SYNOPSIS: Robert Downey Jr. reprises his role as the world's most famous detective, Sherlock Holmes, and Jude Law returns as his friend and colleague, Dr. Watson, in Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows. Sherlock Holmes has always been the smartest man in the room... until now. Criminal mastermind at large Professor James Moriarty (Jared Harris)is not only Holmes' intellectual equal, but his capacity for evil may give him an advantage. Now as a rash of murder and mayhem breaks out across the globe, only Holmes and Watson can stop the cunning Moriarty from completing his ominous plan and altering the course of history.
MOVIE REVIEW:
Playing the role of Iron Man in 2008 and Sherlock Holmes the year after successfully relaunch the career of Robert Downey Jr. In a twist of fate, the once struggling “Chaplin” actor instantly fronted two mega franchises and it comes to no one surprise when Warner Bros opted to fast track the sequel, “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows” bringing back the whole bunch of cast and crew.
Most remember the character of Sherlock Holmes as one hell of a serious detective drabbed in a boring coat and smoke pipe. With Downey Jr’s portrayal of Holmes, the detective becomes an extraordinaire, fun-loving, acid-tongue character which many comes to love and together with his faithful buddy, Dr John H. Watson (Jude Law), the duo are back to investigate a series of murders, terrorist attacks that are connected to a certain Professor James Moriarty (Jared Harris). The intellectual Holmes finally met his match in Moriarty if not a far more brilliant opponent whose vicious plan is to start a world war and profit from it.
Returning to the director’s chair is Guy Ritchie, a talent you either love or despise. Ritchie continues to turn the master detective into some sort of kungfu master and there are few wonderfully choreographed fighting sequences which again utilized Holmesavision from the original. There are several rousing action scenes including one that happened on a moving train when Watson is on his way for his honeymoon and a loud cannon blast with slow-mo shots towards the end. While he is known formally for his quirky, gangsta movies, Ritchie indeed has proven he can deliver a bombastic, big-budget hit and this sequel cements the fact.
The relationship between Holmes and Watson becomes increasingly homoerotic as they banter endlessly and never for a minute opted for a separation during the journey to uncover the sinister plot. The chemistry between the two stars is remarkable and we would have easily picked this as the best ‘bromance’ of the year. Jared Harris is perfect as Moriarty, the criminal mastermind and archenemy of Holmes, pity we couldn’t see more of the character working his magic at Holmes. Rachel McAdams from the original returns for a cameo role while Noomi Rapace (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) is wasted as a Gypsy fortune-teller who is nothing more than a running companion to Holmes and Watson.
For purists, Ritchie’s treatment of the characters and material is absolutely nothing alike to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's iconic detective even though the story for this sequel is influenced by one of his works. Occasionally witty with endless bounds of energy, “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows” is a splendid popcorn treat that fairs better than the first. Right now, we are just worried how the third one is going to top this.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
Sherlock Holmes & Dr Watson: A Perfect Chemistry is a segment where Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law sang praises of one another and shows how chummy they are on-and-off screen.
Moriarty’s Master Plan Unveiled touches on the villainous character in the sequel and how they choreographed the game of chess in the finale by getting a chess expert on set.
Director Guy Ritchie invented it in the original and we see how he improved on it in the sequel in Holmesavision on Steroids.
AUDIO/VISUAL:
“Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows” retains the murky, grimy style of the original much fitting to the period setting without comprising on the clarity and details of the video transfer. Dialog is crystal clear to the ears and the sound effects for the most part are thunderous and booming.
MOVIE RATING:
DVD RATING :
Review by Linus Tee
SYNOPSIS: 3 Mini-Movies + 4 fun-filled games.
MOVIE REVIEW:
You can’t deny the minions are the ones who stole the show in “Despicable Me”. They are cute, they are yellow, comes in all sizes and they speak gibberish.
This DVD contains only 3 mini movies and 4 interactive fun games featuring the minions and some of the main cast. The 3 mini movies totaled less than 15 minutes and the first movie is called “Orientation Day” where we see how Gru’s newest workers start their work day. Second is “Home Makeover”. The three young girls together with the minions try to make their home family-friendly before a social worker pays them a visit. Lastly and probably the cutest, “Banana”, a lunchtime argument that turns into something bigger than expected.
