SYNOPSIS: From the producer of SHAUN OF THE DEAD and SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD comes ATTACK THE BLOCK is a fast, funny, frightening action adventure movie that pits a teen gang against an invasion of savage alien monsters. It turns a London housing estate into a sci-fi playground. A tower block into a fortress under siege. And teenage street kids into heroes. It's inner city versus outer space.

MOVIE REVIEW:

You can’t deny a good script or directing by its limited budget and that implies to the Brit, sci-fi comedy, “Attack the Block”.

Written by a radio comedian and first-time director Joe Cornish (who also co-written “The Adventures of Tintin” with Edgar Wright), the premise has a group of teenage hoodlums battling strange aliens in a typical housing neighborhood. The story begins with a nurse named Sam being mugged by the street gang led by Moses and his followers, Pest, Jerome, Dennis and Biggz. But before the ordeal ends, a strange ball of light crash-landed on a car. In an attempt to salvage some valuables out of it, Moses got himself scratched by a strange creature. The group gave chase and killed the small weird-looking creature. Before long, more balls of light began to fall from the sky and the teenagers find themselves in pursuit by lethal gorillas-like monsters.

“Attack the Block” moves with such aggressive energy and thrills that it’s hard to take your eyes off the screen. It could be the cast members who are mainly unknowns and did I mention the fact that they are very young. Utilizing fireworks, bikes and baseball bats, there is enough action, chase sequences to keep things going. The constraint budget means Cornish and his production team has to sacrifice on the CG and practical effects. Though at some points, the aliens look pretty much unpolished with its luminous teeth and dark fur, Cornish and his cinematographer still manages to make good use of the lighting and the darkened atmosphere to achieve the effect.  

There’s a bit of dark humor thrown in for good measures if you can get pass the heavy British slang and the rotund Nick Frost (Hot Fuzz) appears as a weed seller, unfortunately I don’t really see his comedic talents in this one except appearing totally stoney for the whole time. There’s a subplot involving an ultra-potty mouth, gangsta drug dealer that is redundant and distraction to the main action in some ways. The heroes crafted by Cornish are not exactly likeable in the beginning; imagine street thugs that mobbed innocent people yet he manages to let his characters win us over in the end with his witty script.

Moving swiftly at 88 minutes and combining thrills, a little gore and a little social commentary, Cornish’s debut caught us all by surprise. This is a little gem that deserves the praise and the attention. 

SPECIAL FEATURES:

NIL

AUDIO/VISUAL:

It looks and sound okay on a small TV setup.

MOVIE RATING:

DVD RATING :

Review by Linus Tee

Genre: Drama
Director: Mona Achache 
Cast:  Josiane Balasko, Garance Le Guillermic, Togo Igawa, Anne Brochet 
RunTime: 1 hr 41 mins
Rating: PG (Some Content Not Suitable For Children)
Released By:  Cathay-Keris Films
Official Website: 

Opening Day: 24 May 2012

Synopsis: Inspired by the beloved New York Times bestseller, The Elegance of the Hedgehog, by Muriel Barbery, THE HEDGEHOG is the timely story of Paloma (Garance Le Guillermic) a young girl bent on ending it all on her upcoming twelfth birthday.  Using her father’s old camcorder to chronicle the hypocrisy she sees in adults, Paloma begins to learn about life from the grumpy building concierge, Renée Michel (FRENCH TWIST’s Josiane Balasko). When Paloma’s camera reveals the extensive secret library in Renée’s back room, and that the often gruff matron reads Tolstoy to her cat, Paloma begins to understand that there are allies to be found beneath the prickliest of exteriors.  As the unlikely friendship deepens, Paloma’s own coming of age becomes a much less pessimistic prospect.

Movie Review:

Paloma Josse (Garance Le Guillermic) is a eleven year old girl disturbed by her privileged life in Paris. Her father Paul (Wladimir Yordanoff) is distracted by his government job while her mother Solange (Anne Brochet) drinks champagne with anti-depressants while talking to her plants.  She decides she will kill herself in 165 days on her 12th birthday and begins to document the hypocrisy of the adults in her apartment building with her father's old camcorder.  The apartment janitor, Renee, may appear to be a just another middle-aged woman who is bitter and grumpy, somewhat prickly, but when a new Japanese neighbor, Kakuro Ozu (Togo Igawa) moves in, he sees something else in her, something soft. This intrigues Paloma about “The Hedgehog”, a term used to describe Renee. Despite the fact that Paloma and Renee are on opposite ends of the socioeconomic scale, both of them prefers to quietly observe life from a place of relative obscurity while dwelling on the edge of the society

The soul of the film is definitely the subtle love story between Kakuro and Renee. Kakuro surprises Renee by completing her comment that 'happy families are all alike,' with 'but each unhappy family is unique,' which is a direct quote from a novel during their first meeting.  As Renee goes through her own transformation, the chemistry between her and Kakuro grows. It was then the three form a unique bond and we see Paloma and Renee emerge from hiding and begin to embrace life..

