If only I could actually memorize my class texts the way I can recall movies!!!! Life would have been far less confusing!!!! I kind of get in a fix when I’m suddenly asked to talk about movies…suddenly, I can’t seem to recall a thing. So thought perhaps, I should order my thoughts down on movies I’ve seen-old and new. So let’s start off with the most recent movie I’ve seen…that was today!
I AM NUMBER FOUR
Well, the most famous people I could see in this film were Timothy Olyphant and ‘Quin’ (the girl from Glee) 🙂 And the lead actor Alex Pettyfer. But on to more pressing matters….
Overall rating 6.5/10
Reasons:
The action sequences were pretty fantastic, especially in the second half of the movie, where most of the action takes place. Noteworthy mentions are the awesome fight sequences involving Number 5 and Number 4. It was not too over the top. They managed to get the right amount of action with a good storyline build up. Thankfully, the lines were decent and not cheesy. Sometimes, one gets slightly impatient waiting for the action to start :p Light relief comes in the form of the back-and-forth banter between Number 4 and his protector (played by Timothy Olyphant). The first half can seem a little slow for people expecting a loud explosion of action sequences! But if you can stay patient, then its worth the wait. Sneaky producers, giving us the right amount and quality of action to keep us interested but at the same time without making us feel like we’ve seen it all already.
Acting was decent too. Everyone playing their parts to the T. To the point, no melodramatic lines…just to the point and believable enough. They aimed for ‘real’ and kind of got it (as real as one can get it in a movie about aliens :p). The only time when I felt it went a little idyllic was the family dinner scene. The family dinner scene seemed a little too ‘perfect’ though it serves to make it’s point. Digressing from the point, loved the Haunted Hay Ride sequence…but not too sure if I’d actually go on one. Watch it and you’ll see what I mean.
The movie leaves us expecting that the story will continue and I hope it does. A tantalizing morsel of action was handed out, enough to keep us guessing and interested and expectant of the next installment. What a relief to finally see a movie that does what it’s suppose to do….entertain.
BLACK SWAN
Overall Rating 7/10
Cast: Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Vince Cassel
Now before you all decide to stone me for giving the ratings i do, let me clearly state that the ratings are just a reflection of my personal opinion. For some movies, I will focus more on sheer entertainment value and effects and for others, it will be the performance of the actors etc. So good to get that out of the way.
First off, hats off to Natalie Portman and a big congratulations for her Oscar, which was well-deserved. Her transformation into the Black Swan is one of the most thrilling sequences I’ve seen in a so-called dramatic movie. Disturbing, but nonetheless, effective. It really shakes you-shakes your mind, your eyes and shakes your sense of balance too.
In terms of special effects, it was well-done and a little freaky, but I guess it does the job. Natalie Portman’s character may irritate you but the actress’s performance will not. She captures the mental frailty, emotional insecurity and physical strains of Nina, the ballerina. Mila Kunis is just Mila Kunis. Comes across free, easygoing and flows just like her character. Vince Cassel can come across as a slight ‘perv’. Lol. But he plays the part of the domineering and unorthodox director well.
The movie is riddled with the exploration of one’s body and sex, but more as a means to feeling liberated. Feeling liberated in order to explore the ‘darker’ or ‘taboo’ sides to one’s psyche. For Nina, the results are explosive for one who has so tightly wound up her life into a neat cocoon, being in control of every emotion and movement, from her life as a ballerina to her life outside dance. Honestly, the topic has been done and done again, but I think the thing which brings it together and gives it an edge, is Natalie Portman’s performance and her overall transformation. Not to mention the make-up department. But just wait for the scene where she dances as the Black Swan. It sends chills throughout your body and you remain riveted. She completely transforms. Based on the strength of her performance alone, this movie gets an 7/10 from me.
I LOVE YOU PHILIP MORRIS
Cast: Jim Carrey, Ewan McGregor, Leslie Mann, Rodrigo Santoro
Director: Glenn Ficarra & John Requa
Overall rating: 8.5/10
Ok, so the only thing that pops into my head when I think about how to describe this movie to people is Brokeback Mountain meets Little Miss Sunshine! Lol. The theme from Brokeback and the seriousness of the relationship is there. Yet the tone, colour, overall atmosphere is very reminiscent of Little Miss Sunshine.