The 4 interactive fun games appeals to the very young kids demographics and for those who are older, they will find plenty of free iPhone and iPad apps that are way better than these.
If you have the blu-ray version of “Despicable Me”, you would have watched or played the above features and more a while ago. Consider this DVD is sold at a regular price, this is strictly only for diehard minion fans.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
As above.
AUDIO/VISUAL:
The graphics and sound design for the mini movies is as good as the full-length feature.
MOVIE RATING:
DVD RATING :
Review by Linus Tee
SYNOPSIS: IDC Agent Jon (Jay Chou) sustains grave injuries on a mission and decides to spend his final days with his mother. She tells him a long-held secret. To fulfill her wishes, Jon goes to Southeast Asia. He befriends medical specialist Rachel (Lin Peng). When she is forced into the schemes of a criminal organization, Jon attempts rescue and becomes the target of the organization that includes his estranged brother Yang (Nicholas Tse)! When the organization betrays Yang and kidnaps his daughter Sheng, the brothers join forces to rescue Rachel and Sheng.
MOVIE REVIEW:
A good old guns-toting HK action movie is hard to come by nowadays with much of the talents either retired or has moved on to greener pastures. Think actor Chow Yun Fatt and directors liked John Woo and Ringo Lam. Dante Lam’s “The Viral Factor” is one movie that comes at the right time and with two of Asia’s biggest stars, Jay Chou and Nicholas Tse anchoring it, it comes as a bit shocking that the box-office isn’t that well-received.
The Viral Factor” has all the makings of a big-budgeted blockbuster. A globetrotting location shoot that involves probably a first time a Chinese crew has ever shot in Jordan, followed by our neighboring Malaysia and Beijing. As mentioned above, two young hot male stars and a tightly wound script by Lam and his frequent collaborator, Jack Ng.
Jay Chou plays Jon, a special ops agent that is betrayed by his own teammate while escorting a scientist who has just created a lethal form of smallpox. While on sick leave and a request from his dying mother to seek out his estranged brother, Yang (Tse) and father (veteran actor Liao Kai Chi), Jon travels to KL and incidentally encounters his elder brother who came from the other side of the law. Yang is a diehard criminal entrust to kidnap Rachel, a scientist engaged to study the virus. Will the two brothers finally reunite amidst all the mayhem?
Normally, plotting is secondary in an action movie however Lam and Ng at least tries their best in weaving a moving tale of two estranged brothers forced to unite together to fight against a common enemy in the end. The most tear-jerking, touching aspect comes from the carefully crafted father-and-son relationship which is portrayed by two of Dante’s regular cast members, Tse and Liao. While characterizations in general lacked the depth of the director’s acclaimed efforts, “The Beast Stalker” and “The Stool Pigeon”, it definitely surpassed the dismal “Fire of Conscience”.
When it comes to action, “The Viral Factor” won hands down with its non-stop major action sets and pieces especially a memorable outrageously staged car chase along the busy streets and mall of Kuala Lumpur. If you thought Jackie Chan’s “Supercop” has the balls to crash through Singaporeans’ favourite shopping district then you ain’t see nothing yet. Tse continues his daredevil stuntwork after “Invisible Target” and once again impresses with his agility. Chou who has shown a little kungfu potential in his heavy wire-fu, lackluster “Treasure Hunter” chips in some nimble fist fights and gun-toting coolness opposite Andy On who plays the main villain. With a mixture of Mandarin and Cantonese languages, the movie retains the original voice recording that lends a sense of authenticity, notably veteran actress Elaine Jin’s monologue and the fresh feeling of hearing Tse, Liao and other cast members speaking in their own dialect.
Despite receiving underwhelming theatrical response, “The Viral Factor” probably is one of the best HK action movies in recent times with a production scale as lush as a Hollywood title. Highly recommended.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
The DVD only comes with "The Great Magician" and "The Viral Factor" trailer.
AUDIO/VISUAL:
Images are sharp with a balanced contrast and the soundtrack is immersive with plenty of loud gunfires and explosion to satisfy your audio and visual experience.
