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514,714 | 317,399 | 380,599 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : Oliver Twist
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Please sir , may I have some more ? Ah , the immortal line from Charles Dickens ' classic , from the book Oliver Twist , telling the story of an orphaned boy , with sheer incredible luck and a melancholic , likable face . The book has been remade into movies countless of times , and this one is Roman Polanski's take . I haven't read the novel ( yes , I heard gasps of horror ) so I can't offer a scene for scene comparison . So perhaps you could shed some light on the short summary I'm about to give . The first 10 minutes will highlight the immortal line where Oliver is sent to a factory made up of orphaned boys . There , he gets sold to a coffin maker , where he makes his escape . Throughout his journeys , he meets up with many benefactors who assist him in one way or another . Some good , like Mr Brownlow , and some bad , like Fagin , who's the caretaker of a group of child pickpockets . And it is in London where Oliver was picked up by the Artful Dodger , and introduced to the rest of the crew led by Fagin . He learns the trade , but in a botched first attempt , gets sort of rescued by Mr Brownlow , and has his first taste of a decent life . However , the lowlifes are afraid of him squealing their whereabouts to the police , and hence , recapture Oliver and uses him to steal from Mr Brownlow . And of course I won't bore you with the details but suffice to say that the main villain of the show , Bill Sykes , an associate of Fagin , gets more screen time than Oliver himself towards the end . It's a lavish production , with big sets . The streets of Old London were beautifully created , and so was the soundtrack chugging so indiscreetly in the background . Ben Kingsley , as Fagin , disappears into his role behind the makeup - you'll hardly recognize him , and Barney Clark as Oliver seemed likable enough too , and provided enough emotions to punctuate the final scene . So for those , like me , who have not read the book , this should prove to be an invaluable 130 minute introduction to the real thing . Sure you can have more , by picking up the book .
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514,975 | 317,399 | 451,094 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : Sympathy for Lady Vengeance
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I won't be surprised to see hordes of housewives watching Sympathy for Lady Vengeance , given the Korean drama penetration into Asian households , especially the wildly popular Jewel In The Palace starring the same lead actress Lee Youngae . Then again , given the theme on revenge , filled with its fair share of blood and gore , this new movie by Park Chanwook might appeal to just a select few . It's easy to draw comparisons with Hollywood's recent revenge movie , Quetin Tarantino's Kill Bill . Both stars hot actresses , both movies focus on the same theme , both have children playing an integral part of the protagonist's motivation , and both were essentially screwed by a male baddie . However , Sympathy plays up the stylistic factor , as well as little art-house nuances in delivering sweet revenge . Lee Youngae plays Lee Geumja , whom we see leaving prison after serving a sentence of 13 years for kidnap and murder . Or is it ? Framed and blackmailed by her collaborators , she bears the brunt of the responsibility and blame , which sent her packing to jail . Naturally she swears vengeance upon the mastermind of the dastardly deeds , as hell as knoweth no fury like a woman who's really angry . Playing up biblical moments in the movie by symbolizing Geumja as a devil in angel's clothing ( or vice versa , depending on how you want to look at it ) , the movie intersperses narrative moments with essential flashbacks to her life in prison . On one hand , she's the angel to newcomers who protects them from the bad prison cell mama-san , while on the other , she's the devil who's plotting murder on the sly . She gains respect from these inmates , who play important roles when Geum-ja is released , to exact her 13 year revenge plan . One of the best scenes in demonstrating this was the making of her twin-trigger handgun , translating poetic justice straight from the pages of a suture . The final showdown is different from Kill Bill's , without the monotonous monologue , and the imaginary Five Point Exploding Heart Palm technique . Here , it's brutal , it's violent , and somehow , satisfactory . Revenge is a dish best served cold , but only enjoyable when share with a group of like-minded diners , to classical Vivaldi music . The final 20 minutes of the show makes an interesting conversation and analytical piece , so I would not spoil anything here . While at times the movie does plod along , it depended heavily on Youngae to shoulder this film through its slower moments . I'm not sure why , but somehow through the many close-ups , I find she has aged quite a lot from her JSA days . Make no mistake , this film might not be for all to bear . Those who are expecting numerous gunfights and explosions will be disappointed , as Geumja does not roar and rampage like what Beatrix did . But when she finally does , in artistic style , all can be forgiven .
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514,693 | 317,399 | 446,784 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : Sketches of Frank Gehry
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Frank Gehry is the world renowned architect who designed the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao , Spain . This documentary , directed by his friend Sydney Pollack , takes a quick look into the man himself , as well as to showcase some of the designs of the past 20 years or so , including the Guggenheim , which is given plenty of airtime . Nearer to home , the Kerzner-CapitaLand's Sentosa Integrated Resort bid boasts of having its architecture designed by Gehry . Response has been mixed that it resembles one of his earlier pieces , but hey , it's Frank Gehry , and having one of his designs here , if it gets awarded , will be one heck of an attraction in itself . Gehry mentioned during the interview that Pollack was given the nod to do the documentary was because of his lack of knowledge in the field . Perhaps it's because coming from the outside , he would be able to provide a fresh perspective into how architecture is viewed , from a layman . There's nothing much to shout about in this film , except to drool at the various eclectic designs and buildings Gehry built , and to go behind the scenes to try and pick his brain about the processes and idiosyncrasies he lives by . And watching the master at work is amazing . From his squiggly sketches , they evolve into grand monuments , often undergoing countless of changes on the fly . There are plenty of hacks on models , and the amount of material spent making these models is simply staggering . It's no wonder he has a dedicated team of professionals working under him , and together they create art . I'm also impressed by Gehry's vast knowledge on materials , as they are equally important in bringing to life the designs from paper to the actual building . Watch this documentary if you want to have a glimpse of how Frank Gehry goes about his work combining art with architectural design , and of the little nuggets of information he shares about his work and design philosophy , as well as a rare glimpse into this life from interviews and dialogues with colleagues and friends . Now I'm rooting for the Kerzner-CapitaLand bid , just to have a Gehry designed building on our shores : - )
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514,834 | 317,399 | 409,184 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : Russian Dolls
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Russian Dolls are those wooden toy dolls , which can be opened to reveal another doll , and opened again to reveal another , until you reach the final , tiny one . That in essence , is the movie's message on love and relationships . How do you know that the person you're with , is that final soulmate , the final tiny Russian doll at the end of the chain ? Or are you still stuck in the process of searching , and breaking up , and perpetually wondering and keeping a lookout for that someone else perceivably better ? A sequel to The Spanish Apartment , you don't really have to watch that in order to enjoy Russian Dolls , even though most of the characters come back in this one . The protagonist is Xavier ( Romain Duris ) , a down-and-out writer who's looking for his next big break , no matter if it's a cheesy love story that he's tasked to work with , or ghostwriting memoirs of celebrities . We follow his journey as he seeks his dolls , most of whom were encounters in the Spanish Apartment . First we have Martine ( the lovely Audrey Tautou ) , his ex-girlfriend who's now a single parent , and who still holds a candle for him , but only when she's feeling lonely and needy . Don't you just feel that sometimes you're being made use of , but you're a nice guy and is accommodating to that ex ? But no worries , there's always that buddy to rely on , and Xavier's buddy happens to be a lesbian Isabelle ( Cecile De France , that tough as nails cookie in High Tension ) , a smart financial analyst . Friends like these must have OK ? They'll even go all out to be out of character just to assist you in situations , providing you with accommodation , and dressing up so femininely ( she's a butch by the way ) to be your pretend-girlfriend . In between , Xavier tries to get back to the dating game by hooking up with store assistant Kassia ( Aissa Maiga ) , but as you know , the ex always gets in the way , somehow . So another potential relationship , ended up broken before it even had a chance to get started . But the final two proved to be most challenging of the lot . Business brings Xavier and Wendy together ( Kelly Reilly , in a lot of movies lately , like Mrs Henderson Presents , Pride and Prejudice ) , and love blossoms between the two , despite initially starting off as platonic , and Wendy still being stuck in a relationship that she doesn't have the strength to walk away from . But their relationship is put to the test when Xavier , through business , also gets the opportunity to hook up with up-and-coming model Celia ( Lucy Gordon ) . Ah , a beautiful celebrity , that unattainable perfect being , the object of everyman's desire and lust , now within reach . Which would he choose ? Which would you choose ? The down to earth person , or the party girl surviving in that barbie world that last only as long as their looks do ? The movie suggests many known thoughts and ideas on romance and relationships , such as loving someone meaning loving their flaws , that there's no such thing as the perfect person , just only being able to love someone because their flaws don't drive you up the wall . And the eternal question of when will you stop looking ? Temptations abound , but at the end of the day , do you cross the line , or who do you return to ? It might seem that the story's the usual of love , finding love , losing it , and all the clichés of a romance flick , but with an added punch . It's also interesting to note the different apartments that Xavier encounters , from his ex's home , to Isabelle's bachelor pad , from an ordinary London home in Wendy's , to the luxurious French suite of Celia's . There're also plenty of country hopping , between England , France and Russia ( Moscow , St Petersburg ) , where their friend in common William is getting married . And yes , Apple laptops sure looks sexy ! Probably I had it easier to identify with this movie , given I'm the targeted age group of those approaching the big-three-oh , wondering about stuff like these occasionally . Peppered with plenty of comedy to keep the going interesting , especially its techniques of juxtaposing reel-reality with reel-fantasy , Russian Dolls is a truly contemporary , chic , and sassy film standing on its soapbox with a mouthpiece touching on modern relationships .
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515,571 | 317,399 | 250,638 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : PTU
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The reason why I bought this was simple . Since I was on a DVD buying spree , and had picked up Johnnie To's The Mission ( see review here ) , I thought I might as well pick up yet another of his movies which I have not watched , and so PTU presented itself because of the price , and the uber cool slip case cover . PTU , or Police Tactical Unit , is quite unlike To's movies like the Election series , or The Mission . Here , we look at cops . Ordinary cops , who like everyone else , just want to go home safe and sound after their tour of duty . The movie started off with the sounds of the bustling streets of Hong Kong , before we find ourselves inside a police truck , with everyone in sombre mood during their trip to their patrol grounds of Tsim Sha Tsui , and listening quite ominously to an announcement over the radio regarding the death of a cop . And so begins am eventful night , which is the time period where PTU takes place in . We follow quite a number of characters - Lam Suet as Lo from the Anti-Crime Division , whose firearm was lost during a scuffle with thugs , and forms the crux of the story in which the lives of everyone else in the movie revolves around , Maggie Siu as Kat , sergeant of her team of PTU cops , and Simon Yam as Mike , her counterpart leading the other team . It's a great character study piece of the three main characters , initially one who knows he's in lots of trouble for the loss , and desperately trying to recover it , in order to save face , and keep his reputation intact for an upcoming promotion , Kat's sense of doing what's right , following procedure , and Mike , who's willing to risk it all to help another of his own " for kay " ( slang for cop ) . Under To's direction , PTU is a brilliant visual piece . Creative use of light and shadow illuminates PTU , making it a visual spectacle , so much that you'll still enjoy the movie even if you turn off the volume . I particularly enjoyed the rather quiet moments which were plenty throughout the movie , rather than the usual wham-bang kind of action with guns ablazing . In fact , a shot is never even fired , until the end-all finale , combining all the separate threads of the story into one heck of a finale . What could probably raise eyebrows , are the unorthodox methods employed by the upholders of the law . You can't help but ponder over the methods , and how the lieutenants either turn a blind eye to , or are in full agreement with the provocative procedures meted out by their captain . Surely a talking point , if fire should be met with fire when dealing with scum . There are many subtle touches in this compact tale of less than 90 minutes , with the ubiquitous mobile phone being so important as a plot element , and that strong sense of irony in the narrative . And again in To's cops and robbers / triad movies ( though I may be wrong ) , it seemed that the cool soundtrack which is peppered throughout the film , seemed to stem from a single primary theme music , this time with some electric guitar riffs . PTU doesn't get bogged down by wasting time explaining the many whys and how comes , and prefers to zap you right into the moment . It's the sense of contemplative urgency that makes it compelling to watch , and every turn brings something unexpected . The ending is particular interesting too , especially for those who have written statements in uniformed groups - you surely know what they're doing !
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515,279 | 317,399 | 409,904 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : Day Watch
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We were made to wait for more than 2 years since the debut of Timur Bekmambetov's Night Watch , Russia's groundbreaking science fiction fantasy movie which promised a trilogy with the following two movies , Day Watch and Dusk Watch to follow . The first movie opened to much fanfare here with overnight festivities and a graveyard hour premiere , but reality set in soon after that local audiences perhaps aren't game for something too foreign , despite it that it stuck to the familiar action-effects formula . So Day Watch will soon premiere on the local screens with less of the ra-ra fanfare , and while it helped a bit with its summarized recap of the first movie , my advice would be to ensure that you'd watch Night Watch first so that the characters who appear don't look too odd to you , and it'll be more satisfying come the ending because it makes the two movies just perfect and a wrap up . Which of course brings to question Bekmambetov's original vision of a trilogy , because I certainly can't see how it can happen now without throwing a spanner into the works . The movie continues from where it left off the first movie , fast forwarded 12 years , where Anton ( Konstantin Khabensky ) is still taking on the Master role in tutoring his new padawan Svetlana ( Mariya Poroshina ) , who is touted as possibly the next Great One who had joined their side . Those of us in the know will already be in the loop what happened to the first Great One , and because movie prophecies are always self fulfilling , we get a hint of what's to come for the finale . The movie still focuses on Anton , and he makes an interesting central character because he is just about as flawed as can be , and not the all powerful character given there are many others in the movie absolutely more capable and powerful than he is . There's no boy scout in his character to bore you , and he constantly does things according to his fancy , which almost always gets him into trouble , with his continued pining for his son . And it is this less than heroic characteristic , that somewhat endears us to his internal struggles . The father-son theme also takes on another dimension with Kostya ( Aleksei Chadov ) and his butcher father ( Valeri Zolotukhin ) , but while it had a number of minor sub plots strung together , they rarely strike that emotional chord in you , as thee stories are conveniently serving as leads to the next big special effects scene . Some of these scenes you can tell were added to show off the effects capability - they look beautiful , but don't further the plot much . Think of it as nice decorative flower vases , and worse , contribute to certain plot loopholes and implausibilities as well . But wait , we're talking about a fantasy movie here , so it could be forgiven . A gripe that I had was how wimpy the characters in the movie had become . Gone are the glorious battles from the first movie , where the rooftop mêlée was one of my favourites . What we have in Day Watch are plenty of scheming and plotting , and less of the fisticuffs . Even when it came to slugging it out , they were less than menacing and quite ordinary compared to its grittier , and darker predecessor . What made me chuckle a bit was the ditching of sensibilities and a tit-for-tat nod to Hollywood with its big bang disaster styled development , which certainly was uncalled for , but no doubt a you-can-do-we-can-do-too response . And some might be irked by the cop out ending , that it's much ado about nothing after all given the brou-ha-ha about the all powerful Chalk of Fate , but it's an ending which is perfect when you put Night Watch and Day Watch together . One thing's enjoyable for sure , is the return of the funky subtitles . Since the movie is in Russian save the English language monologue recap , and for non-Russian speakers like yourself , sometimes reading subtitles might be a bit of a bore . But kudos here , like its predecessor , for intricately crafting nice looking , effects filled subtitles to enhance our reading pleasure . For non-fans of the first movie , you'll probably give this one a miss , or for those who have not watched Night Watch , then you might walk out halfway given that it's relatively difficult to follow ( there were walk outs in the screening I attended ) . But for the fans , then this movie is a reason to celebrate closure . Definitely an acquired taste !
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515,342 | 317,399 | 1,032,856 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : The Band's Visit
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The introductory inter-titles alluded this story as if it was a true , and that not many would remember it because it wasn't that important . I'd like to consider that The Band's Visit is however important to highlight and remind ourselves of simple human decency to help a fellow man in need . With little money , no understanding of the local language , and absolutely clueless as to the current location , I think not everyone can turn a blind eye , and not offer any assistance at all . In The Band's Visit , the 8-member team from Egypt's Alexandria Police Ceremonial Band arrive in Israel to perform at the opening ceremony of a new Arab Cultural Center , only to find themselves stranded at the wrong town , a quiet one in fact , without support from the organizers or the embassy to get them back on track . " Gneral " Taqfiq ( Sasson Gabai ) and his men however get unexpected support from restaurant owner Dina ( Ronit Elkabetz ) , an attractive middle aged lady who extends her hospitality to include an overnight stay at her restaurant , her home and her friends ' homes , and a warm meal to boot . So begins an uneasy alliance forged between the two cultures , one resigned to the fact that absolutely nothing happens in their town where this anomaly of an opportunity to become a Good Samaritan seemed bemusing , and somewhat an emotional / relationship wreck herself , sees a chance of a faintly probably getting together with a uniformed man . The other whose life is led by strict rules and regulation , responsible for the conduct of his men , reminding them to be ambassadors of their country , but as the story goes by , we see the man behind the uniform get revealed . Don't expect big moments or slapstick comedy though , as this film is not . Most of the events that were remotely laughable , stemmed from the little episodes of a reaching out between humans , sans rivalry , loyalty and culture . While the movie doesn't showcase every individual in the 8 member team , significant time got devoted to Haled ( Saleh Bakri ) , the default renegade character every group has , in his assistance to his host's plight of not being able to communicate with the girl that the latter likes , and Simon ( Khalifa Natour ) , the second-in - command who is more of a conformer , being left questioned on his incomplete overture , whether he has the courage to pursue his dreams . Writer-director Eran Kolirin's story takes place in a succinct 24 hours , split into three story arcs of first - Dina and Tawfiq in the revelation of each other's past while maintaining a hint of possible romance in the air , of second chances , second - Haled and his exploration of the town , with the unforgettable roller skate disco scene , and Simon which epitomizes uneasiness , which I feel most of us could identify with , being in disquieting comfort of a stranger's home , and having to deal with personal questions , not because the hosts were rude , but in attempts to try and break the ice by probing common topics to talk about . Each of these stories had their respective touching moments , brought out vividly by the cast members , over a background soundtrack of excellently chosen tunes , from pop to classical music which we get treated to at the end . While the narrative may have unfolded within the short span of time in an overnight stay , parting was indeed sweet sorrow , and what came through was certainly something more memorable that will dwell with you , on the basic human decency of not judging a book by its cover , and that putting aside all differences and general presumptions , every individual has their own stories to tell , with challenges faced that could be no different from anyone else .
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515,150 | 317,399 | 56,736 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : L'Eclisse
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Lorenzo Codelli highlighted to us that this was the first time that Michelangelo Antonioni had back to back to back productions , with the famed Trilogy movies released over a span of 3 years . And they cover distinct cities in Italy too , with the poorest parts of Italy in L'Avventura , the industrial capital Milan in La Notte , which had a lot of dialogue , and here , it's set in Rome . Compared to his peer Fellini , Antonioni preferred to shoot using real settings , which gives his films a kind of documentary like feel , versus Fellini's preference for recreating sets indoors . Being the last film that Antonioni shot in black and white , it closes a chapter and with colour in The Red Desert , opens a new one . L'Eclisse opens with a man and woman in total silence in an apartment . The woman behaves in a restless manner , moving from one area to the next , while the man remained seated on an armchair , unmoved . It went on for a few minutes , in utter silence save for the whirring sound of a table fan . But when they start to speak , we realize that Riccardo ( Francisco Rabal ) and Vittoria ( Monica Vitti ) are in the midst of a potential breakup . The reason is not given despite the former's probe , whether there was someone else coming between them . He gets a response he doesn't believe in , but realizes nonetheless that Vittoria has lost all feelings for him , for one reason or another . He sees her home as he always does , and says goodbye for the very last time . For some strange reason , it reminded me painfully of my own experience , so the opening scene served as a clincher right from the start . It's easy to relate to Riccardo because I too found it somewhat incomprehensible , and whatever he tried to do later - seeing her back , trying to call her later and so on , rings a bell that goes far back . But this is not a story about my life , but it's Michelangelo Antonioni's final movie in his loose Alienation trilogy , which I felt was the most accessible of them all , despite its extremely abstract finale consisting of a montage of images , lasting for a few minutes . In essence , I thought L'Eclisse contained what was essentially a very easy-to-follow story , with charismatic leads with whom you're able to hook your attention to , and while it continues with its crafting of powerful characters with complicated problems to deal with , it doesn't overwhelm and allows some breathing space to appreciate them a bit more . But I note that my focus had turned away from the " same-old " relationship issues , to the floor of the stock exchange , where Alain Delon's Piero got introduced , and in which the film seemed to spend a lot of time with a showcase of how deals were made through cryptic shouting and hand signals , which still has its usefulness in today's modern context , except for the bit where phone calls were still taken from the booths in harried manner . With Piero as a hot shot stockbroker , it allowed for this indulgence in setting many scenes in and around the stock exchange , where professionals and curious public punters gather to listen in for the best deals , and fervently place their bets . Perhaps one of the key takeaways here is that it served as a cautionary tale of blindly following the masses into stocks and commodities without fully understanding and appreciating the risks involved , with a fear of poverty spearheading a belief that the stockmarket provides an avenue for get rich quick schemes . But back to our lovebirds Piero and Vittora , it's a fairly simple courtship ritual they embark upon , with Piero being persistent in his chase , and Vittora being afraid to commit , especially since she's just coming out of a relationship where her feelings for her ex-lover inexplicably died off . There were some unintentionally comic moments in this chase that provided again a brief reprieve from the heaviness in its theme , and I can never get that very loud and rude " PRONTO ! ! " answer to a phone call out of my mind , where a hesitant cold call by Vittora to Piero caught him unexpectedly in a wrong mood . However , amongst the Trilogy , I felt this one had one of the more positive endings compared to the rest , with unflinching hope settled upon quite clearly , sans the last few minutes . As mentioned earlier , L'Eclisse has this end montage sequence that included revisits of the venues that the lovebirds had been to during the course of the story , and others . To me they seem quite jarring and I never fully understood their inclusion to round up the movie . But one thing I'm sure of , is that in Piero's mesmerizing mansion , his study had one of those pens which I'll be on the lookout for , and most definitely will get one for my personal use !
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515,321 | 317,399 | 266,425 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : ( DVD ) Conspiracy ( 2001 )
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It was just as Hitler tasted defeat at the Russian front , that a little known meeting was arranged to mark one of the worst events in humankind . That meeting , known as the Wannsee Conference , was to put into motion the evacuation of the Jews from Germany , then the rest of their controlled territories . 15 officials from various departments were in attendance , chaired by SS Chief of Security Reinhard Heydrich ( Kenneth Branagh ) and SS Major Adolf Eichmann ( Stanley Tucci ) , and has in its members several lawmakers and doctors . They sit and debate ( well , not much of a debate actually ) the notion of evacuating ( read : Eliminate ) the Jews , and you'll probably witness how casual it all sounded to some of the members . It was interesting to see how Heydrich cajoled everyone into agreeing to his plans , by hook or by crook . And it's very chilling to see how semantics were danced about , and how methods were discussed as if it was a process so trivial - the building of concentration camps , the techniques of gassing and how to perform it , the statistics of the kill that would have them reach their target numbers intended . Based on a surviving record of that meeting , despite the fact that the minutes are to be read , memorized and destroyed , this HBOfilm is a good watch to peek into the decision making process , into that stain in human history , and the unthinkable evil that humans are capable of . If you're a fan of Downfall , then perhaps this depiction of history will interest you .
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514,542 | 317,399 | 485,863 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : Battle of Wits ( Muk Gong )
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The warring states of Ancient China serve as a backdrop for this pan-Asian war epic , starring the charismatic Andy Lau . Going by the literal translation of the Chinese title , it's " Ink War " , alluding to the fact that much of the battles in this movie relies a lot more on superior strategy in order to overcome a mammoth battle against a Goliath , with a 4 , 000 population up against the might of a 100 , 000 strong well-trained army . Based on a Japanese novel / manga Bokkou , Battle of Wits fictionalizes one of the episodes during 370BC , where China was still divided , and each nation seizing opportunities to usurp the other . Those familiar with history will know that eventually , the kingdom of Qin will ultimately unite the Middle Kingdom for the first time . However , the story sets its sights on the Kingdom of Zhao leading an attack on the smaller state of Liang . In its defence lies a mysterious man from the Mozhi tribe known as Ge Li ( Andy Lau of course ) , who galvanizes Liang's population to stage a stand against what seemingly looks like impossible odds . While war movies of long , long time ago have been flogged to death recently by Hollywood , with films like Alexander , Troy , and fantasy epics like the Lord of the Rings series , Asian movies have rarely scratched the surface until of late , with Battle of Wits leading the charge , and coming right up are at least two film adaptations of episodes from the Romance of the Three Kingdom novels . For those expecting fantastical and romanticized wu-xia martial arts moves , you will be disappointed , as this movie is rooted much in reality . Given the epic scale of this production , it still rings a sense of familiarity in its war scenes , and I thought that shooting most of them in middle-close range , loses much of its grandeur . The big spectacles shown have nothing new that will take your breath away , especially after Hollywood has plundered such productions . Nonetheless it augurs well that Battle of Wits managed to pull off a production of this nature , and has , surprise , a competent storyline to carry it through . There is a strong anti-war message that got worn on the sleeves Ge Li , as smart and cunning as he is , he's the reluctant hero , willing to make sacrifices for the greater good . He finds no pleasure in war , nor killings , but in order to save the masses , he must do what he has to thwart efforts of bloodthirsty kingdoms . He's is the message of " loving thy enemy " , naturally not shared by the incompetent leadership in Liang . And since time immemorial , you always have the incompetents possessing the heart of insolence , with characters of sloth and ill intentions , straddling from a high horse . Inept leaders silencing their opposition through calls of treason is a tactic all too familiar , which makes it all the more despondent as you ponder about that aged old Chinese proverb about there being nothing wrong in looking after your personal interests first , instead of bothering with the affairs of others . Ge Li faces both the task of winning over the people's trust ( since they're committing the state's defences to his organization ) , and the inevitable unappreciative , thankless task of having to do just that . As I mentioned , do not expect to see " Qing Gong " or fancy swordplay . Rather I was in awe with the delivery of strategies and counter strategies in having two warring factions pitting their wits against each other . Sometimes they come rather unexpectedly , and will leave you with a smile , like when you're wondering just what everyone is up to when they close their eyes en masse . Accompanied by an excellent soundtrack , the movie could be split down two halves , and while the first centered on the macro affairs , a more micro , personal affairs of the heart managed to creep in between Ge Li and Yi Yue ( the gorgeous Fan Bingbing ) , a calvary officer , and though their romance sometimes stalled the pace of the movie , it added some gravitas to Ge Li the Man , questioning his strong beliefs on being unselfish , and made the finale all the more heart-wrenching to watch . Featuring stars like Wu Ma and Nicky Wu ( when was the last time I saw them in a movie ) and Korean actor Ahn Sung-kee , this certainly is the movie to watch this week . Forget about them animated penguins , treat yourself to an epic worthy of your time , and well worth a weekend ticket .
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514,704 | 317,399 | 363,060 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : Shara
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First and foremost , I thought the camera took on a life of its own , and drew a lot of attention to itself . It's free-wheeling , panning , tracking and zooming into noises that call out for notice . In some sense , it took on voyeuristic elements as it seemed we're right there with the characters and witnessing incidents as they unfold in the movie at first person's perspective . Not only that , Kawase has a penchant of incredibly long takes , not slow moving all the time though , but having scenes reveal themselves in one continuous shot . I would've imagined the nightmare during production should someone mess up , and the need to start over . Shots following characters also seem to be favourites , where it felt like we had to perpetually chase after the characters to follow on every plot development . The story's nothing to shout about , as it looks at the lives of a household in Nara , Japan , after a member of the family mysteriously disappears , leaving behind mom Reiko ( Naomi Kawase ) , dad Taku ( Katsuhisa Namase ) and their son Shun ( Kohei Fukungaga ) . The opening shot's quite peculiar as well , as a slow moving camera rotates about in a room , as we hear continuous background chimes from the neighbourhood temple , with the voices of Shun and brother Kei conversing , and finally seeing them through window reflections , before a game of " follow me " turns into mystery , one which never gets resolved conclusively in the movie , unless you deem that the eyes from which we watch the movie , is from the eyes and perspective of Kei's . Kei's disappearance is classic X-Files , just as how Fox Mulder had to deal with Samantha's own , and here we follow the family and how they each dealt with this - as one of the unseen characters puts it - case of " spirited away " . Taku immerses himself in organizing the annual Basara street festival as its chairperson , while mom Reiko cultivates green fingers . Shun , blaming himself for losing sight of his brother , exorcises his demons through painting , and from the care given by girlfriend and neighbour Yu ( Yuka Hyyoudo ) , who turns out to be living with her aunt . Even then , the theme of loss doesn't get forgotten , in another long talkie scene where Yu learns of how she came to live in a foster home under the guardianship of her aunt , in a rather incestuous tale that sounded a wee bit incredible , though surprisingly moving . All's not doom and gloom though in Shara , in case you're wondering if this movie's slow pace would be your cup of tea , or whether you'll feel down after watching a sad movie . The movie ends off with a rather uplifting note of hope , where the anticipated birth of a child with a fine penis ( yes , it was from the movie , OK ? ) lies in stark contrast with the mysterious loss of one in the beginning . In fact , things start to pick up ( in pace even ) after the Basara street festival scene , where before the narrative dealt with the mulling over Kei , and had generous allowance to set up all the principal characters . And what a spectacle the Basara street performance was ! Though it was highly repetitive , you can't deny the exuberant energy that the camera captured from the performers , entertaining all in a mesmerizing dance on the streets , which turned into a wet rain dance sequence under heavy downpour . If any scene would've stuck in your mind after you leave the theatre , this would be it , with a little wry scene where Shun had in his crowd control duties , inadvertently blocked the view of a cute knee-high tall child with his palm . Shara turned out to be surprisingly enjoyable , and I now look forward to the documentary by Tetsuaki Matsue titled Summer Vacation with Naomi Kawase .
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514,803 | 317,399 | 340,163 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : Hostage
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It's been some time since I last saw a movie with creative opening credits . This one is unique , with comic book like panels and graphics , which looks suspiciously like Sin City , capturing different aspects of first responders in a hostage crisis , before dissolving into real life and putting everything into perspective . And we see Bruce Willis with hair ! Lots of it ! Well , at least for the opening tense and engaging scene . He seems to have monopolized the role of the world weary cop , this time , a renowned hostage crisis negotiator , until the mission goes awry and he literally has blood on his hands . We fast forward to today , and we see the Willis we're all too familiar with - bald , and into a career as a small town police chief . Before you can say " bring on the action ! " , 3 teenage delinquents hold a man and his 2 children hostage in their swanky ultra modern home . To add to the mix , there's something shady going on behind the man held hostage , and given Willis ' reputation as an ex-hotshot negotiator , he's now blackmailed by unidentified masked men holding his own family hostage , who want a DVD from the house with probably important information ( don't ask ) . So Willis has to use his smarts , play both sides , putting his skills into practice and wiggle out of both situations - get the hostages safe , deliver what the masked men wants , and in turn , guarantee safe passage for his own family . Naturally when you play both sides , those on the side of the law always question your motives , as you deviate from the book . What intrigues me is the negotiation process - between Willis and the hostage taking delinquents , and between Willis and the professional masked men - which takes centerstage in any hostage drama . I've been reading up a bit on crisis negotiation , and some aspects of the movie does seem to apply the principles of what I have read , which is cool . It's a thrill from start to end , and this film delivers , with 2 finales tying up the 2 major plots . While at times predictable , the superb delivery by the cast does not bore you , though some might think that having " unidentified " masked men seems a little too convenient , as their motives go unexplained . This is based on a novel , so I might just check out the book . And if Willis ' character is called John McClane , this could well be a worthy addition to the Die Hard franchise .
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515,122 | 317,399 | 437,800 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : Akeelah and the Bee
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There are many competitive sports movies out there , and most of them run common story lines either being pro-underdogs , or running along racial ( dis ) harmony themes , believing in yourself , mentor-mentee relationships , you get the drift . Akeelah and the Bee is no different , but like all feel good movies , chances are you'll like this one and would be touched by it too , because it leaves you all warm and fuzzy inside , never mind a repeat of the commonly used themes . It's formula , but with its predictability , brings you just the right amount of ra-ra moments where you root for what's right , and depends a lot on the charisma of the leads to take it to the finishing line . The U . S National Spelling Bee competition is a cerebral one . Unless your favourite book is the dictionary and you spew Latin and Greek like a first language , you'll be in awe by the vocabulary that these children have to know , in order to regurgitate the right one in front of a national audience . It's the ultimate English Language challenge , and only the best of the best , through a gruelling selection process , get to make the mark to compete . Akeelah Anderson ( Keke Palmer ) comes from your suburb school , and has a penchant for skipping class , hence her less than fantastic grades . Her gift and talent is what else , spelling , and it's quite typical of the school to want to milk that talent to bring glory to themselves . While initially resisting that thought , it doesn't take too long before Dr Larabee ( Laurence Fishburne ) , himself an ex-competitor in the game , identifies her talent , and takes her under his wing to train her for the Nationals . I kinda smiled that Fishburne fanboy smile - it seems that Fishburne's characters can't seem to get enough of mentoring Andersons : - ) Anyway his Dr Larabee plays off a bit like his Matrix's Morpheus , with that stern exterior , and that soft interior . He plays surrogate father to Akeelah , and through their relationship , help build the girl's confidence through essays written by literary giants . It's great chemistry which starts off in a rather chilly manner , but you'd know before long that these two will break the ice and come up between themselves , special techniques to train , and through that , build communication . The movie does fall into the occasional lapse into stereotypes , like the Asian's uber - competitive streak and that strict father you love to hate , the divide between the haves and the have-nots with the rich white kids , and the black ghetto boys . However , these are glossed over too quickly , as we head onto themes like the galvanizing of a community , and the spirit of competition even though it led to an all too predictable ending . Important reminders like relations between family and friends are stressed , and in a way , it made this first Starbucks Coffee ( yes , that coffee company ) production appeal to a wide spectrum . The message in the movie is clear , and it reminded me of an old soldier who once told our platoon , and I paraphrase , that one should not let others look down upon you , but more importantly , you should not look down on yourself . Clearly , that's the message here . Go the distance without fear .
