Tuesday, November 30, 2010

The OK , The BETTER, and the AWESOME (some spoilers)

Ok... I'm just going to make this quick. I've been watching some recent movies lately and I feel I need to make my reviews soon before I forget all of these flicks.. It's not like I have short-term memory loss or something...

The "OK" flick
(from http://www.27pitches.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/the-expendables.jpg)
I was hyped before I watched it. Now that I did, I'm not really impressed with the story. For me, the story is more important than the action. Although action scenes can really blow you away, in the end the story always gets the people buying more tickets (but this is not always the case, after all, it really depends on the taste of the viewer). With The Expandables, despite having mind blowing action scenes, it really disappoint me with the story. Besides being poorly written, it so many cliches that aren't interesting anymore. I also hate how they didn't make Jet Li's fight scenes into "fair" ones. Jet Li's character fought Dolph Lundgren's character twice, but loses on both fights. To me that seemed to be a little... unfair.

Things I liked to make it not the worse flick. I like how they made it realistically bloody. I'm also a sucker for guns, so.. I liked the artillary. I also like how they showed some of the "killer effects" of the jiu-jitsu moves when tried with utmost power (finally without the boundaries of the UFC tournament). I also liked the cameo of some of the action greats!!! -- for me that was a historic moment. WILLIS, STALLONE and SCHWARZENEGGER.. In ONE scene! so EPIC!

hmmm... I give it..
7/10

Next is the "BETTER" flick...
(from http://www.moviepostershop.com/red-movie-poster-1020556403.jpg)
Now, this one I really like. Some retirees kicking some butt.. not bad for a story, and not so boring to watch either. The action isn't so mind blowing like The Expendables but it was realistic (which is always a plus for me). Bruce Willis was in his talkative self in the movie -- he was just fair and bearable. Helen Mirren -- her character is so fun! I like how she sported her character as the nice old lady on the outside and the tough killer on the inside. John Malkovich was all the wacky-genius type with the right sense of humor -- he alone can convince me to give this movie a higher rate. Morgan Freeman... good acting; his character's fate made me sad.. :(

I give it...
8/10

Last but not the least.. The "AWESOME" flick!!!
(http://www.moviepostershop.com/inception-movie-poster-1020551542.jpg)
At first I was confused, but it didn't take me long to understand the concept of the movie. To be honest, I was afraid to watch this movie 'coz I might not like it. The trailer made it feel like it was a psycho-brain-exercise, which can either be really awesome or really bad. but Inception kinda pulled it off, but it just needs more info in the beginning. Some folks might be awfully confused. I know 'coz my movie buddy (Dad) was snoring his way out of the viewing time (that can mean 'confused', 'not interested', or 'it sucked!!!'); He didn't get to finish it. I think I was the only one in my family who actually liked it. LOL. Anyway, it was kind of disturbing that in his recent movies (Shutter Island and Revolutionary Road), Leo always has the role of a husband that had a wife who killed herself. In Inception, his role was no different Is it a type-cast? hmmm.. too early to tell.


Anyway, the movie was artsy and imaginative. I was impressed with the anti-gravity fight scene. I liked the whole dream world thing where you can make a living out if it hehehe! Somehow, it seemed like a better version of The Matrix. I wouldn't say it was a rip-off; It just had the similar concept, but in a different medium. Gladly, Inception pulled it off more nicely than the Matrix Trilogy. I also like the setting: very present, not futuristic at all. Marion Cotillard really annoyed me. She keeps popping in and out of the scenes and ruining everything for Leo's character. This only means that she is an effective actress. The whole cast was great, I couldn't complain about them. Ellen Page was awesome. The story was Awesome! I wasn't at ease letting go of the ending; It left me hanging and unsatisfied. It kinda sends the messege of "Use your own imagination".
I rate it...
9/10
Wasn't boring as I expected.. AWESOME!!!
 

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Hanna... The new Hit Girl


(Picture from http://moviesdb.cz.cc/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/hanna.jpg)
Saoirse Ronan is gonna be one killing machine in this film.. and she only playing a 14 year old. Sounds similar already. I really wanna watch another Hit Girl (similar to Kick Ass movie). Mean little girls seems to be the "hit" today and maybe there's more to come. I'm really excited about this movie and good thing I don't have to wait too long. It's gonna premiere on 2011. YES!

