a l c a T s a r

Agneepath [2011] - Trailer Reaction

2011-08-29T17:31:00.001+08:00

Being a huge fan of the original I approached the remake with a fair share of trepidation. Afterall the original has earned its fair share of fans for the performances of its lead antagonist and protagonist, dialogues worth memorizing and director Mukul S. Anand's stylish (for its time) film making. I waited with bated breath for the first trailer and the first thing that comes to mind is how wrong Hrithik is for the lead. He's too "pretty" to play a beloved gang lord from the slums of Mumbai. That is assuming he is still essaying that characterization of Vijay Dinanath Chauhan. Oddly there's not one line of dialogue uttered by the lead so perhaps my feedback is unwarranted.

Like most of modern day Indian cinema this looks stylized. What appears to set it apart from the masala fare like "Dabang" and "Singham" is that it appears more grounded in reality. It would be wrong to expect hyper-realism from a commercial potboiler such as this and director Karan Malhotra appears to strike the right balance.

Though it is too soon to judge I feel I'll be disappointed with the villains. Sanjay Dutt's interpretation of Kancha Cheena looks over-the-top in a performance, I fear, might be grating on the nerves. Rishi Kapoor as a villain will either be a revelation or a laugh-out-loud case of bad judgement. Don't get me wrong, he's an extremely talented actor who has marvelously pulled off roles with shades of gray in the past.

As a fan it's natural for me to speculate. From the footage we've seen I gather that Kancha Cheena is now the main drug lord of Mandwa and not an international drug kingpin as in the original. The new villain, essayed by Mr. Kapoor, could very well be a retread of the Dhinkar Rao character. What say you the fans?

MacGruber [2010]

2010-09-09T23:18:00.001+08:00

Coming Soon

Toy Story 3 [2010]

2010-06-21T21:15:00.002+08:00

Toy Story 3 is probably Pixar's first cash grab sequel. It has no other reason to exist other than to wrap up Andy's arch. Not the most compelling reasons to exist but as with other Pixar movies this too promises a great time at the movies. Even though most of this sequel retreads over things we've seen in the original and it's sequel, its watching these lovable and familiar characters interact that makes this go-round worthwhile. I wish Pixar had taken a bold step with the climax but this being a Disney movie I can understand why they couldn't go that route. It's not John Lasseter and company's best work but neither is it their worst.

The A-Team [2010]

2010-06-13T17:02:00.000+08:00

Starring: Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper, Jessica Biel, Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson, Sharlto Copley, Brian Bloom
Writen By: Joe Carnahan & Brian Bloom and Skip Woods
Directed By: Joe Carnahan

I don't think the ME generation of today can fathom the importance of television in the 80's. If I recall we only had access to Channel 5 & 8 (Singapore) and RTM 1 &2 (Malaysia) (this was even before TV3). The whole family was glued to the idiot box no matter how bad the programmes were.

So I hope you can see why we're so attached to properties from that era. I'll save my more detailed justification for my generations attachments to entertainment properties from that era for another time.

The A-Team was a very popular show even with its wash-and-repeat formula. Writer-director Joe Carnahan (NARC, Smokin' Aces) brilliantly avoids such trappings and instead shows the origin of how these four very different men came together. It helps that he has recruited very charismatic group of actors with excellent chemistry for the leads.

His screenwriting partners Brian Bloom and Skip Woods could have helped strip some extra fat. It feels like there's one-too-many rescue/retrieve missions in the movie. The ballistic and ridiculously over-the-top ending threatens to leave a bad after taste but thankfully such woes prove a minimal inconvenience.

My Name Is Khan [2010]

2010-05-08T03:08:00.003+08:00

Shahrukh Khan, in my humble opinion, isn't the most talented actor India has to offer but one can't deny his screen presence. In My Name Is Khan he is possibly tasked with a role very few people can pull off - that of an adult suffering from Asperger's syndrome. Shahrukh displays an uncharacteristic restraint in the role. Frequent collaborator (in fact he hasn't made a movie without Shahrukh) Karan Johar shows great growth as a director and this is possibly one of the most polished Bollywood productions in recent history. Being a product of Bollywood though it does suffer from too much sermonizing and scenes veering dangerously close to being "cheesy". Fortunately, director Karan Johar must have learned a few things about restraint from his leading man.

Iron Man 2

2010-05-01T23:24:00.004+08:00

Two years ago Iron Man burst onto cinema screens and made the character a household name. Besides a good director and script its success has to also be attributed to the extremely enigmatic Robert Downey Jr.. For Iron Man 2 they only managed to bring back two of those crucial elements. Iron Man 2 is sorely lacking a tight script. It meanders along seemingly only existing to setup Tony Starks role in Marvel comics super group The Avengers. As far as summer blockbusters go the movie is light on action with short action sequences rarely offering any spectacle worth a mention. Summer 2010 already has the weakest slate of releases and I dread to think Iron Man 2 might be the best it has to offer.

Kick Ass kicks ass

2010-04-18T05:06:00.003+08:00

As easy as it was thinking up that title it's so much easier writing this review. "Kick Ass" is a movie you're likely to walk into with very few expectations but it's sheer ability to turn comic book cliches on their heads and deliver a perfect mix of character work, action & humour will leave you wanting more. If you get the chance go
see this for sure.

Multimedia message

2010-04-12T14:53:00.001+08:00

Test post

Test 2

2010-04-05T17:50:00.000+08:00

He is good how about YOU?

There was once a girl who was so scared.

Mobile Post

2010-04-04T22:18:00.001+08:00

Just testing to see if and how this works.

alcaTsar, SG

The Alpha Team

2010-04-02T09:36:00.000+08:00

First The Expendables now this?

Watch the new trailer for The A-Team movie here. The first trailer was mildly entertaining but the last set piece in this trailer is so over-the-top that I already want to stand in line for tickets. The year's got 3 incredibly fun "men on a mission" movies and the best thing is they look like movies for REAL men.

On a sidenote, I think Singapore's cinema scene should organise fan-events. I was trying to organise one when "Superman Returns" came out but you'll be surprised how unresponsive cinema owners can be. Going to the movies used to be an event in itself (NOTE TO SELF: write something on this) but nowadays its no longer a memorable experience. Remember how you queued in line for hours to watch "Jurassic Park" 'cos you couldn't book tickets online back then? When you finally got the last few tickets you were so ecstatic and Monday back-in-school you were sharing with everybody about the whole experience? These days its all online and I'm fine with that but can't we all have a little fun?

Someone should put together an "A-Team Event". Get all the 80's children to come dressed up as B.A. Baracus, Hannibal Smith, Murdock and Faceman. Social media marketing a huge thing so cinema owners could reap the benefits from putting videos of this on YouTube, pictures on Facebook and Tweet til their thumbs go sore on Twitter. If anyone needs help putting this together let me know. After all "I Love It When A Plan Comes Together!"

How To Train Your Dragon [2010]

2010-03-29T23:26:00.001+08:00

Coming Soon

Law Abiding Citizen [2009]

2010-03-21T21:26:00.000+08:00

Director: F. Gary Gray
Writer: Kurt Wimmer
Starring: Jamie Foxx, Gerard Butler, Leslie Bibb, Colm Meaney, Bruce McGill, Regina Hall

I Love You, Man [2009]

2010-03-21T21:21:00.000+08:00

Director: John Hamburg
Writer: John Hamburg and Larry Levin
Staring: Paul Rudd, , Jason Segel, Rashida Jones, Jaime Pressly, Jon Favreau, J.K. Simmons, Andy Samberg, Lou Ferrigno, Aziz Ansari

Girls, get this right, we men are not all alike. We're often associated with the typical stereotypes - we hate dressing fashionably, we love sports, we don't emote well (with each other or any other living being on the planet), etc. That has all got to be propaganda from some feminist organisation trying to depict us as uncultured baboons (although some of us do come pretty close). Thanks to filmmakers such as John Hamburg, women get a chance to venture into our once restricted world. "I Love You, Man" is not only a funny movie but it's also an honest one. It depicts the "love" shared between two straight men in a time when any such act is quickly ridiculed as being gay. It exposes to the fairer sex what men are really like around other men. Of course being a comedy which it is it does so with ample laughs. Definitely one for both males and females.

