The Book of Eli

So... this is my first post of 2010. Bla bla bla the same reasons of not having the time etc. I'd rather get down to business. I've not watched many movies since coming to Penang due to the non-ability to get a few people together to watch 1 (working on shifts). Well we have watched a movie now and it is "The Book of Eli".

This one appears to be a relatively low budget production although I admit I have no idea if it is.. it just has that B-movie vibe about it. It is what I will describe as a Denzel Washington 1-man show. While not appearing in the typical Denzel acting as Denzel role, I felt he did a good job as an ass-kicking badass "templar" of sorts. Also appearing are Gary Oldman and Mila Kunis, both of which, while not spectacular, pull through solidly, in particular Gary Oldman as the antagonist.

To those who haven't heard of the movie or what it's about, it's about a post nuclear-war world where everything is scarce and it's sort of gone back to the olden times wild west. This guy, whose name is Eli, is tracking across the world to bring this "book" to where ever it's meant to be. There is a fair amount of action, and it is filmed in a really cool gritty way, almost as if the cameraman is in the midst of the action. The movie's strength is the religion-themed plot that is the undercurrent through-out. Some of the issues that are shone upon are glaring truths of the world today. This one might not be for everyone but it's worth a watch, if at the very least for the cool action scenes.

Verdict: Something slightly different and under the radar, but worth a watch.

7.5/10

Movies and more Movies

Right, so the past week and a half have been pretty "hectic" for me. I guess I can call it that, being on holiday, watching movies etc. You know, stressful stuff. I've been wanting to do a proper movie review for awhile now but I keep watching new movies and then with the holiday, I didn't have much time to sit down and get to it.

Well, today is not any different, I'll just pretty much summarize all the movies I've watched in the recent past, be it on DVD or in the Cinemas. I will do more in-depth reviews once I'm in Penang as I presume (or rather pray/hope) that I'll have more time there and doubt I'll have as many distractions.

This month has been an awesome month for movies. Every movie I've been to the cinema to watch has been worth every penny (from here you should know that I did not watch New Moon) and I'm glad I've watched them. I'll start with movies I've watched in the cinema as it may sway your decision to go out and watch it instead of sitting at home and waiting for Mr. Pirate to sell it.


James Cameron's Avatar
Alright, just let me tell you, if you have not watched this movie yet. Go out and watch it now, turn off your pc and try to get tickets. I think this movie was already in the making by James Cameron 10 years ago but back then the technology did not live up to his vision. Now that he has found out a satisfactory way, and boy is it satisfactory, to make it, he has brought the world of Pandora to life.
The movie is about humans, as usual, going to another planet, in this movie, Pandora, to mine their minerals. (Sound familiar anyone? *coughUSinthemiddleeastcough*) Sam Worthington plays the role of this guy who pilots an "Avatar". An Avatar is one of those blue things, which is sort of a clone of the local people.
The plot is really simple, which leaves us the time to really admire the world of Pandora, and the amazing CGI on display. I watched both the normal and 3D version and I can tell you that 3D makes a whole lot of difference. This is not a movie that just puts lots of floating stuff in there as a 3D gimmick. It's very different watching it in 3D and I suggest you do the same.
Amazing execution of this movie, even if it's a bit long and the plot a little thin and predictable. If you're one those people that feel the journey is more important than the end. This movie is right up your alley. Even if you're not, watch this, cause this could pave the way for a new era of movies with animation. Lastly, this is NOT an animated movie, the actors actually played all the parts, with sensors on their bodies ala Gollum in Lord of the Rings.

9/10
Verdict: Cancel your other plans, go out and watch this before it is removed from Cinemas.



Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes, a name that is known worldwide, even if people don't actually KNOW who he is, I assume most of us know that he is a detective and a very smart one. The latest incarnation of Mr. Holmes reintroduces us to him, getting the Guy Ritchie treatment. This one is fast paced, full of hard hitting action, whilst still remaining witty and intelligent. Robert Downey nails the role perfectly, a mix of wit, intelligence and zaniness. In some ways a cross between Jack Sparrow and Jason Bourne if you will. Jude Law is also superb here in his role as Dr. Watson. He is the opposite to Holmes and gives us a sort of "control" character. Down to earth but every bit as intelligent as Sherlock. Then we have the beautiful Rachel McAdams as Irene Adler, and Mark Strong who is brilliant as the baddie, Lord Blackstone.
The movie and plot moves fast, and keeps you guessing. The dialogue is witty and the characters lovable. There is everything in here, comedy, action, bit of drama. What there is not, is there is no reason you should now watch this, so go. Blockbuster done right.

8.5/10
Verdict: Good fun stuff, Watch it!



