2011). The cinematography by Alexandre Jamin is solid especially with the mixture of looming shadows in the vents and holes and sometimes closeups of the creepy crawlies.

One memorable unsettling sequence involves the five main antagonists trying to run across a long hallway filled with the deadly spiders with a timer-based light as the group’s life-saving tool. Did I mentioned the creatures’ only weak spot is light? Vanicek certainly delivers the thrills in the end making perfect use of practical and CGI effects.

Infested also works well with the human characters. At least, the main characters are not some forgettable nameless victims that no one cares. Jordy apparently was once a buddy of Kaleb and their relationship probably strained as a result of the latter’s indifference attitude towards his future. Despite being a municipal cop, Lila is the one most terrified of the spiders. As for Manon, her relationship with her brother is close to estrangement due to some underlying disagreement over their late mom’s property.

According to Vanicek who also co-wrote the script, the spiders serve as sort of an allegory of the people who suffer from discrimination and featuring an unseen side of France- the suburbs. Indeed for the most part, Vanicek succeeds in his execution and social commentary but it also affect the exhausting finale which feature a group of police refusing to let go of the youngsters and some background carnage that goes on and on.

Aside from the somewhat flawed ending, Infested is a well-made “spider” movie. It features well-written characters, more than decent production values and harrowing scenarios that will freak everyone out. For those brave souls out there, skip the line to the Eiffel Tower or Champs-Élysées, perhaps you might uncover some creepy-crawly creatures somewhere.

Movie Rating:

(Undeniably a rather well-made creature thriller from France)

Review by Linus Tee

SYNOPSIS: In the near future, a ‘Grand Lottery’ has been newly established in California - the catch: kill the winner before sundown to legally claim their multi-billion dollar jackpot. When Katie Kim (Awkwafina) moves to Los Angeles, she mistakenly finds herself with the winning ticket. Desperate to survive the hordes of jackpot hunters, she reluctantly joins forces with amateur lottery protection agent Noel Cassidy (John Cena) who will do everything in his power to get her to sundown in exchange for a piece of her prize. However, Noel must face off with his slick rival Louis Lewis (Simu Liu), who also seeks to collect Katie’s commission at all costs. 

MOVIE REVIEW:

It’s Los Angeles in the year 2030 and for some strange reason, the government decides to create a deadly lottery whereby the winner must survive till sundown to claim the top prize. This time the winner gets US$3.6 billion. And the winner happens to be former child actor, Katie Kim (Awkwafina).

Lucky for her, she has Noel Cassidy (John Cena), a freelance Lottery protection agent who offers his services for one-tenth of her prize money. Adding on to her woes is Louis Lewis (Simu Liu), the head of a professional protection agency and also Noel’s ex-rival. Will Katie survive the ordeal and claim the prize?

The ill-conceived Jackpot! is something like a funny version of The Purge but lacks even the basic competency of it. Somehow, every ordinary people of LA ends up as kung-fu fighting hooligans who wants Katie dead. They run like hordes of zombies, armed and desperate in endless scenes of destruction and mayhem.

There’s little to love or enjoy in this Paul Feig’s (Bridesmaids, The Heat) movie. Save for some funny banter between Katie and Noel, the narrative is filled mostly with prolonged, less than compelling action and chase sequences even though you have Cena’s absolutely insane muscles and charisma for eye candy.

Awkwafina is decent enough and her character is not terribly written. Katie Kim has a sad, sobbing backstory and at least has a substantial reason why audiences deserve to root for her success. Simu Liu returns once again as Awkwafina’s co-star after Shang-Chi. Liu however got the shorter end of the stick as he popped up onscreen again as a forgettable villain for the second time in 2024. Remember Jennifer Lopez’s Atlas?

There’s a somewhat hilarious scene with a cameoing Machine Gun Kelly and some zany confrontations with Katie’s Airbnb host (Ayden Mayeri) and her boyfriend, DJ (Donald Elise Watkins). Other than that, it’s hard to recall what exactly Jackpot! is all about.

Jackpot! is suppose to be some frenetic improvisational comedy. Yet along the way someone forgotten to rein in Feig especially his editor and the movie drags on for 30 minutes too long. More piss and shit than anything. Katie Kim will agree on that.