Shaun of the Dead [2004]

2010-01-01T19:01:00.003+08:00

Coming Soon

Zombieland [2009]

2010-01-01T19:01:00.001+08:00

Coming Soon

Lesson 2

2009-12-29T23:01:00.001+08:00

Inglorious Basterds [2009]

2009-12-20T13:52:00.001+08:00

Review coming soon

Funny People [2009]

2009-12-19T17:26:00.001+08:00

Review coming soon

Avatar [2009]

2009-12-17T12:21:00.000+08:00

Avatar is not the "game changer" it has been made out to be. If anything it is a predictable yarn presented in a (pardon the pun) new avatar. That isn't necessarily a bad thing. Lots of stories, at the core at least, are updated versions of classic tales. It is the way the story is told that draws audiences. James Cameron is one of the few living directors who knows the pulse of his audience. This might not be his best work but he sure knows how to manipulate his audience - making them awe in disbelief as they're introduced to the unique world of Pandora, cry as masses of the native Na'avi are slaughtered and cheer as the protagonist leads a final battle cry against their human oppressors. He uses every known trick in film making to get the desired response from his audience and paces the movie so well that you never know you're reacting like a puppet to every beat. Its only after the euphoria has settled that you feel used and like a true slut you wish to return for more.

Avatar [2009]

2009-12-16T23:18:00.001+08:00

Review coming soon

Timbaland - Shock Value II [2009]

2009-12-12T09:47:00.001+08:00

Following up a successful album is already a challenge but making a direct sequel is even more so. Fortunately, Timbaland is familiar with the adage "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". "Shock Value II" sticks close to the original fortunate - bouncy beats, famous guests and remixes of pop-rock tracks. Fans expecting Timbo to once again revolutionize music with a completely new sound will justifiably be disappointed.

G.I. JoeL: Rise of Cobra [2009]

2009-11-26T21:36:00.002+08:00

G.I. Joe caters to the little boy I once was. High-tech gadgets & vehicles, armored suits, secret headquarters, hot chicks, over-the-top action - everything I would've loved is here.As a full grown adult though I would've appreciated a decent script, well-written characters, action scenes that keep physics in mind and good acting. As a (bedroom) critic though I accept the movie for what it is - a toy commercial. It's fun, in a ludicrous way, and the quick-moving plot never gives you enough time to think. If you want to relive your boyhood fantasy G.I. Joe movie then look no further.

The Hangover [2009]

2009-11-22T00:10:00.001+08:00

Coming Soon

Live Hard, Sell Hard [2009]

2009-11-08T21:01:00.001+08:00

Coming Soon

Dance Flick [2009]

2009-11-08T20:53:00.002+08:00

Coming Soon

Land of the Lost [2009]

2009-10-30T23:11:00.002+08:00

Review coming soon

Green Lantern: First Flight [2009]

2009-10-24T22:56:00.000+08:00

Green Lantern: First Flight
Review coming soon!

Wonder Woman [2009]

2009-10-18T14:58:00.000+08:00

Review Coming Soon

Superman/Batman: Public Enemies [2009]

2009-09-30T02:07:00.004+08:00

Superman/Batman: Public Enemies
Straight to Video Release
2009

Review Coming Soon

District 9 [2009]

2009-08-16T11:01:00.002+08:00

Director: Neill Blomkamp
Writer: Neill Blomkamp & Terri Tatchell
Starring: Sharlto Copley

"District 9" dispels any prevailing belief that science fiction genre has been creatively milked dry. Taking enough of a departure from the tried-and-tested, done-to-death storytelling as well as visual conventions it "District 9" single-handedly resuscitates the genre. Full marks to Neill Blomkamp for using the genre to comment on the very human issues such as race-relations, human rights and the declining trust of governments shared by citizens everywhere. His eye for visuals and grasp of filming fast-paced action beats should teach style-over-substance auteurs a thing-or-two. Besides the excellent performance by debutant Sharlto Copley as the reluctant protagonist a special mention should be made of WETA. What Peter Jackson's New Zealand based effects house achieved with Gollum in "The Lord of The Rings" trilogy has now been revolutionised to a point where it is near impossible to distinguish CGI from practical effects and character work.

L.A. Confidential [1997]

2009-08-15T19:03:00.005+08:00

Director: Curtis Hanson
Writers: James Ellroy (novel "L.A. Confidential"), Brian Helgeland & Curtis Hanson (screenplay)
Starring: Kevin Spacey, Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce, James Cromwell, Kim Basinger, Danny DeVito

"L.A. Confidential" is smart, taut and sprinkled with interesting performances all round. My only disappointment is having caught it only recently. I can understand why it was such a rave in '97 but now with one-too-many movie and tv shows revolving around crooked cops it has lost some of its appeal.

Bronson [2009]

2009-08-14T22:45:00.003+08:00

Directed by: Nicolas Winding Refn
Written by: Brock Norman Brock and Nicolas Winding Refn
Starring: Tom Hardy

"Bronson" is a difficult movie to like. Charles Bronson (real name Michael Peterson) is an equally difficult character to like. At the end though it's hard not to like both. What really sells the movie is the impressive performance by Tom Hardy (A name probably only familiar to Star Trek fans) as Britain's most notorious prisoner. It's so over-the-top, at time almost campy, yet manages to etch itself into the viewers memory. Director Nicolas Winding Refn (of "Pusher" trilogy fame) does a great job in presenting Bronson's inner madness on screen with grotesque and bleak imagery.

Up [2009]

2009-08-13T19:02:00.006+08:00

Directors: Pete Docter, Bob Peterson (co-director)
Writers: Bob Peterson and Pete Docter (screenplay), Pete Docter, Thomas McCarthy, Bob Peterson (story)
Starring: Edward Asner, Christopher Plummer, Delroy Lindo, John Ratzenberger

Pixar has not failed me yet. Even its most simple minded movies (Monsters Inc., A Bug's Life, Cars) have delivered laughs and character moments that would put many Best Picture nominees to shame. Their latest "Up" is a joy to sit through. It's even mish-mash of sentimentality and adventure will appeal to one and all. The father-son relationship in "Finding Nemo" appealed to me on a personal level as much as the comic book influenced "The Incredibles" appealed to the nerd in me and Up did such a knock-out job of appealing to the sentimental romantic side in me. My only complaint with the movie, or rather with its 3D presentation, is that it didn't really jump-out at me. There's a lot of rave amongst cinephiles that this new technology immerses viewers in environments rather than just offering cheap gimmicks but never did I feel it succeeded. So if you want to catch Up and save a few bucks catch it on regular screens.

The Hurt Locker [2008]

2009-07-18T20:49:00.007+08:00

Directed by: Kathryn Bigelow
Written by: Mark Boal
Starring: Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, Guy Pearce, Ralph Fiennes, Evangeline Lilly

The Hurt Locker has been receiving lavish praises from the best of critics and it leads me to this question, "Why?". That's not to say this isn't a good film. It is. It succeeds in dramatizing the lives of bomb disarming experts in Iraq, has many suspenseful moments and gives the viewers a glimpse into the off-duty lives of these men. Having said that, where's the plot? If meandering from one bomb detonation to the next is considered a plot then this has it in spades. I understand this is more about characters but I don't think you have to necessarily fore go an interesting, structured plot for that. It baffles me when a movie veers away from the typical storytelling conventions and is lapped up by the critics for this, no matter how pointless the end result is. To sit through almost 2 hours of this for the only revelation any intelligent member of the audience would already have established early in the story (SPOILER ALERT: The lead protagonist is an adrenalin junkie) is awfully insulting.

Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen [2009]

2009-06-24T23:03:00.002+08:00

Whatever arm-chair critics have to say of big-budget musts-see blockbusters has absolutely no impact on a tent poles box-office success. So why bother reviewing Transformers II (I've grown tired of pointless subtitles)? You're bound to watch it anyways.

For those of you who are still interested - save your money. It's great watch if all you want to see is the innovation in computer generated wizardry but if you're a fan of cinema, even of the "blockbuster" variety, don't torture yourself.

Star Trek [2009]

2009-05-16T21:58:00.004+08:00

Directed By: J.J. Abrams
Written By: Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman
Starring: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Leonard Nimoy, Eric Bana, Bruce Greenwood, Karl Urban, Zoe Saldana, Simon Pegg, John Cho

This is the perfect film to announce that the summer movie season for 2009 is here. So what if "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" officially kicked-off the season? "Star Trek" is huge, moderately dumb, yet wholly entertaining and that's exactly what this season warrants. Another similarity it shares with most big budget summer blockbusters is the ludicrous turn it takes in its third act. All said and done this is the right direction for the franchise to take and like another reboot, "Batman Begins", hopefully they follow it up with something that's far more entertaining and makes atleast a tad big more sense.

