Saturday, December 31, 2011

The Dancer Upstairs (R) 7.5

The Dancer Upstairs (2002): A police detective in a South American country is dedicated to hunting down a revolutionary guerrilla leader. (6.9)

Director: John Malkovich
Writers: Nicholas Shakespeare (novel), Nicholas Shakespeare (screenplay)
Stars: Javier Bardem, Laura Morante and Juan Diego Botto

Layers. Its got layers of stories, confusion, humor, violence by the guerrillas, the disregard for the law or the people by the dictatorship government, etc. In the midst of all of that Bardem's character has internal conflicts. It is said that the story is inspired by true events in Peru in 1992. A great screenplay and it has the right amount of action, humor and intense drama. [Since it was a directed by Malkovich, I thought that it is an English movie; I should have watched it in Spanish w/ English subtitles. I'll do that I watch it again.] My Rating: 7.5

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Astro Boy (PG) 6.0

Astro Boy (2009): Set in futuristic Metro City, Astro Boy is about a young robot with incredible powers created by a brilliant scientist in the image of the son he has lost. (6.3)

Director: David Bowers
Writers: Osamu Tezuka (manga), David Bowers (story)
Stars: Freddie Highmore, Nicolas Cage and Kristen Bell

A father-son story, sort of like Pinnochio. This is from a Japanese/HK animation studio, but in the same mold as the US ones. (I guess, I'm seeing that as a slight weakness because I just watched Secret of Kells and saw how an animation could be made differently and uniquely.) I haven't see the original anime series, so I can't compare it. As a cgi movie, it stands on its own. My Rating: 6.0

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

The Secret of Kells (G) 8.0

The Secret of Kells (2009): Young Brendan lives in a remote medieval outpost under siege from barbarian raids. But a new life of adventure beckons when a celebrated master illuminator arrives from the isle of Iona carrying an ancient but unfinished book, brimming with secret wisdom and powers. (7.5)

Directors: Tomm Moore, Nora Twomey
Writers: Tomm Moore (original story), Fabrice Ziolkowski (screenplay)
Stars: Evan McGuire, Brendan Gleeson and Mick Lally

The Book of Kells is an illuminated manuscript Gospel book in Latin but I don't know how much of this story is real, myth or just made up for the movie (it doesn't matter to me). This is a beautifully drawn animation. The drawing style is unique for this format, and perfectly suited for the subject matter. (As an aside, this movie tells the story of Norsemen or barbarians invading and destroying the poor defenseless christian churches, but the spread of Christianity did the same to other groups/religions.) Overall, a nice story, nice animation, nice colors, etc. A good contrast against the styles of Pixar and other like animation companies. My Rating: 8.0

Monday, December 26, 2011

HP: Deathly Hallows 2 (PG-13) 6.5

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011): Harry, Ron and Hermione search for Voldemort's remaining Horcruxes in their effort to destroy the Dark Lord. (8.2)

Director: David Yates
Writers: Steve Kloves (screenplay), J.K. Rowling (novel)
Stars: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint

This is the second part of the final book of the series. As expected the epic battle between good and evil is depicted. The movie script sticks pretty much to the book, but that doesn't diminish the enjoyment of it. The high rating on IMDB, I think, is because it is a popular movie. It isn't one of the greatest ever; and in time, that rating will go down. My Rating: 6.5

Sunday, December 25, 2011

HP: Deathly Hallows 1 (PG-13) 6.5

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1: As Harry races against time and evil to destroy the Horcruxes, he uncovers the existence of three most powerful objects in the wizarding world: the Deathly Hallows. (7.6)

Director: David Yates
Writers: Steve Kloves (screenplay), J.K. Rowling (novel)
Stars: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint

As a story, the whole series is superb. But, as a movie, this is okay. The actors have grown to become better as the series has gone on. As expected, this is not a stand-alone movie; a lot of magical things are explained in previous movies. Enjoyable, nonetheless. My Rating: 6.5

Winter's Bone (R) 7.5

Winter's Bone (2010): An unflinching Ozark Mountain girl hacks through dangerous social terrain as she hunts down her drug-dealing father while trying to keep her family intact. (7.2)

Director: Debra Granik
Writers: Debra Granik (screenplay), Anne Rosellini (screenplay)
Stars: Jennifer Lawrence, John Hawkes and Garret Dillahunt

An excellent depiction of a teenage girl in the poor south growing up fast under the weight of responsibilities. Along the way, she learns to be tough or quiet or take it on the chin when required. Acting is superb. Story is believable and the screenplay is right on the mark. At times, the action may be slow, but there's lot going on just beneath the surface. My Rating: 7.5

Thursday, December 22, 2011

The Tree of Life (PG-13) 6.0

The Tree of Life (2011): The story centers around a family with three boys in the 1950s. The eldest son witnesses the loss of innocence. (7.2)

Director: Terrence Malick
Writer: Terrence Malick
Stars: Brad Pitt, Sean Penn and Jessica Chastain

Um, there's no story in this movie. The cinematography is good; some of the pictures and scenes have been borrowed from elsewhere. The title is all wrong; there's no tree of life here. This is just the author trying to inject his pesky god into the nature. Look, all of the piddly little religions with creationist gods have described silly little stories in their religions but they don't stand up to today's science. This movie is just an attempt to inject something (dinosaurs, asteroids hitting the earth, galaxies, etc.) back into some religious story that some man keeps asking where you were. This makes absolutely no sense. If the director/writer wanted to make a movie about how the universe is elegant AND meaningful AND follows nice patterns etc, just make something about the works of today's physicist like Stephen Hawking or Brian Greene or the evolutionary biologist or something. There's no reason to try to mash up dinosaurs with a 50s Texas family and soap bubbles. His attempt reminds me of this quote from Arthur C. Clarke: "The greatest tragedy in mankind's entire history may be the hijacking of morality by religion." I'd give this 4.5 if it weren't for the beautiful pictures. My Rating: 6.0

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

The Machinist (R) 7.5

The Machinist (2004): An industrial worker who hasn't slept in a year begins to doubt his own sanity. (7.8)

Director: Brad Anderson
Writer: Scott Kosar
Stars: Christian Bale, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Aitana Sánchez-Gijón

A really good psychological thriller that kept me guessing right to the end. They've changed the color hue with filters and I think they got it right. Not sure how they made Christian Bale look like that, but boy that was eerie. If I say more, I'd spoil it but suffice it to say that this is a good movie. My Rating: 7.5

Monday, December 19, 2011

Happythankyoumoreplease (R) 7.0

Happythankyoumoreplease (2010): Captures a generational moment - young people on the cusp of truly growing up, tiring of their reflexive cynicism, each in their own ways struggling to connect and define what it means to love and be loved. (6.8)

Director: Josh Radnor
Writer: Josh Radnor (screenplay)
Stars: Josh Radnor, Malin Akerman and Zoe Kazan

The story is sort of like the "Thirty Something" series from late 80s but without a whole lot of cultural (or counter-cultural) references. Good songs too. (spoiler) heh ... I want to exchange my universe with that of this movie where everything works out for everybody. Sweet, but not overly so. Josh Radnor has written, directed and played the leading role; that couldn't have been easy. My Rating: 7.0

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Spring, Summer, Fall ... (R) 8.0

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring (2003) Bom yeoreum gaeul gyeoul geurigo bom (original title): This film takes place in an isolated lake, where an old monk lives on a small floating temple. The wise master also has young apprentice with him. And, we watch as seasons and years pass by. (8.1)

Director: Ki-duk Kim
Writer: Ki-duk Kim
Stars: Ki-duk Kim, Yeong-su Oh and Jong-ho Kim
Language: Korean (w/ English subtitles)

I didn't plan to watch two movies by Ki-duk Kim back-to-back. They are similar in the sense the dialog is quite minimal and a lot is said with scenes and acting. They are both beautiful in the cinematic sense. This one, however, has that "old world" feel. Basically, the circle of life story told in a unique way. Loved it. My Rating: 8.0

Saturday, December 17, 2011

3-Iron (R) 8.0

3-Iron (2004) Bin-jip (original title): A transient young man breaks into empty homes to partake of the vacationing residents' lives for a few days. (8.0)

Director: Ki-duk Kim
Writer: Ki-duk Kim
Stars: Seung-yeon Lee, Hyun-kyoon Lee and Hyuk-ho Kwon
Language: Korean (w/ English subtitles)

The "poster" on Netflix and IMDB gave me the wrong impression of the movie. Then again, I went into it w/o much sense of what it is; and, it is one of those weird, funny, quirky, silly movies. It turns into bit surreal towards the end. Then you realize that it has been surreal from the very beginning and that that's the real story. Very little dialog; but so much is said w/o actually saying it in words. I really liked the script and the way it has been filmed. Highly recommend it for anyone looking for something different and wonderful. My Rating: 8.0

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Enron (R) 7.5

Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room (2005): A documentary about the Enron corporation, its faulty and corrupt business practices, and how they led to its fall. (7.7)

Director: Alex Gibney
Writers: Alex Gibney, Bethany McLean, and Peter Elkind
Stars: John Beard, Tim Belden and Barbara Boxer

This documentary shows why the greed is the wrong motivator and why it is bad for a civilized society. The story is presented in the usual documentary style with people sitting and talking to the camera, plus archival footage of various key players. Numbers could have been better presented with charts and graphs. Still, it explains what happened to the energy company. My Rating: 7.5

Monday, December 12, 2011

Somewhere in Time (PG) 6.0

Somewhere in Time (1980): A Chicago playwright uses self-hypnosis to find the actress whose vintage portrait hangs in a grand hotel. (7.0)

Director: Jeannot Szwarc
Writers: Richard Matheson (screenplay), Richard Matheson (novel)
Stars: Christopher Reeve, Jane Seymour and Christopher Plummer

This is another movie from 1980, but I'm seeing it with the hindsight of Superman and Christopher Reeve's subsequent saga ... I just couldn't get past that. Plus, I don't think he was the right person to play the somewhat delicate role; he's just too overgrown for the character, IMHO. Not a sci-fi, but an old fashioned romance with an impossible timeline thrown in. (A sci-fi would have used the fact that crossing timelines could have been used to pass messages, etc. neat tricks.) It went for the feel-good ending ... (spoiler) when we die, we end up whereever in our prime age regardless of the age at the death? How convenient. Heh.) My Rating: 6.0

Sunday, December 11, 2011

TRON: Legacy (PG) 7.5

TRON: Legacy (2010): The son of a virtual world designer goes looking for his father and ends up inside the digital world that his father designed. He meets his father's creation turned bad and a unique ally who was born inside the digital domain of The Grid. (6.9)