While adapting Muriel Barbery's bestselling novel "The Elegance of the Hedgehog", director Mona Achache makes a memorable directorial debut. She complements Barbery’s style and enhances her work through Paloma's actions, doing things such as putting her older sister Colombe (Sarah Le Picard) in a 'fishbowl' by filming her through a glass of water (as a metaphor of Paloma’s own life) and animating the drawings she created. While her character provides the narrative framing, young Le Guillermic makes an entertaining observer and narrator. The supporting cast as the Josse family gives a solid performance, creating a household which Paloma wish to escape from thoroughly believable.  Igawa as Kakuro is gentle but understated and Balasko’s Renee is a revelation, her performance is nuanced and graceful from within her dowdy exterior.

The Hegdehog is a heartwarming and unique tale, highlighting the importance of digging through the hard surface of life for the chance of discovering the hidden meanings and enjoyment beneath. Life, sometimes like the hedgehog, conceals a sophisticated elegance beneath a spiky veneer.

Movie Rating:

(The Hedgehog is a rare gem: a movie that is humorously smart and yet deeply moving)

Review by Sing Swee Leong

SYNOPSIS: THE IRON LADY is a surprising and intimate portrait of Margaret Thatcher, the first and only female Prime Minister of The United Kingdom. One of the 20th century's most famous and influential woman, Thatcher came from nowhere to smash through barriers of gender and class to be heard in a male dominated world, the spirited wife and mother who longed to change her country for the better. Exposing the private life behind the headlines, The Iron Lady is a moving journey into the heart of an extraordinary, complex woman. 

MOVIE REVIEW:  

Garnering countless nominations in her acting career, American actress Meryl Streep won her third Academy Award for her portrayal of Margaret Thatcher in “The Iron Lady”, a biography of the only female and longest-serving British Prime Minister.

Directed by Phyllida Lloyd (Mama Mia) and written by Abi Morgan (Shame), “The Iron Lady” is a scattering account of the famous politician, unable to decide to focus on Thatcher’s current state of life or the highlights of her career. The movie opens with Thatcher buying a pint of milk over at small minimart and we see the old dame walking back to her apartment and later lamenting to her husband, Denis (Jim Broadbent) the increase in milk prices. Subsequently, a “Sixth Sense” moment occurred and we realized Denis is no longer there, in fact he is dead and Thatcher’s caregiver has incidentally left the door opened with the supposedly dementia Thatcher giving her the slip.    


Just like the character who is portrayed here as suffering from dementia, the story itself fades in and out, past and present and using a mixture of archive news footages making it relatively hard to relate to such a brilliant complex person such as Thatcher. With this treatment, are we supposed to take sympathy on Thatcher who might or might not have neglected her own family in her course of climbing the ranks of her political career, which result in her loneliness? Or is this a movie to celebrate her political highlights such as the Falkland Islands’ invasion, the bombing of the Strand hotel by the IRA or the revitalized of the economy? “The Iron Lady” never takes a true stand and perhaps too shallow to do justice to one of the greatest politicians in the last two decades.

Fortunately, the one and only Meryl Streep compensate for the whole frustrating viewing experience. Despite under layers of aged makeup effects and a convincing British accent, Streep’s performance is first class, definitely worthy of her Oscar winning. British veteran actor Jim Broadbent is a wonderful presence as Denis, Thatcher’s pillar of support though it’s absurd to see him in the form of a ‘ghost’.

“The Iron Lady” soared purely for the fact that Meryl Streep is here. Otherwise, this biography of the grocer’s daughter and uncompromising leader which revolve more of her current state of health does very little to tell us anything about the ex-British Prime Minister. A HBO mini series might probably do a better job. 

SPECIAL FEATURES:

NIL

AUDIO/VISUAL:

Audio and visual is good enough for a small TV setup. 

