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Action & Thriller Movie Reviews

The Town – Glorified Bank Robbers

Time passes by so quickly!  One week has passed.  We watched “The Town” last weekend.  And tomorrow is Friday.  The beginning of yet another weekend.  This week is a happy week.  The haze has been lifted.  However, in the mist of finally getting a breath of fresh air, let’s not forget that our neighbor has gone through some terrible natural disasters this very week.  So, my prayers are with them.

I hate to agree with Cynthia.  But she is right.  Ben Affleck cannot act.  Having said that, I still think that he is one cool dude.  I don’t mind to look like him, as tall as him.  Ben Affleck is the director for “The Town” and he has co-written the script.  He has done a good job in both departments.  I enjoy watching the Ben Afflect – Rebecca Hall pair.  More so when Ben pairs up with “The Hurt Locker” star Jeremy Lee Renner.  I ought to catch up on “The Hurt Locker”.  Jeremy Renner is on fire.  That rage, that emotion on screen!  I believe he is also one of the reasons why “The Town” is a success.

In this movie, Ben Affleck plays the role of a robbery architect.  And he has a team of robbers to work with him, including Jeremy Renner.  Rebecca Hall plays the role of a bank manager who first meets Ben Affleck as a masked robber.  And then meeting him as an acquaintance.  Because of that, Ben Affleck – I think – requires to speak in two different accents.  I must say some of what he says can be really hard to catch, if English is not your first language.  But that adds authenticity to the story, which is good.

The plot, I must say, is pretty smart.  The action sequence is thrilling to watch.  I enjoy the fluidity of the plot.  If there is one thing to take home with, it is this thought that although one may have changed to be better, he or she still needs to bear the consequences of the past.  Initially I wondered: Do we need another bank robbery film?  I suppose another good one doesn’t harm.

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Action & Thriller Movie Reviews

The American – I Watched It As A George Clooney Fan (And That Only)

We practice democracy within Movie Review Squad, most of the time.  Last weekend, I wanted to watch a European foreign film.  Cynthia said OK.  TK said OK.  I then spotted a George Clooney film and I thought, time for a second round of vote?  Cynthia said American.  TK said American.  Two against one, so “The American” it was.

That evening, both TK and Cynthia were exceptionally hungry.  Over dinner, while I was logging the expenses (I am the movie scouter, the accountant, the review writer as well as the ticket booker within Movie Review Squad – hence a.k.a. “The Secretory”), they were busy attacking the dishes.  By the time I looked up, half of the food on the table was gone!  After our meal, TK showed us one of the free apps he downloaded for his Apple phone.  It is pretty hilarious.  You talk to the animated cat inside the phone and it repeats what you say with a very cute voice and a little delay.  And when Cynthia laughed hearing that, the cat paused and laughed too.  That triggered another round of laughter and so on.  People around us must have thought that she was crazy laughing at / with / on the phone.

“The American” is a slow pace movie, very slow.  So slow that I thought I would have my vindication against Cynthia and TK for choosing the film after all these months and years of laughing at me for making a bad decision in picking that Spanish movie (which I still think it was a good pick) or that Thai movie.  My vindication was very short lived.  In no time, they joined forces singing praises for “The American” and gave me that look of I-thought-this-is-the-sort-of-slow-movie-you-love-a-lot?

OK, to rewind, those who enjoy watching classic thriller would love “The American”.  And that is one aspect I enjoy, a thriller that is different from what we have in the market today.  Not many make films like “The American” these days.  A simple plot, emotionally gripped, and a constant sense of danger.  George Clooney has done a good job in playing the rather serious role.  I am not going to spoil you from enjoying the film as I walked into the theater with absolutely no clue on what the story is about.  Much time, you would wonder where the story is going.  It is especially slow in the first half of the movie.  But it does get better when the pieces of puzzle – not many by the way – are put together.  There is a lot of space within the plot, that is my own reservation of classifying “The American” as a classic.  I love the part of having two sinners falling in love.  But I was hoping that there is a deeper resolution, a redemption perhaps.  “The American” is a beautifully made movie.  You would feel for the characters.  If the plot was not as shallow, I would have loved it more.  After all, “The American” does have the sure win ingredients of money, sex, and blood.  Shot entirely in Europe with European actors and actresses, it does feel like watching a European film.  So, looking back, I did watch a European movie, in a strange sense.

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Action & Thriller Movie Reviews

The Secret in Their Eyes – A Man Never Changes His Passion

This morning, it was typhoon signal number one.  Now, it is upped to number three.  I often visit my birth town in winter, seldom experience the rain.  In a way, the rain today brought back the sweet memory of my study life.

