Insidious: Chapter 2 (2013)

Wow... What happened to the LUV guys... ? Why you no show luv for this movie...

Okay, let's do a breakdown.

1) Storyline - I like it, it nicely encapsulate the first Insidious!! I can see why so many people has issues with it. Some elements were too coincident. But shooting the second movie and cutting it back to the first, I LIKE very much. One wonders if they had the broad outline of the second story when they were shooting the first. The connections seems seamless. Also, whatever back story I made up for the Black Bride, in Insidious 1, goes right out of the window...

2) Cast - Who knew that Patrick Wilson can be SUCH an S.O.B???? I didn't!! They expended on the Elise Rainier character (I knew her when she was Teacher in Nightmare on Elm Street (1984). She also help found New Line Cinema), which is good. If there is an Insidious 3 movie, I believe it would focus on her character and also the "demon" from the first movie. Also good the kids did not grow too big to reprise their roles...

3) In terms of pacing, there really isn't much room for the production team to maneuver to strife for additional originality, base on what they have already done in the first movie. I can understand why so many people were "disappointed" with the movie, because their wanted the "fresh" approach taken for the first movie, and that freshness is not here, because of the established lore..... So, my advice to the general public is to go in there and just enjoy the ride!

My only wish is that they had started showing this movie earlier over here, before The Conjuring (like in the States) rather then after. The reason is The Conjuring has a much MUCH larger budget, and truth to be told, a much MUCH better movie. Which can only compound most peoples' feeling of being let down.

I, for one, actually did enjoy the movie.

If there is a third (sadly I hear James Wan is done with the horror genre) I might just pay that a visit as well.

See youse at the movies

My two Sen.

This post has been edited by Mov_freak: Oct 20 2013, 09:47 AM

White House Down (2013)

I'll probably get a lot of flak for this, but I actually found this... mildly amusing!!

Don't get me wrong, there are TONS of problem with it, and again, more flak, I thought it was a better movie then Olympus Has Fallen (2013)...

With Roland Emmerich (2012 (2009), 10,000 BC (2008), The Day After Tomorrow (2004), Independence Day (1996) & Stargate (1994)) at the helm, it is a much slicker production (compared to OHF)

If something like that would happen in America, the culprits are most likely going to be Americans themselves... but I digress.

So, from a story point of view, more realistic....

Now for the bad part, Jamie Foxx is the President... Really????????!

I know a B Movie actor (namely Ronald Regan) did managed to become the President because of backers (bankers and big industry), BUT Jamie Foxx?????????!!!!! o k a y . . .

Another observation is, since the American do NOT want to advocate gun control, they have only got themselves to blame IF something like that were to happen... The amount of guns and ammunition used in this movie is just... wow...

So, if you like mindless action flick, where you can see the end twist a mile away, give this a spin.

My Two Sen

If you are looking for a BIG BUDGET lemon of the year, look no further.

Ladies and gentlemen, I give to you

R.I.P.D. (2013)

This movie is B.A.A.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.d.d.d.d.d.d.d.d.d.d.d.!!!

This "dead as a door nail" has a price tag of USD 130,000,000.

In my humble opinion, they might as well had just thrown the money into the ocean!!

The result would have been EXACTLY the same, minus the hassle of making a movie.

Let's do a breakdown.

Story: One word, insipid. Sorta Ghostbusters (1984) meets Men in Black (1997). Sounds good on paper right? WRONG There is nothing, interesting, clever, witty, redeeming about the script. Zip! Nada!! ZILCH!!! I fell asleep, woke up, fell asleep, woke up & fell asleep again, during the course of the movie!!!!!!

Cast: Putting two relatively well know actors (namely Ryan Reynolds & Jeff Bridges) into your movie, will generate interest.... But it is no guarantee that it would be a bonafide hit!!! This would be THE PERFECT example of this... Their characters are already dead... That means you cannot wish for something worst to happen to them...

C.G.I.: For a C.G.I. laden movie, the C.G.I. work is actually TERRIBLE!!!! I have seen TV stuff that has better C.G.I. work.... Maybe it is because of their PG-13 rating, and they made their ghosts, kid friendly, but come on!!!!!

So, in short, NOTHING IN THIS MOVIE WORKS!!

This is another example of, I had actually watch this CRAP so you don't have to...

You have been warn kiddies.... YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!!!

My Two Sen

This post has been edited by Mov_freak: Oct 21 2013, 03:08 PM

Man Of Steel (2013) Addendum

For my original review of this movie, please goto: Man Of Steel

The PQ and AQ is good for this movie.

