Category: Fantasy & Sci-fi

Categories
Fantasy & Sci-fi Movie Reviews

G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra – Loved It Or Hated It?

GI Joe

Ah ha!  I so didn’t choose this movie to watch.  Apparently, the ban is still on.  Because I chose that Thai film that nobody seems to enjoy watching.  OK, I shall leave the decision making process to the rest of the Movie Review Squad.  We all know that the critics have beaten this one bad.  But it’s a genre we love to watch.  We went into the theatre with open minds, with little expectation.

I can understand why some hated “G.I. Joe” the movie.  Most highlighted that the storyline is ‘stupid’, the script is weak, and the effect is too ‘over-the-top’.  Some even compare this to the Transformer franchise (which I am pretty sure it works for some).  To be fair, like our friend TK has pointed out to me, “G.I. Joe” started off as action figures sold by a toy company.  It evolves into comics and cartoons and surprise, surprise, video games in the late eighties, early nineties.  To me, the entire movie felt exactly like watching a video game on a very big screen.  Maybe that’s why “G.I. Joe” is breathtaking to me in its own way.  Yes, audio checked, video checked.  What I found lacking – strange to say and no fault of the filmmakers – is the kinetic interaction like what we gamers derived in computer gaming.  Throughout the show, I felt like grabbing my invisible mouse and keyboard and get involved in the storyline, the hack and slash, or the massive explosions.  What you see on the big screen is only half of what gamers are experiencing, minus the interaction bits.  Back to the movie, when I first saw the underwater fortress and the mad scientist, that is so BioShock.  The military suit?  Crysis has it with the “nano suit” doing quite similar things that the Joes are doing on screen.  And I had flashbacks on Mass Effect. It must be those military command ships and characters in costumes.

I have no idea why Cynthia and TK enjoy “G.I. Joe” (I reckon she likes the actor Channing Tatum).  For me, I couldn’t help but chuckle (in a good way) whenever something unbelievable happen.  It helps when I don’t question some of the logics (seasoned computer gamer I am, just enjoy the ride).  Some asked why do they need to ‘weaponize’ a weapon by charging the nano warhead at a particle accelerator only to be fired off by human hands?  Well, if the story says so, it is so.

I like the car racing scene in Paris.  I like the lady in black hair more then the red head.  Seeing the Korean actor Lee Byung-hun on big screen is cool.  Classic movie it is not.  But I may consider watching the sequels.

Categories
Fantasy & Sci-fi Foreign Movie Reviews

20th Century Boys 2 – This Trilogy Is Growing On Me

20th Century Boys 2

October 2008, the Movie Review Squad has watched the first installment of this trilogy, of this perhaps the most expensive Japanese film ever made.  I wonder why there is a 6 months delay before part 2 arrives in [a tiny theater in] Singapore (compare to a 2 months gap for part 1).  And I look forward to a part 3 that will be released this August in Singapore.  So it says on the big screen at the end of the trailer, at the end of the 142 minutes movie.

142 minute?!

Part 2 is just as lengthy as part 1.  To recap, “20th Century Boys” is our friend TK’s baby.  He got us into this.  Friend!  And surprisingly, Cynthia loves the part 1 too.  I found the first part a bit lengthy, a bit confusing, and kind of lacking in the eye candy factor.  Men!  I know.

Comes part 2, titled “The Last Hope”.  Although it is still a bit lengthy, because the plot doesn’t go back and forth in time that often like part 1, it is much easier to follow.  The story is still as confusing as ever partly because I am – or we are – overwhelmed by the sheer number of key characters with names in Japanese (of course).  And honestly speaking, our recollection of the plot thus far was very minimal.  If you recall, part 1 is about this Book of Prophesy, whereby the future plays out exactly as what was ‘predicted’.  Part 2 is about this New Book of Prophesy, that is even more absurdly bizarre.  I said it many times, Japanese imagination knows no bound.  The entire story of “20th Century Boys” and the concept created is just, strange.  But I am liking it.

The year is 2015 and the heroine Kanna has grown up.  I am not 100% sure if the 24 years old actress Airi Taira can act that well.  But she is one eye candy for sure.  I love her hairstyle in the show (shallow I so am!).  Deep inside, I was – or we were – hoping that Kanna would play a much bigger role in the overall plot.  But I was mildly disappointed.  Perhaps part 2 has this mid episode syndrome and is sandwiched between two episodes with a scale of total world destruction, Kanna can only do what Kanna has done.