Director: Joseph Kosinski
Stars: Jeff Bridges, Garrett Hedlund and Olivia Wilde

Okay, the story isn't all that unique; it is a father-son story; been there seen that. However, this takes place in the grid and some of the idealism of the father (and the son) refer to today's tech industry's leading players. (Couldn't help but think of Jobs and Gates, and others in the field.) The mix of live action and CGI is pretty incredible. Loved it. My Rating: 7.5

Friday, December 9, 2011

Running Out of Time (R) 6.5

Running Out of Time (1999) Am zin (original title): Police inspector and excellent hostage negotiator Ho Sheung-Sang finds himself in over his head when he is pulled into a 72 hour game by a cancer suffering criminal out for vengeance on Hong Kong's organized crime Syndicates. (7.2)

Director: Johnnie To
Stars: Andy Lau, Ching Wan Lau and YoYo Mung
Language: Cantonese | Mandarin | English

Even though an English track is available, I watched this in Mandarin w/ English subtitles. An interesting cops and robbers story where the cop actually can identify himself with the bad guy. I liked the fact that the movie actually used quite a lot of outside shots, thereby letting us see the Hong Kong skyline a bit. My Rating: 6.5

Thursday, December 8, 2011

The Stunt Man (R) 6.0

The Stunt Man (1980): A fugitive stumbles on a movie set just when they need a new stunt man, takes the job as a way to hide out, and falls for the leading lady. (7.2)

Director: Richard Rush
Stars: Peter O'Toole, Steve Railsback and Barbara Hershey

[[ I'll come back and finish my review soon. ]]

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Chinatown (R) 7.0

Chinatown (1974): A private detective investigating an adultery case stumbles on to a scheme of murder that has something to do with water. (8.4)

Director: Roman Polanski
Writer: Robert Towne
Stars: Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway and John Huston

Okay, this is one of those supposedly neo-noir films, a classic, etc. The Wikipedia article about Chinatown claims that it has been called one of the greatest films ever made. Really, one of the greatest? That's just effing BS! Cinematography isn't something to write home about. The portrayal of the private detective and a femme fetale client, to me at least, looked like feeding into the '20s-'30s stereotype or actually inventing that stereotype. I don't get what's so great about fast-speaking, monotonic, high-pitched dialog (a la Joe Friday or Johnny Dollar) for a private detective. Yeah, for its time, the story with so many convoluted/perverted twists may have been revolutionary, but then again, it was only short 3 years later (in 1977) when the director Roman Polanski was convicted of charges stemming from an affair with a 13-year old girl. Life imitating his own art? And, that scene where the PI slaps the woman who hired him ... seriously? I think that says more about the portrayal of women in Hollywood movies than it does about the attitude of men in the 1920s. I think, a lot of the people say this is a great movie (or one of the greatest) because others say it. I personally don't think this is a wonderful movie. It us useful as a reference point in the evolution of cinema; watch it for that and not because it is all that good. That's just MHO. My Rating: 7.0

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

If You Are the One (PG-13) 7.0

If You Are the One (2008) Fei Cheng Wu Rao (original title): Qin Fen, a funny, honest, single, inventor, meets a girl named Smiley, who is in agony of her boyfriend's betrayal. (6.8)

Director: Xiaogang Feng
Writer: Xiaogang Feng (screenplay)
Stars: You Ge, Qi Shu and Xiao Che
Languages: Mandarin|Cantonese (w/ English subtitles)

Hilarious; proving the fact that humor transcends languages and cultures. Yes, it is a romantic comedy, and I tend to avoid such movies because they generally compromise one for the other, but this one had the right amount of each. Lots of true-isms sprinkled between the funny dialog, specially, between the "prospective candidates." Good use of set locations and wonderful cinematography work. It could have had an alternate ending and I would have left it at that and not gone for the feel-good ending. My Rating: 7.0

Monday, December 5, 2011

The Lake House (PG) 7.0

The Lake House (2006): A lonely doctor who once occupied an unusual lakeside home begins exchanging love letters with its former resident, a frustrated architect. They must try to unravel the mystery behind their extraordinary romance before it's too late. (6.7)

Director: Alejandro Agresti
Writers: David Auburn (screenplay), Eun-Jeong Kim (motion picture "Siworae")
Stars: Keanu Reeves, Sandra Bullock and Christopher Plummer

I knew going into it that this was the Hollywood remake of the Korean movie Il Mare and I watched this after Il Mare. They'd kept the main storyline the same but added a bit more to complicate matters. I didn't like that; much. I really liked the simplicity of the Korean movie. (spoiler alert) Also, Sandra Bullocks character going back and forth between love interests in differing time periods made it more complicated to understand, and more importantly, by doing so lost that sense of vulnerability. Between the two movies, if I have to pick Sandra Bullock vs Gianna Jun ... I pick Ms. Jun. {grin} This movie, by itself, is a really good one. Not a sci-fi by any means and some of the time-shifts and sequences make little sense, if at all; but that's not its main theme. My Rating: 7.0

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

The Wedding Banquet (R) 7.5

The Wedding Banquet (1993) Xi yan (original title): To satisfy his nagging parents, a gay landlord and a female tenant agree to a marriage of convenience, but his parents arrive to visit and things get out of hand. (7.5)

Director: Ang Lee
Writers: Ang Lee, Neil Peng, and 1 more credit »
Stars: Winston Chao, May Chin and Ya-lei Kuei
Languages: Mandarin and English (w/ English subtitles)

The first thing to remember when watching this movie is that it was made in 1993. The subject matters, and quite frankly some of the scenes, challenge the norms not only of the Chinese-American community but also the period sensibilities of the broader American culture. It is a very bold step forward by the director/writer Ang Lee. I think, I may have missed some inside jokes in the community, but the comedy and drama were in right proportions. The plight of the immigrants w/o a green card could have been emphasized a bit more, but that wasn't the main theme of the movie. The acting was good except for a few scenes. The storytelling was captivating. My Rating: 7.5

Saturday, November 26, 2011

High Cost of Living (R) 6.5

The High Cost of Living (2010): The story of a young, pregnant woman whose world falls ... (5.8)

Director: Deborah Chow
Stars: Isabelle Blais, Zach Braff and Patrick Labbé
Language: English and French

I sort of knew where the story was headed, and kept saying "no, not that" but then that would happen. So, in that sense, it was like a train wreck, you didn't want it to happen but you still wanted to see the aftermath. Same with the life of the main character. At one point, you sort of ask yourself what would you do in a situation like that. Makes you think about some of the moral dilemmas. I would give a higher score than the IMDB average since it is a bit of a thinking man's movie. My Rating: 6.5

Friday, November 25, 2011

Ip Man (R) 6.0

Ip Man (2008) Yip Man (original title): A semi-biographical account of Yip Man, the first martial arts master to teach the Chinese martial art of Wing Chun. (8.1)

Director: Wilson Yip
Stars: Donnie Yen, Simon Yam and Siu-Wong Fan
Language: Cantonese, Mandarin, Japanese (w/ English subtitles)

I didn't think this is a completely a martial arts movie, but it pretty much is. The story behind it has been inspired by the Sino-Japanese war and the real-life Wing Chun style martial artist but the movie's storyline is predictable and the stuff expected of such a movie. Yes, the set production, the martial arts choreography, etc. are superb. But, the acting, the flow of the story ... meh. "you done me/us wrong, so I beat you up" is not a complex story. My Rating: 6.0

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Limitless (PG-13) 7.0

Limitless (2011): An action-thriller about a writer who takes an experimental drug that allows him to use 100 percent of his mind. As one man evolves into the perfect version of himself, forces more corrupt than he can imagine mark him for assassination. (7.2)

Director: Neil Burger
Writers: Leslie Dixon (screenplay), Alan Glynn (novel)
Stars: Bradley Cooper, Abbie Cornish, Robert De Niro

A bit of a stretch in the premise of the story, but hey, with drugs these days, anything's possible. With such 100% brain power, I wouldn't have gone in the direction of that legalized ponzi scheme called the stock market or the pit of corruption called the politics, but that's where the writers decided this super-braniac must go. As a movie, it is not half bad. Use of blue and amber hues depending on the alertness of the subject is neat trick, but not original to this movie. Acting was pretty good. My Rating: 7.0

Monday, November 21, 2011

Castaway on the Moon (PG-13) 6.5

Castaway on the Moon (2009) Kimssi pyoryugi (original title): After failing to kill himself by jumping off a bridge, the man is washed up on a deserted island in the middle of the river, but within view of the city's high-rises. (7.9)

Director: Hae-jun Lee
Stars: Min-heui Hong, So-yeon Jang and Jae-yeong Jeong
Language: Korean (w/ English subtitles)

Okay, if you accept the premise of the predicament of the two main characters (yeah, that's a big IF) it is a funny story. It is sort of like a funny situation comedy. A cute story, but then again, the "surviving on a desert island" story has been done many times by now. I guess, the IMDB rating is purely from the Korean audiences (who may understand the subtle comedy from the average consumer culture inserted into the absurd situation) but I'm not impressed with the whole movie to write home about it. Yeah, it's okay, but missing quite a lot. My Rating: 6.5

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Beneath the Dark (R) 5.5

Beneath the Dark (I) (2010): Driving to a wedding in Los Angeles through the Mojave Desert, Paul and Adrienne pull off the highway and into Roy's Motel and Cafe. This roadside artifact proves to be a strange and surreal place with an unsettling mix of travelers, who force our couple to discover the secret hidden between. (4.7)

Director: Chad Feehan
Writer: Chad Feehan
Stars: Josh Stewart, Jamie-Lynn Sigler and Chris Browning

Hmm.. formulaic and predictable. Empty and creepy motel, people with thousand-yard-gaze. I think, I've seen scenes of this in other movies. Then again, this one has a tad too much of predominant religion in it. Still, to its credit, it held my interest and I wanted to see how it ended. Speaking of which, the ending was a bit confusing and convoluted. "A movie to kill time for those who like it better dead?" Yeah, that. My Rating: 5.5

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Agora (R) 8.0

Agora (2009): A historical drama set in Roman Egypt, concerning a slave who turns to the rising tide of Christianity in the hopes of pursuing freedom while also falling in love with his master, the famous female philosophy and mathematics professor Hypatia of Alexandria. (7.1)

Director: Alejandro Amenábar
Writers: Alejandro Amenábar, Mateo Gil
Stars: Rachel Weisz, Max Minghella and Oscar Isaac

