Rumble Fish (DVD) - Eddy T.

By a happy coincidence, I got to watch Francis Ford Coppola's 'Rumble Fish' immediately after 'Sin City'. This is a 1983 adaptation of the much-studied novel by S E Hinton. There are other superficial similarities between 'Rumble Fish' and 'Sin City': the use of black and white film, with splashes of colour at crucial junctures, Mickey Rourke in a leading role, and a setting of urban decay.
As cinema, 'Rumble Fish' is at every level superior to 'Sin City'. Coppola at the time would still have been basking in the glow of critical acclaim for his '70s movies ('The Godfather' I and II, 'The Conversation' and 'Apocalypse Now'), and assembled for this outing a young cast of strong actors who would go on to bigger fame - Matt Dillon, Mickey Rourke, Diane Lane, Nicolas Cage and Laurence Fishburne.
They live in a grimy urban world where the passage of time is marked by mesmerising time-lapse shots of rolling clouds and lengthening shadows thrown by buildings, and where adults are lost souls (Dennis Hopper) or police akin to an Angel of Death. Their story is one of teen alienation, of the primal desires and aimlessness of youth. It focuses on Rusty James (Dillon), a gang member trying to live up to the reputation of his legendary older brother The Motorcycle Boy (Rourke). When the latter returns to town, transformed, he finds he can't escape being haunted by past sins, even as he tries to 'free' Rusty James.
This is very much a film with artistic pretensions. It may be stylised and heavy handed in its symbolism, and perhaps more successful in its observation of youth gangs, than in its commentary; yet it makes for a memorable movie experience that has stood the test of time. There is also a striking music score by Stewart Copeland (of The Police).
Rating: 7.5/10

Sin City (DVD) - Eddy T

A huge disappointment. 'Sin City' comprises three stories set in the eponymous city, where the women are either exotic dancers, streetwalkers or gun-toting prostitutes, and the men are either tough guys, crooked cops or serial killers. It is a literal translation to the screen of Frank Miller's graphic novel. That means black and white visuals and voice-over narration to emphasise the noir pedigree. It also means unrelenting violence depicted with sadistic glee and dubious sexual politics (an 11-year old girl falls in love with an ageing Bruce Willis after he saves her life and on his release from prison, she, now 19, immediately makes a play for him - yuk!)
The filmmakers' stated aim was to make a film as faithful as possible to the graphic novel. If that were the case, they would have done better making an animated film. As it is, 'Sin City' the source material, on the evidence of this movie, is poorly written, with threadbare storylines and little to sustain interest beyond the gunplay and swordplay and Jessica Alba's rotating torso. It has none of the noirish atmosphere of Bogart's 'The Big Sleep', nor the too-cool style of 'Kill Bill', and in Mickey Rourke's Marv, a very pale imitation of 'Hellboy'.
Should appeal to testosterone-charged young males.
Rating: 3/10

Wedding Date - Victor Kwong

Wedding date, is about a girl (Debra Messing from Will and Grace) who hires a male escort to her sister's wedding to show her family that she isn't lonely and is "happy" with life. What she didn't expect was to fall in love with her male escort! The movie is packed with twists here and that have as much impact as being punched by an 80 year old lady.

This movie is low budget (and low on the laughs)... and being an experience campaigner in watching the 'chick flicks' this isn't one I would recommend. Wait till this movie comes on normal TV (and even then I'm not sure you would want to watch it).

Rating: 4/10.
Age group : 25-35 year old
Genre : Chick flick

In Her Shoes - Shelvia

I'm so glad I went to see this movie instead of Must Love Dogs! =D
It was a great movie (cheers me up slightly after my disastrous evening)..

It has the 'chick flick' feel to it, so I would not push it to the guys, but girls, go.. and watch it with your sister(s) - if you have one, and if you don't go and watch it with your best friend(s)...

I also really enjoy the use of poems in this movie... =)
I've never had any interest to poem before but this movie kinda re-introduces poem to me, and it presents poem in a better way...