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514,624 | 317,399 | 845,464 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : On The Edge
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At first glance , this movie might look like an Infernal Affairs clone , with Nick Cheung declaring he wants to be a " good cop " , and with the element of an undercover cop in the triads . Actually , this could have sort of served as a tangent off IA1 , with keen observations to how undercover cops find it tough to assimilate back to normalcy , as the movie shared , more than 50 % do not make it pass their 3rd year . Nick Cheung plays Harry , an undercover cop who has just busted one of the largest triad bosses - Don Dark ( don't ask , played by the excellent Francis Ng ) , but so what ? One would expect glory , recognition and a fat reward to go along , but surprise , in the real world , things like that go unappreciated more often than not . In most movies , the good guy takes the bad guy down in a blaze of glory , and one would expect the glorious moments to be hailed . Here , it's the exploration of how difficult it is actually to rid yourself of vices that you picked up over the years . Given 8 years spent in the underworld , friendships are forged , and so that sense of brotherhood and loyalty become fiercely strong . And it is indeed this brand of devotion that casts a shadow on Harry , whether he has actually rid himself of underworld links , or somehow turned tails and is acting like a double agent . But you know you're stuck in a rut when both sides decide they couldn't trust you . Assimilating back to society isn't always easy , and not having the support from those that matter to you will always make it all the more challenging . In the 8 years you've been living a lie as a different man , how would you expect others to look at you ? It actually makes you wonder if it is humanly possible at all , to forget some of the best times of your life , and the relationships you hold so dearly to . After all , no man is an island . A major plus point is the stellar supporting heavyweights like Francis Ng and Anthony Wong , though they may seem to have superficially replayed their roles from IA2 , with a bit of mellowing from Ng and an extra sense of edginess from Wong . Rain Lee as Harry's girlfriend looked a bit out of place though , with her cutie pie looks totally in opposites with her tough - nails gangster moll character . There's also a deliberate contrast between the methods of those on different sides of the law , subtly hinting that in the end , it boils down to basic human principles of conduct . To round up , the movie may be treading on a familiar genre . The multiple flashbacks are done very nicely as we see the years that Harry spent in the underworld intertwined and contrasting with the normal life he's trying to lead . I suspect it might not last long in its release here given the barrage of films out starting from next week , so you might want to give this movie a shot .
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514,428 | 317,399 | 422,295 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : Fur
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A photograph is a secret about a secret . The more it tells you the less you know - Diane ArbusNicole Kidman isn't new to taking up roles based on real people , having been casted as Virginia Woolf in The Hours . Here , her role as Diane ( pronounced Dee-ann ) Arbus however , is highly fictionalized , based on the renowned American photographer for her portraits of people on the societal fringes . The keywords here are " highly fictionalized " , and even the introduction bears that stark reminder , less someone actually interprets the events on screen as a biography of sorts . At first glance , the story is an enigma of sorts . Nothing much gets revealed in the trailers , and so this review will not tread anything beyond what can be seen or inferred from those short clips . Basically , it fictionalizes the motivations , and probably inspiration , of Diane Arbus , whose portrait photographs of her subjects are quite different in nature . Working in a partnership with her husband , she's the stylist to his photography , or in local terms , the one who covers the mountains and the seas , in other words , does everything else except taking the picture . It's a modern retelling of a fairy tale whereby disclosing it will spoil the mystery . It's a rather warped love story ( some might even frown at it ) too between Diane and Lionel ( played by Robert Downey Jr ) , and despite the less than stellar reviews of the movie , I thought it was excellently paced to keep you guessing in the beginning until the revelation , and kept you engaged further with more questions , anticipation , and the perennial " will they or won't they " . It reminded me a little of an old Batman story arc ( don't ask why ) called Faces , told over three issues in the Legends of the Dark Knight title ( issues # 27-29 ) , and probably because that particular arc is one of my favourites , that I actually enjoyed the movie . The movie looks at freeing oneself from prim , properness and prejudice . Nicole Kidman and Robert Downey Jr put up good performances as characters shackled to unhappiness because of society's expectations and prejudices , and have that desired sexual tension built between them that actually sizzles without being too explicit about it . In fact , much of the movie hinged on their performance and delivery as the integral characters , despite Downey Jr being hidden from most publicity materials ( for a reason of course ) . Fur might not be everyone's cup of tea with its relatively slowness in revealing itself , but for fans of Nicole Kidman , this would probably be one movie you won't want to miss .
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514,414 | 317,399 | 371,606 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : Chicken Little
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The little chicken has descended on our cinema screens , having teased us endlessly with its chicken dance to the tune of Dragostea Din Tei ( that numa-ye song ) which preceded most movie screenings , in most theatres , until scratches appeared on that reminder to turn off your mobile phone . Coming from Disney , with its highly featured departure on making 3D animated films with Pixar , I'd consider it quite a good attempt . Watching it in a digital format , the images are clear , sharp , and Chicken Little itself so cuddly , you'd just want to hug it ( the soft toy looks a bit out of shape though ) . Based on the well known children's tale , an acorn fell on the head of a chicken and it thought the sky was falling , thereby activating its friends to run for safe haven , only to have the fox trick them all into becoming its dinner . But this is Disney after all , and gruesome scenes like these are censored and reinvented . Here , the original tale is parodied in the beginning , and the townsfolk reckoned that Chicken Little is a mad little boy , and caused an embarrassment to his single parent Father . Being the outcast of school and society , that didn't stop him from being inventive and creative in life ( excellent fun sequence I must say ) , with loyal pals like Runt the fat pig , Fish out of water , and Abby the Ugly Duckling . Besides these characters , I thought it was a good nod to the original tale by incorporating ( minor ) characters like Turkey Lurkey , Foxy Loxy and Goosey Loosey . Some might not enjoy Chicken Little , given that we're spoilt with more adult oriented fare like Shrek , or Pixar's always excellent efforts , but I felt it was a refreshing change to watch something simpler . Sure the parodies are there - look out for spoofs on King Kong , the various explicit reference to War of the Worlds , and even Star Wars , but eventually these gave way to its focus on a very basic theme . That of a child looking for parental acceptance . Chicken Little tries so hard to make his father proud of him , especially after his " Sky is Falling " debacle , that he thought he almost did after a baseball game , but alas , skeletons in the closet return to haunt him , this time , totally unrelated to the original story with the invasion of space aliens . I thought that sequence totally rocked , and was insane , in a good way . Adam West makes a ( voice ) cameo as Ace , the Hollywood version of Chicken Litte , which I thought was the best spoof of the entire movie ( and brought back memories of his Batman series with his slow , calm voice ) . Patrick Stewart too lends his voice as a teacher , and given that it's a sheep , the classroom lessons become one of the hardest laughing scene in the movie . So if you're up for some light entertainment , make it Chicken Little , and no , he does NOT dance to that song , and neither is it played , again . So I do not know why there's so much hate and negative vibes for this movie . Relax ! It's about a little chicken trying to find recognition in spite of its size . Give it to him , will ya ? What did you say ?
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515,175 | 317,399 | 454,824 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : Flyboys
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This is yet another war movie coming out of Hollywood , but this time it leaves the dramatics and contemplative issues aside , and focus on the action pieces . With its prologue flashing across the screen that we're expecting to learn about the heroes of the war , you know the mood is set for some wham-bam pyrotechnics and stunts . Movies set in WWI are different in the sense that it's the first massive war on a near global scale , which uses various weapons for the first time , and these weapons , though standard of today , were considered weapons of mass destruction for that time with its ability to inflict mass casualties . Weapons like machine guns , tanks , planes , and even chemical warfare unleashed into the trenches are hallmarks of WWI . Flyboys , as the title puts it , turns the spotlight on a group of mostly American volunteers into the French Lafayette Escadrille , a flight squadron . With the plane a relatively new piece of technology in those days , you can trust us humans to find methods to turn technology into killing machines . If you're a fan of flight simulators of old , then Flyboys is right up your alley . For me , I've become an addict on a game called the Red Baron running on an old PC of mine , and I spent countless of hours , just like those pilots in the movie , deciding my affiliation , and flying various missions from the comfort of an armchair . And Flyboys probably took a cue , and what we have were awesome aerial combat , and beautifully modelled aeroplanes employed in missions ranging from bombing , to air defense , and even the attack on German zeppelins . However , after a while , the stunts become pretty ordinary , almost like Star Wars set in WWI , especially with the fleet's style of head to head engagements , except for the ace pilots where specific moves were developed just to show why they're top gun . And this movie does show shades of other similar movies , with the obvious one being Top Gun in the first half , where the motley crew of combatants undergo training at a flight school . It's kind of interesting to observe how training those days are conducted , since the technology and training techniques were still at their infancy . You won't get bored though , as it's almost breezing through flight school with everyone graduating because the life expectancy of a fighter pilot is between 3-6 weeks . They're falling out of the skies like flies . The other familiar element , is the romance bit . Yes , besides flying , pilots do have a life , and with movies , it just cannot do without a beautiful love interest . An accident allowed James Franco's Blaine Rawlings to meet Jennifer Decker's Lucienne , a French woman he develops feelings , but she is hesitant to reciprocate because such budding relationships during war sometimes do not last , more so when he's part of a high risk , high death unit . So what does a pilot do ? Why , set the example for Ben Affleck to follow in Pearl Harbor - take the lady up to the skies ! See the tactic ? Tried and tested I tell you ! James Franco once again plays the brooding lead , and alternates between angst and cockiness with aplomb . Girls will probably watch this movie to squeal each time he appears in uniform . Here , he's your sensitive leader , one who galvanizes his men , as well as shower tenderness on his love . Naturally , he's the recognizable star amongst the rest , besides a ground role for Jean Reno , so he's the ace ( or becoming to be one ) , trying to learn from the guru with the most kills , Reed Cassidy , your expected and seemingly cocky pilot ( wait ! Aren't pilots all ? ) There's a theme I like which the movie explored , and frequently mentioned , and that is the way battles are fought . In olden days , there is always honour , and men fought honourably , according to a moral code of conduct . Which brings us to wonder , do you prefer to fight fair , i . e . should someone lose a sword , either lose yours or allow him to pick his up ? Or do you attack enemies on parachutes by shooting at their chute ? Battle without honour or humanity just to win the fight , is what Rawlings have to come to grips with , and by the end , you will know which is the path he will take . If there's a gripe I had , it was the excessive nodding . It's an acknowledgement that you're good / bad / gonna get screwed , and while the first few might have raised some goosebumps , this particular thingamajig went on and on and on , it just turned our plain hilarious . Do something - nod , downed a bogey - nod , crap in the pants - nod . OK , so I exaggerated on the last one . All in all , it's an aviation action movie fan's wet dream . If games are to be believed , then the German planes have better specification and maneuvered better , but if you believe what the movie said , then it all boils down to the pilots . These flyboys deliver .
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515,185 | 317,399 | 287,978 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : Daredevil
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This is the first of a series of Marvel comic heroes coming onto the silver screen this year , before Bryan Singer's X2 and Lee Ang's The Incredible Hulk ( another Jennifer . . . Connelly , . . . . WHOA ! ) To compare it to last year's Spider-man will not be fair , because Daredevil is essentially a dark character , and i'm glad they stuck to it . There are complains that the movie is at times incoherent , but hey , it's based on a comic book ! Sit back , relax and enjoy the show as if it's the first time u picked up a Daredevil comic and enjoying it for what it's worth . Ben Affleck once mentioned that he won't don any tights unless it's a Daredevil movie , and guess what , he's right ! He looks the part as the Man Without Fear , the strong jawline and all , and as blind lawyer Matt Murdock . Guess he made Daredevil his own . Jennifer Gardner's Elektra looks as beautiful as she is lethal , but too bad , we're given little screen time where she is Elektra with her twin Sais . But nonetheless her initial meeting with Matt is really , really cool ! Kingpin , in case you didn't know , is not the white character he is in the comic books , but heck , doesn't bother me a bit . And someone tell Bullseye to stock up on his ammo before he even attempts to take out Daredevil : P All in all , the action is sometimes too fast and dark ( hey , it's a dark movie : P ) , but the SFX for the devil's unique capability is really well done . The introductory background to the Daredevil lore and build up is excellent , though the ending i felt was a little too rushed . Fan boys will lap up all the cameos and name-mentioning of people like Kirby , Quesada , et al . All in all , I suppose Marvel got it right this time with the movies . Awaiting X2 and Incredible Hulk to see if Marvel can do a hattrick with its movies this year . Have Faith .
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515,287 | 317,399 | 492,820 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : Moon and Cherry
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An erotic literature writing club ? Now that's something new ! The closing film for this year's Japanese Film Festival , given the audience's most positive reaction , I'm quite certain that this edition has closed with literally a big bang . While the premise might be refreshing and sexy , at its core is an unconventional love story between a boy and a girl , in a reversal of roles from the traditional way such characters will turn out to be . The boy , Sakamoto ( Akira Emoto ) is quite soft spoken and indecisive , while the girl , Mayama ( Noriko Eguchi ) is an alpha-female , who knows what she wants , and exactly what she must do to achieve her aims , and that includes sleeping her way for it . Mayama is the writing club's only female writer , and a prolific one too , who writes under a pseudonym , and as fuel for her new novel , she engages the 21 year old virgin to the club , Sakamoto , in a cat and mouse game , using her to help translate emotions onto the written page . So while Sakamoto feels used ( having his cherry popped ) , he can't help but fall in love with Mayama , whose games get bolder and more daring as she seeks to observe how Sakamoto's experience and sexual enlightenment can provide her with a new perspective to her literary works . It's also a look at modern day relationships , and the question , to a guy , perhaps on what kinds of girls would you want to be associated with . On the other end of the spectrum , there's Akane ( Misako Hirata ) , a fellow colleague at the bookstore that Sakamoto works in . She looks better , panders to Sakamoto's wishes , basically one of the modern day cutie pies with sugar so sweet it can give you diabetes just by hanging out with her . And I thought what it was quite spot on in its offering and comparisons of the two ladies , in whether you would prefer to love and continue your pursuit for that unattainable someone , or be satisfied with and loving in return , someone who loves you a lot more ( note that I use the L-word here quite loosely ) . Moon and Cherry is a comedy of epic sexual proportions , and its digibeta format and raw look and feel does bring back certain memories of the first American Pie . However , the only drawback here is that the lighting throughout the film looked somewhat dim , but don't let that be an obstacle to enjoying a sassy , fun movie . Don't expect many laugh-out-loud moments , though Moon and Cherry certainly has its charm in punctuating portions of the narrative with very placed humour that hits you when you least expect it to .
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514,527 | 317,399 | 814,314 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : Seven Pounds
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Two years ago , director Gabriele Muccino collaborated with Will Smith successfully in their year end offering of The Pursuit of Happiness , which while based on the struggles of real life struggler made good Chris Gardner , had a saccharine sweet and triumphant ending befitting of the end of year mood of putting the last year behind you , and looking forward to a better tomorrow . This time round however , the Muccino-Smith partnership has brought about a sustained doom , gloom and heaviness throughout the film that perhaps accurately mirrors current sentiments of the downturn that doesn't look to go anywhere upwards next year as well . There's nary a light-hearted moment in the film , and it begins in what would be uncharacteristic of Smith to be barraging down on a visually handicapped person ( Woody Harrelson in a very subdued , supporting role ) , insulting him and calling him names . In fact , you're more than likely to feel kind of angry with Smith's Ben Thomas , an IRS tax man who continues his verbal assault over the telephone on a stranger whom he doesn't know , yet . You see , it's all a test of character . Ben Thomas is a man on a mission , and while the filmmakers would like you to think that his ultimate aim was something still kept under wraps , it doesn't take long before you decipher just what he's up to , given a clue right from the start of the film that he intends to take his own life , and little hints dropped every now and then . Ben wants to help seven people before his demise , and just how he's going about doing so , is the subject of almost two hours in the film . The plot brews rather slowly , and curiously , doesn't bore even as it doesn't keep you guessing for long . It holds out the real reason and verbatim rationale why he's doing what he's doing , though cynics in us might deem it as an extreme case of seeking redemption . But thankfully , we got Will Smith's acting ability to keep our attention arrested , because he has shown that he's as adept to big budgeted action blockbusters , as he is with strong drama dealing with human emotions . While you may question Ben's technique , you cannot deny that here's a man that's set in his ways that even best friend Dan ( Barry Pepper ) could do nothing to change his course , and only to respect his wishes to carry everything through when the time calls for it . And central to this story , is the relationship between Ben and Emily Posa ( Rosario Dawson ) , a woman who's dished out a death sentence that could happen at any time because of an impending heart failure . It is this story-arc that takes up the bulk of the screen time , and the other benefactors from Ben's magnanimous benevolence only became side shows , with 2 of them just lip service , which was a disappointment because they were relegated to copping out ( or the lack of screen opportunities ) . But it is this love story that could and yet couldn't be , that was achingly heart-wrenching to watch . At first I had dismissed this as yet another star-crossed lovers type of story that Fate had a hand in , but this relationship grows on you , and while it looked like an eventual 21 Grams , the chemistry between Dawson and Smith brought out the best in what could have become some really bad melodrama . I guess I always enjoy stories about sacrifices , and what more about the sacrifice that has to happen , as portrayed in the story , that makes it heartbreaking to bear witness to . Seven Pounds might turn away those looking for some fantastical , escapist storyline to take their minds off temporarily from current troubles , but for Will Smith fans , and those looking for something that doesn't choose to wince away from what it had set out to do , then this might be the film for you this New Year period . It might not have plenty to offer , but for powerful performances , then look no further than this piece .
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514,836 | 317,399 | 454,841 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : The Hills Have Eyes
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Hot on the heels of slasher flicks like Wolf Creek and Cry _ Wolf ( so many wolves ? ) this year is The Hills Have Eyes , a remake of Wes Craven's 1977 movie of the same title . Directed by Alexandre Aja , who brought us High Tension ( shown here uncut late last year ) , this remake is surprisingly quite good and bloody entertaining , and that's despite being behind the other releases as mentioned over the past 2 weeks . If you're already jaded by the wolves , grit your teeth and go for this one . Bloody satisfaction guaranteed . A word of caution , this movie isn't just plainly blood and gore . There are bits that were chopped off ( pardon the pun ) , either by the filmmakers to secure an R rating in the US , or done so by local censors . What works , is that somehow you actually give a damn for the characters / victims . Why ? Because they're family . And it could be yours . Unlike the teenage swingers in Creek , or rich frat kids in Cry _ Wolf , The Hills Have Eyes sets focus on a typical family - mom , dad , 3 kids , one of whom is already married to a telco salesman , and have a newborn baby . They're on a road trip ( very popular movie element hor ? ) and made a pit stop at a dinghy petrol kiosk ( doesn't it always ? ) , with a sly and suspicious looking pump attendant ( stereotypical , I know ) . They're directed to a short cut ( uh-oh , bad ) in the middle of the New Mexico desert on the way to California , and naturally , their vehicle encounters an accident - yes , in the middle of nowhere , to set the scene . So while the family bickers and decides upon their action plan , little do they know that the hills have eyes . They are being watched , and you're gleefully awaiting some action to happen . The prologue and opening credits will have prepared you for what's to come - grotesque humanoid creatures who are mutated by nuclear energy , with a thirst for violence and hunger to kill . However , don't ask too many whys or hows , just accept the fact that it is so . Without spoiling much , it's wicked . While on one hand , you're anticipating something to happen , by the time it does and the movie progresses , you'll be sucked into actually wanting the worse possible to happen , as a means of eye-for-an-eye , tooth-for-a-tooth , broken skulls and bullet wounds , the works . While the film might want to suggest something about the negativity of nuclear testing , it doesn't get bogged down by the suggestion and before you realize , it gets tossed out of the window in exchange for action . The cast , while some having more screen time than others ( you need the fodders to have the movie belong to the slasher genre ) , did a rather commendable job , despite the genre . You see genuine fear in their eyes , and the tone of their voice - they're really afraid . And you witness their progression from fear to the downright need for primal survival of the fittest . It's pretty neat to see the all too familiar setting up , the initial incident striking fear and confusion into their hearts , and the resolution to the final act , which is split into two different narratives . Somehow the strength is in how the situation develops , although it did get a little while to get there . Despite the cuts and having other lesser slasher flicks shoved down our throats the past weeks , if you have to watch something bloody good , The Hills Have Eyes will be my recommendation .
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515,197 | 317,399 | 454,848 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : Inside Man
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How do you plan and execute the perfect robbery ? Is there even such a thing as perfection in a heist ? There are many unknowns , and with hostages , you never know what kind of complications they'll give you . And what more , when the police are all over you in a matter of minutes ? Clive Owen plays Dalton Russell , who tells the audience right in the beginning of the usual questions of the whos and the hows . You know , that bit in the trailer where he almost brags about being able to perform the perfect robbery . He and his band of merry men , dressed as painters , storm into a Manhattan bank one day in broad daylight , to rob it . EXcept that this isn't no plain old by-the-book robbery . The methods used are pretty innovative , and we are left to question the motives of what they are doing . Denzel Washington plays hostage negotiator Detective Keith Frazier , brining him back to a good cop role after his award winning stint in Training Day . He's been on the side of hostage taker once in JOhnny Q , and here , he plays a good cop with an edgy suspect past , which despite his plea of innocence , still continues to haunt him . Despite putting on a paunch and looking almost unrecognizable here ( is it in to be fat for a role ? ) , Washington too provides a charismatic presence in great counterbalance to Owen's enigmatic screen presence , even though he had to do an almost Hugo-Weaving tribute by acting behind a mask . Completing the heavyweights of casting , is Jodie Foster , Christopher Plummer and Willem Dafoe . Plummer plays Arthur Case , the Chairman of the bank that Russell is holding up , and it seemed that he has a dark secret hidden inside the bank which he doesn't want revealed . Jodie Foster , as Madeline White the mysterious power-broker , gets employed to muscle her way into the situation between felon and cop , while Dafoe lends his muscle as a police captain , in a good person role for a change . Although the film consists of great performers as mentioned , there are limited scenes in which they share the screen together . But it really didn't matter that much , as the material given was riveting enough , and therefore making each moment they share , more treasured . You are left guessing most of the way as the cat and mouse game got underway , and when the finale is revealed , you can't help but share a smile , that it was yes , executed to plan , the way confident Russell wanted it to be . There is a gripe though , that in the local version , swear words were all being silenced over . Which was irritating as there were gaps in conversation which you have to fill in the blanks by reading lips . Even milder swear words like a-hole were censored blank . What gives ? There are PG films out there which has characters swearing , you know ? And there was one scene which involved a Sikh , that I felt was a tad insensitive . There are times when the movie lapses into prejudices , but maybe that made this movie a little grittier , and in tune with more realistic sentiments and environments . Watch out for that electronic game too , which I thought was a very subtle jab at the kind of games that are selling well in the market , with no regard to the effect on its targeted audience . The highlight of the movie , at least to me , was the opening credits scene , which contained pretty ordinary visuals , mundane even , but when somehow played out to the Hindi Song Chaiyya Chaiyya ( which was the opening song in the Shah Rukh Khan movie Dil Se ) , it added a raw energy factor to Inside Man , with visuals and music blending so perfectly . And it was played to its entirety in the opening , and ending credit sequence - where the characters and the performers name are given a final encore . It's a slick heist thriller , which doesn't conform to the notions of how a heist movie should be . It's the feel good factor at the end of the movie that makes this movie satisfying . This is perhaps the most accessible , and commercial of all Spike Lee Joint films . I'd watch it again , for its engaging politicking story , and for that opening credit sequence . I so love that track , I'm gonna plug it again : Chaiyya Chaiyya Bollywood Joint . Written by A . R . Rahman , Gulzar , Panjabi MC Performed by Sukhwinder Singh , Sapna Awasthi featuring Panjabi MCAwesome earworm , even though I don't understand most of what they're singing : P
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515,076 | 317,399 | 390,808 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : 36
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The opening in 36 has got to be one of the more arresting ( pun not intended ) starters in a movie I've watched in some time , especially if you're a fan of Euro-electronica , where a catchy tune paces the multiple action happening on screen . The French police is stumped by a gang of armed robbers whose fast and brutal methods leave no witnesses . Of course the politicians are angry and want immediate results in the capture of these criminals . The stakes are raised when a vacant seat in higher office is opened to the officer who manages to do so . Leo Vrinks is a decorated cop with questionable methods . Toeing the line that separates cops from thugs , his team of officers and himself are tasked to bring these criminals to justice . His rival , Denis Klein , also a celebrated cop , wants the case for himself , but unceremoniously gets his team and himself relegated to a support role in the sting operation . Naturally , unexpected things happen during the operation because of Denis ' callous behaviour , and lives on both sides are lost . But no , the show doesn't end there when the thugs are captured , as the rivalry between the men spill over and provides more than sufficient fuel for the second half of the movie . I guess it's the same at most offices , where promotion's at stake , the struggles and intense rivalry may get into the way of the greater good in getting the objective achieved . Methods are questioned , where morality and ethics are put into the spotlight - does the end really justify any means necessary ? Like memorable HK police thriller Infernal Affairs , it is the powerful relationship between the main characters that this drama explores and excels in , with excellent acting from Daniel Auteuil and Gerard Depardieu as the bitter men with ambiguous methods and morales . It's a relatively tight storyline , and you'll have to pay close attention to the subplots in order to be able to piece together how and why the ending was as presented . Highly recommended stuff .
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514,554 | 317,399 | 810,945 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : Live !
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As reality television become staple programming , we have contestants playing games around the world , or just doing so on an island . We have those that propel some into instant fame upon winning a singing competition , and audience participation is key if ratings are to rocket through the sky . Live ! allows the audience a little of behind the scenes action in a mockumentary that takes a look at how such programmes get conceived with always an eye looking at the ratings , and the other eye looking at potential revenue stream in the form of selling air time to advertisers . Eva Mendes , who also serves as executive producer , stars as Katy , a network station's programming manager out to look for the next big thing to save their flagging station ratings amongst the CBS and the NBCs . In one brainstorming session , the thought of Russian roulette got bounced around , and given the nature of the game - where one puts a loaded gun to the head and pulls the trigger - it borders on simple human decency , and who would want to allow someone getting killed live on air being put out by their station ? And there's where the mockumentary kicks into full gear for the first hour , where we follow Katy ( conveniently she has an indie film crew following her in a bid to make their own documentary ) around the office and engage in some heavy politicking and lobbying of her brainchild through departments such as marketing , sales , legal as represented by corporate counsel Don ( Andre Braugher ) and even to convince the network presidents herself . And it is indeed interesting as you see all the corporate backstabbing , back-biting , and elevator pitches get delivered with conviction to sell something as radical as this , with the stroking of egos constantly being proved to be effective . We also get to be chummy with the would be contestants , as we dig a little into their backgrounds as diverse as an extreme sports athlete , to a farmer struggling to keep his family afloat , from an actress wannabe , to a gay Latino looking for some self-respect . Naturally you expect some stereotyping here , but one thing common with everyone is , so long as you're holding a loaded gun to your head , all bets are off and only a pull of the trigger , if they survive , will decide if they get to stay alive and walk away with the prize money of US$5 million . Which makes you wonder , would you risk it all to do the same , for the same amount of money ? The last moments of the film provide that debut episode , and truth be told , it is rather interesting to watch , playing to our voyeuristic tendencies which make reality TV so popular these days . It's openly admitting to satisfying our blood lust , with death on screen for the masses , like old styled gladiatorial fights , or public executions where you deliberate attend just to see what you've come to see . Those unfamiliar with how live or game shows are produced , get a look behind the scenes as well in the coordination of technical expertise and manipulation to milk shots of the moment , for the goggle box audience . While this is fiction through and through , I wouldn't help but shudder if one day we do have such game shows being put live on the air , packaged as entertainment . Written and directed by Bill Guttentag ( who brought us the documentary Nanking ) , this film does seem rather plain sailing , until of course a shocker of a finale which you probably didn't see it coming , re-emphasizing of course , whether TV violence has a negative aspect to daily lives .
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514,856 | 317,399 | 481,536 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay
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For reasons unexplained , I did not watch Harold and Kumar in their quest to look for White Castle on the big screen , even though movies like these are right up my alley ( I need to destress from time to time , with what a friend of mine would describe movies like these as " cock shows " ) . However , I did catch the best bits ( heh ) of the original movie when I was waiting for things to happen on a film set , though technically I have still yet to watch it from start to end . With the sequel now being screened , I am so there already . Beginning directly where the first movie had left off , Harold Lee ( John Cho ) and Kumar Patel ( Karl Penn ) are now en route to Amsterdam , weed capital of the world , where they can indulge in their favourite drug and be high all the time . Secondary objective is of course Harold's quest to look for Maria ( Paula Garces ) , and on the way they bump into Vanessa ( Danneel Harris ) , Kumar's ex-girlfriend who introduced him to the world of marijuana . But with the idiotic duo , what you see in the trailer had to happen , and being accused as agents of North Korea and Al-Qaeda , they get sent to Guantanamo Bay where they soon bust out of . Like the first movie , we follow these two jokers from incident to incident , each playing like a stand alone comedy skit , as they try to evade capture from the Department of Homeland Security , and now with their new quest of looking up Vanessa , so that they can get her influential fiancé to get them off the hook , coupled with Kumar's own vendetta of disrupting the upcoming wedding proceedings . I was somewhat surprised that this movie had some semblance of a flimsy plot to follow , such that it's not mindless random episodes all the way ( such as throwing in the KKK out of nowhere ) . The jokes come from you at all angles - verbal , slapstick , and sometimes just plain irreverent . And for those who are anal retentive , you'd probably foam at the source material for most of the jokes , ranging from the homophobic to the racist , executed so sublimely , you'd probably feel guilty for laughing out loud at the funny bits . And what's a movie like this without the usual gratuitous shots of body parts , female and male , with genitalia on display without a tinge of embarrassment . What more , the camera lingers , especially when filmmakers Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg wanted to probably perpetuate their version of a happening bottomless party in your face . Yep , topless is overrated . But I guess what made this movie click , was that it doesn't hold back , and dared to slow things down by dipping into melodrama-romantic moments which will raise your goosebumps . Friendship between the two idiots get tested , broken ( momentararily ) and healed faster than you can smoke a joint , and Love , well , let's see if the square root of three will make you go " awww " ( some members of the audience actually did ! ) All in all , Harold and Kumar rocks ( Can't believe I'm actually saying that ) , and I guess it's time to hunt down a copy of the White Castle DVD to indulge unabashedly at their original escapade .
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515,056 | 317,399 | 462,064 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : A Wicked Tale
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I guess there are at least two sides to a fairy tale . On the surface , it's for the children to fantasize in the realm of the make believe , with magical creatures and powers that appeal to impart good morals and values . On a more mature level , there are layers where adults get to enact their own fantasies , and from seemingly innocent texts , there comes the darker themes that show their true colours , depending on how unconventional one's thoughts are when re-interpreting the same story . Stories like Alice in Wonderland will be a whole field day excursion , as would The Little Red Riding Hood . The Brothers Grimm's Little Red Riding Hood gets an updated treatment in Tzang Merwyn Tong's A Wicked Tale , and this was already done back in 2005 , before the likes of Hard Candy coming into the picture , in an exploration of power play . The girl here gets dressed in virginal white to represent her innocence , while yet doesn't do without the quintessential red hood , which hints of something more powerful and sinister perhaps in her discovery and experimentation , as suggested by her dalliance with Death through her proxy fish pets . If Beth ( Evelyn Maria Ng ) is the riding hood object of lust , then the hunter comes in the form of Louis Le Bon ( Johan Ydstrand ) , a charming long haired man spotting a gruff sexy voice who prey on innocence , and has a mind of perverse thoughts in marking his conquests , never mincing his deep dark intent as he explicit describes in innuendos his every move and desire . Added supporting roles include Catherine Sng as GrandMama , who added some spunk Into her character , rather than the meek , ailing senior citizen that was canon , and Wolf Danker as Uncle Charlie , the necessary woodcutter , who's also given a new spin . Tzang gets to play with plenty of different techniques in this 45 minute film , from puppetry in the opening credit sequence , to recreation of the look and feel of the silent film era through skipped frames and intertitles replacing dialogue , and colours or the lack thereof . In presenting the story , Tzang pushes some boundaries into the blood and gore ( which has been superseded by the likes of Kelvin Sng's Kichiro ) , infusing some cheesy B-grade horror and exploitative elements on purpose , thus giving a very raw and edgy feel to the entire film . It's filled with enough sexual perversion and at times , religious references , as it pushed boundaries of asking the perennial question , in the games people play where the mark and the player gets interchanged and blurred , as do the line between the hunter and its prey . But as a cautionary tale like Hard Candy , it again reminds everyone to be prepared for the unexpected when deciding to play with fire , which Is a good servant ( oohlala ) and a bad master ( then you'll get to face the music ) , that there's almost always something more than meets the eye . I suppose with each viewing you'll see something new in A Wicked Tale , and with each iteration , depending on the mood and viewpoint you want to adopt , the textured story clearly cements this as a cult classic to be and can be enjoyed by a larger audience .
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514,630 | 317,399 | 342,984 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : ( DVD ) City Sharks ( 2003 )
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When the movie premiered in 2003 , I wasn't interested in the film because it starred Nicholas Lee , whose character I abhorred in Under One Roof . It's nothing personal , but somehow felt that the movie won't be worth my time . How wrong was I , now watching the DVD and looking back . The production's pretty slick and professional looking , with an interesting story to tell - not anything sophisticated , but decently entertaining for a commercial film , which should have done better at the box office if not for audiences like me who didn't lend support back then . The movie tells the story of 3 orphans , and coincidentally of different races ( to highlight our multi-cultural society ? ) - Mike ( Nicholas Lee ) , Jeff ( Sheikh Haikel ) and Chief ( Hans Isaac ) . They're losers in life , until Mike chances upon a loanshark's little electronic black book of contacts , and launches into a mini-project with the others to pretend to be the debt collectors , going across the Causeway to reclaim ( illegally of course ) 1 Million Riggit to save the orphanage they grew up in . So it's essentially a road trip for this city boys to the kampungs of Malaysia , pretending to be loan sharks ( hence City Sharks ) , and while they go about their collection , they are chased by , check this - the original sharks from Singapore , gangsters in Malaysia for stepping into their turf , and a girlfriend who was dumped . It's an entertaining movie with a feel good factor , never mind the mild but frequent cursings and swearings . Built on a common theme of adversaries finding brotherhood amongst themselves , it's a simple setup which doesn't try to take itself too seriously , or try to be too sophisticated . There are enough quiet moments to complement set action pieces , and even then , they're usually played for laughs . While there were a number of female characters , the romance portions were found lacking . Between Sherry ( Corinne Adrienne ) and Mike , there was little chemistry , and between Samuel and Betty it was too artificial . But anyway the romance entanglement was never the main focus of the story , though I dug Michelle Saram's sado-masochist character called Deanna ( incidentally , in Sheikh Haikel's other movie Army Daze , his object of obsession was Deanna Yusoff ) who gets turned on with pain . I thought Nicholas Lee was pretty decent as one of the leading men , with his overacting which suited the movie and story just fine . Haikel was essentially playing a larger than life version of himself as an Afro-Rapper wannabe , while Hans Isaac completes the trio with his brooding angry demeanour . While there is chemistry amongst them , at times it was just a wee bit contrived , but watch the DVD extras where they really ham it up for the camera . The supporting casts were mainly drawn from familiar TV faces from both sides of the Causeway , with Koh Chieng Mun , Moses Lim , Marcus Chin , Eileen Wee , Keagan Kang ( a hoot with his faux pas Aussie accent ) , Lim Kay Tong , Afdlin Shauki and Zaibo lending their weight to complete the ensemble . While some were bit cameo roles , I thought that it provided some fun in watching them bring their characters to life with limited screen time . If you had watched S11 , you might recognize Kevin Murphy too in one of the scenes . But what really made the movie , is its array of songs , arranged by the talented Don Richmond , and with other contributions from local bands like The Observertory . To me , music enhances the emotions of certain scenes , and here , be it madcap montages , comedy or serious moments , the music is just top notch . You don't have many local films having their own published soundtrack , so this is one gem to look out for at music shops , if you can find it . Highly recommended , and my opinion was if it's done today , it would probably get a decent audience it deserves , probably even making a box office killing I reckon . The Code 3 DVD surprisingly contains a whole lot of extras , which makes it worthwhile to own , and makes it one of the better local DVDs out there . There are 3 theatrical trailers , a music video for the theme song Stellarblowout by Skrooloose and various deleted / extended scenes , coming from a first cut duration of about 2 . 5 hours . It also has a feature commentary by director Esan and film editor Bing Li , together with Sheik Haikel and Nicholas Lee , which is entertaining enough as they recount the set experiences and shared information on the making of . Deleted scenes - Mike and Jeff in the kitchen talking about collecting debts ( extended scene ) 3mins , Sherry and Fisherman ( Zaibo ) in truck ( extended scene ) 1 . 5mins , Sharks pick up Al ( extended scene ) 1 . 5mins , Sharks in seat covers ( deleted scene ) 1min , Sharks in trouble ( extended scene ) 1 . 5mins , and an alternate ending , which thank goodness wasn't used , because it's kinda choppy and draggy , and quite unbelievable too . There's also a " Behind the Scenes " segment ( 13mins 15s ) - showing the cast monkeying around the film set , of being " tupperware " , having the focus put on the cast in between shoots , and it sure looked hell lotta fun . While the characters in the movie might seem artificial in their interactions at times , you can't deny the chemistry on set , with their incessant crapping . Also included is a City Sharks Documentary " Heart of Darkness - the Making of a Comedy " ( 15mins 30s ) . A mockumentary done in a Survivor reality TV style with plenty of individual bitching sessions by cast and crew alike , as they recount ( fictional ) experiences like having insufficient film stock , and the cast going on a strike on the set . It plays like a mini short film in itself , and while it's a semi-hilarious documentation of actual events between the cast / crew from both sides of the causeway in this Malaysian-Singaporean joint production , it sure looked convincingly real .