Cynthia and I were in IFC Mall when we stumbled upon a cinema.  Ritually, we scanned through the program just in case something interesting came up, with the right timing and not too crowded.  Interestingly, a Spanish movie fitted the bill.  Although we are not quite into the genre of crime, we were happy to take the opportunity to give our Spanish some exercise, especially when we have given our class a one week holiday break.

“The Secret in Their Eyes” or the Spanish title “El Secreto de Sus Ojos” is surprisingly a great movie (consider the fact that for us, it is a “walk-in” movie).  Little did we know that it has won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film.  Only when the script mentioned “Buenos Aires” did we realize that it is an Argentine film.  It is an intriguing story that weaved through a rape-murder case in a flashback style.  It has enough twists that keeps the 127 minutes movie engaging.  It has enough drama and character development that makes it more than a story of solving a crime.  In terms of timeline, the story spanned 25 years between 1974 to 1999.  In 1974, the main character Benjamín Espósito was a federal justice agent.  In 1999, he has retired and decided to write a novel on the rape-murder case he worked on.  A case he handled together with his assistance Pablo Sandoval and his department chef Irene Menéndez-Hastings.  Besides crime solving, much of the story is dedicated to Espósito’s friendship with his assistance and the romance with his chef.

“The Secret in Their Eyes” is a moving story, a tragedy.  It is artistically made supported by beautiful classical soundtrack.  From the Spanish learning point of view, we feel that the Argentines speak with a different accent.  It took us some time to adjust.  A good practice nonetheless.  As for the cinema, we love the sofa seat.  The staffs were courteous, well dressed.  They thanked the crowd for coming as we exited.  That is what service industry should be like.

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Action & Thriller Movie Reviews

The Expendables – Now, That Is Loud

I can understand why this film receives mixed reviews.  And I can also understand why this film is doing quite well, commercially speaking.  Audiences love to feel good.  We love to see our heroes beating up the bad guys, many bad guys.  And we hate to see our heroes getting hurt or get killed.  “The Expendables” delivers just that, with a big team of stars.  I was not expecting anything intelligent from the plot and hence, this film works for me.  Some dialogs can be entertaining too.  The clip with the uncredited Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis is probably one of my favorites (though some may cringe).  There is not much acting to highlight per se.  But I enjoy watching one particular scene as Mickey Rourke recounts the past.  That is a convincing piece of acting.

I am a big fan of Stallone and his career thus far has inspired me to rise up to the challenge against all odds (that Rocky theme song still plays inside my head when that happens).  Directed and co-written by Stallone, “The Expendables” is full of loud action.  Some action scenes are so incredible that can only be seen in a shoot-them-all type of video game.  The story is pretty simple.  A CIA officer has hired the mercenary group called The Expendables to kill off a dictator in a fictitious island backed by an ex-CIA agent.  And in the mist of this, the general’s daughter whom seems to disagree with her father’s dictatorship is involved.  Hardly an epic storyline, I must agree.  But it is good to see the actors having fun with the scenes like good old friends.

We watched this film at Cathay Cineleisure and the sound effect was loud, really loud: The gunfire and the explosion and let’s not forget that super loud machine gun that is capable to blow bodies and military structures into pieces with a single shot or two.  Fortunately, not everyone in The Expendables equips that I-win weapon.  I like the knife fight better.  More stylish to watch.

And yes, there is some blood and gore.  But worries not.  I have seen worse on screen, much worse.  It was the loud sound effect that seemed to bug me, for just a bit.

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Action & Thriller Movie Reviews

Salt – It Is Angelina Jolie! Gasp!

What’s there to like about Angelina Jolie, Cynthia would ask.  Sigh.  Need I say, really.  Her lips?  Her sexy back?  Her Lara Croft come alive body shape?  Her guns and ass kicking action takes?  Well, none of the above; all of the above and more.

So I dragged Cynthia to watch “Salt” at our favorite cinema at The Cathay, with our friends, over the long weekend.  I love “Wanted” and in a strange way, “Salt” reminds me of that movie.  Must be the gun fight and action (and more).  I was genuinely led confused throughout a good portion of the movie.  “Salt” is action packed, from the very first frame.  It is a film about CIA and spy, Korea and spiders, US and Russia, nuclear war and a dog inside a backpack (OK, it is not that abstractly artistic, just in case you get the wrong idea).  Some parts of the film do not seem to make sense.  But it has sufficient feel good factors to keep us entertained.  And there are sufficient moments that move.

Yes, “Salt” is about vindication.  Bad guys must die.

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Action & Thriller Movie Reviews

The Losers – Actually Pretty Fun To Watch!

How come I have watched so many movies lately?  In recent Spanish classes, our teacher often asks what we have done over the weekend.  Most of us would have watched at least one or two movies.  One dude has watched Iron Man 2 twice!  OK.  The power of peer pressure.  But still, what do Singaporeans do over the weekend?  How come so many of us watch so many movies all year round?

