Directed by (Screenplay): John Erick Dowdle
Written by: John Erick Dowdle, Drew Dowdle
Release Date: October 2008 (USA)
Aa’s Review Date: March 2008
20 Words Review: IMHO, exactly the same as REC, but only in English with slight modification. Please see my review for REC.
Ratings: ***
Directed by: Jaume Baqlaguero, Paco Plaza
Written by: Jaume Balaguero, Luis Berdejo
Release Date: November 2007 (Spain)
Aa’s Review Date: March 2008
20 Words Review: Great Plot. Great job as horror movie; constantly kept me wandering “What’s going happen next?”
Rating: ***
Memorable Scene(s): In the apartment of the infected lady. Very intense.
Why I watch this movie: Looking for some horror
Directed by: Thomas Alfredson
Written by: John Ajvide Lindqvist
Starring: Kare Hedebrant, Lina Leandersson
I thought this is a horror movie with vampires. Given that I haven’t seen a horror movie for a while, I decided to give Let the Right One In a shot. The story turns out to be a love story between a 12 year old boy (Oskar) and a 12 year old girl (Eli), only Eli has been 12 year old for a long time. That’s because she is a vampire.
The love story starts when Eli moved in next door to Oskar. Oskar is far from being a happy kid. His parents are separated (maybe partly because his father is gay) and he is always being picked on by the bullies at school. Once Oskar met Eli, his life begins to change. Eli taught Oskar how to stand up against the bullies and to really fight back. As Oskar took Eli’s advice, he also grew fond of Eli. Later when Oskar discovers that Eli is in fact an vampire, his feelings for Eli even grew stronger.
I truly enjoy every moment of this movie. The success of this movie is not what’s shown to the audience but what’s subtlely not showed to the audience. This gives a lot of room for the audience to interpret this film interpretation. Who is the old man that helps Eli? Who is the male friend of Oskar’s father? What in the world did Eli do above water in the pool scene? Will Oskar eventually becomes the old man?
Let the Right One In is a vampire movie that is hardly filled with any horror (only two scenes were a little scary: the cat scene with the woman, and the burning of the woman). Rather, it fills you with emotions for the two kids in love. The film made me cheer for Oskar when he gets the girl. It also made me sad to see that Eli has to leave Oskar. I am not sure Let the Right One In is a Vampire movie or just a simply love story between two kids. But I am definitely sure that it is the best movie I’ve seen (so far) in 2009.
Outstanding Film Construction (Plot, Cinematography): *****
Entertainment Rating: ****
Posted in Drama, Foreign, Horror/Suspense
Why I watch this movie: Adam Sandler in a children movie? Gotta see it.
Directed by: Adam Shankman
Written by: Matt Lopez, Tim Herlihy
Starring: Adam Sandler, Keri Russell, Guy Pearce, Courtney Cox
One would think with Adam Sandler’s humor and a kick-butt plot (about bedtime stories coming true), this movie is going to be super entertaining. However, I am pretty disappointment. The story started out very promising because of its interesting plot. But the plot never takes off and just went down hill from there. Adam Sandler’s performance was ok and nowhere nears his best. Courtney Cox’s character is quite empty. Guy Pearce’s Kendall character is the only gem in this movie.
My gut tells me the failure of this movie is the attempt to make an Adam Sandler movie for kids and not make an Adam Sandler movie (Period). I guess Adam Sandler and children film isn’t the best combo for Adam Sandler, just like how Punch Drunk Love isn’t Adam’s type of film.
Outstanding Film Construction: Nothing
Entertainment Rating: **
Why I watch this movie: I love the Incredible Hulk TV series
Directed by: Louis Leterrier
Written by: Zan Penn
Starring: Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, Tim Roth, William Hurt
When I was growing up, The Incredible Hulk TV series was interesting. I used to watch every episode and see how the little guy would turn into a big, green hulk. So, when “Hulk” came out in 2003, I was so excited. “Hulk” is finally coming to the big screen. However, with so many bad reviews and not wanting to ruin the fond memories I had with Hulk, I bitterly reframed myself from watching it.