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514,879 | 317,399 | 992,911 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : Flashpoint
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In his black leather jacket and oozing plenty of charisma , Donnie Yen's Inspector Ma Jun quite resembled his other character in SPL , which was also directed by Wilson Yip , because at one point Flashpoint was supposed to be an SPL sequel . But in any case , the character is slightly tweaked . Early in the movie , Ma Jun tells it straight to the camera that as a cop , his job is to apprehend criminals , and it's as simple as that . And the trailers would have you believe here's a man who's lightning quick with his punches , throws and kicks . However , you've got to wait until the hour mark for all that . For action junkies , your patience is severely tested , but the wait is well worth every minute you're put on hold . I've caught the trailer at this year's Hong Kong Filmart , and it was one that had action and more action , with nary a line of dialogue . But in the movie , much time is devoted to attempts in building characterization , until the story realizes it better give what the audiences are here for , to see Donnie Yen kick ass . Having teamed with Wilson Yip in earlier action productions like SPL and Dragon Tiger Gate , Donnie Yen returns as action choreographer for Flashpoint , and the cast adopts the fighting style called MMA - Mixed Martial Arts , which is something of a blend of various martial arts techniques , that audiences probably haven't seen before stylistically in close combat scenes . Flashpoint boasts some incredible action sequences with explosive hard hitting fight combinations , and the sole complaint I have is I can't get enough of it ! What more , as learnt from SPL having real martial arts exponents like Sammo Hung and Wu Jing fighting opposite himself , it made the sequences look more authentic , and the pace at which they can go at each other much more frantic . Collin Chou ( Seraph from the Matrix movies ) stars as one of the chief baddies , and watching the two awesome gladiators duke it out is nothing short of edge of your seat material - you'll feel their pain ! But as I mentioned , you'll have to be patient during the story's buildup . Writer Szeto Kam Yuen ( SPL , Exiled , Dog Eat Dog ) weaves in yet another undercover story into Flashpoint , with Louis Koo's Wilson as the mole within a gang of Vietnamese brothers Ja Ge ( Ray Lui , in an over the top impersonation of Tony Leung's Big D in Johnny To's Election ) , Tony ( Collin Chou ) and Tiger ( Xing Yu ) . A simple romance tale is worked into for Wilson with Fan Bing Bing as love interest Julie , but as expected , action movies seldom have much time devoted for love scenes . Without a doubt , Ma Jun as a character overshadows them all with his motivations and drive . His temper is as quick as his reflexes , and he doesn't tolerate bull from the top brass , which resulted in rather muted ( or negligible ) action for about three quarters of the movie because his behavior is reined in by order . And there is a scene though which will make you question his excessiveness , and wonder if his doggedness in pursuit and apprehension actually clouds his ethical and moral judgment . Flashpoint is still an awesome action movie when the time came for it to deliver the goods , highlighting that Hong Kong action films still have what it takes to innovate within the genre . Oh , and stay tuned during the end credit roll for scenes of outtakes , which shows plenty of training that the cast had to undergo to perfect their MMA techniques . Sure packs quite a punch in this compact 90 minute movie .
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515,057 | 317,399 | 1,206,572 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : 12 Lotus
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If amongst the montage of song and dance in 881 were I to pick a favourite , it will be " 12 Lotus " , though it was sung to a relatively upbeat tune . Here , 12 Lotus the song became the backbone in which the story unfolded upon , having its chapters make interludes in between scenes , though not always in consistent terms . Telling the story of Ah Hua the Pitiful Lotus ( played by both Mindee Ong and Liu Ling Ling for the different eras in a twenty year gap ) , it's a tragedy of sizable proportions about the hard life and times of a Getai singer , whose men in her life were all temporal , just like that in Jasmine Women , leaving her to fend for herself with her favorite comfort food in cream crackers , and a Goddess of Mercy statue as a security blanket . Incidentally , lead actor Qi Yu Wu was himself named Guan Yin in 881 , and his security blanket was a live chicken he carried around . There were a couple of plus points in this movie that benefited from its larger budget . Production values were clearly ramped up , and while 881 managed to get away with its knowingly non-existent crowds in its busy Getai scenes , here we have plenty of extras to jam the sessions . Costumes were less glitzy this time around , but nonetheless more gaudy . Songs too seemed to have extra oomph in them , and one performance had the screening hall's bass throbbing and pulsating non-stop . But you don't really get a host of songs featured here , which would really have been like a repeat of 881 , although this time there were newer faces from the Getai scene who were given supporting roles , and a cinematic platform to showcase what they can do to a new audience . Undoubtedly , Liu Ling Ling's fan base and profile grew with her debut cinematic outing in Royston Tan's earlier movie , but while essentially playing a larger than life version of herself in 881 , here she gets to challenge herself in a more dramatic role . In fact , I would say that this movie opened a lot of doors for the cast involved , and had everyone get out of their comfort zones . For starters , Liu's enigmatic presence throughout 881 lifted many portions of that movie , and I thought 12 Lotus was missing her charismatic screen presence for the 1st half , so fans have to patiently wait for her appearance to continue the story of Ah Hua . And even then , it's to continue the drudgery of a fallen idol , which can get heavy on the emotions , in total opposites to her Getai persona , as well as her previous roles . But that's not to say that Mindee Ong was a pushover in the earlier scenes . Given its split structure with a tragic pivot , I thought it was rather wry that there was a scene which the trailer included that involved a splashing of paint onto her during a performance , which of course brought back memories of an actual sabotage attack on her during the promotional tour of 881 last year . But Mindee again proved to have that spark and spunk to pull off Ah Hua's role , one who is willing to sacrifice a lot for the men in her life , but unfortunately , I think one mountain can't have two tigers , so she got to anchor the role in the first half , before Liu Ling Ling's taking over in the second . While Liu had two roles to play in 881 , and Qi Yu Wu didn't even get a speaking line then , it looks like payback time when Royston had Qi take on two relatively different roles here , and coupled it with song , dance , action and enough scenes to emote and show his acting chops - everything that he had missed out on . Qi can already be considered a veteran actor in the feature films already , having a number of starring roles under his belt with that in The Leap Years , 881 and The Home Song Stories , with no signs of stopping as he will soon add Painted Skin to his filmography . In jest , i had even thought 12 Lotus could have been a proper Money No Enough 2 , given almost every character here seemed to have money problems , or because of money being the perennial root of all evil , being a pretext of a lot of trouble to come . There's even a hilarious song and dance sequence which includes some very light jabbing at the policies of the authorities , but don't have me mistaken , this film is not a comedy , and even its laughable moments have a tinge of background melancholy and sadness to it , given the predicament of its characters . Supporting and guest roles would probably be crowd favourites . Huang Yiliang whom we have seen take on a cinematic role in Jack Neo's I Not Stupid 2 , lends a hand here as the compulsive gambling dad of Ah Hua , dispensing advice that was befallen on deaf years . Fans of 881 will also be glad to know that Yeo Yann Yann does return for an extremely small role here , just to complete the casting loop , while songstress Stefanie Sun gets a nice movie debut , and even David Gan seemed game to go back to basics . Hao Hao gets to play the grown up Astroboy , trusted friend of Ah Hua , but it did seem that majority of his dialogue seemed to have been dubbed over in Mandarin to avoid the risk of having the movie not clear the censors for its predominantly Hokkien dialect dialogue . Royston Tan's 12 Lotus is probably his more mature film to date , being able to balance both sensitive drama with formula and material to engage the general local movie-going audience . Sure , 881 was more fun on the whole , but 12 Lotus had a lot more pathos going for it , and that's exactly where this movie shines , learning from 881 and not indulging and allowing the melodramatic moments to go overboard .
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514,917 | 317,399 | 443,274 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : Vantage Point
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First off , a warning . This film is not told in your standard narrative style of having the story told from start to end . I can't figure out why teenagers were chuckling at it , because it's one of the many ways to keep you in suspense as the details slowly get pieced together , with each part of the puzzle from the vantage point of 8 individuals being joined at one point or another , without which there wouldn't be any whodunnit element , and too many jump cuts from one POV to the other in one single timeline . So there's nothing really amusing about it . That said , you would've gathered from the trailer that this is about an assassination attempt on the life of US President Ashton , played by William Hurt , and the pieces of evidence that different characters have depending on their points of view - innocent bystander , television crew , perpetrators and of course , the US Secret Service , led by Dennis Quaid's Thomas Barnes and Matthew Fox's Kent Taylor . I've always maintained Dennis Quaid as your alternative to Harrison Ford , and here , he takes on a Clint Eastwood like role in being part of the President's detail who has taken a bullet for him , and is now back on active duty . But while he's given top billing in the movie , the movie's divided quite evenly amongst the rest of the cast , save for perhaps Sigourney Weaver as a television news producer . While each individual thread contributed to enriching the story as a whole , I thought that Forest Whitaker's POV was one of the weakest , and brings back memories of Cloverfield's designated cameraman role in wanting to capture the " moment " for all and sundry to see . It also dwelled a bit on American arrogance , where if the movie is to be believed , then the Secret Service has quite a lot of clout to be blazing their guns opening fire amongst sections of crowds , so long as the big man is down - whatever it takes to bring in / take down those whom they believe are involved in the assassination . What I had wanted to see from the suggestion of the trailer was that car chase scene where Quaid's car got smashed from the side , and no doubt it's been a while since I've seen an exhilarating chase sequence from an action movie of late . Kudos to the stunt team here in having 2 mid-sized saloons weave through crowded streets of vehicles and people , and totally let it rip into utter mayhem . One thing's for sure though , that the " bad guys " aren't always as dumb as we'd like them to be . Case in point already through recent incidents at home , and underestimating , lulling into complacency and predictability are three of the worst enemies any protective detail could succumb toward . Of course the screenwriters here have it all planned out to make everyone look smart , and at the end of the day , in crafting a hero out of the situation . But that's just movie-land . Recommended for action movie junkies to tide through the temporary dearth these days , and for that chase sequence which was worth every minute of it .
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514,453 | 317,399 | 484,090 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : Alone
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Thai writer-directors Banjong Pisanthanakun and Parkpoom Wongpoom have shot to prominence in the horror genre with their debut movie Shutter , which I had regrettably missed its theatrical run here , but more than made up for it by being the proud owner of the ( now autographed ) DVD . In my opinion , having mustered up enough courage to sit through horror movies now ( and find them really enjoyable , at times comedic though ) , I've shuddered at some of this genre's movies which keep on harping on the same thing , and got dumbed down by weak execution . Not Shutter , and definitely not Alone . If you think Banjong and Parkpoom are one hit wonders with their debut movie , then Alone will prove you wrong . Despite having counted on the usual lighting and shadow techniques , quick cut surprises and scares , and the pristine , well-crafted sound effects , it demonstrated that as long as you deliver the product with great technical skill and respect for the medium , it'll still be as enjoyable as watching it all for the very first time . Having a storyline which engages helps as well , and here the duo still seemed to have a thing or two for old photographs , this time showing the subject material of siamese twins , although not as grotesque as those shown in the Alone trailers . While the storyline isn't really that original , with the surviving siamese twin having to encounter the supernatural return of her deceased other , and if you look closely enough there are adequate hints of the revelatory twist to come , what mattered was how the subject again was being introduced and crafted , how tension and suspense were met out , and how easy it is to spook audiences when all the ingredients turn out right . Despite having some premise set up for the obvious , I was still taken aback at one of the scenes , and it is this constant sense of what's coming , and the expected delivery , which will easily make this a successful spook film for the mass audience . The duo had got the male heartthrob Ananda Everingham lead in their previous movie , and now the opportunity is given to the female gender - the beautiful and very photogenic Masha Wattanapanich , who plays the siamese twins Pim and Ploy . Starring opposite them in a Natthaweeranuch Thongmee kinda role , is Vittaya Wasukraipaisan as Wee , Pim's boyfriend . As Pim's mother ( Ratchanoo Bunchootwong ) is suddenly taken ill back in Thailand , the duo have to leave their careers in Korea , and journey back to the homeland , where the unexpected starts to happen . Pim's encounters with who she presumes is Ploy led to Wee thinking that she needs psychiatric help , but slowly , he too gets drawn into the web of supernatural intrigue . And in all earnestness , I'd say Masha had nailed her role to a fitting T . Given that Pim and Ploy's characters are key to the movie , she managed to bring out the vast differences in the character of the two sisters ( of course the teenage actresses who played the younger versions also helped loads ) . In shedding light onto the ongoing mystery , the expected blast from the past recollection and flashback helped provide a certain richness to the entire backstory for all the characters , and in doing so , played on a common theme , one that at times I like to ponder upon - which I cannot elaborate further other than saying , is ignorance sometimes bliss , and can you live a lie ? Alone is excellent stuff , even though the horrific moments might come few and far between , and there possibly was a sub-genre shift in the last 10 minutes or so . Nonetheless its numerous strengths easily outweigh the minute weaknesses , and in having delivered a superbly crafted tried-and-tested story , this could easily be a hit at the box office . Recommended for all you people out there who are itching for a good scare !
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514,443 | 317,399 | 1,043,451 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : Delhi 6
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Abhishek Bachchan's character Roshan made a remark relatively early in the movie that made me laugh out loud . While watching a stage play , and not totally well versed in the history nor story , he commented that it was the one about a " golden deer " , and to a certain extent , it was true , but of course totally taken out of context . It reminded me of a personal anecdote many years ago , where a Caucasian couple was standing next to me and watching a lion dance performance . Not knowing what they were , the wife asked the husband , who proudly replied " They're dogs , but they're good dogs ! " . I was chuckling too hard inside to want to enlighten them . And personal stories of life is what Delhi 6 contains , being reportedly somewhat semi - autobiographical of director-co-writer Rakesh Omprakash Mehra's growing up years in Delhi . The film is set against the backdrop of Old Delhi with the postal code of 110006 , hence the title , and for the wide-eyed boy like me who has never been to India ( yet ) , it's quite an eye opener that the film captures plenty of the sights , sounds , food and you can imagine the smells , as seen through the eyes of Abhishek's Roshan . An American citizen , he volunteers to accompany his aged grandmother ( Waheeda Rehman ) back to her hometown in Delhi 6 out of duty and curiosity as to hie ancestry , and for the first half , he's floored by plenty of new experiences formed from interaction with his extended family and friends of his parents and grandparents . From starting out wondering why his grandmother would want to pass away in Delhi 6 , he soon realizes that it's the community spirit that is so strong within the town , that he too fell head over heels with it . And of course , getting to know the neighbouring beauty Bittu ( Sonam Kapoor ) helped too , even though it got off the wrong footing to begin with . This is Rakesh Omprakash Mehra's ode to Old Delhi , filled with plenty of montage , with special effects no less , squeezing all things memorable that he had to say and pay homage to , on all things quirky like the community stage plays , superstition and rites , and down to the negatives like the rampant corruption of those in uniform , as well as the inane media news reporting and the caste issue , as seen through the eyes of an NRI - Non Resident Indian . While the first half may be more touristy in spirit , with the filmmakers opting to showcase plenty of romanticized shots of streets and everyday life courtesy of Roshan's Motorola mobile phone , the tone of the film got more serious after the intermission , exploring base feelings , primal instincts and intolerant mob mentality coupled with sectarian violence . From the onset there's a kind of supernatural / mystery feel to the narrative with the strange hypothesis and theories of a " Black Monkey " being in the midst of and terrorizing residents , and surprisingly I actually appreciated how this angle was eventually treated and wrapped . Sonam Kapoor had her debut in the feature Saawariya which I had enjoyed but unfortunately many didn't and the film tanked at the box office . While Saawariya co-star Ranbir Kapoor had already gone on to make his second film Bachna Ae Haseeno released last year , Delhi 6 marks the second film for Sonam , and I felt that while the role here didn't give her many opportunities to shine , given that it's the usual small town girl with big dreams , and very much more modern than the culture and tradition she is brought up in , again she lights up the screen with plenty of genuine vivaciousness that it actually became quite infectious for you not to fall in love with the character . Like the pet dove , her Bittu too has her wings clipped and tied by the father , preventing her from soaring to fulfill her dreams of becoming an Indian Idol . John Woo would've wondered why he didn't think of a dove-inspired dance ! While Sonam Kapoor was the first choice as the lead actress , surprisingly the lead actor role was bounced around and rejected by many , before Abhishek Bachchan gave the nod . I thought he brought out the role of Roshan quite convincingly , and his ability to single - handedly journey the viewer and navigate the new land was never doubted , bringing his big town tendencies to a small town he doesn't quite understand . And as bonus , no prizes for who was featured as an additional lending of gravitas to the film . I particularly liked how the film inserted many plot devices and elements which were addressed and closed for the most parts , albeit some being done in quite an abrupt manner , such as how the grandmother's intent in the first half got forgotten immediately after the intermission . It did feel quite rushed toward the finale , but all is forgiven for the presence of A . R . Rahman's music . Again he provides some majestic tunes to highlight the key moments in the film , and while I had enjoyed every single one of it , one that I truly liked best was Makahali , which in the film was the name of the clipped dove . It had this really catchy tune that sticks , and picturized very effectively in the film , bringing out emotions of the moment wonderfully . Delhi 6 preaches ( yes it did feel that way , for the lack of time and very obvious ranting in the last act ) about community , how as one people standing united with love for one another , that despite the frequent chaos , no obstacle cannot be overcome . But this balance is ever fragile , and it takes so little of a catalyst of fearing the unknown and unfounded superstition and suspicion to break it all down for the worst . It's a lesson for all of us , to open our minds and not fall prey to negative emotions , especially those that cause more harm to the greater good .
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515,100 | 317,399 | 140,352 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : ( DVD ) The Insider ( 1999 )
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Directed by Michael Mann , The Insider belonged to the category of movies with a number of nominations for an Academy Award , but won none . Based on a true story ( of course with some dramatic license taken ) involving the CBS hit television documentary series 60 Minutes , this is a rare insight into the time when the acclaimed series faltered in its editorial stand . WIth whistle-blowing having the local spotlight in recent months , no thanks to the NKF fiasco , this movie tells the tale of integrity in investigative journalism , and how two men rose to overcome personal challenges , to put out a story with damning evidence against the tobacco industry . Russell Crowe plays Dr Jeffrey Wigand , an R & D vice president at Brown & WIlliamson , recently fired for reasons unknown . As he holds an important role in the company , his severance package requires him , and I suppose like all leadership positions in Fortune 500 companies do , to sign a confidentiality agreement . However , he's holding onto something big that could damage the industry , and with these companies , having their reputations and industry survival put on the line , is never cowering to non-conformists . Herein lies the dilemma about moral obligation - if you're privy to industry information that is sensitive to the company , yet in the public's eye can help save lives , and put things into perspective , would you go public with the information ? Wigand was undecided , but hearsay of horror stories , and being compelled to believe that he and his family were being watched , and threatened , he made up his mind that enough was enough , and did what a man would have done , even though it was against his wife's wishes , and didn't the guarantee safety of his family . Besides Wigand , the other protagonist is Lowell Bergman ( Al Pacino ) , who is a producer at the famed 60 Minutes . Fighting to get Wigand's story told , he too runs into opposition from all angles , including internal ones at CBS News . To survive , he had to rely on personal wit and contact to establish and swing things around in his favour , even resorting to giving unauthorized scoops into the inside happenings at 60 Minutes when they decided to air an abridged version of the story . The movie raises a number of interesting questions about the wheelings and dealings of the supposedly free press in the USA , and how when you're under media scrutiny , every little dirty detail you have hidden about your past , will be brought up and blown out of proportion . Grim reminder , but true . The acting by the two leads will keep you riveted as you watch the entire proceedings unfold , until Massive Attack's Safe From Harm ( just the remixed instrumental ) closes the curtain . Code 1 DVD contains the theatrical trailer , a 7min production making-of featurette where you'll see the real Lowell Bergman and Dr Jeffrey Wigand , and a relatively useless Inside A Scene segment where you'll see a partial notes to the actors , script , and the actual scene again , how it played out according to paper .
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515,431 | 317,399 | 495,060 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : Abduction : The Megumi Yokata Story
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In 1977 , Megumi Yokota vanished without a trace . For 20 years her family had tried to search for an answer , but found nothing , until it was revealed that she was amongst those who were abducted by North Korean spies . The screening today opened with a video address dated in August 2007 by her parents . In it , they shared their experience in dealing with the shock , their efforts , and of course , their steely resolve in hoping that their daughter will be returned to them one day . Containing an ode to Megumi , it was a relatively short video address , but one which I thought summarized the entire movie succinctly . It's an understatement to say that kidnapping is terrible , for both the victim and the parents . But one done without a ransom provided , leaves little clues to the parents , and here , sparked off intense sorrow that I'm sure any parent can identify with - the love and effort in raising a child , now so suddenly taken away with you , with zero trace . There's absolutely nothing to fall back on - no motive , no eyewitnesses , no prior abnormal behaviour noticed , nothing . This documentary charts the 30 years of the time of the abduction until now . It tells of the journey and struggles of Megumi's parents , but provides as a launchpad , an introduction into a mystery unravelled . While the act of kidnapping itself might seem one-off and random , but the putting together of little facts gathered throughout Japan by investigative journalists provided the bigger picture , and ultimately , the ability to point a finger , suggest motives , and seek closure . But closure is something not easy to come by . For those who have been following press reports in recent years , you might have read a bit about the incidents starting from Japan's ex-Prime Minister Koizumi's historic visit to North Korea , and the release of some of the abductees in return for food and medical aid . Diplomacy seemed to be the best , and the only course , for Japan to engage North Korea . North Korea has shown that it doesn't negotiate easily , and it tends to flip flop around given its poor track record and ambiguous and conflicting , unconvincing evidences . Abduction managed to piece together a compelling narrative , and at some times , horrifying too , at how random and perhaps senseless these acts are . But it does suggest some reasons why these Japanese were abducted , and mostly for espionage and training reasons , which seemed highly plausible . What was suspect though , and also not probed in depth , was interviews with the returned abductees . I thought that given it managed to talk to a North Korean defector , it would also be able to get those folks to open up . But perhaps they do not want to talk about their ordeal , or that it's classified information for confidential debriefing only , or like they mentioned , to ensure the safety of those still held by NOrth Korea , one will never know . On a more personal scale , it charts the emotional turmoil and immense efforts by Megumi's parents to champion for the return of their daughter . Red herring , doctored evidence , and even something that should provide the most compelling evidence by far were all rebutted . It's understandable , and the documentary seemed to support and debunk whatever evidence that turns up . There's nothing like parents love , and this film captured all that . 30 years of hope and continued fighting for the truth shows all that . And it is their personal wish that these atrocities are made known to as many people as possible .
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514,934 | 317,399 | 406,816 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : The Guardian
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There are many , many films out there about various uniformed folk . The police and fire department probably get represented a fair bit in movies , ranging from heroic stories , to tragedies , and some even featuring them in bad light . In my opinion , first movies should always be sort of a tribute story to the boys and girls in uniform , before adding some flavour in subsequent films with more sophisticated stories that can even venture into putting some characters in negative light . Think Backdraft , where you have the good and the bad apples from the fire department . Though on the other hand , first movies can also be hampered by this approach to the storyline , for its emphasis on the introduction of the profession's job scope , in keeping things stuck to a formula , and by having characters no less than heroic . The Guardian , taking on the formulaic approach as a first film featuring the US Coast Guard in recent times , definitely comes with a tinge of familiarity in storyline . The Japanese has already had their tribute to their equivalent of the uniformed group in the Umizaru series ( its second movie being shown here as well ) , and if you combine that with Hollywood's Top Gun ( itself a heroic tribute movie of sorts to the US Navy Pilots ) , you have this movie . In fact , the beginning and end structure is almost similar , with Kodiak , Alaska bookending the movie like what the Indian Ocean did for Top Gun , and both scenes being actual on-the-job action sequences . Having most of its scenes in a training school , and recognizable Top-Gun-ish moments , may make some wince of deja vu , but as I already mentioned , it's formula . This movie's focus is on the US Coast Guard , in particular , a select group of highly trained men and women who are the Rescue Swimmers , the folks who actually take the dive from the choppers into the ocean , to approach ships in distress to coordinate the rescue missions . It's a daily risk to their lives , but their mission , their calling , is in putting the lives of others ahead of theirs . Naturally , being the best amongst the best , does make one appear to be cocky . Ben Randall ( Kevin Costner ) is a highly decorated and dedicated rescue swimmer , having set records and being the stuff of legends with his rescue exploits . However , records are nothing , and the job is not to break records but is actually towards the noble cause of saving lives . This , is what rookie Jake Fischer ( Ashton Kutcher ) has to learn , if he is to survive the course , now being taught by Randall . Naturally , the saying of one mountain's inability to house two tigers ring true , as both men , for personal reasons , rub each other the wrong way . The stern instructor versus the proud rookie , with the former having to see a lot of qualities in the latter , with the potential to exceed his expectations , if nurtured the right way . Randall's unorthodox training methods also raises eyebrows , but to his detractors , his methods are to bridge classroom theories and safe practical sessions , with the real thing . Having to learn from the best in the business always is difficult , and underscores the differences in personalities between Randall and Fischer , one already the best , the other wanting to be , and beat the best . However , both men soon find out that they have a lot more in common , in their seeking of redemption . The movie's well paced , with action , romance , noisy training sessions and quiet moments achieving a rare balance of screen time . Again sticking to formula , having relationships that don't really work out , are hallmarks of partners who cannot endure their partner's long absence given the innate preference to answer the never-ending call of duty . Sela Ward and Melissa Sagemiller play the romantic interests Helen Randall and Emily Thomas , adding some female presence to a movie full of testosterone set in water . The soundtrack is also top notch , with Bryan Adams , yet again contributing a song - Never Let Go , to a Costner movie . I've been a Kevin Costner fan since young , having first watched him in the cowboy movie Silverado . I sat through 3 of his three hour long movies in the theatres - his multi-award winning Dances With Wolves , Oliver Stone's JFK , and Lawrence Kasdan's Wyatt Earp . I've enjoyed his action movies like Robin Hood : Prince of Thieves , and even the classic The Untouchables . This movie will mark his attempt to return as a leading man , given softer appearances in Rumor Has It and The Upside of Anger . Ashton Kutcher might be better known for his mad antics in the television series Punk'd , but here , he ditches madcap humour for some serious drama as a Ray-Ban Cruise clone , the record breaking rookie from high school . My first Kutcher movie happened to be The Butterfly Effect , and I thought he brought some of the edginess from that role over here . Despite being a formula movie , I'd recommend it for being one of those rare heroic movies that come out from Hollywood , paying tribute to the uniformed group it's based on . Stay tuned during the end credits for some breathtakingly beautiful scenic helicopter fly-by scenes and historical photographs of the advent of the US Coast Guard , played along to songs from the soundtrack . " Run Me In The Dirt " is fast becoming one of my favourite tunes . " So Others May Live "
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515,351 | 317,399 | 804,522 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : Rendition
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Think of it as an extreme form of detention without trial . Without commenting and taking a side on the US Foreign Policy , the process of Extraordinary Rendition involves taking persons suspected of terrorist activities to a foreign country , an opposite to an extradition if you wish , to a place where torture is not a crime but a means to illicit information . Instead of staining your soil with blood of potentially innocent parties , you do so on foreign land where such tactics are accepted interrogation techniques . Naturally , given the severity of the tactics and attempts at breaking down a person , sometimes you would get what you want once you pass the resistance , or get nothing , or worst of all , get a confession just because the mind has been broken to the point that the subject will agree to whatever you say . It's an ugly process , and what better way to do it when you're the champion human rights , giving the nod to use whatever means necessary in the name of protecting more lives , in an age where information is key to the battle against terror , and doing so in a country where probably the rights record is questionable . Rendition is this year's Syriana , though in the run up to the new year we do have a number of political thriller contenders to take that crown , with Rendition first of all , followed by the Robert Redford movie Lions for Lambs , starring Tom Cruise and Meryl Streep ( again , though now on the other side of the fence ) , and The Kingdom with Jamie Foxx and Jennifer Garner , though this one would probably turn out to be more action driven . Directed by Gavin Hood , who did Tsotsi and will be helming the new Wolverine spin off , Rendition is a decent thriller with a top notch cast , in a narrative that has been proved quite popular these days - the split , which provides for some ample differential perspectives to be presented through an ensemble cast . Anwar El-Ibrahimi ( Omar Metwally ) , a chemical engineer , gets renditioned en route to going home under the orders of CIA top brass Corrine Whitman ( Meryl Streep ) . At a detention facility outside the US , Jake Gyllenhaal's CIA analyst Douglas Freeman ( oh so prophetic ) embarks on his very first interrogation session , no doubt being thrust into a position that he didn't sign up for . Back home , a very pregnant Reese Whitherspoon searches frantically for answers to her husband's disappearance , and sought after an ex-flame Alan Smith's ( Peter Sarsgaard ) assistance , since he's working for Senator Hawkins ( Alan Arkin ) . Throw in J . K . Sinmmons , a terrorist plot investigation and a budding forbidden love story between Fatima ( Zineb Oukach ) and Khalid ( Moa Khouas ) , you have quite a bit going on in a busy picture . Given a number of casts , locations , timelines and the likes , Rendition wasn't confusing at all , and it plays out with deft handling of the material , never quick to judge , presenting ideas and thoughts from both sides of the equation . Every character has their own agenda , and the unveiling of this agenda engages enough not to bore nor to confuse you . And the best part of it all is how , very truly , they bow down to self-preservation in different forms , and ultimately , in various lose-lose situations unfortunately . It kept you guessing as well - did he or didn't he , and constantly played with your mind as to whether Anwar deserved what he's getting . It utilized one extremely smart sleight of hand which I didn't see coming until it's too late ( so there goes the credit ) , though it did succumb to the usual stereotyping of terrorist militants , and without spending much time in depth to explore their motivations . Perhaps it didn't find a need to , given so many movies out there already touching base on this issue ( Paradise Now , Day Night Day Night , Syriana even ) . While it turned out to be rather one-dimensional ( personal tragedy to strapping of bombs to become a suicide bomber ) , I felt Rendition did right in not providing any saccharine sweet ending , that this fight against negative , destructive ideology , isn't something that can be addressed in a two hour movie , and I'm glad it steered clear such fairy tale implausibilities . What we have instead is a well crafted tale that sets its gun sights on the issue of Rendition , and probably capable enough to spark discussion once the lights come on , on which camp you belong to - do you support inflicting severe pain in interrogation ? Yes or No ? This is the quintessential question of our time . Yes or No ? ( OK , I'm already geared for Lions for Lambs ) !
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515,527 | 317,399 | 445,396 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : ( SIFF ) The President's Last Bang
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I've always enjoyed films which are based on historical / political events , even though they have a fictional element thrown in to spice things up . Films like Oliver Stone's controversial JFK , or Roger Donaldson's Thirteen Days ( hmm . . both starred Kevin Costner ) , are always in my list as definite must watch . Not that they are accurate , but at least they provide some kind of ground work from which you can build your research upon ( and therefore being able to verify its accuracy somewhat ) . The first shot of this movie suggested a bang of a different kind . For a short while anyway , with its topless scenes . Anyway it was used to suggest the philandering , womanizing ways of ex-South Korean President Park Chun-hee , where agents of South Korea's CIA equivalent ( KCIA ) get the unglamorous job of seeking out starlets for the President's company . The movie paints the dictator Park in an unfavorable light . with his corrupt ways and highlights the last day of his life , leading to his assassination by KCIA director Kim during a routine dinner . I liked the dinner scene , where the table of top government officials - President Park , his fat slob of an arrogant chief bodyguard Cha ( who refuses to carry a weapon ) , scheming Chief Secretary Yang , all having opposing views with Kim . They drink and make merry , insulting foreign politicians like the Philippines ' and the US ' ( heh , surely I'd like to listen in on what their opinions of other countries ' political leaders are really like ) . You can read Kim's frustrations with the regime , and takes it upon himself to do something before the night is up . Roping in a few good man , like Chief Agent Ju , and Agent Colonel Min , they plot to take severe action that will change the course of their history , whether or not they succeed . And that's where the tension and pace starts to pick up , with men making split-second decisions to make choices and follow their loyalties , and where the movie unfolds as a stylish , violent , and extremely bloody actioner set to cool beats of music . There are a number of scenes which put a smile on my face , especially when you realize the similarities amongst various issues . Like when the top brass of the military comes driving into Army HQ in civvies and in a civilian car , the lowly guard at the guard house fail to recognize him and start to make things really difficult during identity verification ( respecting the rank and not the person ) , and for all the " wayang " in camps , there is absolutely insufficient ammo ( or none at all ) to load weapons to stage a military arrest . And there are the clueless " chao keng " small fry agents who are caught up in the entire situation without knowing the big picture as well - isn't this quite typical ? Red tape and bureaucracy , and the incompetence of most MPs in deciding the next course of action , also goes to show how ill prepared the cabinet is when faced with emergencies of such nature . The reliance on one man , and the over-confidence that no matter of this nature could happen , helped to provide Kim and his men with buying of some time to decide on their own next steps . The sad part being while they know who they must kill , they too are ill-prepared as they have not crystallized plans for the aftermath . The ending's pretty abrupt with narration giving you the lowdowns on what happened to the men involved in the assassination . However , the execution ( pardon the pun ) and delivery of the movie , makes this one heck of a suspenseful , tightly paced movie , with some comedy sprinkled in to lighten up the gloom . Recommended stuff .