This movie is about Hypatia, the philosopher and the mathematician of Alexandria. It is about how a woman in a male dominated society goes about thinking critically of astronomy, religion, and life in general. The story is told in the perspective of a "pagan" and that fact goes a long way to depict what truly took place in that period of time. It shows what people are capable of doing when blinded by the religion and the unquestioned faith in a god. The movie is fabulous. The telling of the story, the acting (specially that of Rachel Weisz), the sets, the camera angles, the use of light, the attention to detail ... all of them are superb. The historically accurate story doesn't paint a favorable picture of Christianity, and hence, I think, the movie hasn't garnered a higher critical acclaim. This movie shows (documented evidence) how the knowledge and civilization has been destroyed in the name of religion not to mention the countless innocent lives slaughtered. People can be so cruel in their blind faith. [Agora is the Greek word for open space for discussion or the marketplace. That's what Hypatia had before it was destroyed by the rise of Christianity in Alexandria.] My Rating: 8.0

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Tuya's Marriage (PG) 6.0

Tuya's Marriage (2006) Tuya de hun shi (original title): Set in Inner Mongolia, a physical setback causes a young woman to choose a suitor who can take care of her, as well as her disabled husband. (7.2)

Director: Quan'an Wang
Writers: Wei Lu , Quan'an Wang
Stars: Nan Yu, Ba'toer and Sen'ge
Language: Mandarin

While the story is not based on true events (as far as I know), the movie flows like a documentary. The daily life depictions are very close to Mongolian village life yet the crux of the story requires a leap of faith. Because of that, I didn't feel the emotional wranglings of the characters the director wanted us to get. The content of the story doesn't mean the picture quality and cinematography has to be dreary too. The locations could have been filmed to give nice shots (ie the movie Mongol). Potential of the story and the location hasn't been utilized properly, IMHO. My Rating: 6.0

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Guns, Germs and Steel (TV) 7.0

Guns, Germs and Steel (TV Series 2005): A PBS documentary concerning Jared Diamond's theory on why there is such disparity between those who have advanced technology and those who still live primitively. (7.4)

Stars: Jared Diamond

This is a three-part NatGeo/PBS documentary based on Jared Diamond's book by the same name. The details about the book and Diamond's theory are outlined in this Wikipedia article. Note that he is a professor of geography (at UCLA). He argues that the reason for the Europeans to have more "cargo" (stuff) is the simple matter of geography ... they were in the right place at the right time with the right raw material (crops, animals and steel). The documentary should really be called a docu-drama as some scenes are reenactments of what "may have" happened in key historical events. My argument is that Diamond glosses over the effects of economic, cultural and religious reasons for Europeans concurring the rest of the world. IMHO, he gives too much emphasis to the happenstance and geography of early societies. (But, a debate of the content is suitable for a different blog.) The documentary is good, but it probably could have been condensed into a single episode. As is always the case, I bet the book is better. My Rating: 7.0

Sunday, November 13, 2011

The Housemaid (R) 7.0

The Housemaid (2010) Hanyo (original title): A man's affair with his family's housemaid leads to a dark consequences. (6.6)

Director: Sang-soo Im
Writers: Ki-young Kim (based on the film by)
Stars: Do-yeon Jeon, Jung-Jae Lee, Yeo-Jong Yun, Woo Seo
Language: Korean (w/ English subtitles)

The opening sequence is somewhat disconnected from the rest of the movie, but it gives a nice glimpse into the daily life in a South Korean city. Then the movie shows what goes on in a super-rich family. (w/o giving away the plot detail ...) I was waiting for the two maids to get back at the evils of the rich family in a different way, that door was cracked open a bit with the mention of the older maid's son at two occasions. I didn't feel any strong emotions towards any of the characters; perhaps, a bit more development in the maid's character would have earned more sympathy. Very good acting by the whole cast. My Rating: 7.0

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Untamed Heart (PG-13) 6.0

Untamed Heart (1993): Caroline has not had much luck in love. Boyfriends seem to either leave her or cheat on her. Then she meets a shy, introverted man at work named Adam. (6.6)

Director: Tony Bill
Stars: Christian Slater, Marisa Tomei and Rosie Perez

Originally, I was going to give a high score for this movie simply because Marisa Tomei looks good. But the story doesn't have a hell of a lot in it. The story can be summed up as "Girl meets boy. They fall in love. Tragedy strikes." (That's the summary line in IMDB.) At least, Rosie Perez has her chipmunk voice under control, most of the time. I guess, the character development at the beginning was all wrong; Tomei's character doesn't earn the audiences' sympathy enough. But her acting was pretty good. Story had potential; needed something more. My Rating: 6.0

Thursday, November 10, 2011

The Man from Nowhere (R) 6.0

The Man from Nowhere (2010) Ajeossi (original title): A quiet pawnshop keeper with a violent past takes on a drug- and organ trafficking ring in hope of saving the child who is his only friend. (7.8)

Director: Jeong-beom Lee
Stars: Bin Won, Thanayong Wongtrakul and Sae-ron Kim
Language: Korean (w/ English subtitles)

No originality in the story. Too predictable, too sentimental, too formulaic. The fight scenes are nicely choreographed, but utterly unrealistic and silly to the point of being laughable. A set of bit over-the-top dramatic moments (quite a few, actually) take away otherwise a good acting performance by the whole cast. (Funny to hear some guy shouting in Sinhalese in one of the scenes in a Korean movie; he gets killed pretty quickly, so I don't know who that Sri Lankan man is.) My Rating: 6.0

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Fire in Babylon (PG) 6.5

Fire in Babylon (2010): Feature documentary about the great West Indies cricket team of the 1970's/80's. (7.2)

Director: Stevan Riley
Writer: Stevan Riley
Stars: Clive Lloyd, Viv Richards, Gordon Greenidge, Michael Holding, Colin Croft

I grew up reading (okay, barely understanding the English sports page) about the fearsome West Indian cricket team. Not having seen any TV coverage (we didn't have TV back then), I hadn't much seen any of them play, so it was nice to see some of the match footage. I guess, I learned from this documentary that Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson showed the Windies how the bowling should be intimidating. I would have liked to have seen the famous "Michael Holding to Jeff Boycott" over. As a documentary, it has a lot more than just cricket footage ... in that famous laid-back island style, which is great. But I'm puzzled by the fact that they didn't talk about the two limited-over world cup titles the team won during the same era. Towards the end, do they sing their own praises a tad bit too much? I dunno. Then again, for the rest of the world, West Indies were (still are?) the second favorite team after their own team. I'm sorry that _that_ team never came to Sri Lanka as we didn't have Test status back then. I think, the director could have used other voices other than the team members. It would have been nice to have heard from those who played against that team. My Rating: 6.5

Monday, November 7, 2011

Rango (PG) 7.0

Rango (2011): Rango is an ordinary chameleon who accidentally winds up in the town of Dirt, a lawless outpost in the Wild West in desperate need of a new sheriff. (7.4)

Director: Gore Verbinski
Stars: Johnny Depp, Isla Fisher and Timothy Olyphant

Ha ... all the cliches, all the stereotypes, etc of old westerns; yet, somehow when they are done by animated cartoonish animals, it is hilarious. Yes, spoofs of lots of movies, and even Mr. Eastwood makes an appearance. That's just good. Dialog and animation are nice. My Rating: 7.0

Sunday, November 6, 2011

The Lathe of Heaven (PG) 6.5

The Lathe of Heaven (TV 1980): George Orr, a man whose dreams can change waking reality, tries to suppress this unpredictable gift with drugs. Dr. Haber, an assigned psychiatrist, discovers the gift to be real and hypnotically induces Mr. Orr to change reality for the benefit of mankind. (7.2)

Directors: Fred Barzyk, David R. Loxton
Writers: Diane English, Ursula K. Le Guin (novel)
Stars: Bruce Davison, Kevin Conway, Margaret Avery

I haven't read the novel. This is a made-for-tv movie from PBS (and the transfer to DVD is pretty bad). The story is very intriguing. Le Guin is listed as a technical consultant to the movie also. The acting is fine. I just can't get too excited about the looks of the movie, being 30+ years old and VHS -> DVD transfer bleeding colors... I should go read the book. My Rating: 6.5

Saturday, November 5, 2011

V for Vendetta (R) 8.0

V for Vendetta (2006): A shadowy freedom fighter known only as "V" uses terrorist tactics to fight against his totalitarian society. Upon rescuing a girl from the secret police, he also finds his best chance at having an ally. (8.2)

Director: James McTeigue
Stars: Hugo Weaving, Natalie Portman and Rupert Graves

The movie, loosely based on a DC comic, tells a powerful story of uprising against "A Brave New World"-esque society in England. Hugo Weaving as V gives a wonderful performance, considering that the audience never sees any facial expressions. The portrayal of "news" the home viewer "needs" to hear by the government/corporation controlled media and purported experts is so chilling because we can see it on today's TV. The movie does retain some action sequences from the comic-book style. (So, I watched this because my son reminded me of the rhyme "Remember remember the fifth of November gunpowder, treason and plot. I see no reason why gunpowder treason should ever be forgot..." today 11/05) My Rating: 8.0

Il Mare (PG) 8.0

Il Mare (2000) Siworae (original title): The two protagonists who both live in the same house two years apart in time, but are able to communicate through a mysterious post box. (7.7)

Director: Hyun-seung Lee
Stars: Jung-Jae Lee, Gianna Jun and Mu-saeng Kim
Language: Korean (w/ English subtitles, also Mandarin|Cantonese)

All the descriptions above this move gives away the major plotline, but the strength of it is in the human story. The movie is less about the wonder of being able to communicate across the timeline and more about the struggles the characters go through. If you identify with either or both characters, this movie will speak to you. My score is based on that fact (YMMV). Acting and cinematography were great. My Rating: 8.0

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Red State (R) 6.0

Red State (2011): Set in Middle America, a group of teens receive an online invitation for sex, though they soon encounter fundamentalists with a much more sinister agenda. (6.4)

Director: Kevin Smith
Writer: Kevin Smith
Stars: Michael Parks, Melissa Leo and John Goodman

This is kind of a ripped from headlines story that combines the Westboro Baptist Church tactics with the Davidian compound in Waco, TX & other ATF/FBI raids and the paranoia around "domestic terror cells". It starts out with a bit of a thought process, but soon loses the cerebral quality to the gun-toting action-packed drama. I would have liked if this was presented as a multi-faceted argument for/against various points of view. Opportunity missed. My Rating: 6.0

