Genre: Action/Crime
Director: Soi Cheang
Cast: Anthony Wong, Shawn Yue, Guo Xiaodong, Barbie Hsu, Josie Ho, Michelle Ye, Lam Kar Tong
RunTime: 1 hr 30 mins
Rating: PG13 (Some Intense Sequences)
Released By:  Shaw
Official Website:
 
Opening Day: 12 July 2012

Synopsis: Sean is an overconfident rookie in Stealth Riders, a secret police unit consisting of the best drivers in the force that targets against underworld racing and fugitives on the run. Jensen is a legendary escape driver for criminals, who had never been caught before his retirement 15 years ago. When Sean chances upon Jensen out of the blue one day, he thinks his day has finally come.

Movie Review:

The classic tale of a veteran cop teaching a young rookie the ropes of the job gets a stylish and at times exhilarating twist in Soi Cheang’s long-delayed ‘Motorway’, a movie that aims for ‘Fast and Furious’ thrills delivered in the understated cool of ‘Drive’. It is an intriguing combination to say the least, set against the distinctive backdrop of Hong Kong with its skyscrapers, neon lights and winding Peak roads and cast with two of the best actors from the territory- Anthony Wong and Shawn Yue.

Yue plays the twenty-something brash and hot-headed rookie Chan Cheung, part of an unconventional group of police officers known as the ‘Invisible Squad’. Lo Fung (Wong) is his partner, laidback, nonchalant and waiting for his retirement. Their mission? To masquerade as ordinary drivers in their police-issued Audis and go after those caught speeding on the roads and highways. An early run-in with a cocky driver who gives them the slip shows their differing attitudes towards their job- and Cheung’s disdain towards Fung.

Their dynamic quickly changes when a daring breakout by serial criminal Jiang Xin (Guo Xiaodong)- whom Cheung had taken into custody- of his partner in crime, Huang Zhong (Li Haitao) at the police station leaves the impulsive Cheung biting the dust and almost losing his life. Not only is Fung responsible for saving Cheung’s life, but it comes to light that Fung had once pursued Jiang Xin into the same cul-de-sac and managed to manoeuvre his way out of that very tight corner.

Though Cheung is too proud to ask Fung to coach him, the latter eventually relents after he sees in Cheung a younger version of his own self. The trick is a perfect combination of acceleration, control, steering and patience- each one of these elements useful in their own right when both Cheung and Fung are drafted into a task force formed to apprehend the two fugitives before they strike again. The plotting is that straightforward, but then again, Cheang knows that the story is meant as a device to string together the many and varied car chase sequences beautifully designed by Chin Kar Lok.

And indeed, each one of them is gripping to say the least, eschewing the usual theatrics that Hollywood is too fond of for genuine detail, precision and most of all realism. Flawlessly executed is the film’s first major setpiece, the cat-and-mouse chase between Jiang and Cheung that gets the latter into the tight spot in the first place- and Kar Lok never lets the baton drop as the action shifts up onto the narrow winding roads leading up and down the Peak and finally to the iconic roads around the Sheung Wan and Central areas.

It’s an exhilarating ride once the gears start pumping, with both Kar Lok and Cheang consummate drivers in keeping the tension and excitement impeccably calibrated to keep their audience on the edge of their seats. Their dedication to ensure that every one of the car chases feel authentic is truly admirable, with Cheang and his cinematographers Yuen Man Fung and Kenny Tse shooting most of the action guerrilla style without the proper permits that they probably would not have gotten.

Given the adrenaline rush it delivers, it’s easy to overlook the performances of Wong and Yue. Wong’s role as the reluctant mentor is archetypal, but he brings class, charisma and coolness to the role that few actors in Hong Kong can. Next to Wong, Yue is at his assured best playing the impetuous newbie who progresses from naivety to maturity. There is a low-key chemistry that Wong and Yue share, and their scenes together ooze machismo like the best Milkyway Image genre productions do.

It should come as no surprise then that ‘Motorway’ indeed comes from that Hong Kong factory of cool- produced by Johnnie To and featuring a whole list of To regulars from supporting actors Josie Ho and Lam Kar Tung, to composers Xavier Jamaux and Alex Gopher, and last but not least to editor David Richardson. This is easily Soi Cheang’s classiest work to date, the director better known for gritty stuff like ‘Dog Bite Dog’ and ‘Shamo’ maturing into one of style and finesse under the tutelage of To.

‘Motorway’ may seem like Hong Kong’s answer to Hollywood car-chase thrillers, but its ability to deliver adrenaline-pumping thrills with its own signature of cool is what sets it apart and makes it one of our favourite movies of the year.