 MOVIE RATING:  

DVD RATING :

 Review by Linus Tee

SYNOPSIS: Colin Farrell star as Douglas Quaid a factory worker who visits Rekall, a revolutionary company that can turn his superspy fantasies into real memories. But when the procedure goes horribly wrong, the line between fantasy and reality blurs as Quaid becomes a man on the run and the fate of the world hangs in the balance. 

MOVIE REVIEW:  

To thoroughly enjoy “Total Recall”, you need to erase your memories off the tremendously entertaining Paul Verhoeven version that stars Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sharon Stone.

Ex-Hollywood bad boy Colin Farrell stars as Douglas Quaid, an ordinary factory worker leading a monotonous life with his beautiful wife, Lori (Kate Beckinsale) in the Colony. When a visit to Rekall, a company that implants artificial memories goes horribly wrong, Quaid becomes a fugitive on the run. Hunted by his own wife with a mysterious woman, Melina (Jessica Biel) coming to his aid, Quaid realized the reality he is living is far from the truth and he might turn out to be the resistance force that can bring peace to the Colony.     

While the 1990 version pride itself as one of the best sci-fi classics of all time, this 2012 remake of the Philip K. Dick’s short story tries to sell the fact it is closer to the author’s work and imagination although the team of credited writers including Mark Bomback (Live Free Or Die Hard) and Kurt Wimmer (Ultraviolet) does little to adapt the source material to the screen except filling it with so much chase scenes that it hurt the eyes. There is nothing original about the story or visuals in fact you probably have seen them in Ridley Scott’s “Blade Runner” and Spielberg’s “Minority Report” also starring Farrell. Oh yes I remember they are adaptations of Dick’s stories as well so this is a good excuse for the filmmakers to port over some of the ideas.

Fortunately not all is lost when it comes to Len Wiseman at the helm. The husband of Beckinsale might not be a competent storyteller but he is more than capable enough to stage endless frenetic fights, shootouts and a thrilling hovercar chase. Wiseman has proven he can make a solid action movie and right here, he has no qualms putting up a gungho fight between two beautiful women, Beckinsale and the newly-wed Biel. Production Designer Patrick Tatopoulos on the other hand contributed a lavishly CG dystopian city and a gravity elevator dubbed “The Fall” to excite the senses.

Farrell is simply too bland as the hero, Schwarzenegger at least has a self deprecating sense of humour. Both Beckinsale and Biel are pretty enough and kicks well pity they are mere disposable female leads. Bill Nighy and Bryan Cranston are miscast as the leader of the Resistance and the scheming Chancellor of the United Federation of Britain respectively. John Cho of “Harold and Kumar” makes a blink-and-you-miss cameo as an employee of Rekall and Ethan Hawke’s supposedly role is ended up on the cutting floor.   

Besides all the glossy action sets, this remake has nothing new to offer and often as soulless and cold as the future society portrayed in the movie. It’s time to call in Rekall.  

SPECIAL FEATURES:

A Professor of Science is hired to compare the technology seen in the movie to real-life in Science Fiction Vs Science Fact.

Production Designer Patrick Tatopoulos talks about designing and creating the gravity elevator in Designing the Fall.

A pointless Gag Reel follows.

AUDIO/VISUAL:

The images are sharp and clean especially during the chase scene. Black levels are perfect and with a booming Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack and well-placed sound effects, “Total Recall” is an ideal demo disc to showcase during x’mas gatherings. 

 MOVIE RATING:  

DVD RATING :

 Review by Linus Tee

And you were expecting something of smaller scale? A movie of this magnitude – one that will probably be known as 2012’s “Movie Event of the Year”, deserves nothing less than an equally epic soundtrack album, one that contains 14 hard rocking tunes to shatter your world.

Kicking open the smashing lineup of songs is Soundgarden’s “Live to Rise”, an infectious song which is featured in the movie’s end credits. The marketing angle to this tune is the American grunge band’s first new song in 15 years. Those who are unfamiliar with the group formed in 1984 will find themselves unknowingly relishing their trapped emotions.

Following up with a similarly hard hitting song is American rock band Shinedown’s “I’m Alive”, punk rock band Rise Against’s “Dirt and Roses” and alternative metal band Papa Roach’s “Even If I Could” Fans of this genre of music would have a field day, whether or not they are enthusiasts of Marvel’s superheroes.

Elsewhere, listen out for Scott Weiland’s (the musician has served as the frontman for a number of rock bands, most notably the Grammy Award winning Stone Temple Pilot) radio friendly “Breath”, English alternative rock band Bush’s subtler “Into the Blue” and the popular Evanescence’s atmospheric “A New Way to Bleed (Photek Remix)”. This collection of songs offers something less ear splitting than the first few tracks on the album.