Monday, October 31, 2011

Robot Stories (PG) 6.5

Robot Stories (2003): Winner of over 23 awards, "Robot Stories" is science fiction from the heart, four stories in which utterly human characters struggle to connect in a world of robot babies and android office workers. (6.0)

Director: Greg Pak
Writer: Greg Pak
Stars: Tamlyn Tomita, James Saito and Vin Knight

Written, directed and acted by a largely Asian American cast, this set of stories looks at different aspects of what might be the future of human-machine interactions. The stories try to break the stereotypes of not only what we expect from robots, but also from the characters and actors. I also liked the fact that the stories were short enough to not push til the inevitable feel-good ending for each one. The movie has a somewhat amateurish feel but this isn't a "robots take over the world and humans must fight" story. My Rating: 6.5

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Layer Cake (R) 7.5

Layer Cake (2004): A successful cocaine dealer gets two tough assignments from his boss on the eve of his planned early retirement. (7.4)

Director: Matthew Vaughn
Writers: J.J. Connolly (screenplay), J.J. Connolly (novel)
Stars: Daniel Craig, Sienna Miller and Michael Gambon

I probably shouldn't have watched Snatch and Layer Cake back to back ... then again, it is good in order to get at least some of the British slang. :-) Two movies are somewhat similar in that they are both dark comedies involving underworld characters from England. Matthew Vaughn produced both, directed this one. Fast paced, somewhat convoluted plot, good acting, good direction, etc. Over all, a well made movie. You have to be in "that" frame of mind to enjoy it, but once you are there, it's just too funny. (Same for Snatch.) My Rating: 7.5

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Snatch (R) 8.0

Snatch (2000): Unscrupulous boxing promoters, violent bookmakers, a Russian gangster, incompetent amateur robbers, and supposedly Jewish jewelers fight to track down a priceless stolen diamond. (8.3)

Director: Guy Ritchie
Stars: Jason Statham, Brad Pitt and Benicio Del Toro

Priceless. I meant the movie, the characters, whole silliness of the story. Dark humor at its best. Thank god the DVD included subtitles, otherwise I'd have missed half the conversations. Really liked the way the story sequences were put together and how the jigsaw puzzle finally finished. Good acting even by the minor characters. An all-around great movie. My Rating: 8.0

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Unmistaken Child (G) 7.0

Unmistaken Child (2008): In Nepal, a venerable monk, Geshe Lama Konchog, dies and one of his disciples, a youthful monk named Tenzin Zopa, searches for his master's reincarnation. (7.2)

Director: Nati Baratz
Writer: Nati Baratz
Stars: Tenzin Zopa

This movie provides a fascinating glimpse into how Buddhism is being practiced in the Himalaya region. I grew up a Buddhist, but this practice of actively trying to find the reincarnation of a monk is not seen in Sri Lanka. While not the central theme of the movie, you can see the level of devotion of the followers and the accumulation of power and wealth in the religious hierarchies. (Where have we seen that before? In all major religions!) I am ever so skeptical; but the process is certainly interesting. If I'm reincarnated, I definitely want to come back as a peasant in that part of the world where I can see the snow capped mountain ranges every day. Beautiful cinematography. Interesting tale. Not preachy; will not give you insights into Buddhism. My Rating: 7.0

[PS: When I mentioned this movie to someone, he said "oh, these people with reincarnation ...." And, yet he believes in God. I don't know which myth (reincarnation or God) is more stupid. YMMV.]

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Renaissance (R) 7.0

Renaissance (2006): In 2054, Paris is a labyrinth where all movement is monitored and recorded. Casting a shadow over everything is the city's largest company, Avalon, which insinuates itself into every aspect of contemporary life to sell its primary export -- youth and beauty. (6.7)

Director: Christian Volckman
Stars: Daniel Craig, Catherine McCormack and Jonathan Pryce

This is a black-and-white animated movie, but the animation isn't anything like I'd seen before. It uses a bit of rotoscope, I think, but it flows more like comic-book frames. In technical-sense it is a labor of love; wonderfully accomplished. But the storyline is a bit too convoluted and the dialog is dry. Then again, if you think back to the comic-book pages, the dialog is spot on. Something different, something unusual and if you pay attention, the story isn't half bad either. (I went into watching this w/o knowing that it is an animation; pretty early into the movie, I liked its originality.) My Rating: 7.0

Monday, October 24, 2011

Powwow Highway (R) 6.5

Powwow Highway (1989): Social realism regarding struggles of reservation-dwelling Native Americans in the North Central states of the US. Main character is an introspective and lovable person in a process of seeking pride and identity through tradtional and mystical means of gathering power. (6.9)

Director: Jonathan Wacks
Writers: David Seals (novel), Janet Heaney
Stars: Gary Farmer, A Martinez and Joannelle Nadine Romero

The first quarter, the set-up part, of the movie is spot-on. It depicts the plight of the Native Americans in the rural areas. (I saw it in Nevada when I took a raft trip down Colorado river from Lake Mead.) The plot gets a bit out of hand towards the end, but then again, this isn't a documentary, so the story had to be told. Visually, it could have been better with the scenery and backdrops available in Montana, New Mexico, the Dakotas, etc. My Rating: 6.5

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Chungking Express (PG-13) 7.5

Chungking Express (1994) Chung Hing sam lam (original title): Wong Kar-Wai's movie about two love-struck cops is filmed in impressionistic splashes of motion and color. The first half deals with Cop 223, who has broken up with his girlfriend of five years. The second half shows Cop 663 dealing with his breakup with his flight attendant girlfriend. He talks to his apartment furnishings until he meets a new girl at a local lunch counter. (8.0)

Director: Kar Wai Wong
Stars: Brigitte Lin, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Tony Leung Chiu Wai and Faye Wong
Language: Cantonese (w/ English subtitles)

Two disconnected, yet quite similar stories. Apparently, this is a break-away from the traditional movies of the time (mid-90s in Hong Kong). I liked the use of Hong Kong's diverse cultures in the first part of the movie. I wish I'd understood what was said in Hindi or the Hindi songs. The second part is a little bit too much sentimental/silly, but I get the gist. Different, unique and not a generic movie. I specially liked the use of various camera-works to make the scenes look like fast or slow. The Chinese version of the The Cranberries' Dreams was a special treat. Very Nice! (Apparently, the singer, Faye Wong is famous in HK?) Highly recommend this movie. My Rating: 7.5

Monday, October 17, 2011

Under Suspicion (R) 7.0

Under Suspicion (2000): A lawyer is asked to come to the police station to clear up a few loose ends in his witness report of a foul murder. This will only take ten minutes, they say, but it turns out to be one loose end after another ... (6.5)

Director: Stephen Hopkins
Writers: John Wainwright (book: Brainwash)
Stars: Morgan Freeman, Gene Hackman and Thomas Jane

The psychological sparring goes back and forth between the accuser and and accused; they both have dirt on each other. The circumstantial evidences pile up. The truth is plain to see; or, is it? I was suspicious about others in the the story also, specially the beautiful young wife, the police officers, the wife's sister, sister's husband, ... all of them. Yes, the ending is weird, and a bit weak, but it is a good thriller. As expected, Freeman and Hackman give very good performances. The flashback scenes are different; whose story is it anyway is the question that comes to mind. I'd rate this higher than the critics. My Rating: 7.0

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Jacob's Ladder (R) 7.5

Jacob's Ladder (I) (1990): A traumatized Vietnam war veteran finds out that his post-war life isn't what he believes it to be when he's attacked by horned creatures in the subway and his dead son comes to visit him. (7.5)

Director: Adrian Lyne
Stars: Tim Robbins, Elizabeth Peña and Danny Aiello

A psychological thriller and a horror film with some quite gruesome scenes. It takes the viewer into various places and scenes, only to guess at what's real. In hindsight, perhaps the movies like Stay and Conspiracy Theory may have been influenced by the storyline here. The three stars listed above give commanding performances. My Rating: 7.5

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Electric Shadows (PG) 6.5

Electric Shadows (2004) Meng ying tong nian (original title): For no apparent reason, a mute young woman assaults a youth who delivers water on his bicycle, injuring him and ruining his bike. Surprisingly, she asks him to feed her fish while she is in custody. Her tiny apartment, he discovers, is a shrine to his favorite escape, the movies. (7.4)

Director: Jiang Xiao
Stars: Yu Xia, Haibin Li, Yijing Zhang and Jiang Yihon
Language: Mandarin (w/ English subtitles)

The movie takes us back to the time of the Cultural Revolution in China when the movie viewing was a communal event in rural villages. The engrossing quaint story depicts (I think) the daily lives and the social norms of the villagers. Acting by Haibin Li and Jiang Yihon is great, but that of others leaves a little bit to be desired. The end of story itself could have been better, IMHO, w/o the coincidences tying everyone back to the past. My Rating: 6.5

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Witnesses (R) 7.5

Witnesses (2003) Svjedoci (original title): Told from a number of different viewpoints, filmmaker Vinko Bresan's political drama explores ethnic hatred and moral ambiguity against the backdrop of war. In a small Croatian town, a Serbian man has been murdered, and each character's perspective reveals new clues and interpretations of the crime. As police investigate the murder, truth proves an elusive and subjective concept in an environment of deep-seated enmity. (6.9)

Director: Vinko Bresan
Writers: Vinko Bresan, Jurica Pavičić (novel: Alabaster Sheep)
Stars: Leon Lucev, Alma Prica and Mirjana Karanovic
Language: Serbian | Croatian (w/ English subtitles)

This movie probes at your conscience. Are there absolute truths wrt a crime? Is it a crime to kill your enemy during a war? Who is your enemy? What's guilt? Whose fault is what happens during a war? Is the war at the front line the same as the conflicts in your home town? This is a very well made movie with lots of flashbacks and different points of view. Highly recommend it. My Rating: 7.5

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Children of Men (R) 7.5

Children of Men (2006): In 2027, in a chaotic world in which humans can no longer procreate, a former activist agrees to help transport a miraculously pregnant woman to a sanctuary at sea, where her child's birth may help scientists save the future of humankind. (8.0)

Director: Alfonso Cuarón
Writers: Alfonso Cuarón (screenplay), Timothy J. Sexton (screenplay), P.D. James (novel)
Stars: Julianne Moore, Clive Owen and Chiwetel Ejiofor