MOVIE RATING:
DVD RATING :
Review by Linus Tee
SYNOPSIS: 1916. General Yuan Shi-kai has just died and the Japanese are encroaching. A mysterious magician Zhang Xian catches the eye of local warlord, Lei Daniu, who hopes to use him to win the affections of Liu Yin, a woman he forced into being his seventh concubine. Unbeknownst to him, Zhang is the fiancé of Liu who has been waiting for him to rescue her. Zhang, who was hellbent on destroying Lei, discovers that the man behind the evil deeds is actually his head butler Liu who has joined forces with the Japanese in his misguided efforts to unite the country. To defeat Liu and win back the heart of his love, Zhang pulls out his ultimate magic trick.
MOVIE REVIEW:
“The Great Magician” marks the long-awaited reunion of two of Hong Kong’s most versatile actors, Lau Ching Wan and Tony Leung Chiu Wai since their last collaboration in “The Longest Nite”. Throw in director Derek Yee and you have a must-see title on your hand. But alas “The Great Magician” turned out to be a mixed bag of everything that it gets increasingly frustrating at what Yee is trying to achieve in the end.
Set in an era where China is divided by warlords, one General Bully Lei (Lau Ching Wan) is trying hard to make the just acquired 7th wife, Yin (Zhou Xun) fall in love with him. Enlisting the help of a mysterious magician, Zhang (Tony Leung) who has just arrived in town, Lei tries hard to win the heart of Yin. Unbeknownst to the Lei, a conspiracy to overthrow him is hatched by the Japanese army and his second-in-command, Liu (Wu Gang). At the same time, is Zhang a mere fancy magician or actually the real fiancé of Yin whom she painfully pines for?
The plotting of “The Great Magician” unfolds in a breezy, offbeat tone that it’s painfully hard to follow the happenings on the screen. That’s not all, the script by Yee and his regular scriber Chun Tin Nam and Lau Ho Leung fire at all directions with several subplots and angles including one where there are rebels hidden within Zhang’s troupe waiting to kidnap Lei. Oh and Liu is not only cooperating with the Japanese but also trying to revive the Manchurian Dynasty with some old eunuchs and officials. Wait there’s more, Liu needs some ancient magic scroll from Zhang’s master (played by Yee’s half-brother, Qin Pei) to create an army. There are almost liked three or four stories crammed into one unfortunately the material simply ends up incoherently messy and proved it’s not one that is suitable for Yee.
The good thing is the charming performances from Tony Leung and Lau Ching Wan which help get things moving swiftly. Blessed with his charismatic good looks, Leung is perfect for the role of the magician. The several magic tricks he pulled on stage are simply mesmerizing particularly one where he pull all sorts of jewelries out of Lei’s concubines. In addition, there are a few funny gags which worked pretty well notably the hidden tunnel trick commonly used by magicians, the banter between Zhang and Lei and a beautifully staged trick that involves painted portraits. Once again, Lau is flawless as Bully Lei, a kind heartened goofy General. It’s the kind of role that Lau has no problem fitting in and with the ever reliable Zhou Xun struggling between the two men; you have a top notch cast. Yee’s regular leading man, Daniel Wu even chips in a hilarious cameo together with filmmakers Tsui Hark and Vincent Kok.
With the exception of “Triple Tap”, Yee’s recent outputs such as “Protégé” and “Shinjuku Incident” have both a strong script and powerful cast. Apparently “The Great Magician” is filled with the latter but lacked the former. Instead of a white rabbit being pulled out of Yee’s magical hat, we have a cock and a bull.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
The DVD only comes with "The Great Magician" and "The Viral Factor" trailer.
AUDIO/VISUAL:
Colours come off as natural and black levels are excellent. The only Mandarin track is clear but pity some of the sound effects which require a full surround delivery is constraint by the 2.0 soundtrack.
MOVIE RATING:
DVD RATING :
Review by Linus Tee
SYNOPSIS: Enjoy the fun, the laughs and the music of the glory days of rock and roll with a knockout cast. Rock of Ages is a hair-raising good time featuring the music of Def Leppard, Foreigner, Journey, Poison, Twisted Sister and more.
MOVIE REVIEW:
What’s there not to like about “Rock Of Ages”? Loud catchy 80’s rock music, outrageous fashion, bad hair and a megastar, Tom Cruise. You don’t expect anything lesser than that coming out from the hands of Adam Shankman who helmed “Glee” and “Hairspray”.