This much is true, 13 out of the 14 songs on this disc do not appear in the movie (hence the phrase “inspired by the motion picture” on the album cover), but this compilation of songs would please fanatics of such heart thumping music. This group would not be surprised at how bands like Pusherjones, Buckberry and Five Finger Death Punch also contribute tunes to this soundtrack.

We wish the soundtrack producers had included some score cues composed by Alan Silvestri on this album (the score soundtrack is available separately), because that would have brought out the epic quality of everyone’s beloved Avengers.

ALBUM RATING:

Recommended Track: (1) Live to Rise - Soundgarden

Review by John Li

Genre: Romance/Drama
Director: Nicolas Cuche
Cast: Virginie Efira, François-Xavier Demaison, Raphaël Personnaz, Armelle Deutsch, Thomas N'Gijol, Brigitte Roüan, Marie-Christine Adam, Élie Semoun, Francis Perrin, Jean-Claude Tran
RunTime: 1 hr 27 mins
Rating: M18 (Sexual Scene and Some Coarse Language)
Released By: Festive Films and Filmgarde
Official Website: http://www.lachancedemavie-lefilm.com/

Opening Day: 31 May 2012

Synopsis: Julien Monnier has a serious problem. He may be a brilliant marriage guidance counsellor, but he can never manage to have a steady relationship for more than two weeks. And for good reason: since he was very young, Julien has brought bad luck to every woman who has fallen in love with him. Really bad luck. Luck that obliges you to go to hospital several times a week, that ruins your professional life, or causes you to fall out with family and friends for a lifetime. Julien is a total black cat where women are concerned. Joanna Sorini will quickly learn this at her own cost the day she crosses paths with him. A career that is taking off, a love life that seemed to at last take a good turn; all of this risks changing drastically.

Movie Review:

Can true love overcome bad luck, asks the French rom-com ‘La chance de ma vie’, and the answer in this Hollywood-slick offering is of course a definitive yes. But to get to that happily-ever-after, product designer Joanna (Virginie Efira) and marriage counsellor Julien (Francois-Xavier Demaison) have to get through some of the most unluckiest episodes in life that could befall an individual, let alone a couple- though sadistic as it may sound, it is at their pain that we are supposed to laugh at.

Indeed, when we first meet Julien, he has gone into reclusion at a monastery where away from members of the opposite sex, he can do no more harm to them. A hilariously stitched sequence of flashbacks shows his series of unfortunate romances starting from when he was just a young boy, and three strikes is all it takes for him to realise that he is the one behind his partner’s misfortunes. In a brilliant stroke of dramatic irony, Julien is in his adult life an unconventional albeit very successful marriage counsellor- and it is thanks to his profession that he meets Joanna.

Both guests at a wedding party, Joanna later seeks out Julien to confront her own marriage woes with a self-absorbed workaholic of a husband- the latter inconsequential really, and functions as little more than an excuse for Julien to offer her company, solace and a chance at a brand new start. Concomitantly, her luck runs out in dramatic fashion, as freak accidents happen unremittingly at work, on dates and even while enjoying a massage with her mother.

There’s a hint of ‘Final Destination’ to the cleverly devised mishaps, but screenwriters Luc Bessi and Laurent Turner are shrewd enough to ensure that these inconveniences never turn out being too extreme for amusement. So laugh you will at Joanna’s spate of arse-luck, as both Joanna and Julien are powerless to stop the onslaught- and it is as if some form of divine being were testing the strength of their love for each other.

Thankfully, when the time comes for the trials to end, Bessi and Turner don’t resort to some deus ex machine- instead, they opt for an elegant sleight of hand that lends a new perspective on the past calamities, a change of outlook we should sometimes bear in mind as well when things do not go our way. And for his part, director Nicolas Cuche (making his big-screen directorial debut) keeps the tone light and frothy and the pace brisk and lively, so that formulaic as it may be, his movie never once loses our attention.

Cuche also has his lovely cast to thank for that. Efira is a delightful revelation in her first leading role here, warm, funny, sensitive and utterly endearing- it’s no wonder to the audience why Julien is so head-over-heels about her. Wisely letting Efira’s natural luminance occupy the limelight, Demaison plays it straight as the average-Joe who’s met a girl out of his league, and his down-to-earth sincere demeanour has its own low-key charm.

