My take is that you probably won’t get much out of it from a songwriting perspective. I certainly don’t compose songs like they do (though the recording bits are pretty authentic). However you will be in for a good laugh as the center character is played by Hugh Grant. I love the script especially – witty and humorous. Drew Barrymore’s acting is adorable too. If Grant’s acting reminds me of “Four Weddings and a Funeral”, Drew Barrymore’s acting does remind me of her “50 First Dates”.
Coincidentally, after watching “Music and Lyrics”, I watched “Walk the Line” on cable. And “Coyote Ugly” afterwards. The common theme? All about songwriting. Pretty coincidental don’t you think? As though God was talking directly to me.
Another interesting thing is that in the story of “Music and Lyrics”, there is a teenage pop megastar “Cora” who is supposed to be bigger than Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera combined. Cora’s music direction is more towards Buddhism or Indian-ish trance. I bought the new Hilary Duff CD and when I played it on my Hi-fi (on the same night), I got shocked by the first track. Exactly the same influence as some of the songs in “Music and Lyrics”. Buddhism or Indian-ish trance/pop music must be the new frontier these days.
There are many references to Spartans when it comes to literature and nothing inspires me more than a casual chat with one of the Colonels I worked with, a chat on how he was trained in the Spartan’s way of life. Imagine this, an ancient military tradition more than 2,500 years ago still inspires the military training today. And when I heard that “300” is showing this year, my anticipation is high.
“300” is an adaptation of a graphic novel by Frank Miller who is famous for his film noir-style comic book stories (such as Daredevil, Batman, Sin City, and etc.). I find it hard to compare “300” with any ancient war movies I have watched. Its shot-for-shot adaptation makes it stands out as unique amongst others. I in especially fall in love with the battle sequence. It was like reading a comic book – each shot is a brilliant composition – in a sequential transition. I was prepared for lots of blood and gore and “300” certainly has plenty of it. At times I wonder if the movie industry is solely responsible in pushing the tolerance of the audience over the years.
The real gem of the movie, in my opinion, is the presentation of the essence of the Spartans through dialogues and path of actions – the essence of courage, bravery, honor, mastery of skills, and above all, respect. Their respect to women warms my heart though I am not sure if it comes from Spartan or the artistic freedom of the writer.
The Battle of Thermopylae led by King Leonidas, his 300 Spartans, and the Greece allies – a total army of just over 5,000 against 2.6 million Persian army is a historical event. “300” has some deviations from history but by and large follows it. For those who are interested in the history itself (like myself), follow the link to Wikipedia below.
“300” is definitely a movie worth watching. If you are a girl, imagine all the muscle men you get to see throughout the movie. All of them have 8 packs on their abdomens, I kid you not. As for me, the translucent image of the Oracle – a very pretty Spartan woman – dancing artistically to the smoke of incense is without doubt my favourite. Below is one of the movie trailers.
If I am to rewrite the synopsis of the movie, it would be: “The Fountain” is a love story about Doctor Tommy (Huge Jackman)’s quest in racing against time looking for a cure for his terminally ill wife Izzy (Rachel Weisz). Torn between time spent in research and and in accompanying Izzy for her last moments, Tommy increasingly found himself fighting a losing battle. Inspired by her husband’s passion, Izzy has written a story called “The Fountain” set in the 16th century leaving the last chapter for Tommy to finish. In Izzy’s story, it was the hero (Huge Jackman)’s quest for the Tree of Life that may save the Queen of Spain (Rachel Weisz) from the oppressive inquisitors. It was Tommy’s circumstances and passion to his wife, his quest for not only a cure but potentially a drug to stop dying, and the meaning of immortality that set one man’s journey in finding a deeper meaning to life and death.
Then again, such a synopsis may not sell as compare to the original synopsis that has a greater sci-fi flavour. Just that to me, “The Fountain” is not exactly a sci-fi movie as expected from reading the original synopsis.
The three stories link well with one another. The love story between Tommy and Izzy is emotional and got Cynthia crying most of the time (lesson learnt: try not to leave tissue papers in the car). The fantasy story between the hero and the queen is a decent story on its own – full of hope and suspense. The sci-fi story about this Buddha looking guy, the future version or immortal version of Tommy, is abstract and for me, it is probably my favourite part of the story because it has got me thinking in many ways. Three stories intertwine and influence the outcomes of one another.