Zombieland
Alright, this movie sorta came outta the blue if your not a movie buff. Not much publicity and arguably low profile cast. But if you missed it, your loss. This is one of the most brilliantly made fun zombie movies I'ved watched in awhile. Touted as the movie version of the game Left4Dead, this one is fun start to finish. Go in, don't take it too seriously and you will come out very satisfied. Every character is so unique in their own way and with just about 6 actors through-out the whole show, the 4 main characters manage to carry the whole movie. We have the innocent but sincere geek, the ass-kicking tough guy, the ingenious but charming chick, and the innocent-looking but sneaky little sister. You come to love each of their characters because they're so simple but the chemistry between them is good, then again could just be the fact that I find Emma Stone HOT! The plot is basically just 4 people going across America to get away from zombies and finding themselves on the journey. And don't forget all those rules. This is one movie which I'll want to buy the DVD and watch again cause it's just such a laugh.

8/10
Verdict: Looking for a fun way to spend an otherwise planless night? This is it, you won't regret.

Ah some things change... and some do not.

In a bid to blog more frequently, I think I might just start blogging more casually now. Whereas previously I would pigeon hole my posts down to chicks, movies etc. I think from now I might just post what's on my mind.

After a hiatus from posting to post on Twitter and the like I still think blogging like this is the best way to write. So much more freedom and proper useage of the English language no?

So anyways, I've started watching a TV series named, Californication. Starring the affable David Duchovny in the lead role, the series is about this broken down guy, who's a writer and became famous because his book was made into a movie that he hates but did well. Because of this fame and possibly his good looks, he draws women with no problem at all. Every episode there's at least a sex scene if not 2. So a warning not to watch this with your parents eh?

This guy though, who's aptly named Hank Moody by the way, is a divorcee who's still kinda in love with his ex-wife. She has moved on however and is getting married to another guy, Bill. So it's quite a funny situation where he hates Bill but has to just put up with him cause his daughter, Becca, would be staying with him and all that.

For some reason, I kinda feel there's something inside there we can all relate to. Even though this guy's a loser and a bum, he appeals to the viewer in some weird way. It's also got excellent dialogue which is witty and is pretty funny in most parts.

Yeah... so just wanted to get that out as a start. Check it out if you got the time.

Hope I'll be writing more soon, till then, Au Revoir.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Ah, hello again dear readers, as usual the preliminaries, Uni work, inter-department football training and playing games has prevented me from updating more frequently. Nevertheless, I was at Signature, the Gardens to catch The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, which much like it's name, made me curious to watch it soon as I heard it's "story".

What the story is about.
The movie starts showing us a dieing woman telling her daughter her life story, details are not made clear but it seems the daughter almost regrets not spending more time with her mother and they're not exactly close. Anyway the brief outline of the story is, after the war, a baby is born, his mother dies in the process of giving birth. His father, so distraught, picks up the baby and it's the ugliest thing ever. He runs out and leaves the baby at a welfare house. The caretaker of the home takes the baby as her own and nurses it. It appears the baby is affected by all kinds of diseases, the kind old dieing people get.

This is where the movie "begins". Benjamin Button starts growing up, but he is no normal child. Physically he grows younger every year, but mentally he is normal, growing older. As you can probably tell his life will not ever be normal and the movie sweeps us into his life as he attempts to find his purpose in life, and find love among other things along the way.

Who is in the movie.
Brad Pitt adds another feather to his cap, doing so well as Benjamin Button. He pushes through the age dimension and you recognise him, no matter at what age. Cate Blanchett really ups my respect for her again. Thoroughly versatile, she ages beside Brad Pitt and is really his contrast. Holding her own against him, I really thought she did extremely well. Well the movie is really based around these 2 but other notable members of the cast included, Tilda Swindon, whom you might remember from Constantine, Jason Flemyng as Thomas Button, Mahershalalhashbaz Ali plays Tizzy and last but not least Taraji P. Henson as Queenie, the caretaker, who was brilliant.


Why you must watch this movie.
When I left the cinema and the movie finished, I felt a little blown away by what I had witnessed for the past 3 hours. Yes, the movie is very long, almost 3 hours but when your in there, it definitely does not feel like 3 hours. It really just flows on by. From Benjamin's childhood all the way to his "old age".

The first thing I would compare this movie to is Big Fish. If you loved Big Fish, you will most definitely love this movie. The idea of it is so farfetched but it works. They manage to put it across in a manner that dosn't have you asking questions every few seconds. Going into the movie I was already questioning myself how it would turn out. But they do it extremely well, making everything simple to digest and in the process just nudging the story on, making it easy to follow.