And yes, Efira and Demaison may not be known this side of the world, but it’s about time that we let some other French actress besides Audrey Tautou win our hearts. In fact, Efira’s winsome performance here is reminiscent of Tautou’s own whimsically appealing screen presence, and it is Efira who truly makes this rom-com shine. Both Efira’s Joanna and Demaison’s Julien may be seeking a second chance at love at some point in the movie, but you won’t need more than one opportunity to fall in love with Efira. 

Movie Rating:

(The rare French rom-com we see here without Audrey Tautou, this is nevertheless funny, engaging and winsome thanks to an utterly delightful performance by newcomer Virginie Efira)

Review by Gabriel Chong

Genre: Action/Thriller
Director: Simon West
Cast: Jason Statham, Sylvester Stallone, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Arnold Schwarzengger, Bruce Willis, Mickey Rourke, Jet Li, Chuck Norris, Liam Hemsworth, Dolph Lundgren, Terry Crews, Randy Couture, Scott Adkins, Novak Djokovic
RunTime: 1 hr 42 mins
Rating: NC-16 (Violence)
Released By:  Golden Village Pictures
Official Website: http://theexpendables2film.com/

Opening Day: 16 August 2012

Synopsis: "The Expendables" are back and this time it's personal...Barney Ross (Sylvester Stallone), Lee Christmas (Lee Statham), Yin Yang (Jet Li), Gunnar Jensen (Dolph Lundgren),Toll Road (Randy Couture) and Hale Caesar (Terry Crews) - with newest members Billy the Kid (Liam Hemsworth) and Maggie (Yu Nan) aboard - are reunited when Mr. Church (Bruce Willis) enlists the Expendables to take on a seemingly simple job. The task looks like an easy paycheck for Barney and his band of old-school mercenaries. But when things go wrong and one of their own is viciously killed, the Expendables are compelled to seek revenge in hostile territory where the odds are stacked against them. Hell-bent on payback, the crew cuts a swath of destruction through opposing forces, wreaking havoc and shutting down an unexpected threat in the nick of time - six pounds of weapons-grade plutonium; enough to change the balance of power in the world. But that's nothing compared to the justice they serve against the villainous adversary who savagely murdered their brother. That is done the Expendables way...

Movie Review:

“Eat Shit!” shouted Gunner (Dolph Lundgren) to his enemies. What a brilliant way to open an action movie. Compared to its 2010 predecessor, “The Expendables 2” gets a bigger shot of adrenalin, lots of headcounts and a longer list of has-beens, action heroes.

As if to justify your admission ticket, “The Expendables 2” opens with a rumbling 15 minutes of action piece that involves a rescue operation in Nepal carried out by the group of mercenaries led by Barney Ross (Sylvester Stallone). After a sudden head-scratching bow-out by Chinese member, Yin Yang (Jet Li), the group inherited another Chinese member, female by the way, code breaker Maggie Chang (Nan Yu) and together with a young Afghan war sniper, Bill (Liam Hemsworth), the gang head to Bulgaria for another mission. Unfortunately, the supposedly easy mission becomes deadly when a menacing villain, Vilain (Jean-Claude Van Damme) turned up for the purpose of finding a five ton cache of plutonium and without further ado, the rest of the movie is like what Barney says “Track them, find them, kill them”.   

The script by Stallone and his team of writers is light on plotting and heavy on the ammo. But of course, this is exactly what “The Expendables” set out to be. There’s however no mention to whatever happened to Mickey Rourke’s character in the original for continuation sake thus for newer audience, there shouldn’t be a problem catching up with the old guys. The sequel gets rid of the irrelevant romance subplot and characterizations in the first and there’s very little downtime as the gang went from one major action set to another.

Two iconic action heroes, Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger who has a small cameo previously reunite with Stallone and company for a longer screen appearance although mathematically speaking, less than one-third of the total running time. But the guys had a fun time exchanging their trademark one-liners such as “I’II be back” and “Yippee-ki-yay” that you probably excuse their absence. Not forgetting Chuck Norris who hands in an amusing glorified cameo just to seal his place in the franchise.

The one that nearly stole the limelight is Jean-Claude Van Damme. An exciting choreographed clash of the titans involving Van Damme and Stallone in the finale fight proves the muscle from Brussels is still in top form though honestly the face-off sequence between the two heavyweights can stretch a little longer. The remaining cast members Terry Crews, Randy Couture and Dolph Lundgren isn’t given much memorable stuff to do besides blowing stuff up and doing some humorous wisecracking. Jason Statham on the other hand has an impressive solo knives fight in a church and he gets to spar with Van Damme’s frequent co-star in direct-to-video releases, Scott Adkins who plays Vilain’s right-hand man in the finale as well.