Hollywood must really love me. In 2008, the remake yet another “The Incredible Hulk” this one has decent reviews, plus my favorite actor: Ed Norton.
I enjoy how they introduce the movie with flashes of the background of how Bruce Banner (by Ed Norton) became the hulk. However, it might be tough for the non-hulk fans to follow what’s going on form just those quick flashes. It is also nice to see a cameo from Lou Ferrigno (played Hulk in the TV series) as the security guard. He actually has a line from this movie. All the special effects added a great touch onto the movie. It really makes me think how we can live without special effects these days in super heroes film.
The Incredible Hulk is definitely entertaining and lives up to the TV series. When I have time, I would probably checkout “Hulk” just to see how it is. Afterall, Eng Lee is one of my favorite directors. I will always be his fan even his movies are bad once in a while.
Outstanding Film Construction (Special Effects): ***
Entertainment Rating: ***
Movie: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Director: David Fincher
Screenplay: Eric Roth
Starring: Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett
Why I watch this movie: Curious about the interesting storyline
The concept of how a baby is born old and progressively gets younger as he grows is truly interesting. So I became curious case a movie viewer and rented a copy of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. I can say this movie contains multiple levels of messages and it represents it with different imageries within the film. I only was able to capture a few: destiny, passion for work, love, and no one can really live forever.
As I was watching this movie, the style makes me think of Forrest Gump. Different landmarks of the movies represent different period of Benjamin’s life: the war, Elvis and Beatles music, etc. Maybe it is just me, I feel like it copies the style of Forrest Gump. Because of that, I didn’t truly enjoy the movie as much. Later, I found that the writer, Eric Roth, is the same writer of Forrest Gump. “Ah…that’s why they are so similar”. I find Forrest Gump to be a true original and that The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is just a copycat (harsh, I know). I know it is unfair to judge both movies together because Forrest Gump came out first and if I haven’t seen Forrest Gump, I would probably think Benjamin Button would be very original, but hey, life is not fair. J I also feel that the movie is trying to say too many things that some areas are underdeveloped. I wish they would either take out a few of the messages or spend another 1 hour in digging deeper into the lives of the characters.
I never see Cate Blanchett as a beautiful, attractive actress and this movie brought out the truly beauty of her. I enjoy the character of Queenie (played by Taraji Henson). I also appreciate Brad Pitt’s acting here but the truly star (I think) is Cate Blanchett. Also great job to the make-up and special effects teams.
Film Construction Rating (Story, Special Effects): ***
Entertainment Rating: ***
Movie: Burn after Reading
Director: Ethan Coen, Joey Coen
Screenplay: Ethan Coen, Joey Coen
Starring: George Clooney, Francess McDormand, Brad Pitt, John Malkovich
Reason I watch this movie: Coen brothers, Brad Pitt dance
Funny, Interesting plot and shocking. Brad Pitt is hilarious. I truly consider Brad Pitt to be a character actor after this movie.
Film Construction Rating (Story, Acting): ****
Entertainment Rating: ***
Movie: Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Director: Woody Allen
Screenplay: Woody Allen
Starring: Rebecca Hall, Scarlett Johansson, Javier Bardem, Penelope Cruz
Why I watch this movie: I want to see Penelope Cruz’s Oscar winning performance
I truly think nothing beats directing a story that is written by the same person. The writer can truly explain and translate his script into the film without losing the original meaning. Woody Allen is one of those prolific writers who also directs (or prolific director who can also write).
I really enjoy Vicky Christina Barcelona. The story is about two friends, Vicky (Rebecca Hall) and Christina (Scarlett Johansson) , travel to Spain and was sucked into sexual relationship with an attractive, yet divorced painter (Javier Bardem) whose ex-wife (Penelope Cruz) has unresolved issues of her own. I think Penelope Cruz did a great job in playing the ex-wife. She is very convincing in the role of a mental-ish, pyscotic-ish ex-wife. Javier Bardemand Scarlett Johansson deliever a solid performance as well. However, I think Rebecca Hall delivers the best performance of all. As I go to imdb.com to see her credential, I was shocked that she hasn’t starred in too many of other movies. I hope I can see more of Rebecca Hall in the near future.