I really take my hat off to Brad Pitt. His portrayal of Benjamin Button really sucks you in, you feel for him, you want him to do well, you cheer him on. Even from a young age they somehow manage to make it look like Brad Pitt and boy does he transform in front of your eyes. The makeup is simply mindboggling but I'll come back to that later. The fantastic thing about Brad Pitt is not only does his character transform physically, he mentally transforms too, one going younger and one going older. The way he manages to do this really is just astounding. He grows as a man and slowly finds his place.

Any review of this movie wouldn't be complete without mentioning Cate Blanchett though. She is the normal person in the movie and is the "control" unit to Brad Pitt, showing you what age they are at the moment in time. She plays his love interest, Daisy and boy does she pull this one off. Much like Benjamin, you watch her grow throughout the movie, from a young girl, to a ballerina, a grown woman, and finally a dieing one. This woman is seriously versatile and I would say she is definitely one of the best drama actresses of our time. She exudes a beauty I did not notice before and she is one classy lady. Breathtaking performance.

Coming back to make-up though, I think they will win, or come close to picking up an Oscar in this department. This really just stands out in the movie. The visual effects used on Benjamin are superb as you see him grow backwards, from a 70-year old Brad Pitt to a teenage one. Very believeable. Same goes for Cate Blanchett, she grows from a young pretty Ballerina into a beautiful mother and gracefully ages in front of you.

There are so many quotable quotes from this movie, quirky ones similar to those in Forest Gump. The way he moves around questions of his age and quotes that shape his life. The script does not bore in a way some 3 hour movies can. No babbling on about nonsense, very to the point, and witty.

Unlike Big Fish though, where it's a happy and quirky through out, Curious Case is different. It's a slightly darker tale of a misfit in life, trying to get by. While your not laughing with him or cheering him along, you want to cry for him. The movie is a sad tale of how this man can never live properly cause in a way, he's old his whole life. When he was "young" he had to act old because it was simply how he was treated for looking that way, and when his appearance grew younger he was old in though and mind. The things he had to sacrifice along the way and how he has to live his life are pretty sad as well.

Overall though, you want to watch this movie. It's something so different, unique. It might drag along a little in the middle but you'll hardly feel it. All the actors do brilliant jobs and it's just enjoyable through-out despite it being a sad story. Go out, take the time to enjoy this in the cinema and you'll be glad you did.

8.5/10

We're meant to lose the people we love.
How else would we know how important they are to us?

Twilight

Oh dear oh dear oh dear. What a way to re-start my idle blog, a review of twilight! Wanted to watch Madagascar but when we went to the cinema, no tickets were left so, oh joy, twilight it was. Heard all the hype about the movie and it's OST sales reaching top spot and all. Hayley Williams is in the OST so that automatically forbids me from slamming it. To be fair the soundtrack is decent. Well, down to the movie now eh?

What the movie is about?
Girl moves to town, girl sees cute guy, guy is vampire, girl is not scared, both fall for each other, other vampires come, girl and guy love each other, guy and girl love each other, girl and guy... oh I said that already.

SUPPRESS YOUR URGE TO LAUGH!

Who is in the movie?
Kristen Stewart is the main star, playing Bella Swan. Heartthrob Rob Pattison plays vamp-boy Edward Cullen. Billy Burke plays Bella's father, Charlie Swan, probably the only decent actor in the movie.

Why I found the movie a waste of my time (other than to eat popcorn of course).
I'll make this short so it'll be as painless as possible, twilight fans might want to look away. Alright, the movie is actually not thaaaaaaaat crappy, it's just crappy. The acting is absolutely horrendous, the dialogue makes you want to look away because it is that cringe-worthy and embarassing, the "graphics" or lack-thereof is laughable, and the plot is virtually non-existant and feels very tacked on. What I found decent is that the movie is easy-going and there were some funny parts.

I haven't read the book so I can't comment on the transition, and from experience, I know that not reading the book makes for a more enjoyable viewing. I would not want to imagine how I would have viewed the movie had I read the books.

Based on a few previews, I had the impression that this Edward Cullen was going to be groundbreaking, with some even going as far as to put him in the same sentence as Brad Pitt in Interview with the Vampire. I can assure you that it is not. His acting is almost painful to watch, combined with his makeup to make him look fair, he looks like a walking corpse and acts and talks like that too. Maybe thats being in-character, but then again, it seems modern day vampires have lost their fangs, making them non-identifiable except by some gold-dust thats sprinkled on them when they sunbathe. When he runs, I actually laughed out loud because the animations were that comical. Also, considering the fact that he's been around for a hundred years or something like that, he might have picked up some interesting topics to talk on, instead of having that constipated look on his face whenever anyone talks to him.