I have absolutely no idea how the part 3 is going to play out of course.  Maybe Kanna will save the world.  Maybe somebody else does (the title does imply that the heroes belong to the male species though).  Or maybe the world will be destroyed for good.  Personally I enjoy part 2 more than part 1.  The filmmakers have done a great job in delivering us a powerful ending for “The Last Hope”.  And I find myself cracking into laughter here and there amazed by the super dramatized acting and over the top production.  In preparing ourselves for the finale, I think the Movie Review Squad needs to spend some time and watch the first two installments again in order to get a better grasp on what the story is about.  I may even need to dig up some “20th Century Boys” manga online!

Categories
Fantasy & Sci-fi Movie Reviews

Blood The Last Vampire – My Beloved Sassy Girl Turns Into A Demon Slayer

Blood: The Last Vampire

What more could I ask for?  My favorite Korean actress Jun Ji-hyun from my favorite movie “My Sassy Girl” is going to the heroine killing off waves after waves of demons slash vampires slash unholy creatures and save the … OK, I don’t quite know what she is saving for.  It’s Jun Ji-hyun.  Who cares about the story?

Apparently, TK from our Movie Review Squad cares.  He shook his head in dismay as the end credit rolled and said, “I don’t like it”.  Cynthia and I love the Buffy kind of one girl against all.  So we love “Blood The Last Vampire”.

I suspect the original Japanese Anime may be of a higher value in originality, from what I’ve read.  Some scenes of “Blood” reminds me of the movie “Underworld”.  It’s not one of those typical vampire series.  Saya – the main character played by Jun – looks 100% human except her eyes turn red when I suppose she is getting a power booster?  The absence of romance makes “Blood” unique from other vampire series.  And instead, the deepening of friendship between the 400 years old half human half vampire Saya and another girl is kind of … hot.

I wish “Blood” was shot entirely in Japanese with a Japanese casting.  A filming team from what appears as China and Argentina making a Western movie leaves much room to desire for.  Having said that, Jun Ji-hyun’s (or Gianna Jun as her new screen name) English is pretty convincing.  Venturing into a relatively hardcore action role – knowing how tough it must have been – is an amiable effort.  The ending may seem strange to some.  To someone who loves Wuxia type of Chinese novels, this type of heroine saving the … whatever worth fighting for is certainly my cup of tea.

Yes, “Blood” is a rather bloody film to watch.  It is because in the original story, those self-healing demons – Chiroptera – can only be killed by causing them to lose a large amount of blood with one attack.  There you go.  The lore of “Blood” in a nutshell.

Categories
Fantasy & Sci-fi Movie Reviews

Terminator Salvation

Terminator Salvation

Let’s get the fundamental right: in the world of human versus machine, Terminator franchise lies somewhere between the extremes of Robocop and The Matrix.  We guys love to watch Robocop with our girlfriends at our basements because with such a boring storyline, making out seems like the next best thing to do (it’s an open secret in the guy’s world, trust me).  The Matrix is probably somewhere at the pinnacle of this alternative universe.  Embedded inside are the elements of religion, philosophy, and the interdependency between the human and the machine.  The lore of Terminator puzzles me.  Human creates the machine to wipe off the human species?  And some time in the distant future when the machine is losing, they send in the Terminators to time travel and kill off key human rebels in an attempt to alter the future?   Why don’t the future human species send in assassins to time travel to the past and kill off those scientists that created the concept of Terminator once and for all?

I didn’t have much expectation on Terminator Salvation.  I have missed the one with the naked female Terminator fallen from the sky (censorship in Singapore put me off so I skipped it).  And the overall review of Salvation is merely average.  But since the rest of the Movie Review Squad is keen, I went along with an open mind.

Does great effect make a great movie?  Some don’t think so.  I have got to say, Terminator Salvation does have some really awesome computer generated effect.  The storyline may be predictable, not so memorable, but I was thoroughly entertained by the waves of machines after machines.  At some point, I thought I was watching Transformer.  At another point, I thought I was playing the computer game Supreme Commander.  This movie answers one of my top ten questions of all time: Does Christian Bale talk like that because he was acting as Batman or does he talk like that in real person?  At some point, I thought I was watching Batman.