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514,876 | 317,399 | 492,931 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : The 11th Hour
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I guess we can attest that the local weather of late has gone bonkers . More often than note , we have incredibly hot and humid weather with bright sunshine one half of the day , before the skies turn grey and pours heavily on us . We've seen even more occurrences of water spouts emerging just off our shore , and we've done the boogie when neighbouring countries suffer jolts in the earth , from which we will feel tremors enough for us to abandon our high rise buildings . While we're relatively buffered from direct adverse weather effects , not a day goes by without reading or knowing about strange weather phenomenon from around the world . The Earth is dying , and nature is taking its revenge on us for plundering her lands and exploiting her resources in a wasteful manner . The signs are out there , but we'd rather be oblivious to them . And Al Gore , after his attempt to ascend the White House , has gone back to his pet subject , and evangelized about saving the earth through his very slick package , which was given a cinematic life by Davis Guggenheim with An Inconvenient Truth . A call to action , I don't deny that I've started to pay a little more attention to it , and though my effort can be considered minuscule , I suppose it's but a start . Leonardo DiCaprio lends his star power to The 11th Hour , which he produced and narrates , but unlike Al Gore who can be considered a subject matter expert in his own right , given his years of devotion to this topic , DiCaprio realizes his deficiency in this area , and smartly takes a backseat by just narrating a very small portion of the movie , leaving most of the talk to true experts who can properly articulate and appeal to our common senses . In that respect , The 11th Hour provided a much more diverse perspective of the entire situation , from the micro to the much bigger picture of the entire ecosystem , and the various views , philosophies and schools of thought . Arguments come fast and furious , with content ranging from discussions of fossil fuels , global warming , an interesting articulation of present and ancient power sources , and the astonishing rate of our population boom vis-a-vis the ability of the planet to sustain life , not just ours , but every other species on the planet which will depend on our ( mis ) management of common resource . The 11th hour contains a very compelling look , not just at the environment as a standalone , but turns the spotlight on us as its inhabitants as well . We get bombarded from all directions with opinions , and statements of an impending apocalypse of our own doing , and I assure you if you're not frightened by the Revelation , I don't know what will . It's not just slick Keynote presentation which Gore's material is utilizing to bring the message across ( and a very effective one I might add ) , and we also get the usual stock videos of hurricanes and well referenced clips of the melting polar caps . It's unfair to compare Inconvenient Truth to 11th Hour , as both have used different styles to bring across the same message - that the fate of the world , and of course , our survival as a species , is very much dependent on what we do now to effect a change . The Earth is renewable and can self-heal given an immense amount of time , but we have but one chance to make things right , for ourselves . But before you think of this documentary as just being another harbinger of doom and gloom , The 11th Hour does end off on a very hopeful note , just like how An Inconvenient Truth did . Here , it focused on renewable and recyclabl e methodologies which we might have already come across , albeit in a small , niche way yet to convince mega corporations to adopt . Perhaps with time , when feasibility is demonstrated , they would , and that's when we need to wean ourselves off the reliance of oil , which are hitting record prices per barrel , and arguably the cause of unnecessary war . The new building designs look awesome , especially with the incorporation of green technologies , adopted no less from the learning of how organisms operate . Think of it as adopting the best practices from species and the natural environment , and fusing it with our modern day technology and designs . The 11th Hour is a must watch , not only for enlightenment purposes , but rather for a call to action once the lights come on . Again we need to be reminded on how much we can do , and to actually do it . Last year we listened to An Inconvenient Truth , and now , The 11th Hour brings forth that sense of urgency to do much more .
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514,521 | 317,399 | 468,704 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : Daisy
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Flowers ! If it's one thing you'll take away from this movie , it's gonna be the flowers . They feature so prominently and are used as plot devices , you'll become an expert in identifying with daisies and black tulips by the time the movie ends . Set in Amsterdam , Daisy tells the frustrating love triangle story between 1 girl and the 2 men in her life . One a professional hit-man eking out a living , the other an Interpol agent . Featuring a Pan-Asian cast ( Korean , Hong Kong ) and crew ( director Andrew Lau from Hong Kong , writer from Korea , and a Thai post production team ) , I could imagine the headaches in coordination . Park Yi ( Jung Woo-sung ) is a hit-man who found a soft spot for painter Hye-young ( played by the pretty Jeon Ji-hyun ) . It's love at first sight in the meadows of daisies , where her clumsiness caught his attention . However , being shy and ever mindful of the dangers of his professional career , he can only admire her from afar , do little ( or perhaps big ) things for her in an anonymous fashion , but the one that takes the cake is sending her potted daisies everyday without fail at 4 : 15pm . He becomes her guardian angel from afar , shielding her and keeping her safe from harm . Hye-young is in love with this mysterious stranger . She is constantly waiting for him to appear , but I really wonder how difficult could that be given the almost punctual daisy delivery . Nonetheless , she's terribly moved , and touched by this sole act . However , as the stars would have it , interpol detective Jeong Woo ( Lee Sung-jae ) chances upon Hye-young at a town square during one of his undercover missions , and he too is captivated by her . In a similar fashion , because of his profession , he is doubtful if he should make the first move . Which is where the audience would find it frustrating . The lady obviously would fall for the wrong guy ( then again , it's the " good " guy ) , Park Yi being infuriated by Jeong Woo's pursuit , but yet still refuses to step out and identify himself , and Jeong Woo being the opportunist in grabbing the free anonymous identity unwittingly . It's almost as if you wanna give everyone a slap to wake them all up . That aside , it is precisely this tension that keeps you intrigued . And it is wickedly fun to watch the two male leads finding it tough to fall in love without jeopardizing their careers , or their loved one . But fret not action fans , there are enough cat-and-mouse revelations and unsaid camaraderie in the mould of Infernal Affairs , as well as ample gunfights , although I felt the ending could have been scripted tighter . What rocks is the clever editing . Telling the story in a non-linear timeline ( no worries , it ain't that bad , you'll still be able to follow the narrative ) from the points of view of all the leads , keeping you in suspense , and culminating in a three way split screen showcasing all their emotions in a single converging event , which I thought was extremely well-done . It's a beautiful film in terms of landscapes of lush meadows and busy city squares , with plenty of classical music to sooth the soul . As with romance movies , all the leads are eye candy - the girls will have a field day with the two handsome male leads , while the guys have to make do with a somewhat pudgy-faced ( argh ! OK lah , at certain angles ) Jeon Ji-hyun . If you're into a romance movie with an equal balance in the action / tension department , then Daisy would be your choice . If you prefer a more conventional weepy , then the other Korean movie making its debut here at the same time , You are My Sunshine , would be your alternative . And yes , I totally dig the ending scene , which I thought only the Koreans do it best ? Kinda reminded me of the JSA one .
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515,376 | 317,399 | 496,806 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : Ocean's Thirteen
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13 is not an unlucky number for this Steven Soderbergh directed franchise . With many a blockbuster presenting their third installments this summer - Spider-Man , Pirates of the Caribbean , Shrek , Bourne and the likes , Ocean's 13 bested those that have already gone before , with something light and breezy , although rehashing the tried and tested formula employed in Ocean's Eleven . I've always enjoyed heist movies , and Ocean's Eleven was a very smart one at that , given the bonus of having assembled some of the top names in Hollywood and having some of them play second fiddle . It was thoroughly fun , and I thought it had a very smart exit strategy . Ocean's Twelve however was a little flat , as the ending was a bit of a cop out , and didn't really excite with its smart alecky narration finale . The only memorable events from Ocean's Twelve were Bruce Willis and how Arsenal football club was weaved into the proceedings . Ocean's 13 leaves behind Europe and returns to where the action started , back to Vegas , where Willie Bank ( Al Pacino ) , the most unscrupulous man on the strip , plays out Reuben ( Elliott Gould ) of their joint casino hotel The Midas - now renamed The Bank hotel , and causes the latter to suffer from a stroke . The rest of the Ocean gang , led by Danny Ocean ( George Clooney ) are mad , and congregate back in Las Vegas to seek revenge the best way they know how - to steal and to humiliate Bank on the opening night of his new casino . And we welcome back the friends we know from the previous two movies , with Brad Pitt as Rusty Ryan the right hand man , who also opened this movie as he did the previous installment , Matt Damon as Linus Caldwell , who is looking to break out of the shadows of Danny and Rusty to prove his worth , Bernie Mac , Don Cheadle , Qin Shaobo the kungfu kid , Casey Affleck , Scott Cann , Carl Reiner and Eddie Izzard . There's no Julia Roberts and Catherine Zeta Jones , both of whom were written out of the movie early , between conversational pieces of Danny and Rusty . Gone are the two leading ladies , only to be replaced by a very wrinkled Ellen Barkin as Abigail Sponder , the personal assistant to Bank . The chemistry amongst the thieving team remains intact , as once again we experience the camaraderie amongst the sarcasm and wit , with the banter between Danny and Rusty being pure gold , especially their final exchange with real life references . However , the scene stealer here ( the other contender being Carl Reiner's absolutely hilarious role ) is definitely Matt Damon . Still wanting to get into the thick of the action , and ever ready to volunteer for key roles , his Linus Caldwell is a hoot to watch , especially when he goes under disguise . A far departure from his more serious roles , like the upcoming Bourne Ultimatum ( also the concluding part of the franchise ) , he fits that mummy's / daddy's boy figure to a T . While we get to return to the Bellagio , and with spanners thrown into our jolly men's plans , Ocean's Thirteen does feel a little dragged out . The structure's the same , with the middle part hinging on the setting up of the elaborate plan , leaving the final moments for the execution and the exit strategy with a twist . Sometimes having too much of a good thing do make the pace a little wonky . There's nothing really new to expect , except that Soderbergh actually went a step ahead and pulled the rug from under the audience's feet , and it's a clever little rouse involving the trailers you see for the movie . Now that's pure gem . What should put bum onto the seats will be the return of familiar faces into the roles , and in all honesty , a franchise episode that actually feels refreshed .
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515,323 | 317,399 | 98,258 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : ( DVD ) Say Anything ( 1989 )
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It's weird , but it has happened . I've been subconsciously borrowing DVDs which has John Cusack starring in them , and this time , it's John Cusack together with one of my favorite storytellers ( storyteller , cos he wrote and directed his own films ) Cameron Crowe , in Crowe's directorial debut with Say Anything . From this early work , you can't help but notice the foundations laid for Crowe's later works , with the loads of music incorporated and some moving the narrative forward , and the enjoyable characters he creates - some seem so ordinary , yet so real and special , the idiosyncrasies that have , the quirky situations they're put in , the character development . Ordinary , identifiable characters have become hallmarks , and in this film , it is no different . Perhaps what made this simple story endear itself , is the chameleon John Cusack . Here , he plays average joe Lloyd Dobler , who has just graduated from high school , but has no big plans for himself in the aftermath . He's at a lost at what to do , but had stunned his cohort by dating the school sweetheart , and the brainiest scholar at that . That unattainable beauty with brains , Diane Court ( Ioan Skye ) , the object of every schmuck's desire . But then you have her overprotective father who objects to their relationship ( don't they always ? ) and a looming corporate scandal ( like NKF's ) which questions morality between two different camps of thought . The bigger picture might already seem familiar given that the boy - meets - girl - love - breakup - reconciliation theme has been done to death , but what appeals is the really witty dialogue amongst characters , despite some stuff looking out of date ( hey , it's a 1989 movie after all ) . The Special Edition Code 1 DVD comes with so many extras , check this - 13 extended scenes ( those shortened to speed up the pace , so it's included here instead ) , 10 deleted scenes ( those that didn't make the final cut , which explained in more detail certain subplots like the corporate scandal cum investigation ) , and 5 alternate scenes . There's also an audio commentary by Crowe , Cusack and Skye , as well as the theatrical trailers .
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515,488 | 317,399 | 479,500 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : Nancy Drew
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I last read a Nancy Drew book about 20 years ago , so much of my memory of the fictional character is probably faulty . From what I gathered , the books were introduced to me at an era when teenage sleuths were popular to children growing up at the time ( for my case , the 80s and early 90s ) , with Hardy Boys , Famous Five , and of course , " Carolyn Keene " ' s Nancy Drew amongst the more famous ones . I still remember those hardcover books with very dated cover illustrations , usually quite heavy ( for a kid ) to lug around , and the thickness of the book perhaps attributed to the fact that the words are printed in large fonts . Well , the character has been given some updates along the way , as I recall my sister's subsequent Nancy Drew books becoming less thick , of softcover , with updated and a more chic Nancy illustrated on the cover . I can't remember if those stories were the same as the old hardcover ones , but I guess these books , being ghostwritten , have their fair share of updating itself for the times . In this Warner Brothers release of Nancy Drew , the character no doubt gets its update to suit the times , but somehow the writers Andrew Fleming and Tiffany Paulsen maintained her 50s - ish small town sensibilities , thereby retaining some charm and flavour that erm , folks like me , would appreciate . Her fashion sense , her prim and properness , even some quirky little behaviour traits that makes her , well , Nancy Drew . Her family background remains more or less the same , living with her single parent father Carson Drew ( Tate Donovan ) , who is moving his daughter and himself to the big city for a better job opportunity , and to wean his daughter off sleuthing in the town of River Heights . Mom is but a distant memory , and the housemaid makes a cameo . But what made Nancy Drew work , is the casting of Emma Roberts in the lead role . Niece of her famous aunt Julia , she too possess that sprightly demeanour , that unmistakable red hair and that megawatt smile . Her Nancy Drew , while in the beginning does seem to rub you the wrong way , actually will grow on you . And in almost what I thought could be a discarded scene from Pretty Woman , it had the characters walk into a classy shop with almost opposite reactions . While Dad Carson Drew tries hard to bring Nancy out of her sleuthing environment and to assimilate into normal teenage life , trust Nancy to find themselves living in a house whose owner , a Hollywood type has been , was found murdered under suspicious circumstances . Mystery solving is her comfort food when she finds herself an outcast of the local fraternity , and not before long we're whisked off along with her on her big screen adventure . There's nothing too Black Dahlia about the crime and mystery , and instead it's a pretty straightforward piece for Nancy to solve , in between befriending Corky ( Josh Flitter ) a chubby friend from school , and pacifying jealous boyfriend Ned ( Max Thieriot ) , while hiding the truth of her extra curriculum activities from her dad . The story's laced with cheesy fun and an oldie sentimentality which charms , and together , it becomes somewhat scooby-doo like . With minimal violence and no big bag gunfights or explosions , this is seriously a genre which is labelled clearly with " chick flick " alert . I guess the movie will generate a new generation of fans , rekindle the memories of old ones , and probably , just probably , might spark a new fashion trend of sporting penny loafers .
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514,881 | 317,399 | 401,248 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : Beautiful Boxer
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I suppose many non-Thai action film fans have their first exposure to the Thai martial arts of Muay Thai through movies like Ong Bak or Tom Yum Goong , both starring Tony Jaa . But the Muay Thai scene in Thailand was set abuzz in the 90s when transvestite warrior Nong Toom took to the stage and battled it out with other gladiators , while at the same time battled the prejudice he faced because he was different . Nong Toom was big at one time , with many media around the world following his exploits , as he wore makeup into the ring , and planted kisses on his defeated opponents . Beautiful Boxer is director Ekachai Uekrongtham's first feature film ( he also did the movie about our Geylang scene with Pleasure Factory ) , and the movie is a biography of Nong Toom ( played by real kickboxer Asanee Suwan ) and his dream of being a woman . Born to poverty and without means to fulfill his dream , he takes on the sport of Muay Thai for its lucrative awards , in part to provide for his family , and also as a means to save up for his sex change operation . His coach Pi Chart ( Sorapong Chatree ) sees the potential of his protégé , and while he doesn't chide Nong Toom for his feminine ways , had only one request , that he fights like a man in the ring . Similar to various fight sports biopics like Rocky and Cinderella Man , Beautiful Boxer charts the ups and downs of the protagonist , except that it ups the ante with Nong Toom's personal struggles , which present themselves as a bigger challenge with prejudice and misconceptions to fight , instead of the usual fight-against-poverty storyline . And like the movies in the genre , the battle in the ring is a sight to behold , as they get choreographed expertly , yet maintain a romantic , sexy look at the form of the sport . While Nong Toom does battle with various exponents , the filmmakers took great pains to ensure the fights differ from battle to battle , to make it interesting to watch without being repetitive , and we do see certain ancient moves that we've yet to see with the Tony Jaa movies . Asanee Suwan , a first time actor who auditioned for and gotten the role of Nong Toom , played the character with great earnestness , and was extremely convincing in his role as a man who struggles to find a way to bring the inner woman out in him . He made Nong Toom very humane , and you can really feel his pain and triumphs in and outside the ring . Nong Toom in any case was an interesting person to begin with , especially the way he handles discrimination . There were many poignant moments in his story from childhood , and what I thought was quite affecting was how he had to fend for himself in the ring especially - Fighters will find it a lost of face if they lose to someone " less than a man " , and this led to fighting Nong Toom more intensely , which of course made Nong Toom fight back even harder . While he couldn't do much about people laughing at him , he had to learn to feed off these negative energy to spur him on to win . It's a movie that works on both the emotional level and the physical side with its fight action sequence , and one of the better sports-fight biopics I have seen . Look out too for a cameo by the real Nong Toom ( now known as Parinaya Charoemphol after his sex-change operation ) . It brought to mind an adage which I shall paraphrase - the person might be different , but the struggles faced are the same .
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514,580 | 317,399 | 76,341 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : Perfumed Nightmare
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Filipino filmmaker Kidlat Tahimik calls Perfumed Nightmare his " magic carpet " , as over the last 30 years , his first film is still bringing him to countries and film festivals around the world , reintroducing the film to new audiences and film students when it's screened in universities . An unconventional film , it is quite hard to believe that this monumental effort is a first film , having captured life in the village , before going overseas to Paris and Munich for the latter half . Kidlat Tahimik stars as himself , in a semi-autobiographical way , that traces the life of a village boy , and his journey to the outside world . It's like a coming of age story with relevance to today still , with the impact of globalization more keenly felt as the modern world feels more like a global village , and with the almost inevitable assertion and influence of dominant popular cultures over traditional values . Kidlat ( the movie character ) is a Jeepney driver , who is an aeronautical buff , having hailing himself as President of the Werner Von Braun club in his village of Balian . A fan of the Voice of America radio show , he gets offered to go to Paris by an American on a botched jamboree ( which was then , and still is now , a very keen inclusion of the said country's foreign policy style ) , to work in the gumball vending machine business . That basically forms the gist of the outline as imagined by Kidlat the filmmaker , who worked on this without a prepared script . The opening shot where a vehicle crosses to and from a narrow bridge , set the mood of the film - fun , eccentric , unpredictable , almost a mirror of Kidlat's character . Shot on Super 8 , the special effects that he had included , and the various narrative techniques incorporated into the movie , makes you marvel at the rather innovative ways a filmmaker with a shoestring budget , gets his story told . I liked very much the fantastical sequences he had put in to tell the back story of his father , as well as the very horrific , almost documentary like style of capturing a village circumcision ritual , which must be seen to be believed , how it will actually would make you reel and feel pain ( and you thought the Hard Candy one was bad enough ) . There is no doubt that his passion and exuberance shone through this charming , imaginative film , which won him the International Critics Award at the 1977 Berlinale Forum of New Cinema . For those who missed the screening tonight ( on 16mm film projection ) , you can cross your fingers as to a DVD release , possibly as early as next year !
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515,322 | 317,399 | 475,179 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : I Not Stupid Too
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No , you need not have watched the original I Not Stupid to figure out what's going on . Gone are the major Khoo Family ( with the Hokkien-swearing Richard Low ) and the main narrator , Terry Khoo . Instead , newcomer Ashley Leong takes over the narrator's role , as Jerry , the new addition to the Liu Family , with Jack Neo himself , TV actress Xiang Yun , and Shawn Lee as Tom . Then again , forget that this is a direct sequel in terms of characters , as Joshua Ang ( who played the rebellious schoolboy in the 1st installment ) returns , sans mother and kid brother , but with the introduction of an abusive dad played by TV actor Huang Yi Liang . I Not Stupid Too is a standalone movie , with much of the hallmarks of a Jack Neo movie splattered in it . Gone are the much identified and constantly played out political satire and comedy from the first movie , although Selena Tan also returns here , she plays a totally different character from the much disguised political party figure in the first , to a school principal who uses " according to the law " like a crutch . But Neo still injects ample social and topical issues here . On the school front , we see the much criticized Speak Mandarin campaign take a hit , as well as a swipe at the arcane teaching methods of the language . Those who hated the process of learning the language , will probably smile with glee as we're presented with the need to evolve the teaching methods of yesterday . Topical issues and debates like the teacher hitting student in class and the media splashing the news everywhere , and public caning also get discussed , but it's somewhat lacking that only both sides of the spectrum of views are presented , without any deeper exploration from the basic coffee-shop talk . In trying to up the topical hip quotient , smacks of the mention of blogs and the use of it as a narrative tool seemed OK , until you realize it's a blatant Singtel advertisement . Product placements galore in this movie , ranging from Nokia , to in-your-face New Moon abalone cans , and even the UOB bank . While the actors put up commendable effort in bringing to life their characters , you can't help but to think you know much of them . They're like characters common in television drama serials , with their melo-dramatic moments . Surprisingly , much of the comedy and satire left in this movie is confined to the 1st third . The remainder of the movie focused on the other 2 children leads as they mix with bad company and ended up being blackmailed . You might think it's absurd given today's savvy kids , but these are things that are happening - savvy kids can also be gullible too . And you'll never expect that it actually turned out to be one heck of a weepy - many sniffles were head amongst the audience , so those with a weak emotional heart , bring along some tissues . Some might not appreciate that this movie has plenty of sub plots introduced which gets resolved hurriedly , and the length of over 2 hours might make some gawk . There are only certain points in time that you would twiddle your thumbs at the slow moments of the film . But kudos to Neo for highlighting an important plot running throughout , and it's the strong message to parents that they must always remember they bear primary responsibility on the upbringing of their children . He seemed to hit the nail on the head in the portrayal of the current family climate , that neglect and the lack of communication are prevailing , which much be stemmed . Not bad for a commercial film , with a moral of the story that the showing of appreciation is always much lacking in our society , amongst family members , colleagues and even friends . Certainly this movie has legs to be in the running for film awards .
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514,424 | 317,399 | 427,969 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : Hollywoodland
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Death under mysterious circumstances make good stories for the paper mills . And celebrity deaths all the more so , as they sell . The Curse of Superman is probably one of the well known controversies ( coincidences ? ) of today , and one of its victims was George Reeves , who played Superman in the 50s , and apparently committed suicide in his home one late night . The mystery and conspiracy theories are plenty , given that it's Tinseltown after all . Ben Affleck's second role as a costumed superhero , though this time it's indirectly as he's the screen version of George Reeves , who's better known , and type-casted as The Man of Steel . The Reeves portrayed here is a flamboyant has-been , looking for his next big break , but gotten romantically tangled with Toni Mannix ( Diane Lane ) , wife of MGM executive Eddie Mannix ( Bob Hoskins ) . Becoming a kept man , he's leashed to Toni Mannix's whims and fancies , and as the iconic hero of the immensely popular television series , becomes the reluctant role model for countless of young fans , who sometimes cannot tell the line between reality and fantasy . The movie takes on double narratives , one which chronicles the life and death of George Reeves , while the second is set in current reel time with a focus on private detective Louis Simo's investigations into the Reeves ' death . In part , Simo was serving his own self-interest , as this kind of investigations raises his profile , as well as bringing in the dough from Reeves ' mother , who believes there was something more to her son's death . The editing here is done excellently , as you'll hardly feel anything forceful or contrived during scene transitions , or transitions in time . Typical of a movie which doesn't present any new evidence , you're presented with various possibilities , and not having the movie commit to any one version . It's up to you to determine which is which , but I thought the last one was perhaps the most probable of them all , sad as it is , because of one of the final scenes which I thought would be more compelling reason . A has-been looking for his next big break , but because of circumstances , unable to break from the chains of typecast , and knowing that he's no longer a spring chicken . Frustrated , unhappy , and desperate perhaps . Ben Affleck brought out the troubles facing Reeves rather admirably , and the kudos he obtained for his role her is justified . Warner Brothers , who owns DC comics and in turn Superman , was reportedly unwilling to allow the filmmakers to use the original introduction of the Adventures of Superman television series , or to allow the trademarked insignia to be used in the movie . But when watching Hollywoodland , I didn't spot any marked departure from logos that we already all know , though it was a hoot that you'll see Superman with booze and cigarette . Perhaps it is this non-heroic image that DC / WB was concerned about ? On a side note , given the NC16 rating , there was one jarring edit , which pertained to the sex scene after the line " Maybe Superman does want to get laid " . You'll get to hear something , but the visuals jump cuts to an interior shot from a car . It's a tight drama with enough material for an adequate whodunnit , with good performances all round by the cast . I'd recommend it , if you're up for some dirt behind Tinseltown's glitz .
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515,421 | 317,399 | 1,185,420 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : Dostana
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Dostana scores a number of firsts . One being set entirely in Miami , with the glorious shots of golden beaches and opportunities for the cast to show off their toned bodies ( for the first few minutes , John Abraham seemed too eager to get rid of his singlet every few minutes ) . And the other first scored was that this is the first Bollywood film to have a focus on a gay relationship , albeit a faked one , between its two leading men . For an industry that's still sans on-screen sex , where kisses still bring upon rage , and nudity a no-no , is it any wonder why this premise , together with its A-list stars , will draw in the crowds without a doubt ? Some 4 years ago , Abhishek Bachchan was busy chasing John Abraham as hero and villain in the action-adventure Dhoom . In between they only shared credits in Kabhi alvida Naa Kehna , and it is not until now that the two alpha-males get put together in the same film , share plenty of screen time together , and the joke's clearly on their effeminate behaviour and gay relationship . Imagine two muscular jocks having to turn girly at a wink of an eye , and that itself sets up a tsunami of laughs in plenty of situational gags that will leave you genuinely in stitches . I shudder to imagine how real gays would , or would not take offense at the portrayal here , given that most of the time , gayness is equated with being hip and in with modern culture , which I think some would clearly dispute . Nonetheless it is the attempts at debunking the myths and prejudice that surrounds the condition that warrants some merits at least , even though it's still an outright comedy , and I guess all could be forgiven since there are two eye-candy male leads to serve up some compensation . At first one would imagine a plot that would be similar to I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry , given two obviously straight men having to pose as a gay couple to further their own objectives , which of course runs contrary to any romantic notions they have for the opposite sex . Here , Sameer ( Bachchan ) and Kunal ( Abraham ) start off as two strangers in Miami who bump into each other after their individual one night stands ( with opposite members of the sex of course ) , but thereafter find themselves eyeing the same piece of affordable swanky rental apartment , which comes with a crucial string attached - no guys , because the occupant is a lady ( Chopra ) whose aunt refuses to let tongues wag should her housemates be two hunks . So you know the drill , faced with time constraints and the prospect of staying with Neha the hot chick , both guys pretend they are gays , thus setting in motion plenty of comedy as they have to maintain their cover 24x7 , and to make matters worse , have to cement their relationship legally as a means to keep Kunal from being deported . And if that's not all , each of them still harbours the thought of hooking up with Neha , which of course poses a challenge given their known " status " . One of the best scenes in the movie involves almost everyone , from mothers to bosses to even an immigration officer who converge in their apartment in a free for all , where bluff goes against bluff , and the two chaps have to be at their best to satisfy the law , as well as to stave off a very interested magazine editor . I can't remember the last time I laughed that hard and loud . But of course things slow down a little in the second half of the film when Neha's new boss ( Bobby Deol ) comes into the picture to woo Neha , which Sameer and Kunal try to fend off with their wits in what would be co-opetition at its very best . Scheming and conniving all the way , you'd come to expect lies becoming bigger lies , with questionable methods being put into use in order to drive the new competition away . Which brings it quite nicely to an ending that I guess is a fair outcome . Dostana speaks of friendship , and sometimes , relations are best left at that given the numerous enjoyable moments everyone shares , without complicating matters . Dostana , despite its theme , still plays out to be an enjoyable , entertaining movie brought to life by its excellent casting . Songs and dances were pretty much standard fare , save for that convergent scene which I mentioned was the highlight of the film . Do look out too for the very cheeky wordings on the T-shirts that both Bachchan and Abraham don .
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514,639 | 317,399 | 765,443 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : Eastern Promises
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David Cronenberg's previous offering , A History of Violence , was hailed by many as a work of genius and made it to the mainstream paper's top movie of 2005 . But I thought the original story in the graphic novel form was far superior , as he injected his own take for the second half of the film , which earned William Hurt an Academy Award nomination for his role as a gangland boss . Those in tuned with Cronenberg's works will know that his movies are usually warped in certain ways , but with A History of Violence , and now Eastern Promises , it seemed that they have become easier to grasp , and perhaps even more mainstream in its appeal . In some ways , Eastern Promises is like a watered down version of Francis Ford Coppola's masterpiece The Godfather . Set in London and involving the Russian mob , an organized crime family headed by Semyon ( Armin Mueller-Stahl ) runs a restaurant front , while engaging in illicit activities from drugs to prostitution . Like Don Corleone , Semyon too has a hotheaded , impulsive yet inept son in the vein of Kirill , played by Vincent Cassel , in a role with suspect sexual orientation with his chumminess with Viggo Mortensen's Nikolai , who provides protection of sorts as their trusted underling , an enforcer type character for every crime family . Embroiled unwittingly into the crime underworld is Naomi Watts ' Anna , a midwife who delivers a baby from a dead teen , whose diary she finds and becomes incriminating evidence on Semyon's activities , as her amateurish sleuthing brings her straight into the lion's den . Thereafter the movie takes two arcs , one involving the retrieval of the diary , which provided some background story to the mysterious girl and her plight , reminiscent of movies like Lilya 4-ever and Your Name is Justine , while on the other arc , the crime syndicate stuff proper , with deadly betrayals , revenge and deceit . Who says there should be honour amongst thieves , especially when it involves blood ? While Watts ' arc and character get reduced to supporting status , what makes a winner here is Mortensen's portrayal as the mysterious man of few words . Mortensen reunites with Cronenberg from their earlier collaboration , and his character's cool , calm and measured in his responses , a stark contrast to Kirill , and is no wonder the favourite " son " of Semyon as he knows is the man with the plan . Of interest here is how tattoos also play an important role with rituals in the initiation rites into the Family , and it's not just the Yakuza who boast these body art . As one character puts it , the tattoos on your body tell your whole story , so they command a great deal of respect . Cronenberg continues the tradition of showing unflinching bloody violence , so in your face that you'll probably be numb to it all by the time the much talked about public baths scene comes rolling along . While Mortensen and Maria Bello performed bedroom gymnastics that required her to bear all , it's Mortensen's turn here to be in the buff as he engages in a no holds barred fisticuffs . A relatively short sequence , but one which proved pivotal in turning the story over its head . Some might hate this turn of events as it reeks like a copycat of the multitude of Hong Kong crime movies , and might even be seen as a cop out , but I thought it still made decent plot development , and well worth it for the final shot in the movie , which seemed so ironic . Eastern Promises is still a highly watchable movie despite , as I mentioned earlier , Cronenberg's films having more mainstream appeal now , so don't go looking out for major shock and awe . While about half the dialogue is in Russian , I can't help but to close my eyes and imagine that Mortensen is speaking Elvish , while the rest of the cast have marbles in their mouths . Fans of Mortensen will probably not want to miss this ( well , besides watching him perform in the buff ) , with him as a character sharing the same amount of intensity as his earlier role in A History of Violence .
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514,481 | 317,399 | 439,630 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : Initial
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Just to set the expectations from this review , I have not read the Initial D manga , nor watched any of the anime . Therefore this review's point of view will be from the cinematic experience , and there will be no comparison on how true it stays to the manga / anime . Despite all the star power in the film , from teeny boppers Edison Chen and Shawn Yue , to veterans Kenny Bee and Anthony Wong , this still remains a Jay Chou vehicle ( pardon the pun ) . Jay stars as a petrol pump attendant who by day works at a petrol kiosk , and in the wee hours of the night , helps his tofu selling dad deliver tofu in an old Toyota AE86 Sprinter Trueno using a route that traverses along a winding Mount Akina . Naturally , with his 5 years experience , he intimately knows the terrain , and gets faster each time , until a group of street racers set their sights to conquer the route . There will definitely be comparisons with Hollywood's The Fast and The Furious series , starring Vin Diesel / Paul Walker . The similarities are there - the fast cars , the beautiful racer babes , the rivalry between arrogant drivers . You even get the same cinematography technique used that starts from the driver's POV , pulling back to the dashboard , the rear seat , the boot , and the car from a " helicopter " view . But what sets this film apart is the way it is delivered . Being based on a comic book offers some depth to the storyline , and it helped by staying true to the setting , being based in Japan and not HK . The races in itself might seem repetitive , as the highlight seemed to be focused on its title - the " drift " technique , being used ad-nausem , but having different drivers challenge each other on the one and only route breaks the monotony as you root for your favourite to come out tops . Given this is Jay Chou's debut movie role , it is difficult to critique if his acting skills are up to mark , as his lead character Takumi Fujiwara is a nonchalant man of few words . Which is very much like his persona . His co-stars Edison Chen and Shawn Yue could very well be their own persons as well . Chapman To , as usual , brings across the rather light hearted moments , and Anthony Wong as Chou's dad , a veteran race ace who finds solace in the bottle and having a penchant for dozing off . Perhaps the only flaw about the movie was the sappy romance between Jay and his Japanese co-star . Not that she isn't gorgeous ( which is a saving grace ) , but their scenes together doesn't further the plot much , and slows down the pace somewhat of this movie about the need for speed . This is an enjoyable flick , one in which I waited for the theme song / tune to be featured ( only at the end credits ! ) . But no , I don't think I will be converted to a Jay Chou fan boy anytime soon . I suspect that in the upcoming weeks , we probably might see parallel imports / makes of the Trueno on our shores to satisfy the racer boy wannabes ( heard Singapore only has 2 ? ) , although it probably can't run as fast as in the movies ( movie magic lah ) . And yeah , the driving with one hand on the wheel and the other on the face , with the contemplating look .