The Foot Fist Way [2006]

2009-04-12T16:11:00.007+08:00

Director: Jody Hill
Written By: Ben Best & Jody Hill
Starring: Danny McBride, Ben Best

Perfect actor for a "Warlock" remake

Very few indie comedies can have a lasting cultural impact as "Napolean Dynamite" and "Borat". Director Jody Hill and gang strive to achieve such success with their debut "The Foot Fist Way" and with the backing of reigning comedy kingpin Will Ferrell you would picture the outcome to be outright successful. Unfortunately, its unconventional storytelling, pacing and off-beat humour, which most of the time is spouting profane lines and having adults behave like rotten kids, doesn't pull enough punchlines to deliver a solid knock out.

You're Welcome America - A Final Night with George W. Bush [2009]

2009-03-29T14:57:00.008+08:00

Director: Marty Callner
Starring: Will Ferrell

George W. Bush: Sun Gazer

Stretching a successful skit into a full length motion picture event has rarely proven successful. Honestly, only the first Wayne's World comes to mind. Will Ferrell and Adam McKays by-now famous George W. Bush skits/ads released prior to the 2004 elections packed a laugh-per-line. The transition to a one-man Broadway play not so much. Humorous and insightful in parts the show loses steam when playing to the masses with lewd and absurd tall tales. Ferrell proves himself to be one of this generations comedy greats but even he struggles to rain in the laughs on this dismal effort.

"Have you destroyed the world economy?"

Watchmen [2009]

2009-03-07T20:57:00.004+08:00

Director: Zack Snyder
Writer: David Hayter and Alex Tse
Starring: Malin Akerman, Billy Crudup, Matthew Goode, Jackie Earle Haley, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Patrick Wilson, Carla Gugino

Roles Models [2008]

2009-03-01T14:04:00.007+08:00

Director: David Wain

Writing Credits: Paul Rudd & David Wain & Ken Marino and Timothy Dowling
Starring: Seann William Scott, Paul Rudd, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Bobb'e J. Thompson, Elizabeth Banks

Wtf?

Far too comedies have come out in recent years seemingly adopting the same mantra in hopes of garnering some success. Depending on how you see it Role Models is either a hit-or-miss case. Paul Rudd is dependable and reigns in some laughs but Sean William Scott and Christopher "McLovin" Mintz-Plasse drag the momentum with roles we've seen them play before, not to mention play them better. Fortunately, the foul mouthed kid Bobb'e J. Thompson alleviates things only to be subdued in the second-half "coming of age" portion. It's a zippy flick for a lazy weekend but offers nothing special (besides the nifty WOW-like cosplay battle scenes).

You're gonna have to watch the movie to catch more of that.

Sex Drive [2008]

2009-02-14T18:07:00.010+08:00

Director: Sean Anders
Writer: Sean Anders & John Morris
Starring: Josh Zuckerman, Amanda Crew, Clark Duke, James Marsden, Seth Green

Fat boy took his food fetish way to far.

Hollywood's hard-on for teen comedies has gone flaccid lately. A genre that was easily pimped to eager teen buyers hasn't been making the kinda cheese it should. With each failed teen-com trade pundits are quick to hammer the last nail in its coffin. Sex Drive might just be the saviour it needs. Nobody is going to handout prizes for its boy-want-to-lose-virginity plot but the interesting characters and an abundance of genuinely funny moments help it keep afloat over a pool filled with mediocrity.

Yup, It's The 30 Rock Hottie! 1 more reason to double dip on that UNRATED DVD version.

Ali [2001]

2009-02-06T10:24:00.008+08:00

Director: Michael Mann
Writer: Gregory Allen Howard (Story), Stephen J. Rivele & Christopher Wilkinson and Eric Roth & Michael Mann (Screenplay)
Starring: Will Smith, Jamie Foxx, Jon Voight, Mario Van Peebles, Ron Silver, Jeffrey Wright, Mykelti Williamson, Jada Pinkett Smith

With Ali Michael Mann proves he is undoubtedly one of the greatest filmmakers of our time. What would have been a by-the-numbers biopic instead is used as a medium to tell the greater story of the black struggle. Admittedly the initial deviating focus might throw some off but as the spectacular story comes to its fittingly larger than life ending all the pieces successfully fall in place. Pitch perfect casting adds to its merits. At two and a half hours the running time may limit viewership but every minute is time well spent.

Wanted [2008]

2009-01-27T18:58:00.005+08:00

Director: Timur Bekmambetov
Writer: Michael Brandt & Derek Haas and Chris Morgan (Screenplay), Michael Brandt &
Derek Haas (Story), Mark Millar & J.G. Jones (Graphic Novel)
Starring: James McAvoy, Morgan Freeman, Angelina Jolie, Terence Stamp, Common

Taking care of all those kids has really taken a toll on Ms. Jolie's health.

Having never read the comics, my initial exposure to Wanted via its sleek trailers made me assume this would be another over-the-top action flick frequently churned out by Hollywood. Nothing wrong with that and if you expect not much else then your 2 hour investment will pay off handsomely. Russian Timur Bekmambetov's masterfully shoots fluid, kinetically charged action sequences that may not always be scientifically accurate but are pure eye-candy. The cast appears to have fun in their roles with James McAvoy aptly conveying his characters transformation from zero-to-hero.

...for reading.
Hope you come again!

Ong Bak 2 [2009]

2009-01-17T23:30:00.005+08:00

Director: Tony Jaa & Panna Rittikrai
Writer: Tony Jaa & Panna Rittikrai
Starring: Tony Jaa

The leap for most actors to the directors chair has never been an easy one. Critics are quick to label it a big ego-trip. The behind-the-scenes chaos that has plagued Ong Bak 2's production only enforces this belief. One might forgive the slap-shod scripting upon learning this but otherwise would not be so kind. The proposed sequel will hopefully resolve some of the poorly realised plot elements such as the love story. Fortunately, Tony Jaa's skills as a martial artists remain firmly intact. Though there's nothing groundbreaking about the fights and stunts unlike his earlier efforts.

Death Race (Unrated) [2008]

2009-01-04T14:22:00.009+08:00

Always look before you cross.

Director: Paul W.S. Anderson
Writer: Paul W.S. Anderson
Starring: Jason Statham, Joan Allen, Ian McShane, Tyrese Gibson, Natalie Martinez

No matter the quality of their output some directors are constantly derided for their efforts. Fairly or unfairly is an altogether other matter. Paul W.S. Anderson is one such sufferer of such a barrage of insults. With Death Race he proves himself capable of delivering a decent action vehicle (pardon the pun) but little else. Which is plenty sufficient for such a movie. Nobody has lanky expectations of the plot or the actors histrionics. The lack of dependence on modern day CGI wizardry bodes well for the action sequences.

Just incase the cars and violence weren't enough to entice you.

Forgetting Sarah Marshall (Unrated) [2008]

2009-01-03T20:44:00.007+08:00

Director: Nicholas Stoller
Writer: Jason Segel
Starring: Jason Segel, Kristen Bell, Mila Kunis, Russell Brand, Bill Hader, Jonah Hill

Position #921: Ride the Brit comedian.

Judd Apatow often gets unfairly credited for rejuvenating the long dormant "R rated comedy" genre. A more befitting credit would be for reviving the rom-com genre or perhaps just sprinkling it with a dash of "crude humour" so the men in the audience wouldn't feel so ashamed of being in the same cinema. Nothing wrong with that really. The romantic-comedy genre has truly suffered at the hands of predictable writers and point-and-shoot directors. The only significant difference "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" has to offer is, as mentioned earlier "crude humour". Again, nothing wrong there. There are plenty of genuine laughs to be had though watching the same Apatow cast can get tedious.

Position #765: Ride the cute American star of a cancelled TV show who is attempting to have a career in movies just like her character in this movie.

Memento [2000], Ghajini [2005], Ghajini [2008]

2008-12-25T09:52:00.008+08:00

Memento [2000]
Director: Christopher Nolan
Writers: Jonathan Nolan & Christopher Nolan
Starring: Guy Pearce, Carrie-Anne Moss, Joe Pantoliano, Jorja Fox

The original. Deliberately disorienting, it's two alternate narratives cleverly merge to catch the viewer off guard. Guy Pearce, as the anterograde amnesia suffering lead Leonard, successfully toes the line between a cool-as-cucumber performance while displaying the vulnerability a person in such a conundrum would likely face. Leonard's plight is further aggravated by the seeming shady intentions of Natalie (Carrie-Anne Moss) and Teddy (Joe Pantoliano). Christopher Nolan, as well as writing partner and brother Jonathan, deserve praise for not using the plot device as a gimmick. Offering it instead as a perspective into the mind of their protagonist.