Treating this movie version of the Broadway act like a karaoke session with old friends will definitely help soften the numerous clichés and shortcomings. Julianne Hough (Footloose) plays Sherrie, a small-time girl who travels to LA hoping to become a singer. But a robbery changes everything and she found herself working as a waitress at the famous “The Bourbon Room” and falling in love with fellow rock star wannabe waiter, Drew (Diego Boneta). Throwing in another dozen characters including their boss, Dennis (Alec Baldwin), his right-hand man Lonny (Russell Brand), a conservative wife of the Mayor, Patricia (Catherine Zeta-Jones) and a mega-depressive rock-and-roll star, Stacee Jaxx (Tom Cruise) into the mix and we have “Rock Of Ages”.
For a start, you simply have to cast away your disbelief whenever the characters break into songs halfway in a scene or walking down a busy street. It gives you the goose bumps but this is after all a musical. The utterly boring love story between a young man and a girl who has an on-and-off relationship nearly kills this piece of escapee. Fortunately we have a zany Zeta-Jones, a scenery-stealing Paul Giamatti (he is the only one besides Bryan Cranston who doesn’t get to belt their lungs out) and yes, our “Mission Impossible” superstar Tom Cruise and his furry friend manage to save the day. Cruise ever the consummate actor displayed never-before-seen performance as a troubled rock star. He actually pulled off a perfect mashup of Bon Jovi, Axl Rose and Jim Morrison and I for one would not have hesitated for a Stacee Jaxx spin-off.
What’s not fine is the awkward relationship between Dennis and Lonny. You should have seen it coming from the moment they are together on screen but Baldwin and Brand seems to be having a hell of a time that you probably forgive all the campiness. And Shankman not satisfy in all this mayhem gives another cheesy seductive scene involving a Rolling Stones reporter (Malin Akerman) crawling under the mercy of sex god Stacee Jaxx. Julianne Hough and Diego Boneta are respectively fine in their roles (slightly bland to be honest) though pitting them against the rest of the big names puts the duo in an obvious disadvantage position.
“Rock Of Ages” is a fun, fluffy flick, just kick back, relax and hummed to the covers of rock anthems such as "Paradise City" and "I Love Rock And Roll". Leather pants and mascara optional.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
If You Build It, They Will Rock Itis a brief segment on creating The Bourbon Room set.
Watch English rock band Def Leppard perform at the gala premiere in Def Leppard Live At The Premiere
Any Way You Want It Music Featurette is a music video by Mary J. Blige, Constantine Maroulis and Julianne Hough.
AUDIO/VISUAL:
“Rock Of Ages” looks fantastic on DVD, the movie might be 80’s but the good looking, vibrant images definitely is far from aging. The music tracks come blasting through the speakers making sure the audio is alive not dead. Dialogue is clear though the music tends to soar louder once it kicks in.
MOVIE RATING:
DVD RATING :
Review by Linus Tee
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The Singapore Memory ProjectPosted on 06 Apr 2012 |
Genre: Comedy/Drama
Director: Ben Palmer
Cast: Simon Pegg, Ophelia Lovibond, Lake Bell, Ken Stott, Olivia Williams, Rory Kinnear
RunTime: 1 hr 28 mins
Rating: NC16 (Sexual References And Some Coarse Language)
Released By: Shaw
Official Website:
Opening Day: 4 June 2014
Synopsis: Meet Nancy (Lake Bell): 34, single, hung-over, and exhausted by her well meaning but clueless friends’ continual matchmaking. 10 times bitten, 100 times shy, after an especially disastrous set-up at her friends’ engagement party, Nancy is basically done with dating. She’s reached the end of her rope, and is more than happy to hole up, seal up, and resign herself to a life alone. That is until Jack (Simon Pegg) mistakes Nancy for his blind date under the clock at Waterloo Station, and she does the unthinkable and just… goes with it. Because what if pretending to be someone else finally makes her man up, and become her painfully honest, awesomely unconventional, and slightly unstable true self?
Movie Review:
This reviewer doesn’t know how else to put this across in a less embarrassing way, but there was a moment in this Ben Palmer directed comedy that struck him in such a poignant way, he felt like breaking down immediately. Somewhere two thirds into the film, the male protagonist played by the always reliable Simon Pegg was seen crying in a toilet cubicle. And yes, you’ve guessed it right, this writer went through that (and gasp, recently!) to emphatise the crushing experience one must have felt (yup, it’s the male ego we’re talking about here as well) in that claustrophobic space.