Movie Rating:

(Adrenaline-pumping car chases around the streets of Hong Kong delivered with producer Johnnie To’s signature understated cool- ‘Motorway’ is a classy action thriller that cruises with lean mean precision)

Review by Gabriel Chong

SYNOPSIS: Lim has always been unlucky. He is struggling to make ends meet until he chanced upon the ‘Wordless Script’ one day and won lottery! As the winning was marginal, it was soon exhausted when he spent it with Nam and Hui, his two poor roommates cum colleagues who excavate bones from old graves for a living. Unwilling to return to his poor days, Lim approaches the ‘Wordless Script’ for winning numbers again. This time, the Book-Spirit of the “Wordless Script” forewarns Lim that he will have to pay a heavy price, should he wants big winnings. Blinded by greed, Lim agrees to the terms and strikes a deal with the Book-Spirit. As Lim’s life gets better and lavish, he also becomes increasingly dependent on the Book-Spirit, seeking its advice in everything. Soon, the Book-Spirit reveals the price which Lim has to pay for all his riches… and Lim will have to pay with his life! It is only with Lim’s death, that he can be the next Book-Spirit, thus liberating the current Book-Spirit. Little does Lim expects: the richer he gets, the closer he is to his death. At the same time, the greedy gambler in Nam is playing with fire… To satisfy his gambling addiction, he resorted to stealing the accompanying valuables in the coffin during one of the excavations, despite strong objections from Hui. Following Nam’s theft, strange things happened. A vengeful spirit haunts Nam and Hui repeatedly, causing them much distress…The trio of Lim, Nam and Hui can actually lead a decent and peaceful life, but made decisions at various stages of their lives to pursue riches and luxuries without knowing the heavy price they had to pay. Is there really no way for the trio to redeem themselves from this mess? Or is their death the ultimate solution?

MOVIE REVIEW:

The most famous protégé of local director Jack Neo and a man of many hats, Mark Lee alas pull no surprises for his first produced movie as he sticks to a (presumably money-raking) genre which was revived successfully in the box-office by his sifu years back. The infamous hor-medy.

Despite the fact that Neo is not involved in any aspects of the filmmaking. “Greedy Ghost” is filled with Neo’s imprints. The obligatory Hokkien-spewing Ah Bengs, heavy-handed life lessons to go around, cameos from local talents but most ironically, Neo’s comic-writing and sense of humor is blatantly not replicate right here.

Co-written by Mark Lee and director Boris Boo (“Where Got Ghost?”, “The Ghost Must Be Crazy”) the story follows three down-on-their-luck good friends, Lim (Kang Kang), Huat (Brendan Yuen) and Hui (Henry Thia) who stumble upon a wordless scripture. Controlled by a book spirit who encourages Lim to bet on a series of Toto numbers which appeared in the book, the wordless scripture turns Lim’s luck around and he became a rich man overnight but not without terms and conditions. Huat and Hui on the other hand, who works as grave-diggers, pillaged the belongings of a rich (and powerful) deceased and in turn incur the wrath of the vengeful spirit. Will the trio manage to redeem themselves from the mess they got in?

To be fair, coming out from Boo who has worked on similar themed movies for the past years, “Greedy Ghost” is a pretty polished work revolving around the topic of greed. Gone are the lowbrow humor and Hokkien expletives, what’s present is the sizzling chemistry between our main three leads and a much coherent storyline. There isn’t much horror to talk about (unless you include the creepy tissue-selling old woman) and the comedy factor is seriously lacking at times even though Huat and Hui’s exchanges are pretty tickling and a scene involving TV actress Jessica Liu (she plays Huat’s abiding girlfriend) picking up the scripture from the trashbin is funnier than expected.

Taiwanese comedian Kang Kang making his debut as leading man is a breath of fresh air as the ultimate loser. And Malaysian Brendan Yuen and our local Henry Thia contribute impressive performances as fellow losers. One can see the direction Boo and Lee is taking this movie to. This hor-medy certainly has the potential to be better if the script is tighter with more comic elements thrown in and parts trimmed. The twist ending is a killer I must add.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

The 23 minutes Making Of offers some behind-the-scenes footages and interviews with the main cast members such as Kang Kang, Brendan Yuen, Jessica Liu and producer Mark Lee.

AUDIO/VISUAL:

Both the visual and audio aspects are mere passable for this title.

MOVIE RATING:

DVD RATING :

Review by Linus Tee

SYNOPSIS: When Mainland Chinese Inspector Zhang runs into the HK man Cai at the hosital, who has been in a car accident due to chemical poisoning, he immediately senses something fishy about him. It turns out Cai is indeed a drug manufacturer closely linked to the notorious drug lord Li. To save his own neck, Cai agrees to help Zhang arrest Li by facilitating his disguise as a buyer in order to lure Li into a drug deal.

MOVIE REVIEW:

As the title suggests, the latest effort from acclaimed director Johnny To brings audience on a whirlwind journey to the world of drug trafficking in Mainland China. Through the operations of detective Lei (Sun Honglei) and his team of narcotics officers, Drug War is an often intense, brutal movie about the uncovering of a Hong Konger, Tommy Choi (Louis Koo) and his drug syndicate.

Koo takes centre stage as the cunning Choi. After crashing onto a restaurant after a supposedly explosion of his cocaine manufacturing plant, Choi is apprehended by Lei and his team. Pleading for a lighter sentence, Choi agrees to be the link between the police and the drug ring that is behind all the trafficking in Jinshan.