Ghajini [2005]
Director: A.R. Murugadoss
Written by: A.R. Murugadoss
Starring: Surya Sivakumar, Asin Thottumkal

I'm still trying to find a subtitled version of this to review. What little I do know is that rather than rip-off/borrow the plot of "Memento" wholesale, A.R. Murugadoss is only interested in the memory-loss aspect. The other similarity being the hero's search for his lovers killer. The movie was a huge phenomenon down south making its star, Surya, a huge box-office draw overnight. Most reviews, professional or otherwise, describe it as flawed but largely entertaining so as long as the viewer does not pay attention to glaring loopholes in its plot.

Movie News: Watchmen [2008]

2008-07-16T04:43:00.006+08:00

Written by Sarhan "Tsar" Rashid

I've been long wanting to share my thoughts on the "Watchmen" adaptation heading to your favourite cinema house next year [9th of March 2009, stateside]. With news that the trailer will be attached to "The Dark Knight" it's the ideal time to get the word out on what could likely be a monumental motion picture especially given the original source material.

Directing readers to the Wiki entree would be easy but I doubt many could endure toiling through it. The landmark comic book series first hit newsstands in the late 80's and soon garnered much acclaim from both comic book readers as well as high brow elitists who had long shunned the funny books.

Writer Alan Moore's take on the superhero genre took a more realistic slant focusing on various social, personal and even political judgement calls made by the characters as the face uncertain times and an possible annihalation of the human populace. If that sounds vaguely familiar it probably is. The first season of tv's "Heroes" blatantly stole plot elements from this book.

Structurally it steers away from typical trappings of the genre. It isn't hard to see then why many attribute it to reviving the dying format though just as many may single it out for making it hip for comic book writers to bury the escapist fare under heaps of far too much brooding, darkness and emo-cool inner turmoil superheroes grow through these days.

It works wonderfully as a study of morality, exploring the nature of humans to depend on authority figures to lead and protect while diligently serving and providing for them while providing readers with a (hypothetical) study of the hero psyche. Above all it served its primary purpose - that of being an exciting comic book. Its rich characterisation and dense storyline lead me to doubt that any creative team would be able to successfully translate it into a two hour ++ movie without losing its core context in favour of mainstream appeal. A big budget mini-series on television would be far more fetching I thought. Even after Zack Snyder was announced to helm this massive feature I had my doubts. Frank Miller's books have always been written and framed to ideally permitting a direct move to the moving pictures. So he didn't immediately get an immediate pass for his effort on "300".

"Watchmen" is a whole other juggernaut but if early word of mouth from online columnist is not hyperbole then we may be about to witness a movie that will do for comic books what "Lord of The Rings" did for the fantasy novels. For now lets all bask in the glory of the trailer before another mammoth comic book feature.

Indiana Jones & The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull [2008]

2008-05-22T14:33:00.012+08:00

Indiana Jones & The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull

Director: Steven Spielberg

Writters: George Lucas & Jeff Nathanson (Story), David Koepp (Screenplay)

Starring: Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Cate Blanchett, Ray Winstone, Shia LaBeouf, John Hurt

Reviewed By Sarhan "Tsar" Rashid

"Fool me once, shame on you. If fooled, you can't get fooled again."

~ George W. Bush

The return of a childhood hero always overwhelms me with nostalgia. The euphoria results in blatantly biased adulation. A mark of true devotion perhaps but also a deep seethed weekness in a wannabe critic. The dizzying number of familiar characters returning to the big screen has hardened me to.

Having been burnt one to many times in the past I took it upon myself to approach this review from as neutral an angle as I possibly could.

With that said I'm sure fans of the series will be happy to learn atleast this viewer/fan/critic (not necessarily in that order) with this action-adventure. Though not so much as an Indiana Jones action-adventure.

With pulsating action and lighting fast pacing I couldn't help but be swept away on the adventure. The brisk progress in the story and quick introduction of old and new characters only aids the wafer-thin plot from sustaining the viewers interest. I'm not complaining too much though. Plots have never been a strong point of this series.

What sets this series apart from the National Treasures and Mummies has always been their ability to transport us to a different time, exotic locations and jaw-dropping action. Can't complain about the first two as Skulls does a reasonable job on both accounts. It's the action is the greatest tragedy here.

Abundant, and intricate, set pieces are squeezed into the running time but all the modern day technology applied to create these scenes just makes them mechanical and obviously unbelievable. Viewers were never dummies to be fooled into believing a stunt person was never doubling for Harrison Ford in the more perilous stunts from past installments but very thought of an actual breathing, living human being putting their life and limbs at risk, even under tested and controlled conditions, took my breath away. Here we get an obviously green screened chase sequence. Imagine how much more thrilling it would have been if it were shot with real elements and REAL stunt people?

In many ways Indy IV is very similar to last years Die Hard IV. Both are very good films in their respective genres. Perhaps even passable entries in their own franchises but ultimately they are only shadows, pale shadows, of past glories.

Indiana Jones Series

2008-05-21T05:42:00.014+08:00

After gestating for years the latest installment in the Indiana Jones series will debut before mass audiences on the 22nd of May 2008. Some 27 years after the fedora donning archaeologist/adventurer first enthralled audiences with the superb Raiders of The Lost Ark (1981).

We'll leave all the speculation, whether it be Harrison Ford's ability to crack the whip at the ripe old age of 65 or if George Lucas' meddling nature, would hinder ones enjoyment of Indiana Jones and The Kingdom of The Crystal Skulls, for later. For now lets celebrate the legacy of the highly entertaining series and all the shenanigans which have enamoured Indy to fans of all ages.

Raiders of The Lost Ark [1981]
Directed By: Steven Spielberg

Written By: George Lucas & Philip Kaufman (Story), Lawrence Kasdan (Screenplay)

Starring: Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, John Rhys-Davies, Alfred Molina

Is it even possible to dislike this movie? It's true escapism at its best. Right from the moment we're introduced to a leather jacket sporting Indiana Jones in one of his many adventures to the final horrific unveiling of the Arks powers this is one thrilling ride. Some people credit it for starting the modern day summer blockbuster trend and justifiably so. It has huge action set pieces, witty one-liners and romance to keep members of the fairer sex happy.

Highlights:

Where does one begin? The boulder chase? Out smarting a sword wielding henchman? Decapitating a Nazi? Crazy truck chase through the deserts of Egypt? Choose one.

Temple of Doom [1984]
Directed By: Steven Spielberg
Written By: George Lucas (Story), Willard Huyck & Gloria Katz (Screenplay)
Starring: Harrison Ford, Kate Capshaw, Jonathan Ke Quan, Amrish Puri

The sequel, which is really a prequel taking place years before the events of Raiders, is often singled out for its gory imagery. A villain who rips hearts out of live humans, crazy monkey brain eating Indians were probably what lead the MPAA to create a brand new film classification category - PG-13. Having been through bitter divorces each producer George Lucas and director Steven Spielberg craft a darker, yet highly entertaining, adventure.

Highlight:

The mine chase is a thing of beauty. Especially surprising when one takes into account the era when this movie was filmed.

The Last Crusade [1989]
Directed By: Steven Spielberg
Written By: George Lucas & Menno Meyjes (Story), Jeffrey Boam (Screenplay)

Starring: Harrison Ford, Sean Connery, John Rhys-Davies, River Phoenix

The first proper sequel gets a lavish treatment. Fans get a quick introduction to Indy's humble beginnings, the inspiration for his gear and the origins of the whip! Upping the comedic angle after the dark Temple of Doom we're also introduced to Dr. Jones Sr (Sean Connery seemingly having a ball playing the part).

Highlight:

Brilliantly the storytellers are able to give us a glimpse into Indiana Jones' early years as a boy scout. Someone should teach all these modern day directors how to do it right! River Phoenix doing a great job as the young Indy is just icing on the cake. If only George Lucas had cast someone just as able to play the role of Anakin sitting through those trite Star Wars prequels wouldn't be half as bad!

Made Of Honour [2008]

2008-05-16T23:25:00.010+08:00

Made of Honor [2008]

Directed By: Paul Weiland
Written By: Adam Sztykiel, Deborah Kaplan & Harry Elfont
Starring: Patrick Dempsey, Michelle Monaghan, Kevin McKidd, Kadeem Hardison, Sydney Pollack

Reviewed By Sarhan "Tsar" Rashid

If there was a recipe for a successful romantic comedy then Made Of Honour has all the right ingredients. Taste though is a subjective.

Personally I am not big on the genre. They're predictable, sappy and offer little to no significant insight into the giddying world of romance other than the oft-repeated adage of following ones heart/love conquers all or some other cliche which makes me want to throw up.