And that is why this British movie spoke to this columnist. The story, though somewhat seems like a deliberate attempt to be cheeky, is something that may actually happen in real life: No thanks to a self help book, a 34 year old woman goes on a blind date with a 40 year old divorcee. Yes, you’ve guessed it right – the girl is overdue for a relationship, and definitely overdue for settling down. And then we have the guy who thought he had it all with a marriage and a job (as an online marketing manager, how apt!). But alas, as fate would have it, his seemingly picture perfect life fell apart when he found out that his wife was cheating on him.
This movie could easily have been a tearjerking melodrama, but because it is B-R-I-T-S-H, the approach just seems, well, classier. You can definitely tell this apart from an American production, where everything falls nicely in place – both literally and figuratively. Here, thanks to Palmer’s (The Inbetweeners Movie) direction, characters are identifiable by the most vulnerable souls in real life.
Lake Bell (It’s Complicated, Mr Peabody & Sherman) takes on the role of a girl who may be too cynical for her own good (it’s what life serves you when you hit mid 30s, apparently), and while you wish she can snap out of her negativity, you also wish that she gets a good man at the end of the day. After all, she’s not someone mean spirited.
Then we have Pegg (Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, The World’s End), who is totally engaging as a man who is earnestly seeking a life like everyone else, but unfortunately experiences some hard knocks at what seems like his mid life stage. How can anyone, even if you have the strongest will, not feel like having a good cry in the toilet alone at some point in time?
The relatable characterisations of these two people are what makes this movie work. Adding to the viewer’s enjoyment is how the two stars have a genuinely likeable chemistry on screen. Of course, we are not forgetting the humour. If you have watched enough British comedies, you’ll love the jokes written for this 88 minute movie.
Above all, there is an honesty to this movie that will have you reflect on what relationships are all about amidst the delightful humour. Now let this reviewer continue to wonder whether there is a happy ending for him at the end of the road, like the lovely couple in the movie (you weren’t expecting them to be separated, were you?)
Movie Rating:
(A thoroughly enjoyable romantic comedy from start to finish, this highly recommended British production also makes you reflect on the finer aspects of being in a relationship)
Review by John Li
Genre: Action/Thriller
Director: Tsai Yueh-Hsun
Cast: Mark Chao, Lin Geng-Xin, Huang Bo, Chang Chun-Ning, Zha Na, Terri Kwan, Christopher Lee
RunTime: 2 hrs 6 mins
Rating: PG13 (Violence)
Released By: GV and Clover Films
Official Website:
Opening Day: 9 October 2014
Synopsis: Police officer in the Southern precinct, WU Ying-xiong, has been revered as a hero in the Harbor City ever since he stopped the terrorists on a Boeing 777 airplane and kept the city safe. Unfortunately, the peace is only temporary… The entire city is in panic as a series of bomb explosions happen within hours and this is just the beginning of a conspiracy.
Movie Review:
Call this writer a traditionalist, but he has never been too impressed whenever he hears a young artiste bagging an acting award. Showbiz is a cruel place, and he somewhat believes that accolades, as shammy as they are, belong to veterans who have been slogging it out. That is probably why, whenever the media goes all excited about a young actor winning an industry award, this columnist would read the coverage with many pinches of salt.
So here we have 30 year old Mark Chao (Monga, The First Time) who established his reputation by starring as one of the two protagonists in 2009 Taiwanese TV series Black & White. The 24 episode drama tells the story of two cops who have vastly different personalities. Wu Ying Xiong (Chao) believes that law and justice are the pillars of the society and are constantly on the lookout for baddies, while Chen Zai Tian (Vic Chou) lives a luxurious lifestyle while waiting for dubious sources to crack his cases. Chao went on to win Best Actor at the 44th Golden Bell Awards, the prestigious annual TV production award presented by Taiwan’s Government Information Office. The series was a big winner, taking home Best Drama, Best Director, Best Art Direction and Best Marketing.
While this writer has never watched a single episode of the TV drama, it makes perfect sense that there was a 2012 movie spin off chronicling Wu Ying Xiong’s days before the series. Rumours have it that Chou and Chao’s friendship soured after the latter’s Golden Bell win, and hence Chou’s absence in the movie. Titled Black & White: The Dawn of Assault, the movie was a success – hence this sequel (which also takes place before the TV series).