However, both of them (Bella and Edward) joined forces to make watching the dialogue one of the most excruciating things I've had to endure. The absolute tosh they tell one another makes Anakin Skywalker's lines seem like Shakespear, and the lion and lamb scene is so awkward that you almost want to turn away. I found it hard to not laugh when either of them had to speak.

The plot is also extremely weak, I don't know if it follows the book religously here but it really is extremely shallow. The kind of plot where someone goes, hmm this might be cool (girl and vamp) and then tries to fabricate a plot AROUND it, forcing situations to happen instead of letting it flow. The climax of the movie comes out of nowhere, and is not connected to the original plot whatsoever. It only comes around because it seems baseball is the vampire official sport.

Redeeming points in the movie are some of the lesser characters provide some comic relief. Like her friend Alice or Jessica, I forget. And father, which gives us something to laugh about with them, not at them.

So, basically the movie will waste your time if you're older than 15 and not one of those teenage girls who want to fit into the IN crowd. Save your money and time because missing out on this one will no affect you in any way.

5.5/10

P.S. I'll be away to Langkawi tomorrow so I'll probably be away for 5 days. Leave comments though, and I will respond to any flames, hatemail or love. Till then, cheerio.

It doesn't make a difference what temperature a room is,
it's always room temperature.

Quantum of Solace

Hello dear readers, finally got down to penning my QoS review after watching it last at 1.30am last Friday. I'm in a rather cranky mood at the moment so excuse me if there are spelling or grammar errors, also I'm using Google's Chrome to blog for the 1st time as my Firefox is acting up, leaving me without a spell-checker.

What is the movie about?

Quantum of Solace starts exactly where Casino Royale ends, and by exactly I'm not exaggerating. The movie literally starts where Casino Royale leaves us, with Bond finding Mr White. The movie goes on into a confusing but weak plot about Bond getting revenge for the love of his life, Vesper (Eva Green), from Casino Royale. Along the way he encounters a few allies from Casino Royale and tries to find out who the "Organisation" exactly is. From there he finds Dominic Greene and the plot once again goes double-layered with Camille's interests. Ultimately it's a over-complex story about revenge for Vesper and also for "M".

Who is in the movie?

Daniel Craig makes a return as a new, hardened and more "real" Bond, lending an air of more strength and yet more vulnerability at the same time to the character.

Olga Kurylenko, of Hitman fame, stars alongside him, playing lead actress, Camille.

Mathieu Amalric plays our villain, Dominic Greene and Judi Dench returns as M. There are also numerous appearance from characters of the first movie such as Mathis and Felix.

Why I found the movie ultimately a let down and draggy.

First of all, despite the fact that I wasn't feeling too well and the movie was at 1.30am, I was actually rather looking forward to watching it and dragged my lazy ass out to go see the movie. Maybe the time and my mood will have affected my review of the movie but I'm pretty certain if I watch it again (which unless I'm strapped down to the seat, I won't) in a cinema, I'll have pretty much the same view.

Now, first things first, Daniel Craig. Is he made out to be our James Bond? After the stellar Pierce Brosnan, I very much doubted if anyone could outdo him as James Bond. And I think the producers felt the same way. While they couldn't beat Pierce Brosnan, they went around him, recruiting no-nonsense Daniel Craig and shaped a new role for him. A new-age James Bond which is more real, more down to earth, much bigger size and very no-nonsense. Don't get me wrong, as Casino Royale proved, Daniel Craig is a very accomplished actor and has proved that he CAN act. Does he portray the Bond role perfectly? In my opinion no and here's why.

James Bond to me has always been this larger than life character, which is what appeals to me.

Even before you watch the movies you know he will come out victorious in the end, with martini in one hand and hot girl in the other. James Bond to me is a secret agent that kills people with no regret, gets out of trouble with his various futuristic gadgets, has a martini and a laugh about it later with a hottie that he seduces. Pierce Brosnan, who is as suave as the character suggests, and fits the description down to a T, was almost born to play Bond. No matter how old he is, he always has that rugged good look to him. Enough about Brosnan though. The new James Bond feels like a watered down Jason Bourne. He has no gadgets, in fact they took out Q, one of the more interesting characters in the movies, as well as Moneypenny. Our new Bond fights his way through everything, earning himself a few scars and bruises along the way. He's direct, rough, and has a very dry sense of humour although seldom showing this in Quantum. Also he's a very vulnerable Bond, is prone to mistakes and also has vengeance on his mind. In short, they've made the character Human. This is why I've found this version of Bond a let down, he simply is not James Bond as James Bond should be.