That being said you'll be surprised that I still found this simple story rather charming. Unlike many recent films in the genre it takes a very uncluttered, direct approach in telling its two main characters who meet during a raunchy Halloween party. From the get-go you know where the plot is heading and it would be a drag if not for the dependable cast lead by Patrick Dempsey.

My only exposure to McDreamy was his role in Enchanted in which I felt he was flat and frankly a little awkward. Maybe fans of Greys Anatomy (a show I have yet to watch a complete episode of) will beg to differ but I think playing a rich inventor/playboy seems to fit him better.

Though every plot twist can be telegraphed from a mile away the writers have avoided many of the common trappings of the genre when it comes to the characters. They also cleverly avoid the done-to-death battle of the sexes routine. Paul Weiland's paces the film perfectly never letting the sentimental moments bog it down or the humour to wear out its welcome.

While sitting through this movie I could imagine an alternate-world take of it with talking dogs, a stalking villain and majestic Scotsman Sean Connery appearing out of nowhere to challenge the protagonist to a death defying sword fight on the equally majestic hills of Scotland. Until that version gets made I guess I'll enjoy Made of Honour for what it is - a decent time at the movies.

Iron Man [2008]

2008-04-30T14:56:00.012+08:00

Directed By: Jon Favreau
Written By: Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby, Art Marcum & Matt Holloway
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Terence Howard, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeff Bridges

Reviewed By Sarhan "Tsar" Rashid

Summer is finally here!

I guess for us, here in sunny Singapore, it doesn't make all that great of a difference. Except when it comes to the choices we're offered at the movies. The season is filled with big budget, star filled entertainers. What better choice to kick off the season then the latest adaptation of a comic book character?

Iron Man finally joins the long list of Marvel characters to make the leap to the big screen. Marvels first independent outing (under their production deal with Paramount) is a glossy effort backed by a very successful marketing effort. Does it warrant the hype though?
The answer is yes and no.

Jon Favreau (look out for his sly cameo) does a competent job of bringing the troubled character of Tony Starks/Iron Man to the screen but the lack of action, heavily emphasized in the trailers, is sure to disappoint fans. Poor pacing mars what could have been an excellent start to the comic book company's first solo foray into the world of film making.

It's a good thing they hired actors, not stars, to fill all the important roles. Without a shadow of a doubt it's Robert Downey Jr. who carries to movie on his newly buffed shoulders. It's a good thing they hired him too since Tony Starks is in almost every scene. The remaining players all shine as well though Gwyneth Paltrow does stick out like a sore thumb when she's playing ditsy.

What redeems Iron Man, after one realizes the lack of big action set pieces, besides the characters are the little nudges aimed at fans. As a first entry in a planned trilogy (they're the "in" thing these days you know) is fairly competent though light on the whiz-bang.

P.S. Stay 'til after the credits for a very short but SPECIAL scene.

Street Kings [2008]

2008-04-21T12:19:00.008+08:00

Street Kings

Directed By: David Ayer
Written By: James Ellroy, Kurt Wimmer & Jamie Moss

Starring: Keanu Reeves, Forest Whitaker, Chris Evans, Hugh Laurie, Terry Crews, Cedric The Entertainer, Jay Mohr

Street Kings successfully amalgamates reality with just the right amout of dramatic license to form an interesting, tout and thrilling cinematic experience. It may not be the best that the genre has to offer but this James Ellroy penned thriller is no slouch. David Ayer assembles a highly competent cast for his sophomore effort. Leading the pack is Keanu Reeves in yet another dark turn after Constantine and A Scanner Darkly. Gone is the airy surfing cop of Point Break and instead we have a sinister cop threading the thin line between good and evil. Only disappointment on the acting front is Forest Whitaker who repeats his Oscar winning performance in The Last King of Scotland without as much elan. The all too convenient plotting of the final act jars the narrative but not too much to leave too deep of a bad impression on the viewer.

Jamal Woolard as The Notorious B.I.G.

2008-03-18T05:33:00.001+08:00

Jamal Woolard bears an uncanny resemblance to the late, great Notorious B.I.G.. I think he could add on a couple more pounds though.

What do y'all think?

2008 Oscars

2008-02-25T11:16:00.003+08:00

Things I'd like to do after having watched the 2008 Oscars:

Get a copy of La Vie En Rose to watch.
Look up a copy of the soundtrack for Once.
Might as well get the movie too huh?
Watch both No Country For Old Men and There Will Be Blood.

The Oscars over the years have served more than their original purpose of rewarding the hard work and talent of the cast and crew behind the most memorable of movies. In our day and age the merit of even a nomination add to the marketability of a motion picture. I had never heard of La Vie En Rose 'til today. And I consider myself an avid movie buff. Now that movie ranks highly on my "must-see" list.

Here's a list of all the winners from todays ceremony:

Achievement In Costume Design - Elizabeth: The Golden Age
Best Animated Feature - Ratatouille

Brad Bird justifiably deserved this. Though the presence of lacklustre competition (besides the critically beloved Persepolis) didn't make the victory all that sweet.

Achievement in Make Up - La Vie En Rose
Best Visual Effects - The Golden Compass

What? For all the hate I give Transformers I truly felt it deserved the Oscar in this category. Perhaps this was the academy's way of rewarding a failing studios (New Line) attempt to regain past glory? It's a shame.

Achievement in Art Direction - Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Best Performance By An Actor In A Supporting Role - Javier Bardem, No Country For Old Men

I haven't seen his performance but what little I've seen from the trailers/clips has been riveting. I did however catch Tom Wilkinson's performance in Michael Clayton and that was one helluva performance as well. More deserving than George Clooney's if you ask me.

Best Live Action Short Film - Le Mozart Des Pickpockets
Best Animated Short Film - Peter & The Wolf
Best Supporting Actress - Tilda Swinton, Michael Clayton

Were the nominees so piss-poor that they had to give it to Tilda Swinton? They should've atleast handed it to Ruby Dee. Even she didn't do much in American Gangster but that one scene, the one they showed when her name was announced, delivers a very unexpected and powerful jolt.

Best Adapted Screenplay - No Country For Old Men

In the years I've been faithfully watching the Oscar ceremony I don't think I've ever seen the writers doing what they do best - write. Perhaps with the end of the Writers Guild strike the academy felt it warranted showing this footage to the masses? Curious.

Achievement In Sound Editing - The Bourne Ultimatum
Achievement In Sound Mixing - The Bourne Ultimatum

Again, how did Transformers not win in these two categories?

Best Actress In A Leading Role - Marion Cotillard, La Vie En Rose
Achievement In Editing - The Bourne Ultimatum
Honorary Oscar - Robert Boyle, Art Director
Best Foreign Language Film - The Counterfeiters (Austria)
Best Original Song - Falling Slowly, Once

Never heard this one before but when they played it, I knew I had to get it. Glad Enchanted didn't win it.

Achievement In Cinematography - Robert Elswit, There Will Be Blood
Best Original Score - Dario Marianelli, Atonement
Best Documentary Short Subject - Freeheld
Best Documentary Feature - Taxi To The Dark Side

The announcers for the last category were American troops stationed in Baghdad. Funny thing was it went to highlight an age-old Hollywood tradition - The Token Black Person.

Best Original Screenplay - Diablo Cody, Juno

The most obvious win of the night.

Best Actor - Daniel Day Lewis

Helen Mirren got the best line of the night by uttering a single word - Cajones.

Achievement In Directing - Joel Coen & Ethan Coen, No Country For Old Men

It was nice to see last years recepient Martin Scorsese up on stage. Hate to sound like a broken record but he truly didn't deserve to win for The Departed. Nonetheless he's output, ad films mainly, have been very very fun. Would love to see him attempt lighter fare. I digress.

Best Motion Picture - No Country For Old Men

Bald Denzel Washington looked bad ass presenting the award. I was also surprised how poor John Stewarts hosting was. Next year perhaps they'll get Stephen Colbert? Or you know what just get Billy Crystal back. Sure he was cheesy at times but he made the 3hrs fun to sit through.

Cloverfield [2008]

2008-01-17T13:19:00.001+08:00

Cloverfield

Directed By: Matt Reeves

Written By: Drew Goddard
Starring: Michael Stahl-David, Jessica Lucas, T.J. Miller, Lizzy Caplan, Odette Yustman

Forget all the ads. All the Internet hype. Cloverfield is a "monster movie" in the same vein as King Kong (1933) or the hugely popular Gojira (1954) (Not the forgettable 1998 Roland Emmerich-Dean Devlin disappointment). Where the former had heart and the latter its campy nature Cloverfield brings nothing new to the genre. It does use the, by now common, "lost footage" angle to tell its story. The result of which feels more like a cop-out rather than something that would enhance the audiences experience.