Cynthia and I were going to give “Losers” a pass.  But our buddy TK wanted something brainlessly fun.  And with all the work stress over the weeks, I really don’t mind to have a good laugh.  I suppose one wouldn’t lose much if to watch “Losers” on TV.  The plot is hardly memorable.  But still, the chemistry between the actors and the fun factor … Gosh!  It is absurd.  Some parts don’t make sense.  But with enough blood, sex, and money in a strong dose of humor, I am not complaining.

An environmental friendly nuclear-like bomb that is capable to decimate the entire island with no pollution – designed for the green terrorists?  At that point onwards, I didn’t take the film seriously.  That works.

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Action & Thriller

Green Zone – Far Fetched Or Being Honest?

It is Matt Damon, again in uniform, not as a super soldier but as a Chief Warrant Officer looking for Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq.  If the Americans and their allies could not find WMD after the Iraq War, could Matt Damon do the impossible?  No!  That is the bit on being honest.

When the Iraq War started, I suppose there were two groups of people.  One who supported the war and another one did not.  In fact, make it three: those who disliked the notion of war but eager to see a swift closure to the situation.  Imagine a war spinning out of control that may have a widespread implication – socially and economically in a global scale.  The question remains: If the reason of going into war was to dismantle WMD in Iraq and if none can be found after the invasion, what have the Americans and their allies achieved?  How would those who supported the war feel?  Perhaps that is why “Green Zone” is seen as anti-American or anti-war by some, an honest production by others.

Personally, my deeper query is as such: Did America go to war because of bad intelligence that WMD may exist or they went to war knowing that WMD does not exist?  “Green Zone” has made some strong claims.  And I am not certain to what extend does being faithful to historical facts lie.

Nor would I know if a Chief Warrant Officer on the ground be given such a great autonomy to pursue his personal objectives without having to notify the command center and his superior, able to reassign his people out of his team on the fly, able to initiate a personal transfer of unit also on the fly, and to embark on a solo life-threatening mission with zero intelligence and little military backup.  I am not even talking about how a local Iraqi can walk in and out of a military prison by simply following an American in uniform.

But if one can overlook these incredible scripts and claims, the filming of “Green Zone” looks authentic.  The Iraqi backdrop and the intense battle scenes, the partnership of Matt Damon and the director Paul Greengrass (Bourne series) – I would say “Green Zone” is an entertaining film.  That is if you do not think about the scripts too much.

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Action & Thriller Movie Reviews

Right … So This Is Sherlock Holmes?

Pardon my lateness in writing this.  Given the recent turn of exciting events, I hope it is forgivable.  One may ask: Why write this type of entries for every movie you watch?  I am a Cancer and I am fond of collecting movie stubs.  Until one day I realize that the printing on the movie stubs faints over time.  Besides, I don’t get to collect every movie stub since not every ticket is purchased by me.  Now, I have a record of all the movies I have watched on big screens.  And if you read my so-called ‘reviews’, more often than not, I mix it with my diary making it more personal, more fun for me to read in the future.  Interestingly, some do find some of my views beneficial, which I am humbled.  Some find a common voice within, which I am even more humbled.

I have high hope on Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle’s “Sherlock Holmes”.  It is a classic, correct?  I must confess that I didn’t know who wrote “Sherlock Holmes” and I am amongst the group of readers who thought that Sherlock Holmes exists.  Between you and me, I even thought that “Sherlock Holmes” was written by Agatha Christie.  Now you know that I am not quite into the genre of detective stories.

Or more correctly, reading detective stories make me feel stupid.  Clues are supposed to be everywhere.  And you are supposed to solve the crime as you read the story.  Somehow, I am finding it hard to crack the cases.  As the detective takes the final stage explaining the case, like a magician who leads you to the third stage, the answer is right in your face.  And I always feel stupid, frustratingly inferior.  To whom?

Back to the movie.  Given any normal day release, “Sherlock Holmes” could well be an entertaining film to watch.  But you know during Christmas, there were tons of great movies to choose from (blue aliens anyone?).  We watched “Sherlock Holmes” on a large theater and the sound and image quality didn’t quite match the series of movies we have watched over the holiday season.

A couple of observations on “Sherlock Holmes”.  The filmmakers appear to have borrowed Doyle’s characters with the story written by someone else.  My questions are: Why not name these characters something else?  Why not adapt one of the original stories written by Doyle?  I suppose if the story is well known – though I have yet to read any of his books – many people would have known the ending.  And that is not a great detective story because … ?

Our friend TK seems to enjoy watching “Sherlock Holmes”.  Well, dude, if you want us to join you for “Sherlock Holmes 2”, you better join us for “Twilight 3”!

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Action & Thriller Foreign Movie Reviews

Amalfi (Amarufi) – Japanese Diplomacy Is A Long Process

Yet another Japanese film!

