Good Deeds - Mediocre

5/10

Decent, or at least Mediocre Romance about a Troubled Rich Man

While this Tyler Perry work is negatively user-rated widely and apparently under-performing at the box office, it is in fact a decent love story about a rich businessman, Tyler Perry, who has never been chasing his dreams his entire life. That is, indeed, up to the point Thandie Newton, the female lead who has difficulty earning a living and raising her daughter without any support, enters his life.

The slow-paced setup of the first half tends to give viewers a certain degree of boredom and negative aspect of the movie. Despite the seemingly planned organization of the plot, the complete story is glued together by separate events that somewhat relate, but never really cohere tightly, which costs an interesting story the loss of a natural flow. Though it's not at all fatal, the length of the movie with incoherent sections does seem to add to the disadvantage of storytelling. In other words, the first half and second half are at the fault of imbalance and the development is jumpy at times, especially in the second half.

It is a movie that is more romance than drama and comedy, though it does have its share of laughable moments. Such are nothing too intense but it does help the over-seriousness of the setting. The focus is placed mostly over Perry and Newton, which undoubtedly leads to the impression that other relationships are simply being mentioned and neglected with a somewhat abrupt closing.

Many actions are not explained; they are just shown to be "good deeds". When the movie begins, it feels like an in-depth story about Newton and her life which is nothing but bad. As the story develops, we are shown a relationship that quickly evolves. The abrupt closure is not well-tackled. Indeed, we are back to the problem of imbalance. Viewers enjoy a start with over-explained and over-described matters which inevitably make people tedious, while in the end, it is too quick and make people feel that there is not enough explaining done, which leaves them disappointed.

In a crowd of satisfactory performances, Newton easily stands out with her scenes when she is with her daughter, played by Jordenn Thompson. Those moments are the only that give this flat romance and drama some sentimental value. Writing and directly the movie himself, Tyler Perry manages to offer an okay performance as the title character. Brian White has done a fine job playing the "loser" brother of Perry.

It is a script with certain imbalance and some organizational issues. Nevertheless, as a light romance story about a man's desire to chase his dreams, it is a movie that delivers sufficiency, and warmth occasionally. It is not a movie that shines, but it remains a simple and interesting story with an attempt to tell a message.

Extremely Loud - Review

 EXTREMELY LOUD AND INCREDIBLY CLOSE

Deeply Sentimental and Utterly Inspiring

A simple story and a long journey characterize "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close", but if you are expecting masterful storytelling and a well-organized plot with a natural flow, this may not be your cup of tea. This is a movie that prevails on emotions, on its inspirational and sentimental messages that connect with the audience, especially the ones who have lost something in the 911. It's easily the most touching movie of the year for people who love it. If you don't like it, well, the score on IMDB or RT explains it.

Nevertheless, Thomas Horn (Oskar) becomes the star of the movie the moment the film begins, and he learns and reflects through his adventure, till the very end of the movie when he realizes the truth and the message from his father. The performance is a completely Oscar-worthy one, and from what I'm seeing here I can easily put it on the level of George Clooney in "The Descendants", or even above. Even more credit should be given to him for this being his very first appearance on a screen. I'd rather the Academy recognizes this by nod on Thomas Horn for Best Actor, instead of a Best Picture and a Best Supporting Actor nod, but then I keep telling myself that this is the Academy that has a long history of hating children and teens in the industry, especially young male actors. Personally, I would be happier to see Thomas Horn replacing Demian Bichir. They both play characters that are striving so hard to look for something and protect something, but the performance we get from the former is a much more all-round one that keeps an entire movie developing. Horn is basically the center of the movie.

"Extremely Loud" is presented in fragments, and some may find it confusing and somewhat pretentious. I see it as a way to display the emotions and the development of Oskar better. So it seems the critics are wrong this time, and I'm glad the Academy has corrected such a mistake by nominating this as Best Picture. Though it won't win, it certainly has received the recognition it deserved. Like "The Help", this is one the most moving movies of the year, but "The Help" seems to appeal to the audience more with its more conventional and linear storytelling technique. But for me, they are equally touching and are movies that can easily make people cry. I would even say the message in this is much stronger and enforced than the one in "The Help", which makes use of an issue that has been done over and over again.