Let’s be frank. You’re in for a few shocks in terms of the visual content. But the movie still manages to draw you in and keeps your attention. The many schemes, ploys, strategies, reinventions etc. that Steve, played by Jim Carrey, goes through reminds you also a bit of Catch Me If You Can. Though perhaps, the intentions were different yet it all came from the same place- the need to be something other than what you really are. Till you reach the point where you don’t know who you are anymore and fall back into the habit of fraud and delusion to cover it up and make up for it.
Jim Carrey was already a fabulous comedic, as well as, dramatic actor to me. He plays this role so well, adding his own personal flare and flamboyance to it but manages to put all that aside when it comes down to the crucial serious moments. Its wonderful to see Ewan McGregor after a long time. It was kind of easier to wrap your head around him being gay, perhaps because of his good looks but also the ‘aura’ and persona he gives off, carried across well to those watching his performance.
It was a fun movie with serious moments, not a serious movie with lighthearted moments. It makes it enjoyable to watch and appealing. Does not bore you by trying to preach but it manages to tell you a great story which just so happens to be true, which just adds to it’s charm.
It was a good change in pace, for me, in terms of the run of movies that I’ve been watching recently. The cinematography is wonderful- vibrant and brilliant colours, even during the ‘darker’ moments of the movie eg: the hospital room. Watch it.
TRON LEGACY
Cast: Jeff Bridges, Garret Hedlund, Olivia Wilde
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Music: Daft Punk
Rating: 8/10
First off…I would like to officially ‘kill’ those critics’ reviews I read which trashed this movie and suggested people don’t watch it….to all of them….LIGHTEN UP!!!!!!!! They just manage to rob all joy from people…sheeesh. Ok, now onto the movie.
The special effects are AMAZINGGGGGGG!!!!! No exaggeration. Being able to create a whole new world, the Grid. The bikes, the Games….and don’t get me started on the beautiful transport ship up to the portal. It’s breathtaking. The special effects deserve so much praise. Of course, the suits kind of make you want to laugh at first, but somehow, you forget all about them and get drawn in to this world. You might be tempted to compare the Grid with the Matrix but the contexts are completely different. The whole point of the Matrix was to let people think they were still living in the real world, so it was meant to look, feel, taste, smell and sound very much realistic. But the Grid is a work in progress and never aims to completely copy the real world. A few instances of realism creep up when it comes down to food and drinks etc. But it’s specifically stated that it’s incredibly hard to translate real life objects into the digital world.
The music is awesome!!! It gave me goosebumps and actually heightened the experience and gave the special effects even more flesh! I’m downloading the album as we speak and no wonder the music rocks! Daft Punk!!! The most well-known collaboration I can give people is the Kanye West track Stronger:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsO6ZnUZI0g
The storyline actually flows smoothly and the story holds through to the end. You’re not here to watch it for the acting exactly but for a movie of this type, the actors do a good job and lend credence to their characters. I can see why some critics panned Michael Sheen’s performance of Zuse (he does kind of remind you of Jim Carrey’s Riddler) but that’s the character and he gets very little screen time. At the end, he is completely different to the Riddler. The Riddler was a man seeking attention and Zuse is more a sad relic from a forgotten time and ‘people’ who in the end, just wanted to survive. Jeff Bridges is just Jeff Bridges. Garret Hedlund’s facial expressions look a little too pained in some scenes but otherwise he does a good job. Olivia Wilde is stunning, has always been and plays the role of Quorra well.
Watch the movie. It’s also one of those movies that you can actually watch again and again and let’s face it, there are very few of those movies around nowadays.
UNKNOWN
Cast: Liam Neeson, Diane Kruger, January Jones
Director: Juame Collet-Serra
Rating: 7/10
This was quite an unexpected surprise! My friend and I were debating for an entire evening as to which we wanted to watch, Rio or Unknown. I am surprised by my agreement to watch this. I’m a huge animated movies fan!!! Like hardcore 😉 but that day, I just felt I wanted something a little more…um…action-packed and filled with suspense. So, that’s how this movie choice came about. Best decision we ever made.
First, some issues with the ticket counter guy trying to cheat us by charging us for an apparent extra ticket we had not asked for. After that was sorted, roaming around the mall and taking pics with Zuzu was next. First off, DT Star….lovely movie hall!!!!!!!!!! For a perfectly decent price, you get a lovely hall, great selection of food and comfy seats, better than some ‘other’ halls…ahem. Now on to the movie.