One other point I would like to make is all ACTION in this movie is actually CGI... so the what is a practical shot and what is CGI is really REALLY blurred!! Very impressive work indeed.

Another peeve that I have about this movie is the last scene between Superman and the American army, that really ruffles my feathers...

That's it, Enjoy the movie

My Additional Two Sen

Despicable Me 2 (2013) Addendum

For my original review, please goto: Despicable Me 2 Review

This is a really fun especially if you have small children.

I understand it started a Minion Frenzy (*Sigh*)

What I like to add is, out of the 4 CGI Animation I watched this year , this is number 2, along with Monster University.

Epic was a big disappointment. Croads takes number one spot.

My additional Two Sen

The Hitch-Hiker (1953)

An RKO (Radio-Keith-Orpheum) Pictures production.

Interestingly, apart from movie legends like King Kong (1933) and Citizen Kane (1941), RKO was also responsible in launching careers for Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Katharine Hepburn, Robert Mitchum and Cary Grant! In it's time, it was one of the big 5 movie production company in Hollywood!!

In the 80s it made a comeback with movies like Cat People (1982, which is a remake of one of their property with the same name from 1942, the 80s version had Nastassja Kinski... Anyone?? )

It still exist at this point in time, holding the rights to RKO properties, but it is a far cry from it's hey days!!

Back to The Hitch-Hiker, a suspense thriller and interestingly, the victims are two men!!! (maybe I'm too saturated with thrillers from the 70s and 80s, where all victims are chicks!! )

Director Ida Lupino, is not as masterful as Alfred Hitchcock in generating suspense.

Having said that some scenes were obviously shot in the Studio and have to add, the art direction is still impressive (the end scene, the docks)

PQ is poor. I don't think they even attempted a restoration, just a digital transfer to new media...

AQ, sound is clear, nothing spectacular.

If you want some inside of what can be passed as "bromance" in the 50s, this maybe a good reference point!!

My Two Sen

Hercules (1997)

Too many liberties were taken with Hercules' myth, not one of Disney better works...

Greek mythology is pretty well know and they... just took too many liberties...

Alan Menken post Howard Ashman, music is very gospel... to tell the story of Greek mythos.... Hm... not quite sure if t gels...

Unless you are a die hard Disney fan... I don't believe I'm gonna say this, you can give it a miss...

My Two Sen

The Haunting (1963)

A very handsome black and white movie from the 1960s.

Not to be confused with it's remake The Haunting (1999).

Directed by director Robert Wise, who apart from this movie, also directed The Sound of Music (1965) and Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1975).

This is a horror movie.

It is based on a book by the same name.

Synopsis

Soon after the death of her mother (whom Eleanor had taken care of for many years), Eleanor 'Nell' Lance took a vacation by involving herself in an experiment conducted by Dr. John Markway. 6 other participants were suppose to be in the experiment, but apart from Nell, only Theodora 'Theo' and Luke Sanderson arrived.

Now here is where things started to change for different viewers are the strange happenings in Hill House because of restless spirits or because of Eleanor...

Robert Wise wants his viewers to decide....

My Two Sen

Anaconda (1997)

This Adventure & Thriller is a Jennifer Lopez vehicle circa 1997, tried to do for Anacondas, what Jaws (1975) did for Great White.

In actually fact, Great White can cause a lot of damage and death to people at the beach, the Anaconda is actually almost sloth-like right after a meal and does not possess the lightning quick movements the movie suggested!! But I digress...

If I was ever in a movie, I wish (one can always fantasize ) I could have Eric Stoltz's (I was Marty McFly for two weeks) role, catatonic for most of the movie and then get paid!!

The selling points of this movie is NOT the script, but how many compromising positions can they put Jennifer in, with the skimpiest of outfits, to showcase her.... talents!!

Another selling point, surprisingly is, for it's age, it actually has decent sound, so PQ is out of the window, but SQ is actually very good!!

That's it, that's all I have to say

My Two Sen

This post has been edited by Mov_freak: Oct 27 2013, 09:39 PM

The Way Way Back (2013)

This mildly amusing Drama comedy revolve around Duncan (Liam James), a 14 yo boy who parents are divorced, and he is on vacation with his mother, Pam (Toni Collette) and her boyfriend, Trent (Steve Carell whom I keep mistaking for Dominic Purcell here) and his daughter, Steph (Zoe Levin)...

Duncan is in the dumps, Trent is treating him like shit ever chance he gets... And then he met Owen (Sam Rockwell) and they become friends...