This very well made movie depicts a futuristic dystopia where the civilization is collapsing from within. Acting is superb and the sets, scenes, and the staging is well crafted. The dialog could have included a bit more about people's mindset about being the last generation on earth. The story is grim and violent but offers a ray of hope. My Rating: 7.5

Monday, October 10, 2011

Days of Being Wild (R) 7.5

Days of Being Wild (1990) A Fei jingjyuhn (original title): Set in 1960, the film centres on the young, boyishly handsome Yuddy, who learns from the drunken ex-prostitute who raised him that she is not his real mother. (7.6)

Director: Kar Wai Wong
Stars: Leslie Cheung, Maggie Cheung and Andy Lau
Language: Cantonese | Shanghainese | Tagalog | English | Mandarin (w/ English subtitles)

The story does not have a strong plot and it doesn't go anywhere much in that department. However, it does travel light years in the emotional side. It shows how a young man hurt by his mother takes his anger out on women who love him. In turn, the grief is shared by lots of people who directly or indirectly come in contact with him. (The version of this film I watched via Netflix streaming had a couple of problems: wide-screen transfer had been done at the wrong aspect ratio and I missed out not properly seeing the beautiful faces. The colors and sound of the film to DVD transfer were pretty awful. I think, I missed Christopher Doyle's nice camera work because of that.) Done in 1990 in Hong Kong, this is said to be an "against the tide" art-house type movie. My Rating: 7.5

Saturday, October 8, 2011

Special (R) 6.0

Special (I) (2006): A lonely metermaid has a psychotic reaction to his medication and becomes convinced he's a superhero. A very select group of people in life are truly gifted. Special is a movie about everyone else. (6.9)

Directors: Hal Haberman, Jeremy Passmore
Writers: Hal Haberman, Jeremy Passmore
Stars: Michael Rapaport, Paul Blackthorne and Josh Peck

This movie questions where reality ends and dreamworld begins; or more precisely, where hallucination ends and reality begins. Then again, it is movie about a set of quite ordinary people. One of them steps into an alternate reality of his own making. Funny at times, and depressing at a couple of points. The story really could have tackled the issue of drug companies and people with health issues, but the writers chose not to. The ending is missing a bit. The movie could have been something more. Michael Rapaport is good in the lead role. My Rating: 6.0

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Biutiful (R) 8.0

Biutiful (2010): Uxbal, single father of two children, finds his life in chaos as he is forced to deal with his life in order to escape the heat of crime in underground Barcelona ... (7.5)

Director: Alejandro González Iñárritu
Stars: Javier Bardem, Maricel Álvarez and Hanaa Bouchaib
Language: Spanish | Chinese (w/ English subtitles)

A wheler-dealer in the Barcelona underground tries to keep it together. The story tackles quite a few issues in the modern-day metropolitan low-income society (not just Spain, IMHO). It asks the questions of who exploits whom, what is the right thing when your businesses are marginally illegal, etc. On reflection, it has a quite a lot of issues ranging from illegal immigration, sweat shops, drug abuse, cancer, death, raising children in the middle of all of this, and it looks at them from a couple of different perspectives. Thought provoking. My Rating: 8.0

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

True Grit (PG-13) 7.5

True Grit (2010): A tough U.S. Marshal helps a stubborn young woman track down her father's murderer. (7.9)

Directors: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
Writers: Joel Coen (screenplay), Ethan Coen (screenplay)
Stars: Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon and Hailee Steinfeld

A Western for the rest of us, yet, dialog, the scenes, props, etc are quite authentic. Hailee Steinfeld's delivery of the wonderful lines carries the movie. It is a simple enough story (in the tried and true western theme) but it has tests for each of the characters' grit. I'm thankful for the subtitles as the conversation is hard to follow at times (fast and some phrases are unusual). Good acting. My Rating: 7.5

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Letting Go of God (PG) 8.0

Letting Go of God (2008): Letting Go of God is a humorous monologue by Julia Sweeney chronicling her search for God. She begins in the Catholic church, the religion her family raised her in, and takes a Bible study class. (8.4)

Director: Julia Sweeney
Writer: Julia Sweeney

This is not so much a stand-up routine, but a monologue. At times it is quite humorous, personal, provocative, thoughtful, emotional, and most importantly, truthful. For a comedienne doing a "bit" about religion, this monologue shows that she is quite well-read. It does not come across as condescending or mocking. She has put lots of time into it, has researched it and actually gone through the experience, it seems. And, she has read enough science than most "computer science" majors would these days. Okay, so the believers may not like the message, but hers actually makes more sense than that of the "good book." Me being one of her kind, I'd very highly recommend it. My Rating: 8.0

Monday, October 3, 2011

The Painted Veil (PG-13) 8.0

The Painted Veil (2006): A British medical doctor fights a cholera outbreak in a small Chinese village, while also being trapped at home in a loveless marriage to an unfaithful wife. (7.5)

Director: John Curran
Writers: Ron Nyswaner (screenplay), W. Somerset Maugham (novel)
Stars: Naomi Watts, Edward Norton and Liev Schreiber

I haven't read the novel by Somerset Maugham so the story is fresh to me; yet I couldn't help but project my own life situations and values onto the characters. In the end, that may have enhanced the poignant parts of the story, for me (YMMV). The beautiful, majestic Chinese countryside, and the excellent cinematography to capture it, were added bonuses in the film. This screenplay done in 2006 could have added a bit more depth to the Chinese characters in the story. (Memorable quote: "As if a woman ever loved a man for his virtue") My Rating: 8.0

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Gothika (R) 6.5

Gothika (2003): A criminal psychologist awakens to find herself a patient in the institution where she works, with no memory of the murder she's accused of committing. As she tries to regain her memory - and her freedom - a vengeful spirit manipulates her. (5.6)

Director: Mathieu Kassovitz
Writer: Sebastian Gutierrez
Stars: Halle Berry, Penélope Cruz and Robert Downey Jr.

While the story opens with a lot of emphasis on psychology, it takes a right turn towards paranormal activities pretty soon. It is a thriller, a ghost story, somewhat of a horror, and part who-done-it movie. A little bit predictable flow in the story at times, and a weak ending. Still, a good movie to be entertained by (and spooked by, a bit). My Rating: 6.5

Saturday, October 1, 2011

Devils on the Doorstep (R) 7.5

Devils on the Doorstep (2000) Guizi lai le (original title): During the Japanese occupation of China, two prisoners are dumped in a peasant's home in a small town. The owner is bullied into keeping the prisoners until the next New Year, at which time they will be collected. The village leaders convene to interrogate the prisoners. The townspeople then struggle to accommodate the prisoners. (8.2)

Director: Wen Jiang
Writers: Wen Jiang (screenplay), Wen Jiang (story)
Stars: Wen Jiang, Kenya Sawada and Yihong Jiang
Language: Mandarin & Japanese (w/ English subtitles)

A tragic comedy, but it is a thinking man's movie. The moral dilemmas and ambiguities faced by the village people and the prisoners show the human psychological drama all the while showing the comedic side of the story as well. The ending of the story was a lot darker than I expected but that only goes to show various aspect of the human psyche. Superb acting. According the Wikipedia article this movie was banned in China but received largely positive reviews from the rest of the world including Japan. My Rating: 7.5

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Just Another Love Story (R) 7.0

Just Another Love Story (2007) Kærlighed på film (original title): Life in the suburbs as a father of two has worn down Jonas. When a victim of a car crash mistakes him for her boyfriend Sebastian, things take a very dramatic turn as the line between truth and deception is erased. (7.2)

Director: Ole Bornedal
Stars: Anders W. Berthelsen, Rebecka Hemse and Nikolaj Lie Kaas
Language: Danish (w/ English subtitles)

Once you start down the path of a small white lie, it may easily snowball into a big deception. Also, the grass is greener on the other side, specially so when your side is boring and mundane. The movie starts out slowly with an everyday working-class family, but turns into a thriller at the end. Quite nicely done. Obviously not intended for the American audience, and even the dialog takes small jab at the Hollywood scripts. The nudity may be a bit much, but perhaps useful in creating the realism. My Rating: 7.0

Monday, September 26, 2011

Source Code (PG-13) 7.5

Source Code (2011): An action thriller centered on a soldier who wakes up in the body of an unknown man and discovers he's part of a mission to find the bomber of a Chicago commuter train. (7.6)

Director: Duncan Jones
Writer: Ben Ripley
Stars: Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Monaghan and Vera Farmiga

From the previews, I knew that this was a time travel movie; sort of. But, it had a lot more than "just go back and fix the history" attitude to the story. There were dangling emotional attachments throughout the movie to make it interesting. It wasn't about the time, the whole time like most such movies tend to be. It was about characters and interactions. Good acting; suspenseful; entertaining. My Rating: 7.5

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Terry Fator (PG) 7.0

Terry Fator: Live from Las Vegas (Video 2009): The million-dollar winner of "America's Got Talent" and his endearing puppets deliver spot-on performances in the styles of such favorite singers as Louis Armstrong, Roy Orbison, Elvis, Etta James, Brooks & Dunn and many more. (7.1)

Director: Mark Goffman
Writers: Terry Fator, Richard M. Kerns
Stars: Terry Fator and Taylor Dew

A ventriloquist act and impersonating famous singers. Now, taken together, that's quite good. It is difficult enough to sing in someone else's voice, but doing it without moving your lips is really something. If you like this sort of stuff, you will love this video. He is really talented. Add a bit more comedy and the show will be a mega hit. My Rating: 7.0

Friday, September 23, 2011

Cypher (R) 6.5

Cypher (2002): An unsuspecting, disenchanted man finds himself working as a spy in the dangerous, high-stakes world of corporate espionage. Quickly getting way over-his-head, he teams up with a mysterious femme fatale. (7.0)

Director: Vincenzo Natali
Writer: Brian King
Stars: Jeremy Northam, Lucy Liu and Nigel Bennett

Nice story of double crossing, deception and betrayal of loyalty but the end left me with the feeling that it could have done a bit more. Acting was nice by the screenplay probably needed more fleshing out of the consequences of different identities. Cinematography also could have been a tad better. After all, it is supposed to be a spy thriller. I want some fast cuts, more action sequences, etc. My Rating: 6.5

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Dumbstruck (PG) 6.0

Dumbstruck (2010): At the annual Vent Haven Convention in Ft. Mitchell, Kentucky, ventriloquism capital of the world, director Mark Goffman discovers five extraordinary characters straight out of a Christopher Guest mockumentary. But in this delightful, it's-all-true documentary, the characters are real, and so are the emotional attachments that they have with their "dummies." (5.3)

Director: Mark Goffman

I love ventriloquism. This is a documentary focusing on five different artists and the struggles they go through. Not a whole lot actual comedy and art, but it is about the lives. I guess, I learned that it is a lot more than just a puppet in your hand and being able to talk without moving you lips. But it is not in the same league as a documentary about, say, social activism. Entertaining and informative, but eye-opening about the craft itself this isn't. My Rating: 6.0

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Deceiver (R) 7.5

Deceiver (1997): Textile company heir Wayland is accused of murder of a prostitute named Elizabeth, whose body was found cut in two in the park. The murder is investigated by tough detective Kennesaw and his less experienced partner Braxton. (6.5)

Directors: Jonas Pate, Josh Pate
Writers: Jonas Pate, Josh Pate
Stars: Tim Roth, Chris Penn and Michael Rooker

My, what an interesting web of deception this is. The story alone is very intriguing, and add to that the very good acting and superb use of camera angles that creates unique perspective for the viewer, and you have a perfect mix for a good mystery-thriller. After the end, you still go "huh" and that adds to the enjoyment of the movie (but, as everyone knows, and as the on-screen characters show clearly, being deceived is no picnic). Kudos to the two writer-directors for being different. My Rating: 7.5

[PS: The story Perfect Evidence shows the other side of the coin/con. The movie is made-up. The radio story is real.]

