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Action & Thriller Movie Reviews

Taken – I Squeezed Cynthia’s Hand So Hard That It’s No Joke!

taken

I am a big fan of Liam Neeson – less so for that Star War film but more so for say “Schindler’s List” and “Michael Collins”.  So naturally, I like “Taken”.  Did you know that it is scripted by Luc Besson?  “The Fifth Element” is my all time favorite.  And surprise-surprise, “Taken” is directed by Pierre Morel who has also partnered with Luc Besson in “District 13”.  All of us in the Movie Review Squad have watched “District 13” back in 2006.

While all of us love “Taken”, TK thinks that the open scenes are a bit too slow.  For me, I appreciate the character development, especially for this type of film.  To the least, you get to know where those special ‘capabilities’ of Neeson’s character – Bryan Mills – come from, his relationship with his daughter, and the situation he is now at.  Rather than a 007 or Bourne kind of intensity from beginning to end, there is a build up right to the point when Bryan’s daughter, Kim, was kidnapped in Paris, sold to a prostitution ring, and from then onwards, all hell break loose.

Maybe such circumstance has a higher urgency than ransom or even murder.  I didn’t expect the violence, I didn’t expect the excitement.  I was squeezing Cynthia’s hand throughout the show.  At the end of it, I felt some soreness on my jaws.  Gosh.  I must have been grinding my teeth hard.

TK said that “Taken” reminded him of the TV series 24.  Quite true.  The girl has a similar stage name some more.  Cynthia said that the show reminded her of “Your Name Is Justine” (a very painful movie to watch based on human trafficking) from the content point of view.  For me, “Taken” is like a series of little quests on the journey of a very desperate father trying to find his daughter in a foreign country, at times beyond comprehension how things could happen that way.  Kind of remind me of that one online role playing game’s non-stop questing (don’t think, just do).  90 minutes seemed to have passed way too quickly.  I want more.

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Action & Thriller Movie Reviews

Fast & Furious 4 – So Vin Diesel is Back

Fast & Furious

I have no clue what the rest of the Movie Review Squad like about the Fast and the Furious franchise.  To me, it is the fast cars and the hot babes.  Again, what’s the story about?  Who cares when the car scenes are that hot?

Though time and time again I have been saying that (1) I don’t like Vivocity Mall if not for Cynthia’s facial appointments and (2) I don’t like Golden Village that forces us to watch 20 minutes of ads prior to the show, I welcome a change of the routine (ironically this periodic visit to Vivocity is a routine of some sort).  As always, in this momentary of being alone, in Vivocity, I tried to find a place to sit, and read my book.  And I chanced upon this French café.  10 bucks for a cup of drink and dessert.  Like the Parisian style, I found a table facing the sea, watching people passing by.  The sky went from sunny to cloudy to sunny to heavy downpour.  Didn’t get to read my book, I wrote a blog entry using my phone instead, the SMS style.

Except the first installment, I can hardly recall what the “2 Fast 2 Furious” and “Tokyo Drift” were about.  The rest of the squad don’t like these two films.  But, it is hard not to admit that “Tokyo Drift” has popularized the drifting driving technique.  The same way that the phrase fast and furious has become a pop culture.  I love to drive.  And some of these techniques, if you were to put yourself behind the actors, are pretty darn cool.  Like the bumper-to-bumper racing scene inside the tunnel that involves crashing and burning, gosh, it is so darn hard to do in real life.  And yes, that speed booster button works just like the new KERS of F1.  I squeezed Cynthia’s hand so hard for some of those breathtaking scenes.

OK.  We are not suppose to do that in real life.  I got that.

Did you know that the eye candy (Gal Gadot) who didn’t quite get the heart of Vin Diesel’s character is a 2004 Miss Israel?  I have no clue what Vin Diesel’s character was thinking.  But like the pockets of scenes that don’t quite make sense, let’s stick with the fast cars, and the hot babes.