MOVIE RATING:

Review by Linus Tee

Genre: Drama/Action
Director: Lee Tamahori
Cast: Guy Pearce, Tioreore Ngatai-Melbourne, Antonio Te Maioha, Jacqueline McKenzie, Lawrence Makoare, Dean O'Gorman, Jared Turner
Runtime: 1 hr 59 mins
Rating: NC16 (Some Violence & Nudity)
Released By: Shaw Organisation
Official Website:

Opening Day: 12 September 2024

Synopsis: A lay preacher who arrives at a British settlement in 1830s. His violent past is soon drawn into question and his faith put to the test, as he finds himself caught in the middle of a bloody war between Maori tribes.

Movie Review:

What most of us know about New Zealand movies may be restricted to Peter Jackson’s epic The Lord of the Rings film series. One of the most ambitious film projects ever undertaken, the original trilogy was shot on Jackson's home ground New Zealand. The scenic mountain ranges, wild rivers and grassy fields were the perfect setting for the fictitious Middle-earth, and the box office success of the movies naturally did wonders for the country’s tourism industry.

With New Zealand director Lee Tamahori’s latest work, here's another opportunity to better understand the island country situated in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. Plus, the story actually takes place during the 1830s in a historical setting, so you won’t be imagining that the spectacular views on screen are imagined from fantasy.

Based on Hamish Clayton's novel Wulf, with a screenplay co written by Tamahori and Shane Danielsen, we are brought back in time to the early 19th century. The protagonist is Thomas Munro (a much missed Guy Pearce), a lay minister who arrives in New Zealand during a time when two Māori tribes are head to head with each other.

You may be expecting a story of how a white saviour becomes the hero by bringing peace to two clashing factions, but this subdued movie doesn’t take that approach. It doesn’t rush through the motion and gradually allows the character developments to take place. Thomas first meets and saves Rangimai (Tioreore Ngatai-Melbourne), before he becomes her religion tutor in Christianity. He also gets to know her father Maianui (Antonio Te Maioha), the chieftain of a tribe. Through a series of incidents, he gains the trust of the much respected elder.

As the film progresses, we also learn about know Thomas’ past as a soldier and how he eventually turned to religion to spiritually redeem himself for his past actions. Just as you wonder where the story is headed, the rival tribe headed by Akatarewa (Lawrence Makoare) makes its presence felt after an attempt to negotiate reconciliation fails. It doesn’t help that there are greedy British businessmen involved. All these lead to a battle between the two tribes, with Thomas taking Maianui’s side.

While there must have been quite a bit of liberty made to dramatise the movie, a certain extent of the story would have been based on history. You can feel that the filmmakers have taken a very respectful approach of telling the story. From the choice of actors to the native language spoken by the two tribes, as well as the raw action sequences during the finale of the 119 minute movie, every bit is treated with regard. The takeaway message is not new, but you can sense the sincerity and well meaning intention from the creators.

It is also a treat to watch the movie on a big screen for the awe inspiring visuals. Shot on New Zealand’s West Auckland beaches, as well as other locations around the Auckland and Northland regions, the sceneries are gorgeous and will make the city dweller in us be in wonderment of what the world outside tall buildings and cityscapes have to offer. 

Movie Rating:

(The film respects the Māori culture and delivers an authentic message about peace and reconciliation)

Review by John Li

Genre: Drama
Director: Chen Sicheng
Cast: Liu Haoran, Daniel Wu, John Cusack, Chen Daoming, Faye Yu, Ren Luyao, Chen Yusi, Wang Yutian, Zhou You, Zhu Zhu
Runtime: 2 hrs 36 mins
Rating: PG13 (Some Violence)
Released By: mm2 Entertainment
Official Website: 

Opening Day: 29 August 2024

Synopsis: In the 1940s, the world was turbulent, and it was crucial to decipher the enemy's communication codes timely and accurately. Rong Jinzhen showed a unique talent. He was noticed by more because he accidentally solved a difficult problem.