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED (Reminder: bring some tissues)

Take Shelter - A Work of Suspense

Depends on Whether You Like Ambiguousness - 6/10

"Take Shelter" is probably another one of those controversial films for its courageous take on ambiguousness. One moment you think you know where the plot's headed, the next second you find yourself still deep in the pool of ambiguousness and confusion.

It is true that the film is rather slow-paced and suspenseful but if you're enjoying every minute of it, it doesn't matter. This is the kind of film that involves or even demands a lot of imagination for your own version of interpretation of everything going on. There's no correct answer and no correct explanation. The reasons behind the events that take place in "Take Shelter" are what you want them to be, and the ending can mean different things from different viewpoints. What matters most is that the ending does mean a conclusion to things, though it can be one that differs in everyone's eyes.

Two elements are found most valuable. The first is the mystery, and the second are the amazing performances from Chastain and Shannon.

When it comes down to liking this or not, it certainly differs even more. For the ones that love it, they enjoy the ambiguousness in this suspenseful thriller. For the ones that hate it, it has to be the nature of it being slow-moving, which will directly translated into boredom.

I am not a big fan of works of ambiguousness but I find the suspense element very well-organized throughout and I just love the strong acting, but frankly speaking, I do find the film boring at times.

Politics on Screen - The Ides of March

Politics On-screen

9/10 - The Ides of March

 

 

And to talk about alternate thrillers, put this next to also Academy Award-nominated "Margin Call" for screenplay you easily spot the difference, both in the quality of performances and the power of the script. This thriller-drama revolves around Stephen (Ryan Gosling), a smart staffer for a campaign who learns the true face of politics the quick way.

The script is captivating and it draws the audience at the exact moment the film starts, but what satisfies more than the changes in Gosling from the beginning to the end? Ryan Gosling delivers his transition realistically through events that unfold in front of him, with solid and believable performances scene after scene that prove he is a highly capable actor. Gosling's mask-like portrait of the nameless hero in "Drive" is amazing and exciting, but his performance in "The Ides of March" undoubtedly expose to us more of his if not flawless, masterful and flexible acting abilities. And we shouldn't leave out Hoffman and Giamatti, who are both incredible and perfect for their roles, Paul Zara and Tom Duffy, respectively. Clooney is great, but credits should definitely be given to him for the whole package, for his directing and writing rather than his performance alone. Evan Rachel Wood plays a supporting role as Molly Stearns, who is much related to the entire campaign itself and many characters. She is also the key that motivates Gosling's actions.

"The Ides of March" is certainly one of the most powerful and believable political thrillers or dramas out there, so don't miss this for certain. 

"The Ides of March" is highly recommended.

Contagion "Review"

A Disappointment When You Were Over-expecting

"Contagion", for me, is a mediocre thriller drama about an epidemic
that spreads over the globe. It presents itself along with a lot of
scientific background to consolidate the sense that this epidemic is a
reality. I was expecting an exciting thriller, but this was no where
near the excitement in "28 Days/Weeks Later".

This isn't a documentary; it's supposed to be a movie. Sure, there are
multiple story lines and they seem to be handled fairly appropriately
and there are a few dramatic moments, but nothing is special enough to
make this movie good. It hasn't done well on the side of excitement,
and on the side of drama it is definitely sentimentally inadequate and
powerless.

And you can't help but think this is a waste of talents with such a
all-star cast, and all they are told to do is something that many
average or rookie actors can manage.

Then again, perhaps it was my expectations that went in overdrive and I
was hoping for something huge. I would say the movie isn't poor, but
it's not satisfying on many levels.

I give this a 6 out of 10.