In “Tokyo Drift”, director Justin Lin introduces us to drifting.  This time, it is about nitromethane – a fuel that power racing cars, planes, and rockets.  Now, I want some of that in my engine!

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Action & Thriller Movie Reviews

Gran Torino – Ah, So It’s A Car

Gran Torino

I am inspired.  If I do get to 78, I wish to have Clint Eastwood’s energy, passion, and creativity (and success too!).  It must have been quite a while since we’ve watched our last movie.  Life has been hectic lately.  When TK proposed to catch a movie this weekend, the Movie Review Squad unanimously picked “Gran Torino”.

Cynthia needed to take the car out to attend a social event; I needed to stay home to watch the F1 qualifying round; TK was kind enough to drop by and pick me up.  Lovely.  We watched Button as he yet again took the pole position for today’s match.  For those who get to appreciate the different aspects of the sport, it is more than go-karting (erm … that’s how Cynthia sees it), it is more than cars going round and round in circuits, and it is certainly more than waiting for the next accident or drama to occur.

“Gran Torino” is a dark movie.  A bitter old man (played by Clint Eastwood) – a war veteran – living alone in the neighborhood of Hmong Americans.  The film has explored many different concepts, from minority groups in American, mobs, violence, human relationship, to religion.  In fact, looking at one of the symbolic ending scenes, I would see religion as one of the key themes.

If “Gran Torino” is indeed a film that explores the meaning of life and death, I can certainly see the power of one’s death, and the life it brings forth.

OK, enough of thoughts for sharing.  F1 is starting 1n 10 minutes.  Go Brawn go!

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Action & Thriller Diary Movie Reviews

Prefer Casino Royale to Quantum of Solace – My Quantum of Mad Rush from 1450 to 1658

I think I had my fair share of action packed excitement prior to the five o’clock movie “Quantum of Solace”.  At 1450 (timestamp from one of my messages to M), I stepped into my Aston Martin (OK, more like a … whatever) with one hand on my Nokia phone doing last minute checking on my GPS ordinates (I did turn on my Nokia Map because I couldn’t afford to make any error and you will see why) …

OK.  If you are here for the movie review, please skip to the next section.  

Now, back to my quantum of mad rush … I am usually quite good at working backward and estimating what time we shall leave our doorsteps.  Today, so much needed to be done and … I gave up planning.  1450 was terribly late, that much I knew.  Tailgated the first car I saw on the quiet road of our neighborhood, I overtook it over a hump.  My car’s engine went vroom vroom vroom and … oops, the car belongs to the Colonel whom I just greeted at the lobby, whom was my client back in my consulting life, whom must have thought who this mad man on the road was.  He must have been shocked that I was that mad man on the road.

Sir, sorry Sir!  It was mad rush time!

I am terrible in road direction and I relied on my Nokia Map in times like this.  Spun the car to YCK Road, drove up the Lornie Road, turned right into Holland Road, exited into Holland Avenue, and as I negotiated a sharp right turn into the car park, I was greeted by the sign …

Car park full.

Uh-huh.  Parachuted Cynthia out of the car with an encrypted message “6 Dim Sum Dishes, Crystal Jade”, I patiently waited at the entrance with a path that slopped upwards.  My phone rang just when that dude from the Mercedes-Benz CLS in front of me let go his brake and gravity pulled this huge German machine towards my car.  NO!  I furiously slammed my honk while Cynthia was on the phone asking me which of the two Crystal Jade restaurants we were supposed to meet.

Handbrake Sir … please!  How would the insurance agencies know who hits who in situation like this?!

As I was waiting for our dishes to arrive, I was so happy to see the ATM machine right opposite the road.  In such a high tech city like Singapore, you would have thought that cashless payment is the way to go.  Apparently not for where I was going to visit, Sim Lim Square (amongst many places here).  One time, I literally withdrew S$1,000 notes over-the-counter so that I don’t need to bring a briefcase of S$50 notes to buy electronic gadgets.  Paid by Credit Cards I will need to add 3%.  Paid by NETS I will still need to add 2%.  You know what?  Our supermarkets should follow suit.  Imagine a 2% discount on grocery bills if we pay by cash.  Why not?  I would.  Especially now that we are in recession.  Any saving counts.