I highly recommend this movie.
Film Construction Rating (Direction, Story, Acting): ****
Entertainment Rating: ****
Posted in Drama
Movie: Slumdog Millionaire
Director: Danny Boyle, Loveleen Tandan
Screenplay: Simon Beaufoy, Vikas Swarup
Starring: Dev Patel, Anil Kapoor, Freida Pinto
Why I watch this movie: All the Oscar buzz and awards
Let me first just say all the actors are great especially Dev Patel, who portrays the older Jamel.
Now that we got the acting out of the way, let’s talk about the true star of the movie: Danny Boyle. Slumdog Millionaire’s success is all in the direction and story. I think Danny Boyle (Director) and the writers is really the true star of this film. When I was watching this movie, I constantly ask “As a director from UK, how can Danny Boyle be able to translate the story onto motion picture….so well!” I guess having an Indian co-director, Loveleen Tandan, would help. Simon Beaufoy also does a great job in scripting the novel by Vikas Swarup.
The film does an excellent job in portraying the ugly, corrupted, and yet real side of India. Since this is a movie about India with real Indian actors (unlike Gandhi with white actors playing Indians), I was wandering, “hmmm, would Danny put a Bollywood spin onto the movie?” I was pleasantly surprise at the end during the rolling of credits. The film finishes by having Bollywood style dancing (the music is very hip style Indian music). Nice job, Danny! I hope to see Danny Boyle to take yet more different type of genres in his future projects.
Film Construction Rating (Direction, Story): ****
Entertainment Rating: ****
Posted in Drama
Movie: The Invasion
Director: Oliver Hirschbiegel
Screenplay: David Kajganch
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig
Why I decided to watch this movie: I saw this movie sitting on the “Return” shelf in the library
When I was in the library, “The Invasion” DVD was sitting on the “Returned” shelf starring at me. Needing to rush back to my car (since my wife and my daughter are waiting for me), I just grabbed the DVD because of Nicole Kidman stars in the movie. I really like Nicole Kidman so I figured even if the story line is bad; at least I get to see Nicole Kidman. In addition, Daniel Craig (the new James Bond) is also in the movie. “How bad could the movie be?” I ask myself.
I saw this movie during the swine outbreak. So, it is particularly more scary to watch this movie during such time. When I was 10 minutes into the movie, the plot seems to be very familiar. It resembles a movie that I recently watched but I just can’t think of which one. “What is it?” I kept asking myself. I finally gave in, stopped the DVD player and read the back cover of the DVD. Yes, the “Invasion of the Body Snatcher”. “The Invasion” is a remake of the 1950s.
The Invasion is a Sci-Fi Thriller. It is about aliens trying to takeover the earth by taking control over human bodies, kind of like parasites. Because I know the plot already from having watched “The Invasion of the Body Snatcher”, I was really watching for other things in the movie. For one, I enjoyed Nicole Kidman’s American accent. I find it pretty cool that they had the “virus” contained in the plastic bag and how the “aliens” throw up at the humans to transfer the “virus” (yeah, throw up). There is also a pleasant surprise that it wasn’t in the 1950s version is this: There exist other humans who weren’t affected other than Carol (Nicole Kidman) and these unaffected people somehow know how to trick the aliens: by not showing emotions. The flow of the movie is also very well constructed as it kept me wanting to find out what’s going to happen in the next scene.
I am definitely going back to the “Returned” shelf more often. There might just be another gem that’s as entertaining as “The Invasion”.
Film Construction Rating (Flow of the movie): ***
Entertainment Rating: ***
Posted in Horror/Suspense, Sci-Fi