While Helena Bonham Carter is still as creepy as ever, we all agree that Sam Worthington is one fine actor.  I would argue that he acts better than Christian Bale, who is doing pretty good for his role.  Not a classic movie, but entertaining nonetheless.

Categories
Fantasy & Sci-fi Movie Reviews

Star Trek – Looking Through the Eyes of a Non-Trekkie

Star Trek

Here is one dark secret of mine: I was once imprisoned by a few brainwashed Trekkies insisted that I should watch and internalize the visual messages of Captain Kirk and his pointy ears companion.  Every evening, I was seated in front of the TV watching one of the 6 Star Trek films in random order.  VHS video tapes, I remember.  One day I was watching episode 6.  Another day, one of the previous episodes.  I protested that I wouldn’t be able to understand a thing watching the series that way.  These Trekkies laughed and said it was part of the training.  In time to come, I would be able to recite all the key dialogues, just like them.  Appreciate the wisdom within, just like them.

And just like them, I was [forcefully] glued in front of the TV during those long school holidays when I needed a place to stay in the capital of a country called UK.  The crazy days of going to bed when the sun came up, video gaming marathon, liquor and takeaways, and centered to that long gone good life as students, we had Star Trek.  They debated on the moral philosophy of a world according to Captain Kirk and his pointy ears companion; they discussed on the physic of the universe and the technology involved in the crafting of those spaceships.  Did-you-know, have-you-noticed, haven’t-you-noticed, these Trekkies would try to pull me into their highly encrypted conversations.  Years later, the only thing I can remember in this Star Trek franchise is that one scene when the Klingons quoted Hamlet.  I love Shakespeare’s works and hence, the Klingons talk to me.  Not Captain Kirk and his pointy ears companion, but the Klingons.  For those who are curious on these subtle connections between Star Trek and Shakespeare, click here for an article written by Dr. Delahoyde.

Year 2009, Star Trek returns to the big screen in digital 4k format.  This new movie is breathtaking in many ways.  I am a big fan of Zachary Quinto (who plays Kirk’s pointy ears companion).  He is my favorite actor from the TV series Heroes and he is just perfect for that role.  Sandwiched between the two Trekkies – Cynthia and TK – was me, compelled to watch yet another episode of Star Trek.  I constantly whispered to Cynthia during the show to fill in my knowledge gap.  As a non-Trekkie, “Star Trek” is undeniably an entertaining movie that has lived up to its expectation.  The effects are gorgeous, the science is current, and the friendship development of Kirk and Spock (I kept calling him Spark in front of Cynthia unintentionally) is perhaps the main focal point of this movie.  Secretly, deep inside, I still wish that “Star Trek” has a deeper reference to something more philosophical, generates deeper moral debates, and perhaps has a more logical plot.  However, compares this to yet another similar franchise that has gone back in time with newer and better filming technology, “Star Trek” has certainly done a much better job than the one that involves a Gungan named Jar Jar Binks.

TK was excited by the movie.  So was Cynthia.  As I listened to Cynthia reciting the final line of “Star Trek” together with Spark Spock word-by-word, I knew at that moment that I am still very far off from graduating as a Trekkie.  And hence, the brainwashing continues.

Categories
Fantasy & Sci-fi Movie Reviews

Watchmen – Oh I Like

Watchmen

I should feel blessed that I have yet to unwrap the comic book “Watchmen” I bought years ago.  As strongly recommended by our friend TK, I bought that comic book; and since he is keen to watch the movie – though I have heard split reviews on this film – we went ahead with it.

It is the time of the month again and Cynthia just has to have her facial done at Vivocity.  And hence, all three of us just have to watch “Watchmen” at Golden Village.  Why would anyone wish to watch a movie at Golden Village, I have no clue.  We pay for the movie ticket and we have to take in 20 minutes of advertisement, on top of the 161 minutes “Watchmen”.  As your friend, I strongly recommend Cathay cineplexes that often start the shows on time, with better systems.  Especially for a film that go beyond the two-and-a-half hours mark.