I had a vague memory on where M’s client site is at, theoretically a 5 minutes drive from Holland Vee.  I did get lost and I managed to get back on track thanks to Cynthia and Nokia Map.  M must have forgotten how impressive my driving skill is and as I was waiting and waiting for M to appear, I calculated the route to my next destination, Sim Lim Square.

If all go according to plan, mid next week, M and I would be two very happy men on Earth with our two new cameras.  So today, we went for an accessory shopping trip.  To help some of you to relate, imagine you have ordered a beautiful pair of earrings together with a matching necklace from Tiffany & Co.  While waiting for these lovely items to arrive, what would you do?  Yes, go shopping for some new dresses to go along, correct?

We entered into Singapore River area and have to pay S$2 ERP road charges (on a Saturday?!).  We turned into Rocher Road and paid another S$2 ERP road charges.  Good gracious me!  No wonder I love to stay at home during weekends.  And when we reached Sim Lim Square, we saw the sign …

Car park full.

Uh-huh.  Parachuted M out of the car to kick start the purchase process and when we reached the basement, I parachuted myself out of the car and handed Cynthia the car key.  Time was 1620 and it was running out.  Ran up to Alan Photo and M was happily holding his new lens.  I asked for the UV filter, no stock.  Battery, no stock.  Dry cabinet, no stock but I could place an order that comes with free home delivery.  OK, at least I got myself a rather expensive memory card.

Jumped back into the car at 1640, I paid another S$1 ERP for entering the Orchard area.  By the time we arrived at the 6th floor of Cineleisure, it was 1658.  TK greeted us with the popcorn set that Cynthia has been talking about for the whole day and … time for “Quantum of Solace”!

Quantum of Solace     

To the character James Bond, “Casino Royale” and “Quantum of Solace” are separated by merely an hour.  To some of the audience who have caught the previous installment, that is a 2 years wait.  If I was to watch “Casino Royale” right before “Quantum of Solace”, I think I may be more sympathetic over Bond’s grievance towards the quite possibly love of his life Vesper’s betrayal and death.  This chapter of James Bond starring Daniel Craig seems like part of a trilogy.  I made such a guess because there are some loose ends and in the end credits, it says something like “James Bond will be back again soon”.  If so, that may explain this mid episode syndrome when the majority of the plot is to provide answers to the lingering questions from “Casino Royale” but yet, the climax has to come from the next episode.

I prefer “Casino Royale” because I like the storyline better, because the Bond girl is more intelligent, has more air time, and because I get to see James Bond having fun, falling in love, rather than feeling so heartbroken.  Besides, I think the villain of “Casino Royale” is a lot cooler.

If you like Daniel Craig role in the Bond franchise (like me), you would enjoy “Quantum of Solace”.  There are some breathtaking action sequences and certainly, refresh your mind with “Casino Royale” prior to watching this one will help to understand James Bond’s state of mind better.

PS. I like Olga Kurylenko better in Hitman.

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Action & Thriller Movie Reviews

The Bank Job – Nothing Like My Job For Sure (LOL!)

OK.  Bad joke.  I can’t remember the exact dialogue.  When I suggested to watch “The Bank Job” last week, my buddy TK was like, “Isn’t that your job?  9 to 5 is not enough and you have to watch it on big screen?”

Duh!

Cynthia couldn’t have put it better: Before “The Italian Job” and “Ocean 11”, there was “The Bank Job”.  If you have watched all of the above, you shall know what she meant.  And you know what?  If luck holds, we may have “The Brazilian Job” played by the same actor, Jason Statham.  It’s a sequel, that much I can tell you.