Down to the actual review of Quantum of Solace. They borrow more from the Bourne series here, mirroring their close-up camera work of the action sequences. While this works in the Bourne series to give us an intense and up-close feel of gritiness, it fails in Quantum. Except for the aeroplane chase scene, all the fight scenes in Quantum feel very confusing and leave you feeling like you wished the camera was zoomed out abit. In the melee fight scenes, I couldn't tell which who was who, frequently only realising when the fight broke and they went into a chase. And then only because when they're running they close-up on their faces. Everything is a blur of flailing limbs or cars in the car chase.

Apart from that, the plot is just a huge mish-mash of build-up that whimpers down to an anti-climax and really doesn't go anywhere. If you haven't watched Quantum, I suggest that you watch Casino Royale one day before going, and you might have a better idea of what is going on. I watched Casino Royale after Quantum and I did get a better understanding of the plot but that also made me realise how I liked Casino Royale much better. Casino Royale gives you a smooth build-up that flows flawlessly, making the movie not seem draggy even if it was much longer. Quantum sort of answers all the questions posed in Casino Royale, but they do it in such a way that you don't really care. Instead of going "Ohhhhhh." youre sorta like "oh....yeah". The flow of the plot is choppy, leaving you sort of asking, what's going on, if you're not paying extreme close attention. The humour that Casino Royale provided us is no longer there, the charm of James Bond is missing. The only gadget he has is his handphone, which he uses like a normal handphone. Going back to the plot, they criss-cross too many petty things, making the plot more complicated than it should be. Bringing in Camille's interests when in actual fact, I couldn't give 2 shits if she got what she wanted.

To wrap it up, Quantum of Solace is an all-out action movie. It does have some well put action scenes and the cool factor is still there. However it tries to be smarter than it actually is, overcomplicating a plot that should have been more straight-forward. During Casino Royale, you are glued to the movie, you want to know what happens next. I found myself checking the time a few times in Quantum of Solace despite it being shorter than Casino Royale. Go, watch it, have a good time, eat some popcorn. Try to enjoy it, because it definitely will not blow you away.

7/10

Keep your friends close,

Keep your enemies closer.

The Dark Knight

Sorry folks, I know it's been a painful and trying few days without the update of your favourite blog. Unfortunately, my incredibly shitty junk of metal some people choose to call a computer has died on me. Since then, I've gone and try to type this up on my backup laptop. Trying Windows Live Writer with this review so if nothing looks right, bare with me. So, I'm sure most of you have already watched The Dark Knight and been pretty blown away by it? I watched it again on Saturday and here is my rundown on me experience even after the 2nd time.

What the movie is about.
Set within a year after the ending of Batman Begins, The Dark Knight begins with a bang, Being a full out action movie with small hints of other genres such as Romance peppered in throughout the movie. Batman, along with Lt. Gordon and new District Attorney Harvey Dent continue the never-ending job of cleaning up the streets of Gotham City. Along comes a psychopathic criminal with nothing to lose, namely The Joker. With ties going deep into the crime-fighting force and a reputation which nobody dares to cross, The Joker appears to be the ultimate Villain, hitting Batman and Gotham City hard and wanting nothing but Batman's surrender in return.

Who is in the Movie.
The Dark Knight definitely does not lack it's starpower. It's all-star cast is spearheaded by Christian Bale who once again returns as Bruce Wayne and Batman. Heath Ledger, plays the Joker in his swansong, his last complete project and boy does he leave us with something to remember. Aaron Eckhart of Thank You for Smoking fame plays Harvey Dent, The "White Knight" of Gotham. Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman both return as Alfred and Lucius Fox providing us with comical relief. Maggie Gyllenhaal comes in as a replacement for Rachel Dawes after Katie Holmes decided to turn down the job even after they offered to double her pay.

Why I think the Movie is Superb.
I'm going to start this section by getting something out of the way. Did the passing of Heath Ledger make this movie even bigger than it already was? Yes, no doubt it did. People flocked to see him in his last complete appearance and the media built up the hype, saying he did an excellent job. Did his passing appear to make his role better than it deserved to be? No. Not one single bit. If he were alive now I would've thought the same thing. Jawdroppingly awesome.

The movie will no doubt go down as one of the classic comic adaptation greats, heck maybe even as one of the great movies of this generation. Why? Because Heath Ledger leaves us with a performance that seems so memorable, we'll be comparing every villain in every other show to him now and I feel sorry for them, because they have their work cut out. His performance, no, masterpiece, seems so real, so unique, so out-of-place that combined with his death, leaves us with chills and a bitterness at losing such a talented person at the peak of his career.