Movie Review - Another Happy Day - RECOMMENDED HIGHLY

Another Happy Day (2011) is Highly Recommended.

An Ensemble of Outstanding Performances 

also on imdb.com, posted on 8 January 2012

"Another Happy Day" does not operate in the way usual films do. It does not give you a certain point of climax or intensity and a so-called satisfying, complete closure that many people may expect. Well, these are exactly the things not to be expected.


Look forward to a distinctive drama about a family and the relationships in it. Look forward to a unusual film with both happy and sad moments yet not necessarily with even the slightest of predictability and cheerfulness. It is not necessarily sad, but for certain it does not try to cheer you up.


You can call this film many things. Call it hilarious, call it depressing, call it reality, call it family. It has its share of heartbreaking and heartwarming moments, and it is certainly harsh when it comes to show that this may be exactly what reality may be like. Not all problems can be solved in real life like in the movies, and this is a piece that does not present itself as a typical film; it presents itself as a potential reality, and it goes from there.


The emotions are so rich and deep in this film that it is almost impossible to capture them all so vividly and put them forth on the screen for the audience. But thanks to a group of brilliant performances, the impossible becomes possible, and the power of film definitely emanates more from the incredibly stunning and entirely realistic acting than from the plot.

Despite the total ignorance of this film by the Academy, the performances here alone, not taking the storyline into account, form one of the greatest ensembles of the year. Ellen Barkin as Lynn and Ezra Miller as Elliot, Lynn's son, have delivered one of the most solid and promising performances of the year, and are undoubtedly, as most would say, Oscar-worthy. The emotional collapse of Ellen Burstyn as Doris, Lynn's mother, is another performance too powerful to not pay attention to. The only underachieving one here may be Academy Award nominee Thomas Haden Church, who plays Lynn's ex-husband, Paul, and now has a new spouse, Patty (Demi Moore).


There is a lot of love and hate in this film, and however immorally wrong it may be, this reflects reality in many families, especially bigger ones. The countless issues are not going to just vanish, and it is usually easier said than done to overcome these troubles. In Lynn's case it is even more difficult, with everyone in the family seeming to disapprove of her actions and as Lynn refers to, not on her side. During such a visit with so much hospitality, Lynn must resolve into getting over these problems in the wedding of his son Dylan (Michael Nardelli), who has stayed with Paul and Patty since little age.

Another problem arises as Lynn continues to think and have serious doubts whether she is a good mother. Elliot and Ben (Daniel Yelsky) are both raised by Lynn, and they also have "issues". The former has some kind of severe emotional disorder and can burst into an uncontrollable rampage all of a sudden while the latter is also said to have mildly autistic trouble. Alice (Kate Bosworth), another child raised by Lynn, also seems to have issues and has even hurt herself before. It is in this situation that brings Lynn to the edge. She is on the verge of breaking down, under an extremely uncomfortable environment with everyone pointing fingers at her from the outside and her inner sorrow of her failures on her children.


We have Elliot and Ben. Ben appears as a figure lacking confidence and often feels and reacts badly when others discuss his "autistic nature". Elliot is not your ordinary teenager. He takes teenage drugs and smokes cigarettes, but he is more than that. At times, he seems normal and behaves normally, but at other times, he can act incoherently and totally irresponsibly because of his apparent inability to control himself in certain circumstances. While Lynn has her unbearable load of issues to tackle, the two teenagers also have to deal with their hardships during this somewhat unwanted visit to Lynn's mother.


Alice is not presented to us as a main character though she has been the focus of conversations from time to time, and when she comes up, her problem is no longer her own. It is connected to other members in the family, like Lynn herself, and of course her father, Paul. The relationship between her and Paul is one kind of relationship, and the relationship between Lynn and Paul concerning her is another kind, and then it certainly also causes problems between Patty and Lynn. And between Patty and Lynn it does not end there. With Dylan being Lynn's son but being raised by Patty, his tendency towards Lynn for walking him down the aisle inevitably results in Patty's fury.