Drug War for a start is not what it seems. Initially, it might look like a paint-by-numbers crime thriller but as the story progresses, the script by To’s Milkyway team of writers turned into a complex labyrinth uncovering numerous villainous characters, different levels of the drug hierarchy and producing impressive twists and turns. Despite the sensitivity of the topic, To is extremely adept at telling a good story not forgetting creating scene after scene of intensity that will have you biting your fingers in anticipation especially Lei’s impersonation of a drug trafficking criminal to fool another drug lord nearly have him killed. The introduction of Lei’s two disciples, a pair of seemingly harmless mute brothers will definitely pull a surprise on everyone.

One very obvious shortcoming however is the lack of Choi and Lei’s background. A little flashback of how Choi started his trade or a scene of his so-called deceased family would benefit the character. Even Lei’s cool as cucumber character remains as a supercop and nothing more. Still, Koo’s Timmy Choi remains a bastard till the end. You should watch the movie to really find out how unscrupulous the guy is. To’s fans will also find a number of Milkway regulars such as Lam Ka Tung, Michelle Ye and Lam Suet appearing driving the plot to its final relevance.

Drug War captivates and never let the attention goes away right from the opening act which involves a bunch of bus passengers hiding drugs in their rectum. The climatic shootout in front of a primary school offers another trademark of To’s direction. While it is a mainstream crime thriller even far accessible than his cult favourites, Vengeance and Exiled, Drug War cements the continued legacy of Milkway productions even if this is shot and funded mainly by the Chinese Mainland. 

SPECIAL FEATURES:

Only a Trailer is included.

AUDIO/VISUAL:

Visually, there is a slight amount of grain detected but overall it boasts decent images and details. Presented in its original Cantonese and Mandarin audio track (i.e. the HK actors speak in their native language without dubbing), it’s a luxury to be treated in this manner, the disappointing fact however is the track is not presented in surround 5.1.

MOVIE RATING:

DVD RATING :

Review by Linus Tee

SYNOPSIS: Val is released from prison after serving twenty-eight years for refusing to give up one of his close criminal associates. His best friend DOC is there to pick him up and the two soon reteam with another old pal, HIRSCH. Their bond is as strong as ever and the three reflect on freedom lost and gained, loyalties ebbed and flowed and the days of glory gone by. And despite their age, their capacity for mayhem is still very much alive and well- bullets fly as they make a hilariously valiant effort to compensate for the decades of crime, drugs and sex they've missed. But one of the friends is keeoing a dangerous secret- he's been put in an impossible quandary by a former mob boss and his time to find an acceptable alternative is running out. As the sun rises on the guys' legendary reunion, their position becomes more and more desperate and they finally confront their past once and for all.

MOVIE REVIEW:

For the record, I can seriously watch Al Pacino, Christopher Walken and Alan Arkin talk crap and eat pickles all day long.

You see, Stand Up Guys is that kind of movie. It’s a little piece of work about friendship, last wishes and loyalty. No flashy action sequences, no raunchy nudity bits, no unnecessary melodramatics just three thespians doing what they know best.

The plot revolves around two buddies, Val (Pacino) and Doc (Walken) over the course of one day. Val has just got out of prison after serving 28 years of sentence. His buddy, Doc on the other hand is tasked by their ex-boss, Claphands to kill him because Val has accidentally shot the son of Claphands in a crossfire presumably in a crime which had him thrown to jail in the first place. The script by Noah Haidie keeps audience wondering whether Doc will pull the trigger by 10am in the morning, the final deadline set by Claphands or face the consequences. However, the whole point of this movie is not about the assignment but it’s about the fun of watching the cast hammed it up as senior gangsters in their twilight of their crime career.

There aren’t a lot of laugh-out-loud moments unless you consider an overdosage of Viagra by Val ticklish or even punching out a Korean counter clerk amusing. The biggest problem with Stand Up Guys is the whole inconsistent plotting. Perhaps to jump start things, the guys went from a wild goose police car chase back to the brothel which Val patronized earlier and not to mention, a heroic revenge on behalf of a girl who got gang-raped by a group of thugs. The tone shifted from time to time and fortunately, we always have the deadpan Walken and energized Pacino playing off each other keeping things fresh and alive be it at the pool table, walking on deserted streets and the diner.

The cameo of Alan Arkin as their ex-getaway driver, Hirsch is another godsend as the gag of him pulling off a threesome is incredibly funny. The inclusion of Lucy Punch (Bad Teacher) who portrayed the second generation owner of the brothel helps as well. One of the genuine touching moments comes in the form of Doc trying to reconnect with his long-lost granddaughter, Alex (Addison Timlin) who is working in a diner as a waitress while another familiar face, ER’s Julianna Margulies played a nurse and daughter to Hirsch.

Despite the narrative being all over the place, Stand Up Guys rises above the ashes purely of the presence of the three acting legends. For this, I’m going to highly recommend it. 