I loved Liam Neeson! He really pulled the whole movie together. Not over-the-top but restrained and well-delivered. For some reason, his action sequences were actually believable. He throws a ‘screen’ punch quite well 🙂 The first half of the movie was good, the story line held together and progressed step by step at a steady pace. The second half, towards the end, gets a little sloppy egs: boss gone in a weird way, wife gone in a weird way, Arab prince’s presence just a little ‘corny’? Well you get the idea but otherwise, for 2/3 of the movie, the plot holds through.
January Jones (you may know her from the acclaimed series, Mad Men) is a little too ‘plastic’. I really expected more, I guess because of how much my friend had raved about Mad Men. But I was corrected, she raved about the show but not about her acting. Aha. Beautiful face, classic beauty….that’s it. That’s it! Yep. I was kind of surprised to see Diane Kruger. Felt she had been miscast as Helen of Troy (would have preferred the actress playing Hector’s wife, Saffron Burrows, to have played Helen) but perfectly cast in National Treasure and now playing an immigrant taxi driver in Berlin. Hmmmm. But am happy to announce that she plays it well. Her accent was interesting, safe enough that you know she’s Eastern European but not distinct enough for you to guess from which part. Some critic said she was too chic for the part, which to some extent I get, but she plays a grungy-looking taxi driver well.
The colours really added to the tone and setting of the movie. Nice, cool colours with a palette of greys, cold blues, blue-greens etc. The action sequences were well-shot and constructed and not OTT. Fit in well with the storyline.
The only reason I’m not giving this movie a higher rating is because the story was honestly, nothing new or exciting. Even if it was old stuff, a new twist or it being told in a slightly different way would have been good. So it was an old story, same basic formula and recipe but happy to note that it was executed well. Interesting points to note are the old Stazi man with his insightful comments on Germany, the unfolding of Liam Neeson’s story (check out the scene with Liam Neeson and Aidan Quinn in Prof. Bressler’s lab).
Watch it for it’s good old-fashioned suspense, you won’t regret it. Worth going to the hall for it too! 😉
RIO
Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Anne Hathaway, George Lopez, Leslie Mann, Jamie Foxx, will.i.am, Tracey Morgan
Director: Carlos Saldanha
Rating: undecided
There’s a reason for this rating. I watched this in 3D and I have decided, unless they decide to change the 3D glasses, I do not want to watch another 3D movie. It’s so distracting and worse for people who wear actual glasses. Your vision just feels extra blurred and you can’t concentrate fully on the movie.
I do love Blu. He has some great lines and his overall nervous wit makes him endearing. The supporting cast is not bad, the villainous cockatoo was a tad repetitive and didn’t really stand out that much for me. Of course, will.i.am’s distinct rapping style and Jamie Foxx’s smooth voice add to the ‘cool’ of the music. Loved the monkeys especially the scene where they relay back the message of having found Blu and Jewel. The visuals were a riot of colour, loved the samba float sequences the best.
I really need to see this movie again, no 3D just so that I can finally give it a fair assessment.
SOURCE CODE
Cast: Jake Gyllenahaal, Michelle Monaghan, Vera Farmiga
Director: Duncan Jones
Rating: 8/10
I wanted to watch this for the special effects and I like the genre and concept. What I didn’t expect was a heartfelt story and a plot. This made the movie even more worthwhile and enjoyable. The question of an alternate realty ensuing from a past that changed, sending a man back over and over again to relive the last 8 minutes of another man’s life only to die over and over again. A movie of this genre and plot walks a fine line of either being OTT or not living up to it’s potential, but I am happy to report that this movie found the perfect balance.
The special effects, as always, are incredible! But the acting actually got to me and the way the story was told. Jake Gyllenhaal has this uncanny ability to play a leading man in a big budget movie yet play him with wonderful subtlety (I’m recalling also his Prince of Persia role, which I had at first despised feeling Jared Leto would have been better, but has now grown on me). His performance feels very natural and easy making his character feel very approachable. He did a brilliant job playing this role and making it very human. Though Michelle Monaghan and Jake Gyllenhaal’s characters are suppose to be the on-screen ‘couple’, I couldn’t help but notice that Farmiga and Gyllenhaal had far better chemistry 😉 So that might or might not distract people.
This movie manages to draw you in. A great example of this was when my friend turned to me and told me not to get too surprised if I see her flinging her shoe at the screen, because of the scientist who keeps sending Gyllenhaal’s character back to die for those every 8 minutes! Lol.
It is an action movie, but the hero is not glorified and neither does he get everything his way. In fact, you could say he actually gains nothing (or that’s what you think at first). It makes you wonder about people, their plans, their lives and how easily they’re forgotten when it’s all over. It’s hard to go into details without giving the surprise away, so I’ll leave it at that.