The relationships in this family are too complex describe in plain words and you will have to see for yourself how complicated it can be. 

"Another Happy Day" has depth in its diversity of emotions portrayed by a group of talented actors and actresses, and it is an enjoyable experience. It is a drama about a family in general. It covers life and death, sicknesses, teenage problems, emotional disorders, marriages, love, and of course, family.

All I have to remind you is that "Another Happy Day" may not really guarantee you a "happy" experience. For most of the audience, I would say "depression" should be the word. But I guess if you face it optimistically and bravely, it can still be a satisfying and happy journey somehow.

Either way, it is a film where extraordinarily great performances meet affluently rich sentimental displays and a film that should be appreciated. 

"Another Happy Day" is given a A/B grade, 8/10.

Movie Review - Attack the Block (RECOMMENDED)

Attack the Block (2011) is Recommended.

Entertaining Sci-fi With a Touch of "Die Hard"

"Attack the Block" reminds me a bit of the good old Bruce Willis times of "Die Hard". It is a story well-crafted and well-presented, a science fiction flick revolving around a group of gangsters in Britain. This is yet another just-for-fun film and taking this too seriously will probably land you in major disappointment.

If you're looking for pure fun, this is definitely the right kind of story to provide you with that, with a slight touch of "Die Hard" for me as well, since most of the movie takes place in a residential block. Other than the intense one hour and a half, it is also a story about the hardships of these teenagers, their friendships, and of course, gangs. But those elements aren't over-emphasized, nor do they interfere with the entertainment the plot has to offer. As I said, the theme of this movie is not too serious. As long as you love science fiction with aliens and an exciting adventure through the eyes of a bunch of teenagers, this shouldn't go wrong for you.

Visuals and sounds are not too captivating, but they remain sufficient. Violence is indeed involved but it is no doubt not among the most violent kind of movies I've seen, though I would only recommend this for 15-16 or above.


Final Rating: (7/10) / B+

Movie Review - The Sitter (7/10)

Being Unoriginal and Predictable Is Not Necessarily Bad 
Also posted on 27 December 2011 on imdb.com

As the what title suggests, I don't expect anyone looking forward to watching a drama-comedy that has depth. This is more of a pure comedy and an entertaining one at that for me, so I'd consider it successful.

And yes, The Sitter is quite unoriginal and what movie-goers call "predictable". I admit it's a kind of fun to try to expect the unexpected, but a predictable story does not equal a bad story. In fact, from the beginning of the 80 minutes or so until the end I'd been kept entertained and I honestly didn't experience much boring moments.

Other than its comedic scenes, the movie does have attempts to include moving scenes that make the audience learn something. I would say those attempts are not highly effective but not at all futile efforts.

The best way to conclude The Sitter is to say that it is a good comedy for young adults or above. Language and inappropriate behavior are main reasons this may not be suitable for children or younger teens. The Sitter is an enjoyable movie that is funny and does not require too much thinking to understand.

We give this a 7 out of 10.

Movie Review - 50/50 (8/10)

Joseph Gordon-Levitt Is Good Like Usual

Originally posted on 26 December 2011 on imdb.com

This will be a 3-part review.

1. As a "Joseph Gordon-Levitt movie-lover" I'm glad to say that this time Joseph Gordon-Levitt has done it again. 50/50 is successful mostly due to his stunning portrait of a young man diagnosed with cancer. Upsettingly, it seems to stop there. His strong performance aside, the rest of the cast does not offer many surprises.

2. The story does not try to be "big" or have the kind of intention to cater for a very wide array of audience groups. Nevertheless, it is still successful. The script is nicely written depicting the start to finish of a man's physical and psychological battle with a rare case of cancer. 50/50 feels like a nice little independent film and is presented throughout with that spirit.