If you were wondering how he got there, he spent a whole month, locked up alone in a hotel room, formulating the Joker's posture, psychology and voice, writing in a diary daily about the Joker's thoughts, as a guide to himself during his performance. Just how good was he? Michael Caine, an accomplished and respected actor himself, was so blown away by his performance that in their first scene together, at the Wayne Manor, when The Joker enters and performs, he got such a fright that he forgot his lines.

But, let's move away from Heath Ledger and more onto the plot. And here it is truly unique. I can't remember the last film I watched in which the plot twisted this much. With the movie running at two and a half hours, there was plenty of time to formulate something special and special is what Christopher Nolan gives us. Unlike normal movies where there are 3 acts, the build-up, the conflict and the resolution, The Dark Knight has 5 or even 6 acts. While watching the movie, you will never know where it's going to go next and this is what keeps you on the edge of you seat the entire time. There is hardly any time for a breather, with action action action in every other scene.

Why I like this version of Batman more than any other is first and foremost, the cast. They opted to go for an acting cast rather than a bunch of overpaid "superstars" such as Ahem, the govenator? Every member of the cast pulls his and her weight here, giving us a satisfying performance. Secondly, this version of Batman shows us a different side to superheroes, it shows us the flipside, the vulnerable side to Batman. Where Superman or Ironman live happily ever after, getting the girl and being the darling of the town, this version of Batman does not. He struggles with his own demons and constantly questions his own motives. As Bruce Wayne he shows vulnerability and regret and as the Dark Knight, he morphs into an sort of alter-ego which is able to take the blame and be the bigger man, for the city.

This is getting long so I'll try to wrap it up here. Basically put, if you had to watch a movie this year make it this one. I can't see any other movie which is coming out coming close to touching this. The simple fact that it created history with the biggest weekend ever, beating Spiderman 3 should tell you that. If you haven't watched this, make some time and go for it because it will not disappoint. You will know you have witnessed something truly great, something that leaves you walking out of the theater satisfied. But how will you know? What will prove that to you? It's simple, you will walk out of there knowing, and regretting that Hollywood and humanity in general has lost something special, something irreplaceable, and that is, the Joker himself, Heath Ledger.

9.5/10

I believe whatever doesn't kill you simply makes you... stranger.

Wanted

What the movie is about.
The basic plot of the movie is the same as The Matrix one. I'm kidding of course...Wanted is based on a graphic novel by Mark Millar and the outline is something like this. Alright, Wesley Gibson (James McAvoy) is a normal office working guy who gets bullied by his boss almost daily. His life has been in a mundane repeat everyday and he is basically just your everyday loser. One day, he is approached by Fox (Angelina Jolie) and introduced to a gang of freedom fighters who call themselves the "Fraternity" and they basically get him to join them by telling him that his father was killed and wanting him to get revenge. From there, they train him and get him into shape to become an assassin. All of them can do spectacular Matrix-like moves such as bending bullets and driving cars like small aeroplanes. They supposedly have higher heart rates which makes them have higher adrenaline and thus, become faster, sharper and basically stronger. Without spoiling the story for those who haven't watched it, the plot twists and turns abit as Wesley digs deeper. That's the movie in a nutshell.

Who is in the movie.
Upcoming Brit James McAvoy is the main star of the show, playing Wesley Gibson. His character starts of as a wimpy loser but slowly grows to become a wimpy assassin with some cool moves. He is probably the only saving grace in the movie as he plays his part well. He provides comic relief periodically and the plot revolves around him.

Supporting cast include Angelina Jolie, who plays Fox. The woman is sultry and good to look at but dear god she can't act to save her life. Her face is that same sultry faraway look throughout the movie and that's basically her whole role. Morgan Freeman does alright as Sloan, nothing groundbreaking but an average performance by the movie veteran.

Why I disliked the movie.
First and foremost, I DID NOT watch the trailer to this so I did not have a preconceptions about the show. Based on reports by friends, it looked "awesome" and "cool" with bullet bending and stuff. With these rave reports, I went in hoping to watch a gripping action movie. Being based on a graphic novel, I expected some ridiculous moves but hohoho, as you will find out, Wanted takes this ridiculousness to a whole different level.

Does it turn out to be an action movie? Yes, I won't deny that it's action packed throughout. It's exciting at times and there are some spectacular scenes. If you can stop laughing to actually concentrate that is. "Superhero" movies such as Ironman, Batman, the Matrix and the works usually take us to a different world, with the actors doing things that normal people wouldn't be able to do. However, we don't find it ridiculous. Why? Because they have a good explanation for it. In Ironman, a rich guy build a MACHINE to do his bidding with him inside, this enables him to fly and shoot fireballs and stuff. In Batman, a rich guy builds a suit and some really cool toys to help him fight crime. However, movies like Spiderman give us a different explanation, he was infected and thats why he has powers. The Matrix tells us that it's in a different world, a computer one which enables them to have super powers.