For someone who is watching anything related to “Black & White” (the predecessor to this movie was only released on home video here), this 126 minute action blockbuster is entertaining popcorn fare. The latest installment of the police action series is evidently grander in scale (go catch some of the TV episodes on YouTube), with special visual effects and 3D production companies from Taiwan, Hong Kong, China, Japan, Thailand, France, Australia and Hollywood coming into the picture. Yup, the filmmakers had a very, very big budget to work on.
Director Tsai Yuen Hsun makes his point clear by opening the movie with a dramatic car chase and countless loud explosions that sabotage all of the roadways leading in and out of the city. This is where we have to count on Wu Ying Xiong and a new character (a very likeable Lin Geng Xin) to save the day. Chao and Lin have worked on Tsui Hark's Young Detective Dee: Rise of the Sea Dragon (2013), and the chemistry between the two work well in their latest collaboration.
Our senses are kept frantic by collapsed buildings, airplanes and trains crashing onto city streets, a rocket attack and an impending biological weapon explosion. The special effects are above average (you know that nothing can beat Hollywood), and the performances from the ensemble cast are commendable. Look out for the award winning Huang Bo who returns from the last movie as a criminal with a heart, as well as other familiar faces like Chang Chun Ning, Zha Na, Terri Kwan and our own Christopher Lee.
Will Chao wow critics with his acting here? Unlikely, because from this point on, it’s really about bringing in the bucks. And this very entertaining popcorn movie works delivers with its impressive production values.
Movie Rating:
(Got two hours to spare for an entertaining popcorn action flick? This Taiwanese action franchise does the job with its explosions, car chases and shoot’em ups)
Genre: Superhero/Action
Director: Marc Webb
Cast: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Denis Leary, Campbell Scott, Irrfan Khan, Martin Sheen, Sally Field
RunTime: PG
Rating: 2 hrs 16 mins
Released By: Sony Pictures Releasing International
Official Website: http://www.theamazingspiderman.com/
Opening Day: 29 June 2012
Synopsis: The Amazing Spider-Man is the story of Peter Parker (Garfield), an outcast high schooler who was abandoned by his parents as a boy, leaving him to be raised by his Uncle Ben (Sheen) and Aunt May (Field). Like most teenagers, Peter is trying to figure out who he is and how he got to be the person he is today. Peter is also finding his way with his first high school crush, Gwen Stacy (Stone), and together, they struggle with love, commitment, and secrets. As Peter discovers a mysterious briefcase that belonged to his father, he begins a quest to understand his parents’ disappearance – leading him directly to Oscorp and the lab of Dr. Curt Connors (Ifans), his father’s former partner. As Spider-Man is set on a collision course with Connors’ alter-ego, The Lizard, Peter will make life-altering choices to use his powers and shape his destiny to become a hero.
Movie Review:
Ten years might seem too soon to reboot a franchise, but after the bloated and lacklustre ‘Spiderman 3’, going back to basics isn’t that bad an idea after all. That’s exactly what ‘The Amazing Spiderman’ does, booting out previous franchise stalwarts Sam Raimi, Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst and James Franco for up-and-coming director Marc Webb (with only the indie feature ‘500 Days of Summer’ under his belt) and similarly on-the-up stars Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone. It’s a bold move all right, but in this instance, one that pays off handsomely in the form of an enormously entertaining blockbuster piece of entertainment that we dare say surpasses the original.
To be sure, this isn’t quite ‘the untold story’ that the pre-publicity machine sold it as. Rather, screenwriters James Vanderbilt, Alvin Sargent and Steve Kloves (with story credit to Vanderbilt) re-assemble the key elements of Peter Parker’s origin story for a fresh new take on the familiar. So once again, Peter is the nerdy and socially awkward teenager who lives with his Uncle Ben and Aunt May, who one day gets bitten by a genetically modified spider and develops superhuman powers, who uses his powers for play until his Uncle Ben gets killed, and then is thrust into a quest for justice to hunt down the killer that ultimately leads him to recognise the responsibility which comes with possessing such powers.