Cinematography is good, right colours and sequences, but again the special effects department deserve a big shout-out, for their excellent work.
KUNG FU PANDA 2
Cast: Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, Gary Oldman, Angelina Jolie, Lucy Liu, David Cross, Jackie Chan, Seth Rogen, Michelle Yeoh
Director: Jennifer Yuh
Writers: Jonathan Aibel, Glenn Berger
Rating: 9/10 (but I really want to rate it 10/10 :p)
Firstly, this is an incredible example of a sequel doing better than the first installment!!! And THAT is extremely rare. It’s only happened in a few instances like Aliens 2 and unfortunately that’s the only movie that’s coming to my mind right now 😛
Moving on. I know I ranted about never wanting to watch another 3D movie ever again but I guess that didn’t work out! Lol. My flat mates and I went to watch this movie and lo and behold, it was in 3D. Dilemma. But I have no issues with placing those ‘glasses’ over my actual glasses so we decided to just go for it. We went to DT Star and let me say this officially….they have the BEST 3D glasses!!!!! And they look so COOL!!!! Like these cool, chunky shades. Very futuristic. Lol. But more importantly, the 3D effects are amazing with them. Things actually leapt off the screen this time and once or twice I was caught unawares and jerked back, because of a building popping out or some other object or another popping out. So I had a wonderful 3D experience this time. Ticket prices were steep, that’s no argument. But we all know we spend a lot of money on many other things so why not take that money, head over to DT Star, sit in plush, comfortable seats with AC and eat great food? But make sure it’s a movie that you’re absolutely dying to see…will make the whole experience even better.
On to the movie. Newspapers had said that this movie took on slightly ‘darker’ tones. Darker for a fun, lighthearted animated family movie. But that really added to the story. We discover what happened to Po’s family and the struggle he faces coming to terms with it. The story that touches the heart the most is probably the story between Mr. Ping (Po’s father, the goose) and Po. That story is incredibly sweet and touching. We get to see scenes of Po as a baby panda and he is just tooooooooooooooooooooo adorable!!!! I like the progress in the relationship between the Furious 5 and Po, especially the growth seen in Tigress. Master Shifu is just so awesome and funny (check out the scene when he talks to Po about how he felt when Po had been chosen as the Dragon Warrior). A lot of new characters in this movie, but they all played their parts well and weren’t just added to try and make the movie new and fresh. I love, love, love the Soothsayer (Michelle Yeoh)!!!!!! She was a really funny addition to the cast and made us laugh so hard! I also particularly like the evil hench….um…wolf? When he reports that he saw Po and how fluffly, plush and soft he was (all in his tough, henchman-like wolf voice).
The animation, is of course, excellent as always. I like how they switch from 3D to traditional 2D, especially in dream sequences. The colours are rich and vibrant and the sound is excellent. I love the introduction of Gongmeng city….it’s beautiful to behold especially since it’s a city by the water.
There are just too many things gone right with this movie and you have to, have to go and watch it! You won’t regret it.
TUCKER AND DALE VS. EVIL
Cast: Tyler Labine, Alan Tudyk, Katrina Bowden, Jesse Moss
Director: Eli Craig
Writer: Eli Craig & Morgan Jurgenson
Rating: 9/10
Ok, the poster will freak you out at first but honestly, this movie was unlike any other ‘horror’ movie I have ever seen. And that is a good thing. The only way to describe this for people and to get across what kind of movie this is, is to call it the smarter and more refined version of Scary Movie. So now you know that it’s going to be hilarious for a good reason and not just because it’s mindless, dumb fun.
It truly is a tale about how the tables have been turned and how the stereotyped hillbilly gets his day on the silver screen and I do have a tendency of rooting for the underdog! I love the underlying message in this movie about how looks are deceiving and sometimes, the so-called ‘civilized’ and ‘cultured’ people can be the more barbaric and dangerous ones around.
Tucker and Dale are two well-meaning, honest and kind hillbillies who go on a trip to stay in their ‘dream cabin’ in the woods. Along the way, they have a misunderstanding and run-in with some college kids whose minds, like yours and mine, most likely have already been filled with the stereotypical bull about mad hillbillies (taken from movies such as Wrong Turn, Texas Chainsaw Massacre and to a certain extent, The HIlls Have Eyes). I’ve set up the background for you and all that’s left is for you to watch! You won’t regret it.