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Dead Awake (R) 7.0

Dead Awake (2010): A funeral parlor employee looks to unravel a 10-year-old mystery. (4.2)

Director: Omar Naim
Writers: Johnny Harrington (story)
Stars: Nick Stahl, Rose McGowan and Amy Smart

Low score on IMDB but this one is quite good, at least, for me. (YMMV) It is a fantasy, a thriller, somewhat morbid, and keeps you guessing all the way til the end as to who's real and who's not. Like the main character, I too, have "seen" my funeral and my "impressions" aren't too different from his. Plus, a lot of the storyline hits quite close to home for me. Even without the personal connections, I would give this move high marks for a unique story, good acting, nice cinematography and the overall quality. I would recommend this as a thriller/mystery. If you do watch it, spare a thought for the "other guy" as the script just sweeps that part under the carpet. My Rating: 7.0

Monday, September 19, 2011

You Can't Be Neutral (PG) 7.5

Howard Zinn: You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train (2004): The life and times of Howard Zinn: the historian, activist, and author of several classics including "A Peoples History of the United States". Archival footage, and commentary by friend, colleagues and Zinn himself. (7.5)

Directors: Deb Ellis, Denis Mueller
Stars: Matt Damon, Daniel Berrigan and Howard Zinn

This documentary is a good compliment/companion for other such documentaries as Why We Fight and Hearts and Minds. In this day and age when the wealth gap is larger than ever in the history of mankind, it is easy to get discourage and say that one person can't do much. Dr. Zinn shows that yes, a single individual can fight the city hall, fight the man, and occasionally win a battle or two. My Rating: 7.5

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Rio (G) 6.0

Rio (2011): When Blu, a domesticated macaw from small-town Minnesota, meets the fiercely independent Jewel, he takes off on an adventure to Rio de Janeiro with this bird of his dreams. (7.0)

Director: Carlos Saldanha
Writers: Carlos Saldanha (story), Earl Richey Jones (story)
Stars: Jesse Eisenberg, Anne Hathaway and George Lopez

Colorful and great animation. The birds-eye view of Rio de Janeiro scenes are quite breathtaking. But the story and the dialog leaves a lot to be desired. Finding Nemo, this isn't; it could very well have been had the screenplay been done correctly. Not a whole lot for the grown-ups in the audience. My Rating: 6.0

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Hornet's Nest (R) 7.0

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest (2009): Lisbeth is recovering in a hospital and awaiting trial for three murders when she is released. Mikael must prove her innocence, but Lisbeth must be willing to share the details of her sordid experiences with the court. (7.0)

Director: Daniel Alfredson
Writers: Ulf Ryberg (screenplay), Stieg Larsson (novel)
Stars: Michael Nyqvist, Noomi Rapace and Lena Endre

From the beginning of this final installment of the story, you get the feeling that at the end, it will be nicely packaged and tried with a bow. Not a whole lot computer wire-taps this time around, but the old fashioned investigative work is what leads to the building of the case. The acting is pretty good. The dubbed English conversations are quite dry and somewhat emotionless at times. Perhaps, I will watch the whole series with the original Swedish + English subtitles at a later date. Very good story; I bet the novel is even better. My Rating: 7.0

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Stay (R) 7.5

Stay (I) (2005): This movie focuses on the attempts of a psychiatrist to prevent one of his patients from committing suicide while trying to maintain his own grip on reality. (6.8)

Director: Marc Forster
Writer: David Benioff
Stars: Ewan McGregor, Naomi Watts and Ryan Gosling

The above description from the IMDB only scratches the surface of what this movie is. But then, any more than that will spoil the experience for the first time viewer. The storyline has a lot of stuff about suicides (uncomfortably close or intimately and soothingly familiar (?)) but it had me guessing at who's who, what's what and what's real. Nice use of imagery. While I've seen and driven across the Brooklyn bridge, I've never actually walked across ... hmmm, perhaps. (Been reading lots of fundamental physics books lately, and) while not the intention of the writer, this movie also reminds me that things happen the way they are; no reason; time is a series of 'Now's or moments. Haunting, and surrealistic. Enjoyed it very much. My Rating: 7.5

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Zero Effect (R) 7.0

Zero Effect (1998): The world's greatest detective Daryl Zero aided by his associate Steve Arlo investigates a complex and mysterious case of blackmail and missing keys for shady tycoon Gregory Stark who is less than forthcoming about what is really happening! (6.9)

Director: Jake Kasdan
Stars: Bill Pullman, Ben Stiller and Ryan O'Neal

It is a comedy, mystery and a romance. I think it got the mix right. It is a detective story about people, really, and ultimately the PI finds out more about himself than anything else. The acting performances are pretty good and the story isn't half bad, considering most Hollywood scripts are half-backed. It is commendable that the writer/director didn't go for the feel-good sentimental story-book ending. My Rating: 7.0

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Conspiracy Theory (R) 6.0

Conspiracy Theory (1997): Jerry Fletcher is a man in love with a woman he observes from afar. She works for the government. Fletcher is an outspoken critic of that government. He has conspiracy theories for everything, from aliens to political assassinations. (6.5)

Director: Richard Donner
Writer: Brian Helgeland
Stars: Mel Gibson, Julia Roberts and Patrick Stewart

A typical Hollywood action, drama, conspiracy, vet, spy, ... meh! Yeah, lots of action with all sorts of guys with guns, helicopters, etc but the story has so many holes and inconsistencies. The first part where the character building happens is somewhat amusing. After that, the story is all downhill, full of unrealistic action sequences followed by an ending with a typical feel-good Hollywood style melodrama. My Rating: 6.0

Saturday, September 10, 2011

The Book of the Dead (PG) 6.5

The Book of the Dead (2005) Shisha no sho (original title): Set in 8th century Japan when Buddhism was a fledgling idea being introduced from China, this epic animated parable chronicles the adventures of a cosseted young noblewoman who risks everything to follow the ghost of a long-dead prince. (6.7)

Director: Kihachiro Kawamoto
Stars: Kyôko Kishida, Tetsuko Kuroyanagi and Rie Miyazawa
Language: Japanese (w/ English subtitles and voice over)

This is a Japanese animation movie, but it isn't anime. It is done with stop motion animation using Japanese puppet dolls. One history buff points out in the Netflix review that the costumes, the drawings, etc are correct for the period. The story revolves around a mix of Buddhist and Shinto rituals. The stop motion animation has been very well and painstakingly accomplished. Perhaps, I'm missing the larger meaning of the story, but it could have been a bit more fleshed out, IMO. My Rating: 6.5

Thursday, September 8, 2011

The Nines (R) 7.5

The Nines (2007): A troubled actor, a television show runner, and an acclaimed videogame designer find their lives intertwining in mysterious and unsettling ways. (6.6)

Director: John August
Writer: John August
Stars: Ryan Reynolds, Hope Davis and Melissa McCarthy

I can't talk about the storyline without giving away a major aspect of the plot. A nice tangled web three (four?) stories told in a very interesting way. A very well thought-out story; well constructed and nicely presented. Until the end you don't know what's what and how they all fit together, but they do. I also liked the fact that the character is a "nine" instead of 'the mythical infinite-score of the "ten."' Just enough humor and yes, the three major actors play their roles perfectly. People who don't like this movie didn't get it. Upon reflection, more of a Sci-Fi than you'd think. (Ooh, I so much want to link to one of my blog pieces here, but doing so would give a spoiler.) My Rating: 7.5

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

The Bothersome Man (R) 7.5

The Bothersome Man (2006): Forty-year-old Andreas arrives in a strange city with no memory of how he got there. He is presented with a job, an apartment - even a wife. But before long, Andreas notices that something is wrong. (7.4)

Director: Jens Lien
Stars: Trond Fausa Aurvaag, Petronella Barker and Per Schaaning
Language: Norwegian

Powerful story: the perfectly sterile utopia, now at your service; so, is it heaven or hell? I can't help but notice that most western countries try to achieve this well-oiled and controlled society but have failed due to radicals who disrupt the cogs of the machinery. The story is somewhat similar to that of the Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. This NPR story from the Morning Edition reminded me what a real society should look, feel, sound, and smell like. Acting, the color scheme, etc. are perfect for the story. My Rating: 7.5

Monday, September 5, 2011

The Butterfly Effect (R) 7.5

The Butterfly Effect (2004): A young man blocks out harmful memories of significant events of his life. As he grows up, he finds a way to remember these lost memories and a supernatural way to alter his life. (7.8)

Directors: Eric Bress, J. Mackye Gruber
Stars: Ashton Kutcher, Amy Smart and Melora Walters

In my first review I had a lot to say about the theme of the story in this movie. It is quite intriguing and sometimes you'd want to have that ability to create the right "flutter of butterfly wings" at the right time. Of course, the modern theoretical physics says that things are the way they are because that's how they have to be (unitarity concept). Watching this movie the second time around, I didn't have the same emotional reaction (specially to the final sequences) as the first time (going cold in my old age, I suppose) and I've dropped the rating a notch. Still a very good, well thought-out movie. My Rating: 7.5