3. If it were earlier in the year, I might say this can score a few Oscar nods. However, at the current stage almost close to the end of the race, I can only say the only possible category in which 50/50 can get a nomination is probably Best Original Screenplay, and it is not even very safe. While the Best Adapted Screenplay this year seems to have solid locks like Hugo, Descendants, Moneyball, we are still not very sure whether the Academy will nominate Young Adult or Bridesmaids over 50/50 beside the locks like Artist and Midnight in Paris. I'd be happy to see this get recognized, but with the Academy nowadays, I guess you never know. We'll just wait and see.

Movie Review - Melancholia (7/10)

Last night's Christmas was great fun. I'm looking forward to the next year. I'm sure you had a good time too. Anyway, here's another movie review for a movie released earlier this year.

The New "Armageddon" Is Different 
Originally posted on 18 December 2011 on imdb.com

Okay this should be a brief review, mostly because I cannot find much to say. The thing is that this new "Armageddon" is definitely different and one of its kind.

First, the good: The story of a possible collision between Earth and the planet of Melancholia is presented simply enough, and in a somewhat artistic way. The collision is not unheard of; it is known by the characters. Making use of that, the plot covers the reactions focusing on the lives of a few characters. The acting performed by the cast is amazingly done, and I quite like the way the ambient music and the cinematography reinforces the message of the approaching Melancholia throughout.

And the bad: Some scenes are found to be quite long and boring, and sometimes the lack of conversation is also a problem. With the film divided into the two chapters, the first part is relatively more rich in contents or interactions and less sentimental, while the latter part is quite the exact opposite. In spite of the problem of the boredom I mentioned, I still find the second chapter much more intriguing while the first falls flat.

The conclusion: Melancholia is one of the one-of-a-kind films out there and it describes a doomsday scenario relying on a more artistic approach instead of the totally "commercial feeling" of Armageddon. Don't get me wrong. I enjoyed Armageddon, but I am not going to make too much comparison, as they are in two completely different categories though the plot is somewhat similar.

Movie Review - Tree of Life (9/10)

An Enjoyable Ride for me, Certainly not for Everyone
Originally posted on 21 October 2011 on imdb.com

 The prerequisite of granting "The Tree of Life" a proper rating is the initial recognition of this as a movie. If I am to say this is a highly kaleidoscopic and sophisticated art piece, I bet most of you will nod. Nevertheless, not many will agree to this being a film to be shown in the cinema.

I am in no position to judge nor to logically refute the different points of views of others, but I would ask this: Who are we to determine the definition of "movies"? This is certainly a movie out the ordinary "boundary" of movie making. The main concern is the long length which may make the movie a bit tedious for some. Another concern is the "unnecessary" inserted section of the Discovery Channel. But is it really unnecessary? Well, I honestly do not know. But I personally have no problem with that, though I have no idea what the purpose is and why it needs to last almost 15 minutes.

If you view this as a film, the plot is quite good. It is about a young boy losing his innocence and it also discusses our attitudes towards life. Christian overtones are spread throughout, and at the very beginning of the film, it is stated that a man has two ways through life, which are the way of nature and the way of grace. Frankly speaking, I find this to be quite deep and I do not really fully understand the concept of this, let alone comprehend the whole point or the ultimate message of this picture.

The plot alone is sufficient to make this an excellent movie. I certainly fail to understand it fully. I simply do not see the point of load of things in the movie, and I believe many of you feel the same way. I don't know if it is the director's intention to make us leave the cinema with all these never-to-be-answered mysteries or is it just me that fails to understand what the hidden message is. Or maybe there just isn't any. Maybe it wants us to think whatever we want to think and learn whatever we can learn. Either way, for now, I will see this film as a little combination of arts and a drama with a good story.

Movie Review - Crazy, Stupid, Love (9/10)

Comedy of Modern Love; Crazy, Stupid, Love is Crazily Amazing
Originally posted on 19 October 2011 on imdb.com

 

"Crazy, Stupid, Love" is one of the top comedies this year. Depicting the story of a mid-aged father amid a marital crisis, this film prevails as both as a drama and comedy.