Movie Review:

The protagonist of this Mainland Chinese production reminds this writer of how mathematician John Nash was portrayed in Ron Howard’s biographical drama film A Beautiful Mind (2001). Played with grace by Russell Crowe, Nash was presented as someone who had a brilliant mind but was socially awkward. Just as he found love in Alicia Nash (Jennifer Connelly who won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her performance), he also became involved in cryptography work that might be serving a larger conspiracy. In the process he began losing his mind.

Back to this movie based on Mai Jia's novel of the same name. Our main guy is Rong Jinzhen, a socially awkward math genius who first gets adopted by a rich family, before being whisked off by the higher powers to supposedly serve the nation. Before long, he finds himself embroiled in code breaking work and falling in love with a comrade at the secretive agency. What’s interesting in this fictitious setup is the story backdrop: it is the 1940s and war is tearing nations apart, so any party who has the upper hand at breaking codes will be at advantage.

Soon, Jinzhen becomes increasingly obsessed in trying to decipher the codes he is presented with, and life begins spiralling downwards, to the extent that the emotional and physical toll begin affecting the people around him.

Helmed by Chen Sicheng (known for his blockbuster comedy film series Detective Chinatown), who also took on the producer and screenwriter duties, this is his first project to be adapted from a literary work. It is a huge challenge, considering the complexities of the code breaking world that had to be visualised on screen. This has to balanced with the political undertones that plague the era.

Chen does a commendable job by boldly creating Jinzhen’s dreams – some of the sequences are visually striking and look great on the big screen. One memorable scene sees Rong sprinting through a field with countless women dressed in Mao suits chasing after him, before he runs up to a watch tower and the camera pulls out to reveal a spectacular shot of the tower and the women dancing in a circle below. It is a bewildering shot, but it also feels poetically mesmerising.

What Chen is trying to achieve for the entire movie is a tall order, and the 156 minute runtime suggests that the film is trying to squeeze to many elements into one package. Maybe it is a case of indulgence, but some drearier sequences do slow the pace down, which will not sit well with impatient viewers. There are also some bizarre scenes which may draw laughs instead of awe.

That said, Jinzhen is played with full commitment by Liu Haoran, who looks unrecognisable in this role. With a receding hairline and a pair of glasses, the actor loses himself in the character and you can feel the genius breaking apart. This may just be the young actor’s big break in serious acting. He is supported by familiar faces like the ever confident Daniel Wu who plays a kind merchant, veteran Chen Daoming who portrays a government official who may be hiding some state secrets, and a sometimes nutty looking John Cusack who takes on the role of his mentor turned opponent, who each bring a certain gravitas to their roles. You almost feel that these are actual historical figures who have played a part in Chinese history.

Movie Rating:

(Chinese actor Liu Haoran delivers a totally committed performance in this ambitious spy thriller that features moments of bold brilliance)

Review by John Li

Genre: Fantasy/Comedy
Director: Tim Burton
Cast: Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara, Justin Theroux, Monica Bellucci, Arthur Conti, Jenna Ortega, Willem Dafoe
Runtime: 1 hr 45 mins
Rating: PG13 (Some Frightening Scenes and Coarse Language)
Released By: Warner Bros
Official Website: https://www.beetlejuicebeetlejuice.com.sg

Opening Day: 5 September 2024

Synopsis: Beetlejuice is back! After an unexpected family tragedy, three generations of the Deetz family return home to Winter River. Still haunted by Beetlejuice, Lydia's life is turned upside down when her rebellious teenage daughter, Astrid, discovers the mysterious model of the town in the attic and the portal to the Afterlife is accidentally opened. With trouble brewing in both realms, it's only a matter of time until someone says Beetlejuice's name three times and the mischievous demon returns to unleash his very own brand of mayhem.

Movie Review:

Ah, the good ol’ 1980s. One of the most iconic Tim Burton movies that came out during the time was Beetlejuice (1988). The premise was simple – a recently deceased couple (Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis exuding fine on screen chemistry) engages the titular “bio exorcist” to scare their new house owners (the obnoxiously fun Jeffrey Jones and Catherine O’Hara) away.

