Friday, February 26, 2016
PHANTOM HUNTING
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| A surprising emoticon because of its commendable effort in trying to be good. But you will be thrill allright. |
This is a foreign language movie which was translated, I think or just bad voice over ? Possibly from Khazashtan its a futuristic movie set in the future (maybe) with known names like Armande Asante (Judge Dred) and Kristen Loken (Terminator).They are definitely crowd pullers. KL looks like Sharon Stone when she was younger and sexy. Other cast are film locals lead by pretty boy so called martial art expert by the name of Timur (in the movie).
At least the movie made an effort to look hi tech and highly budgeted. Some of the action and fighting scenes are good. Explosion not so good but not so bad either better than low budgets sci fi films I see.
Aside from the acting which are basically woody (except for the "stars" of course) the background music is overdone which I didnt like. Movies that do this tend to hide the scenes with music because the acting is not good or the set is under par etc. Good movies have silence which spoke a thousand words.
Then the make up is another thing. They all look well done even after fights and runs. Some makeups of the females looks the same with same hairstyle that sometimes it confuse audiences (or is it only me). Many pretty boys and girls in this movie thou.
Be prepared to see some ridiculous actions like a car going from a cliff but exactly landed on the rails. Or a motorbike going through the roof of a bus and remain unscathed. But its thrilling thou maybe not logic. The hero and villain know Parkour too ! And whats these hot army chicks on the plane with hot pants. Dont forget Point Break 1 cliche saving one from a plane who is without parachute and when its landed on rooftop of a sky scrapper the crooks happened to be there. Talking about coincidence !
The timeline and logistic is also questionable when the location is discovered just in seconds they are there.
The flow of story telling is not good either, between the flashbacks and the current happenings, I tend to got lost. Also from scenes to scenes, its kindda of not smooth or right. Theres one scene where the bad guy look very soft when confronting his boss (I think) but when he's running and fighting our pretty boy hero, he was so tough. Also some reaction from the characters interaction dont quite make sense like when you stab someone in the calf your reaction would be to punch the guy (or gal) in the nose unless the hand was tight up or he was paralyzed. Anyway he could feel the pain when the knife was stabbed, isnt it.
This is a movie you expect when you sit inset aside the illogical parts but you are still thrill which is a good thing
A STAND UP GUY
This movie is only 1hr 20min with full of unknown actors. Those I know are Michael Rapaport, Bob Saget and Constantine of American Idol ! Sam's girlfriend looks nice. Bob Saget is now fat but can sing and play guitar. Love his song with those funny lyrics about failed love. Its one of the funny points in the movie for me. Whilst Constantine being his usual self acted as a singer. Not long time no see for him as we saw him just last week in AI15. There was also this fat guy acting as the US Marshall, his face is quite common.Cant remember his name but nhe played the moron who loose the train in Unstoppable.
This movie is about Sam who was a theft and was sent away hiding by the US Marshall before he testify in court. Then he discovered his talent of being a Stand Up comedian in a small town bar. Not that his joke is that funny or he delivered it funny like those professional and big time Stand up comedians, but I guess the people in the movie were made to like them and thats how the story goes.
Not really a fan of the movie as like I said the jokes are not funny. Also, nothing that much happen with the plot is thin and predictable. Theres one scene when somebody got killed and it didnt look like it. Thinking about this there was another killing taken place. The crucial missing part is the most important one - The blood ! Dont talk about blood splatter as there was no blood at all. You dont know whether that guy was dead until they were carrying the body wrapped in a carpet to bury !
Lucky that the movie is short and even that it still feel draggy. I think if the movie was to be better, the point where Sam should be stopped from testifying should be more dramatic and full of action. But it didnt go there just a lame attempt seen.
So thats why I give this one just wasting my time.
Thursday, February 25, 2016
Blog Ratings Emoticon
On each review, we'll put an emoticon to denote our rating for the movies seen.
We may back dated the emoticons if we have time.
But future reviews will come with these emoticons.
The post would also be tagged in the labels
We may back dated the emoticons if we have time.
But future reviews will come with these emoticons.
The post would also be tagged in the labels
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| Excellente ! 2 thumbs up [rate_EXCELLENTE] |
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| Good - I like it [rate_THUMBSUP] |
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| Dont like it that much but dont hate it either[rate_COULDBEBETTER] |
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| I guess that was OK [rate_OK] |
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| Not good wasted my time !! [rate_WASTINGTIME] |
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| Crap !!! Give back my time watching this [rate_CRAPGRRR] |
BETTER LIVING THROUGH CHEMISTRY
http://bit.ly/ABetterLivingThroughChemistry_14Br
REVIEWED
The movie title is weird but aptly explained whats in the film. Its about a Pharmacist having a dominating wife and a sexy flirting client.
The movie has many stars like Olivia Wilde, Michelle Monaghan, Kevin Howard, Ray Liota and cameo (I term as such) Jane Fonda. But Sam Rockwell starred as the Pharmacist. Other better actors could play his part and bring this film to a higher notch. Somebody who can play a deuces bag husband. Also Ben Swarch is a familiar face.
This movie is about a family with crisis told in a comedic fashion way with adultery and "be a man" stuffs in the story line. Drug abuse, addiction and performance enhancing drugs is also included.
I did remember telling that OW is a British actually this is not the case as I saw her once in an interview. She's as yankee as she can be. Maybe her British accent when playing Brit was so good perhaps. BTW shes full blooded American in this one.
This film is with narration to keep it going. You could be surprise who the narrator is until it reveal right at the very end. Narration help a movie (especially this one) goes right to the story telling part and straight to the point.