The whole lost footage gimmick works best when it makes the viewer question if it indeed is genuine. I had a friend who had watched Cannibal Holocaust (1980) as a teen and not until recently did he realise that it was not real footage as claimed. Same can be said about all the people fooled by the Blair Witch Project (1999) or even Spinal Tap (1984). When you have something like the whole of Manhattan being attacked by a giant monster the whole idea is plain futile.

I have no insider information on what the budget for the movie is (though I have read rumours of it costing US$30 million) but the whole documentary style was probably a good excuse to keep the budget down. I'm fine with that. Not every movie needs to be a large scale showcase for fancy CGI but when you walk into a movie like this and only see rare glimpses of the monster it feels like a helluva letdown.

Michael Clayton [2007]

2008-01-07T05:05:00.002+08:00

Michael Clayton
Directed By: Tony Gilroy
Written By: Tony Gilroy
Starring: George Clooney, Tom Wilkinson, Tilda Swinton

The awards season brings with it films which may not generally appeal to the common man. Michael Clayton can easily be classified into this category. Screenwriter of the "Bourne" series, Tony Gilroy, chooses a highly character driven courtroom drama for his directorial debut. A script thick with legal jargon could have easily been stripped and made accessible like countless other legal thrillers. Instead powerful performances by Tom Wilkinson and Tilda Swinton keep the viewers attention firmly on the riveting proceedings.

Taare Zameen Par [2007]

2007-12-30T23:35:00.002+08:00

Taare Zameen Par [2007]

Directed by: Amir Khan

Starring: Darsheel Safary, Amir Khan

Looking past the curiosity factor of having one of Indian cinemas finest actors debuting behind the camera, one has to judge a movie by its merits. It's earnest tale of a challenged lad deserves to win accolades of the highest degree. A fine directorial debut by Mr. Khan is overshadowed by the brilliant debut of child artiste Darsheel Safary. The lack of dialogues only heightens his performance conveyed through varied emotions. The threat of two dimensional supporting characters overpowering the real-to-life script is minimised but never truly cancelled by the fine ensemble cast. At the end its message of "every child is special" will remain etched in the hearts, minds and souls of all viewers.

The Dark Knight [2008] - International Teaser Posters & Bootleg Trailer

2007-12-15T03:23:00.001+08:00

I've been curious about "The Dark Knight" eversince the movie went into production. Who wouldn't be? "Batman Begins" for all its worth was a respectable but flawed movie. For everything they got right the got something equally wrong.

I've been candidly devouring information on TDK - script reviews, productional still, spy shots, promotional material, viral marketing sites - nothing has escaped me. None of which really convinced me that Christopher Nolan and his team had upped the ante to deliver (finally) a truly remarkable Batman flick.

That was all in the past. Well, atleast until hours ago when I found these amazing international teaser posters.

Those lucky yanks get the official trailer for TDK infront of screens playing "I Am Legend". Not sure when Singapore audiences will get to see it (the Will Smith starrer opens X'mas week here). Thanks to the invent of camera-phones there's a bootleg trailer floating online (pssss....look no further).

The footage is equally amazing. I love these bootleg trailers. Sure they don't beat seeing the footage in spectacular Quicktime HD but watching a piss poor quality trailer and getting excited just goes to show what a good job the filmmakers have done (or the people who cut the trailer if they're not one and the same).

I was worried TDK would get overshadowed by Marvel's "Ironman", which kicks off the summer season. Deny it as most will but Tony Starks is just Bruce Wayne in another guise. With a movie that looks more fun and action-oriented than TDK I was pitting the Robert Downey Jr. vehicle to take the box-office gold but after the trailer all seems fair game.

I just hope we get two great superhero flicks next summer (actually with "The Incredible Hulk" debuting during that period I'm hoping for 3!).

Indiana Jones & The Kingdom of The Crystal Skull [2008] - Teaser Poster

2007-12-11T02:08:00.001+08:00

I consider myself fortunate to be a child of the 80's. It was during this decade that the modern/current cinematic experience started to take shape. One may attribute the summer tentpole phenomenon to the 70's with the coming of big budget event pictures such as "Star Wars", "Jaws", "Superman: The Movie", etc but it was truly during the 80's that studios took advantage of the audiences insatiable appetite for larger than life characters who delivered big thrills.

And who delivered bigger thrills than Dr. Jones? Before "The Lord Of The Rings" made the term threequels hip, director Steven Spielberg and producer George Lucas delivered three extremely entertaining Indiana Jones movies.

I don't know what those movies would've been like had the producers of "Magnum P.I." given Tom Selleck time off to play the (by now) legendary archeologist but I do know for certain that this is probably the second most cherished character played by Harrison Ford (if it weren't for those annoying Star Wars geeks it would probably be numero uno).

Come May 22nd 2008 the good doctor will return to the big screen with further thrills in "Indiana Jones & The Kingdom of The Crystal Skull". So dust off your bullwhips and fedora hats for another exciting adventure!

JLA Movie Details Leak

2007-09-26T05:18:00.001+08:00

Interested in learning more about the recently half-confirmed (no official statement has hit the press from WB) JLA movie?

Well head over here.

Note: I got the link from C.H.U.D. If you hadn't heard of the site until now be sure to send me a Thank You card. They have excellent reviews and editorials and Devin Faraci is someone you'll soon learn to love-to-hate.

Now to chime in with my useless 2 cents worth on whatever's been posted on UGO. Be warned this is possible spoiler territory.

As an entry into a possible JLA franchise for the studio I just don't like the set-up. It's a whole other matter that the very existence of this project stands to jeopardize another franchise (the Bat) while hopefully resuscitating another (Supes). We'll get to that a little later.

I really can't foresee how successfully they can work the origins of several key players who haven't had the cinematic introduction(The Flash, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman) and manage to intertwine it with a story which, honestly, doesn't seem fitting for the first entry.

Unless ofcourse earlier reports/rumours were correct about WB setting this up to be the superhero equivalent to LOTR and the story described actually plays out across a trilogy.

The big issue here however is how the JLA franchise will fit into the universes created by Christopher Nolan and Bryan Singer? I'm sure the suits are more than happy to move in a whole other direction with Superman after his return had dismal financial results but Batman continues to go from strength-to-strength. With a highly anticipated second installment due in 2008 it's almost as if WB is trying to jeopardize one successful franchise for the other.

A comic book fan like myself would love to see nothing more than a great ensemble cast bringing these heroes to life but with the pre-strike rush to get this into product I have strong doubts.

The Simpsons Movie [2007]

2007-07-29T03:43:00.001+08:00

The Simpsons Movie
Directed By: David Silverman
Written By: James L. Brooks, Matt Groening & too many writers to name!
Starring (the voices of): Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith, Hank Azaria, James L. Brooks

Reviewed by Sarhan "Tsar" Rashid

There's a brilliant bit of writing during prologue of the "The Simpsons Movie" where the writers daringly (and literally) point the finger at their audience and mock them for paying for something they can watch for free on television. Such is the quandary facing most tv-to-theatrical adaptations. This is especially so for the Simpson’s since it has been renewed every season since its 1989 debut and doesn't look likely to end any time soon. In those 18 years I doubt there hasn't been a subject the series hasn't threaded on.

So what can a big screen adaptation bring with it? The answer is really nothing much.

I used to imagine a potential movie starring these lovable characters would be bigger and bolder. Though it is true in the case of the latter it isn't so for the former. This, as it turns out, is a blessing.

Springfield has already given viewers of the show many, many characters and situations that the need to introduce the inhabitants of the world outside would be a slap in the face of the same loyal viewers. Instead the focus is on the citizens of Springfield with each character, minor or major, getting a share of the laughs. The punch lines with these characters are cleverly interwoven without deviating from the plight of the Simpsons. It is after all The Simpsons Movie!

Nobody comes to a movie such as this expecting a great deal of character development but again the writers manage to give each principal lead their own little moment. And it's the change in format that facilitates this allowance.

All this is good and dandy but at the end of the day viewers will be watching it primarily for the humour. There's plenty of that here but the necessity to play the jokes to the vast demographic of viewers dilutes much of the impact. The jump from more witty lines to second rate sight gags to juvenile humour is sure to leave each target viewer high-and-dry in-between.

One thing that truly surprised me was how adult and relatively coarse some of the jokes were. Depending on your tastes you'll either enjoy this or be offended. Some prudent parents may even deem it unacceptable viewing for children due to these short moments. I personally applaud the daringness of the filmmakers. After all what good is the shift in mediums and the censorship guidelines it brings with it if they are not going to make the most out of it?