Known for helming “Con-Air” and “Tomb Raider”, Simon West replacing Stallone for this gig knows his way staging the hard-hitting action sequences that range from airplane crash to huge explosions and to ultra-loud shootouts. The higher budget greenlit for this sequel allows for more testosterone-filled, deafening action sequences. This is how the 80’s, 90’s action icons strut their ware and I must say, “The Expendables 2” is a stark improvement on the original recipe. Just bring on Wesley Snipes and Steven Seagal for the third.  

Movie Rating:  

(The senior citizens of action cinema rocks!)

Review by Linus Tee

Genre: Music
Director: Scott Speer
Cast: Ryan Guzman, Kathryn McCormick, Misha Gabriel, Peter Gallagher, Ryan Guzman, Claudio Pinto
RunTime: 1 hr 39 mins
Rating: PG
Released By:  Shaw
Official Website: http://www.facebook.com/stepupmovie/

Opening Day: 30 August 2012 

Synopsis:  STEP UP REVOLUTION is the next installment in the worldwide smash Step Up franchise, which sets the dancing against the vibrant backdrop of Miami. Emily (Kathryn McCormick) arrives in Miami with aspirations of becoming a professional dancer and soon falls in love with Sean (Ryan Guzman), a young man who leads a dance crew in elaborate, cutting-edge flash mobs, called “The Mob.” When a wealthy business man threatens to develop The Mob's historic neighborhood and displace thousands of people, Emily must band together with Sean and The Mob to turn their performance art into protest art, and risk losing their dreams to fight for a greater cause.

Movie Review:

Calling a Step Up movie good or bad always seems like missing the point these days. The franchise’s contribution to the dance genre is so prolific and so varied in ways no other movies could ever hope to match that when a Step Up movie is bad, it’s an indulgent wreck, and when a Step Up movie is good, it’s still an indulgent wreck. It’s a sign that a Step Up movie requires a certain set of expectations going in. Yet Step Up Revolution is such a scorching culmination of quality that has been escalating in greatness over the three previous Step Up movies that when I say everyone will be able to appreciate even the stains as part of the package, I really mean it.

Sean (Ryan Guzman) is the leader of The MOB, a dance group that stages elaborate street performances and films them with the goal of winning a YouTube competition where YouTube pays the first video that reaches 10 million hits. The group is languishing and seems to lack a certain inspiration until Sean meets Emily (Kathryn McCormick), an aspiring professional dance and daughter of real estate tycoon William (Peter Gallagher). Sean and Emily hit it off immediately but when the latter’s father hatches a plan to tear down the local neighbourhood to make way for a resort, their relationship and The MOB’s way of life are threatened. Sean must now work with Emily to turn their performance dance into protest dance to prevent the redevelopment from happening.

This is a lot of set-up for a movie that’s first and foremost about dancing but as you might expect, (spoiler) the power of dancing saves everyone and everything at the end of the day. Step Up Revolution knows that it’s a candy-coloured land where every place is a stage for a concert, where every problem is simply some sort of misunderstanding and where very bad guy can be defeated with a dance and it embraces this cartoonish realism with about as much pride as you had when you received your first paycheck. The problem isn’t with any of these being uninteresting because they’re interesting, but with the whole protest part of the movie. 

To be sure, the dancing portions for the protest half of the movie aren’t very different from the dancing portions for the competition half. If the purpose of a protest is to make a statement about a very important issue, then why does The MOB not make any during protest dancing? It’s a silly oversight that robs the protest performances of any significance. At the one time the group is willing to step over the line and throw smoke grenades into the crowd, the police releases the perpetuators without incident the very next day. Or that one time when the group storms right into a foundation stone-laying event for the resort and proceeds with all kinds of acrobatic stunts, the mayor can only be so impressed with the performance that he decides to dance along with them instead of calling for the police. 

Yet for all the grumbles about the movie’s cavalier attitude towards something that deserves more importance and sensitivity, Step Up Revolution remains one of most engaging films I have ever watched. I’ll admit upfront that I have mixed feelings about dancing but Step Up Revolution moves beyond being just an ok dance movie to a loud and crazy concert that’s charged with truly world class dancers, the most imaginative choreography, bravura stunts and the best use of environmental objects yet in any and all dance movies (look out for the hypnotising art museum performance and one of the last few scenes where people are dancing while rappelling down a slope!). Step Up Revolution is by far the best and most memorable Step Up movie and rightfully so.