Cameron Diaz and Toni Collette both play their parts really well.
I read the book a year ago and both of them fit the book's characters which i pictured in my head.. I vaguely remember the storyline from the book, but I do enjoy the movie more than the book... ^.^

So... girls (ie. Sasima, Gemma and Sam), go and watch the movie!!! =)

Rate: 8.2/10

The Cat in the Hat - Julian Boult

Children's Movie - age 3yrs and over

With Mike Myers, Kelly Preston and Alec Baldwin. With lots of fun and colour, and running for close to two hours, your toddler will happily watch it repeatedly up to three times a day. That is equivalent to six hours of baby sitting. At the conservative rate of $20.00 per hour that is a saving of $120.00 per day.
With enough adult humour to keep you entertained (at least for the first session each day)……just buy it!

Graveyard of the Fireflies – Weifan Huang

A must see Japanese animation movie. In fact, a must see movie period. To me it's so far the best animation made by Studio Ghibli (the one that brought you Howl's moving castle - haven't seen this one but I don't think it will beat Graveyard of fireflies anytime). It is so rich in storyline and full of emotions that it's impossible not to feel the same emotion throughout the movie.

The beginning of the movie is actually the end of the story. It flashes to the memories of a young boy named Seita back to the times when he was struggling to survive along with his little sister, Setsuko, during the end of the WW II. As any other war related movies, it's a very sad and depressing theme as the story takes you to see how the 2 kids strive to live during the difficult times in such hard circumstances. It's so touching it will bring you to tears or at least very near to.

As with most if not all Ghibli's movies, the animation is ahead of its time (this one was published in 1988) and the soundtracks simply set the scenes perfectly. I recommend this to anyone regardless whether they watch animation or not. You won't be disappointed.

Rating 10/10

Saw (DVD) - Ryan Moss

Saw actually celebrates life by destroying it: the serial killer shapes elaborate life or death puzzles for his victims, people who he believes are taking life for granted.

It is on that deep, dark, primitive side of human nature that Saw succeeds beautifully. Saw is a nasty, unapologetic, visceral thrill ride of unrelenting ugliness. The film immediately creates and maintains high-stakes tension from its opening scene, where two strangers, Adam and Dr. Lawrence Gordon, awaken to find themselves chained to the wall on either side of a filthy bathroom. A bloody body lies on the floor between them, as does a gun and a tape recorder. They each have a tape in their pocket - let the games begin.

For a horror movie you don’t expect to be guessing until the very end but for all of you out there that like to spoil films for yourselves by trying to guess the end or the next twist, I guarantee you won’t get this one.

The films plot flaws are not apparent while you are watching, its only afterwards while your thinking about it, alone, in the dark, checking the lock on your front door, that the things that don’t add up or were not fully explained become apparent. So you can’t count this against the film as it in no way affects how much you enjoy watching it.

Rating: 7/10

Spirited Away (DVD) - Shelvia

'WOW'!?

Such a great movie. Really. It really has a magical effect. Great characters combined with the simplicity of the story. It's a very unique movie.

Something you should watch when you're bored with all those 'similar' type of movies in the cinemas (those ones which you know the story before you even buy its movie ticket).

I watched this last Sunday and I'm even thinking about watching it again sometime soon. Note: I dun usually watch anime..

Rate: 8.8 / 10

Cinderella Man - VK

I know I did a review on Cinderella Story and there seems to be a pattern that perhaps i've only being watching "Chick" flicks... however Cinderella Man has a deceiving name. It's based on a true story about a boxer living in America through the Great Depression. It's a feel good movie about a man trying to provide for his family and basically doing whatever it takes (in this case boxing) to provide for them.

Great movie, thought it would be crap... the only bad thing I would have to say about the movie is that it was a little long...

If you like Gladiator or Rocky then you will like Cinderella man (not Cinderella Story!)