Now, check this out: British intelligence set up a robbery to gain possession of a safety deposit box containing incriminating sex photos of Princess Margaret.  How much of the story is true?  It’s impossible to tell.  The film producers claim that they have inside source.  Then again, this is UK you are talking about.  I always loved to read their sensational tabloids especially the weekend editions when I was a student there.  We need spice in life, we need to feed on gossips.

I love the rather complex plot of murder, corruption, and a sex scandal, and overlaid on top, a rather low tech bank robbery (it’s a crime committed in 1971 so what else do you expect?) that is not without its nail biting moments.  And I also love how this rather multi-dimensional storyline is being told with such fluidity.  Despite the fact that there are quite a number of characters and dialogues involved, each scene tells a concise piece of story that gels well with the next.  It’s not a movie that you can leave your brain outside the theatre, of course.  But it is not hard to follow either.

So is there enough chemistry between Queen of Troy (Saffron Burrows) and Mr. Transporter (Jason Statham)?  I think they are both fine English actors and if there was more passion between the two, even for the imaginary character of Martine Love that does not exist in the so-called true story, it wouldn’t be believable.

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Action & Thriller Movie Reviews

The Incredible Hulk – Reload

It’s been a crazy time at work these days so I wanted some solid entertainment.  For the lack of choices, I proposed watching “The Incredible Hulk” to my Movie Review Squad and unanimously, both TK and Cynthia loved my choice because of Edward Norton.

Edward Norton as the Hulk?!  What happens to my Hector of Troy?!

OK, I will get to that in just a moment.  I must admit that I am not really a big fan of the concept of Hulk.  However, I am a big fan of Edward Norton and Liv Taylor (the casting of Arwen of LOTR was another surprise to me).

It is hard not to compare “The Incredible Hulk” with “Iron Man”.  Both are recent superhero films that contain a battle between two relatively huge mechanical beings in “Iron Man” and two equally huge greenish blob of beings in “The Incredible Hulk”.  I would say although Edward Norton is a brilliant actor, Robert Downey Jr. has put more heart into the story.  And it is hard not to compare this film with “The Hulk” (2003) as well.  Let’s not debate if Ang Lee has done a better job or the French director Louis Leterrier has because it is a matter of a personal preference between art and entertainment.  I personally would think Eric Bana (Hector of Troy) has put more angst into the character.  After all, we are not suppose to make the Hulk angry, are we?

In a way, “The Incredible Hulk” has two parts to it: the drama and the computer generated coupled with motion captured actions.  The drama may not be as memorable as I wish it to be but I love those special effects with a capital L.  So realistic, so full of energy.  Is it just me as I feel that the Hulk is a bit smaller than the previous film.  Now, those stretchable pants make sense.  Also, one scene did remind me of the film “King Kong”.  Perhaps the metaphor of “the beast within a man and the one true love who is able to tame it” is a popular one.

Again, like “Iron Man”, “The Incredible Hulk” comes with a bunch of in-film advertisements.  The one I recognize and can remember are: Norton 360 (how appropriate), SanDisk, Panasonic Lumix camera (I think), and Cynthia picked up the Givenchy cosmetics. Some advertisements I question the relevancy to the plot.  After the show, Cynthia has the urge to buy some Givenchy products.  Uh-huh … I think that works in some sense.

Unlike “Iron Man”, the stealer scene is not being put after the end credits.  And there is a high possibility that the Hulk will be featured in the upcoming film “The Avengers”.

Cynthia and TK both enjoyed the film.  I still miss my Hector of Troy.  But that’s all good to have different opinions within the squad.  Certainly this reloaded version has more lively scripts and a more likeable green monster.

And it is meaner and angrier than Shrek.

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Action & Thriller Foreign Movie Reviews

Black Book – Great Plot Filmed with a Convincing Sense of Realism

Gosh, it was the first time I saw an actress sitting (gracefully) in front of a mirror dyeing her pubic hair blond and I wasn’t even shy watching it.  It was so artistically filmed.  If you enjoy watching an espionage type of movie packed with high entertainment value of suspense, thriller, and seduction, this Dutch and German production with a hint of Hebrew and English may thrill you.