What audiences didn’t expect was a devilishly outrageous cinematic experience with Michael Keaton’s Betelgeuse (that’s the character’s actual name in the franchise) antics which are outlandishly eccentric, and sometimes even inappropriate by today’s standards. Of course, there was also Winona Ryder who rose to prominence by working her unique gothic charm.

So it makes perfect sense to bring back these beloved stars of the original movie. Keaton returns as the politically incorrect afterlife ghost, Ryder’s Lydia Deetz has grown from a gothic teenager to a gothic mother of a teenage girl, and O’Hara ‘s Delia Deetz is still the outlandish stepmother. In a brilliant casting move, Jenna Ortega and her goth glam are put to good use as she plays Lydia’s daughter Astrid. Elsewhere, Justin Conti takes on the role of Astrid’s love interest, while Justin Theroux portrays her soon to be stepfather.

And just to liven up the party, Willem Dafoe hams things up as a ghost detective, Monica Bellucci leverages her sultriness to play a femme fatale who is after Betelgeuse, and Danny Da Vito has a bit role as a janitor who died by drinking varnish (we are not kidding).

It has been 35 since the first movie, and the sequel hasn’t lost any of its freakish allure. Kudos to Burton who undoubtedly had a great time making this movie by staying true to his signature use of practical effects and twisted quips, which is something he probably was restricted from going all out with while making the live action adaptation of Disney’s Dumbo.

And the result is a movie that makes you feel like you are sitting on a theme park dark ride, where ghoulish sets await at every corner, and you don’t know what to expect. The level of creativity is limitless, and you can imagine how the team of filmmakers is constantly excited to bring whatever crazy idea that hatches in Burton’s mind. There is even an unexpected song and dance sequence that is bizarre yet effective in bringing the story forward.

The other person who probably had tons of fun on set is Keaton, who was only on screen in the original one and a half hour movie for 17 minutes. Similarly, he does not have the most amount of screen time in the sequel, but the makes every second count the moment he appears. Betelgeuse obviously isn’t the good guy here, but he is the naughty fellow you want to hang out with on an uninhibited night out. He says all the things you don’t dare to say, and acts in the most irresponsibly funny way. It’s fun and exciting, but it is also something you know won’t go down well with your parents.

Movie Rating:

(You will have an uninhibated time with the ever politically incorrect Betelgeuse, thanks to Tim Burton's ghoulish imagination)

Review by John Li 

SYNOPSIS: From the Oscar® winning producer of Oppenheimer, the kinetic action thriller stars Emmy nominee Nathalie Emmanuel (The Fast Saga, Game of Thrones) as Zee, a mysterious and infamous assassin known, and feared, in the Parisian underworld as the Queen of the Dead. But when, during an assignment from her shadowy mentor and handler (Avatar’s Sam Worthington), Zee refuses to kill a blinded young woman (Diana Silvers; Ma, Booksmart) in a Paris nightclub, the decision will disintegrate Zee’s alliances, attract the attention of a savvy police investigator (Golden Globe nominee Omar Sy; Jurassic World franchise, Lupin), and plunge her into a sinister criminal conspiracy that will set her on a collision course with her own past. 

MOVIE REVIEW:

Rather than letting others tamper with your legacy, why don’t you do it yourself if possible? And that’s what Hong Kong legend John Woo did with this remake of his 1989 The Killer starring Chow Yun-fat and Danny Lee.

Roping in Oscar winner Brian Helgeland and two other writers to rework on his original story, Woo retained the skeleton of it but notably gender-swapped the main lead with Nathalie Emmanuel (Furious 7, The Invitation).

Zee (Emmanuel) works as an assassin but only kills people who deserved death. Her handler is named Finn (Sam Worthington with a confusing mix of Aussie and Irish accent) whose high-profile client is a mobster played by football legend Eric Cantona. When a young singer, Jenn (Diana Silvers) loses her eyesight during one of Zee’s missions, the latter perhaps out of guilt decides to work with a honest cop, Sey (Omar Sy from Lupin) in protecting Jenn from Finn who wants her dead.

Throw in a case of missing money, drugs and corrupted cops and you have the American remake of the classic hit.