SPECIAL FEATURES:

NIL

AUDIO/VISUAL:

The digitally shot Stand Up Guys looks natural and fine on DVD. Since this is more of a talky movie, the Dolby Digital 2.0 soundtrack does just fine meaning the dialogue and soothing tunes (Bon Jovi included) are overall excellent.

MOVIE RATING:

DVD RATING :

Review by Linus Tee

Genre: Comedy
Director: Peter and Bobby Farrelly
Cast: Chris Diamantopolous, Sean Hayes, Will Sasso, Jane Lynch, Sofía Vergara, Craig Bierko, Larry David
RunTime: 1 hr 32 mins
Released By: 20th Century Fox
Rating: PG13 (Some Action Violence)
Official Website:

Opening Day: 26 July 2012

Synopsis:  Left on a nun’s doorstep, Larry, Curly and Moe grow up finger-poking, nyuk-nyuking and woo-woo-wooing their way to uncharted levels of knuckleheaded misadventure.  Out to save their childhood home, only The Three Stooges could become embroiled in an oddball murder plot…while also stumbling into starring in a phenomenally successful TV reality show.

Movie Review:

You probably aren’t the only one who was left considerably unimpressed by the theatrical trailer of this movie directed by Peter and Bobby Ferrelly, who also brought you other slapstick comedies like Dumb and Dumber (1994), There’s Something About Mary (1998) and Shall Hal (2001) – boy, have these American filmmakers been around for long!

In the one-odd minute clip, you see the three protagonists attempting physical comedy which, to be honest, often fall flat in this day and age. Peering through an i(eye)Phone? Very funny. A lobster clipped on the lips? Sure. A fart going off underwater. You’ve got to be kidding us. So pardon this reviewer for stepping into the theatres with the lowest possible expectations for this PG13 comedy. Unexpectedly, to his pleasant surprise, not only was the 92 minute viewing experience a pleasant one, he stepped out of the cinema feeling good about the show!

There is really nothing much to know about the story of this movie based on the early to mid 20^thcentury shorts by the comedic trio The Three Stooges. The characters Moe, Larry and Curly are placed in a modern setting where they run into one hilarious situation after another while attempting to save their childhood orphanage. As (bad) luck would have it, they stumble into a murder plot and also end up starring in a reality TV show.

Presented in three acts “More Orphan Than Not”, “The Bananas Split” and “No Moe Mister Nice Guy”, the episodes play out like the nostalgic TV series, which will evidently please fans of the original work. Those familiar with the characters played by Moe Howard, Larry fine and Curly Howard would also be pleased to know that the spirit of physical comedy and slapstick action violence is still in place. Seeing Chris Diamantopoulous (TV’s Nip/Tuck and Boston Legal), Sean Hayes (TV’s Will and Grace) and Will Sasso (TV’s MADtv) take over the protagonists of this well meaning comedy actually works.

One does not step into the cinema expecting serious drama here, and the digestible runtime of the movie actually serves to keep the pace brisk and likeable. The supporting cast helps to keep the momentum going by giving their best. There’s Jane Lynch (TV’s Glee) who runs the orphanage, Larry David (TV’s Curb Your Enthusiasm) who cross dresses as a nun with a personal grudge against the Three Stooges, Jennifer Hudson (Dreamgirls) who breaks into a song whenever she has an opportunity to and Sofia Vergara (TV’s Modern Family) who goes all out to exploit the boys. Oscar winner Hudson also performs a very entertaining music video played during the film’s end credits.

The movie also portrays evergreen themes of friendship and loyalty, which will go down well with viewers hoping to walk away with some feel good thoughts.

Another pleasant surprise comes in the form of a postscript epilogue where two studs portraying the Farrelly brothers explain how the stunts are performed by professionals. Demonstrations of eye poking and hammer hitting are shown to spot on hilarity. Considering how this slapstick comedy could have gone down the drains as one of the most disposable movies ever made, the end result is one which can effortlessly chase your blues away instead.

Movie Rating:

(This surprisingly funny and pleasant slapstick comedy is one worth catching)

Review by John Li

Genre: Thriller
Director: Rodrigo Cortés
Cast: Robert De Niro, Cillian Murphy, Sigourney Weaver, Elizabeth Olsen, Toby Jones, Jeany Spark, Leonardo Sbaraglia, Eben Young
RunTime: 1 hr 55 mins
Rating: PG13 (Some Coarse Language, Violence and Frightening Scenes)
Released By:  Shaw
Official Website: http://cdn.millenniumentertainment.me/films/redlights
 
Opening Day: 26 July 2012

Synopsis: Two investigators of paranormal hoaxes, the veteran Dr. Margaret Matheson and her young assistant, Tom Buckley, study the most varied metaphysical phenomena with the aim of proving their fraudulent origin. Simon Silver, a legendary blind psychic, reappears after an enigmatic absence of 30 years to become the greatest international challenge for both orthodox science and professional skeptics.Tom starts to develop an intense obsession with Silver, whose magnetism becomes stronger with each new manifestation of inexplicable events. As Tom gets closer to Silver, tension mounts, and his worldview is threatened to its core.