For some strange reasons, I really like the film “Watchmen”.  I like the idea of an alternative history, a bizarre team of retired masked heroes (can’t really call them superheroes) trying to save the world (gasp!), a script that reads like poetry at times, humanity with a debatable means that don’t quite justify the ends, a well crafted storyline that has lots of character development opportunities, and a great soundtrack to go along with.  One scene kind of reminds me of “The Day The Earth Stood Still“.  Well, the reason of saving the world is certainly more compelling in “Watchmen”.  And that one scene of the duo masked heroes fighting their way into the prison reminds me of the show “Matrix”.  The kind of class and style, full of fascinating moves.  It’s been a while since I’ve felt that way.  At the end of the show, I turned to TK and asked if in the comic book, these masked heroes are so powerful, he said no.  Interesting.  I was told though the film is a pretty faithful adaptation of the comic book.

So I asked TK why he is not jumping off the chair.  I like his reply.  He said that the feel is different.  It’s like looking at two photos taken at the same subject.    I am looking forward to reading the comic book and see the difference myself.

PS. I have a strange feeling that I did dream of writing this review years ago.

Categories
Fantasy & Sci-fi Foreign Movie Reviews

K-20: Legend of the Mask – A Japanese Batman?

K20

It’s Takeshi so Cynthia has got to watch it.  So I have got to accompany her.  And I had no idea what to expect.  Besides, I reckon since my parents are going to be in town this week, my sister is getting Singaporely married this weekend (for her wedding tour, click here), I’d better catch up with my Movie Review Squad for a movie, this week.

Nope.  There was no tears.  No Japanese female eye candies either.  Just Takeshi in what seems like a Batman meets Thief Guild kind of western concept set in Japan when World War II didn’t happen.  Cynthia loves it, I love it less.  Just because I feed on tearing moments and eye candies, and none in this.  The film though, is quite a classic.  There are moments of memorable acts.  Moments that I could visualize decades later when some of us play back the scenes and recite the dialogues with the actors.

The special effect is jaw dropping.  No doubt “K-20” is one of those rare big budget Japanese movies.  A fantasy story with the background of Japan entering a class movement separating the rich and the poor.  Naturally – I suppose – someone would stand up and redistribute wealth in his own way.  Lack of originality aside, “K-20” is blessed with the right kind of humor, a storyline in suspense, amazing backdrops, and Takeshi.  I kind of enjoy watching Takeshi in his not-too-pretty-boy look (did someone just stepped onto his face in the set or was it a double?).  He is as hilarious as ever, someone can who put a smile to my face even in his most serious moment.

While watching “K-20”, I couldn’t help but to have flashbacks to Batman, Zorro, Robin Hood, Spiderman, and V for Vendetta – the fighting, the flying, the stealing, and the mask.  It is good to watch Takashi taking a leading role again.  An enjoyable evening, early this week.

Categories
Fantasy & Sci-fi Movie Reviews Romance

We Celebrated Christmas Eve the Twilight Way

Twilight

Wow.  How Kristen Stewart has grown up from the 12 years old Panic Room diabetes into one fine young actress who is in love with … a vampire.  Twilight watched like a mix of my favorite TV series Buffy and Felicity.  Add that with the cool rock numbers by Linkin Park, Muse, Paramore, and more – OK, this concoction is rather appetizing.

Cynthia and I are both big fans of vampire stories (for different reasons of course).  Watching Twilight to me is like watching a chick flick.  A film adaptation of a young adults book, I am not surprise on how far the film wouldn’t go.  So we have vegetarian vampires, vampires that shimmer in light of diamond under the sun (?!), and a lust so strong that … turns into a series of friendly, cosy conversations on the bed.  Now, if I was the filmmaker, I would have created a Twilight Reload and chopped it with a R(A) rating.

There are moments of awkwardness – at least to me – like the attempt-to-be Romeo & Juliet style of courtship at the woods, or those Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon kind of flying and flirting scenes.  But there are also moments of tenderness and fresh ideas such as vampires playing baseball games (I know) that is really cool to watch.

Pairing the talented Kristen Stewart with the rather stiff looking one dimensional vamp Robert Pattinson to me is like pairing Natalie Portman with the dude who plays Anakin Skywalker.  Hey, I am a guy.  Maybe girls do love Robert Pattinson for his cool factor.  Who knows?

I think Kristen Stewart has potential.  I am keen to follow her acting career.

By the way, Merry Christmas to y’all and watch out for our Movie Review Squad’s nomination for the Year 2008 Movie Awards.  It will be fun, I promise.