Movie Rating:

(Step Up Revolution moves beyond being just an ok dance movie to a loud and crazy concert charged with the most incredible choreography)

Review by Loh Yong Jian
  

Genre: Comedy
Director: Stephan Elliott
Cast: Olivia Newton-John, Rebel Wilson, Xavier Samuel, Kevin Bishop, Kris Marshall, Elizabeth Debicki, Laura Brent, Tim Draxl, Steve Le Marquand
RunTime: 1 hr 37 mins
Rating: M18 (Crude Humour & Drug Use)
Released By:  Encore Films
Official Website: http://www.afewbestmenthemovie.com/
 
Opening Day: 14 June 2012

Synopsis: When David travels to Australia to marry the love of his life, his three best men give a whole new meaning to the phrase 'for better or worse'. The chaos‐filled wedding is a classic culture clash between his friends and her family because blood is thicker than water and so are David's mates!

Movie Review:

It isn’t the most original idea to have a movie on how your best pals could ruin your big day, or more accurately, ruin your life. Last year, we’ve seen how it could be done in the Bridesmaids. What then could Australian director Stephan Elliott possibly offer that is different and entertaining?

Stephan Elliot’s formula this time is nothing fanciful; it is all about following what he believes to be enjoyable and ‘doing things his way’. David (Xavier Samuel) meets the girl of his life, Mia (Laura Brent), unexpectedly as he was on a trip on self-discovery. He then decides to propose to this stranger who he grew to love so much, that he’d want to spend his entire life with. Little did he know what ‘worlds apart’ could mean at that point of time.

As he broke the news to his pals, namely the free-spirited Tom (Kris Marshall), timid Graham (Kevin Bishop) and the ever depressed Luke (Tim Draxi), they were invited participate in his wedding as he considers them his only family. Their unfortunate turn of events began as David brings along his pals from England all the way to Australia to meet up with Mia’s affluent family, whose father happen to be a known figure in Australia’s political scene. 

One would expect some good British humour from the four charming young Englishmen. However, that was clearly missing. Most of the jokes turn out to be distasteful and unsatisfying. The attempt at achieving slapstick humour proves to be futile as well. It’s not crude enough, not embarrassing enough… neither here nor there. 

The bulk of the jokes were made out of three main topics, namely alcohol and drug abuse, culture clash and Ramsy, Mia’s father’s prized possession (which he strongly believed propelled his political career). As you could already tell at this juncture, these simply seem like some unrelated and ridiculous happenings being forced together. Right, I hear it, hardly entertaining. Indeed that’s that and in the end, you may pity the poor innocent ram that was being pranked and made a joke out of.

Plot-wise, there was nothing refreshing or surprising as well. Every twist and turn is predictable and expected. Also, English-Australian singer/actress Olivia Newton-John probably chose the wrong movie to be featured in. Honestly, her role seemed nothing more than a disfranchised and frustrated woman approaching menopause. 

Although Stephan Elliott had his past success with The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert back in the 1990s, he still didn’t manage to make the much needed break through with A Few Best Men. Times have changed since then, with more informed and good taste audiences. Truth is, people no longer settle for mediocre films these days.

Movie Rating:

(A messed up chain of events that is bland and far from gratifying)

Review by Tho Shu Ling

Genre: Romance/Comedy
Director: Woody Allen
Cast: Woody Allen, Ellen Page, Jesse Eisenberg, Alec Baldwin, Penélope Cruz, Greta Gerwig, Judy Davis, Alison Pill, Roberto Benigni, Isabella Ferrari, Sergio Rubini, Antonio Albanese, Fabio Armiliata, Alessandra Mastronardi, Ornella Muti, Flavio Parenti
Runtime: 1 hr 51 mins
Rating: PG13 (Some Sexual References)
Released By: Shaw
Official Website: http://sonyclassics.com/toromewithlove/