The first great thing is the unpredictability of the plot. You never know what happens next as the story unfolds. There are a lot of twists for dramatic and comedic effects and they unravel very well as the storyline develops. With its appropriate pace and distinctive style of portrait, it has the ability to make the audience burst out laughing and sobbing.

The second plus is that the film is full of moments that a lot of people may actually experience in their lives. It is an excellent drama because it takes you through a roller coaster of emotions. What's better is that it makes you feel everything in a relaxing environment most of the time. Sometimes, it can be depressing, and sometimes cheering, but most vitally, it is nothing too serious and deep. After all, this is a comedy and even you are supposed to feel the sadness of the characters you can laugh at the same time.

The message is clear and a great one too. Love is uncertain and unpredictable, but that does not mean we should give up on it. It's quite the opposite. Once you find the one true love, you must hold on to it and keep trying despite the hardship.

This is highly recommended. It's a realistic drama with loaded fun moments and along with a great message and lesson for us all.

Movie Review - Bridge to Terabithia (2007) (8/10) and The Cure (1995) (10/10)

Bridge to Terabithia (2007) - A Pleasant Surprise

Originally posted on 18 October 2011 on imdb.com

Summary: A preteen's befriends a new girl at school and together they experience things that you cannot imagine.

This is a pleasant surprise! I don't want to spoil anything so I will just say that this movie is a lot more than what it looks. There is depth under the solid digital special effects. You should be happy with the visual aspects, but more importantly, you are bound to learn a great lesson from this, no matter you are an adult or a kid. This is a well-balanced piece of fantasy drama about friendship. This kind of friendship is not ordinary. It is not formed in ordinary ways, and it is not proved in ordinary ways, but it is true and solid and honest.

The Cure (1995) - Deeply Touching Tale About Two Friends 
Originally posted on 18 October 2011 on imdb.com

  
"The Cure" is one of the few movies I gave a flawless score. It is one of the most deeply touching movies of all time. The story is so well-developed that we witness gradual shifts from absolute happiness to absolute sadness. In the process of this, however, it manages to attach an important message throughout the movie, which is the message of hope. The script is powerful enough to make the audience laugh and cry, and sometimes both at the same time. The acting is simply superb from two amazing boy actors, strengthening the power of this masterpiece.

"The Cure" is a masterpiece that combines simplicity, funny elements, deeply touching moments, the essence of having hope and the power and meaning of friendship. It is going to leave a mark in your heart that you will carry forever.

Movie Review - Dolphin Tale (7/10)

3D Fun - Brief Review on "Dolphin Tale"
Originally posted on 14 October 2011 on imdb.com

 "Dolphin Tale" is definitely a good movie for the whole family. Both children and adults will enjoy this. It may not have much depth but it is the sort of movie that can entertain people at all ages. The story is linear and simple. Basically it is about a boy who develops a bond with a dolphin named Winter and is dedicated to helping the dolphin with a lost tail to swim again. The story does build on simplicity but it still manages to be touching at certain moments. The story develops at a moderate pace. There are some underwater scenes in the film and the effects are nicely done. This film also does not disappoint people who have paid for 3D tickets.

Movie Review - Spy School (2008) (6/10) and Star Kid (1997) (5/10)

Spy School (2008) - Fun Family Film 
Originally posted on 18 October 2011  on imdb.com

 Is it that bad? No, not at all. In fact, as a kids film it is above average. There are good films in all categories and this is a very outstanding one in its.

First, it's a good family comedy. Surely parents will have a good time with their kids watching this. It is a nice little family film with a nice plot and there is something to learn from as well.

Compared to the Spy Kids series, this lacks action and effects. But it makes up for that with an unpredictable plot, and I like that very much. The story development is smooth and the acting is good.

Towards the climax in the end it gets pretty intense and there are quite some unexpected twists.

To conclude, this is really an enjoyable piece of family comedy.