What is Wanted's get out clause? NOTHING. It is based in the normal world, normal people, normal circumstances. The only thing these superhumans have is higher Adrenaline. Now, they make it sound special with hearts that beat 400 times faster than normal. Now.... What the fuck does this have to do with some guy jumping from building to building, while in mid-air, killing 4 people including one person who is hidden behind a wall? How in the world does a faster heart help you aim so you defy gravity and bend a bullet around targets. How does higher adrenaline help you flip a car with a punctured tire, 90' and land perfectly on the side of a bus, over a police barricade? You are almost surprised they can't dodge bullets. WAIT A FUCKING MINUTE! THEY DON'T NEED TO! They can just block bullets, WITH BULLETS!

The whole movie is like that, ridiculous moves that have little or no explanation and look cool. The whole movie is carried by the CGI and the plot if paper-thin. Based on comments by people who have read the graphic novel, the movie just pisses on the plot. The original plot supposedly has an intriguing storyline that's interesting, I can assure you that that's not the case in the movie.

If you want to watch Wanted, by all means go ahead. It's exciting at times and a summer popcorn flick. I didn't expect it to be deep, but I sure didn't expect it to be this shallow either. There's alot of eye-candy. Graphics, Angelina Jolie holding guns, nice cars, spectacular stunts. If you really want to enjoy it though, I strongly suggest that you leave your brain at the door.

4.5/10

Wanted

Other Ratings:
Fight Club: 9.5/10
Kung Fu Panda: 7.5/10

Lars and The Real Girl

Downloaded this after watching the trailer quite awhile ago and finding it funny. Not sure if it's an indie movie but the way it's filmed definitely has that sorta indie feel to it. Firstly, there's the minimalist music accompanying most of the scenes and the way the camera pans in or out to get the scenery before or after focusing on the characters. This is in no way a bad thing. The location of the movie, Ontario, Canada definitely is beautiful in winter, which is when the movie was shot. It's a lovely quiet, small town and this is where the whole movie takes place.

The movie starts off with Lars, played very very excellently by Ryan Gosling as a kind of Introvert. Keeps to himself to the point of being on the verge of being rude, lives in his brother's garage etc. However, everyone in the town still thinks he's a nice guy as is usually so in small towns.

Anyways, his workmate introduces him to this website for sex dolls where you can choose your "parts" and they ship it to your house. Apparently the parts are "anatomically correct" and weighs like a normal human would. Very real indeed. The movie doesn't show you this but it's understood that Lars ordered one. Problem is, his delusion makes him see the doll as a living person, complete with feelings and background.

This is where Ryan Gosling really shines, his acting is nothing short of superb, interacting with the doll so realistically that you can't help but laugh at the ridiculousness of it. He single-handedly carries the entire show. Acting as an introvert, he has weird behavior and it looks really natural on-screen. The reason why the movie stands out for me is, there is no special effects whatsoever, it's just acting in it's purest form and every single one of the cast pulls their weight here. Lars's brother, Gus, played by Paul Schneider, is extremely comical even if he doesn't mean to be in most scenes. His expressions and dialogue provide the comedy in an otherwise heart-touching light drama.
There's very little to criticize in the movie, but for people used to blockbusters, fast-moving action, and Jim Carrey-esque comedy, you won't get it here. The plot is rather slow moving with certain scenes, showing them just sitting down and staring at each other. The scenes very often are played out by them standing or sitting around and talking and interacting and a rough guess would be that there are about 8 to 10 sets at maximum with many scenes taking part in the same places. You may not take to it right away as the plot does take awhile to really reveal itself but stick with it and you are guaranteed a entertainingly different show. Lastly, i doubt many people will watch the show more than once or twice in a short span of time due to the slowness of it.

I'll wrap it up by saying I really loved it and would definitely recommend it, at the very least, to be downloaded. Pure acting at it's best.

9/10

Rating

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

I don't think this movie needs any introduction at all, as most of you would've watched the previous 3 shows already. Having tickets to the premiere, I was understandably excited to watch it and luckily, I had good reason to be.

Seeing as not as many people have watched this yet, I'll try not to let any of the plot slip into the review. The movie starts like any Indiana Jones movie should start, action-packed, exciting and with witty lines from the evergreen Harrison Ford, a.k.a Henry Jones Jr. The rough plot is the Russians are looking for the same thing that Indiana is forced to look for and things escalate from there.