Friday, November 12, 2010

Bana-rific!

Eric Bana... *melts!* my new hollywood crush...

If only he was younger, he would've been too perfect *beyond melting!*. Sooooo! excited to see him in "Hanna" (2011). Actually, this post was suppose to be a movie review.. oh well, I'll just squeeze this in. 
 (poster from https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-uJrndQsdj0sIZKYPXB_7Npsx_IyPoPnu6b_QYXf-9Z2IxJKV3EvQSTU79tTGlnBK_Q3i4o6yjJBiXLqVdLHmGEpAMC7aEqTl8GAgl_2QzejNxAA9Bw03e_DDplWuvk6LjOskr1Tpl0O1/s1600/the_time_travelers_wife_movie_poster.jpg)

Finally! I got to watch The Time Traveler's Wife! Can't stop thinking about it. I'm so in love with the story. Now I hate to admit it, but I broke one of my rules - Don't read the book (before watching the movie). I really did read the novel. I can't believe I broke my own rule! HUHUHUHU!!!... Shall I go punish myself? lol.. Anyway, the movie was great despite me reading the novel which was phenomenal. I gotta say, I really wanted some scenes from the book to be included in the movie. BUT I didn't mind it at all. The movie makers really did picked some good scenes from the book. Some scenes were changed and the ending was expected but also changed. The love story was solid, teary and dramatic. The time travels were weird and hilarious. Love and Time travel = works fine with me. Eric Bana as Henry is DREAMY. Rachel McAdams as Clare is so perfect. Overall, it's a nice flick to watch from time to time.


8/10
I want my own Henry!!!!

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Movies, movies, movies.. what must I do to watch 'em all?

The title has no relation to what I'm going to write [hahaha!]. I just felt like putting up a long title [hehehe]. Anyway.. it's reviews time! Let's see.. where shall I start?.. A-ha! Repo Men!


(poster from http://www.filmofilia.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/Repo-Men-Poster.jpg)

Another good movie. It had all the right elements - action (minority report-ish but awesome), comedy (more masculine humor but I can stand it), and some romance (which is a bit blissful). Good movie...BAD ENDING!. I'll try not to include spoilers.. ehem! The movie was very similar to minority report: a guy, who works for a system. System gets back at him. Less seriousness and more comedy added on the first parts of the film. Jude Law is awesome in this! even though he's looking bald [totally shocked by his receeding hair! :O] he kept looking so awesome in action scenes [some of them are close to epic!]. Forest Whitaker was awesome too. He even studied the Philippine Martial Arts of Arnis (more like epic stick fighting ever!!!) for the film.. Everything is great... but the ending will make you forget all about it

Rating:

6/10

it could've had a 9 if it weren't for the ending...

The Hunger Games mania!


I almost never read anything anymore, until a friend suggested me a book - The Hunger Games. I know it belongs to a reader's blog or something, but I'll try my best to make it in the movie context.

First off..

The book is about a girl who was put into what they call "the games", which is kind of a gladiator-like tournament (don't know if this is the right term) wherein the winner is the only one left alive. The book is action packed with enough romance in it and a great story line. It got so much hype on the web... which made me wonder if Hollywood producers took notice on this book and it's sequels. Truthfully it did. And as expected, it got this Twilight vibe that I really hate. All I can say is "Please don't make it like Twilight." I'm still hopefull that they'll make it differently and express its superiority to the sparkly vampire. It's going to be better if they don't ruin it, but it's easier said than done. It's not easy to please fans (with standards much like mine), specially if it's from a book they really adore. Like what a friend of mine said.. "books are always better than the movies". I still prefer the movies xD and yet I'm pressuring Hollywood to do a neat job on the movie adaptation, like I favored books than movies... Anyway, I wouldn't make this long. I just want to express all the excitement. After all the risking, I'm still hyped that it's gonna be a movie :D According to IMDB, they're gonna have the movie done on 2013.. which makes me a 24 year old... darn, I'm old [by that time]. T_T

Oh here's my fake trailer of it