It is not a big budget film but the way it’s been shot and the strength of the story are what pulls it along nicely. I love the progression of the story; at first, it feels a little ‘dumb’ but gets better. When I say ‘dumb’, I mean the scene at the beginning with the college kids in the car. You’ll see what I mean. The two main actors playing Tucker and Dale do an incredible job and keep us laughing and sympathizing with them all the way. The concept is what makes the film outstanding and so it deserves to be watched. Enjoy!
X-Men: First Class
Cast: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, January Jones, Oliver Platt, Kevin Bacon, Jennifer Lawrence, Nicholas Hoult
Director: Matthew Vaughn
Screenplay: Ashley Edward Miller, Zack Stentz, Jane Goldman
Rating: 8/10
I did enjoy this movie. Honestly, it turned out better than I expected. I was afraid for it when plans were first announced. I mean, we’ve grown up on the comic books and then the cartoon, followed by the X-Men movies including one on the origins of Wolverine. So, yes, why not? Why not make a movie examining the beginning’s of Xavier’s X-men? It’s an interesting look into the past about how the X-Men came to be and how Magneto (Eric) and Xavier parted ways, taking on different roads to tackling the human-mutant issue.
I was incredibly surprised to see a young Mystique aka Raven and how vulnerable and ‘normal’ she was in terms of trying to fit in, her looks etc. Of course, there being nothing traditionally ‘normal’ about her looks. I did get irritated with the relationship between her and Xavier (watch the movie to know what I’m talking about) where there was much love and admiration yet such an inability to understand the heart of the matter or the person. Was it her looks? Was it her age? Was it his immaturity?
Michael Fassbender as Eric was brilliant. Looks-wise he suited the role perfectly and it was interesting to see just what young Magneto was like before he became…well…Magneto. The dynamic between Xavier and Eric, McAvoy and Fassbender was brilliant! It was fun and got you excited to see them working together to collect the very first X-Men and you definitely felt the sense of camaraderie and respect they had for each other.
The special effects were, as always brilliant. We all know that Xavier ends up in a wheelchair but exactly how, we’ve never known so that kept me guessing. Every time some action happens involving him, I kept thinking, ‘this is it’. :p
The final scene was good but to be honest, I was expecting something a little more dramatic. When you watch the final sequence, it is pretty ‘dramatic’ that’s for sure but the beach sequence, unfortunately, looks a little to ‘CGI’ied’ and loses it’s realistic feel, the same can be said for the missile sequence. I also expected to see more of Xavier’s amazing powers but the movie mainly showcased the other mutants’ abilities so that kind of let me down. Emotional depth was there, thanks in part to the stories and performances of McAvoy, Fassbender, Lawrence (Mystique) and Hank McCoy aka Beast (Nicholas Hoult). That ends up saving the movie but I miss the emotional seriousness or the slight serious tone that the first X-Men movie took on thanks in part to the fabulous portrayal by Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Anna Paquin, Hugh Jackman and Halle Berry. But perhaps I’m being far too biased in comparing the two movies.
On it’s own, X-Men: First Class is a good movie to go watch and definitely adds some new and interesting dimensions to a much-loved franchise.
HACHIKO: A DOG’S STORY
Director: Lasse Hallstrom
Written by: Stephen P. Lindsey
Cast: Richard Gere, Cary-Hiroyuki Takagawa, Sarah Roemer, Jason Alexander, Erick Avari
Rating: 9/10 (this could very well be biased since I’m a huge animal lover)
I will admit, I wailed like there was no tomorrow when I watched this film. Partly because of how it touched me and also partly because I remember my dog who passed away this year. There are not enough sufficient and appropriate words in the English language to describe exactly what feelings this movie evokes. Like I stated above, I’m a huge animal lover so it might be difficult for me to be free of bias since I will think this is an awesome movie. There have been some equally incredible animal-centric movies over the years like Sea Biscuit, Eight Below, Free Willy, Hidalgo etc. but I guess the reason this movie stands out the most is because it’s actually based on a true story. There really was an Akita dog named Hachiko from Tokyo, Japan who died in 1935 after waiting everyday for 9 years at Shibuya station for his master to return (his master had passed away in 1925, two years after getting Hachiko)! Now even for non-animal lovers, you have to admit, that’s some remarkable loyalty for a simple dog.