The pace of the movie doesn't drop from the start, scene after scene is action-packed. The edge of your seat feeling is maintained through-out the movie. The excitement and action scenes flow seamlessly, each with their parts to remember and there's enough to make Ironman seem like Oliver Twist. Harrison Ford, in his early 60s if I'm not mistaken, still pulls off most of his stunts in the movie and he does it well. Having not lost any of the charm from 19 years ago, the scruffy Indiana Jones goes about, looking good as ever, kicking ass.

Shia Lebouf really surprised me and he does really well, fitting well into his role and providing comic relief time and again. The best though was Cate Blanchett, this woman really shows what class she has as an actress by slotting perfectly into her role as Russian leader, complete with an Eastern European accent.

There aren't many down-points in the movie but some parts seem a bit far-fetched, even for an Indi movie. Apart from that though, the movie is solid. It entertains like only Indi can. If you go into it hoping to watch a dead serious movie then you won't rest your mind enough to just enjoy the show. Go in expecting to be entertained, to just enjoy the movie and you will be rewarded with a satisfying performance. I would rate it 7.5 but since we can't vote like that,

8/10

Song of the day: Hide and Seek by Imogen Heap.

P.S. Maybe some of you misinterpreted my last post as one of support for Archuleta, but trust me I hate the kid. I just wanted him to win to show how broken the system is.

How do you rate Indiana Jones

Ironman

Alright, this will be the beginning of my movie reviews. Sorry it took this long, I know all of you have been dieing in wait for it. The first one I'll review is Ironman, easy stuff, being a blockbuster and all. In all my reviews I'll try to keep it under 500 words or so. Light and easy.

First of all, going into this movie I wasn't expecting much. Being the first of the summer blockbusters and having a trailer that didn't quite whet my appetite, I thought, just another popcorn flick. However I was wrong, this was one of the most enjoyable films this year. It had the right blend of most of what the crowd seems to want these days.

The focal point of the movie is Tony Stark himself, Robert Downey Jr. Without him, the movie probably would've nosedived into failure. Original actors included Nicholas Cage and Tom Cruise. I'm sure we're all glad it didn't turn out that way eh? Apparently, Downey is a big fan of the comics and he carries the film really well, his humour and take on a mega-millionaire rich playboy gives the show a light feel and he throws in one-liners throughout the show.

"Christine Everheart: You've been called the Da Vinci of our time. What do you say to that?
Tony Stark: Absolutely ridiculous. I don't paint.
Christine Everheart: And what do you say to your other nickname, the Merchant of Death?
Tony Stark: That's not bad."

He also adds that "cool" factor to it, not that it needed any extra coolness anyway with that sleek looking Ironman suit. Also, he looked the part, being fit and rugged when he needed to be.

Apart from Downey himself, we were lucky to have a surprisingly good support cast. Jim Rhodes, played by Terence Howard also played his role well and fitted in well, with humorous banter going back and forth with Downey. Even the equipment in Tony Stark's basement, his computer system, provided some memorable funny parts.

"Jim Rhodes: [eyeing an extra Iron Man suit] Next time, baby. "

Best of all though was, Gwyneth Paltrow who played the lovely Pepper Potts. For some reason, she just looked stunning in the movie. She seems to look the best I've seen her and although some might disagree, I feel she played her part alright. Not excellent, but she takes nothing away from the movie. Luckily then, that she took the role, as she only accepted it because they filmed 15 mins away from her home and she could see her kids daily.

The only disappointing cast member was Obadiah Stane, played by Jeff Bridges. He just didn't click as the bad guy and from the start his typical bald, goatee, deep voice thing gave away his status as the betrayer.

Moving on to the show itself, the Ironman suit is the coolest thing I've seen in awhile, it just blows the rest of the competition out of the water. Sleek, shiny and cool, especially when he first goes out to fight the terrorists and get chased by the fighter jets. The part where he shoots the tank and just walks away as it explodes, was the defining part of the movie. A vigilante superhero, but with attitude to boot.

*****SPOILERS****
This is getting a little long so I'll just wrap it up. The things that kept this movie from being truly great is it's quite a letdown as it nears the end. The movie builds and builds so well, giving us a taste of what Ironman can do. Then, when it really matters, he couldn't do Jack shit. Just got thrown around by Obadiah's "Iron Monger" and relied on his "secretary" Pepper Potts to kill him. The fight scenes are also too few and far between.

But, oh well, It was a blockbuster anyway, and it showed us what blockbusters should and could be. It could've been better but I'm not complaining, I'll take what I can get. Hats off then, to Robert Downey and his crew. Here's hoping that the rest of the summer movies just pick up and get better from here.

"Jim Rhodes: [whispering] Just stick to the cards sir.
Tony Stark: [holds up his notes and pauses, then puts them down] I'm Iron Man. "

8/10