30 DVD Movies I watched over a period of 2 months that I did not manage to review during my lapse from blogging. Here they are.. in a condensed point form based on what I can remember from my first impressions..
Bee Movie (2007)
- Funky concept written by Seinfeld.
- Loaded with some funny ideas from the beginning about a fictional bee world with hilarious parallels to human society (soo Seinfeld).
- Plot becomes extremely illogical & ridiculous halfway through to the end. Jokes aren’t as funny later on.
- Screenplay feels very rushed.. Movie tried to do too much in too little a time.
- Interesting watch if you have nothing else better and need a laugh.
The Cider House Rules (1999)
- Drama about a young man (Tobey Maguire) who grew up in an orphanage and was trained to be a doctor there, decides to leave behind everything he knows to experience the world.
- Slow, but inspiring and moving.
- Some important lessons to be learned here. Questions about morality, conscience, and about right and wrong (abortion, justice, love) that ultimately suggests that we make our own rules and shouldn’t live by other peoples’.
- Very well written sensitive movie.
Because I Said So (2007)
- A young lady (Mandy Moore) who just can’t seem to find the right man, and her kepoh controlling mother (Diane Keaton) who tries to matchmake her with some guys…
- Supposed to be a romantic comedy, but urgh, this movie was plain annoying!
- Diane Keaton was painful to watch - felt like slapping/hating that whining woman.
- Tacky, hard to swallow, kinda like watching a bad family argument that you don’t want to get involved in.
- Avoid. Because I Said So.
No Country for Old Men (2007)
- Man finds $2 Million in the middle of a desert from a heroine drug deal gone wrong, resulting in chaos descending upon him and the quiet town surroundings.
- Extremely unorthodox screenplay that is borderline boring, yet extremely riveting.
- Awesome direction and cinematography - each scene has the capacity to capture your attention fully and doesn’t let go.
- I seriously do not know how else to put it - its draggy, yet toys with your expectations.
- Javier Bardem fully deserved his Supporting Actor Oscar, as he was downright one of the most scariest villains to ever grace the big screen. This guy’s SERIOUSLY bad ass.
- Pretentious, but landed 4 Oscars (including Best Picture, Best Direction, Best Supporting Actor, Best Writing based on Previous Work) which says a lot.
- Karma doesn’t exist in the world, there are no happy endings. These ain’t a country for old men.
Dan In Real Life (2007)
- Steve Carell redeems himself after his horrendous ‘Evan Almighty‘ in this movie as a guy who falls for a girl, only to discover later that she is his brother’s new girlfriend.
- Plus points to Steve Carell for portraying the unhappy disappointed frustrated guy who can’t act on his feelings, as well as Juliette Binoche for playing the wonderful lady love of his life.
- Some great chemistry and tension here with all the comedy injected in the right places. Not too bad for a matured romantic comedy after a spat of bad ones.
- Now If only all families are like Dan’s..
Die Hard (1988)
- John McClane (Bruce Willis) saves the day by dishing his own brand of justice against terrorists that has captured hostages in an LA office building.
- Yipee-ki-yay! Awesome Die Hard movie that was still amazing to watch even after 20 years!
- One of the best action movies of all time.
- Watching this now brings back lots of nostalgia from the 80’s where cellphones were non-existent, and VCR ruled supreme, and computers with huge blocky buttons and mono-colored CRT monitors were considered state-of-the-art.
Die Hard 2 : Die Harder (1990)
- John McClane returns to save the day once again, this time by going against terrorists who have hijacked an airport, and command the ability to crash planes.
- A very much weaker attempt at trying to recapture the success of the first Die Hard movie.
- One of the main failures in this movie is that it stretched believability to an entirely new level. Keep it simple stupid!
- Still fun to watch though, as plain simple action movies with 1 guy going against an army of terrorists are hard to come by nowadays..
Die Hard : With A Vengeance (1995)
- John McClane returns, and this time with director John McTiernan (from the first Die Hard) to film this 3rd installment.
- A very good attempt at that, as John Mctiernan’s visceral style with a better writing creates another Die Hard classic.