Categories
Fantasy & Sci-fi Movie Reviews

The Day the Earth Stood Still Was the Day We Returned from Our Bandung Trip

This morning, minutes before we checked out of the hotel from Jakarta and to catch a plane back to Singapore, two of our Movie Review Squad members were busy booking our movie tickets via the free wi-fi network provided at the hotel lobby while the third one was on the 10th floor busy catching up with a last minute dosage of Indonesian info-tainment on TV.  Cynthia is in love with Keanu Reeves; I am not sure what TK is in love with; and I am simply a fan of sci-fi stories.

TK and Cynthia appear to have enjoyed “The Day The Earth Stood Still”.  Given the fact that we have not watched a single movie for more than a month, anything that moves on the big screen excites me.  Maybe I entered the theatre with the benchmarks of “The Matrix” and “The Fifth Element” in my head – both have the theme of saving the earth.  Even in my state of movie deprivation, I think “The Day The Earth Stood Still” is far off from my benchmarks.  Nevertheless, an entertaining movie that has to be watched on a digital 4K projection.  The image is so crisp clear.  If I am to pick one or two things I like about this film, that would be the cinematography and the special effects.

The main challenge in liking this film does not lie entirely in the storyline.  It is rather the inconvenience truth that we are facing.  Yes, we humans are the destructive bunch.  A few years ago when Cynthia and I attended the Christmas Mass at a Cathedral in Hong Kong, one message from the sermon left a deep impression onto me: In this year (can’t remember the exact year), two third of our nations are in conflict.  And yes, we humans not only destroy each other, but also the planet too.  I can bet with you that 100 years later when our future generations look back to today, they would laugh at our perpetual denial to link our selfish actions to global warming.  They would laugh at our perpetual denial to link smoking to cancer and to our perpetual resistance in stop making cigarettes too (why do we make and consume things that kill us?!), amongst many others.

And perhaps, yes, Mother Earth needs a reset.  If we look at a larger scheme of work and to acknowledge that Earth is a very rare and unique environment that sustains life form (I once read a report from the used-to-be famous magazine Scientific America on how probable, or rather improbable, there is another planet like ours out there in the Milky Way), maybe human beings are not the best thing that happen to Mother Earth.

The stage set in “The Day The Earth Stood Still” is ambitious.  And personally I don’t think the filmmaker has a satisfying conclusion to why we humans deserve a second chance.  Yes, we may change when we are at the brink of extinction.  But wouldn’t that be a bit … too late?

PS. Brands that I observed being advertised in “The Day The Earth Stood Still” are: Honda, McDonald’s, Windows Vista, LG, and Citizen.

Categories
Fantasy & Sci-fi Foreign Movie Reviews

20th Century Boys (20世紀少年) – So It Was Movie Before Manga For Me

Rarely our Movie Review Squad has such a long deliberation on which movie to watch.  And we settled for “Twentieth Century Boys” after a 3-way split between Rocknrolla, the Bunny, and this Japanese one last week.  I asked TK to give me an executive summary on what this show is about.  It’s originated from a manga, yes I know that.  I think TK didn’t have time get past the first few pages of the manga and Cynthia went in thinking that it is an animation.  I read that “20th Century Boy” is a close to 2 and a half hours show.  And I braced myself for a long part 1 of a trilogy.

I can see where does the money of this so-called most expensive Japanese film ever made have gone to.  Some of the effects are pretty good (a sci-fi movie after all).  The cast of 300 people is pretty intense.  I have a hard time trying to remember who is who.  TK seems to enjoy the film with the plot stepping forward and backward in time.  Surprisingly Cynthia loves it too and calls it a very creative movie (that doesn’t jerk tear thank God, she said).  As for me …

If you have already read the manga and love it, this action-mystery film is a must-watch.  Now that I am reading the manga, I admire the filmmaker’s effort in recreating each scene in exact detail as the manga.  The cast even matches with the look of the manga characters.  That is impressive.

Maybe because of the relatively slow pace especially when the plot goes back in time and dwells on the childhood stories, maybe there are missing gaps in between scenes due to film adaptation that confuse me, maybe there are just not enough eye candies to keep me interested (shallow I know!), I was not jumping out of my chair.

Nevertheless, the effort is commendable and looks like “20th Century Boys” is one movie that up the standard of the Japanese production.  Although I am not quite getting the idea of how a bunch kids’ role-playing game can turn into a disastrous future, I will be there when the 2nd installment arrives.  Meanwhile, the manga looks pretty good and it is filling up the gaps I have from watching the film.  Do check out the manga too when you have time.