Movie Review:

Rodrigo Cortes has done it again. Just so that you know this reviewer's biases, I was deeply impressed with how the Spanish writer-director-editor had deftly crafted what was essentially a one scene, one setting, one actor thriller in Buried which starred Ryan Reynolds. Now, he has expanded that constraint of a story, to embody what would be an entertaining, yet powerful exploration of the paranormal, or the debunking of the paranormal, in ways that the X-Files would be proud of.

And what more when making a film, to have some of the top names attached to it, with the likes of Sigourney Weaver, Robert De Niro, Toby Jones and Cillian Murphy up on the marquee that splits the camp into the believers of the physic and the paranormal, and those who seek out the truth and expose the fraud utilizing scientific methods of proof and disproof. In some ways it plays out like a basic 101 science lesson, where we get presented with a scenario, and to come up with logical explanations on how certain things got accomplished. And with issues that deal with belief - whether you do, or you don't - trying to persistently stay on one side of the fence means constantly coming up with strategies of proof, and making enemies along the way.

Red Lights follows the journey of scientists Margaret Martheson (Sigourney Weaver) and Tom Buckley (Cillian Murphy), who are at the top of their field and the best of the best in investigating the paranormal, and are out there to seek out the truth, which constantly falls short and stays within expectations that purported soothsayers, mediums and the likes are nothing but fraudsters who carry the craft of their trade too far, for monetary gains. They are frequently called upon by law enforcement to look deeper beneath the surface of would be healers, and expose them for the cheats that they are, who are adapt at utilizing technology, and the gullibility of Man to exploit for the rewards of fame and fortune.

Their many small adventures in Red Lights early on set the stage for some bigger fish to come, in the form of Robert De Niro's Simon Silver, being the best of the best of all psychics, who had mysteriously disappeared years ago for being accused of causing the death of his harshest critic, only to reappear recently to take the known world by storm. Tom Buckley is adamant to get their research and investigations going against Simon Silver, only to be warned by Margaret to stay away. What secrets does Simon Silver hold, and the obsession by Tom to investigate him, forms the crux of the narrative, which I have to say is engaging, and fresh in being able to pull the rug from under my feet. It's the sleight of hand turned onto the audience both reel and real, that makes Red Lights a winner.

And that's in addition to having an A-list cast coming together for this project that dares to ask the question of what's real, what isn't, and what's honest, especially in the light of recent scandals whether special abilities are reason enough to sucker the silly, in order to buff one's coffers. Sigourney Weaver and Cillian Murphy share some wonder mentor-mentee relationship, one with experience balanced with the other's recklessness. Robert De Niro, while his screen appearance is relatively short, possesses enough charisma to steal both their limelight each time he's on screen, tackling a more serious role in contrast to his slew of comedies he had dabbled in of late.

Toby Jones joins the cast as Paul Shackleton, fellow scientist in a similar field to Margaret and Tom, but only less bright, and in my opinion pretty dull in skillset, providing some comic relief when he becomes the butt of jokes especially since he can't see pass the obvious. Elizabeth Olsen rounds off the recognizable cast list in a bit role as Tom's love interest, and a promising student of the faculty who unfortunately doesn't get much to do in the film, fading away to the background and becoming quite inconsequential to proceedings.

Sure, this film is not perfect, and is set to polarize just like how the camps in the film are split down the middle into two. There are stretches in the narrative that may not stand up if under intense scrutiny, but it's the way they are presented, just like how each camp maximizes their relative strengths, ignoring obvious exposures just to get their message across, that serves to be most rewarding, both in an entertainment point of view, and as something that warrants and spark further discussion. Cortes also adopted moments of the unconventional with his direction - note that pseudo-documentary style at one point - to keep things moving and to put one into the shoes of eye-witnesses, but it's the final 10 minutes of the film that really made this a winner.

Movie Rating:

(An intelligent, thrilling exposé of the paranormal frauds)

Review by Stefan Shih

Genre: Horror/Thriller
Director: Brad Parker
Cast: Devin Kelley, Jonathan Sadowski, Ingrid Bolsø Berdal, Olivia Taylor Dudley, Jesse McCartney, Nathan Philips, Dimitri Diatchenko
RunTime: 1 hr 29 mins
Released By: Golden Village Pictures
Rating: NC-16 (Horror & Coarse Language)
Official Website: http://chernobyldiaries.warnerbros.com/index.html

Opening Day: 12 July 2012

Synopsis:  "Chernobyl Diaries" is an original story from Oren Peli, who first terrified audiences with his groundbreaking thriller, "Paranormal Activity." The film follows a group of six young tourists who, looking to go off the beaten path, hire an "extreme tour" guide. Ignoring warnings, he takes them into the city of Pripyat, the former home to the workers of the Chernobyl nuclear reactor, but a deserted town since the disaster more than 25 years ago. After a brief exploration of the abandoned city, however, the group soon finds themselves stranded, only to discover that they are not alone...