Rating: 8/10

The Transporter 2 - Rhys A

<>This movie is full of action, outrageous stunts and violence – what more could you ask for in an action flick? If you can accept that sometimes the plot is a little thin and some stunts are total BS (still enjoyable though!) it is easy to be entertained by Jason Statham as Frank (an ex-army-type for hire) who’s amazing driving skills, quick thinking and martial arts abilities come in handy when taking on the bad guys and outrunning the police. If you liked The Transporter, you’ll be pleased by the sequel. I reckon this movie is worth watching for some of the stunts, particularly to see what this guy can do with a fire hose as a weapon.

Rating: 7/10

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (DVD) - Eddy T

I never thought I'd hail the greatness of a Jim Carrey movie, but here it is - the first great Jim Carrey movie. (For the comedic Carrey, I always get stitches from 'Liar Liar'.) Carrey plays a withdrawn man Joel whose relationship with an exuberant and kooky Clementine (Kate Winslet, one of the finest actresses of her generation, in a beautifully-judged performance) is in a downward spiral. They've become a boring couple. Then without warning Clementine completely erases her memory of him. Utterly devastated, Joel decides to do the same to her. Much of the movie then follows Joel's memories of Clementine, in reverse chronological order, as they are erased. It isn't long before the unconscious Joel realises that there are many beautiful memories that he wants to keep, even if the relationship has subsequently soured, and he starts to fight the erasure procedure...
This is a tour de force of film-making, one of my favourites of 2004, or any year for that matter. It has elements of science fiction, and is also one of the most touching and odd love stories yet told. This should hold no surprise for admirers of Charlie Kaufman, the writer also responsible for oddball gems such as 'Being John Malkovich' and 'Adaptation'. Those earlier efforts were virtuoso exercises of narrative trickery which left me a bit cold for all their brilliance. 'Eternal Sunshine' is also blessed with the usual Kaufman narrative surprises, and thought-provoking ideas about memory and identity. Above all, it has heart, and that is what seals its greatness. (There is even a little detour into childhood memories which is very poignant.) In this, Kaufman is ably aided and abetted by director Michel Gondry and composer Jon Brion. Gondry uses effects sparingly and they are startlingly effective. The cinematography is unobtrusive and evokes memories eloquently. Jon Brion turns in another weirdly wonderful soundtrack after 'Punch Drunk Love'.
Finally, 'Eternal Sunshine' quotes Alexander Pope and unabashedly claims that love is transcendental. How romantic is that?!
Rating: 9.5/10

The Pianist - Shelvia

despite the length of the movie, overall it's a great movie...
although if it wasn't for Eddy, i'll most likely skip this movie :P (thanks Eddy =D)
the movie is set at late 1930s though to early 1940s during the World War II in a place call Warshaw. Adrien Brody played a pianist called W Szpillman and the movie tells a story of how this pianist struggled to survive with almost no hope waiting in the end...
the actors are really good and the movie show a glimpse of what happened during World War II and how the people were treated back then...
one thing that the movie did to me was to make me feel very lucky for my living condition now... =)
rating (8.3/10)

Wedding Crashers - Shelvia

Hilarious.. This movie was very enjoyable.. It's the type of movie you wanna watch after a long day at work.. =D
For the gents, the pretty girls will be very pleasing to the eye ;).
For the ladies, it's just a funny and in a way, cheesy movie that you'll laugh along... =)
Warning: This is not a movie for kids though cause you'll have to start closing their eyes even from the start of the movie :P.
Luckily I watch this after Code 46, or else I'll be traumatised from watching movie by the Code 46.

Code 46 - Shelvia

Warning: Don't watch this. Seriously. DON'T!!!

The trailer was rather intriguing... but the movie... ugh...
To me, it's one of the worst movie I ever watch (well, it doesn't help that I missed the first 25minutes)...
But, there was a scene on the dance floor that was simply horrible (lights flashed in your eyes constantly for ~2 minutes)!!! Ugh... The storyline was blurry. In the movie, the gadget seem to have an advanced technology yet every other thing look as if they come from the 80s.
It was simply awful.

Downfall - Eddy T.