Cynthia and I was pondering what exactly this Tree of Life is as neither of us remember the details (I think most people remember the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Bad better).
Then the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and he placed there the man whom he had formed. Out of the ground the Lord God made various trees grow that were delightful to look at and good for food, with the tree of life in the middle of the garden and the tree of the knowledge of good and bad (Genesis 2:8-9).
After the man was tempted by his woman who was in turn tempted by the snake to eat the fruits from the Tree of Knowledge that God has instructed them not to, God was not pleased.
For the man and his wife the Lord God made leather garments, with which he clothed them. Then the Lord God said: “See! The man has become like one of us, knowing what is good and what is bad! Therefore, he must not be allowed to put out his hand to take fruit from the tree of life also, and thus eat of it and live forever.” The Lord God therefore banished him from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from which he had been taken. When he expelled the man, he settled him east of the garden of Eden; and he stationed the cherubim and the fiery revolving sword, to guard the way to the tree of life (Genesis 3:21-24).
There you go. This is how “The Fountain” has loosely linked to the Tree of Life. I wonder if any avid bible reader immediately associates the fiery sword held by the priest who guarded the Tree of Life in the movie with the text in Genesis. In case if you wonder what a “cherubim” is (like I do), a cherubim is the second of the nine orders of angels in medieval angelology.
By now, you must have thought that I am someone who gets overly excited easily because of all the generous reviews be it as books, movies, music albums, or even DVDs. Truth is, if the product is not potentially good, I wouldn’t pay for it. Since I only write reviews on products that I buy, naturally they are already in my good book. As for Golden Globe Award Winner for Best Foreign Film – “Letters From Iwo Jima”, I do have my 2-cent worth of criticism though.
I picked “Letters From Iwo Jima”, together with the rest of my Movie Review Squad, because we have been anticipating this movie since we watched “Flags Of Our Fathers” (see previous blog) back in mid December last year. So, let me be upfront here. My only two complains of this movie are (1) it is a long slow moving show and (2) for a war that 20,000 Japanese troops have perished, it certainly does not look like there are that many Japanese in the show (compares to the fleet size of the American troops in “Flags Of Our Fathers”).
“Letters From Iwo Jima” has quite a number of interesting points that should not be missed. First, I have not seen anyone who directs two separate movies based on the same scenario and have the story told in two different perspectives. Clint Eastwood is the director of both “Flags Of Our Fathers” and “Letters From Iwo Jima”. Second, I seldom get to watch a war movie being told from the Japanese perspective. I have watched many war movies told from the Western perspective, even from the German’s perspective. But from the Japanese perspective acted by the Japanese? It is kind of rare. I have learnt quite a few things new about the Japanese from the movies itself which is refreshing. Third, there is so much humanity being put into the show that I felt bad just to watch what the Japanese has to go through.
Now, back to my two complains. It is a long slow moving show because the movies portrays a losing war. I mean, whatever they do, however smart and humane the Commander-in-chief is, they are going to lose the war. The first explosion happens 45 minutes into this 2 hours long show so you can imagine it is a different kind of war movie. Watching a losing war is like watching “Apollo 13” – a doomed to fail mission (“Apollo 13” is equally boring to me). And we don’t get to see that many Japanese probably because the story is reconstructed from the letters found inside the Japanese caves and I think the focus of the story is on some of the key characters.
I am a fan of Ken Watanabe (“The Last Samurai” and “Memoirs of a Geisha”) who plays the role of General Tadamichi Kuribayashi in “Letters From Iwo Jima” well. That is probably another good point coming from this long slow moving show.
Paris does has her magic. When I was studying in UK, I spent most of my school holiday in Paris with my Aunt and Uncle who worked there. I used to know the city inside out, where the historical sites were, and where the best ice-cream store was. Indeed while I was in Paris years later under a work attachment, the city has inspired me to write. Most of my older articles were written in Paris. Of which, my favourite articles are One Late Afternoon (At McDonald’s), Love Fiction, and One Simple Day. And I have written a number of poems as well. One of which (Death Marriage) has over one thousand hits making it the most popular article in this website.
Back to the movie “Paris, Je T’aime”, it is a collection of 18 short stories packed with International movie stars. I picked “Paris, Je T’aime” because I thought Natalie Portman is the main actress. However, she is one of the 46 actors in the movie excluding the extras. Directed by 22 directors and written by 25 script writers with one common theme – love, “Paris, Je T’aime” presents love in different aspects filled with twists that keep audience entertained throughout. My favourite story is definitely Natalie Portman’s “Faubourg Saint-Denis” (the rest of my Movie Review Squad has their own favourites).