Movie Review:

For better or worse, filmmaker Oren Peli has made the handheld shaky-cam visual style the lynchpin of his works. Those who find this medium nauseous would be thankful that he has surrendered to a more conventional shooting style for Chernobyl Diaries. Yet he borrows many of the storytelling tropes from his earlier days with the Paranormal Activity series, deftly weaving an omnipresent sense of fear into a tale that feels more intriguing than it should. Unfortunately, much of what the film could do with this premise is limited by the shoestring budget. The result is a movie that falls flat under the weight of its huge potential.

At the start of the movie, we are quickly introduced to our posse of 6 young and adventurous tourists whose idea of extreme tourism is perhaps more preposterous than that of everybody else’s. Unfazed by the presence of the military at the entrance and several warning signs, our protagonists venture into the abandoned town of Pripyat, presumably to take photos that they could later upload on Facebook and boast about. Their trip goes awry when their van refuses to restart, leaving them enmeshed in a blanket of darkness – and weird noises.

Chernobyl Diaries mostly succeeds in capturing the resulting tension because of the smart choice of location. Not to withdraw any credit from the production team but it’s definitely easier to create a horror story around a setting that is already surrounded by numerous mythologies than to build something from scratch on a soundstage and try to convince the audience that the house is really haunted. The payoff is a location that lends itself to an atmosphere of helplessness in ways that feel real and effective.

While this larger than life setting might have you believe that there is a juicy, unfettered plot spanning multiple perspectives simmering underneath, Chernobyl Diaries is quick to put an end to that notion with a scope that feels increasingly limited as the movie chugs along. For most parts, the camera follows the backs of our protagonists as they push hurriedly through tight doorways and lose themselves in the sepulchral gloom of underground bunkers. It’s a directorial flair that I suspect would appeal to those who are familiar with shaky-cam movies. I am not saying that it’s perfect but there’s a certain rustic charm to it that allows it to convey the intensity of a horror flick at its finer points. Despite the clear advantages, this shooting style feels like a poor translation of the benefits of the setting.

At this stage, I’d prefer not to belabour the point of a lost opportunity with the film’s setting but this reviewer would be doing you a disservice if he doesn’t mention the consequences of the scanty budget. I say this with a caveat because the lack of any special effect of any sort should not come away as alarming as the limp conclusion. By now, it should be obvious that the reason the camera shifts around nervously whenever its creatures are near is because it doesn’t really want you to stare at them and study their features. It can’t avoid its big revelation, however, and when you finally do get the chance to have a proper look at the antagonists, there’ll be a feeling that you’ve just been robbed of a huge chunk of believability to the movie.

Make no mistake. Chernobyl Diaries is made up of genuinely believable spooks but beyond that, it promises more but delivers little.  

(Great if you want to scare yourself but not if you’re looking for more satisfying fare)

Review by Loh Yong Jian

SYNOPSIS: Surviving one death-defying game after another, Kaiji Ito (Tatsuya Fujiwara) manages to erase all of his debts. But within a year, he finds himself once again among the so-called “dregs” of society, choking under a new mountain of debt. Eager for another shot at turning his fortunes around for good, Kaiji earns a chance to take on a monster pachinko machine with a billion yen payout; a beast of a machine dubbed “the swamp.” Under the tight control of the illegal casino’s ruthless manager, Seiya Ichijo (Yusuke Iseya), the machine is 100 percent unbeatable. Now, with the “swamp” controlled by his biggest rival, Ichijo, Kaiji must turn to some unlikely fellow “losers” for help. All of them have their own reasons for the current depravity of their lives, but they all share one common trait: an insatiable desire to win back their lives in what is sure to be their last chance.

MOVIE REVIEW:

Within a span of two years, Toya Sato has returned with the sequel to the 2009, “Kaji: The Ultimate Gambler”. Bringing back his leading man Tatsuya Fujiwara and veteran Teruyuki Kagawa with a subpar plotting, “Kaiji 2” is plainly a cheap, cash-on sequel that fails to capture the original magic.

Kaiji Ito (Tatsuya Fujiwara) who managed to accomplish the feat of walking on a harrowing beam in the first instalment and won back his freedom is back in debts and working in the dark, underground construction camp. Are we supposed to take empathy on a guy who doesn’t learn his lesson? The filmmakers seem to think so if that guy is as good-looking as Fujiwara. Kaiji has 14 days of freedom to win back his life if he can turn a million yen into 20 million yen. With the direction of disgraced Teai employee, Tonegawa (Teruyuki Kagawa) and joining hands with an ex-construction foreman, Namase, Kaiji must break the code of a huge pachinko machine nicknamed “The Swamp” in order to win millions to save his friends and himself. The catch is “The Swamp” is manipulated by an evil Teai employee and the ball will never fall into the winning hole.