When I was young, I often read Japanese novels of the detective and thriller genre.  In Chinese of course.  There is this Oriental exoticism that is different from the similar stories of the West.  The twists and turns, the ambiance, the backdrops, and the attention to details like an art – all in a pace that is less of a page turner, but rather a consistent grind from start to end.  In a strange way, watching the 125 minutes Japanese film “Amalfi” reminds me of just that.

“Amalfi” is a special production to mark Fuji Television’s 50th anniversary, entirely shot in Italy.  The scenery is beautiful.  As Cynthia and I watched the movie, some scenes reminded us of our honeymoon back in 2000.  The plot is full of twists, though somewhat linear.  You could of course sit back and watch the movie as it is.  Or you could – like me – think together with the actor, as he pauses, eyes dashing around the surrounding, and the music stops giving you the opportunity to think.

As for the storyline, I wouldn’t say too much here.  But here is the excerpt.  A single mother has gone for a holiday with her little daughter in Italy and soon, her daughter is kidnapped.  A Japanese diplomat has joined the Japanese Embassy in Rome and is assigned to handle this kidnap case.  Soon, they discover that this entire setup is more than just a kidnap.

I can understand that some may find this movie a bit too long and boring.  Some parts are a bit far fetched, though by and large, the storyline makes sense.  I in especially am delighted by the acting: a single mother who has to appear strong under even the most trying period of her life, a diplomat who has poor communication skill but his eyes say it all.  “Amalfi” is more than a thriller.  I am not a Japanese.  But it is refreshing to see a Japanese film taking on the International arena.  I for one am awed by the breathtaking scenes shot in Rome.  One scene, they are taking a public bus, standing with the crowd, the camera gradually zooms out, through the bus window.  As the bus drives away, there it is, the famous backdrop of Rome.  Such class!

PS. I think the filmmakers are big, big fan of Sarah Brightman.

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Action & Thriller Movie Reviews

Horsemen – If Not for Zhang Ziyi …

Horsemen

Sorry for my previous post that is kind of depressing and thanks for all your support.  I am OK, still [trying to be] as positive as ever.  So today has been a mad day at work.  I’ve told everybody that we are moving office and yet, work requests, meeting requests, email requests aimed at my team from near and afar – non-stop.  In between the request gaps, I was packing, frantically deciding what should go into a box that someone [I hope] would carry for me to the so-called new office (it’s not new for sure), what should go into the trash bin, and what should be shredded.  At day end, I turned to my team member and shocked that he hadn’t even started!

“Erm, you could use some of my box space.  I don’t have that much stuff,” I offered.  He is a lot older more experienced than me and at times, I feel that he’s my boss instead.  He waved and said, “Nah.”  “You are not bringing anything?” I asked.  And he pointed at his laptop bag and said, “That’s all.”

Wow.  I love that mentality.  I reckon I could have done the same.  What’s inside my box anyway?!  Junks.

So, what do men do when their partners are having all-girls-night-out?  Woohoo!  I frantically took out my [mental] note of things-I-wish-to-do-when-Cynthia-is-having-a-good-time-on-her-own.  Horror movies!  Except, there are none showing and “Horsemen” is the closest movie that neither Cynthia nor our movie buddy TK would want to watch with me.

So I wrapped up with the day with “Horsemen”.  To tell you the truth, if not for Zhang Ziyi, I wouldn’t have picked it.  I love her acting and she speaks better English this time.  Even with little makeup and with no fancy clothes throughout the show, she is just gorgeous.  While I am not quite sure if it’s a good idea to mix a bunch of suicidal, depressed kids with family issues and the [mis-] interpretation of the Book of Revelation from the Bible, “Horsemen” did prompt me to think or do the followings:

  • Work is just work, don’t forget your family.
  • I nearly cried towards the end.
  • [I confess that] it’s been a long time since I opened the Bible and not only have I read a bit here and there, I read the study notes in details too.

To the curious minds, the Book of Revelation is not meant to be taken as a literal set of predictions for the current events.  It is so encrypted because it was written during the Christian prosecution.  Divine revelation no doubt but do read it with the study notes.  Chapter 6 is the center theme of “Horsemen” and in the Bible, it is the visions of cosmic conflict.  A vision of four horsemen to kill with sword, famine, and plague, and by means of the beasts of the earth.  And then the angels appear and so on.

“Horsemen” is a pretty gruesome movie.  But then, for those who enjoy watching CSI, I don’t think you’ll have a problem with this one.  For those who dislike movies that end abruptly without a conclusion, you may not like “Horsemen”. 

I don’t hate “Horsemen”, I am just OK with it.  Nothing makes sense in the movie.  It is because by definitely, suicidal is momentary insanity.