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514,742 | 317,399 | 204,007 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : Lost in the Wilderness
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Watching Lost in the Wilderness would have undoubtedly bring about comparisons to our very own adventurer Khoo Siew Chiow , who is the fourth person in the world to date to complete The Adventure Grand Slam , which is to conquer the highest peaks in all the 7 continents , and cross the North and South Poles . A bio-pic of sorts of Japanese adventurer Uemura Naomi , this movie traces his professional life and his exploits , while at the same time , focusing on issues which I'd bet Khoo probably had faced as well , making you wonder if these issues are universal ones in which almost every adventurer will face at one point or another during their career . Uemura is an interesting character . He's soft spoken on the outside , but inside he has this lion's courage and dogged determination to push the boundaries of physical and mental limitations . He's alone for most of his exploits , but this is more of a choice as he attempts his solo ascents and treks . Not that he's not a team player , contrary to that , he's an excellent one , subscribing to the mantra of leaving no man behind . He's the one you can count on in your team never to give up . A bad experience with an international group made him swear off joining forces , because with groups come egos and petty bickering easily erupts when ideas and opinions differ . So henceforth a solo adventurer is born , whose challenges need to get bigger to satisfy his addiction for trotting the less travelled paths . And we know just how expensive these challenges can get , given Khoo's own experiences and appeals for funding too . This movie also chronicled this difficult expect , and presented arguments which are always to surface - why are we providing public funds to fuel the dreams of a solo aim , versus providing the same amount of money for other more worthy , and more public causes ? As the complexity of the challenge increases , exorbitant amounts of money is required for the adventurer's preparation , and most importantly , logistics . Also , it doesn't always translate to success , as you can see from Khoo's personal exploits too , like the abandoned missions of climbing Everest without oxygen , or to swim across the English Channel . Do we need to provide funds to satisfy personal vanity projects , or do this projects put us on the world map , saying that we " can " too ? Then there is the plight of the family . Uemura woos his wife with aplomb , but you can see that change in character within himself - taking her for granted , and of course , being away for extended periods of time . While his wife laments in private about her married life , this is probably something that every adventurer has to look into , and I guess Khoo's wife has always maintained her support for her husband when he embarks on these quests , which often are dangerous . The love story in Lost in the Wilderness gets itself lost though , as events as told in the movie doesn't go deep into its theme , not at least until toward the end , where Umemura breaks his promise and insists on going for his final ascent . It does make one ponder whether to these guys , it's adventure first , or family commitment taking priority , and I like to warrant a guess that often , the decision is difficult . Nonetheless this movie is as easy to follow as any typical bio-pic , and director Junya Sato has managed to capture the essence of adventuring - loneliness ( at being at the top of your game ) , wit and sheer perseverance - in its " action " sequences , without the need to be repetitive , and one of the best bits are to observe his innovative ideas , pertaining to logistics ( given that there's an upper limit to personal encumbrance ) and the dealing with unseen crevices . In tribute to the one man's determination , the end credits roll off a series of his achievements .
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514,617 | 317,399 | 179,626 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : ( DVD ) 15 Minutes
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I had borrowed this DVD countless of times , but somehow it didn't manage to make it to the player , until tonight that is . Starring Robert De Niro and Edward Burns , 15 Minutes take on an extreme look at reality media , where rival stations would chance upon to scoop one another at short notice , for ratings , fame and what have yous , even at the expense of morality . There's an upcoming movie called Untraceable which deals on the voyeuristic nature of modern audiences , but since this is a 2001 movie , exploitative media haven't got from bad to worse , yet , or so I believe . De Niro stars as a top celebrity cop Detective Eddie Flemming , who knows how to milk the media to the force's advantage . Being in the limelight also helps in investigations and cracking cases , because everyone wants an autograph , or to shake hands with someone famous . So it definitely helps in opening doors and breaking down hostilities . And his unofficial partner in this caper is Fire Marshal Jordy Warsaw , played by Edward Burns , whose character is an intriguing one , in that his profession is under the fire department , but has powers belonging to cops as his role is mainly an investigative piece into how fires are started , and if arson is suspected . Together , they form a somewhat mentor-rookie relationship , as Eddie teaches Jordy the 101 on homicide , as they sieve through clues of an incident where a couple is found dead in an apartment , but signs point to murder rather than accidental death by fire . And for the first half of the movie , this partnership actually starts to take their roots into tried and test buddy cop ( well , technically not quite ) movies , where differences are played to strengths , culminating in an exciting ( I realize I seldom use this word nowadays ) chase down the streets of New York , ala Heat , but minus the major firepower . But the movie takes a drastic turn in the second half , as gone are the action or potential action set up , and in comes the dwelling upon issues on everyone's 15 minutes of fame , as mentioned by Andy Warhol . Sometimes you do wonder , through reports , news , basically the media , how criminals can find it so easy to become a celebrity , making those obscene amount of cash through the writing of books or the selling of movie rights . And basically , it boils down to how we as consumers , fuel this kind of supply with demand from our curiosity . And it sure isn't alien too , where the crookedness of lawyers also assist in heaps on the perversion of law , for a cut of the profits , with their tools of the trade such as defense on the plea of insanity , and the double jeopardy clause . But why stop at lawyers when we can also target studio executives and talk show producers , whose exploitative shows feed on the sensational to sell their programme and to generate high ratings . Kelsey Grammar of Frasier fame , plays one such host , whom you'll just love to hate . Look out too for Charlize Theron in a cameo scene , with a brunette bob hairdo . Interesting concepts explored and examined , with relatively interesting villains as well ( one of them an aspiring filmmaker ! ) make 15 Minutes a little more than an ordinary cop thriller . There's a key scene which I can't describe without spoiling it , but suffice to say it does bring out every ounce on tension there is to it , and such moments though were marred slightly by the ending which had a somewhat unnecessary cheesy moment . Still , this will go into my list of recommended movies , especially one that dwells on media issues .
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514,636 | 317,399 | 831,884 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : Reservation Road
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You wonder what goes through the minds of those involved in hit and run accidents . In that split second after impact , you are presented a choice , and your life will change , one way or the other . One probably has to consider whether to stop and render assistance , and in doing so owning up to the accident , but having a chance to save a life if the circumstances allow for it . Or to hope that nobody saw you did what you did , and bolt . Negligent drivers , either through drink driving , or being distracted while on the road , probably won't elicit much sympathy , especially so from the family of the victim , and in Reservation Road , powerful drama is weaved amongst the characters on both sides of the hit and run equation . Reservation Road refers to the scene of the crime , where the Learners - dad Ethan ( Joaquin Phoenix ) , mom Grace ( Jennifer Connelly ) and daughter Emma ( Elle Fanning ) lose their son / brother in an accident , caused by a man in a baseball cap , driving an SUV . On this angle , we follow through the pain of the family who suffer a terrible loss . The dad Ethan slowly degenerates into an obsessive wreck , trying in vain to pursue the perpetrator who's out there , through his own dogged investigations when he realizes that the cops can only do what they can given extremely limited leads which yielded no progress . The mom Grace , while at first finding it hard to accept the truth - and in the initial days , the simplest of reasons to pin the guilt in , will resonate deeply - but we see how she draws strength in the hope of keeping the family spirits up . And the daughter finds ways to cope with the loss through channeling her energies into performance . On the other angle , Mark Ruffalo plays Dwight the lawyer , who's estranged from his wife Ruth ( Mira Sorvino ) and has visiting rights to their son . When the accident happens , in that split second he made the inevitable decision for self preservation , and while he may have momentarily escape from justice and the law , negative karma dictates that he will live his life being tormented by guilt from that point on , all this while trying to provide reason that he based his decision on being able to be free from jail , to continue seeing his son . Confession and owning up will see himself in the slammer , and probably losing everything . I thought this part of the story was the more interesting one . On one hand we judge that he's a coward , of not being a man in owning up to the wrong that he did . On the other , we also realize his pain and his fear - it takes a lot to own up , especially when it involves lives being taken away , and from people we remotely know , no thanks to six degrees of separation . Based on the novel by John Burnham Schwartz who also co-wrote the screenplay with director Terry George ( Hotel Rwanda ) , some might wonder if the coming together of the key characters are a tad convenient . We have father to father in a lawyer-client position , and one mother being the teacher of the other's child . Putting them together will lead to the inevitable , but it is this unravelling of the truth , that keeps us engaged to a gripping ending . Scenes that will make you seethe with rage , and probably whisper a silent curse , will be those where opportunities for confession are presented , but each time spurned . As the saying goes , a lie begets a larger lie , and it will snowball before you realize that the lie becomes to difficult to cover up . Kudos go all round to the entire cast , save for Sorvino's role which is more cameo than supporting , mainly also because the tanglement of the complicated situation doesn't affect her character directly . Ruffalo put on a commendable performance as the man wrecked by guilt , and he fleshed his character with incredible nuances we usually associate when we are fearful , and guilty . You can feel pain through Joaquin's performance of the dad looking for justice , but finds himself being unsatisfied by the system of the law , and learns that sometimes the law and justice conflict each other , and offer the layman little or no protection , unlike those such as diplomats who have powers at their disposal . Jennifer Connelly of late plays nothing but pained wives / mothers / girlfriends ( A Beautiful Mind , Hulk , Dark Water , Little Children ) , so there's nothing really new in her role her . But I would like to single out little Elle Fanning . While her role here is fairly simple , I thought she had exhibited much more screen presence and likability than her more illustrious sister Dakota , who has disappeared after her last outing in Charlotte's Web . Hopefully we get to see more of Elle taking on challenging kid / teen roles in time to come . Reservation Road is recommended for being a powerful drama with excellent an excellent cast . Usually movies like these will have the mothers bawling and the picture being a weepy drama , but here , the movie shifts its focus to the love of fathers toward their sons , and that makes it well worth a watch .
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515,319 | 317,399 | 416,320 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : Match Point
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Written and directed by Woody Allen , it surprisingly doesn't feel like what I would have expected from an Allen film , nor did I think that I had the patience to sit through one . However , this movie had converted me to wanna watch what Allen had to say in his earlier movies , not that this movie , in my opinion , is representative of the legendary director's style . Match Point , through its trailers , looked like another Closer , with its look at one aspect of the modern spousal relationship - that of adultery and fidelity . However , Closer had a more sophisticated plot and relationship tangles amongst the chief characters , while Match Point took on a more straightforward approach . You could say it's like The Talented Mr . Ripley , with the similar focus on one man and his actions to deceive all around him . Jonathan Rhys-Meyers plays Chris Wilton , an ex-tennis professional turned coach in England . He befriends one of his students Tom Hewett ( Matthew Goode ) , and is somewhat smittened by his sister Chloe ( Emily Mortimer ) . Being aimless and at a cross junction of his life , Chloe and her wealthy family presents Chris a possible path down a ready made high flying boardroom career and a stable family . But of course , the fun and trouble comes in the form of Tom's fiancée Nola Rice , the one with the come-hither looks , played to scandalous perfection by Scarlett Johansson . It's a dilemma to men with the lack of self-control , as Chris goes all out to straddle two boats , and starts to question which is love , and which is lust . One cannot expect to take the cake , and eat it as well . What was really neat is the presentation of the dilemma in a cold , calculated manner - do you want to continue being with your wife who endears herself to you , for all the material comfort enjoyed thus far and knowing that you have a known future laid out in front of you , or would you seek to give them all up to be with someone volatile , with an uncertain future for both when you seek to choose the mistress ? This is possibly Allen's longest film to date , and it really feels that way . He takes the time to set up the entire premise , treating us to operas as the philandering Chris enjoys marital ( and economic ) bliss , while at the same time scheming to bed his mistress regularly on the side with loads of quickies . But the beauty of it is in the second act , where what exactly will go wrong in such an adulterous relationship , will . The final act , while probably fitting for a man in extreme desperation , seemed a bit too Hollywood , despite this being done in collaboration with BBCFilms . It relied too much on Luck , just as the opening sequence of the determination of a match point when the ball hits the net . It's plainly simple - either side will mean you'll either win or lose . Rhys-Meyers put on a convincing performance as the guilt-ridden , pleasure seeking Chris , with his loathing of being with his wife , and oh-so-eager puppy dog looks when being with his mistress . At least while she's still not that demanding . As I mentioned , Johansson played the sexy-come-hither chick to perfection , but somehow I felt that she lacked the ability to exude the emotional depth of a mistress who steps up her almost impossible to meet demands from a man who cannot decide , or have the strength to tell his wife of his affairs . Glenn Close she is not . So be warned that this film might seem to plod on , with scenes that you might think could be excluded to tighten up the pace . However , do pay attention to the dialogue , as it often proves rewarding , and to those who are thinking of having affairs , think twice - the trouble when you happen to get yourself attached to an emotional wreck , could be tough to deal with . Luck may not be on your side .
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515,128 | 317,399 | 439,650 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : The Letter
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Korean movies have become so popular that they are high on the export list to the film industries abroad to be remade for local audiences . Leading the pack is Hollywood , and we've recently seen The Lake House . The Thai film industry too took a Korean movie - 1997's # 1 Korean film , The Letter ( Pyeon Ji ) , and gave it their own treatment in Jod Mai Rak . I haven't watched the original , but looking at the result of this Thai effort , they aren't too far behind in the ability to make a melodramatic weepie too . Jod Mai Rak tells the story of two lonely people , a country boy called Ton ( Attaporn Teemakorn ) , and a city girl Dew ( Anne Thongprasom ) , who meet and found each other by chance at a Chiang Mai bus terminal , and as Fate would have it , they would come together after a semi-long distance courtship over the telephone . There are plenty of sweet moments interjected throughout the narrative , like the lingering shots of a bald plum tree which belongs to Ton , and the tender moments during their stay together in Chiang Mai , after personal tragedy made Dew ditch her shared apartment in Bangkok , and opt for the more rustic lifestyle in the countryside . From here , country boy teaches city girl how to live it up with the basic necessities ( well , she still brought over some city artifacts like the PC ) , and naturally lent itself to many moments that will melt your heart . But watching a movie like that isn't interesting , and you always know that there's something extra just waiting to come . Melodramas always have you paint the perfect blissful picture , before coming down with the all too familiar terminal illness plot device . The two star crossed lovers aren't spared this either , and the latter half of the movie see them battle their fears of not having be with each other for long . It's a story of remembrance , and not forgetting the good things in life , of moving on and cherishing the good times . It's impossible for someone not to feel at least a tear in the eye as the dramatics take their full effect , especially towards the end , though there is some redeeming bittersweet feel at the end of the movie . I found the use of the letters in the movie vaguely familiar , and possibly could have been used in other movies I've seen . It's nothing supernatural , and something which is simple , yet I know is highly effective in serving its purpose . Not that I think anyone would be crazy to do something like that in real life , probably will just either freak the other person out , or really prevent someone from truly moving on . The leads Anne Thongprasorn and Attaporn Teermakorn are believable as the lovers . Girls will probably swoon at Attaporn's portrayal of Ton , the real sensitive new age dude who can cook , has green thumbs , and has so much heart and positivity in life . Anne's Dew initially started out quite unlikable , at least to me , with her tendency to be spoilt and taking things much for granted and in a minor way , mistreating Ton perhaps ? But thankfully there is a character change as the movie progresses . Directed by Pa-oon Chantornsiri , Jod Mai Rak is a perfect date movie which centers much on the lives of the two lovers , at the expense of having some throwaway supporting characters . Then again , two's a company , and anything more is always unwelcome . Chiang Mai also makes for an awesome romantic place .
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514,727 | 317,399 | 382,357 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : Land of Plenty
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This is my maiden foray into the Singapore International Film Festival ( SIFF ) , and my first review of a film featured in the SIFF . The film tells a story of Lana , who is going to LA after her mother passed away , in search of her uncle . She has been travelling the world with her missionary father , and her last place of stay had been Tel Aviv . While we are shown the glistening skyline of LA , we are soon shown the poverty zone , and how Lana feels about leaving one warzone into another , that the war against poverty is not so much different from the world she had left . Her uncle Paul , a Vietnam war veteran exposed to the infamous Agent Orange , is now a self-possessed vigilante , playing his overly zealous part in homeland security , rigging his van into a one-stop travelling security surveillance van . ( Heck , even his handphone ringtone is the national anthem ! ) He randomly tails people deemed suspicious to him , and things get interesting when a man of Arab descent is spotted by him buying boxes of chemicals ( the irony of making a dirty bomb from a cleaning agent ) and later on , being gunned down by unknown suspects . To reach out to Paul , Lana had to play along at times , to get Paul to open up to her , as their initial meeting isn't really cordial , and it is of course difficult to strike up family conversation with relatives you have hardly seen all this while . But things take a turn when Paul finally wakes up to reality , and his futile investigative effort all comes crashing down for him . While there is little drastic character development , it is the subtle character representation that is key in this film . Paul represents the " ra-ra America " , those who are bent on protecting the homeland at all costs , those who are inept in collecting facts ( yeah , there's a dumpster diving scene which rocked ) and making decisions based on faulty intelligence . Lana , on the other hand , represents the rest of the world . The compassionate world , reaching out to diversity and trying their best in understanding this difference . It is no surprise that the filmmakers showcase the different attitudes that these 2 characters exude towards a Pakistani whom they meet towards the end . Good music is peppered throughout the movie , and I always appreciate films that introduce appropriate tunes for each scene that punctuates the entire atmosphere beautifully ( Think Cameron Crowe movies ) . And one poignant line in the film stuck to me as the film begins in LA and ends in Ground Zero , NY - if we can hear the 3000 souls asking us not to use their name in vain , as an excuse to kill more people . For those in Singapore who wish to catch this film , I don't think there is a repeat screening , so you might have to catch it on discs . And by the way , the lead actress looks like a cross between Audrey Tautou and Liv Tyler - so there .
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515,522 | 317,399 | 342,735 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : ( SIFF ) Manderlay
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Manderlay is the second of a trilogy series called " USA - Land of Opportunities " by director Lars von Trier . If you're already familiar with Dogville , then the techniques used in the sequel Manderlay will not surprise you . It's similar , using bare sets , chalk markings on the floor to denote rooms , imaginary doors with sound effects , and the jarring camera cuts , with a narration provided by John Hurt , and inter-titles as the prelude to the various chapters ( we have 8 here ) . To me , the movie hit at two different levels . The more obvious one being the story of slavery in the US plantation town of Manderlay . Grace discovers Manderlay being oblivious to the abolishment of slavery , and proceeds to free the slaves with the assistance of her father's hired guns . In one swoop , she introduced massive changes to the way of life of the slaves and their former masters , with or without their consensus to change the status quo . We examine racism , the usual perceptions and misconceptions of negros , and how perceived segregation and classification are used as control , like stereotyping them into categories of pride , chatty , and those who simply cannot be trusted . On the other level , one which I found to be more interesting , is the supposedly allegation about the US policy on Iraq . Grace is the screen Bush , who overcomes the dictator of Manderlay with the use of heavy firepower , and frees the population probably against their wishes . Sweeping changes are made , like the introduction of democracy and its tools like ballots , votes and referendums , without the deeper study if the people are ready for such a change . But like it or not , change is imposed on them . With the use of weapons as a medium of change , Grace is stuck with the responsibility of ensuring that Manderlay thrives given the disposition of its dictator , and the question of what will happen when the threat of the gun is removed , and your guard let down . There's a little romance / lust and nudity included which warranted its R21 rating here , though it's nothing erotic about it . The most notable change in the sequel is the absence of Nicole Kidman , who played protagonist Grace Margaret Mulligan in Dogville . Scheduling conflicts prevented her from reprising her role , and it went to ingénue Bryce Dallas Howard , who in my opinion , stepped into the Grace role comfortably . Not to mention too is that Bryce is simply absolutely stunning with her red hair and chic haircut , and at certain angles , do resemble a younger version of Kidman . Its ending with David Bowie's song Young Americans , with plenty of pictures of the KKK accompanying it , served as a grim reminder of how racism can rear its ugly head . Now I've got to find time and watch my Doville double DVDs ( which includes the Dogville Confessions ) , though Manderlay can stand on its own without the need for any prior knowledge of what transpired in Dogville in order to appreciate it .
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515,389 | 317,399 | 384,369 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : Napola - Elite für den Führer
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Napola refers to elite military National-Political Schools , set up to train promising young German talents into potential future leaders for the Third Reich - Man makes History , but Napola makes the Man . Set at the peak of Hitler's Nazi regime in 1942 , this film explores the very different lives of two youths enrolled in such a school , and exposes some of the difficult training programme that these youths are put through . Friedrich Weimer graduated as a Hitler youth , and spends time juggling work with boxing . Impressing a talent scout with his boxing skills , he gets recruited into one of the Napola schools , to be trained as an athlete to bring the school glory . Coming from a poor home , he sees this as a chance to bring wealth for this family , although they disagree with his joining the Napola . Albrecht Stein is the son of the governor . What he lacked in the brawn department , he makes up with his gift for the written word , which often goes unappreciated , even with his parents . Two youths from different backgrounds bond together as good friends , as they undergo the tough regimental training the school has to offer . At times , it's like Dead Poet's Society in a WWII German military setting , where they challenge and subtly question the establishment and their methods . Even though the school is made up of a recruited pool of the privileged few , basic evils of man persists , like corruption and jealous rivalry . The different subplots and set action pieces unravel our protagonists ' characters , and we see them develop in depth . From a wide-eyed promising talent , we journey with Friedrich as he slowly comes to terms with evaluating if one should sell out one's beliefs for fame and wealth , blinding the disappointment faced in the system . Albrecht , while meek looking , held on to his ideals , especially after a sad episode in the fields , and when being forced into a corner to renounce this ideal , found untold courage to actually do what he did , at the expense of everything else - friendship , family . Which brings us to question , how many of us , if knowing what's right , will do the right thing , or take the easy way out and turn our backs towards the truth ? We are also exposed to the highly fanatical training methods of the Nazis , of showing no pity , and signs of cowardice are treasonous . Those who've undergone some form of army training will appreciate the nature of military training - from the physical exercises , punishments , and stand-by-bunks , to the bonding of bunk mates and " suffering " under the hands of sadistic superiors . It is no surprise that Napola won various awards for film , acting and direction , It's rich cinematography and haunting soundtrack brings to life Nazi Germany of 1942 , and highlighting the horrors of the training of an elitist school of soldiers and future governors , with its expected training tragedies . This is a movie with powerful themes , with an introspective look at the development of man under difficult fanatical regimes revealed in a moving drama .
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514,788 | 317,399 | 422,091 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : ( DVD ) Dhoom ( 2004 )
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Said to be loosely based on Taxi and Point Break , I thought Dhoom ( Blast ) seemed to be a whole lot more like the original Fast and the Furious , with a gang of robbers pulling of heists and escaping in their high octane machines charged with nitrous oxide gases , only this time , the sports cars are replaced with sports bikes . But unlike FnF which had its cop infiltrate the gang , we have a supercop hot on the heels of the gang with the help of the fastest rider in Mumbai , with shades from Taxi in a way . Abhishek Bachchan plays ACP Jai Dixit the supercop , a proud man dead sure of his abilities to apprehend the crooks , though himself has no qualms about meting out violence to deal with violence . John Abraham's Kabir looks like Tom Cruise's Ethan Hunt in M : I2 with his wavy hair flowing while riding a bike at top speed , and with his merry men from the Pizza Place , throws down the gauntlet at Jai . Rounding up the testosterone picture is Uday Chopra as the top biker and mechanic Ali Akbar Fateh Khan , who reluctantly joins forces with Jai Dixit , and gets embroiled against his wishes in this cops-and-robbers chase . He prefers to chase skirts , given his lack of appeal in the ladies department , and provides the complimentary comedic moments . The female characters here , with Rimi Sen as Mrs Dixit and Esha Deol the singer , somehow become bit players , with not much room for their characters , given that it's understandably an action movie after all . And the action doesn't disappoint even if it's not exactly A-list jaw - dropping material . There's always that tinge of familiarity , but the stars pull them off with aplomb . If you were to think they're copying their counterparts in Hollywood with vehicle stunts , and that fight atop a moving trailer which looks suspiciously like Matrix Reloaded's , well , if imitation is a form of flattery , at least Dhoom managed to come off rather convincingly . For a Bollywood movie , it clocks in at a surprisingly reasonable 129 minutes , and given its fast pace , there's rarely a moment where you'll get bored . I totally enjoyed Dhoom's soundtrack , and the song and dance numbers are fast ones which is an additional plus . I never cease to be amazed by the dance choreography , and my favourite one was where Dhoom Machale song being performed on stage , complete with pyrotechnics . Dhoom lives up to its name , and it's easy to have a blast of a time on a lazy Sunday afternoon with his , even though the story's pretty straightforward and rehashed from elements seen frequently from Hollywood . For someone who enjoys song and dance routines , I think I'll be looking towards covering more Bollywood movies real soon .
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514,483 | 317,399 | 940,709 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : CJ7
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It's been a long and almost 3 year wait for the coming of Stephen Chow's new movie CJ7 , on the heels of his international success with Shaolin Soccer and Kung Fu Hustle , both of which were adapted / parodied / copied in the other two competitive movies this holiday season in Kung Fu Dunk and Ah Long Pte Ltd . If imitation is the best form of flattery , that goes to show who's the boss and who calls the shots in the innovation and creativity departments , that there's only one force to be reckoned with in drafting comedy that appeals to the world . You might think that I'm singing praises of Chow and his works , but yes , that's the skyrocket high expectations that he had built for himself over the years with his rapid fire mo-lei-tau ( nonsensical ) comedic movies entertaining the masses pre and post 1997 Hong Kong , and now he can afford to take his time in releasing his movies once they pass through his perfectionist quality control . Sitting through CJ7 , I had initially thought that it was amongst his weaker works , but then came the final act , which while it was emotionally manipulative , I cannot deny that I both laughed and cried at the same time , which is extremely rare , and only pulled off by Chow's knack of structuring his scenes . Chow has shown his pedigree in becoming a good storyteller . If he is not already being considered one , then CJ7 is a sign of better things to come , as slowly , it can be seen that he's giving up his presence on screen , and turning his attention to behind the camera instead . Even with movies like Shaolin Soccer and Kung Fu Hustle , while he was the lead actor , he still made room for his supporting casts to shine through . This time though , he had totally taken the backseat and gave the spotlight to the child actress Xu Jiao who plays Dicky , the son ( yes you read that right ) of Chow's construction worker character Ti . Being poor , Ti works extremely hard to send his son to a premier school to receive a good education , in the hopes that he will be able to break out of the poverty circle in time to come . But in being in an elite school , Dicky becomes automatic fodder for rich school bullies , who look down on him because of his social status . Much of the movie dwells on this schoolyard politicking , and with Ti trying hard to impart good principles to his son that it becomes somewhat repetitive . In trying to pacify his son who yearns for the latest toy in town , a high-tech robotic dog called CJ1 , Ti goes back to his favourite haunt , the junkyard , and picks up a green ball outfitted with an antenna , as a replacement toy . Without his knowing of course , this ball turns out to be an alien lifeform , and Dicky soon uncovers that it has magical abilities . Christened CJ7 , much of the laughs come from CJ7 and Dicky , in the form of spoofs ranging from Mission : Impossible 2 to Asian fare like Crouching Tiger , Hidden Dragon , and also takes a spin from Chow's previous 2 movies . But don't expect the jokes to be of the mo-lei-tau type , as there aren't that many jokes to begin with . Gone are the days of laugh-a-minute type comedy from Stephen Chow . While toilet humour is still quite staple , Chow seemed to have embraced special effects even more this time , starting with a totally animated CJ7 , which has " cute " plastered all over it , making it a delight amongst the young and the female audience . I tell you , if it's not already available , someone should make the plush toy right now and milk it for all it's worth . Most of the jokes and fun sequences were spruced up by special effects , but there were a moment or two which I felt was quite unnecessary . In most ways , CJ7 isn't really your typical outright comedy . By the end of it , I thought its dramatic moments were tugging at the heartstrings , as I mentioned earlier , and indeed this somehow represents a shift by Chow to a somewhat different territory , building up his movie with comedy being peripheral or secondary to the main plot . There are moments of fun balanced by moments which are touching , episodes of the ridiculous balanced by episodes which made you reflect . And any more which features great songs , get my vote of approval too , with Boney M's Sonny getting plenty of airplay , and I Love Chopin coming on at just the very appropriate moment . However , what is still suspect though , is Chow's ability to weave more flesh into what are essentially flower vase roles in the female characters who play opposite him as love interests . With Shaolin Soccer , Vicky Zhao was unfortunately quite pedestrian , and with Kung Fu Hustle , the scope given to Huang Shengyi was worse . Kitty Zhang continues the trend as good looking teacher Mrs Yuen , who takes pity on Dicky , but nothing more . Having seen all the Lunar New Year movie premieres for this week , I can safely say CJ7 came out tops , because it had a lot more moments in the movie that makes it family friendly entertainment , and yet imparting and giving out reminders of good values that will almost certainly rub off on the young , and the young at heart . Not at his best , but Chow delivers yet another crowd pleaser , for sure . Recommended !
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515,326 | 317,399 | 414,387 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : Pride and Prejudice
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I'd say I must thank Heavens for bestowing upon me , a second chance to finally watch the most excellent Keira Knightley version of the timeless Jane Austen classic Pride and Prejudice . Most of you would already be acquainted with the rich story about the sweet romance amongst the wonderfully beautiful Bennet sisters , in age old England . But this movie , in my most humble opinion , tended to place focus on the love between Elizabeth Bennet ( Keira Knightley ) and Mr Darcy ( Matthew Macfadyen ) , and between Jane Bennet ( Bond girl Rosamund Pike ) and Mr Bingley ( Simon Woods ) , allowing us audiences to witness folk dances while they tease each other . And we also bear testament to the challenges of love in those days , where manners maketh a person , and prim and properness the order of the day . With gentle bows and curtsies , we learn of Elizabeth's rebellious streak to break all norms , and the lessons everyone can take home , in not judging a book by its cover . It makes you count your lucky stars ( or do we ? ) about how we approach relationships these days , although some things , like the second guessings , and the waiting games we people play , seem to continue its stickiness like glue . Class and prestige make marriages like a business alliance more than that of love , and with age , makes some like a matter of convenience . Supported by an experienced veteran cast of Donald Sutherland and Judi Dench , the lovely Keira is up for a couple of awards for her role as Elizabeth , and I'd say , give them to her . Bravo ! Her performance was most delightful , and brought to life a range of emotions that you cannot deny make this role hers . Matthew Macfadyen too holds his own opposite Ms Knightley , with his Mr Darcy so pompous , and yet so gentlemanly . Oh , I haven't read the classic ( please pardon me on admitting to this most unforgivable sin ) , but for what it's worth as a movie , it's jolly good entertainment , coupled with a fair bit of eye candy . Though I did hope that the movie did have more time to explore in depth , some of its rushed subplots . ( P . S . I know the review reads weird , but heck , after 2 hours of that accent and language , it gets to you . Ha ! And yes , I know it isn't perfect too )
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515,240 | 317,399 | 463,998 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : Freedom Writers
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It's easy to dismiss at first glance that Freedom Writers as yet another run off the mill troubled teenage class with an inspirational teacher story where the latter whips the class into shape for graduation with some unorthodox teaching methods . In fact it is , except that it's based on accounts of real persons , and that it's full of heart . Hilary Swank plays the reel life Erin Gruwell , a newbie teacher who goes into class 203 totally wide eyed and full of zest , only to find that her students , the product of the education system's " radical " integration policy , are filled with street smart punks that the other veteran educators wouldn't give a damn about . With most of them involved in street gangs , drive by shootings , violence and such , she's determined to stay on and make a difference to their lives , and in essence , to give them an education . And it's not just education by going through the motions and mechanics of the curriculum , but real life skills and awareness in issues pertaining to their troubled lives - things like racial tolerance , harmony , and even lessons learnt from the largest gangster group in the history of mankind - the Nazis and the horrors of the Holocaust . In fact , it's the re-telling of these stories , featuring real survivors , and including the readings of select chapters in the Diary of Anne Frank , that distinguishes Freedom Writers from its genre peers , as we experience in tandem with the class , the take aways from the museum and field trips . In essence , not only are there struggles for respect within the class , there's also Erin's battle with the bureaucratic system , and the fight back against prejudice she faces from her envious , clearly more experienced , colleagues , who to them , teaching is just a job . I suppose after many years in the same role , people do get jaded once in a while . But to experience someone coming in to make real changes , and to do what is right rather than just to do a job , makes one sit up and evaluate one's own career . I thought Hilary Swank did a commendable job acting her role as the teacher who's willing to involve personal sacrifice to reach out and gain respect from her class , in order to fulfill her objective of getting their attention , and giving them a good education . And the real Erin Gruwell and her Freedom Writers , do deserve some respect in trying to change people's lives for the better . Freedom Writers clocks in just slightly over 2 hours , but it's a delight to sit through as we follow the class and teacher through 2 years of school . Its message is simple , that we often misunderstand people who are different , either through looks , skin colour , family name and background etc , and that often leads to conflicts of various sorts . The road to peace , is naturally to reach out with sincerity , and truly understand the other party . In order words , make love , not war . The pen here , is truly mightier than the sword .
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515,348 | 317,399 | 441,761 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : Free Zone
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Directed and co-written by Amos Gitai , Free Zone is the first Israeli movie to be shot in Jordan , and was nominated for the Palme d'Or at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival . Without a doubt my interest in watching the film is for the performance of the luminous Natalie Portman at her birthplace , and one which spotted a bit of controversy and ruckus with their filming near the Wailing Wall . But what is essentially my first Israeli film , I was awed by its simplicity yet powerful underlying message within . The film is bookended by the cumulative song Chad Gadya which grows on you with each passing minute , but yet watching Natalie Portman's Rebecca crying uncontrollably for more than 5 minutes , somehow just breaks your heart , and you start to wonder why so . We find out later that the American had broken off with her boyfriend Julio ( Aki Avni ) and is now sitting in a cab she boarded , without a destination to go to in a city not of her own , and begets the driver , Hanna Ben Moshe ( Hana Laszlo , in an excellent performance which was to win her the Best Actress Award at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival ) to take her anywhere . Hanna grudgingly agrees despite having a personal errant to run in Jordan , and brings her along for a ride . Like a road trip , the cinematography presents the film in 2 distinct ways , one as if you're an invisible passenger on the same journey with the ladies , ever present in the passenger seat , with point of views centered from within and around the vehicle they're in . The other view , as Rebecca puts it , is that it's " amazing to see things you read in the books " . We explore the scenery from Tel Aviv to Amman , in this road trip , and always for those ( like me ) who have yet to visit both countries , allows for a documentary styled eye-opener like a travelogue for sight and sound . Uniquely , instead of being satisfied with just showing endless roads and paths , we get compressed time with a double exposure and superimposition of the back - stories of both Rebecca and Hanna , and learn of the objective of the latter in this journey to seek someone to recover bad debts to the tune of US$30 , 000 . Being set in the Middle East also brings to mind the volatility of the security environment and peace agreements in place between the Israelis and Arabs . Issues such as those at the border depicted in the film reflects that clear and present tension that security personnel grapple with everyday , as did the radio announcements made over the impending and credible intelligence of threats . When crossed over to Jordan and meeting up with Leila ( Hiam Abbass ) , we sense a deep mistrust between the characters , even though it stemmed from the root of all evil - money . That aside , the movie did take ample time off to provide a candid observation of common folk on both sides of the border , highlighting their plight to earn a living , and the tenacity and will of villagers who rebuild their lives ordeal after ordeal . Theirs is never to give up . But I thought the payload came from the very assured direction of Gitai , with a succinct depiction of the uneasy tripartite relationship between the Arabs , Israelis and the Americans , as represented by the respective characters in their dealings with one another . Sure they bond over cigarettes , music and a common goal in their road trip back to Israel , but under this short term peaceful existence you still cannot shake off that aged old deep rooted mistrust , as it manifested itself toward the end and really got blown way out of proportion , dragging it out . I felt it mirrored the challenges for long term peace , and that comes probably only as a result of a profound , sincere and genuine understanding of cultures cutting both ways , as Leila casually remarked starting with the learning of the Arabic and Hebrew languages . And the most interesting note would be that of Rebecca's insistence to tag along Hanna and get herself embroiled in the feud between both sides , only to find herself running away when the going gets hot , either from a lack of patience , or having absolutely no clue and surrendering from trying to seek a workable peace process for all . Deceptively simple , with a powerful underlying message . And the wonderful performances by the ensemble team of actresses , made this all the more worthwhile to sit through .