The simplistic plotting aside, “Kaiji 2” tried too hard (or did they try at all?) to replicate the tension and suspense in the original. Watching countless ball bearings spiralling down the pachinko again and again just couldn’t compare to fragile human beings dangling hundreds of storeys above. That and coupled with too many false endings involving repetitive games of deceit and mistrust among the protagonists failed to be thrilling, in this case almost predictable. Throw in two hungry lions just to raise the stakes goes to show how desperate the filmmakers are by the middle act. Although there is a plot element involving Kaiji and gang applying some incredible mathematical knowledge to rig the machine in the end, it comes too little and too late.

Our leading man Tatsuya Fujiwara seems to be fond of taking on the same kind of role in recent years, characters that find themselves in murdering games and deadly situations, just watch his 2010, “The Incite Mill” to prove my point. I’m sure Mr Fujiwara is more than capable and he deserved better material to stretch his career path. Teruyuki Kagawa is pure evil in the first “Kaiji” though the main villain portrayed by Yusuke Iseya here is mainly a hot-tempered childish caricature; certainly incomparable to Kagawa’s performance.

With most of the settings taking place indoor in soundstage-like environments, “Kaiji 2” pales in a lot of ways as compared to the first instalment. Are we expecting “Kaiji 3” very soon? I hope not.  

SPECIAL FEATURES:

The DVD extras include a Trailer,
 TV Spot
 and snippets of the Singapore Star Tour which include the Press Conference, Mall Appearance and Gala Premiere.

AUDIO/VISUAL:

Colours are clear and natural even the poorly lit scenes are detailed. There are not much fanciful sound effects to speak of and the Japanese soundtrack is serviceable for the movie.

MOVIE RATING:

DVD RATING :

Review by Linus Tee

Genre: Romance/Drama
Director: Han Yan
Cast: Angelababy, Mark Chao, Bia Hiahe, Jiang Shan, Tian Yuan, Huang Xuan, Zhao Yingjun
RunTime: 1 hr 43 mins
Rating: PG
Released By:  Festive Films & Golden Village Pictures
Official Website: 
 
Opening Day: 7 June 2012

Synopsis: College student Shi has a terminal illness. There are experiences she knows she’ll probably never have, like falling in love. So when an old high school crush named Gong suddenly resurfaces, she is surprised and swept away by his interest in her. Because side effects of her medication cause Shi to suffer short-term memory loss, she recounts everything onto cassette tape to remember the details of their precious time together. With Gong, she feels true joy. In spite of her condition, Shi looks at life with hope. But Shi doesn’t know that her mother, wishing to give her a chance to experience romance before it’s too late, hired Gong to pursue her. Resistant at first to fulfill the strange request, Gong ultimately relented because he needed the money. To him, it was supposed to be a straightforward business transaction. When Shi’s mother finds out that Gong encouraged Shi to pursue her dream of being a dancer, she angrily confronts him. Knowing that dancing could kill her, Shi’s mother tells Gong to call off their deal. But no one could have anticipated that Gong would begin to care deeply about Shi, that their lives, dreams, and passions would begin to intertwine. Breaking it off would have been easy before but now, everything is different…because Gong has already fallen in love with Shi…

Movie Review:

Girl is sick. No thanks to a parent’s ploy, boy enters girl’s life to make her experience the ecstasy of love. Boy and girl fall in love (for real) eventually. An all too familiar plot? Yes, it’s a formula which has worked for countless Korean movies. That same formula is applied in Han Yan’s romance drama here. Wait, the 103 minute production is actually based on a Korean weepie – hence the resemblance in story structure.

The pretty Angelababy (Love in Space, All’s Well Ends Well 2011) and the good looking Mark Chao (LOVE, Mark Chao) headline this story about a girl who is suffering from a terminal disease and a boy who changes her life forever. The girl’s mother, whose noble intention is to give her daughter an experience of falling in love, hires the boy to “fall in love” with the girl. He encourages her to pursue her dream, knowing that it could cost her to die. How will this tragic tale of love turn out?

A tearjerking ending is in store, for sure.

Cynics like this columnist will know how the plot develops, and will probably scoff at the coincidences the writers have injected into the screenplay. But what one cannot deny is how pretty this film looks. Not only does the camera capture the two stars in good light, it manages to transport audiences into a dream like world where everything is picture perfect. Couple that with the couple’s very committed performances, and you get a very predictable but beautiful film which is easy on the eyes.

To be fair, one can see the improvement in Angelababy’s acting in her latest project, as she sheds the undesirable image of a pretty flower vase. Chao tries his hand at something different too, playing a rock star wannabe here. The Taiwanese actor performs his own songs in the movie and belts out tunes which are easy going on the ears. We wish there was an edgier side to the portrayal to his character though. When put together, the chemistry between the two work well for a movie of this nature.

Angelababy and Chao do their best to engage viewers, but it is the supporting characters who steal the show in this otherwise passable romance flick. Chao’s real life father Allen Chao plays his reel life father, and the two hit it off naturally. Mainland Chinese actress Jiang Shan plays Angelababy’s mother, and one feels the helpless emotions the character feels.