The story unfolds quite fast from the time Hachiko is lost on a train platform to Richard Gere’s character picking him up. The part that was a little hard to believe was Hachiko at the Japanese temple being transported all the way to America in a tiny wooden cage. A little too much of a romanticized image of Japan perhaps? The monk, the bell, the wooden cage, naming of Hachiko etc. But other than that, I don’t have too many complaints. As much as I love spring, I think the season that touches you the most in the movie is the onset of winter and the snow. How it continually reminds you of the first time Richard Gere’s character and Hachiko met and how much Hachiko’s anticipation of seeing him heightens during that season. The special effects have to be noted for one particular scene, where they show the passage of time and seasons through the fast forwarding of the life of a tree as it sheds its leaves in winter then grows them back in spring. I like that touch, a very good way to show the passage of time.
The story’s sob factor hits the hardest when the better half of the movie is taken up with Hachiko’s wait for his master at the train station everyday. It’s as if the human actors are the supporting players to the main figure, Hachiko and just by his actions, great or small, the story of the movie is told. I feel that’s something new-ish because most of the other movies I listed above, though animal-centric, still give the majority of importance to the human character and it ends up being the human being’s story and the impact of the animal on him/her. Oh, Horse Whisperer is another movie I just remembered. So, without too much dialogue, Hachiko’s story is told and your heart can’t help but go out to him and wish with all your might that Richard Gere’s character would just come back from the dead! Yes, it got me wishing that.
At the end, many of the characters in the movie (acquaintances, friends and family of Hachiko’s master) all try their level best to explain to Hachiko that his master is not coming back. But all conclude by telling him that ‘you do what you gotta do’. In a strange way, I think probably Hachiko knew it too. It was not that he didn’t know that his master was gone but it was more that Hachiko was waiting for the day when he would see him again…when he would finally die and see him again. Sometimes, the loyalty of animals is frighteningly sad and heartbreaking. They are animals at the end of the day but more than that point, if a simple animal is capable of that much devotion and loyalty and ‘love’ then it’s a real shame, if as human beings, we don’t measure up. And that’s what this movie demonstrates so well.
There’s a bronze statue of the real Hachiko outside Shibuya station in Tokyo, Japan. I want to go see it someday. I’m not a person who advocates getting a dog purely for it’s breed. That’s just insulting to the dog and to an animal lover but I suddenly really wanted to have an Akita of my own. I think more so because I like what Parker’s (Richard Gere) Japanese lecturer friend, Ken, said about how Akita’s choose their masters and can’t be bought (lol). I like an animal with spirit and a mind of it’s own. I know it’s so contradictory to what owners should want but I can’t help it.
Captain America: The First Avenger
Director: Joe Johnston
Screenplay: Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely
Cast: Chris Evans, Hugo Weaving, Hayley Atwell, Stanley Tucci, Tommy Lee Jones, Sebastian Stan, Dominic Cooper
Rating: 8/10
I was hesitant about watching this movie. Another movie based on a Marvel Comic character. Again, recipe for success OR disaster! Surprisingly, this movie I thoroughly enjoyed. Of course, the people who act in it, the screenwriters, the director, the cinematographer, the special FX etc. are all essential in bringing any idea to life onscreen. But I feel they had a great subject to work with. I cannot be labelled a comic book enthusiast. Like nearly everyone, I had my phase and brief brush with comic books when I was growing up – the X-Men were my favourite. I watched the cartoons on TV, again like everybody else. So my knowledge of the character’s history is sketchy at best. The only reason I even remotely know anything about Captain America is because of some old movie from the 1980’s or the early 1990’s that I had watched quite a while ago. Nowadays, people speak more of Superman, Batman, Iron Man etc. when referring to Marvel Comic characters and frankly speaking, I have not heard many discuss Captain America. Might it be because he is too ‘American’? Who knows?! But I have to admit, I’ve taken quite a liking to him.
I warmed to the character of Steve Rogers/Captain America. Somewhat idealistic but humble and down-to-earth, unassuming – in short, your average, ordinary guy but with metal and a spine. Nice. Even after becoming Captain America, despite the obvious physical changes, it was still his personality and his nature that came through the strongest. I like what he tells Schmidt when he can’t understand why Rogers was chosen and not himself and Rogers responds that it was exactly because he was ‘nobody’ (I like the Professor’s explanation of why he chose Steve for the project as well and I think it speaks volumes about how we still are as a species and group). Chris Evans has done a great job with playing the ‘unassuming’ Rogers as well as tackling the role of the ‘superhero’ Captain America. He’s still that average, somewhat idealistic, ordinary guy who just so happens to be a ‘superhero’ and he manages to keep that part as the core of who Steve Rogers/Captain America truly is. So big thumbs up to Chris Evans.