The morale of story - sometimes the appropriate solution cannot be the best one.
This film, I sensed, banked on Jane Fonda even Ray Liota. So short an appearance and you put them on the poster.
The film did not reach my expectation because nothing new on the plot bits and pieces from other movies. Not much surprises in the plot thou it nearly got there on the who had died part. Keep this film to see on a rainy day.
Wednesday, February 24, 2016
THE BAG MAN
http://bit.ly/TheBagMan_14Br
REVIEWED
REVIEWED
The reviews I came across from the internet for this movie is not good. This movie made only $1/2 mill bucks ? OMG! Others complaining that its another bummer for Cussack and De Niro. One says its better to go get a haircut than watching this. Talking about haters !
I dont say that this is a commendable movie either but not to the extent of belittling what you saw. There are worser movie out there. This one is OK you got what you sit for, thats my analogy.
The Bag Man is an adaptation from a play by the name of Motel. It has big name like De Niro and known actors like John Cussack, Crispin Glover and not forgetting Domenic Purcel. Dont believe I have seen Rebecca Cos Ta before, a tall 6 footer slim blonde (at least in this movie). Hispanic from the name but acted as Russian. So did R D Niro.
I am never a fan of Cussack but I think he did OK in this one. His acting does not show much emotion and just like Keanu Reeves in John Wick he got the part of a killer part time delivery boy for a bag which DeNiro wants without him ever looking whats in it.
As the movie is based on a play, the plot is actually interesting. You keep on wanting to know whats in the bag and whoever Jack (JC) met you tend to ask if they are bad people. There are killings of course and like me I kept on asking when are these killing going to stop or are there anyone more to be killed ?
Robert D Niro did his part well. Good acting as usual but you never felt that he is in this because the studio wants to bank on his name like JK Simmons in Dark Skies :) or a lot of other films that are stingy to pay established actors but put them in the ensemble to bank the movies. Better hair he donned in the film. White like "The intern" but more flushy.
The film didnt feel cheap. No question on the acting. Not that it require great acting because it didnt go there but since they are good actors it makes everything believable. The action is good and the interaction among the characters are also all right. My only complain was how come Jack's hand can be hang with handcuffs without any injury. Then the shooting of the handcuffs at close range, just cant buy it.
Dont stop until the closing credit because there are a bit more than you think that everything is already over. It will make the movie smarter.
(spoiler) one part i like was when RDN's character bashed up an attractive girl's face who was a Forex Trader for clicking the Buy button instead of the Sell button and screwing his investment. That was good.
See this if you want some (lots of it thou) bang bang.
DARK SKIES
http://bit.ly/DarkSkies_13Br
REVIEWED
Watched this for the change of watching dramas all this while. From what I know this will be a Scifi Alien kind of movie. Not expecting much as it is low budget with unknown actors except for Academy award winner JK Simmons. Karen Russell, have seen her before in some film.
This film is only 1 1/2hr long. Normally shorter movies would make less mistakes. It should not feel draggy and should be fast paced. There are many cliche that this movie took like Poltergeist and those Paranormal Activities films etc. But those are supernatural movies and this is a sci fi movie. So that was the confusion so to speak.
At the opening credits, there was a quote from Arthur C Clarke on alien visits, so audience are ready for it. But why did it take so long to get to it ? The build up of suspense was like for the family to finally meet ghosts of the underworld.
Like always they could not convince the authorities that they have Alien problem. Then they have to meet the expert played in 1 scene by JK Simmons. Then its the family vs Aliens which we never see upfront just some shadowy figures. So that was really disappointing. Not that I expect more effects or props, but just stingy I guess.
Its not that bad in the acting and it dont feel like a B grade sci fi movie, but it could have been much much better.
The theory of Alien invasion or abduction is explained in this one with a alternative perspective than other Sci Fi movie I might seen in the past. So if you are sick, check if you are alien potential.
See if you want some thrill from your daily routine drama movies.
THE DRESSMAKER
http://bit.ly/TheDressMaker_15Br
REVIEWED
REVIEWED
Hard to classified this movie as it has comedy, not the usual one but dark comedy and some drama.. Its an Australian production but stars Brit babe Kate Winslet in the lead. Other known Aussie actors are Hugo Weaving (Matrix) and Liam Wentsworth (not Thor but the brother). Its backdrop is an Australian rural town way back in the 50's. Based from a Novel of the same name.
Its about revenge where Molly? (played by KW) came back to be with her mother as she was sent away when she was very young for something she did and the townsfolk cant forgive but want to forget. She had been round the world and become a very capable dress maker bringing the latest fashion from around the world especially Paris.
The story is well woven where it was told bits by bits what went wrong about 20 years ago in the form of creative flashbacks. Even Molly could not remember so did her mother. But tragedies strucked her and made her to decide her future with the town.
Comedy wise, it had its moments but you had to be an Aussie to understand or take some of the issues as jokes. Of course some of em are simply over the top when you asked if that could happen but it occur anyway in the film.
As mentioned above, KW is a babe. Even at this age she can still captivate audiences like when she was in Titanic. Liam is too young for her in this film but they were supposed to be childhood friends.
On the technical side, for a limited budget film, you can always notice (if you be observant enough) that most indoor scenes are well lighted just like in a studio. Maybe this movie does not care or have the manpower to make the indoor lighthing more like real. No dark spots interior. Anyway if that is achieved it make the works more authentic.
Don't think Kate Winslet was nominated anything for her work here as it did not require much of her deliverance.
Rate the movie as So So. Yes there is a plot as it was based from a novel. See it if you like the 50's, Aussies and Kate.
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