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514,692 | 317,399 | 434,139 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : The Last Kiss
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When you're in your twenties , you feel invincible . Fresh out of school , and with a world of opportunities ahead of you , the general feeling is that nothing can go wrong . At least that's how I felt . And so far , nothing drastic has knocked me off my feet , or grounded my perceived progress to a halt . That is , until you hit the big three-oh , and start wondering about a whole host of issues , like what you're going to do with your life , are you going to settle down with that someone special if he / she exists , and essentially , what the heck happened in the last 10 years which seem to just whizz by , as if the decade just passed by without any significant milestones . And the male characters in The Last Kiss , are about the same age as I am , and in this story , they take a long hard look and evaluate heir circumstances , albeit all from a relationship point of view . Adapted from a Spanish movie L'ultimo Bacio with a screenplay by Paul Haggis ( who also wrote the screenplays for Casino Royale and Flags of Our Fathers now out in theatres ) , The Last Kiss stars Zach Braff as Michael , our guy who's stuck at the crossroads of his life . Everything's fine and dandy , great job , hybrid car , and living in with his pregnant girlfriend Jenna ( Jacinda Barrett ) . However , that contemplation of life , of what's next , and his disbelief about marriage , has forced him to seriously think about the future . He's unsure , and in his vulnerable state , gets very tempted by a younger , beautiful girl , Kim ( Rachel Bilson ) when she throws herself at him . Yes , Rachel Bilson from TV's OC has followed in the footsteps of fellow OC hot babe Mischa Barton , playing yet another sweet nubile temptation in their big screen debut ( Barton did her tour in The Oh in Ohio ) . As the seductress , her character totally loses herself in the company of Michael , and feminists in the audience would roll their eyes and find it hard pressed to find a valid reason to fall for that cad Michael , who is definitely tempted and should have stuck to his guns . Although the spotlight is definitely centered on this story arc , there are a few others which focus on Michael's friends , all hitting their 30s , and each facing dilemmas in their own right . Chris ( Casey Affleck ) is not getting along with his wife , who's high strung from taking care of their kid , Izzy ( Michael Weston ) cannot get over his ex girlfriend , and is actually an obsessive wuss , upset at her ability to move on so easily , and Eric Christian Olsen as Kenny the hipster player who's totally non-committal . Interactions between the guys are limited though , and each potential short story arc brings forth potential unexplored in full . But perhaps we have to leave it to the older folk to shed some light in this movie . Blythe Danner and Tom Wilkinson somehow light up the screen with their chemistry , as two elderly married couple who are at odds with each other , because of the lack of some tender loving affection showered upon the other . Harold Ramis makes a surprise appearance , and he's almost ballooned to twice the size since his lean Ghostbusters days . I'd actually thought I could easily identify with the broad issues faced by the host of characters here , but given it's focus just on relationships , it was a little below expectations . Nonetheless , it's one movie whose themes do set you thinking , especially about the touchy issue on fidelity ( hence , who's the recipient of your very last kiss ? ) , and even then it doesn't end by making any bold statements , but it chose to sit on the fence .
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514,549 | 317,399 | 464,022 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : Glastonbury
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Glastonbury is seriously for fans only . One of Britain's best known music festival , if you don't dig the type of music played , or if you don't enjoy unleashing the party animal inside of you , then steer clear of this movie . Otherwise , you're in for one hell of a ride , presented in a very different way . The screening I was in obviously didn't have many fans . I think I'm the only one head bobbing and leg tapping throughout the movie , and I couldn't do more because of the restrictive overrated Picturehouse seats . The usual documentary will embark you on a journey from beginning to end , through the eyes of a regular festival goer . Alternatively , it might take on the theme from a festival organizer's point of view , giving you the low downs on the happenings to bring the festival to life . The other strategy will be to showcase the incredible performers lined up for the festival year in year out , and speak of their experiences in igniting the crowd to a dance fervour . But under the hands of director Julien Temple , Glastonbury becomes a mixed bag , a rojak of sorts combining the different narrative presentations possible , and it takes a while to get used to . You see plenty of festival goers , but the focus is on none . There are interviews galore , but in a rather haphazard manner . It's sex , drugs and rock and roll , and the movie neither glamourizes , nor condones vice . You have stoned people talking to the camera , and you have tired revellers sleeping and dancing naked . You don't get bombarded with facts and figures about the festival , but talks with the organizers become rather topical instead , especially the later part about the erection of a security fence . However , it's more than just the people , it's also about the music . While the visuals are beautifully combined with the aural , you don't get to hear much of the pieces performed as a whole . What you get instead is like a sampling of tracks , teasing you with classics like David Bowie ( Heroes ) to contemporaries like Brett Anderson ( Common People ) , from alternative punk group Prodigy ( Firestarter ) , to electronica kings Chemical Brothers ( Hey Boy Hey Girl ) . Hey , if it features Massive Attack ( Karmacoma ) , I'm already sold ! It's a little less than conventional in its presentation by combining a series of clips from various festival years , in non chronological order . You can make out certain eras like the free loving 60s and the early years with the grainy quality of the picture , and distinguish the present day slicker shows in its trademarked pyramid stage . Just like the festival , you'll never know what you're gonna get at each turn , be it heavy downpour or mud baths , and that's how the narrative structure of Glastonbury takes . With ZoukOut around the corner , watching Glastonbury has triggered the party animal inside me , and I'm seriously considering going for this year's beach party at Siloso Beach Sentosa . Any fellow party goers game to join me ?
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514,735 | 317,399 | 429,589 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : The Ant Bully
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First , let's get the obvious out of the way . The ants in The Ant Bully look suspiciously similar to those in Antz ( 1998 ) . Powered by voices from recognizable stars , Antz had a more direct romance theme applied to it , whereas I felt The Ant Bully had a stronger social message to put across , given atrocities that are happening in our world right now . With The Ant Bully , I find that it is a surprising coincidence that this movie is released during a time when countries are whacking other countries , just because they can . Kinda like a bully , as Lucas Nickle in the film is . However , put into context , this troubled kid is a victim too , and can only lash out at others who are smaller in size , and helpless at being in a situation where it's almost impossible to retaliate . Things like the ants in his lawn . OK , so hands up those of you who had been guilty one point in time or another , tortured some innocent ant going about its daily chores of collecting crumbs . I have . Ranging from barbaric acts like burning them with a lighter until they become crisp , or dropping them onto the rice cooker lid when the rice is cooking , having this sick glee in watching them run around escaping to no avail , or even splicing them into half with a blade . Lucas Nickle ( voiced by Zach Tyler ) is dubbed " the destroyer " by the ant colony ( populated with familiar star voices like Julia Roberts , Nicholas Cage , Meryl Streep , Bruce Campbell and Paul Giamatti ) , given his atrocious acts on their habitat . It's a pretty magical like colony that nature designed , with various ant work groups working with efficiency in keeping their colony alive , and they even have their own version of a Merlin , Zoc ( Cage ) , who conjures up magical potions to teach Lucas a lesson . And it is precisely this lesson that is taught , with Lucas serving " community time " , that gives strength to this animated film . As with most arguments , disagreements and such , it usually boils down to the fundamentals of the lack of understanding . Like the racist bloggers who are sentenced not to jail , but to serve time in living with a community they fail to understand , so that they can learn and hopefully , be enlightened . It's also about the building of friendships from once enemies , and included here , though fleetingly , is both a subtle reminder and a commentary about the innate selfishness of human beings in general , in our pursuit for individual self gain , as compared to the natural cooperation amongst a colony of ants , for the good of the community . What makes The Ant Bully stand out , is its departure to a lot of elements which have become staple to recent animated flicks . Gone here are the pop songs played during the movie , or characters breaking out into song and dance . While jokes are still incorporated , it's more witty than slapstick , and there is a severe lack of references to current pop culture , which I thought was a refreshing change . However , there was only one sequence which reminded me of Star War's X-Wing fighters and their attack on the Death Star , right down to the same plot details of having just 1 shot down a shaft to take out the enemy . Don't be put off by the animation similarities to Antz . By itself , there isn't any flaws in the graphics , which turned out superbly when watched in a digital format . Its storyline will be able to engage you , even though at first glance it might seem a little simple at a superficial level . Oh , and I was laughing hard at the peanut joke here too : - )
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515,080 | 317,399 | 1,135,985 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : Sex Drive
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Despite what I would deem as a glut as far as teenage sex comedies are concerned , it's easy to have seen one to have seen them all , but Sex Drive still managed to arrest some attention from start to end because the screenplay by John Morris and director Sean Anders , based on the book " All The Way " by Andy Behrens , has plenty of genuinely funny moments , delivered by an excellent fresh faced cast supported by unlikely veterans hamming it up . Like all road trip related movies , from Harold and Kumar , to Road and Euro Trips , amongst a lot more others , there's always your virginal protagonist who is luckless in getting laid , and the premise has it all set up for him to do so en route to his deflowering destination . And sticking to formula , it dictates that you must have a wise-cracking sidekick who knows all , and / or done it all . If American Pie has its Stifler , then Sex Drive's equivalent would be the unlikely and pudgy Lance ( Clark Duke ) as his trash-talking mad humping equivalent , goading his best friend virgin Ian ( Josh Zukerman ) on to make a half-cross country trip to meet the internet girl of his dreams Ms Tasty ( mm mmm , Katrina Bowden ) , who offered to go all the way should he arrive in his ( brother's actually ) sweet GTO . So on the guise of visiting his ailing grandmother , Ian brings along Lance ( who's in on the plan ) , as well as best female friend Felicia ( Amanda Crew ) who along the way discovers that this road trip isn't exactly as innocent as it seems . And of course it plays to the usual notion that the one you seek is always forever just by your side and not halfway across the world . It's the same ol ' message , but delivered in a totally hilarious package . The strength of the story doesn't like on any marquee name making facial fools of themselves , but having to inject some wonderfully ( and sometimes obscene ) moments that catch you offguard , sometimes like a frat boy joke , but definitely laugh out loud . As you know with comedies these days , they usually taper off toward the end , or suddenly decide to go all mushy and dramatic . Here , the filmmakers saved the best bits for last , where everything converged together in one madcap finale , and doesn't fizzle out until the very last minute . And that means right up until the very last scene after the end credits roll . Two characters here stand out , and they're not leading roles though . The first would be a very buffed up James Marsden as Ian's brother Rex , who owns the GTO and exploits every opportunity to ridicule his kid brother . The second role , and a scene stealing one at that , belonged to Seth Green's Ezekiel , a sarcastic Amish fella who has the very best lines , and delivered so succinctly , if there was an award for best comedic performance , I'll give it to him in this role , hands down . Political correctness gets thrown out the window , and there are plenty of gaudy jokes involving various body parts . So if this is not your cup of tea , the recommendation would be to skip it as you're likely to frown more often than laugh . Naturally there are some loopholes and continuity errors that were obvious , but don't let those get to you . If you're really up for some good dose of laughing medicine to chase those blues away , then Sex Drive would be that perfect silver bullet .
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515,086 | 317,399 | 1,263,797 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : Muallaf
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Yasmin Ahmad's Muallaf finally hits the screens , and it scores a number of firsts from her filmography thus far . For starters , it's a departure from the Orked storyline which the last three ( or four if you count Rabun ) had centered around , and quite amazingly , it's predominantly in the English language . Save for the return of Sharifah Amani in one of the lead roles , and supporting roles with Tan Mei Ling and even Ho Yuhang , we see new faces here , with leads Brian Yap and Sharifah Amani's real sister Sharifah Aleysha also in this film as her on screen one . But first let's get the " controversies " out of the way . I guess by now the issue of Sharifah Amani's hair would have died down , and frankly this was generally lost in the audience here , except of course for its impact and relevance to the story . The other one would be its title which may allude to something about religious conversion , but the movie is about anything but that , even though some may find it near impossible not to dwell upon the issue of religion that were kept at arms length here , taking into account the title and connotations to its meaning . As I gradually find richness in the Chinese language ( I confess I disliked it as a subject in school ) I thought the Chinese title of ? ? ? ? , which literally translates to a " change of heart " was a more accurate depiction of what the story would be about . As with the themes of Yasmin's films , it's about the human condition and humanity , and the Family never being far behind . With Sepet , we had Orked's and Jason's family being in the thick of the action , and this continues into Gubra alongside the stories of the families in the muezzin's kampung . With Mukhsin , the neighbour's and the titular character's broken home got the spotlight , and a sneak preview of Talentime and synopsis of Wasurenagusa reaffirm that Family continues to play an important part in " a yasmin ahmad film " . In Muallaf , the sisters Rohani ( Sharifah Amani ) and Rohana ( Sharifah Aleysha ) epitomizes forgiveness and are a nuclear family of sorts . They're left to their own devices after escaping from their father ( played by Dato ' Razali Rahim ) and their stepmother ( singer Ning Baizurah with big hair ) , and live in a big haunted house by the grace of their deceased mother's friend . They meet Brian ( Brian Yap ) a schoolteacher who has his own traumatizing skeletons in his closet and what he perceives were mind games by his mom in Penang ( played by Tan Mei Ling ) , and through his attraction to the peaceful loving ways of the sisters , form a friendship with them . But of course there are moments which require some getting used to . The girls , in the director's own words , are weird , especially when Rohana begins to spout numbers and phrases , which to the character's own admission , she doesn't know what they actually mean and isn't aware that she gets on other people's nerves . So to some , the dialogue may be heavy or distant , unreal even , but it might just provide that spark of interest to go refer to some of the verses and quoted numbers , ranging from the Quran to the Bible and the Tao Te Ching , amongst others , to find out what they really mean , and in context whether they fit the scene . Muallaf obviously centers on Brian , and Yasmin crafted quite a character here , with his stingy and calculative ways dictating how he leads life , and in summary the Chinese title more or less symbolizes the change that this person will undergo . Not religious of course ( though some may disagree ) , but more significantly , changes to his attitude . Something which I believe most of us would have experienced from time to time , and even I am guilty of it , the treatment to our folks and the callousness in brushing them aside because we think they're naggy and getting in the way . Unlike the films in the Orked Trilogy , I felt this one had a more uplifting finale full of hope . Those who have seen those films will likely understand what I mean . Instead of an ending that will move you to tears ( at least I felt that way ) , like that in Sepet , Gubra ( minus the end coda ) , and Mukhsin even , Muallaf concluded on a rather positive note that made me break out in a smile and cheer the protagonist on . Despite of course some scenes being a little choppy , and having things left open ended , and the sisters being devoid of screen time and stuck to quick resolutions instead . It does seem like a serious film if not for Yasmin's signature sense of humour , and even then the laugh-out-loud moments got toned down a little in the limited moments where funny scenes do get injected . Look out too for Yeo Yann Yann as Cindy the bar girl , and Ho Yuhang as a private investigator continuing a dog joke , and in fact , I thought that Yuhang has some of the more colourful characters in Yasmin's film , from the neighbour in Rabun , to the repo - man in Mukhsin . For those who have the preconceived notion that Yasmin's films only revolves around the Orked character , well this film has broken that mold , and looking at the lineup of her films including this one , they may be set in different countries , or may even feature some of her regular actors , but one thing's for sure - they come from the same storyteller's heart , with stories that capture the essence of human issues that you and I see , hear or probably experience personally from time to time , because that's this thing called life . Go watch Muallaf , need I say more ?
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514,500 | 317,399 | 454,921 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : The Pursuit of Happiness
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Will Smith has come a long way since his Fresh Prince of Bel Air days . Starring in an average of 1 movie per year , ranging from action to serious drama , it's without a doubt that he's one of the world's most bankable stars , and turns in an Oscar nominated performance for his role as Chris Gardner in The Pursuit of Happiness , inspired by the events of the real Chris Gardner's life . Smith's role was wonderfully multi-faceted , as the loving father who's trying his very best to bring home the bacon , for his family , and to pay the bills . A sales person whose product is a bone density contraption , he faces dark days when sales targets are consistently missed , and the bills start to mount . Soon enough his family structure breaks down , as he goes in search for financial independence against incredible odds , in the quest to lift himself and his son from the doldrums of life . It's a basic rags to riches story , which made the grade based on Smith's performance . With steely grit , determination , and the refusal to back down , it's inspirational in a way , though at times clichéd , with reminders not to let others put you down just because they can't themselves . You feel down when the characters face their challenges , and celebrate when they gain little triumphs . For anyone who had faced financial hardships one way or another , it's easy to identify with elements presented , like how difficult it is to reclaim bad debts , and the feeling of dread when you have but a few dollars in your wallet . Told as a narration introduced by titles corresponding to the events presented , there were some elements that brought back some memories of my internship days as well , especially the scene where Gardner had to make cold calls . It's not easy , even though you're prepared with some sort of script , you have to be on your toes to negotiate for a meeting to present something substantial , and the challenge is to snag that meeting . Of course , more often than not , it's great training to build up a thick skin , as you'll face with more rejections , some of which are as soon as you introduce yourself . A little street smart slyness is the order of the day , and Gardner in the movie managed to kill multiple birds in one stone , constantly probing for opportunities . The art direction was superb , capturing the 80s setting perfectly , with little clues dropped every now and then to remind you that it's the 80s - the ad for Robert DeNiro's Raging Bull , Ronald Reagan as President , and the fashion of the days . While Thandie Newton co-stars as Gardner's wife Linda , a role which allowed her to contribute a lot more than her recent outing in Norbit , the real co-star is actually Jaden Smith , who plays Gardner's son Christopher . In fact , if you thought the father-son chemistry he shared with Will Smith was natural , it is , because Jaden is actually Will's son , so it's no surprise how comfortable they look together on screen . For an inspirational movie and as much one on father and son relationships , of the sacrifices fathers make , it's balanced in both its lighthearted and melancholic moments , A definite must watch for fans of Will Smith , and for those curious to check out his Oscar nominated performance before the awards ceremony this weekend . My bet is if Forest Whitaker's Idi Amin role in The Last King of Scotland is not competing in the same year , then Will Smith would have had a better chance .
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514,643 | 317,399 | 770,214 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : Kabul Express
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Kabul Express had been in a number of local festivals here , as well as in the Asian Festival of First Films , and I rue the missed opportunities to have watched this on the big screen . I guess a DVD with extras would have to do , and my interest was initially piqued because it was one of the first films to have been shot in Afghanistan after the fall of the Taliban . Given that we dare not venture into what are currently hot spots in the world , film then serves as the next best thing to be able to see the city of Kabul captured on screen by the filmmakers , for the world at large . Shot entirely in and around Kabul , Afghanistan , Kabul Express features plenty of lush scenery captured by the beautiful cinematography , and it helps that both the writer-director Kabir Khan , and his director of photography Anshuman Mahaley had been in and around the country a couple of times themselves , the former being a documentary filmmaker who had gone a handful of times , and this film summarizes his experiences in the country which he had distilled into his first feature length narrative film . Through their eyes we see worlds that we don't normally see , and they have a very mature and poignant story to tell , steering clear of the very obvious story lines of condemning outright the Taliban here , though not without reasons . Kabir Khan had weaved humanity across all the characters he put into this film , and consciously had everyone from different nationalities and cultures come together in a melting pot known as the Kabul Express , an offroad jeep which is used to ferry them around on a road trip pretty much to satisfy the wishes of the one holding onto the rifle . I thought it was a fine decision to have the actors actually from the countries involved in order to add a little authenticity and to bring across some genuine deep rooted nuances and attitudes to their roles , especially when dealing with the theme of hatred . John Abraham and Arshad Warsi play journalists from India Suhei and Jai respectively , who decided to boost their careers with getting themselves into Afghanistan to interview themselves some Taliban , who are now hunted by the Northern Alliance and the US troops , and are fighting for their lives . With the help of a local Afghan guide Khyber ( Hanif Hum Ghum ) and a chance meeting cum rescue mission of American photographer Jessica Beckham ( Linda Arsenio ) , they come into contact with an escaping Pakistani Imran Khan Afridi ( Salman Shahid ) , who had fought with the Taliban , and now with the help of an AK47 , forces the group to bring him back to the Pakistan border . Kabir Khan had crafted some very nicely done set pieces , be it action or drama , and definitely comedy which hit the right note most of the time , at all the right places . The funny bits do defuse plenty of tension which come inbuilt with the kind of rough wild west lawlessness and terrain that the characters find themselves in , where everyone's for themselves , and self - serving militant groups still around to rule over their self-imposed jurisdictions . And for this Kabir himself got into some flak for portraying the Hazara ethnic group in bad light . There's nothing in black and white , and everything is in grey territory here , such as the symbiotic relationship that Pakistan allegedly shares with the Taliban that gets explored here . But I suppose road movies provide for perfect opportunities where misconceptions are cleared and prejudices get addressed , where fears of the unknown get dissipated once familiarity creeps in . The team in the jeep through time spent together , whether they like it or not , had forged an uneasy alliance and dependence on one another , and if not for their backgrounds , they could be friends , given their common ground for movies , song and love of cricket . Except for the American of course , who's more often portrayed as obnoxious , and doesn't think before she shoots off her mouth . I felt that was one scene where she could have told a white lie in order to ease a tense situation , but in doing what was deemed to be the right thing , had failed to see the obvious repercussions staring right at her face . Blessed by a truly hypnotic score , Kabul Express enthralls , not by being a novelty of achieving firsts in many areas , but through a story which was delivered right by the multi - national cast , and the relevance and importance that we live in a world without strangers , where barriers could be broken down with communication and understanding . Definitely highly recommended in my books !
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514,559 | 317,399 | 1,179,271 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : 10 Promises to My Dog
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You probably cannot count just how many doggie movies are out there , with its fair share coming out of Japan . Neither can I , and ever since Hachiko I thought none could stand up to the loyalty of that dog , but I guess I was wrong . You think you know the usual drill when it comes to stories about man's best friend , but I guess one can always count on the Japanese to weave a story based on much melodrama that somehow works , no matter if it at first glance might seem to be familiar . Like how the dog remains unflinchingly loyal to its owner , good or bad in its owner's treatment of it . Or how it can always be relied on to provide that listening ear , even though they obviously don't speak our language , or best of all , how as a puppy the camera always capture their best angle to make you wish you could go home to one who that will always wag its tail and playfully pounce on you as a greeting , as if you're the best person in the world that stepped through the door . The 10 promises referred to here isn't exactly 10 of the best that one would actually commit to the pet , but rather , a pact of understanding from both parties that build on trust . And that turns out to be key to the story , as it extends not only between animals and man , but across relationships that both parties will forge with others and fellow species as well . In fact , some of these serve as universal reminders , and I suppose young kids who are brought to see this G-rated film , will probably come to understand that it takes a lot of responsibility to take care of a pet , especially when one's priorities in life tend to change as one grows up within the average lifespan of , in this case , a dog . Told over 10 years , the film stars Mayuko Fukuda and Lena Tanaka as the character of Akari , a young girl who seem to suffer from setback after setback ranging from family to relationship issues , despite her sunshine cheery demeanour . And the best parts in the movie pertain to the carefully crafted story about family , about being there for your loved ones , and making precious moments count . And with the 10 promises , we will journey with Akari to see if she can commit to the pact successfully , or not . But it's not just a story about a girl and her dog , and there's where this movie shines in being different from the usual run off the mill stories . There's a small sub plot involving Akari's golden retriever Socks in its ability to become a therapy dog , both for herself , and good friend Hoshi ( Ryo Kase ) . And it chief strength was in how it weaved a very nice , touching story about family , of being there every moment that you can , and making such moment matter . Just like how Akari's father Saito ( Etushi Toyokawa , in a role that perhaps many can identify with ) places work in a higher priority than family in order to put bread on the table , but realizes that work just isn't everything as time will just pass you by . And it served as an interesting parallel when Akari loathes her father's non-presence , but slowly we see her succumbing to these same attitudes as well , much to the disappointment of , well , everyone else . Despite a romantic angle being ploughed into the movie at its midpoint on , its family one still stood its ground and delivered the melodramatic payload when it mattered , to tug at your heartstrings during the inevitable finale . And while listening to the Japanese cast bravely sing their way through Time After Time , I'd figured that while it fit the movie nicely with the message it wanted to bring across , perhaps this version of the song will sooth calm nerves : Highly recommended if you have never seen a movie about man and his best friend , or if the last one you've watched was a few years ago . Otherwise you should know what to expect when it goes into dramatic overdrive .
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514,841 | 317,399 | 420,238 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : The Tale of Despereaux
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Never did I think that The Tale of Despereaux would have all it takes to be a fairy tale in the spirit of Stardust , and I had actually found myself enjoying this tale from once upon a time , which provided entertainment to children , and not leave the adults in the lurch thanks to its rather mature story that spread out like a hydra thanks to the myriad of colourful characters inhabiting its kingdom of Dor , where citizens enjoy the yearly ritual of witnessing and subsequently tasting the soup of the year created . There's a difference between a mouse and a rat , as far as likability and the cuteness factor goes . And central to the story are a world-weary rat Roscuro ( voiced by Dustin Hoffman ) who lives aboard a ship and finds himself grounded in part due to his love for good food , and that of an innocent mouse with a big heart , the titular character Despereaux ( Matthew Broderick ) , who is smaller in size than the average mouse , but born with big Dumbo like ears which he uses to great effect . Roscuro's presence in the kingdom happens to be the root cause of the king having to ban soup and outlaw the presence of rats in his kingdom , and disappears for a while in the middle section of the story , leaving room for Despereaux to step up to the central role . We learn that Despereaux is no ordinary mouse , not only in physical terms , but in character , because he knows no fear and very much unlike the other mice who must learn to be meek and cower as an innate response to danger . For his steadfastness in holding true to his principles , he finds himself banished as punishment for speaking to Princess Pea ( Emma Watson ) , and so paves way for the little one to exhibit the values of honour , chivalry , loyalty and courage , stuff in which he found appealing from a story book that he read , with which he imagines himself to be a mouseketeer / knight . What made this movie work , are the many threads and characters in seemingly disparate narrative arcs , where you can't help but to anticipate how they would all come together . Each character created was quite balanced in having grey area to tread , so that the theme of forgiveness could ring through . And having a star studded cast to voice them worked wonders too , such as Tracey Ullman , Kevin Kline , William H . Macy , Ciaran Hinds ( who is also in this week's Race to Witch Mountain ) , Frank Langella , Christopher Llyod and Sigourney Weaver as the narrator , which quite interestingly , doesn't always narrate verbatim to what's shown on screen . Each character has their own motivation put out clearly , and while some , like the key characters , have their work cut out for them , you can rely on the support cast to liven up things a little and provide some comic relief . I guess the animation studios in the west have already reached a plateau in terms of the technical know-how in putting out a photo-realistic animated film these days . You can imagine the texture of the animal's fur , as well as the smell of the dark and stank underground city of Rat Town , or the perfumed sweetness that comes with a princess ' room . It goes to show that the benchmark has been raised permanently , and it will take many years and larger budgets if local animated film studios ( that have given us cringeworthy titles to date , with poor stories and poor graphics ) are thinking of reaching the same heights . Not wanting to put them down , but they have to understand that a strong story is key ( and doesn't mean you tweak it to suit the flavour of what you think will sell ) in order for the animation to do its part ( e . g . Barnyard ? excellent CG art , but poor story = box office disaster ) . The Tale of Despereaux again is family friendly fare save for one scene which I thought might be pushing the envelope a bit ( for a children's G-rated film that is ) . Other than that , for those looking for a more adult fairy tale , give this mouse a chance , and in all honesty , this little guy got more spunk than Ratatouille . Recommended !
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515,219 | 317,399 | 819,785 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : The Matrimony
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I usually get perturbed when I watch movies with Hong Kong actors , because our Speak Mandarin campaign here dictates that these movies if in Cantonese have to be dubbed into Mandarin . Add to the fact that most times , the audio and lip movements on screen rarely sync , besides the frequent use someone with a poor voice quality that results in the stars coming across with squeaky or irritating voices . No such situation in this Chinese horror movie production because the cast are speaking in Mandarin , and this somehow earns some brownie points . The Matrimony , like the name implies , focuses a lot more on relationships and love , with the supernatural angle adding that extra dimension to complicate matters . It is not a horror movie per se , but a tragic love story that has its characters perpetually stuck with their various issues . Leon Lai stars as cinematographer Shen Junchu , a man who can't forget his true love , living in a state of denial and guilt . Fan Bingbing plays Xu Manli , that love of his who now belongs to the netherworld , but still trying her best to make contact , and rounding up the main cast is Rene Liu as Sansan , the present wife of Jinchu , stuck in a loveless unconsummated marriage , looking too for ways to reach out to him . While there are moments initially where the usual complimentary attempts at scaring the audience are put through the motions , like creaky doors , quick edits , camera pans and sudden appearances , these tactics are soon abandoned when the story decided to contrast that affections of these two women have for their man . It's about unattainability , and the methods employed to try and bridge that gap . To Manli , it is obvious that her appearance and touch will harm Junchu , and for Sansan , it's clear that nursing that crush you have without that emotional connection made both ways , is futile . So a pact between them is made , at first seemingly to benefit Junchu , but later revealed to be much more than meets the eye . There's nothing fancy to the story as it plays out rather ordinarily , but to its credit it stays coherent , and brings about the storytelling days of old . There isn't any twist save for what I deem as cop-out wrapper scenes which , if you ignore them being used as bookends , actually makes for a refreshing experience given that horror movies these days are always so clichéd with the unexpected ( and usually disappointing ) ending . The narrative rarely gets over the top or too full of itself , and thus the beauty in its simplicity . But there is nothing simple in terms of production values . The film sets are lush and gorgeous , and no effort made to try and match the authenticity of yesteryears , making it a beautiful film to look at . The only thorn that marred the visual spectacle , was a crucial scene , which I thought could have either be done away with , or done conventionally . Instead , it decided to use visual effects , and it was badly done and cheesy . Not that the quality of the effects were limited , as later scenes were done to perfection , but I guess for this particular one , some quality control was abandoned . The movie started off rather slow but thankfully picked up the pace as it moved along , and you won't feel bored as your eyes will be admiring almost everything on set in the scene . I deem Rene Liu as having the most to do here , as surprisingly , much of the story revolves around her character Sansan , also in having the richest backstory created amongst the three , thus attempting to challenge her acting range . Leon Lai was stoned for most parts , while Fan Bingbing was largely scheming , given the age old superstition that any spirit clad in red is the most vicious . Given Valentine's Day just around the corner , I'd probably stick my neck out to say that this makes a decent date movie too , despite the secondary subject of spirits and ghostly possession . Just remember not to play with fire , that rarely is there a free lunch , especially when the dealmaker isn't from this part of existence .
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514,817 | 317,399 | 432,021 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : Resident Evil : Extinction
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With Extinction , the Resident Evil franchise perhaps have made its mark as the most enduring computer game turned movie to date . Most of such movies usually make for cheesy lazy weekend entertainment , little in depth but filled with plenty of set action pieces , which for the most parts are nothing groundbreaking . But what this franchise has to credit for its longevity , is Milla Jovovich . OK , so she has made mostly mediocre movies of late ( I sense some fanboys will get me for this , but let me put it straight , I'm a fan of hers too ) , especially with the lacklustre Ultraviolet , and the really showy . 45 . If not best remembered for her role as Leeloo in Luc Besson's The Fifth Element ( still credited in my books as the ONLY film I watched with having zero prior knowledge on anything about it ) , then it'll be for her role as Alice , the zombie butt kicking superbeing whose blood holds the key to a reversal of the effects of the T-virus engineered by the evil Umbrella Corporation . The premise here is similar to that of 28 Days / Weeks Later , where the virus is now out of control , and mutates humans into flesh chomping zombies , spreading mayhem worldwide . Human survivors are few and far between , and where we left off from Apocalypse , Alice is now travelling the world alone , seeking refuge and peace , while evading Umbrella's gunsights . It presumably takes place a significant amount of time after the predecessor , given that Jill Valentine ( Sienna Guillory ) doesn't return for this , keeping the doors open for either an unlikely spin off , or a revisit into the gap in timeline should Guillory sign on the dotted line . But I guess as Juvovich fans , we don't really care , do we ? So long as we get to see our heroine in action , we're satisfied , whether she's causing misery to her opponents from her twin handguns , double Kukri knives or just her incredibly toned limbs , we're rooting for her all the way , dressed in garb personally designed by Juvovich herself , which provides for both form and functionality . The trend of casting pretty women to pair with her continues , with the first movie having Michelle Rodriguez , the second with Guillory , and now , Heroes ' Ali Larter and Spencer Locke join the fray . However , they are relegated to more pedestrian roles as compared to previous partners , so don't be expecting much from them , especially for fans of Larter . The story can be no more simpler than Alice serving as a messiah for a small convoy of survivors headed by Larter's Claire , delivering them a message to journey to the promised land in Alaska . But of course the road to Peace and No Infection is plagued by challenges which culminates in a big battle in Las Vegas , where the trailers have teased with the entire city being semi-buried in sand . And like a video game , all levels will lead to their respective Big Boss to do battle with , and Extinction doesn't evade that formula too . Watching Alice grow in power , provides a lot of kick in some of the cool things she can do , enhanced with special effects of course . Don't expect the franchise to slam the door of opportunity shut on itself . By the look of things , we might even see a fourth movie coming up in perhaps two or three years time ( the interval between the movies thus far ) . Expect plenty of blood and gore as our heroes cut through ugly zombies like hot knife through butter , and none other does it more balletic and graceful than Milla Juvovich . You go , girl !
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514,775 | 317,399 | 1,093,824 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : Encounters at the End of the World
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Trust Werner Herzog to come up with an engaging documentary such as this , where he was on the invite of the National Science Foundation to visit the community of scientists at McMurdo Station over at the Antarctica , and of course , couldn't pass up not documenting his exploration of the ice continent , which was showcased by The Discovery Channel . But this is by no means something that was made for television , being shot in High Definition which brought out the glorious visuals , aesthetically looking or otherwise , for all and sundry to enjoy . But this is not just penguins and icebergs , or interviews that go on about highly scientific knowledge given the background of his interview subjects . Instead , it took a very humanistic look at life at the Station , as well as these individuals as persons , their dreams and experiences . And his subjects , or at least those that make it to the film , are nothing short of fascinating , and seems to all have a few things in common , that is the drive to want to venture off the well trodden path , and being " professional dreamers " in their own right . And it's not just presenting only the positive side of things , or a promotional video for the Station , which Herzog , who narrated this feature , had mentioned he would not do . There's a fair balance of viewpoints , some which are left to an audience to make the judgement call , while others you can hear his outright disapproval , sometimes laced with quick wit and sarcasm . While the scientists are there for research to make the world a better place , and to understand this last frontier on the globe , you can't help but notice the construction landscape the colony has created , as if it is ingrained in man to ravage the land he resides in , and alter Nature for the provision of some ridiculous creature comforts . I suppose one still cannot get away from not covering something about the penguins when in the Antarctica . Herzog goes one step further to cover the different camps at the continent , for the audience to grasp the extent of scientific research and exploration , at the same time eliciting candid views about life in isolation , and listen in to sights and sounds unheard of , with every interview subject each possessing very unique and interesting stories to tell . There are some survival tips here that prove to be valuable , not that I'll have a chance to visit the continent , but are common sense stuff that you're likely to appreciate from .