Like we said, this is no mere rehash, and both Webb and his team of writers find opportunities at every turn to expand and adjust the little details that make a difference. Parker’s father for instance plays a much more central role to the narrative, and the crucial wrestling episode between Parker and opponent Bonesaw McGraw in Sam Raimi’s original is reduced with a wink to a brief moment that inspires his Spidey mask. More significantly, Webb tones down the comic-book feel of Raimi’s original and goes the way of recent superhero movies by injecting a stronger dose of drama into the material.
Though Parker’s abandonment issues have always featured in the ‘Spiderman’ films, Webb’s spin on it (pun intended) is by far the most emotionally poignant, drawing an intimate link with Parker’s identity crisis that forms the backbone of the story. Indeed, that’s also how the film’s villain, Dr Curt Connors (Rhys Ifans), has been sketched- a brilliant one-armed scientist emotionally wounded by his physical infirmity who therefore seeks to ‘heal’ the world through the regenerative powers of lizard DNA (incidentally, he said reptile is what he morphs into after being obsessed with his misguided mission). Both hero and adversary are characters isolated in their own way- two sides of the same coin if you may- not so different from the dynamic between Batman and the Joker in Nolan’s ‘The Dark Knight’.
Nonetheless, fans can rest easy that Webb doesn’t take his movie down a similarly dark and gloomy path- instead, there is much cheer and spark in the romance between Parker and classmate Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone), who proves to be a much more interesting character than Mary-Jane Watson ever was in three films. That’s undoubtedly a result of the chemistry between reel-turned-real life sweethearts Garfield and Stone, but a key difference here is that Stacy is no longer just the sweet girl-next-door but a smart and sassy individual perfectly capable of being Parker’s intellectual equal. Their romance has the zing of Webb’s earlier ‘Summer’, and more than justifies why the commercials director was chosen over so many others to take the helm of this movie.
Webb also has much fun with Parker’s discovery of his newfound superhuman capabilities before the film takes a more decidedly serious tone- and a subway scene where the lanky teenager easily overpowers five other burly men in the same carriage (while ripping the clothes off another lady passenger) is neatly choreographed and adroitly staged. Ditto another where he hijacks a car-jacking thief in action (briefly seen in the trailers), which also marks the start of a tongue-in-cheek move he makes whenever some villain refuses to shut up or confess. Yes, even with a more realistic hand on the material, it’s nice to know that Webb has retained the levity of the original.
In between the intricate webs of romance, comedy and drama, Webb weaves in another layer of action that perfectly complements the earlier elements. The first major setpiece on the Williamsburg Bridge sets the tone for the rest to follow- eschewing all-out spectacle for more emotionally-driven thrills- culminating in a harrowing rescue of a young boy from a burning car hanging off the side of the bridge that proves to be unexpectedly moving. Likewise the climactic sequence set atop a New York skyscraper (similarity to ‘The Avengers’ aside) has more emotional beats than you would expect- in particular relating to Spiderman’s status as a masked vigilante- and ends on a surprisingly sombre note that brings the human dimensions of the tale to a fully satisfying finish.
A huge reason why Webb’s drama-centric approach works is the excellent casting. There’s no other way to describe it than to say that Garfield is brilliant as Parker/ Spiderman. He nails the tongue-in-cheek one-liners, and navigates the character beats between tortured teenager and born-again superhero with admirable ease. We’ve said this before, but we’d mention it again- his scenes with Stone sparkle with verve. And not unlike Raimi’s original, his scenes with supporting leads Martin Sheen and Sally Field provide some of the most heartwarming moments in the movie. To compare Garfield’s performance with that of Maguire’s is inconsequential really, and it suffices to say that Garfield brings a different, but no less unique, personality to the iconic character.
Indeed, the same can be said of the film as a whole, reassembling the familiar elements of Spiderman’s origin story into a refreshing blend of action and emotion. Working off the template of Raimi’s original and inspired by recent character-driven superhero movies, Webb delivers an emotionally thrilling and adrenaline-pumping blockbuster that counts amongst one of the best Marvel page-to-screen adaptations. And unlike post-conversion efforts, the decision to shoot in 3D ensures that the POV shots of Spiderman swinging down Fifth Avenue or battling the Lizard atop the Oscorp skyscraper are positively vertiginous, adding an additional dimension of excitement especially when viewed in IMAX.