- Bruce Willis is forced to go all over New York this time in order to locate and defuse terrorist bombs while the villains conduct the heist of the century..
- Highly suspenseful and filled with some great action moments - not to mention you have Samuel L. Jackson being cast in the supporting role!
The Water Horse : Legend of the Deep (2007)
- Story about a fictional Loch Ness legend and the relationship between the ‘Water Horse’ and a small boy.
- Feel good, heartwarming family movie. The baby water horse is freaking cute!
- Unfortunate point is that it draws on the original Loch Ness monster as an inspiration, but the movie was not really about Nessie.
- Decently good as it is not too soppy and not too ’safe’ for kids. Similar to movies like Free Willy.
May 18 (2007)
- This is the Korean drama retelling of the events that led up to the 1980 Gwangju massacre where students rose up in protest against the government (one of the darkest chapters in Korean history).
- As with all Korean dramas, this epic historical tale is filled with over the top melodrama & tear-jerking scenes (which sometimes work, and at others just feel plain awkward).
- Not too bad a movie really - once you start this, you won’t be able to stop. Most of the characters are lovable, but its all bittersweet because you just know that they are setting it all up for a big tragedy at the end.
Juno (2007)
- Among the list of Oscar nominated Best Picture and Best Direction films, this was the only light hearted one, and was on the top of my To Watch list.
- The story is about a teenage girl (Ellen Page) who got pregnant, and how she dealt with the pregnancy by ruling out abortion and then trying to find the right adoptive parents for the baby.
- Juno’s script was extremely witty and sharp, with some great one liner comedy punchlines. Throw in a well done emotional angle (she is human afterall), and you have yourself a wonderful uplifting movie to watch on a weekend.
- Now if only society can approach unwanted pregnancies the same way Juno and the rest of the cast did (especially the father).
- I am in love with Ellen Page!
The Orphanage (2007)
- I knew I had to catch this horror flick the moment I found out it was from the creators of Pan’s Labyrinth + that it has won 30 over film awards.
- A woman returns to her ex-orphanage to take over the derelict building and reopen it again for future unfortunate children, but it doesn’t take long for her own son to start seeing an invisible friend.. and eventually disappear..
- This is an old school horror movie, and a very smart one at that for it uses ambience and atmosphere to spook the hell out of you (instead of gore or cheap shocks). Expect one amazing plot twist you won’t see coming from a mile away!
- If you have the stomach for these sort of horror movies, and you are ready for a memorable movie going experience, WATCH THIS!
Saw 4 (2007)
- Jigsaw returns in this 4th installation which actually manages to tie the entire Saw series together!
- I missed Saw 3, so I kinda lost out on some of the references and characters in this movie (many of which was carried over by the previous Saw series). Regardless, there are still twists to be had, and things are still kept interesting.
- The torture devices and traps however, aren’t as inspired as the first few although they are still quite bloody. Many of them even requires a considerable suspension of disbelief - which is what makes this a much weaker Saw movie compared with the rest.
- The acting was only average at best, and the director used ample in your face sudden shots to keep things fast paced but it doesn’t really work because the whole thing feels forced.
- Watch only if you follow the Saw series, and want some sense of completion.
Gone Baby Gone (2007)
- I used to think of Ben Affleck as the ‘lousier half’ of Matt Damon (them being good friends), but this movie which was both written and directed by him has changed my impression somewhat.
- Gone Baby Gone is a pretty intense movie about a detective who was hired to investigate a missing child. Little does the detective know the depth of the conspiracy behind that child, and how he will eventually be forced to make a truly difficult moral decision..
- Great acting, great script, great screenplay. A great thinking movie.
Retribution (2006)
- Japanese horror aka ‘Sakebi‘
- A detective investigates a woman who was drowned at a construction site puddle, and becomes increasingly worried as the evidence he finds seems to suggest he was the murderer (not to mention he starts to see disturbing things).
- The attempt at the twist in this movie (which I shalll not give away) is laudable, but the movie was too messy to warrant a recommendation.