Perhaps Paris holds a special place in my heart and perhaps I do enjoy reading short stories grouped under a common theme, “Paris Je T’aime” is by far the most original work I have seen so far. I have included a trailer below. Hope you’ll enjoy watching it.
Edit: I watched the trailer again and realised that I have missed out 2 of them. Hence, the total number of short stories is 18 instead.
Before reviewing on this Academy Award-nominated (Cinematography) movie, I wish to touch onto a category that I seldom have a chance to pen the stories down. Mainly because “coincidences” are usually in bits and pieces. I have this ability to remember certain faces in a short time frame (I am sure many of you can do that too) and because of that, I recognise the same lady whom I saw on my way to work, then on my way out for lunch, and when I was walking back to my car after a long day’s work, I saw the same lady having coffee break with her friends – all in one day. I mean, what’s the odd of that right? Or the same person I saw in consecutive days and never to see him or her again. Some friends of mine pointed it to the pattern of routine. But still, what’s the odd?
Couple of days ago while having lunch with Cynthia at Thomson Plaza (up north), I saw this young girl with her grandparents inside the same food court I was dining at. It was her big eyes and oval facial shape that I remember of. Then on the night I finished watching “The Illusionist” at Plaza Singapura, I walked out of the theatre and saw her in make-up with her boyfriend by her side. We must have watched the same movie. Again, what’s the odd?
Magical as my coincidences may seem, “The Illusionist” is truly one magical show. I wanted to give this movie a pass because the context sounds too much like “The Prestige” – another movie about illusionists that I happen to like a lot. While “The Prestige” makes it clear that magic does not exist, “The Illusionist” leaves a lot of room for imagination. At times I found myself gasping with the magic showed on the screen.
A drama written and directed by Neil Burger and starring Edward Norton, Jessica Biel, and Paul Giamatti, “The Illusionist” is a story of love, politics, and magic. The only qualms I have over this magical movie is that at times the pace is a bit too slow for me and I wish that the script is less predictable. However, no doubt it is an artistic movie to watch.
We practice democracy within our Movie Review Squad. I personally would have given this movie a pass not because it is not a good show but my preference is in the vague order of originality, witty scripts, beautiful scenery/people … and a bit of tastefully done sex scenes won’t harm.
I can’t help but to compare “The Last King Of Scotland” with “Blood Diamond”. Both movies have plots originated from Africa; both are equally intense and gruesome; and both leading actors are nominated for this coming Oscar. Forest Whitaker who acted as the brutal Ugandan dictator Idi Amin has already earned him a Golden Globe Award. I still hope that Leonardo DiCaprio will win the Oscar this year but knowing the strong correlation between Golden Globe and Oscar (so I am told) … we shall see.
“The Last King Of Scotland” is based on Giles Foden’s award-winning debut novel of the same name as inspired by real people and real events. A story spins off from a Scottish doctor, Nicholas Garrigan (James McAvoy), who found himself becoming the physician and advisor of Idi Amin. Idi Amin is real while the character Garrigan is fictitious (loosely inspired by Amin’s English-born associate Bob Astles). Unlike “Blood Diamond” that is constantly gruesomely intense (or intensely gruesome?) throughout the show, the first half of “The Last King Of Scotland” is actually quite enjoyable to watch. The acting is great and I especially like McAvoy’s carefree character Garrigan. The transformation slowly took place when the charming Amin turned into a brutal monster. Towards the end, it was just blood and gore. I heard a lot of gasping from the audience behind me.
A movie with lots of quality acting, at times humorous scripts, and a slowly build-up of intensity. “Blood Diamond” has a lot of outdoor shots so I got to enjoy the culture side of Africa. Majority of “The Last King Of Scotland” was shot indoor or at some locations that did not seem to be uniquely African. If I have to choose one to watch, “Blood Diamond” no doubt. Having said that, “The Last King Of Scotland” is a show worth watching … for the acting I would say.