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514,959 | 317,399 | 462,200 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : Black Snake Moan
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This movie oozes sexiness , attitude and wacky fun , with loads of quirkiness all round . With stars Justin Timberlake , Christina Ricci and Samuel L Jackson , Black Snake Moan is a movie with some of the more unconventional characters put on screen , and with Jackson on board , you can be sure that he brings forth some of that mo-fo traits that features prominently in his movies . Ricci plays Rae , the village bicycle who is ridden by almost everyone in town . And I really mean almost everyone . We'll find out the reason how this condition was inflicted , but in the meantime , she's more than eager to shed her clothes to get her sexual fix , or doesn't bat an eyelid to prostitute herself to feed her drug addiction . With her white trash reputation , only her love for Ronnie ( Timberlake ) is true , but that doesn't stop her from cheating on him behind his back . Jackson's Lazarus has just emerged from a broken marriage , the victim of being cheated upon . A God-fearing man , I would've half expected he start to recite some verses in the Bible while blowing someone's brains off ( oh wait , that's the other movie ) . But nonetheless here's Jackson in his element , and the story gets hastened when he finds Rae near his home , half naked and battered . Not knowing what else to do , and taking it as a signal from God , he takes it upon himself to nurse Rae back to health , and through religion and friendship , tries to exorcise those evil demons within her . And he does so by firstly , chaining her up . While there are suggestive shades of S & M here , there's nothing kinky about it , so don't expect Jackson and Ricci steaming up the screens . Much against her wishes to have her movements restricted , Lazarus " will not be moved ! " in inflicting cold-turkey styled treatments on Rae , and most of the fun comes in when they go head to head in a battle of wills . But as expected , a deep friendship ensues , and Lazarus becomes a surrogate father of sorts , which brings us to other highly anticipated moments in the movie , when Jackson sings the blues ! Armed with his guitar , perhaps those segments are the most entertaining of the lot , when he goes into full swing and performs with cool , slick attitude to boot . I haven't heard of any blues tunes with profanity , and only Samuel L . Jackson does it best when on form ! And what of Timberlake you say ? He plays the lovelorn boy who volunteers for the army , and for the most parts is not on screen . Not surprising too is that he doesn't sing anything ( as per his role in Shrek 3 ) , and his character is actually a wussy . This movie definitely played on Ricci and Jackson's strengths and chemistry , which they have delivered most excellently . Sex , violence , and Samuel L Jackson . Now aren't those reasons enough to watch Black Snake Moan ? It doesn't take itself too seriously , so as long as you're not expecting some Oscar worthy material , you're in for a rip-roaring heckuva ride .
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515,130 | 317,399 | 364,961 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : The Assassination of Richard Nixon
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What will make a man snap , go out of control , and want to kill the President , by flying an airplane right into the White House ? While the setting of this tale is pre-911 , watching it in a post-911 era does send some unnerving chills down your spine . Life is bad for Sam Bicke . His American Dream is falling apart , starting with his family . He is separated from his wife , and she has custody of their 3 children . She has obviously moved on , and is unhappy whenever Sam visits her and the children , and even more angry when he sees her at her workplace . His moral values clashes with company culture - as a salesman he is expected to make the occasional white lie to sell products . But he subscribes to the moral belief that one should tell the truth , even in business . Needless to say , his quota is always at the bottom rung , and gets chided and belittled by fellow colleagues and his boss . He tries to start his own business , but is stuck with insane bureaucracy and suspected racism . At one stage he steals from his brother , who's also in the same line of business ( rubber tyres ) , and that plunged their blood relations even further down the gutter . Heck , even his political ideology he identifies with the Black Panthers also turn inconsequential , as the group gets clamped down . Frustrated by the current state of his being , he finally puts the blame on the " system " , as we see Richard Nixon on TV screens , giving his political speeches in his scandal laden presidency . Sam finally decides to take matters into his own hand to not just be a grain of sand on the beach , and this leads to an explosive ending where the pace of the film quickens . Sean Penn is absolutely brilliant , and is able to carry the entire weight of this film on his own shoulders . Playing a man with many facades and moods , he brings Sam Bicke to life with ease with his repertoire of acting skills . His co-stars put up commendable performances , albeit short ones . ( Can't get enough of Don Cheadle after his excellent Hotel Rwanda ) . I checked out this show in preparation of his other film The Interpreter , with yet another Australian actress ( His 21 Grams co-star Naomi Watts in this one , and Nicole Kidman in the other . . . lucky fella ! ) , so if you want to watch Sean showcase his acting ability in a recent non-mainstream film , you can consider this .
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514,860 | 317,399 | 490,210 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : Sarkar Raj
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To kill is a crime , but to kill at the right time is politics . Sarkar Raj is the sequel to the 2005 movie Sarkar by Ram Gopal Varma , which is said to be the Indian equivalent of The Godfather starring megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the titular role where a gangster gets elected to political power . You don't really need to watch Sarkar in order to enjoy Sarkar Raj , as characters get introduced fairly quickly , and their motivations spelt out clearly on the surface . Necessary links to the original were presented in flashbacks , while the story here takes off with new challenges that present themselves to the characters whom you can get chummy with in a jiffy . There were a few things I was amazed with regarding the movie . For starters , to a relative Bollywood newbie like myself , this movie will debunk all notions that Indian movies have to come default with song and dance . There is absolutely no forced musical sequences in the movie , perhaps only the the Govindar theme song which gets repeated play . Next , the richness of colours I am used to when watching movies from the Indian continent gets replaced by a very strained palette , with quite a gritty look that aligns itself with its subject matter . And the shaky camera technique invades the industry too , though there was adequate contrast provided in its camera styles to reflect the innate characteristics of the leads - for a seasoned gangster who has mellowed and found calm , the camera is measured and still to reflect the old ginger's state of mind , whereas when following his heir apparent , it's shaky-cam for the most parts to accentuate his cock-sure impatient nature beneath a facade of confidence . Going by the loud chuckles of a predominantly Indian audience I was with , there were certainly some nuances that went unappreciated by myself because my lack of knowledge was likely to have not allowed me into some of those jokes , though there were times I could identify with the story's slight mocking of the state of Indian politics , and with the lack of clear direction amongst the chief villains as well , which played for stifled laughs . Sarkar Raj opens with Aishwarya Rai's Anita Rajan , the daughter of an industrialist in England who wishes to build a power plant in Subhash Nagare's ( Amitabh Bachchan ) controlled state . Celebrating his birthday , Subhash takes opportunity to signal that his son Shankar Nagare ( played by real life son Abhishek Bachchan ) has arrived on the big political arena , and is likely to take a more active role in decision making . This shows when he quietly backs and puts faith in his son's pursuit in having the power plant located in their territory , despite having to displace 40 , 000 people in the short term . Like all politicians with good intent , they're looking toward the long term goals of providing basic electrical infrastructure to their people , but as with all things , there are bound to be opposition to decisions by the incumbent . And that's just the tip of the iceberg , as in slightly more than 2 hours , we're bombarded with political battles made with strategic moves akin to a game of chess , only that the players involved are more than two across a wooden board . There are outright opponents in your face , but the deadlier ones are always those who remain in the shadows , and are difficult to pin down . Gentlemanly campaigning does not suffice , as tricks from the illegitimate book of tactics get drawn out , to consequences that will spiral everyone down the road of violence begetting more violence . While Amitabh clearly is the head of the household here , just when you thought he had taken a backseat in his role in the sequel , he jumps right back into the driving seat with a vengeance , and it's always interesting to witness the charismatic actor in action . Son Abhishek holds his own against his father's imposing figure , and the both of them as on - screen father-son brings about a sense of realism and naturalness to their characters ' relationship , as the son whom the father can trust , and as the father whom the son could rely on for support . Rounding up the Bollywood royalty here is the first post marriage pairing of Abhishek and wife Aishwarya Rai , though Rai's character happens to be somewhat sidelined to a few appearances with plenty of tear duct activation , and doesn't really forward the plot much . But should there be another sequel , then Rai's character is already primed for a meatier role then . Sarkar Raj has enough story elements to keep you engaged throughout as the characters make all attempts to outplay , outwit and outlast one another . Basic greed of man and being unappreciated ( then growing feet too big for their shoes ) usually are reasons enough for one to turn against another , but the reminder that goes out is to never rub another man's rhubarb , especially when it belongs to someone with political clout , powerful base support , and well , is a top gangster with no qualms of exacting punishment without remorse . It makes me want to hunt down the DVD for the first installment already , to see how the Nagares got to consolidate their power , and how certain outcomes mentioned here were played out earlier . Definitely a recommended crime and political thriller !
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514,376 | 317,399 | 486,358 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : Jesus Camp
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Jesus Camp is a horror movie . And the horror is real , not made up , doesn't rely on cheap special effects or tried and tested techniques to make your heart jolt . What's horrific is the systematic brainwashing of children , to have them believe something so abstract , by using devices such as toys , and fear . Children are highly impressionable , and watching the little ones put through a regime of highly charismatic thought processes , and perhaps even empowering them , what you get are little monsters . Angelic faces , but with hearts so demented , they are children no more . And the persons to thank , are the evangelical preachers , who , like perverse adults , find pleasure in indoctrinating young , easy to mould minds , to serve their sick cause . What made it worse , is that these folks find immense pleasure in recording their deeds on tape , and then going home to review them , watching their handiwork all over again . If success at robbing someone makes stealing candy from a toddler count , then these folks surely find this method the easiest , and the one that scores the most points . It's a pain to watch how these children believe , in raising their arms up high , thinking they can feel the holy ghost possessing them , writhe in imaginary pain on the ground , and cry so much crocodile tears , they think the more the holier art thou . It's flat out hypocrisy , one that bears warning about the false prophets that permeate society these days . And how cowards like those target the helpless and those who are in their formative years , to fill their brains with cow dung , and more selfishly , in preparation for the future , where their political ambitions include taking over the government , followed by world domination . They idolize George W Bush ( can someone recall something about worshipping idols ? ) and call non-Christians enemy combatants , whom they want to emulate ( short of bearing arms , at this point ) . They revel in their " enemies " ability to make their children handle bomb vests , while secretly hoping that one day they can do that to their own kids too . Religions are always about love and peace toward all fellow mankind ( or all god's creation ) , but here , the preachers twist words and sow the seed for the future - one of their own designs . Watching how they lambast and so believe their own non - " Dead Church " ways , I think it'll take years for any of those kids shown to be de-programmed from their dangerous thoughts . The " jumping up and down " ways in Church will naturally be appealing , as it goes against the grain of the usual congregational behaviour one would perceive in holy places of worship . And you know , anything that seems rebellious , fun ( c'mon , rock songs , free love , etc ) , and counter-establishment , will always find a place in the heart of a child / teen . And seduction , is always sweet . You can judge me to be critical and non-approving of the behaviour demonstrated , and frankly I don't care . What I would like to see though , is come Judgement Day and for the unfortunate ( likely ? ) reason I can't pass through the Pearly Gates and have to head southwards , I sure like to see those false prophets there with me for eternity . The film managed to portray , in its short 90 minutes , the content , but really , left judging it on your own . What I found a little distracting at times during the documentary , is when the camera has difficulty putting itself into focus , resulting in many shots being focusing shots , from blur to clear , making it a bit nauseating . Should there be a sequel or follow up ( say 10-15th Anniversary DVD Edition ) , it sure would be a blast to see the outcome of these children in their teens , if they have realized their follies , and left their " calling " , or worse , fallen prey into deadly Sin that they have been warned time and again . Stay tuned when the end credits roll for a little coda , where the kids clearly demonstrate bigotry and generalization . So young , but already so set in their minds , in the wrong way .
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514,659 | 317,399 | 120,116 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : 12 Storeys
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12 Storeys is Eric Khoo's follow up to Mee Pok Man . The opening montage of various scenes around the residential estates prepares the audience for things to come , that the focus will be on the everyday man , and their supposed challenges they face in their daily lives . We start off with lingering shots of a man , who commits suicide , and we explore and glimpse into the lives and relationships of 3 heartland families through his eyes , in one 12 Storey block . There's the abusive mother and dutiful adopted daughter . With her acid tongue and no holds barred rude comments about almost everything about her daughter , the old lady rants on and on about the way she looks , dresses and hurls about almost every abusive ( non vulgar ) Cantonese insult . You emphatize and feel for the daughter , going through with comparisons , and wondering what will eventually make her snap , if she could . Jack Neo plays a buck-toothed henpecked hawker husband to Quan Yi Feng's sarcastic China bride , bringing to the screen every conceivable prejudice against Chinese women , with their perceived gold-digging and flirtatious ways . She hits back though , with stark comments about Singaporean society , and offers an introspective look into the way the Ugly Singaporean behaves . Koh Boon Pin was excellent as the protective and authoritative brother Meng , to Lum May Yee's rebellious and independent Trixie and Ritz Lim's Tee . The Meng-Trixie relationship undergoes the most changes in this film - the start which shows a rather happy family , which progresses into destruction as one member forces his opinions and perceptions onto the other , resulting in an unexpected revelation too difficult for one member to fathom , like a blow to one's pride . Although each storyline is distinct , the narrative intercuts between the three , and sometimes gelled together with subtle humor , or witty coffeeshop banter amongst regulars . I particularly enjoyed the coffeeshop talk , where they talk cock about current affairs of the day ( Michael Fay , 4D , etc ) , or poke fun or insult the other characters of the story , like the adopted daughter , and the henpecked husband . It's these scenes that make this film so real , these rumours and gossips of idle chatter , something which most Jack Neo movies seem to feature too ( perhaps picked up from here ? ) Prominent local actors like Lim Kay Siu , Neo Swee Lin , Lim Kay Tong , etc make cameo appearances , which added additional flavour to the movie . Songs sung by Lum May Yee and Humpback Oak were also nice touches throughout the film . With a snapshot of a cross section of society , we end off without really having most conflicts resolved . Perhaps that's a reflection of life , that when challenges occur , sometimes you have an answer , and sometimes you may not , but life , will always go on .
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514,491 | 317,399 | 399,095 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : Trade
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The plight of innocent victims of human trafficking for sex has moved filmmakers enough to make movies addressing the issue . The last two in recent memory that I've watch are Your Name is Justine , and Lilya-4ever , both which put the spotlight specifically on the characters created , highlighting the abuse they receive and exposing some of the tricks that the conmen exploit in order to target and thereafter control their prey . Given that the viewpoint of the entire unfortunate ordeal from the perspective of the victims have been portrayed , and is easy and turning the same wheel if done again , Trade takes on a more macroscopic look , while still maintaining a finger in a more personalized tale , in order to ramp up the human drama and emotions . While the other two movies mentioned take place primarily in Europe , Trade highlights a more international network involved in the supply chain , where increasing amounts of money get exchanged for women and children to feed the demand by perverts and paedophiles . While having its premise for the demand set in USA , it goes to show that the unfortunate victims come from all over the world , and suggests the use of Mexico as the proxy to get into the USA illegally , no doubt with the help of corrupted authorities . From then on , it's an established hush-hush protocol of transfers and transactions that take place in the most unseeming of places , and naturally technology comes to play in anonymous bidding on the internet . Primarily , this story is a race against time , following a young Mexican boy , Jorge ( Cesar Raoms ) , in his chase to rescue his sister Adriana ( Paulina Gaitan ) as she gets abducted randomly off the streets - being a young child , she is set to obtain record prices should she be auctioned off to be deflowered . While Adriana gets to enter USA through already established methods by the syndicate , Jorge has to rely on his street smarts , and unwittingly gets hooked up with US cop Ray Sheridan , played by Kevin Kline , who assists in Jorge's quest under moral circumstances rather than deporting Jorge straightaway for being a stray . Like a buddy cop movie , Trade also looks at the unlikely partnership between street delinquent and tough nose cop with the heart of gold , as they try and penetrate the system , while leaving room for some clash of cultures and slightly comedic instances . The unfortunate circumstance of the victims are again getting a shiner in order to be subdued , and of course the weapon of choice , rape . And the movie results in you silently cursing the worst for those involved in the trade , and never sympathizing an iota with them when they receive their dues . Technical wise , someone should tell the filmmakers that password fields are always asterisk , never in clear text , even the dumbest website programmer won't make that mistake . One of my other peeves here was the decision not to mount the camera on a tripod . While it's not the extreme kind of shaky cam like Cloverfield's , it did bring on some queasiness given the very minor movements , all of the time . I don't see the need for this , and wondered if it's because it might look cool and edgy with the fast cuts and all that the tripod was junked , wrongly . Based on a New York Times Magazine article published on 25 Jan 2004 written by Peter Landesman , Trade offers to strike a balance between painting a picture of sympathy for the victims and disgust for the perpetrators . Unlike the other movies which has come before , Trade managed to spin a somewhat refreshing look at the worldwide sex slavery problem .
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515,328 | 317,399 | 307,681 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : ( DVD ) I Not Stupid ( 2002 )
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OK , I admit that the reason why I'm watching this - it's homework for the upcoming sequel which I intend to watch when it's released in the local theaters . Therefore I needed to be acquainted with the source material other than bits and pieces from the extended television serial . Jack Neo has made movies which have been box-office successes locally , grossing millions , starting with the very popular , but very raw , Money No Enough . It captured the attention and appealed to the heart-landers , who gave him a resounding vote of confidence at the box office . Following that are many social dramadies like That One No Enough , Liang Po Po , and the likes . But perhaps none struck the chord so closely , as that jab at the typical Singaporean kiasu-parents , school administrators who are fearful of their rankings , the much criticized EM1-2-3 streaming in primary schools , and the introduction of perceived foreign talent on our shores . And that's what I Not Stupid is about , and more . Compared to his previous movies , I Not Stupid has matured in refining its story telling techniques , having social issues subtly weaved into its dialog , and giving the audience the ability to draw chuckles out of caricatures of the government in its characters ( Selena Tan as the big-momma , dressed in all white , all the time , anyone ? ) The casting also took some major changes , without having J-Team members as lead characters here . The 3 child leads did quite OK , given that they have veterans actors as their parents helped a lot too . The plot did seem to wear on as it seemed to drag to make it 2 hours , which contributed to quite a bit of plot holes . Also , some subplots seemed unnecessary too , or if retained in the film , wasn't succinct to the point , like the kidnapping subplot . However , if you've been following Jack Neo's movies , then it is marked improvement . The jokes are less slapstick , though it was kinda strange to have characters telling jokes , and everyone around laughing . Not that it was bad , just quite unnaturally acted . So am I ready for I Not Stupid Too ? Frankly , yes . Though the trailer did not reveal too much except for the public caning scene , I'm silently geared up for more social issues being taken to the stand , and awaiting to see how Jack Neo spins them together for another ride . Special Edition Code 3 DVD contains 2 music videos from the movie , song lyrics , packaged into a pictorial book containing the synopsis and cast and crew interviews and biographies .
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515,234 | 317,399 | 424,136 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : Hard Candy
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Hard candy is an internet slang for an under-aged girl . And this actually reminded me of a social experiment that a friend and I conducted in the internet chat rooms some 5 years back . There were always plenty of talk and reports about how dangerous the Internet is , with the chatrooms being a gold mine for pedophiles chatting up little girls , and then doing dastardly deeds with them when they're enticed to meet up in real life . So we decided to check it out ourselves . My friend and I posed as " sweetgal18 " and entered a local popular chatroom . Even before you can say Hello , pop ups after pop ups of private messages come flooding the screen , some started innocently , others were more direct , asking for sexual favors . In this experiment however , we stopped short of arranging to meet these people , and turn up just to take their photos from afar and put it online . However , I recall of late some local blogsite actually started a crusade against these perverts , and went the extra mile which we couldn't . Bravo ! Now back to the movie . With a cast of essential 2 leads + 3 extras with extremely limited screen time , the story and dialog pieces had to be extremely engaging to hold the audience's attention . And that was successfully done . It begins with a sexually charged tease over a chatroom conversation between Jeff Kohlver ( Patrick Wilson ) , a 32 year old photographer , and Hayley Stark ( Ellen Page ) , a 14 year old student whose level of maturity surpasses her age . They decide to meet up , and we play witness to a seemingly innocent face to face introduction , before things start to become a little loaded with double entrees , and dialogs laced with innuendoes . Before long , Hayley decides to follow Jeff home , and there's where the " fun " begins , where little red riding hood goes up against a probably " coloured wolf " . It's in the same vein as Saw , except that the explicit violence is exchanged for psychological warfare , and throughout the entire movie , you're constantly wondering and changing positions of thought , as to who's possibly right , or wrong , doing the right thing ( vigilantism ? ) - who's actions can be justified , or should you pity the victim caught in a tables about turned situation ? You'll be second guessing a lot , as the psychological play gets stepped up and you wonder just who should you thrown your support to - could Hayley just be a crazed kid , and could Jeff possibly be maligned and actually is a harmless soul ? The characters straddle both ends of the good-evil spectrum , until certain hints start to prod you in the right direction . But as psychological play is concerned , this means plenty of dialog , and thankfully the leads were credible in their delivery . However , it also means that not much happens , until the frantically paced set action pieces that never relents up till the end . There is however one major scene which will definitely make you squirm . I know I did , and my stomach actually churned , even without having the scene explicitly played out on screen as punishment is dished . All's revealed at the finale , and despite so much drama-mama , it'll actually make you smile with ( sick ) satisfaction about the grandeur plot , which to some , is a loophole akin to a typical Bond villain's monologue . The movie serves as a timely reminder for anyone with children or young siblings , to warn them of the clear and present dangers of the dark side of the internet , that they should reveal any personal information about their personal lives , or in the first place , not to chat with strangers . On the net , everyone can be anyone . Then again , strangers should not talk to seemingly innocent children , lest they really turn out to be psychopaths . I wish these perverts ill fortune that something of his nature will befall them , and that they get their just desserts . I smell a possible franchise that could happen .
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514,435 | 317,399 | 819,765 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : Dog Bite Dog
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First things first , Edison Chen did a fantastic , believable job as a Cambodian hit-man , born and bred in the dumps and a gladiatorial ring , where he honed his craft of savage battery in order to survive , living on the mantra of kill or be killed . In a role that had little dialogue , or at least a few lines in Cambodian / Thai , his performance is compelling , probably what should have been in the Jet Li vehicle Danny the Dog , where a man is bred for the sole purpose of fighting , and on someone else's leash . Like Danny the Dog , the much talked about bare knuckle fight sequences are not choreographed stylistically , but rather designed as normal , brutal fisticuffs , where everything goes . This probably brought a sense of realism and grit when you see the characters slug it out at each other's throats , in defending their own lives while taking it away from others . It's a grim , gritty and dark movie both literally and figuratively , and this sets it apart from the usual run off the mill cop thriller production . Edison plays a hired gun from Cambodia , who becomes a fugitive in Hong Kong , on the run from the cops as his pickup had gone awry . Leading the chase is the team led by Cheung Siu-Fai , who has to contend with maverick member Inspector Ti ( Sam Lee ) , who's inclusion and acceptance in the team had to do with the sins of his father . So begins a cat and mouse game in the dark shades and shadows of the seedier looking side of Hong Kong . The story itself works on multiple levels , especially in the character studies of the hit-man , and the cop . On opposite sides of the law , we see within each character not the black and white , but the shades of grey . With the hit-man , we see his caring side when he got hooked up and developed feelings of love for a girl ( Pei Pei ) , bringing about a sense of maturity , tenderness , and revealing a heart of gold . The cop , with questionable tactics and attitudes , makes you wonder how one would buckle when willing to do anything it takes to get the job done . There are many interesting moments of moral questioning , on how anti-hero , despicable strategies are adopted . You'll ask , what makes a man , and what makes a beast , and if we have the tendency to switch sides depending on circumstances - do we have that dark inner streak in all of us , transforming from man to dog , and dog to man ? Dog Bite Dog grips you from the start and never lets go until the end , though there are points mid way through that seemed to drag , especially on its tender moments , and it suffered too from not knowing when to end . If I should pick a favourite scene , then it must be the one in the market food centre - extremely well controlled and delivered , a suspenseful edge of your seat moment . Listen out for the musical score too , and you're not dreaming if you hear growls of dogs . Highly recommended , especially if you think that you've seen about almost everything from the cop thriller genre .
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514,750 | 317,399 | 1,034,303 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : Defiance
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My first thoughts about the film , was of Ken Loach's The Wind That Shakes The Barley , the Palme d'Or winner in 2006 . Similarly , Defiance has brothers leading a rag-tag group of Jewish refugees in guerrilla warfare and a quest for survival , where being alive everyday means a middle finger to the Third Reich during WWII , and organizing themselves to become a tightly knitted community where , like their Russian neighbours , everyone has an equal role to play to get rewarded with equal food . And with two lion-hearted brothers at the helm , sooner or later the sibling rivalry will rear its ugly head , and differing political ideals will see them part ways . Dramatized from a true story , you can sense the kind of films that Edward Zwick selects . From Glory to the much maligned Siege , from The Last Samurai to Blood Diamonds , it's almost always the battle against an oppressive regime , where the underdogs hold out to tell their tale another day . It's a battle within oneself to do what one perceives as the right thing , nevermind about the extremely limited resources , or the weather coming to wreck havoc , and the challenge to hold a community of strangers together working toward a common goal . Set in Belarus during the German invasion of WWII , David Craig plays Tuvia Bielski , who is akin to the Moses of the day by the community he shields and looks after , because they move in exodus from point to point within the forest to escape detection and get out of harm's way . The religious metaphors here are inevitably strong , and plays a major part given that God's chosen people are questioning their persecution , one point even praying to denounce that birthright so that they could no longer need to suffer under the hands of man , and the weather . Craig's role here is 10 times better than his Bland Bond from Quantum of Solace , and has more personality here to showcase his acting chops . Liev Schreiber holds his own as the brother Zus Bielski , who subscribes to the mantra of an eye for an eye , preferring the rough and tumble of being an aggressor rather than to cower , believing that the best defense is still an offense , wanting to bring the war back to the Nazis . He also prefers not to accept anymore refugees that they can handle , as their group get sought out by hundreds on sheer reputation alone . So herein they clash , and he throws his weight behind their Russian neighbours in their resistance effort . Schreiber here has a more action-oriented role , but has enough screen presence to not get overshadowed by Craig's star power . And rounding up the brothers is Jamie Bell's Asael Bielski , and if Tuvia's the Moses , then here's Joshua , the young man who shows his mettle during a critical scene in a flight for survival . Supporting the brothers ' screen presence are a whole host of characters ranging from their individual lady love ( yes , there's always time for a morale boosting wedding ) , and the bantering of two intellectuals played by Allan Corduner and Mark Feuerstein over chess games , allowing fleeting discussions into whether support from the Russians is the lesser of two evils . There's also time given to community politics , and the selfishness of man , always trying to snook established practices for self-benefit at the detriment of the community , especially one whose members are weak to fend for themselves . There aren't many uplifting moments in the movie , as there's always more problems they encounter before any semblance of light at the end of their tunnel . Production values are excellent , and unlike the much talked about lack of accents in Bryan Singer's Valkyrie , this one does have everyone speaking in their East European accent in order to maintain some level of authenticity . You'd know what to expect from an Edward Zwick film , and this one doesn't stray too much from that established expectation . For WWII war-movie junkies , this film should also be in your shortlist of must-watchs .
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514,828 | 317,399 | 475,394 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : Smokin ' Aces
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I've enjoyed Joe Carnahan's earlier movie Narc when it was shown here years ago , a gritty undercover narcotics cops and robbers story with Patric Jason and Ray Liotta as a crazed unorthodox cop . Here in Smokin ' Aces , a few of the same techniques are employed as to the presentation and style in which the movie was shot , and it makes this movie such an adrenaline rush . The movie's title refers to the the wanting to bump off Buddy " Aces " Israel ( Jeremy Piven ) , an acclaimed Las Vegas magician with ties to the Italian mob , and who's about to squeal to the Feds and thereafter vanishing into the Witness Protection programme . Naturally , the mob has a contract put out , and all the bounty hunters and contract killers , from the likes of Ben Affleck to Alicia Keys ( yup , in her first action movie ) , congregate in a Lake Tahoe hotel to try and lay claim to Aces ' life . Standing in their way are two FBI agents Richard ( Ryan Reynolds ) and Donald ( Ray Liotta again , from Wild Hogs and Carnahan's Narc ) , whose perspective of the case we take on , and journey together up until its revelation , with so many twists in store , that you can't help but to pay close attention . Loaded with plenty of guns and shoot em ups , Smokin ' Aces delivers enough thrills and spills for the action crime thriller fans , especially when there are ample opportunities presented due to the presence of a large ensemble cast . What's interesting is to observe how professional hit men go about their business , in wheeling and dealing their way , inching as close as they can to the mark . With a deal as hot as this , two or more groups going in at the same time , in a speed race , will naturally set their gunsights on one another , intentionally or otherwise , and it's a blast to see how they wriggle in and out of such situations , in classic black-eat-black scenarios . Having battles on many fronts make this a never-ending roller coaster ride . But it's not the action that's top notch - violent , brutal and bloody , which is easy to degenerate the movie into a blood sport , but the ending which I thought is a bit unconventional , though nonetheless powerful . It's a sign to the authorities , who are always screwing up , tripping themselves with cock ups and protocols , that enough's enough , and to quit the bullshit talk . I've never been held breathless at an ending for some time already , and Smokin ' Aces gets that credit . Highly recommended to those who like their thrillers take the necessary build up and assembling all the chess pieces , ready to strike at any moment , followed by the unleashing of plenty of mayhem right up until the end . Smokin ' hot !
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515,281 | 317,399 | 783,238 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : The Dead Girl
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The story brought memories of an old television cult series called Twin Peaks . A dead , blonde girl's body is being discovered in the grasslands of an idyllic village , and this provides the catalyst for the movie as the plot unravels to tell of the stories that centers around that discovery . In summary , it had a total of 5 short stories all inter-weaved through a fragmented timeline , and a host of characters in those stories who have one way or another , played a part in the girl's life , during when she was alive , and after . The Stranger stars Toni Collette as the woman who discovered the body , and how she gets thrust into the media limelight , yet yearning for that freedom to flee from her domineering mother . The Sister tells of a pathologist's inability to fight on and continue her family's believe that her missing sister is still out there somewhere , and not to throw in the towel and give up hope . The Wife will manage to rile you up , with the story of a neglected wife , and her hopes for reconciling with her estranged husband , who prefers gallivanting late at night to spending time with her , and of course , with her decision to protect her husband's secrets to losing him for sure altogether when revealed . And The Mother reminds you that a mother's love knows no bounds . Hurt by her daughter's disappearance , the worse case scenario happens , and Mum has got to heal old wounds . It's a touching short , and I thought one of the most powerful amongst the rest . And rounding it up , like the last pieces of a jigsaw , is The Dead Girl's story , where we see a foul mouthed Brittany Murphy bringing it all on . The movie had excellent performances all round by the ensemble cast , and it doesn't have any big bang moments to shock and awe . It's a dramatic story , rather than a mystery - thriller-whodunnit . I was glad that it didn't go down the torture porn route , although it could have , but didn't need to . Leaving it where it is will already allow your imagination to run wild what the outcome will be . However , this might serve as a let down to some as it might seem that it failed to want to bridge the missing gap in the timeline . Fragmented timeline and multiple , parallel stories do seem to be the rage these days ( Babel anyone ? ) , but it all boils down to how much of a story you can make out of a single drop in the pond . That's what The Dead Girl feels like , with the stories the inevitable ripples that fan out . You Are My Sunshine looks like a song very popularly used in end credits , and so far I had thought that it was a simple childhood nursery song . But when used in this context , it had a profound depth telling of longing and missing , that everyone has their own sunshine that they hold very dear to . Recommended movie , especially if you're into the fragmented timeline fad .
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515,491 | 317,399 | 421,994 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : Imagine Me & You
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I'm not sure if that bubblegum tune can belong amongst the gay anthems , given that Wong Kar Wai's had a gay themed movie titled Happy Together and used the same song too . Yes well , as you would already know , GLBT movies from UK are emerging , from Kinky Boots earlier ( one of my faves for the year ) , and now Imagine Me & You hitting our shores next week . Rachel ( Piper Perabo , a dead ringer for Rachel McAdams ) and Hector ( Matthew Goode , from Match Point ) are about to get married after years of courtship . On their wedding day , Rachel notices Luce ( Lena Headey ) from the corner of her eye , and from brief introductions turned into family gatherings , turned into something more . Rachel experiences strange feelings for Luce and the feelings turned out to be mutual , but what about Hector ? It's a classic case of everyone's worst nightmare come true , finding out that the person you're about to marry , or have married , actually loves somebody else , and that someone else being the same sex just compounds the effect . One character said in passing that anybody can swing to the other camp , before a slight hesitation , correcting that only probably he wouldn't . And that made an interesting caveat which the movie explores - how do you know if your sexual orientation is rock solid ( that might seem a " d'uh " statement until you watch the movie ) , or do you have the tendency to swing ( think Kinsey had a theory on this ) . What if you find yourself experiencing this inexplicable force of feelings you never knew for someone else , when you're already married or with a life partner ? And speaking of life partners , how do you know the one you're with , is the one for you ? And life partners being partners , must it always be in matrimony or strictly about the opposite sex ? At the end of the day , what matters is the chemistry and the ability to click , right ? The movie asks a lot of these questions beneath its cheerful yet melancholic veneer , although it never provides a straight answer . As always , you can replace the lesbian relationship here in the story with a heterosexual one , but it probably won't impact an audience as much ( just as Brokeback Mountain would work with a heterosexual couple , but will bore the heck out of audiences and not win any award at all ) . While the movie offers to suggest certain ideas like love at first sight , it doesn't really demonstrate that effectively ( more like lust at first sight ) nor seemed to have a valid reason to do so , though it toyed with the fleeting thought about reincarnation . You might feel that writer-director Ol Parker had filled the movie with plenty of romantic clichés and notions about setting someone free if you really love them , or the thought about being with someone you can live without rather than someone you can live with . In fact , the entire premise might be a bit contrived , but hey , if you think about it , the world is full of quirky events and people , so maybe something like this could happen too . This movie should do reasonable well amongst the GLBT crowd with its theme , and given the eye candy cast , probably will do well as a whole . It's nothing spectacular , just that as a movie , it should work the crowd like clockwork
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514,736 | 317,399 | 809,469 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : Umizaru 2 : Test of Trust
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Umizaru belongs to the kind of movies glorifying whichever the uniformed group under their spotlight . Those which I have enjoyed include the obvious US Navy pilots in Top Gun , the firefighters in Backdraft , and the Secret Service in In The Line of Fire . While those are Hollywood movies , Japan also had in 2004 made a movie about a rookie team of Coast Guards in Umizaru , and this follow up sequel brings back search and rescue diver Daisuke Senzaki ( Hideaki Ito ) and his team into what is probably another Poseidon like adventure . Titled " Limit of Love " , it's a strange moniker for a movie which is high on the action , and soppy on the romance . This movie continues the romantic relations between our hero Senzaki-san and his fiancée Kanna Izawa ( Ai Katô ) , or rather the strained relations between the two after the former rejected the obvious hints of the latter to marry her , because of some strange personal reasons of skeletons from his closet which continued to haunt him . Brooding hero must exorcise these demons before he can commit to settling down , get it ? Therefore perhaps for similar reasons , we had it retitled as Test of Trust instead , as there are plenty of moments with reference to the title . In trusting your buddies to come back for you , in trusting the experts to do a job they are trained for , in trusting your fiancé to take care of himself and come back alive , the list goes on . But fret not even if you haven't watched the first movie , you'll be orientated soon enough to be in the thick of the action . The filmmakers spared no expense in making this movie big , with planes , helicopters , ships , rafts , and tons of extras to make it a grand spectacle . Water-Underwater sequences are always never easy , and I dare say , given that this premise is similar to an earlier Hollywood stinker bore Poseidon , Umirazu 2 triumphs with its action sequences if they are compared side by side . It's not the special effects or the razzle dazzle ( in which Poseidon wins hands down ) , but it's by its delivery . Keeping the cast and rescuees intimately small also helped in not having too many characters who can be brushed off easily as fodder , making them the regular , though clichéd , folks that you would actually care for . If there is a gripe however , it'll be at how the melodrama gets drummed up into dizzying heights with plenty of lingering shots coupled with rousing crescendos from the soundtrack . While these are there probably for emphasis and dramatic effect , one can't help forget that in order for it to be a bit more believable , hey , it's a rescue operation ! Cut the crap and the ra - ra talk , and just get on with saving lives or getting the hell out of whatever danger zones you are in ! I can't help but smile inside when certain scenes are shot in typical Japanese fashion with characters looking hard at each other and giving constant nods of assurances , especially in the control centre . Some things don't change do they ? But all in all , this is a pretty interesting action movie , after a dearth of non-romance or horror movies from the land of the rising sun .