- Heck, many of the scary parts weren’t even that scary to begin with. Some of them seem to have been inserted just to generate some sort of audience response and doesn’t carry any weight with the whole plot.
- Average at best. There are definitely many other better movies to watch.
Lust, Caution (2007)
- I think people have been fixating on this movie for the wrong reasons (carnal sex scenes), because what I saw was nothing short of a masterpiece.
- Ang Lee created one of the most cerebral asian drama thrillers in a long time - the sort that grips you and hooks you into a world you never knew could exist or feel.
- The story revolves during the time of the Japanese occupation of Shanghai, and is about the story of a girl (Wei Tang), who was inducted into a rebel group from a young age and how she gives her body, heart and soul to her enemy (Tony Leung) in order to get him assassinated. There is definitely enough subterfuge and espionage in a story such as this to keep anyone at the edge of their seats.
- The acting here is superb even without the explicit scenes. Every single facial gesture, action, smile, look and word uttered hints at the raging tensions underneath the stoic demeanor of our leads.
- This is a definite Must Watch for any true movie lover.
The Mist (2007)
- Based on Stephen King’s novel of the same name, a mist descends upon a sleepy town, and strange creatures begin to emerge from it. What more of a plot do you need?
- It was surprisingly very good! Every moment, every scene, holds the potential for something unexpected to happen - some of which you don’t even know if you should be laughing at once it happens.
- You will grow to love / hate / respect all of the characters in this piece. The movie shows that in the face of hopelessness, the real ‘monsters’ are usually just the people around us.
- Watch this man & trust me - you won’t regret the amount of fun you will have in the process.
- Plus the ending was simply one of the most numbfoundingly shocking endings ever - you JUST HAVE TO SEE IT TO BELIEVE IT.
Vexille (2007)
- Japanese animation from the creators of Appleseed.
- Using cell animation methods, this is one jawdroppingly beautiful anime (and I’m not exaggerating when I say jawdropping).
- Plot was set in the future with a Japan who shut itself out from the rest of the world (cutting off communications, contact and surveillance) in order to pursue banned cybernetic/android research. Decades later, the Japan the world knew has transformed into something completely different…
- Vexille is worth watching even if only just for the amazing CG. Enough 3D movies already Disney, Pixar & Dreamworks - give this one a go!
Wedding Daze (2006)
- aka “The Pleasure of Your Company”
- Dude (Jason Biggs) makes a spontaneous marriage proposal to a waitress (Isla Fisher), and due to circumstances surrounding both their lifes, she says agrees to get hitched with the complete stranger.
- Acting was bad on many levels and was very unbelievable (the main plot is hard enough to believe already), I just couldn’t connect with the characters.
- Throw in the dysfunctional family, and outrageous situations that are just plain ridiculous, and you have yourself one major failure of a movie.
Jacob’s Ladder (1990)
- This is easily one of the more underrated horror movies of all time.
- A post Vietnam war veteran has to deal with his inner demons when he starts seeing strange things happening around him.
- Some of the scenes in this movie was so disturbing, future horror movies and games (Silent Hill) was heavily influenced by it.
- Brilliantly terrifying and intelligent - a combination thats next to impossible to find nowadays.
Just Like Heaven (2005)
- Another old movie with an interesting premise - a landscape architect (Mark Ruffalo) moves into a rented apartment only to start seeing and falling in love with the ’spirit’ of a beautiful girl (Reese Witherspoon) who claims she lives there.
- Typical chiq flick with an original twist, and not as bad as I expected it to be.
- Definitely watchable even for guys.
The Aviator (2004)
- One of the top movies in the year 2004, which I am only catching up with now.
- Based on the true biography of the legendary director and aviator Howard Hughes.
- Superbly casted, directed, and acted. Leonardo Dicaprio proves his versatility in portraying the rise and fall of one of history’s most successful, charismatic, daring, and eccentric characters.
- The only drawback was that this movie was almost 3 hours long - but then, if it wasn’t as drawn out, it probably wouldn’t have been as fleshed out.
- At the end of the day, the only demons and fears we have to conquer, are our very own.