The excerpt of the movie’s synopsis says “A beautifully-shot, heart-warming love story … as the summer drew to a close, the couple faced a challenge to their willpower.” I picked “Once In A Summer” because of the words “heart-warming love story”. Over our quick dinner, Cynthia asked what we were watching. You see, the “penalty” of rejecting my call due to a business meeting is that you will have no idea what you get yourself into. Korean, I answered. Oh no, she responded. Don’t worry, it’s not a tear jerking movie, I reassured her. How wrong I was. The words “heart-warming love story” should have been replaced by “heart-wrenching love story”. I kid you not. At the end of the movie, I gave my Movie Review Squad a how-would-I-know expression. “It’s a Korean movie! What do you expect?!”, both Cynthia and Tong Kiat chuckled at my apparent ignorance.
“Once In A Summer” has prompted me to read up a little bit on the history of South Korea. Apparently after World War II, American and Soviet troops had occupied the southern and northern halves of Korea. In 1960, a student uprising in South Korea led to the resignation of president Syngman Rhee, whose government had become autocratic and corrupt. I suspect the movie is set before this historical event when the students were gathering their forces from various parts of the country. (See footnote on amendment.)
Suk-young (Lee Byung-hun), one of the students who found refuge in a remote village where he met the beautiful Jung-in (Su-Ae). Without giving out any spoiler, “Once In A Summer” is less on Suk-young’s journey in finding out what happened to his first love years after (again, from synopsis) and more on how these two people fell in love and faced the political challenges of that time.
It is a beautifully filmed movie and I am especially impressed with the set and costumes that the actors wore that give you a convincing movie that happened in the old days. Acting-wise, oh well, Cynthia must have poured out 1 litre of tear until she has missed out some of the plots because she was too busy crying (direct quote). Lee Byung-hun is not new to me (who can forget his performance in JSA – Joint Security Area?) but Su-Ae is. All I can say is that she can really act out a sad, sad movie.
Overall a good movie for those who love this genre of movie. Below is the official trailer. I have also found a soundtrack of the movie. However, if you plan to watch the movie, you may wish to watch it later as it probably gives out too much spoiler (click here to view).
Edit: Now I do recall that the movie does make a reference to Moon Landing and hence, the story is set in the year of 1969 when Armstrong first landed the moon. The 1960 uprising as above-mentioned refers to the installation of the Second Republic of South Korea. Hence, if the movie does follow the history, it is the Third Republic era when the government sought to reduce political activism by the college students through several educational reforms.
Spoilt by a good number of potentially entertaining movies now showing, my Movies Review Squad saved me the headache and picked “Clerks 2” (Me: Why Clerks 2? Him: It’s funny … Me: Ah-huh. Him: … and it is rated R(A). Me: ON!). “Clerks 2” is a sequel to a 12 years old movie, full of at times gross jokes and at times jokes based on the current entertainment news, and with characters you grow to care as the story unfolds.
Bulk of the movie is set in and around a fast food restaurant in one day – Dante Hicks (Brain O’Halloran)’s last day of work leaving his best friend Randal Graves (Jeff Anderson), his boss-cum-friend Becky Scott (Rosario Dawson), and New Jersey behind for a new life. “Clerks 2”, suffice to say, tells a story of friendship, romance, and dreams in life all mixed with 80% jokes and trash talking and 20% quality dialogues between the characters. Many comedies leave the audience nothing when they walk out of the theater (somehow “Hitch” came into my mind). There are something about these characters that make them stick into your mind after the movie ends.
Wanted something light and fun, I have decided to take my Movie Review Squad to watch Sione’s Wedding – a box office hit in New Zealand. Being totally ignorance on the New Zealand culture, please do forgive me if I make any cultural mistakes here. At first I thought the characters are Māori. Then I read some articles that referred them as Samoans. I think I better stick to what the official movie website refers them as the Polynesian (that includes Tongans, Samoans, Niueans, Cook Islanders, Tahitians, Hawaiians, Marquesans and Māori), the indigenous peoples of parts of Southeast Asia. (I watch Survivor Cook Island and didn’t know that Cook Islanders exist!).
Coming from someone who has no clue about what Polynesian Culture is about, I find Sione’s Wedding refreshing. It’s a movie about four men’s journey in finding love … with a time factor. I think if I was from New Zealand, I would have been able to appreciate the comedy better. (I tried my best not to out-laugh the Western couple next to me for they may come from New Zealand and find it odd that I laughed at something that was not funny.) Nevertheless, the script is tastefully done. Sione’s Wedding won’t make you laugh till your back cracks from beginning to end. But it does have heartwarming moments that keep you entertained throughout.