It's good to know that the Simpsons have successfully landed on the silver screen for their first outing. It may leave many with one-too-many deja vu moments but it makes an earnest attempt to update the television show for the silver screen. Now all we need is a sequel which successfully pushes the envelope just a little further. My only request, wait another 17 years if you have to, just make sure it surpasses this already entertaining first cinematic endeavor.

Die Hard 4.0 (aka Live Free or Die Hard) [2007]

2007-07-20T04:15:00.001+08:00

Movie: Die Hard 4.0 [International title]
Directed By: Lens Wiseman
Written By: Mark Bomback
Starring: Bruce Willis, Justin Long, Timothy Olyphant, Maggie Q, Kevin Smith

Reviewed by Sarhan "Tsar" Rashid

Critis/reviewers (I use the terms so interchangeably that I should perhaps just stick to "people who think their opinions matter"?) often give a pass to movies they had little or no expectations from. I'm guilty as charged. Judging by the overall positive reviews Die Hard 4.o (Yes, save the lame title for us international viewers Fox!) has garnered it fits perfectly in such a category.

From the offset audiences had negative notions of a fourth installment in this long dormant franchise. Some couldn't fathom an aging Bruce Willis back in his most well-known and most quoted role as John McClane. The far more pessimestic in the crowd just didn't see the necessity of another outing when Die Hard With A Vengence did a pretty bang-up job in capping off the series. Fans whined about the choice of Lens Wiseman of Underworld fame (or infamy depending on how you liked those goth influenced vamp flicks) as the man calling the shots. Even as the movie raced to the finish line people (generally US viewers since rating systems vary around the globe) whined about the PG-13 rating the studio wanted and got.

Me, as much as I didn't like the plot summary I read very early on, I was all for another trip with McClane. I love my 80's action stars and the characters they helped make household names (or is it the other way around?) and it's a thrill for me to see them up on the big screen perhaps for the last time. The whole rating thing didn't bug me much. Most of my 80's movie input was either courtesy of screenings on the then Singapore Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) or pirated VHS tapes. So most of the language, violence and sexually explicit scenes were already omitted or altered. This never ever, not even once affected my viewing. Ofcourse it was a big thrill to see the uncensored bits and tell friends in school but regardless I still enjoyed whatever version I saw.

So it's not the rating that has me upset with this latest entry, it's the abuse of the Die Hard brand name.

The only things this movie has common with its supposed predecessors are the title and lead. Ofcourse others might draw parallels to the repartee between McClane and the villain-of-the-day, the underlying plot to loot money and the lead henchmen/women (yes, even in the low rungs of The Henchmen there's a lead) but for me this does not a Die Hard movie make.

The primary cause for my grief is the man himself - Bruce Willis. How does he manage to portray a completely different character not only when compared to past installments but also from scene-to-scene? There are glimpses of McClane sprinkled in small doses which makes it even more grating to sit through a flick starring SuperMcClane who's able to survive the most brutal crashes, jumps and almost whatever you throw at him. Yes, the once physically vulnerable everyday man that was McClane has apparently been secretly injected with superserum since we last saw him. Now he's capable of performing the most outlandish feat, dust himself off and move on to the next obstacle. Plus he apparently doesn't need to sleep.

To be fair it does offer decent popcorn entertainment. The action scenes, highly unbelievable as they are, are well staged and riveting. Lens Wiseman should be applauded for showing restraint instead of overusing jump cuts, flashy cinematography and disorienting fight choreography.

Justin Long being attached to this project may have been a harbinger to many fans of the mediocre direction the movie was heading in but he surprisingly does a good job. His characters exchanges with McClane aren't as sharp as Zeus' (Samuel L. Jackson) but they do the job. The script could have done better with a more well-written villain instead of the one-dimensional spoilt brat like behaviour of Thomas Gabriel (Timothy Olyphant).

It's too bad they attempt to ride the coattails of the Die Hard franchise. Had they gone with another title and a different antagonist this might have deserved a pass. Sadly the additional baggage a series like this brings with it is what crumbles any such hopes.

Harry Potter and The Order of The Phoenix [2007]

2007-07-16T02:03:00.001+08:00

Harry Potter and The Order of The Phoenix (2007)

Directed By: David Yates
Written By: Michael Goldenberg (screenplay) & J.K. Rowling (novel)

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Ralph Fiennes, Gary Oldman, Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson, Helena Bonham Carter & Imelda Staunton

Reviewed By Sarhan "Tsar" Rashid

I probably belong to last insignificant demographic group the Harry Potter series is designed to play to. Yet I find both the world created by author J.K. Rowling and the characters that inhabit it to be fascinating. And with the right story these pieces can fall together nicely to tell a very crafty story (as in the case of 2004's "The Prisoner of Azkaban").

The Order of The Phoenix though high in promise simply does not deliver. And it's the fans that should be held accountable. It's the fans who make the Potter films the box-office phenomenon they are today. Displeasing the fans, especially at this crucial stage when the stories are not ideally aimed at the younger audience members, would be akin to committing hari-kari. If only the filmmakers had the courage to go against the pre-requisite to adapt each book individually the series would've successfully carried on its forward march.

Instead what we get is largely an elongated second act of a much bigger story arc. David Yates, lending a much needed sense of maturity to the series, even sets up the premise as a second act by frequently going back to the last movie and ends it with what could be a promising 6th entry. In a condensed form this could have setup the eventual good-vs-evil confrontation. Instead we get what seems to be the mantra of 2007 summer blockbusters - a shorthanded climax.

I have no knowledge of how this episode plays out in the books but in the medium of film it fails to deliver anything worth paying attention too. The series has been one of the most consistent in almost all departments and such is the case here as well. Imelda Stauton deserves a special mention for her prickly role as scheming Dolores Umbridge.

As mentioned earlier this does set up what could hopefully be a operatic good-versus-evil duel and I keep my fingers crossed for that.

Transformers [2007]

2007-07-01T12:03:00.002+08:00

Transformers
Directed By: Michael Bay
Written By: Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman
Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson, Anthony Anderson, Jon Voight, John Turturro

Reviewed by Sarhan "Tsar" Rashid

Before I proceed with my review of "Transformers" I feel it's only right to clarify my stance towards both the cartoon/toy line upon which it is based as well as my feelings towards the creative force behind the lens.

I'm 27, so that puts my childhood firmly in the era when animated shows were little more than an excuse to sell toys. I was always more of fan of "M.A.S.K." than their robot counterparts. Sure I did buy a few of the figures but it was more an excuse to get my hands on a toy, any toy, when I went out shopping with my parents. Though I do admit I thorougly enjoyed the Contructacons (pardon me if I got their name wrong) line that I had. I'm also pretty aware of some of the main characters - Optimus Prime, Megatron, Starscream, etc. But yeah, it never bothered me that Michael Bay put flames on Prime. [We'll leave the debate on adaptations for a later time.]

Secondly, I think I must mention my enthusiastic support of movies directed by Michael Bay. I'm one of the few people out there who'll probably stand-up for "Pearl Harbour" (Usual Excuses: It was his attempt to grow as a filmmaker. "Titanic" did well by marrying a historical event with a ficticious love story. The aerial dog fights kicked a*s!). "The Island", his only financial failure, has its moments even with it's retread of sequences from his past flicks .

I hope now that I've explained my position on two important elements related to the movie I won't have to endure fools who think I don't know squat. I know enough.

"Transformers" frustrated me endlessly. Here's a movie I was curious about initially, highly enthusiastic for once the first proper trailers appeared and was counting down to when the first images of the robots (static or otherwise) started appearing everywhere. It would be too easy to pin my unenthusiastic reception due to my being over-hyped. Sadly, such is not the case.

As a piece of filmmaking it fails on several grounds. For starters it's very backbone (the script) struggles in finding a firm footing. In their efforts to please demographic groups across the board the writers create a mish-mash which never comes together successfully. It goes from a serious "alien invasion" flick to bordering on turning juvenile and a marriage of all-too-convenient set pieces.

It's during a central and exposition heavy second act that the poorly put together script ruins the entire set-up it took a good hour to get to. I ask you why bother setting up an entire plot element when a few pages later it appears conveniently in time for the climax?

I also don't get why modern filmmakers are so insistant on streching a 1hr 45mins movie into an unnecessary 2.5 hours by padding on unnecessary scenes and characters. Was the whole routine with the world's hottest Aussie accented female hacker really required? Couldn't a few short scenes with unimportant characters have resulted in the same results? Because that's exactly what the tedious scenes result in.