...Sounds creepy but, not!!

Oh award winning writing team, Nat Faxon & Jim Rash, wrote, directed and acted in this.

You like light comedy and drama, give this a spin.

My Two Sen.

Special ID (2013)

As interesting as Andy On is, in this, I believe this is a good example of someone using his star power to get more screen time to the determent of the movie...

Vincent Zhao was suppose to play the Sunny role, but bowed out when his role got less and less, because some one used his star power to get more screen time...

Donnie Yen is trying to be gruffy cute in this and all I can say is that he is successful in getting the gruffy part...

A movie cannot subsist on action alone... And the script is really REALLY thin (eg... dare I use the word, obtuse...)

And the product placement in the movie is just insane (Volvo, Land Rover and WWF...)

Shame on you Donnie, shame on you...

My Two Sen

This post has been edited by Mov_freak: Oct 28 2013, 08:39 AM

That's one way of putting it...

I wanted to see Rigor Mortis, but people I was with at the cinema did not want to see horror...

Rigor Mortis (2013)

Understand this, I'm a HUGE fan of Mr Vampire (1985).

First when it was first launch (cinema), to videos, to LDs, to DVD. HUGE fan!!

Please do not mistaken this movie as a sequel or and updated version of that movie.

Nothing can be further away from the truth.

This is a dark DARK movie.

Gory GALORE!!

There are things done here by humans that you would not appreciate animals doing...

Don't get me wrong, there is nothing done here that surpasses it's western counter part (in term of gore). Human Centipede, and of the Saw series, Turista etc and have to add, every time I see those movies, I go like, Meh, orang putih (apathy??)

But seeing oriental doing it... it was disturbing...

Maybe it was not what I had expected, therefore I was side blinded.

I really have to say kudos to the forumers who had said 'meh' to this movie (in term of, nah, it is not frightening) because this movie, grossed me out MAJOR!!

Want some example?



For the record, this movie does NOT have an alternate ending compared to Hong Kong. The whole ending was CENSORED... Which is what is frustrating for me. The OCD in me, will have to get a HD copy of this, and watch it again to see what happens!!!!

AAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!

My Two Sen

This post has been edited by Mov_freak: Oct 29 2013, 11:31 AM

You have to post that question to

a) The Distributor

b) The Censorship board

Thor: The Dark World (2013)

Wow...

What a treat!

Kenneth Branagh did establish a good tone for the movie, although I was never sold the idea of Thor first appearing in a sleep town in New Mexico.

I also felt that Thor and Jane Foster's relationship were more... brother and sister...

And then this!

WOW!!!

Asgard is true a beautiful and dangerous world!

Now that all the key players are already introduced, director Alan Taylor can pull out all the stops and just go straight to the action!!

The Dark Elves are menacing!

The Aesther is more than it seems.

I've got a couple of peeves though



The truly shining moment in this is definitely



Turns out this movie is gearing up for...



My Two Sen

The World's End (2013)

I have to say, I found Shaun of the Dead (2004) and Hot Fuzz (2007) amusing, especially Hot Fuzz.

Shaun of the Dead, was kinda a unexpected find.

It was witty, humorous and weird, all the right kinds of elements to make me like the movie.

And then there in Hot Fuzz, what happens to Timothy Dalton!!

Both very British, but has international appeal...

This year, we get The World's End.

When I first saw the trailer, I have to admit, it was intriguing!! Now that I have a chance to watch the movie and... I have to say, I'm disappointed...

Once again, Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg are the writers, and once again Nick Frost and Simon Pegg leads.

From a concept point of view, it probably looks fine on paper (or to coin a more current simile, tablet), and have to add, the delivery...

The bar crawl is fine, the twist in the middle, I was okay with and I even buy, the ending!! My main issue with the movie is Simon Pegg's character!!!

I have a very difficult time being sympathetic to him. Or have I miss the point. Was THAT the point of the character...

Don't get me wrong, out of the 3 in the Cornetto Trilogy, this probably has the highest production value. You can see the high level of effort put into making the movie and have to add when the end credits roll, all I can say is... Meh...

My Two Sen

Everyone has their... off day??...

They might argue, we were the ones smoking....

Maybe when we were watching the movie, our state of mind were not... receptive to the movie, it can happen, or maybe they just don't know what they are talking about, take your pick!!

If you read the The World's End thread here, there are viewers in Malaysia who enjoys it.

So To each their own.

So... I short, I'm not a fun person I suppose...