I really really love the character of Peggy Carter played by Hayley Atwell. She is a tough, ass-kicking British officer who trains other men! Expert marksman (note the scene where the car is heading straight for her) and she is raw (the scene where she’s upset with Captain America) and very humourous. I couldn’t help but notice her strong yet voluptuous build and wishing we could all go back to that era when that was the norm. Lol. All the skinny girls will be hating me as I know even they can’t help their own body shape so peace peace and apologies. I love the character of Bucky played by Sebastican Stan. He’s always been the tougher, more handsome and sought after man compared to Steve. Despite supporting Steve after his transformation into Captain America, I couldn’t help but sense a slight envy and unease over how their roles have changed and Steve (always the sick and frail one) has become the stronger of the two. Kudos to Stan for bringing out the very human element in friendships – you can still love and cherish your friends and do anything for them but you also can’t help your human nature and tendency to feel challenged, envious, insecure, jealous etc.
Tommy Lee Jones! Great great great. I might be biased since I do love this actor and Stanley Tucci and Hugo Weaving are included with him.
The special effects are good and do not overpower the movie. Something I greatly appreciated again. The story held through right to the end, except for the final part of the movie when Captain America wakes up. I guess I wanted a continuation or an exploration into what had become of everyone and how Steve Rogers would go about it. But I realize that’s like the setting for a whole other movie! 😛 So I accepted it and am waiting for the next installment to come about. I hope. I found the scene on the train and what happens to Bucky as slightly disconnecting and felt a little out of place. Maybe because it was too sudden or maybe I just expected to see the changes in Bucky and Steve’s relationship develop but perhaps that’s for a whole other movie again! So once again, I’ll just wait. I like Hugo Weaving without his ‘face’. Lol. When his face becomes that of the Red Skull, suddenly, he becomes much more convincing as a villain. I feel perhaps, Weaving himself felt easier slipping into character once another ‘face’ was put on.
This movie has humour, action, comic moments and some sadder moments (the scene between Peggy Carter and Steve towards the end). Everything you need for a good entertainer…a good entertainer that has been made well. Thumbs up!
DRIVE
Director: Nicolas Winding Refn
Cast: Ryan Gosling, Carrie Mulligan, Albert Brooks, Bryan Cranston, Oscar Isaac, Ron Perlman, Christina Hendricks
Soundtrack: Cliff Martinez
Rating: 8.0/10
My friend just finished watching the movie Drive starring Ryan Gosling and Carrie Mulligan and well, she didn’t like it. Hmmm. Pause for thought. This just drags us back to whether our ideas of what is a ‘good’ movie is determined based on popular perception, critical snootiness or just plain personal likes and dislikes. Double hmmmmm.
The acting is very good. However, my friend had a problem with the fact that physically, no one would think of Ryan Gosling for a character like this. I told her, that’s the point. That face could well be the ‘cute boy-next-door’ , the ‘nice and sweet’ guy. Take that face and see him do the things he does in this film and well, it is a bit jarring to say the least. The chemistry between Carrie Mulligan and Ryan Gosling is what stood out for me, along with the characters played by Albert Brooks and Bryan Cranston. I remember Albert Brooks in a slightly different movie called The In-Laws with Ryan Reynolds and Lindsay Sloane. So you can imagine my surprise when I see him in-the-blink-of-an-eye AND without batting an eye, whip out his knife and slit a guy’s throat. That is also another jarring image. However, Albert Brooks plays his character so well and so convincingly that I think at times, he acted far better than the main character and his character had more of a ‘pull’ factor for me. Carrie Mulligan had the same effect. Then to add to the surprise factor, there is Bryan Cranston, noted for playing Malcolm’s dad in Malcolm In The Middle playing a slightly greasy, weasel-like guy who kind of has a good heart when it concerns Ryan Gosling’s character. Hang on sec! That kind of is the same character that he plays in Malcolm In The Middle. Lol. I guess the central point that kept coming across throughout this film, was just how slightly ‘jarring’ it is to see these actors play characters that you wouldn’t normally associate with them. Perhaps that ‘jarring’ effect adds to the film in some way. Another actress, Christina Hendricks, known from Mad Men also looks NOTHING like the beautiful character she normally plays on the show. My friend recognized her immediately because she is an ardent follower of the show and was shocked because she was looking old, dirty and trashy. Another addition to the ‘jarring’ quotient?