I used to mock reviewers who complained about Michael Bay's A.D.D. style of directing. The fast-jerky cuts, the prepubescent imagery and even his trademark 360 degree shoot-outs have irked reviewers aplenty. To me those are the hallmarks which helped him leap ahead of his counterparts and update the entire genre for the new millenium.

Here, finally, his style over substance technique even managed to annoy me! There are moments I wished he'd just pause and take a breather. It's one thing to use fast-cuts to give a chase sequence a sense of urgency but it's another when use the techique to show vehicles just moving.

It's during the sparse moments of quiet chaos and much welcomed humour that the movie truly shines. Which is odd because when I read the leaked script these were the same elements I was dreading. Robots trampling over a pristine garden and uttering modern-day urban slang like "My bad" had me worried. Surprisingly, they pull it off so much better than the overtly short action sequences.

If you've seen the trailers you've more or less seen all the major action sequences. Again, this isn't a case of me being spoiled by knowing/seeing too much. It's just that the scenes go nowhere. Just as quickly ends as quickly as it commences. That's not to say the movie doesn't have plenty of action. It's as if the need to cramp so many unbelievable eye-candy moments caused the producers to keep the expensive CGI heavy action sequences short or off-screen.

Shia LaBeouf holds the movie together as best he can but even his character is given the 80's Amblin treatment by including an alien buddy, a nerdish school life, overprotective parents and an extremely hot love interest. The remaining cast do the best with what little screen time they have. However, I must single out John Torturro as an agent of a highly classified government agency called Sector 7. What were they thinking when they wrote this character? Was his presence simply to provide comic relief? Earlier it was a miscast actor and this time it's a character who's miscast.

If anything makes the movie worth the price of admission its the special effects. It's no exaggeration when I tell you they've managed to blend CGI and practical elements so well it's hard to tell which is which. Whether it's upclose or in a distance, in motion or just remaining stationary (which is unfortunately, very rare) the CGI robots appear to occupy real space and interact with the the human and physical elements.

Music is Dead?

2007-06-27T08:04:00.001+08:00

I haven't been recommending music as strongly as I have movies and there's a justifiable reason for that.

You see over the course of the last couple of years I've grown jaded of the musical scene. Maybe it was my devotion to hip hop music. Everything in that genre just sounds the same these days. It doesn't help that popularists and the uninformed media tend to bracket any song with words that rhyme as "hip hop".

So over the last couple of years, while slavishly waiting for a really memorable hip hop record to drop, I've been kept busy listening to other genres and even sounds from other regions. There's so much good music out there if people just stopped being so narrow in there approach. Heck, I was guilty of the same.

So I'm going to start recommending good music in the hope that some of you will pay it some mind and give it a try.

Album: Life In Cartoon Motion
Artist: Mika

Months ago I wanted to start this column by recommending "Life In Cartoon Motion" by Mika. Like its title the record is very vibrant and Mika's frequent lapses into over-the-top animated breaks are a welcome change of pace from the formula driven hits of the day. Some of you may have already given it a listen after local radio badgerred your eardrums with infectious "Grace Kelly" and found it not quite to your liking. I don't blame you. It's an acquired taste. I would still like to urge you to give it a listen especially if you're a fan of larger-than-life vocal stylings the likes of which we probably haven't heard since the passing of Freddy Mercury.

Album: Overtones
Artist: Just Jack

The music of Just Jack is also, not surprisingly, classified by the media as hip hop. Yes, his words do rhyme but that's where the similarities end. It's hard to really pigeon hole "Overtones" into any one genre. It's a mish-mash of styles and sounds that have been carefully selected not to alienate the radio-listener.

"Writer's Block", the first song I heard from him happens to kick-off the album. Like many of the songs appearing in the first half of the record it seems production sways in the direction of laid back house joints. The oddball lyrics, crafty hooks and funk-laden production come together spectacularly.

I have to admit I've never appreciated British acts who have derived or based their music on hip hop. Their lyrics have never made much sense and their beats tend to be all over the place. Fortunately, Just Jack seems to possess a good grasp of what works and what doesn't though he does give in to the Brit influence towards the tail-end of the record.

3:10 to Yuma [2007]

2007-06-17T09:40:00.003+08:00

3:10 to Yuma
Directed By: James Mangold
Starring: Christian Bale & Russell Crowe

Click Here To View In HD

You know there was a time I craved movies with huge effects sequences. Filmmakers with a vision who could bring an edge to action that we as viewers had never witnessed.

But now that I've had my fair share of computer generated big bangs I'm pretty full.

That's why a movie like "3:10 to Yuma" strikes me as refreshing. It's a good old western which, from the trailer, appears to balance character driven moments and action fairly well. Yes, there's plenty of mayhem to be had and none of it involves Christian Bale and his son ducking in the nick of time to avoid a computer generated carriage flipping 360 degrees in the air.

Yes, that was a dig at "Live Free or Die Hard", or "Die Hard 4.0" as they're calling it in Asia since we Asians apparently wouldn't know it was a fourth installment of the popular series had the studio released it with its American title. I digress.

Look I don't want to hate on The Bruce. I've always enjoyed his onscreen presence especially when he's playing John McClane. But the franchise has annoyed me more and more with each installment. Simply put the original succeeded not just because of the everyday character of McClane but because of the claustrophobic environment it was set it. It made every moment thrilling.

With each sequel the playing ground has broadened. I was just hoping the fourth go-around would reel it all back in. Instead we get a more action-oriented version of "16 Blocks".

Hopefully Hollywood makes more movies like "3:10 To Yuma" where the emphasis isn't on out-of-this world effects when it comes to action set pieces.

Fantastic Four: The Rise of The Silver Surfer [2007]

2007-06-14T04:02:00.004+08:00

The Fantastic Four: The Rise of The Silver Surfer
Directed By: Tim Story
Written By: Don Payne & Mark Frost
Starring: Ioan Grufford, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans, Michael Chiklis, Julian McMahon, Doug Jones, Laurence Fishburne (Voice)

Reviewed By Sarhan Rashid

There are few marketing departments in the world which can convincingly fool their target demographic. Fortunately for 20th Century Fox, they have one of best.

Which would explain the positive pre-release buzz surrounding "Fantastic Four: The Rise of The Silver Surfer". So far the ads have sold the movie as a triumph over its predecessor. It must help to have Rupert Murdoch’s numerous media outlets brainwashing the public with talk of a better script and a bigger budget. None of which appears to be true.

They’ve also again managed to stir some controversy to raise curiousity amongst the core fan base* (i.e. comic book aficionados).

The first movie succeeded not because of the carefully orchestrated media blitz but because at its heart it was a simple, old-fashioned comic book romp. It had a decent cast, a focused storyline and origin stories are mostly always fun.

The sequel gets it all wrong by padding scene-after-scene of repetitious exposition, poorly conceived drama and bland set pieces which only end up testing the viewers’ patience. It's amazing how lengthy and pointless its short 92 minute running time feels. The proceedings never manage to engage the viewers. Even the Silver Surfer, under the direction of the visually lacking Tim Story, is realised as a flat one-dimensional hero.

The cast must’ve been chasing a quick paycheck because they all look bored exchanging quips and cheesy lines littered with sci-fi mumbo-jumbo more fitting for an episode of “Star Trek”. The comic interplay between these characters in the comic books has helped set them apart from their angst ridden counterparts. Here they decide to ham it up and play it broad.

A special mention though must go out to one cast member. Jessica Alba. Her sugar coated smile, sun-kissed skin tone and perfect figure would be enough to keep my heterosexual eyes glued to the screen but she failed at even managing that. It was a good call to keep her in the background for much of the first films duration but here, where she's front-and-centre, it exposes how wooden her "acting" truly is. Was it so difficult to find a hot Caucasian actress with blue eyes and at least moderate acting chops to play the quintessential American sweetheart Sue Storm? Dolling Alba up in a blonde wig and obvious contacts has to be one of the worst ideas in casting history. And is it just me or does she share a better chemistry with Chris Evans (Johnny Storm, her movie brother!) than with Ioan Grufford (Dr. Reed Richards, her movie fiance!)?

Sorry to sh*t on Alba. Like I said can’t blame her for chasing a quick paycheck.

I doubt fans of the genre will be as gullible to trust the next such product Fox unleashes upon them. For that matter moviegoers in general might just start staying away from any comic book property Fox decides to butcher.

* Some of the controversial choices Fox have made to piss off comic book fans:
I. The death of core characters (X-Men 3).
II. The mockery of Doom’s origins (Fantastic Four).
III. Matt Murdoch’s superhero like abilities (Daredevil).
IV. The appearance of Galactus (FF:ROTSS).