The time line of the story is set towards the end of World War II.  It was the rising of the Dutch Resistance versus the Nazi stationed in Holland.  “Black Book” is the most expensive Dutch film ever made (doesn’t it sound familiar with the foreign films these days?) and I can certainly see where all the money has gone into.  Every single detail is being attended to.  I felt as though I was being transported back to year of 1944.  I could almost smell the scent of the antiquity.  Details that are beyond the surface, some are historical, some are just “making sense” (like the stinging after effect of the dyeing of … erm … pubic hair). 

There is much character development in this 145 minutes foreign film and the entire plot is very much entwined with human emotions (love and family) as well as human flaws (greed and betrayal).  It watched like reading a good thick wartime novel, except the element of war is perhaps not the focus of this movie.  Are all Nazis bad and all members of the Dutch Resistance heroes?  According to the film director Paul Verhoeven, a shade of greyness on moral ground is simply what real life is.  Too bad, I don’t know the languages and I found it hard at times to follow the subtitles while distracted by the scenes and the acting.

“Black Book” may have received a mixed review within the Dutch community but the International markets love it.  Perhaps we are in need of something fresh with an age old formula of the Holocaust; perhaps we are not Dutch enough to feel for the lack of moral black and white between the Nazis and the rest.  This film has been nominated and has won a few awards.  The real gem of the movie, I think, is the beautiful Dutch stage and film actress Carice van Houten.  The plot has provided her a wide spectrum of emotions and opportunity to shine.  You will get to love our heroine.  And her real life relationship with her co-star Sebastian Koch (for those who have seen the film, it’s Ludwig Müntze, the German SD Officer) explains the chemistry on the big screen.

Do bring along a friend or two to watch to show.  It will be fun pasting the pieces together after the show.

On a side note – especially when I opened this blog entry with such a hot scene – the director Paul Verhoeven has worked on (besides “RoboCop” and “Total Recall”) “Basic Instinct”, “Showgirls”, “Starship Troopers”, and “Hollow Man” – all of which have elements that bring out the beauty of the female sexuality in forms of art.  I would say I love them all (except “RoboCop”).

Gosh, I have watched so many movies over the years!

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Action & Thriller Foreign Movie Reviews

Chocolate – That Thai Girl Can Fight!

Why is this Thai film so named as “Chocolate”?  I still have no clue.  Maybe I was too absorbed into the hot, explosive, fast paced, bone cracking, humanly impossible fighting sequence, I walked out of the theatre (at 1.30am) feeling shocked and awed unable to process anything like: Where or who is the chocolate?  And our Asian movie marathon continues.

“Chocolate” does put something new onto the table.  The most obvious of all is to have a young sweet heroine (“Jeeja” Yanin Vismistananda) as the main character fighting (and cracking) against gozillian men.  I personally welcome this aspect of femininity in a popular Thai action genre because it draws emotion and feeling and sympathy towards the heroine.  Besides, a heroine is allowed to cry when the plot calls for.  With a male main actor, the action is usually coupled with a dose of humor (like the Hong Kong actor Jackie Chan’s movies or the Thai actor Tony Jaa’s “Ong-Bak” and “Tom Yum Goong”).  With a female actress, it opens up doors of vulnerability that seldom seen in a genre dominated by men.

Collaboration with a Japanese counterpart in a Thai movie, I think, is pretty fresh (don’t you love the hot pair of Thai-Japanese couple?).  And it does expand the mode of combat to include the long Japanese sword as well.

“Chocolate” has devoted the first 30 minutes to develop the character of an autistic girl from conception to discovering this awesome fighting skill of hers.  The next 1 hour is packed with intensive fight scenes that made the audience screaming “ouch” all the way.