It seems that the 77 year old filmmaker has not lose his trademark touches as The Killer (2024) is filled once again with flying doves, motorcycle exploding in mid-air, stylised gravity defying gunplay and everything you expect from a John Woo action flick. Strangely though, he has cut down on all the slow-mo.

The chaotic gun-fu comparing to the original is watered down here yet there’s a decently choreographed shootout in a hospital and the climactic sequence which once again took place in a deconsecrated church features balletic violence and Woo’s favourite use of religious themes and imagery.

While the original features two males from the opposite of the laws getting together because of honour and friendship, the remake inevitably loses what the original is all about. Some might urge that it reflects the current trend of having a strong female character but Zee’s sympathy for Jenn’s plight isn’t that convincing if you put Chow and Sally Yen characters into perspective. On hindsight, at least there is no cringing LGBT romance involved.

We suppose Emmanuel indeed worked hard on her balletic stunts and Sy definitely has what it takes to be a charming leading man opposite his co-star. The on-location shoot in Paris also lends some need-be authenticity. If there’s one major nitpicking, that will be the almost television feel to the entire experience which at times look cheap and utterly flat.

Honestly, The Killer (2024) isn’t a great movie. It’s simply an updated old-school John Woo action flick that fares and entertained better than the average CGI-heavy, clumsily edited action movies which Hollywood constantly puts out. Last year, Silent Night was a disaster, here’s hoping Woo is on track to tackle much better written works.

MOVIE RATING:

Review by Linus Tee

Genre: Thriller
Director: James Watkins
Cast: James McAvoy, Mackenzie Davis, Scoot McNairy, Alix West Lefler, Aisling Franciosi, Daniel Hough
Runtime: 1 hr 50 mins
Rating: NC16 (Violence and Coarse Language)
Released By: UIP
Official Website:

Opening Day: 12 September 2024

Synopsis: When an American family is invited to spend the weekend at the idyllic country estate of a charming British family they befriended on vacation, what begins as a dream holiday soon warps into a snarled psychological nightmare.

Movie Review:

One of the very first roles that James McAvoy played that is still etched in our mind is playing Mr Tumnus in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005). The character is a faun who is only taller than a little girl, and McAvoy brought the fantasy creature to life with his unintimidating frame and wide eyed wonder. Almost 20 years later, the Scottish actor has somehow taken a totally different persona and become a monster in his latest flick. With a dauntingly bulked up physique and a constantly scary glimmer in his eye, McAvoy’s character in this psychological horror movie will send chills down your spine.

McAvoy plays Paddy, the alpha male of a family and has no qualms being the obnoxious and loud man that some people would rather stay away from. He has his wife (Aisling Franciosi) and son Ant (Dan Hough) by his side, and they seem to be leading a carefree life with no life burdens whatsoever.

They make friends with another household during a holiday in Italy. This family is the exact opposite – Ben (Scoot McNairy) recently became unemployed and Louise (Mackenzie Davis) seems to be compromising quite a bit in her life to be with her husband. Their daughter Agnes (Alix West Lefler) keeps clinging on to a soft toy, and that it making Ben very uptight. The holiday doesn’t seem to be doing them any good, until Paddy comes along with his wayward charm.

A remake of Christian Tafdrup’s 2022 Danish movie of the same name, this version directed by James Watkins is likely to have people wondering whether a remake is even necessary. This is definitely a wider release distributed by a major studio, with Blumhouse Productions credited as the production company. This means that the Hollywood movie is likely to be seen by more people and there will be a sizeable box office taking.

The other reason why this is a recommended title is obviously McAvoy himself. Geeks will know him as the young Professor X in X-Men: First Class (2011) and the subsequent movies in the superhero series. But what the character that stood out for us was by M Night Shyamalan’s Glass (2019), where he played a man with over 20 different personalities whose body chemistry changes with each personality – it was a maniacally unforgettable performance. This latest starring role further cements the actor as someone who can play a twisted character with ease.

The movie also does a great job at making you relate to the socially awkward situations played out throughout the 110 minute runtime. One sequence sees Paddy fending off a irritating couple by asking Ben and Louise some embarrassing questions, and things become increasingly intense as the two families come together in Paddy’s countryside house in rural England. You can’t tell whether something dangerously violent is going to happen, or if anyone is going to get hurt. When the truth of who Paddy and Louise really are is eventually revealed, and when the movie changes gear to become a psychotically wide ride, you will be holding your breath as McAvoy goes berserk with his character. 