Movie Rating:
(‘Amazing’ isn’t too much a superlative to describe this perfect blend of drama and action that offers both physical and emotional thrills- thanks to spot-on direction by Marc Webb and great performances by Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone)
Review by Gabriel Chong
SYNOPSIS: Two gangs of robbers descend on the same bank, but hearts are what may be stolen instead in Flypaper, a madcap crime comedy from the screenwriters of the blockbuster The Hangover. Patrick Dempsey (Grey's Anatomy) stars as a nervous customer with a crush on beautiful teller Ashley Judd (Double Jeopardy, Crossing Over). They and the other staff and customers become hostages when two very different groups of crooks hit the bank simultaneously: a high-tech trio who plan to break into the vault and a pair of small-timers whose idea of a big score is knocking off the ATMs. When people begin mysteriously dying one by one, everyone involved begins to wonder if there's someone else in the bank up to no good. Tim Blake Nelson (O Brother, Where Art Thou?), Mekhi Phifer (Dawn of the Dead) and Jeffrey Tambor (Arrested Development) also star in this comic blast of a mystery.
MOVIE REVIEW:
A long in gestation project of ‘The Hangover’ writers Jon Lucas and Scott Moore, ‘Flypaper’ unites a motley group of B-list stars for a caper comedy that is as true to its title as can be. Indeed, despite its none-too ambiguous attempt to be both smart and hip, this zany bank heist farce is ultimately lightweight entertainment that can’t quite match the potential of its supposedly clever conceit.
It must have seemed witty at the time to write a movie about two sets of vastly different robbers descend on the same bank at the same time, but Lucas and Moore hardly find the right tone nor the right twists to sustain the premise. Rather, the clash between a pair of backyard bumpkins named Peanut and Jelly (Tim Blake Nelson, Pruitt Taylor Vance) and a trio of slick high-tech thieves (Mekhi Phifer, Matt Ryan, John Ventimiglia) account for little more than fitfully amusing moments that don’t quite add up to a whole.
In the middle of the mayhem stands one of the more irritating characters in recent memory, a fast-talking obsessive-compulsive savant Tripp (Patrick Dempsey) whose manic performance makes you want to kill him off after all but a good ten minutes. The movie would have you believe that both groups of criminals end up listening to Tripp’s plan of going about their robberies as planned- since one is after the cash in the ATMs and the other is after that in the vault.
But even if we can suspend that bit of disbelief, the indulgence that the movie begs for us to think that they would simply leave the group of hostage stereotypes to roam the bank as they please or worse buy Tripp’s idea that a criminal mastermind named Marcellus Drum had been behind the twin robberies after all is simply preposterous. Instead, it speaks of the script’s ineptness when it turns a robbery into a murder-mystery as the hostages and robbers team up to try to figure out just who this Drum character might be.
And in case you’re wondering, the revelation is a letdown, with the same that could be said of the happily-ever-after ending that leaves Tripp rich with wealth and romance- in the form of quasi-hottier bank teller Kaitlin (Ashley Judd). Part of the fault is Rob Minkoff’s ill fit for the material, the director of family-friendly studio hits such as ‘Stuart Little’, ‘The Lion King’ and the uninspired Jackie Chan-Jet Li comedy ‘The Forbidden Kingdom’ clearly out of his league at both pacing and tone in more adult material.
Even the cast offers scant compensation- while Nelson and Vance make for an amiably funny pair, the rest of the actors largely fall flat. Most perplexing is Dempsey, who chose to produce this film but turn in a ingratiating performance that does nothing for his stalling film career which he had tried unsuccessfully to launch outside of ‘Grey’s Anatomy’. Judd looks more and more like a has-been, and essentially sleepwalks through the role without sharing any chemistry with Dempsey.
No wonder then that even with the pedigree, ‘Flypaper’ skipped a run at the cinemas and went straight to video. It makes for a passable viewing time on a lazy Sunday afternoon, especially if you need some diversionary entertainment. But any other time, ‘Flypaper’ is hackneyed, tired and perhaps even frustrating to watch- and you’d be advised to let this fly by you.
AUDIO/VISUAL:
The Dolby Digital 2.0 audio makes for a largely uninvolving experience, but visuals are clear enough for the movie.
MOVIE RATING:
DVD RATING :
Review by Gabriel Chong
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