Sunday, September 4, 2011

The Hudsucker Proxy (PG) 6.5

The Hudsucker Proxy (1994): When Waring Hudsucker, head of hugely successful Hudsucker Industries, commits suicide, his board of directors, led by Sidney Mussberger, comes up with a brilliant plan to make a lot of money: appoint a moron to run the company. (7.4)

Director: Joel Coen
Writers: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
Stars: Tim Robbins, Paul Newman and Jennifer Jason Leigh

It's a spoof, a screwball comedy; I get it. Still, quite far removed from reality and too many fast talking characters; I missed half the stuff said, even with the subtitles on. Yeah, it is funny in a certain way, but there's so much happening there's no time to laugh out loud or you'd miss the crazy story. Sorry, perhaps, not exactly my cup of tea. My Rating: 6.5

Temptress Moon (R) 7.0

Temptress Moon (1996) Feng yue (original title): The teeming underworld of 1920s Shanghai collides with old-world nobility in Chen Kaige's harrowing film. Ruyi, the youngest daughter of the noble family, is employed as a servant to her opium-addicted father and brother. Meanwhile, Ruyi's brother-in-law, Zhongliang, enjoys a thriving (illegal) career seducing and blackmailing married women in the city. (6.8)

Director: Kaige Chen
Stars: Leslie Cheung, Li Gong and Kevin Lin
Language: Mandarin

Ancient family traditions, manipulations of Triad families, westernization of an ancient society, etc. are very well depicted. But the real story is the heartbreak each one causes upon the others, sometimes knowingly and at other times, ignorantly. A story of power, money and love. Cinematography is nice, but to get the old-look, Christopher Doyle has used too much yellow hues, IMO. The plot and relationships are confusing at times, but at the end it all makes sense. The Wikipedia article about the film has quite a lot of details. Read it after watching the movie. My Rating: 7.0

Friday, September 2, 2011

Freaky Faron (PG) 5.5

Freaky Faron (2006): When she was 11, young Faron Hallowell was sent away to a mental institution for shooting and nearly killing a local weatherman--a secret mission she claimed was assigned to her by alien beings. (5.1)

Director: John Ross
Stars: Courtney Halverson, Lydia Milner and Carly Hayes

Premise of the movie is good. It is the delivery of it that was weak. The screenplay needed more fleshing out. It feels like this is a starter sci-fi for the 10-13 year-old girls. Acting wasn't bad at all. The story's unusual angles could have been exploited for more action. My Rating: 5.5

Monday, August 29, 2011

11 Minutes Ago (PG-13) 7.0

11 Minutes Ago (2007): Traveling in 11-minute increments, a time-tumbler from 48-years in the future spends two years of his life weaving through a two-hour wedding reception. (5.7)

Director: Bob Gebert
Writer: Bob Gebert
Stars: Ian Michaels, Christina Mauro and Evan Lee Dahl

This is a very well thought-out romantic comedy sci-fi. No, it doesn't lose a whole lot by mixing those three ingredients. This is done the same way Primer's been done ... with a low budget but has been more than made up for it by having a really good script. It isn't overly complicated; no special effects; yet holds the full interest of the audience all the way through, plus through the credits too (yeah, the movie doesn't really end until after the credits). Watching it twice helps to understand the earlier sequences a bit better. This review has a lot of details AND major spoilers (don't read it if you are going to watch it). My Rating: 7.0

Saturday, August 27, 2011

The Lincoln Lawyer (R) 7.0

The Lincoln Lawyer (2011): A sleazy defense attorney has a crisis of conscience when he represents a wealthy client who has a foolproof plan to beat the system. (7.4)

Director: Brad Furman
Writers: John Romano (screenplay), Michael Connelly (novel)
Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Marisa Tomei, Ryan Phillippe and William H. Macy

(See my book blog for a very short review of the novel by Michael Connelly.) My book review is short because the book is near perfect. The movie script is really close to the book. I didn't think Matthew McConaughey is the right person to pull off the main character (what with his Texas twang) but he does it extremely well. Having read the novel, therefore, knowing what was going to happen, didn't stop me from enjoying the movie. (Of course, the book has more details; that's how it is when a novel is made into a movie.) My Rating: 7.0

Friday, August 26, 2011

Minority Report (PG-13) 7.5

Minority Report (2002): In the future, criminals are caught before the crimes they commit, but one of the officers in the special unit is accused of one such crime and sets out to prove his innocence. (7.7)

Director: Steven Spielberg
Writers: Philip K. Dick (short story), Scott Frank (screenplay)
Stars: Tom Cruise, Colin Farrell and Samantha Morton

Second time seeing this movie, so I knew the story and what was to come. Still the premise of the story and the nice incorporation of futuristic special effects and the thrill of an action adventure held throughout the movie. Now, thinking back, we'd never give up our rights as citizens to be eyeball-scanned every single minute; but who knows, for the right price, we just might; same way we might "buy" the whole idea of "pre-crime" ie: arresting and incarcerating those who may commit crimes in the future. Based on a Philip K. Dick short story (and I apologize to those who stumble upon this blog by searching for him based by his initials :-)) and I still intend to read it. My Rating: 7.5

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Zhou Yu's Train (PG-13) 8.0

Zhou Yu's Train (Zhou Yu de huo che)(2002): Zhou Yu, a ceramic decorative artist, travels twice a week from her home town of San Ming to Chongyang to visit her boyfriend, Chen Qing, a government worker and budding poet. (6.5)

Director: Zhou Sun
Writers: Zhou Sun, Cun Bei (novel)
Stars: Li Gong, Tony Leung Ka Fai and Honglei Sun
Language: Mandarin (w/ English subtitles)

A very well made movie, all around. Photography-wise, it is stunning. The director and cinematographer understand that a picture worth taking is worth doing properly. The lighting, the colors, the use of depth-of-field in various scenes, the selection of locations, use of filters, all of it is brilliant. Acting is wonderful. Li Gong is at her best. Powerful, delicate, fragile, sentimental, all at the same time. The story is simple yet powerful and heartbreaking; compelling and all too human. It is told out of sequence and that's part of the mystery. As I said in the beginning, an all-around great movie. (The poems are probably more eloquent in Mandarin; still not bad in translation either.) My Rating: 8.0

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Metropia (R) 6.0

Metropia (2009): In the near future, oil reserves are nearly depleted and Europe is connected by series of underground tunnels. While navigating these tunnels, Roger hears voices, one in particular. (6.1)

Director: Tarik Saleh
Stars: Vincent Gallo, Juliette Lewis and Udo Kier
Language: English (Scandinavian movie)

This is an animated movie done by taking photographs and using Adobe After Effects. The technique, the use of colors to depict the dreary scenes, etc are quite good. Not much of a story, however. No drama, no comedy, no heartbreaks, etc., except the whole theme of "the future is not so bright." (Yeah, well, tell me something that I don't know.) Potential in the technical departments, but ultimately we watch movies for compelling stories. My Rating: 6.0

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Deja Vu (PG-13) 6.5

Deja Vu (2006): An ATF agent travels back in time to save a woman from being murdered, falling in love with her during the process. (7.0)

Director: Tony Scott
Stars: Denzel Washington, Paula Patton and James Caviezel

Hmm... time travel + action adventure? I dunno; for me, the time travel part leaves something more to be desired. (spoiler alert) Okay, so the mega time machine is available for big investigations. If you use that to go back in time to prevent the very thing that it is investigating, you wouldn't have the time machine for you to go back and prevent the event (paradox). Or, at the point you prevent it from happening, you create a different timeline but in the original timeline the same people are going to die; but you are supposed to feel good about the new timeline (and forget the old one) because that's what a feel-good movie is all about? Um, no. If you are a writer about time travel, give it more thought guys, please. Otherwise, the movie is good; good acting, action, sets, etc. My Rating: 6.5

Friday, August 19, 2011

The Cook the Thief ... (NC-17) 6.0

The Cook the Thief His Wife & Her Lover (1989): The wife of an oafish restaurant owner becomes bored with her husband and considers an affair with a regular patron. (7.4)

Director: Peter Greenaway
Stars: Richard Bohringer, Michael Gambon and Helen Mirren

Visually striking use of colors, props, etc. Yet at times, repulsive, horrible and disgusting. This is art-house? Okay, maybe ... but, clearly the director is trying to be repugnant. All that time, money, and effort put into creating beautiful scenes, sets, and color schemes are wasted, IMO. He has created horribleness for the sake of it; not because that depicts reality as art or vice-versa. Meh! Now that I've seen it; I'll just move on. My Rating: 6.0

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Copenhagen (G) 7.5

Copenhagen (TV 2002): A television adaptation of Michael Frayn's celebrated and award-winning stage play about the meeting between physicists Niels Bohr and Werner Heisenberg in 1941 Copenhagen. (7.3)

Director: Howard Davies
Writers: Howard Davies (adaptation), Michael Frayn
Stars: Francesca Annis, Daniel Craig and Stephen Rea

I like quantum physics. I like what's implied in the uncertainty principle. This TV adaptation of a play is very nicely done. It uses the quantum theories, the history, the uncertainty of a meeting between leading figures, etc and tells a story quite remarkably. I thought it would be a boring documentary. It is anything, but! Using just three actors and the inherent uncertainty in the story and the subject matter, it takes the viewer through a nice historical journey. Very well done. I highly recommend this to anyone interested in particle physics, WWII and the atom bomb. My Rating: 7.5

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Harry Potter HBP (PG) 6.5

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009): As Harry Potter begins his 6th year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, he discovers an old book marked mysteriously "This book is the property of the Half-Blood Prince" and begins to learn more about Lord Voldemort's dark past. (7.3)

Director: David Yates
Writers: Steve Kloves (screenplay), J.K. Rowling (novel)
Stars: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint

Of course, the book has a lot more details than the movie. Having read the book a few years back, watching the movie was an afterthought and I had put it off for a while. The movie can and does stand on its own. It is a bit dark and feels like a part of a series. It is missing a bit of every-day fun magic a little bit; then again, that's by design, I think. It is setting up the audience for what's to come. Enjoyed it, but not like potter fanatic. My Ratings: 6.5

Monday, August 15, 2011

The Other Woman (R) 6.0

The Other Woman (2009) Love and Other Impossible Pursuits (original title): A drama that details the story of a woman's difficult relationship with her stepson and how she became the stepmom. (6.3)

Director: Don Roos
Writers: Don Roos (screenplay), Ayelet Waldman (novel)
Stars: Natalie Portman, Scott Cohen and Lisa Kudrow