Movie Rating:

(Watch James McAvoy go berserk in his portrayal of a maniac and go along for this wild ride)

Review by John Li

Genre: Drama/Romance
Director: Lai Meng Jie
Cast: Moon Lee, Tsao Yu Ning, SHOU, Lin Mei Shiu, Fan Guang Yao, Alice Lee, Sean Ben, Peggy Tseng, Mario, Andy Huang, Chen Xuan, Porima Cheng, Ying-Ru Chen, Nina Ye, TimeKilla
Runtime: 1 hr 52 min
Rating: PG13 (Some Coarse Language)
Released By: mm2 Entertainment
Official Website: 

Opening Day: 19 September 2024

Synopsis: In school, everyone sees Xiaoxia (played by Moon Lee) and her sweetheart Yuzu (played by SHOU) as a couple. Only Xiaoxia knows that her heart has long been occupied by the transfer student Cheng Yih (played by Tsao Yu Ning). Cheng Yih is every girl's favorite. He has excellent grades, and he is talented and good at fighting. Xiaoxia, who has poor grades, is determined to get with Cheng Yih! She tries all the standard methods to make him like her but they all fail. The seemingly indifferent Cheng Yih actually hides secret feelings for Xiaoxia in his heart. Yuzu, who has stood by Xiaoxia since their childhood, strictly guards against anyone who wants to get close to his sweetheart. This summer, a first love fragrant like lemongrass between the three begins...

Movie Review:

There’s obviously a market for romantic movies like this one directed by Lai Meng Jie, which is why they are still being made – despite the fact they do not add anything new or interesting go the genre. We don’t mean it in a bad way, because the 112 minute movie does bring back some sweet memories when we were young and carefree, when the biggest worry of the day was trying to figure out how to get your crush’s attention.

The movie doesn’t make much effort in building up an inventive plot development. In present day, Xiaoxia (a wide eyed and likeable Moon Lee) is getting ready for a friend’s wedding, and she looks wistful when informed that a guy from her past will be attending. You know this is going to be a tale of how a boy and girl almost get together, and how circumstances are going to keep them apart. The only thing left to find out is, what series of events caused them to be kept separated, and whether there is going to be a happy ending before the end credits roll.

We are brought back to Xiaoxia’s school days, where she is known to be often hanging out with Yuzu (SHOU) – there’s a cute segment explaining how Yuzu’s name came about. Yuzu is the type of guy in school who doesn’t do well in studies, pulls pranks in the classroom, but you can totally count on to be loyal friend. The character is perfectly played by Taiwanese singer and rapper SHOU, whose real name is Lou Jun Shuo. Exuding bad boy vibes, Yuzu will go the ends of the earth for Xiaoxia in the name of friendship. While they aren’t officially a couple (Xiaoxia doesn’t see romance blossoming), Yuzu is obviously in love with the girl.

Then along comes Cheng Yih (played by another good looker Tsao Yu Ning), who makes Xiaoxia go gaga with his boyish charm. To add some depth to the character, there is also a personal past which Cheng Yih isn’t too keen to talk about. He has a dog whom he loves very much, and stays with his grandparents. His grandmother has dementia, and some screen time is dedicated to exploring how the condition affects relationships.

Meanwhile, Xiaoxia continues to be smitten by Cheng Yih, while poor Yuzu can only look on from the side. If you ask us, Yuzu will make a more interesting boyfriend. But this is clearly not about us, because the movie goes on to play out different situations for the three characters to be entangled in a high school romance that may make fans of the genre smile.

The story develops in a predictable manner, and there aren’t really any real stakes that you will be emotionally invested in – probably because you know the picture perfect scenes unfolding on the big screen are only made possible by young and good looking stars. Again, this is not a bad thing if the two hours in the theatre make you reminisce about a past that may have faded in your memory.

Movie Rating:

(Fans of the genre will smile and fondly remember the high school romance they had)

Review by John Li