Opening Day: 20 September 2012

Synopsis: TO ROME WITH LOVE is a kaleidoscopic comedy movie set in one of the world’s most enchanting cities. The film brings us into contact with a well-known American architect reliving his youth; an average middle-class Roman who suddenly finds himself Rome’s biggest celebrity; a young provincial couple drawn into separate romantic encounters; and an American opera director endeavoring to put a singing mortician on stage. Well-known architect John (Alec Baldwin) is vacationing in Rome, where he once lived in his youth. Walking in his former neighborhood he encounters Jack (Jesse Eisenberg), a young man not unlike himself. As he watches Jack fall head-over-heels for Monica (Ellen Page), his girlfriend Sally’s (Greta Gerwig) dazzling and flirtatious friend, John relives one of the most romantically painful episodes of his own life. At the same moment, retired opera director Jerry (Woody Allen) flies to Rome with his wife Phyllis (Judy Davis), to meet their daughter Hayley’s (Alison Pill) Italian fiancée, Michelangelo (Flavio Parenti). Jerry is amazed to hear Michelangelo’s undertaker father, Giancarlo (renowned tenor Fabio Armiliato) singing arias worthy of La Scala while lathering up in the shower. Convinced that talent that prodigious cannot be kept hidden, Jerry clutches at the opportunity to promote Giancarlo and rejuvenate his own career. Leopoldo Pisanello (Roberto Benigni) on the other hand is an exceptionally boring guy, who wakes up one morning and finds himself one of the most famous men in Italy with many unanswered questions. Soon the paparazzi trail his every move and question his every motivation. As Leopoldo grows accustomed to the varied seductions of the limelight, he gradually realizes the cost of fame. Meanwhile, Antonio (Alessandro Tiberi) has arrived from the provinces in Rome hoping to impress his straight-laced relatives with his lovely new wife Milly (Alessandra Mastronardi) so that he can get an upscale big city job. Through comic misunderstanding and chance, the couple 4 is separated for the day. Antonio ends up passing off a stranger (Penélope Cruz) as his wife, while Milly is romanced by legendary movie star Luca Salta (Antonio Albanese). While Rome is a city abundant with romance and comedy, Woody Allen’s TO ROME WITH LOVE is about people having adventures that will change their lives forever.

Movie Review:

We have to thank Woody Allen, really. Without the American filmmaker’s works, we wouldn’t have had the good fortune to enjoy the sights and sounds of Barcelona (2008’s Vicky Cristina Barcelona) and Paris (2011’s Midnight In Paris). In his latest work, the acclaimed director, whose films span over six decades, brings us to Rome for a postcard adventure in the capital of Italy.

The romantic comedy written, directed, and starring Allen himself, tells four separate stories set in Rome. A worker wakes up one day to find himself the most loved celebrity ever lived, an architect takes a trip back to the street he lived on as a student only to find himself falling in love with an unlikely partner, a young couple who ends up having a misadventure while on their honeymoon, and a funeral director who has a strange talent for singing in the shower.

Allen’s films have always been easy to digest, while proving a glimpse on the various aspects of life which are easily missed in today’s fast moving society. This film, structured in four different vignettes featuring dialogues in both Italian and English is no different – characters are not unfamiliar to viewers, as each and every one of the personalities played by the fine ensemble cast seems like someone you’ve met before.

Roberto Benigni is not as irritating as we thought he would be in the role of the clerk turned temporary celebrity. Penelope Cruz is mesmerizing as a prostitute who chances upon a couple’s honeymoon, while Alec Baldwin exudes his screen presence as the narrator of the film. Elsewhere, Jesse Eisenberg is strangely loveable as the dude who falls in love with his girlfriend’s (Greta Gerwig) best friend, played charismatically by Ellen Page. Allen himself returns to acting since 2006’s Scoop. Less familiar but not any less impressive are Italian actors like Antonia Albanese, Fabio Armiliato, Alessandra Mastronardi and Riccardo Scamarcio in different roles which leave an impression, regardless of their varying screen time.   

The four tales in this 112 minute film do not seem have much thematic connection, but the idea of fame and accomplishment seems to run through the stories. The vignette which stands out most is the funeral director who finds himself singing his heart out on stage in makeshift showers. As ridiculous as it seems, this is the most entertaining yet affecting story in this otherwise breezily unimpressionable feature film.

There may be nothing particularly exciting to look forward to in this film, but Allen has managed to put together a concoction of beautiful sceneries (it is difficult not to be impressed by Rome’s magnificent Colosseum), fantasy elements (the stories are flighty and imaginative, if that’s anything to go by) and comedic moments (Allen began his career in the 1950s as a comedy writer after all) to produce a very pleasing piece of work which will kill a good one hour and 40 minutes on a lazy weekend afternoon. And when you won’t be making that trip to Romeanytime soon, this definitely seems to be the next best alternative.

Movie Rating:

(A breezy and inconsequential look at life, set against the picture perfect backdrop of Rome)

Review by Fabian Foo