Star Kid (1997) 
Originally posted on 8 October 2011 on imdb.com

The plot is fine. There are fun elements and the story is complete, though there are not really any big surprises. For those of you who do not know, this is a film about a weak kid who gets bullied at school and he encounters a robot suit from outer space that he can fit into and become "strong".

The acting is fine. Both the young and the adult actors delivered fine performances.

The special effects look quite cheap. It is probably a problem originated from the budget.

It gets more and more boring towards the end, and the climax is not at all rewarding. The ending is far too cheesy.

The look of the robot does not really impress me. It is sort of creepy for me. I would go with better design.

Still, it is a good family film for a Sunday afternoon if all you are looking forward to is some robot fun and nothing more. I am sure this film has done enough to impress the kids.

Movie Review - Submarine (8/10)

Submarine is Excellent 
Originally posted on 7 October 2011  on imdb.com

 I had planned to watch Submarine for quite a while, but I was always somehow more interested in the other films and ended up going to the other movies. I thought this was just another regular coming-of-age film, and just so you know I have seen quite a lot of those recently. I finally got to chance to watch it yesterday and I realize I was so, so wrong. Submarine is nothing but a surprise of pleasant delight.

Submarine diverts into two aspects in terms of plot. It follows the life of Oliver Tate. On one hand, he is dealing with his parents' worsening relationship. On the other hand, he develops a romantic relationship with another girl at school. The style of the storytelling is unique and fresh. Occasional unusual scenes manage to boost the entertainment.

The acting is great. Craig Roberts is exceptionally amazing. A comprehensive and accurate display of emotions is attained, while the performance is highly believable and not overdone.

This great work is a very successful combination of comedy and drama. It is both sentimental and humorous. The story develops very well and in the process it manages to bring laughter, and for me, a lot of laughter. It balances itself very well for it to be both funny and moving.

Another attraction is the music. A number of original songs appear in the film. They are written and performed by Alex Turner, the leader singer of the band Arctic Monkeys. I enjoyed all of them while watching the film. They just fit so perfectly well into the scenes and the style just felt so right.

Submarine presents me a very breath-taking 100-minute ride and I am glad I decided to watch this. No one should miss this hilarious comedy and great drama, and the good music!

Movie Review - Is Anybody There? (2008) (7/10)

Little British Drama with Great Performances
Originally Posted on 20 October 2011 on imdb.com

 Set in the 1980s seaside England, this film is a great coming-of-age story with authenticity and may give a sense of nostalgia for some.

Bill Milner plays 10-year-old Edward, who is a curious child full of questions about ghosts and death. This story is about Edward's childhood in a old people's home run by his parents. As the story develops, Edward develops a special bond with Clarence, played by the amazing Michael Caine.

The start of the movie gives us a nice description of Edward's life and introduces us to a lot of characters in the house. The ghost hunting parts make the film a bit far-stretched from its theme but the films gets a lot better later. We get to know Clarence more, and we can see his life portrayed by Michale Caine's outstanding performance. Caine's acting is a great strength of the film, and it totally brings out Clarence's character to the audience. Milner also does a good job acting a kid full of curiosity and inner kindness. Clarence has a huge regret in his life. It is about his wife. We can see Edward's kindness as he tries to help him heal that wound in his heart.

This film is an invaluable lesson about life and death. The bond a young kid and an old man share can be very special. As the scenes move on, Edward is seen to grow and learn a lot of things from Clarence. It is incredible to see that this film succeeds in displaying that quality of life experience. The young have a lot to learn from the old who have much more experience in their life. The other way around, old people who are sometimes not their old self anymore can often use that energy from the young.

This film covers a lot of things and I am sure different people can learn different things from it. Anyway, people looking for an exciting drama is not going to like this. But if you are looking for is an inspiring drama that gives you something to think about, this is a good choice for you. For me, Caine's performance alone is enough to make the time worthwhile.