Yes, the movie title "The Other Woman" does mean what it says on the face of it. But this movie is has a story more than that. Much more. At the same time, the whole notion of her becoming the other woman took my attention away. Maybe, the original title would have been better, so as to not give out somewhat of a misleading half-story to the viewer. I wanted to feel for the woman, but for some reason I couldn't. Perhaps, Natalie Portman may not have been the right actress for that role. (YMMV) Lisa Kudrow, on the other hand, plays her role near perfect. My Rating: 6.0

Sunday, August 14, 2011

The Fifth Element (PG-13) 6.0

The Fifth Element (1997): In the colorful future, a cab driver unwittingly becomes the central figure in the search for a legendary cosmic weapon to keep Evil and Mr Zorg at bay. (7.5)

Director: Luc Besson
Stars: Bruce Willis, Milla Jovovich and Gary Oldman

This is my second time watching this movie. In my first review I said that it is lacking substance in any one department. I still maintain that. Still, I enjoyed the movie, just for the silly little spoofs and imitations. The imagery is good. But, as a SciFi, it is missing a lot, at least, for me. My Rating: 6.0

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Evidence of Blood (PG-13) 7.0

Evidence of Blood (TV 1998): When a Pulitzer prize winning author of true crimes returns to his hometown in Georgia, it isn't long before he is involved in a forty year old case of a teenage girl who had been murdered. (6.6)

Director: Andrew Mondshein
Writers: Thomas H. Cook (book), Dalene Young (teleplay)
Stars: David Strathairn, Mary McDonnell and Sean McCann

A good murder mystery, interwoven with a good old fashioned southern small town. Good acting, and the storytelling is suspenseful. Good use of flashbacks. Twisty end is not what you expect at the beginning. My Rating: 7.0

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

A World Without Thieves (PG) 7.5

A World Without Thieves (2004) Tian xia wu zei (original title): A con-team couple (Andy Lau & Rene Liu) head west after taking a city businessman for his BMW. But an encounter with a naive young carpenter travelling home with his life savings challenges their fate as thieves. (7.2)

Director: Xiaogang Feng
Writer: Xiaogang Feng
Stars: Andy Lau, Rene Liu and Baoqiang Wang
Language: Mandarin (w/ English subtitles)

The right blend of (what I think is) modern China and peasant lifestyle of a few decades ago. Beautiful cinematography and superb acting. The story is simple, yet surprisingly action packed. For a plot that is somewhat comedic, the ending is quite powerful and sentimental. The two songs at the end take your breath away; elegant. I'm bumping up my score simply for that. My Rating: 7.5

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Facing Death (TV) 7.5

Facing Death (2010): How far would you go to sustain the life of someone you love, or your own? When the moment comes, and you're confronted with the prospect of "pulling the plug," do you know how you'll respond?

Written, Produced & Directed by: Miri Navasky & Karen O'Connor
Narrator: Will Lyman

This is a very difficult documentary to watch. (The link above is to the full program at PBS Frontline web site.) But, this is something everyone should think about, talk about, and plan for. (I know what I want; take me off the machines right away.) I went through something similar with my mother's end of life care in the summer of 2010, except I didn't have to make the decision. This PBS program shows the delicate balance the physicians have to take when informing the patients and loved ones. Sometimes, I think they are being too delicate. There should be someone impartial, not the care givers, not the loved ones, but someone else who should bluntly give the objective truth without sugar coating it. The states given at the end are eye opening. (And, to think that the opportunity to have this frank discussion is what the stupid right wing in this country termed the "death panels". People who purposefully misrepresent this end of life discussion are soulless pigs.) My Rating: 7.5

Saturday, August 6, 2011

Phineas and Ferb The Movie (G) 7.0

Phineas and Ferb The Movie: Across the 2nd Dimension - In Fabulous 2D (TV 2011): Perry's worst fear comes true when Phineas and Ferb finds out that he is in fact Secret Agent P, but that soon pales in comparison during a trip to the 2nd dimension where Perry finds out that Dr. Doofenshmirtz is truly evil and successful. (8.0)

Created by: Dan Povenmire and Jeff "Swampy" Marsh
Voices: Vincent Martella, Thomas Sangster, Ashley Tisdale, Dee Bradley Baker, Dan Povenmire

Phineas and Ferb is a cartoon series that Kishan and I enjoy very much. He likes it for the main story, and I like it for its lots of spoofs, idiosyncrasies, references to old shows/movies, etc. It is a well thought out series that kids and grown-ups can appreciate together. The movie is like a one long episode. With it being over an hour long, I'm somewhat surprised that Vanessa and her mom weren't featured at all. Still liked the movie version too. I'll be watching it again and again. I highly recommend the series and the movie. My Rating: 7.0

Friday, August 5, 2011

Infernal Affairs (R) 7.5

Infernal Affairs (2002) Mou gaan dou (original title): A story between a mole in the police department and an undercover cop. Their objectives are the same: to find out who is the mole, and who is the cop. (8.1)

Directors: Wai-keung Lau, Alan Mak
Stars: Andy Lau, Tony Leung Chiu Wai and Anthony Wong Chau-Sang
Language: Cantonese | English (w/ English Subtitles)

A story of cops and robbers, but with all too human drama and emotions. People on both sides are rightly portrayed as real folks with conflicted loyalties. The story is not all that original but has the right amount of suspense, action and character development. Very good acting, locations, sets, etc. The movie poster is misleading in that there are no gun-wielding lead female characters. They probably could have one; after all, they did cast three lovely supporting actresses. (Now that I know "triad" means mafia/gang in that part of the world, I didn't go looking for "a set of three.") Enjoyed the movie a lot. Makes you think about right, wrong and fairness. My Rating: 7.5

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Death Note (PG-13) 7.0

Death Note (2006) Desu nôto (original title): A battle between the world's 2 greatest minds begins when Light Yagami finds the Death Note, a notebook with the power to kill, and decides to rid the world of criminals. (7.8)

Director: Shûsuke Kaneko
Writers: Tsugumi Ohba (comic), Takeshi Obata (comic)
Stars: Tatsuya Fujiwara, Ken'ichi Matsuyama and Asaka Seto
Languages: Japanese or English

I haven't seen the animated series so this is new to me. A Well-thought-out character set and a good storyline. Interesting to see how the power corrupts and how the lines between good and evil are blurred. Good acting by the main players, but overplaying the stereotypes a bit at times. (I recommend watching it with Japanese soundtrack and English subtitles) My Rating: 7.0

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Treasure Planet (PG) 6.5

Treasure Planet (2002): A Disney animated version of "Treasure Island". The only difference is that the film is set in outer space with alien worlds and other galactic wonders. (6.0)

Directors: Ron Clements, John Musker
Writers: Robert Louis Stevenson (novel), Ron Clements (screenplay)
Stars: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Emma Thompson and Martin Short

The lines between sea-faring and space-faring have been blurred in this animated film. Some of Studio Ghibli influences can be seen, but the animation nowhere as good as that. Nice spoofs of Star Wars and Star Trek stuff too. I enjoyed it for the moment, but not so much to think about afterwards. My Rating: 6.5

Monday, August 1, 2011

The Suicide Tourist (TV) 7.5

The Suicide Tourist: A story of struggling to live ... and deciding when to die. Is this a choice everyone should have?

Director: John Zaritsky
Stars: Craig Ewert

[This is not strictly a movie. It is a PBS documentary for the program Frontline. Link above is to the full video at the Fronline web site.] Shows why the right to die on your own terms is a basic human right. Sometimes we want to say "I've had enough; I want to go now." The documentary is respectfully and elegantly done. (At the end of the Blade Runner movie, the last remaining Replicant, Roy Batty, says "time to die" and turns itself off. Sometimes, I wish we humans had that on/off switch; then we wouldn't need the assistance of another person or a drug cocktail. Perhaps, a topic for a different blog, but why should the Right to Die debate center around a terminal illness... why can't it be a right by itself that I can exercise when I say when?) My Rating: 7.5

Sunday, July 31, 2011

Map of the Human Heart (R) 7.5

Map of the Human Heart (1993): Fantastic improbabilities, happenstance and the undying bridge of love are part of this romantic fantasy about an Inuit who crosses years, oceans and the ravages of WWII to find his childhood love, a Metis girl, but finds that their cultures are the most difficult spaces to gap. (7.0)

Director: Vincent Ward
Writers: Louis Nowra, Vincent Ward (story)
Stars: Jason Scott Lee, Anne Parillaud and Patrick Bergin

It is said that "all's fair in love and war" but, for some it seems, nothing is fair. Bad luck seems to follow them all the time. I can relate quite well. Haunting ending that will play in your mind for a long time. My Rating: 7.5

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Dying Young (R) 6.5

Dying Young (1991): After she discovers that her boyfriend has betrayed her, Hilary O'Neil is looking for a new start and a new job. She begins to work as a private nurse for a young man suffering from blood cancer. (5.4)

Director: Joel Schumacher
Stars: Julia Roberts, Campbell Scott and Vincent D'Onofrio

Julia Roberts is so right for the part, but can't say the same about Campbell Scott. They both, plus the supporting cast give a very good performance. You know what to expect. It is an ordinary story. The situation makes for a bit of sorrow and sadness. I wouldn't give this high a score if it wasn't for Ms. Roberts reminding me of another similar redhead I knew a long time ago, also in California. YMMV. My Rating: 6.5

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Mongol (R) 8.0

Mongol: The Rise of Genghis Khan (2007): The story recounts the early life of Genghis Khan who was a slave before going on to conquer half the world including Russia in 1206. (7.3)

Director: Sergey Bodrov
Stars: Tadanobu Asano, Amadu Mamadakov and Khulan Chuluun
Languages: Mongolian | Mandarin (w/ English subtitles)

Watched it a second time. (See my previous post as well.) Loved it every bit as the first time. The scenes, the costumes, the choreography, everything is painstakingly well done. I still think Khulan Chuluun's eyes are the most beautiful and mesmerizing. It is very interesting about Temudjin's two kids, but a recent genetic study indicates Genghis Khan has about 16 million descendants living today. Impressive. Highly recommend this movie. My Rating: 8.0

Monday, July 25, 2011

Order of the Phoenix (PG-13) 6.5

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007): With their warning about Lord Voldemort's return scoffed at, Harry and Dumbledore are targeted by the Wizard authorities as an authoritarian bureaucrat slowly seizes power at Hogwarts. (7.3)

Director: David Yates
Writers: Michael Goldenberg (screenplay), J.K. Rowling (novel)
Stars: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint

Of course, the book has much more details and it explains the situations much better. I enjoyed the movie too. My Ratings: 6.5