Once (2007)
- A busker meets and subsequently falls in love with a girl he meets on the street in this beautiful independent movie.
- It’s so minimalist, and the dialogue and acting so real, I couldn’t help but get drawn in and feel for all the characters.
- Heartbreakingly raw, true and refreshing when compared to all the other Hollywood romance drivel that we’ve gotten spoilt on.
- The honest simple music was unabashedly moving.. and the ending, oh the ending.. how this happens (or WILL happen) to everyone of us in our lives eventually.
- Loved it from the very bottom of my heart.
Sweeney Todd : The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)
- Tim Burton Musical starring Johnny Depp as a man hell bent on vengeance.
- Morbid, dark, gloomy with sick humour.
- Something out of the ordinary.
- Unmemorable music, and a little draggy.
- Great art direction.
- Johnny Depp / Tim Burton fans will rejoice, movie is otherwise passable.
The Peacemaker (1997)
- George Clooney and Nicole Kidman team up to track down stolen nuclear warheads in this fast paced action movie.
- Cool opening sequence - masked special agents descend on a moving train in the middle of the night..
- Many other awesome action scenes, explosive and it was somehow surprising that I actually enjoyed it (IMDB rating was quite low).
- Definitely watchable for some brainless fun.
Elizabeth : The Golden Age (2007)
- Cate Blanchett does a pretty good job portraying the strong, independent, Queen Elizabeth I, during one of the most rocky periods in England’s history (1588, when Spain plots for the invasion and downfall of the English).
- Great sets and costumes - the sort that will leave you bedazzled. Cate Blanchett even dorns a helluva sexy full armour in one scene.
- Too bad though that the movie was so poorly written - a movie with the potential for so much intrigue and suspense, ends up becoming a glorified chiq flick instead.
- At least I learned a bit about European history I guesss…
This Is England (2006)
- A troubled, jaded rebellious boy growing up in England 1983 befriends a bunch of skinheads who will shape and change his perspective on life.
- This is an Awesome underrated English film!
- The script is delightfully gritty and raw, and very real. The cinematography was excellent - the whole movie really felt like it was filmed in the 80’s.
- Acting is top notch, and Thomas Turgoose who played the boy was downright amazing (he had no prior acting experience).
- This is again, an awesome movie that manages to successfully flesh out the high tension between all of the characters, the need for fellowship, freedom, acceptance and tolerance (especially in regards to racism). Watch this if you can!
Michael Clayton (2007)
- The story of a ‘Fixer’ for a law firm (George Clooney), capable of great deeds for those that employs him, but in desperate need of fixing himself when he gets thrown into a big intricate conspiracy case that will test his moral code.
- Well written, but I almost forgot the entire plot just 2 months after watching (it didn’t strike me on an emotional level).
- George Clooney does an OK job as the strong conflicted man (but then again, George Clooney’s acting is always the same). Tilda Swinton definitely deserved her Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.
- Decent, but definitely overrated.
Good Luck Chuck (2007)
- Dane Cook plays a guy who has a ‘curse’ - girls who sleep with him, will meet their soulmate next and end up leaving him. Heck, this is a curse I sure won’t mind having man, at least not until I fall for someone like Jessica Alba (which he does..)
- But that shallow premise is just that - shallow. There was hardly any chemistry, or even a tinge of believable romance between the two leads. Dane Cook’s character isn’t even likable in this.
- The jokes are AWFULLY bad. Who the heck wrote this junk? Jessica Alba may have been eye candy, but she wasn’t even funny in the very least.
- Good Luck TO YOU if you plan on watching this.
The Darjeeling Limited (2007)
- 3 disparate brothers (Adrien Brody, Owen Wilson, Jason Schwartzman) gets together for a spiritual bonding journey to India to locate their mother..
- Directed by Wes Anderson with his own brand of dysfunctional dark comedy that might be lost on many.
- Lots of inferences, metaphors, analogies, symbolisms littered throughout. There is a point to the whole weirdness of the movie - you just have to look hard.
- And if you can get it, you will be rewarded with a brilliantly written, charming, original, and colourful movie.