Now that the actors have been tackled let’s get to the soundtrack. Most of the time, I noticed the presence of a pervasive silence throughout the film. It is rather eerie how we have become so used to hearing a soundtrack playing in the background of movies that perhaps even when we recollect them in our minds, the soundtrack is still playing? Hmmm…Then the only other music I hear is this weird music that plays on the radio of the car that Ryan Gosling drives – a little ‘happy’, disco-ish, folksy-artsy, um…roxy music? It’s a style of music which I only became aware of, once again through my flatmate and when I heard the music in the film, couldn’t help but think it sounded somewhat familiar and similar. The music contrasted so much with what was going on in the movie. The movie being very ‘real’, very raw and very heavy and yet here’s this soundtrack that plays that offers ‘fun’, ‘freedom’ and ‘good times’ or a slightly ‘dazed & confused’ vibe – definitely not what happens for the film’s characters except early on in the film between Ryan Gosling and Carrie Mulligan. Hmmmmm…..
The ending was abrupt for me. It starts, climbs, hits a high and whooooosh it’s all done. Just like that. Also the sudden inclusion of Carrie Mulligan’s husband into the scene also felt slightly abrupt and the ‘happy’ family reunion with all four of them – Carrie Mulligan, her husband, their son AND Ryan Gosling – it all felt so forced. But then again maybe that was just a representation of one’s hope and wish of attaining a happy moment or situation but reality is knocking at your door to turn it all upside down? Another hmmmmm……
The colour, cinematography etc. are well done with the colours going back and forth between warm and slightly darker. The scene in the elevator and the blacking out of the surrounding was almost a fantasy-like touch but I guess it adds to that whole dimension of one’s wishful fairy tale dream contrasted with the actual reality surrounding you.
My rating for this film has been fluctuating between a 6.5 to 7.0 to 7.5 to 7.8 and now I have finally decided to rate this as an 8/10. Most people when they watch this will most likely rate it as a 6/10 to 7/10 and that is absolutely understandable. The only reason I finally settled on an 8/10 was because of all the questions this film brought up for me and for all the statements it makes on life and people. We’re all striving, we’re all shades of grey and for some people, life will always remain a certain way except for a few true, treasured and valuable happy moments. For Carrie Mulligan’s character, Irene, it is when she’s with Ryan Gosling and when she has her family back together for a short time. For Irene’s husband, Standard, it’s the thought of starting life afresh with his family. For Ryan Gosling’s character, his happiest moment was meeting Irene and her son and that is what he will take with him for the rest of his life. The violence may seem excessive but I guess it just helps enhance the harsh contrast between dreams and reality…
Would love to hear other people’s take…
WELCOME TO DONGMAKGOL
Director: Park Kwang-hyun
Based on play by Jang Jin
Cast: Shin Ha-kyung, Jeong Jae-yeong, Kang Hye-jeong, Seo Jae Kyung, Steve Taschler
Rating: 8/10
This is a movie where I expected a refreshing silly comedy but instead got a whole mixed bag. There was indeed comedy tinged with drama and action. Basically, it can be likened to life – it can be mean, scary and unfair but despite and inspite of it all, there will be moments of laughter, tears and joy.
Set during the time of the Korean War, the showdown occurs in the idyllic and untouched village of Dongmakgol – a place oblivious to the going’s on of the outside world where the chief concerns continue to be storage of food for winter and the dangers of wild boars raiding the fields. Lol. Into this sheltered pocket wander in three surviving North Korean soldiers, two South Korean deserters and one haplessly injured and lost American naval pilot. You can imagine what kind of recipe those ingredients make for!
Scenic-wise, the setting is beautiful, vivid and rich. The story for me managed to balance all the elements finely i.e. comedy, action, drama, tragedy. It’s a heartwarming journey of redemption, second chances, changed perceptions and even love. I watched this movie thinking I was in for a good laugh but came away with a much more rounded and rewarding experience than I had expected. I know we all say that Korean movies love melodrama and that may not necessarily be a bad thing when done right. The characters in this movie felt real and had depth and the portrayal of the struggles, flaws and faults of both sides – North and South – during the war has been well depicted. The story of the youngest member of the North Korean side and that of the village ‘crazy’ girl was the most touching and saddening. The ghosts which continued to haunt the South Korean lieutenant struck a chord with me.
All I can say, without giving too much of the movie away is, you won’t be disappointed watching this movie. It can seem to drag a little in the beginning especially during the scenes concerning the dilemma of the soldiers who find themselves in one village. But the story progression is good and I have to say, the ending was fitting. Watch it.
mymusingsaday 
this has got to be the my fav section of this blog!!!! keep it up