'Downfall' is a German film about the last days of the life of Adolf Hitler, seen through, for the most part, the eyes of his increasingly bewildered secretary Traudl Junge. It is a sober examination of people twisted beyond recognition by perverse ideals and wartime desperation. Hitler is portrayed as a dead man walking, utterly delusional and swinging between raging despair and wild hope. It is a portrait consistent with historical accounts, of a ruthless tyrant who in those days had lost all his messianic charisma (leading many of his army staff to openly question his leadership abilities), a barely sane and rational man who yet could muster affection for those he perceived as still loyal.
There has been a tendency to depict Hitler as Evil incarnate, and this film has earned some controversy by allowing for some humanity in him. Evil, of course, is a human trait and one cannot understand an evil man if one is not prepared to see him as a man. For all the admirable directness and clear-sightedness of 'Downfall', its subject remains something of an enigma. This is in part due to the film's narrow focus on Hitler's last days.
There is also no mention of the heavy medication Hitler was under, and the palpable German fear of a vengeful Red Army pillaging, raping and murdering many before it, mention which would have explained more fully the bizarre behaviour of the occupants of Hitler's bunker. On the other hand, street battle scenes are staged with realism and the suffering of civilians is not glossed over.
It is difficult to sit through 150 minutes of the inexorable fall of an utterly corrupt man and his regime. And for those who wish to understand how a state such as Nazi Germany could have come about, they would be better served by the many books on that subject. This is however an important historical drama that stays true to well-documented events and it deserves the widest audience.
Rating: 8/10

Sin City - Sean M

Sin City is an andrenaline ride, revelling in its comic book origins, drawing on them for visual inspiration and over the top plot lines. Much attention has been drawn to its violence, which is extremely graphic and not for the faint of heart, but the directors overcomes this by deliberately caricaturing the dwellers of the city, and injecting a constant stream of humour. Three different stories have been amalgamated together for this film, with the main characters played by Bruce Willis, Clive Owen and Mickey Rourke. These are just some of the many Hollywood stars who have been attracted to this script. This is a great film, one which I absolutely encourage people to see, but take into account that its come from a comic book and that it is very violent.

House of Wax - Shelvia

Not really my type of movie. It's packed with violence and yucky stuffs (blood everywhere).
Paris Hilton didn't do much of acting in the movie though. She was more the barbie doll who simply stand and be herself. Elisha Cuthbert and Chad Michael Murray act quite convincingly.
The storyline itself is not bad and it is quite creepy (although i feel more disgusted by the yucky stuff than thrilled by the creepy ones). Wouldn't suggest this movie to people who just had a large meal. :P

My Rating: 6.5/10

Cinderella Story - VK

I saw Cinderella Story and it was an awesome movie!!!! Hilary Duff is a very convincing actress. I would recommend it to all 13 year old girls!!! two thumbs up!

House of Flying Daggers (DVD) - Eddy T.

'House of Flying Daggers' has vivid and colourful cinematography and sets, attractive leads, some visceral - if incredible - fight scenes and critically-acclaimed director Zhang Yimou. Yet I found it deadly dull (after the intriguing Peony Pavillion opening scene). For a film-maker who earlier in his career delivered powerful films such as 'Raise the Red Lantern' and 'Ju Dou', this film, as well as the previous 'Hero' must rank as low points in his art.

Even when taken as a straight-out action/'chase' thriller, the thrills diminish with each succeeding stylised action set piece. The problems are an absolute absence of suspense, a lack of character development, implausible plot twists crammed into the second half, and that bane of modern film-making: the overuse of CG effects. 'Matrix'-like effects and obvious CG just don't sit well with a period martial-arts extravaganza. It doesn't help either that the brooding soundtrack keeps sign-posting what's about to happen.

Ang Lee's 'Crouching Tiger and Hidden Dragon' remains the best recent example of this genre.

Rating: 4/10

Mr and Mrs Smith - Sam S.

Very enjoyable! Brad and Angelina's definitley pulled off a great chemistry on the screen. You can actually relate to them as a married couple.

Rating: 8/10

Batman Begins - Shelvia W.

Very enjoyable, it actually had a storyline! Much better than the previous Batman Movies.
(Rating: 8½ out of 10)

http://batmanbegins.warnerbros.com