Movie Review - Last Ride (2009) (9/10)

Rare and Distinctively Moving Drama 
Originally posted on 13 November 2011 on imdb.com

First I must say that this is a drama that can make most people sad, so do think twice about watching this and pick the right mood for it. But the fact that it brings depression does not mean it is not a good movie. On the contrary, it is a brilliant one.

A very dark story is what this film presents. It is about a Dad and a son's journey, and the Dad is a fugitive from justice. I do not want to ruin the story but I can conclude that the story is not at all difficult to understand. The audience may have some questions in the beginning but they are answered as the film develops, through recalling of past memories by the characters.

The movie is realistic and believable, thanks to an incredible script, well-written dialogue and brilliant performances. The two main characters are very professional and amazing at their roles.

This movie makes the audience think about a lot of things. Given by the dark plot is a valuable lesson for us all. There is superb character development. The relationship of the father and the son is indeed the main focus. We see the son's mixed love and hate towards his Dad, and the father's deep concern for his son in spite of his violent nature. It raises a lot of thoughts in our mind, like how parents should treat their kids and what "the right thing to do" is.

I would like to point out another achievement of this movie. The film takes place across Australia, and the scenery is simply "wow". This movie does not hold back aspects of the country's natural beauty. The audience has the chance to see a whole lot of wonders: the desert, the forest, mountains, even a frozen lake.

"Last Ride" is a drama dealing with extremely dark themes and there are scenes that may be disturbing for some throughout the whole movie. This is definitely not the kind of movie that we watch and have a blast, and it is one-hundred percent not suitable for young children. Nonetheless, it is very successful in its realistic portrait and its powerful performances, and is highly recommended as a thought-provoking and touching drama.

Movie Review - Judy Moody (3/10)

Below Average, Strictly Kids-type (or perhaps nobody-type) Picture
Originally posted on 18 October 2011 on imdb.com

As the title suggests, this is a film supposedly meant for summer fun, but I can say it is a pretty bad one at that. I had strong reasons not to watch this in cinema, two of which being the majority of negative reviews and unpleasant comments from people I know. Now that I have finally got my copy and seen it, I am so glad that I decided not to get dragged to watch this.

The story is about how a preteen girl spends a summer with a plan to score "thrill points" and how it goes all wrong. Well, the idea is not that bad, not at all.

But the movie just fails to deliver anything as a whole. I personally find Judy Moody a bit creepy, and the way she acts and looks simply does not "fit in" to the group compared to other kids. A younger actress would be a lot better. Well, maybe it's just me.

A nice story with some fun moments would have made up for that creepiness anyway. Sadly that is not the case. I cannot really say the plot has anything unfitting and fatally incorrect in it. It is just nothing special and nothing fun. This summer is really a bummer for the kids.

There are loads of kids movies out there to learn from, to borrow ideas from. The story can be simple and fun, in the typical style of kids movies, and adults can be happy to see that their kids have fun while having something to learn from in the end. But no. There is absolutely nothing in this for kids to learn from, let alone have fun.

It's probably not the worst kids movie I've seen, but it's truly close. For me, I don't think it is worth one and a half hour of your time on this.

Movie Review - Hugo (Cabret) (10/10)

Visually Overwhelming, Touching Story and a Nostalgic Journey, a Clear Visual Effects Winner
Originally posted on 11 December 2011 on imdb.com

Wow. I was totally blown away. "Hugo" is nothing like what I expected. I thought it was a children-only film but it turned out to be much, much more.

Visually, this is one of the movies with the best effects up to date, not to mention the 3D which is the best I've seen. Centering around a train station and Paris, the environment is simply stunning. I think the visual achievement of this movie has brought visual effects in movies to a whole new level. The background music is incredible too.

But it doesn't stop there. The amazing scenery is supported by a great plot which revolves around a orphan boy and a teenage girl. A story of passion and courage is unraveled.

"Hugo" is a beautiful art piece that should be well remembered. Let's hope it make it into the five nominees for visual effects and hopefully also other awards.