“Chocolate” does not have the old-fashioned scene repeat in different angles as the same pair of director choreographer did for “Ong-Bak” and “Tom Yum Goong”, which to me is good.  It is still what it is: a Thai action film that won’t satisfy your intellectual mind but will certainly get your adrenalin flowing.  I personally would love to see more of “Jeeja” in the future.  Perhaps a pair up between her and Tony Jaa.  Here is the trailer.

PS. I read from a Thai that in Thailand, it is darn hard to collect money from those who owe you.  They will have no problem relating to this film.

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Action & Thriller Movie Reviews

Street Kings – Originality Aside, It’s One Entertaining Flick

Street Kings

I have to admit: the casting can’t get better than this.  Perhaps, it’s a bit too good.  Imagine these strong associations in my head while watching the movie.  At the beginning scene, the supposedly alcoholic Keanu Reeves puked at the toilet bowl and I kept thinking of “Constantine” (it’s the cigarette and lung cancer instead of the booze but a similar bathroom scene).  Besides, who better to take on a role whose wife has died before the show begins?  How about Forest Whitaker who acted as our crazy “king” in the world of corrupted cops stepping in and out of different characters?  That is so “The Last King of Scotland”.  When Huge Laurie’s first appearance is in the hospital (remember “House”, the TV medical drama series?), I nearly flipped.  Fortunately, Huge plays a cop instead.

I can understand why “Street Kings” receives a mixed review.  The storyline is not original.  It is the same old all-cops-are-corrupted story with some cops want to right the wrong and once for all, clean up the mess.  Within our Movie Review Squad, TK gives a thumbs up.  Cynthia being a keen supporter of Keanu (I am tempted to use the word “fanatic”) of course adds in her toes as well besides her thumbs.  I personally like the show for a different reason – Forest’s acting is such a joy to watch.  From the audience’s reaction in the theater, he has definitely got the crowd engaged whenever he steps into the spotlight.

A fast pace engaging storyline that you should have little to complain if you are not looking too deep into the story.  A well crafted plot I must say.

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Action & Thriller Movie Reviews

Michael Clayton – Do You Have The Patience?

Michael Clayton

Cynthia and I have a few secret codes and signs. For instance, when we say that a film is quote unquote Oscar Material, that usually means: ya sure, it is artistic but it can quite boring (Cynthia surely did feel that way).  Okay, I personally don’t feel that bored because the acting is solid. Real solid. And that’s why you come to my site to hear different views.

Cynthia’s colleague enjoyed watching “Michael Clayton”. She actually forgot what the movie was as it was the 2nd movie straight after that, in her own words, mouth-watering Eastern Promise (remember that naked dude?). Being a walking encyclopedia of what’s showing, I guessed it right. She said she can relate to the corporate life depicted within. I can certainly relate to how she relates to the movie. I was once a “fixer”, a support consultant who was flown into Paris to fix a series of problems so that my so-called beloved firm would not get sued.  And the firm was saved. I got nothing in the end. The firm never remembers, just quarter to quarter results.

Sure, I can relate to “Michael Clayton”. When I told my new colleague ST that I was going to watch “Michael Clayton”, her immediate response was: you’ve got class!  I’ve got class? We’ve got class? Now I know. You really need to prepare yourself in order to appreciate “Michael Clayton”. Viewers are the hardest bunch to satisfy. If the movie is overwhelmingly entertaining, we complain that it does not have enough character development. “Michael Clayton” has plenty of character development and yet, some of us find it boring.

The acting of George Clooney (the “fixer” of a law firm) is solid. So are Tom Wilkinson (the lawyer who goes mad) and Tilda Swinton (chief counsel). The storyline is straightforward, nothing groundbreaking. Our little complain is that we don’t really get to see George Clooney fixing anything. There are quite a number of moral decisions involved, that’s for sure.

Surprisingly TK enjoyed the movie. Cynthia and I joked that because he got two phone calls from his boss and needed to leave the theatre. Hence, the movie is (a) a lot faster pace and (b) a lot more mysterious. Critics all over the world love this movie. I think you can too … if you have the patience.