Han also tries to impress his audiences in other ways. The film uses comic strips to tell its story occasionally, creating a dreamy effect that complements the genre of the movie. Through the halfway mark, the filmmaker also tries something different by rewinding the story and telling it from another character’s perspective. Though a little gimmicky, the style works as it grabs exhausted viewers’ attention and providing them a possibility that the film may take a different direction.

Does it? Judging by how successful Korean movies are, you wouldn’t think so.

Movie Rating:

(A predictable but passable romance flick that is easy on the eyes )

Review by John Li

Genre: Animation/Comedy
Director: Sam Fell, Chris Butler
Cast: Kodi Smit-McPhee, Leslie Mann, Anna Kendrick, Casey Affleck, Jeff Garlin, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, John Goodman, Jodelle Ferland
RunTime: 1 hr 33 mins
Rating: PG (Some Frightening Scenes)
Released By:  UIP
Official Website: http://focusfeatures.com/paranorman

Opening Day: 30 August 2012

Synopsis: In ParaNorman, a small town comes under siege by zombies. Who can it call? Only misunderstood local boy Norman, who is able to speak with the dead. In addition to the zombies, he’ll have to take on ghosts, witches and, worst of all, moronic grown-ups, to save his town from a centuries-old curse. But this young ghoul whisperer may find his paranormal activities pushed to their otherworldly limits.

Movie Review:

A word of caution for parents with younger tots – ‘Paranorman’ might not go down too well for the faint of heart. But its deliberately mature-skewing approach is also the reason why this is one of the most unique animated movies we’ve seen this year, the latest feat of stop-motion animation from the same Laika studio artists who had conjured up the similarly bewitching ‘Coraline’.

Both have at their heart titular characters who are outcasts in their social circle. For Norman, his ability to see ghosts have made him a pariah among his schoolmates – and the worst of the lot is a pea-brained nose-picking bully named Alvin (Christopher Mintz-Plasse). Home is not much better. His dad (Jeff Garlin) is none too pleased he claims to be speaking to his dead grandmother, his mother (Leslie Mann) dismisses it as a phase, and his bimbotic teenage sister Courtney (Anna Kendrick) just can’t be bothered. 

The film’s writer is Chris Butler - a storyboard artist who honed his skills on Tim Burton’s ‘Corpse Bride’ and Henry Selick’s ‘Coraline’ - and his experience with the contemporaries in quirky animation has served him well in creating a lovable adolescent misfit in Norman. Before Norman is even confronted with the challenge you know will turn him into the unlikely hero, you’ve already fallen in love with this sweet unassuming kid with the rectangular quizzical eyebrows and a head of vertical brown hair. 

Instead of sugar-coating the reality of Norman’s social life, Butler states the truth as it is – ‘You can’t stop bullying – it’s part of human nature,” says Norman’s chubby buddy Neil (Tucker Albrizzi), similarly ostracised in school on account of his size. The honesty is refreshing, and so is the plot that follows, involving a 300-year old witch’s curse that invokes half-dozen zombies to rise from their graves and terrorise the local townsfolk of Blithe’s Hollow. 

A twist late into the tale on the witch’s identity makes this an unexpectedly moving and thoughtful parable on acceptance and empathy, two morals which tie in beautifully with Norman’s own story of rejection. Along the way to the surprisingly intense finale, Butler and his co-director Sam Fell inject a veritable sense of fun into the proceedings which unfold like a rollercoaster ride into a haunted house of terrors, made all the more enjoyable by Norman’s motley crew comprising of Alvin, Courtney, Neil and Neil’s jockish older brother Mitch (Casey Affleck). 

While distracting the younger ones with a cornucopia of visual gags, Butler packs bits of surprises for the adults in the audience. You’ll chuckle along with the bits of deadpan humour – “Do you think they’ll eat our brains?” Alvin screams in fear. “Yeah, you’ll be safe,” Norman replies – as well as the ‘blink and you’ll miss’ tributes to horror classics from ‘Halloween’ to ‘Friday the 13th’. These will be lost on the kids, but what parents should really take time to explain is Butler’s message of embracing those who are different from us, a lesson all too precious in today’s increasingly xenophobic world.

The same attention to story and character has also gone into the lovingly-detailed animation – while at first sight cruder looking than today’s more commonly seen computer-generated visuals, the distinctive stop-motion rendering is nothing short of gorgeous, and one truly marvels at the amount of effort that has gone into the individual action-oriented sequences that have so much going on at the same time. The technique has also allowed the animators to sculpt finer detail into each of the characters, which come to life in a certain pop-up fashion that fits perfectly in 3D. 

Using the traditional narrative of a misfit turned unlikely hero, ‘Paranorman’ weaves a fantastically dazzling, consistently engaging and surprisingly touching story that qualifies it as one of the most original and certainly one of the best animated movies of the year. Yes, it isn’t as family-friendly as something you might expect from the usual Disney or Dreamworks fare, but you’ll appreciate the level of maturity and wit that has gone into this impressive stop-motion animation. 

Movie Rating:

(Packed with wit, imagination and thoughtfulness, this lovingly rendered stop-motion animation is one of the best of the year)

Review by Gabriel Chong