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515,107 | 317,399 | 383,574 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : Pirates of the Caribbean : Dead Man's Chest
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It was peculiar , but it might be signs of things to come . When I entered the theatre this evening for the Pirates of the Caribbean : Dead Man's Chest gala premiere today at Cathay , on screen was this static frame of the PoTC logo , with the words : " Singapore , Home of Pirates of the Caribbean : At World's End , May 2007 " . If I may read too much into it , does it mean that there will be no effort spared in having the World Gala of PoTC3 right here on our shores , since Singapore was mentioned in both PoTC1 and PoTC2 ? And with Chow Yun-Fatt's wife being from here , does it mean we got an additional boost ? One can only dream , but you heard it here first . Anyway , our favourite characters from the high seas are back ! From perennial favourite Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow , to fan girl groupie idol Orlando Bloom as Will Turner , it's no wonder why the movie has sailed its way comfortably into the record books for the highest grossing opening weekend . Familiar elements that made the first movie a success are continued here to ensure the sequel's appeal and probably longevity in holding high box office spots in weeks to come . While I shall avoid the specifics of the plot , it meanders around the title's Dead Man's Chest , a box containing an artefact so powerful , that everyone , ranging from our pirates , to new villain Davy Jones , to the British East India Company , are actively seeking so as to rule the seven seas . The usual lead characters are back , with an expanded cast made up by some supporting characters from the first movie , and new ones developed , especially the villains . But bugger , a big budgeted crowd pleasing summer popcorn flick comes with certain flaws though , but easily overlooked and forgiven . The plot doesn't seem to stand still , and there are many subplots thrown all over , no doubt made complicated by Jack Sparrow's seemingly scheming ideas . The first half , widely used in the trailers , seemed to drag on forever with slapstick comedy included which lost steam halfway through . Not to mention with plot holes so big you wonder how certain characters can actually survive . The sets still looked as spectacular , though already tinged with a sense of familiarity . Jack Sparrow's Black Pearl now has been overshadowed by Davy Jones ' Flying Dutchman , which is an awesome eery looking ship that comes with submerging properties . There are plenty of special effects and makeup done , and Sparrow's and Barbossa's jolly crew from the first are now given the one-up by Jones ' merman sea-creature like pirates . Even Jones ' himself consisted of medusa-like squid tentacles on his squishy wet face , and has a humongous crab claw for a hand . The usual comedic elements are not forgotten , but somehow lacked as much fun and punch which audiences experienced in the original . It's one of those you - know - it's - suppose - to - be - funny - but - why - aren't - I - laughing - out - loud moments . The action sequences are also bigger and louder , but that made it a tad overdrawn at certain times . Though visually pleasing , it's as if the sequences had to justify the many cool special effects shots and stunts designed for the movie , and so had to extend its runtime for that purpose . The clincher for this movie is perhaps the characterization and relationships . It reminded the audience of several character motivations , and provided new ones as well . Unexpected character changes and shifts will make you go " Hmm ! " and provide additional fuel to power the trilogy into its final film . This movie , being the second part of the trilogy , suffered from being the " bridging " tale . While it has some kind of a standalone story , it's still part of a bigger picture not fully explained in itself . I likened the movie to being the equivalent of the Matrix Reloaded in the Wachowski Bros ' Matrix Trilogy , with plenty of ideas , characters , sub plots , character shifts thrown into the mix , in a plot that goes around , before hanging with a cliffhanger . SPOILERS START Come to think of it , it's gonna be much like the Revolution's ( and even Star War's Return of the Jedi ) first act , where our heroes have to seek out and redeem their charismatic messiah . SPOILERS END So ahoy mates ! It's nonetheless a stormy ride , but one which will lead us to anticipate the story to sail over to the Orient , passing through Singapore ( finally get to see exactly what Jack's been boasting about all this while ) , and meeting up with their Asian counterparts . It's gonna be one heck of a multi-way fight at world's end ! And oh , stay tuned until after the end credits for a small scene , but one which probably doesn't contain any clues , or directly influencing the final movie .
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515,553 | 317,399 | 952,640 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : Alvin and the Chipmunks
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Or at least that's how the theme song of the cartoon series sounded like , dug out from my subconscious . For those , like me , who have grown up in the 80s watching television cartoons like Mask , Transformers , He-Man , there are those which are less action based , such as Peanuts , and of course , Alvin and the Chipmunks , featuring the trio of Alvin , the de-facto ringleader , Simon the smart one ( hence the cliché glasses ) and the greedy Theodore . With cartoons from the past being remade into feature length movies , such as Scooby Doo and Garfield , yielding mixed box office results , what about these 3 ? To begin with , this is not quite like the cartoon series , in that the chipmunks are sized correctly , as with the other adaptations ( no more handgun transforming to 50 foot robot ) , and curiously enough , they didn't need their body length clothes to hide their modesty , just a top coloured in the right way will do . And for Alvin , all is forgiven when the filmmakers finally remembered he sported a cap . Having effects wizardry helped to in bringing to life the trio of chipmunks , down to the last furry detail such as their hairdo . Those of us who have grown up with the series , will find multiple shades of story lines adapted from the cartoons all meshed into one here . It's a reworked origin story of sorts , so as to bring in a new legion of followers who haven't seen the series on television . Created by Ross Bagdasarian Sr almost 50 years ago , to have the characters translate to the big screen , bode well for its longevity , at least from the reaction I got from the kids , they are in love with the singing trio with all the clapping and the dancing along the aisle ( yes ! ) each time they perform in their high pitched voices . I too was tempted to applaud , but that would be too geeky-like for those moments I became a kid again . Jason Lee stars as Dave Seville , the " father " of our singing sensation , who finds it a little difficult in trying to warm up to the notion of being family with animals . Having started off the wrong foot , it provided ample opportunity for that iconic scream " Aaaalviiiiinnnnnnn ! ! ! " , as he finds himself out of a career and with 3 extra mouths to feed . But as rehashed scenes and storyline goes , the Chipmunks soon prove to be taking the USA by storm with their brand of oh-so-cute voices and slick dance moves , that they become superstars in their own right . You'll know the drill from here , as dodgy music label producer Ian ( David Cross ) tries to undermine Dave to pry the cash-cows ( heh ) from the latter using despicable tactics , giving rise to being the sole adversary with the evil corporation type who's out to exploit and milk the chipmunks for what they're worth . Being a family friendly film , the theme of belonging and err , blood running thicker than water and profits , ring through , though I thought to toddlers , that might not actually matter , but to the parents bringing them to the theatre , then it's a reminder that children do appreciate being loved and having that pat on the back . Justin Long , Matthew Gray Gubler and Jesse McCartney provided the voices for our lovable chipmunks Alvin , Simon and Theodore respectively , though that didn't really matter in the final end product given that their voices had to be sped up to achieve that chipmunk effect . In fact , you and I could also be reading the lines , and applying the same technique to become chipmunks ourselves . And amongst the three , I dare say Theodore will win new fans in the very manja way it got portrayed . A key scene from the trailer had been reworked , so don't be surprised if you see that deviation - though for once , I thought the trailer version was better and closer to character . Like the movie says , " they're talking chipmunks ! " so I feel that given the holiday season , and the tie-in with the movie to the season of good tidings , it may actually bode well for the film . There may be nothing truly new in the antics of the chipmunks , but they will probably still charm your socks off . So before you roll your eyes at yet another talking-animal film , give this one a chance , and I'm quite certain you'll be tapping your feet at the right moments too ! So hit it again , Alvin , Simon , Theodore ! And watch those plush merchandise fly off the shelves in time for X'mas ! Stay tuned during the end credit roll which showcased some of the album art from their musical albums of the past .
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514,661 | 317,399 | 190,377 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : Eating Air
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That's the gist of most of the dialogue in this made-in-Singapore film , and it is the earnest dialogue that kept this film " real " and not cringeworthy if it had been polished English language skills used instead . Following the chronicles of Ah Bengs , Ah Boy , our anti-hero protagonist played by Benjamin Heng , introduces to us his gang of arcade playing , motorcycle riding , and rooftop gathering friends . While street corner gangs are not as sophisticated as organized hoodlums , they too practice their own brand of honor . Petty fights are common , and so are motorcycle challenges . But when his best friend Ah Gu chances upon drugs and borrows from loan sharks , what will happen to their friendship , as the challenges that they face become more and more dangerous . Romance is in contrast to the reality and ugliness of street gangs , With Ah Bengs , there surely is their Ah Lians hugging their torsos on bike rides ( jiak hong in Hokkien , for joyrides ) . Alvina Toh plays Ah Girl , Ah Boy's main squeeze . The moments together are bittersweet , boy-meets-girl , falls in love , boy-loses-girl , punctuated with an excellent soundtrack done by local acts like the Boredphucks . It's back to the old days where mobile phones are not as prevalent , and calls are made to each other using early technology like pagers and voice messages , which was nostalgic ( brought back some memories lah ) . Heng brought life to Ah Boy , with his crazy kung-fu imagination ( think Ally McBeal style ) , as he evolves from an aimless wanderer , to crazed impetious street kid who stands by his pal . Toh too plays her role convincingly , as a schoolgirl seduced by Ah Boy's carefree ways , to becoming someone with inner strength . This film manages to gel its subplots together , adding much to its depth . While its protagonists are street gangsters , it makes no attempt to glorify nor condone their actions , and therefore doesn't feel preachy on what's right or wrong . Adding the comedic touch are Michelle Chong , in her heavy accented mandarin as a lao chio photocopy shop owner , and Mark Lee , veteran TV beng who plays , what else , a dua kang lao beng who pines after a mysterious lady ( played by singer Kit Chan ) . It's always a blast to see familiar locales , and more so in a Singapore film . Places recognizable are Lucky Plaza and Katong Shopping Centre , and of course , the CTE takes a substantial chunk of the narrative , the location where we start off , and end . For some reason , I didn't catch this film when it was released in 1999 . Perhaps it's because of the unfamiliarity with local productions , and now I kick myself for being a tad myopic back then , but glad to have caught it during Screen Singapore . Think I'm gonna have one heck of a fun time as Screen Singapore progresses .
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514,789 | 317,399 | 71,544 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : General Idi Amin Dada : Autoportrait
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After watching this documentary on Ugandan dictator Idi Amin , you'd come to think that Forest Whitaker's award winning portrayal in The Last King of Scotland had given the military general more intellect , more cunning and definitely a more clear cut look at the nature of the man's evils . But in fact , from what you can glean from this documentary , he seemed to be more fuddy duddy , with surprising charisma whether or not due to his public demeanour , and his semi-illiterateness in the English Language ( again , Whitaker made him sound grammatical ) . Movies about political leaders are not new , and lately there's one that's also sanctioned by a leader himself , a made by a Singaporean documentary called A Hero's Journey , which presents a snapshot of the life of President Xanana Gusmao of Timor Leste . In this Idi Amin documentary , he has final word on what gets presented , and what not , and it's quite surprising that he's OK with making himself look like a buffoon , whether deliberate or not , leaves much to interpretation of his intent . You might say he wanted to show off what he can do , and what power he wields over his cronies , but on the other , there certainly are plenty of material which could easily have dented his popularity and aura . Watching him go through his motions just brought about a thought , that evil men need not wear their evilness or ruthlessness on their sleeves . Here , Idi Amin might be the real life personification of The Joker , smiling on the outside , but inside his heart harbours thoughts similar to the mentioned villain . He's like a charismatic comedian , and makes it difficult not to laugh at his atrocities because he really does have a lot of funny ideas . His mastery of the English language is woeful , but that doesn't stop him from speaking it , and the filmmakers subtitling every grammatical error he's made too , instead of correcting it for an audience . He's a self-professed soothsayer and an interpreter of dreams , and sends strange telegrams to various heads of state which reads like a script for a sitcom . He's often delusional as well , and some of the highlights of this documentary , which has to be seen to be believed , include his imaginary war games to take the Golan Heights from the Israelis given his very puny army , laughable air force and armour , and best of all , training his paratroopers on a children's slide . What cannot be missed as well , are his briefings to the country's doctors and to witness him holding court as one of his cabinet meetings , which was so full of contradictions and hare-brained ideas , you can't help but laugh at the farce of it all . You can just imagine how any country could be run with jokers like these in power . He can't speak , can't communicate , and basically doesn't even know an iota about running a military ( besides the rudimentary appreciation of semi-automatic weapons ) , let alone a country . He's full of personal prejudice and practices discrimination , but one thing's for sure , he's quite a musician , having contributed to the soundtrack of the film . If you think you want to go beyond The Last King of Scotland to look at this dictator up close and personal , then this documentary should be your first step in trying to understand the contradiction which is His Excellency President for Life Field Marshal Al Hadji Dr . Idi Amin , VC , DSO , MC , King of Scotland Lord of All the Beasts of the Earth and Fishes of the Sea and Conqueror of the British Empire in Africa in General and Uganda in Particular ( yes , that's his official title ! )
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515,184 | 317,399 | 362,269 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : Kinsey
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The movie's tagline says " Let's talk about sex " . And it really does - talk . This is the other bioepic that opens this week in Singapore's shores ( besides The Aviator ) , and it presents to you the life of Dr Kinsey , sex researcher , well , not by chance . Starting off as a zoologist with intense and devoted research on gull wasps , he discovers a necessity to research on sex , sparked by his own ineptness towards making love for the very first time with his virgin wife . As with all research , you need a sample population size to theorize . Collecting gull wasps is must simpler than getting people to reveal their innermost secrets and fantasies , as he painfully discovers . So there lies the opening of the movie , which showcases the methods of questioning he uses to get people to open up and talk about their sex lives . This is perhaps one of the highlights of the movie . And as with all research , you might need to dabble into the queer and the untrodden path . Here , we see him engaging in homosexual love , and in the name of science , unenthusiastically allowing his wife to sleep with his pet student ( hey , he must be impartial and objective to his research ) , and fellow staff members to have sex with others ' wives , and get it on film to be analysed ! Impartiality and objectivity in research also takes centrestage - we're humans after all , with sets of morals that differ from person to person . How much " deviant " practices can one sit through when delving into other's intimate secrets ? In one particular interview , the interviewee boasts to having committed incest , bestiality , etc ! This film charts the rise ( a topic that's " new " , never talked about so openly , hence gaining Dr Kinsey fame ) , to the fall ( societal backlash from challenging normal sexual conventions , mostly from popular nonacceptance and denying the truth about what's happening around society ) of Kinsey's research , and through it , shows that when society's morals and conduct comes under the spotlight , not everyone can accept scientific findings with an open mind - ignorance may be bliss . This movie is stripped of erotica , so anyone who thinks they might have a field day with sex on cellulite ought to think twice . Watch it from a scientific point of view , and you'll enjoy the show tremendously .
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514,840 | 317,399 | 1,194,670 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : Panda Diary
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The immense popularity of wildlife documentaries once reserved for National Geographic or the Discovery Channels have made their way to the big screen , in no doubt having their path cleared by the success of March of the Penguins . Of late , the foxes got the spotlight in a more fictional take with The Fox and the Child , and now , the Japanese jumps on the same bandwagon by making an animal documentary but on the Chinese's iconic panda bear , with the Chinese being co-producers of course to avoid similar protests of lamentation over Hollywood's Kung Fu Panda , and having it shot in China's Great Panda research facility in Sichuan would be a collaboration of sorts . What makes a successful documentary of such nature ( pardon the pun ) ? I guess the prime ingredient here will definitely have to be the young ones . You must always have cute babies , and how adorable they are will proportionately affect how audiences will take to the film . The baby penguins made March of the Penguins , and so did the baby Fox . Here , we get baby pandas while they're still slightly pinkish , and the rolly-polly one year olds who roll around the nature reserve , in chase of the camera . Panda Diary follows the more conventional model like March rather than to have a total fictional narrative spun on it like Fox . And as the title already suggests , the narrative here follows a month by month account from August to August where we have two threads before they converge together . The first focuses on two pandas who had lived their known life in a Japanese theme park , before being repatriated back to China for further assimilation with their own kind , as well as to support efforts in having the pandas breed through environments set up for it . The other thread of course is the day to day operations within the research facility , where we see how they are coaxed into mating - the researchers being very much like voyeurs in a way , their dietary habits and immense liking for bamboo shoots , and how efforts are made into trying to preserve their wildlife habitat as far as possible . The pandas are solitary by nature , and they need to be given plenty of space , which of course is only a luxury these days . There were a couple of scenes where they had to be caged ( for transportation purposes ) and you can tell the bears are very much uncomfortable and distressed by it . As an educational tool , you can get to learn a lot more about the Pandas in 100 minutes , such as how they contribute to their own dwindling numbers where they mate only once a year ( miss the boat and it's another 365 days of waiting ) and usually give birth to twins , where they would only nurture one of them and leave the other for naught . Naturally in the research facility some manipulation is done to ensure both babies get raised with equal attention and resource , and there are a lot more nuggets of information like these that will simply amaze you . Why wait for Panda diplomacy in order to get up close and personal with these likable cuddly creatures ? The film offers an opportunity not to be missed , so if you like to know more about the fact behind the fictional Kung Fu Panda ( no , they don't do Kung Fu though they have tremendous strength ) , then this documentary would be right up your alley to understand more about this endangered species .
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514,421 | 317,399 | 187,393 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : The Patriot ( 2000 )
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Brought to screen by the creative team behind Godzilla , Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin bring on board 2 actors of Australian descent ( Mel Gibson and Heath Ledger ) to tell you a tale of the American Revolutionary War , set in the year 1796 , where the British are whipping the Continental soldiers real bad . It doesn't dwell too much on the big picture , but focuses on a smaller details which might stir your interest to read up more on that part of history . Mel Gibson plays Benjamin Martin , a retired soldier , now farmer , who has a war reputation of being a brutal , efficient man of war . He tends to his land and brings up seven children , of whom the eldest , Gabriel Martin ( Heath Ledger ) , goes against his father's wish and enlists in the Continental army to pursue his ideal of freedom and just cause . As Benjamin warned , this war will be fought not on some faraway place , but at their doorsteps . And true enough , he finds British soldiers on his land , who finds fault with him , murders one of his sons in cold blood , and taking away an injured Gabriel . Enraged , Benjamin massacres an entire platoon of soldiers , and earns himself the nickname " The Ghost " , in one of the more intense battle scenes in this movie . It's satisfying to watch how one man ( and his two other children ) plan an ambush and take on their enemies , while showing no mercy in their quest for revenge . Drawn reluctantly into the war by his personal unfortunate episode , Benjamin volunteers for service and links up with Gabriel to recruit a band of militia Patriots to take on the well organized British soldiers , using guerrilla tactics to ambush and contain the British in the south , stalling their plans to move up North to crush Washington's troops . It's interesting to note that the British general Lord Charles Cornwallis ( played by Tom Wilkinson ) was portrayed as a gentleman who fights fairly in his own opinion , and prides himself in doing so . But when the desperation for success creeps in , he sanctions guerrilla tactics against the civilian townfolk in order to get to the Patriots ( sounds like modern day terrorism ? ) . You can't help but laugh at his naivety when being conned by Benjamin in one prisoner exchange scene . As with most war movies after Saving Private Ryan , blood and gore get a fair bit of air time , and back in the 18th century , war is fought almost face to face . There is the musket , which fires only one shot , then requires a reload , and a long bayonet affixed at the tip for that bayonet fighting in close quarters . But what really is terrifying is the artillery's predecessor - the cannon . Many scenes in this movie show how a simple cannonball can decapitate human limbs , and even rip a human head off the torso . Pretty gruesome stuff . Running close to three hours long , this movie doesn't bore you with its many subplots about family and relationships , but rather , these elements enhance and bring forth the horrors of war , that everyone out there is a brother , father , son , and highlights that not every war is meant to be for a honourable cause . It could be as simple as fighting for , and with , the person beside you .
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514,748 | 317,399 | 79,182 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : Vengeance is Mine
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Shohei Imamura's multi award winning film Vengeance is Mine follows after the dismal performance of The Profound Desire of the Gods , this time being a film that is more accessible . Based on a novel which follows the life of crime of real-life criminal Iwao Enokizu ( played by Ken Ogata ) , at one time the most wanted man in Japan for his series of murders , this was probably my favourite movie today , until I watched Imamura's Palme d'Or winner Ballad of Narayama . It's no surprise that this is something more conventional , given that it plays out narratively in retrospect , and that audiences sure like something that is based on real life . I thought it unfurled similarly to Catch Me If You Can , except that while Frank Abignale Jr was once a conman , defrauding banking institutions and adopting various identities , Iwao Enokizu was a killer first , and conman second , assuming identities to obtain cash for basic necessities , and for pleasurable moments to satisfy his lust for flesh . The story seeks to discover his motivation and rationale for a life in crime , and goes way back to when Enokizu was a child , and hating his father for being weak in standing up against oppressors ( in truth , there is little he can actually do except to lose his life if he doesn't comply ) . Hatred also bred deeper when his father is a religious hypocrite , obviously sinning against Enokizu with the lust for his wife Kazuko ( Mitsuko Baisho , who's a dead ringer for Hong Kong actress Cherie Chung ) , and strangely enough , for Kazuko to fall heads over heals for the old man too . This father-son dynamics , like in Catch Me If You Can , pops up now and then through the story to remind you of the beginnings of the feud , except that there is absolutely no love between the two of them . I thought Ken Ogata is enigmatic on screen , with his crazed antics as the killer on the loose , and his suave demeanour when posing as a professor and a lawyer . There's this mean streak within that glint in the eye , and surely , this is one man you definitely would not want to cross . For the most parts of the story , it deals with the love between his Enokizu and an inn manager Haru ( Mayumi Ogawa ) , who falls in love with devotion of blind faith , and the happenings within the confines of that inn . What I thought was a bit difficult to sit through though , was the violence against women in the movie , with the constant slapping across the cheek ( and I notice this too in the other Imamura films ) , and some included rape . But the theme that took the cake was the one on religious hypocrisy as personified by Enokizu's father Shizuo ( Rentaro Mikuni ) , and really , this is the kind of dads , or persons that you'll love to hate . Preaching something and practicing another , you wonder whether Enokizu would seek him out for revenge , since it seemed like Shizuo was indeed Iwao's most hated person on earth , rather than work on his victims by chance . Vengeance of Mine is full of nudity , sex and gratuitous violence , which gave it an R21 rating for today's uncut screening . Simple to follow , and definitely enjoyable by fans who have a preference for true life crime stories . Some of the actors here become familiar faces when they get casted again in the next movie , Ballad of Narayama , and I thought Vengeance was a nice way of introducing those actors to us first .
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515,024 | 317,399 | 498,311 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : Re-Cycle
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Be careful what you wish for , because sometimes , they just might come true , whether you like it to or not . A writer's inspiration can also be adapted from real life events , with a dash of dramatic license added to spice things up for the reader . And an environmental message which is worked quite effortlessly into the narrative , makes one wonder in awe too . Re-Cycle is the latest horror thriller from the acclaimed Pang Brothers , whose Bangkok Dangerous I had enjoyed tremendously . Perhaps an Asian answer to Hollywood's Wachowski Brothers with their flair for interesting visuals and stories which thread on many levels , Oxide and Danny Pang's latest movie stars Angelica Lee ( or Lee Sin-Je if you prefer ) , already having her fair share of spook fests in her filmography . Ting Yin ( Lee ) is a successful writer whose love stories are literary blockbusters . Infusing elements of her life into her stories , she gets troubled as she attempts to break genre and work on horror instead . And it is this introductory act that things really go bump in the dark , incorporating the Asian dark mood and eerie atmosphere which have become staples of horror movies this part of the world . Familiar scenes like long hair ( The Wig ? ) , water ( Ju-On ? ) , and dark frightening shadows make their necessary appearance , coupled with extremely loud music and screams and the right moments , I admit my heart skipped . But Re-Cycle took a different path thereafter . Gone are the horrific elements used to shock . and in comes a whole lot of atmosphere and computer generated graphics , designed to awe . The centre piece of a slum-like deserted street and dilapidated buildings , with its silently deserted streets , and then plenty of zombies , reminded me of yet another moody horror movie Silent Hill , with its fair share of graphics enhancement . Initially I thought that from the trailer , it looked like a carbon copy of Constantine's Hell sequence , but I was wrong , and I'm still amazed by Thailand's advancement in post production and computer wizardry competency - simply awesome . Stunning effects aside , the story progressed more into the thriller and mystery realms , tracking Ting Yin's desperation to escape from this unreal world , back to her own . It's like Alice in Wonderland , except that this is no childlike fantasy world with danger lurking at every corner . For those who have enjoyed Neil Gaiman's Mirrormask , this movie's story threads along the same lines in having the protagonist seeking an escape , while going from scene to scene , and place to place , encountering weird surreal locations , and different , out of this world characters . For those who disliked or found the narrative style of Mirrormask wanting , you might feel the same about Re-Cycle too . However , there is a strong , rational theme unifying these seeming disparate scenes and events . They're not just pretty for the sake of being pretty to look at , but ring home the obvious message on abandonment , through the plot device of re-cycling . Many strange scenes are crafted from this message , while at the same time , bringing a sense of familiarity for an audience to identify with . Therein lies the strength of this movie . Angelica Lee had plenty of room to showcase her acting skills - being frightened to her wits end , sharing emotional scenes , smelling of desperation or be it in a state of bewilderment , she carries the movie forward aptly , despite slower moments during certain sequences . My initial thoughts about the movie were not flattering , choosing to harp on the nicely done , yet familiar special effects , and scenes which were somewhat familiar in some other movies . But having pondered a little more into the storyline , I thought it was quite neat , and if not for the spooky introduction , I might just want to watch this movie again .
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515,574 | 317,399 | 995,819 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : F .
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F . ' s World Premiere at the Goethe Institut opened the Free Programme , and the SIFF itself . As Philip Cheah puts it , there's a significance to this 60 minute documentary opening the festival , as the film's subject Toh Hai Leong has for many years , saw himself as the local flipside to Rainer Werner Fassbinder , whose movies will be screened for free at this year's SIFF at the Goethe Institut . And no doubt , gathered around for this event , were many recognizable folks involved in the local film industry , from Eric Khoo to Ben Slater . I first came to know of Toh Hai Leong through his mockumentary Zombie Dogs , which I saw almost two years ago during the Screen Singapore Festival , and I thought , this is a very peculiar director . In person , I've seen him a couple of times at various screenings , but never mustered the courage to speak with him . I thought he was a little eccentric , but one who never minces his words , and you'll know he's in the house for that unmistakable baritone voice booming from across a screening hall , sharing insights be it to film , or current affairs . Over time I've learnt that he was once a film critic , and was the secretary of the Singapore Film Society ( SFS ) . And this documentary essentially provided a broad outline to Toh's life , and focused on the recent stage where he fought with Type 2 diabetes . Director Chew Tze Chuan had introduced the documentary as not the final cut he had in mind , but close , and there is nothing too sophisticated about the technical aspects used for this documentary , in what's basically a homage , and tribute to a man who's a walking encyclopedia , and whose career had seen him become a librarian , film buff , film critic , director , flea market operator , and even a food center cleaner ! Through interviews with Ben Slater , Yuni Hadi , Kenneth Tan , Wee Li Lin , Wong Lung Hsiang and more , we come to learn different facets of Toh , and how he had in his unique ways , influenced and left deep impressions , from simple and little gestures , to passionate action and dedication he has for his craft , and especially during his days as the secretary of SFS , and all the while staying humble to his achievements . In what I thought was lacking , were more in-depth exploration into what made Toh tick , though there was a very casual fleeting moment where he discusses his love life . But what Chew managed to capture vividly was one man's harrowing descent into losing the will to fight the disease he's inflicted with , and I unabashedly say I was indeed shocked to see how Toh was reduced to skin and bones ( almost like a POW ) , and how he had to bear with the symptoms of the disease , including uncontrollable bladder movements . I'm glad to say that Toh is on the road to recovery , and has put on weight ( and hair too ! ) when he appeared before the audience to share a few words . The flow of the documentary is easy to follow , with the usual talking heads introducing Toh at various stages of his life . And for those who have not seen his directorial effort Zombie Dogs , you'll get to see snippets of the movie in F . too . And I thought Toh , despite his illness , had not lost an iota of his acerbic wit , bringing memories of his verbal barrage ability when he rattles on subjects that touch close to his heart . Played to a packed theaterette ( there were people standing along the sides , and sitting on the floor ) , do watch this documentary if you're curious to know about an enigma in the local film scene . You'll probably come away with a better understanding , and take away for a fact that life is fragile , and to make the best out of it .
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515,567 | 317,399 | 988,047 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : Traitor
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It sure took a long time for this film to debut here , and if memory serves me right , it took almost a year , and the DVD has already been released . If not for a press screening already held , I would have thought that the film would be one of those that are difficult to pass by the censors and required some lengthy debate as to the merits for its theatrical release . That's because it deals with the current topic of terrorism in an unflinching manner , with the hijacking of religion to further the terrorists ' extremist and violent ends being told in a style yet unseen from films such as The Kingdom , Syriana , The Siege and Body of Lies , to name but a few films dealing with the topic . I am a keen admirer of Don Cheadle's film performance , especially in dramatic roles , and here he plays Samir Horn , a devout Muslim and US citizen caught up in a web of intrigue and international terrorism acts . We see how he employs his skills of bomb-making , honed from his US Special Operations days as an officer , and seemingly looks like a rogue , US domestic terrorist aiding foreign groups in their operations to harm the world . But there's more than meets the eye to Samir , and here's where Cheadle excels in putting that level of ambiguity into a role that raises moral questions about doing something for the " greater good " , no matter the costs . Chasing him around the world are FBI counter-terrorism agents Roy Clayton ( Guy Pearce ) and Max Archer ( Neal McDonough ) , who are clearly like fish out of water when operating outside their legal jurisdictions . Unfortunately for the two actors , their roles here as the downright good guys are always a step or two behind the terrorist cells , which in some ways mirror that in real life . Without good intelligence , you're always reactive , and it takes a lot to be on top of the game , especially when tactics employed are normally innovately discharged . We get to see a number of " no-brainer " tactics that the cells employ which are effective if you think about it , which makes it all the more dangerous should they be used because they actually can be . But the most dangerous game to be playing from the side of the good guys , is the refusal to share intelligence or to combine resource , drawing lines in the sand and setting up turfs . The bickering between agencies all point to missing out on the bigger picture on one hand , while on the other the need for confidentiality also brings up operational sensitivity in order not to jeopardize any current missions , and this need to know service also stems from being overly cautious of any internal moles that would betray efforts in progress . In some ways , this is like Infernal Affairs being played all over again . I suppose that without the balanced view and very verbatim statements made toward the end renouncing violence and misguided teachings , this film would probably not be given the green light . But it did , and presented a very though provoking thinking man's action thriller set in this age of cloak and dagger terrorism . Sure it has some loopholes and the unnecessary ( and unavoidable ) collateral damage , but watch this for the performance all round and an engaging storyline that might not keep you guessing all the way once the cat is out of the bag , but does enough .
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515,298 | 317,399 | 397,614 | 8 |
A Nutshell Review : Robocon ( Robokon )
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Robocon is today's third movie , and the most satisfying one of the day's selection . Written and directed by Tomoyuki Furumaya , this movie's premise allowed for a sneak peek into one of Japan's many robotic competitions . The pretty Masami Nagasawa ( last seen in Crying Out Love at the Center of the World ) stars as lazy girl Satomi , who got assigned a stint , against her wishes , at her school's Robot Club . However , it's not the premiere club that she got assigned to , but the " B " team where the team members are hardly cooperative , made up of a motley bunch of losers . There's the ineffective soft spoken captain of the team , the genius arrogant designer , and a technician who dropped out but decided to join them again when the team had inexplicably entered the Nationals through a technicality . Her role in the team ? She's the designated driver , the operator of the machine , needing to learn how to be one with the robot through the use of the remote control . In the spirit of the theme of this year's film festival , naturally a whole section of the movie has put focus on how this group of students undergo boot camp - in a training regime at a beach resort - to build camaraderie , trust and friendship as they spend their off hours in designing and fine tuning their prototype YET-13 , into Boxhund , their entry for the finals . It's like a coming of age movie , with the characters developing skill sets , and in the further discovery of their strengths and weaknesses , combined with their willingness to change for the better , not just for themselves , but for the team . Although the narrative's pretty straightforward , it managed to create a sense of tension and a highly charged environment as our team challenges their competition through various round robin stages , and it is this part of the film that showcased the innovation and ideas of some of the robots , their wacky designs , and various functionalities . It's not easy just to build the robot , but how to maintain it through various stages , to think on your feet to solve technological challenges and the need for maintenance under time limit . Also , it takes a lot of with to try and outplay the competition , and every stage of the competition , just brings about the right amount of challenges , strategies , and how they are overcome . You'll also come to appreciate many of the rules put in place for the competition , and probably will pique your interest to learn a lot more . This is a highly recommended film , and I suspect it is already amongst the movies that I'll come to enjoy from the festival .
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