Took me a minute...

You mean Wu Jing and Tony Jaa and NOT Tsui Hark and Tony Jaa....

Zhongkui Snow Girl and the Dark Crystal 钟馗伏魔：雪妖魔灵 (2015)

Atrocious!!

Utter rubbish!!!

Avoid at ALL COST!!!

You've been warned kiddies!!!

YOU'VE BEEN WARNED!

My Two Sen

Helios 赤道 (2015)

Well, this is an interesting movie.

A collaboration between, China, HK and Korea.

The premise is what would Hong Kong and China do, to stop Hong Kong from being and underground arms dealing center.

Nuclear arms at that.

Script is ambitious.

Casting is good.

Everyone does their bit, the Koreans are the "action" heroes, and Chinese the intellectual and Hong Kee everything between!!

Not going to spoil this for you if you have not watch.

The ending is actually quite original!

My Two Sen

WOW!!

I HAVE GOT TO SEE THIS!!

The Visit (2015)

I think M. Night Shyamalan had had gotten alot of criticism for his works, especially for his last 4 works, namely

After Earth (2013)
The Last Airbender (2010)
The Happening (2008)
Lady in the Water (2004)

After Earth (2013) getting the blunt of the said criticism (at least three Razzies awards).

And I admit, I am one of the critics.

You have to understand. I criticize, because I care.

I truely, truely love The Sixth Sense (1999) and Unbreakable (2000).

I like, Signs (2002) and The Village (2004).

I cringed at Lady in the Water (2006) and kinda/sorta like The Happening (2008).

I am not getting into The Last Airbender (2010) and After Earth (2013).

I know there are still more good movies in M. Night Shyamalan, and the After Earth (2013) is NOT one of them. (If you read my review of the movie, I was trying desperately to very diplomatically NOT call it a bad movie)

Let's get back to the subject at hand, is The Visit (2015), good?

It has a very modestly budgeted (in American terms, that is what USD 5 million is, in the grand scheme of things) compared to his last 2 works.

It is very VERY intimate (you get to know the two young protagonist quite well).

I think there-in is where M. Night Shyamalan strength lays, small, intimate, movie that evolves around young talented actors (I know, his last two movies had many young actors. I did use the word talented did I not?? )!

The script (written by him) is good. The situation is highly improbably, and have to add not impossible (Hitchcock anyone?? )

The young actors are great!! Ed Oxenbould's character, Tyler steals the show!!

Any I believe, many people are wondering, is this a horror movie!!

To not spoil the fun for you, let me go on the record that this is a suspense movie, with "elements" of horror!!

Intrigued??

I think I have watched too much of M. Night Shyamalan works!!

I recognised his "beats".

So much so that
Well, alot of buzz is being made that this is M. Night Shyamalan comeback movie.

I agree on some level.

I believe he has found his comfort zone.

Can he be more then this?

Only time will tell.

I recommend this.

So much so, I will also but this in my Horror Thread as well!!

My Two Sen.

P.S. There are two noticeable cuts made to the movie (I think it is two). You get confused for a couple of seconds and then you mind manages to catch up. Just so youse know.

This post has been edited by Mov_freak: Sep 22 2015, 01:12 PM

Everest (2015)

This is a surprising movie.

Surprising, because no one has already created a topic for it

And also "big" names like:

Sam Worthington
Keira Knightley
Jake Gyllenhaal
Josh Brolin

play second fiddle and Jason Clarke plays THE LEAD!!?!

An English and Australian answer to big budget Hollywood movies!!?!

Kudos to the cinematographer, the shots he made of Everest, are truly, TRULY BREATHTAKING!!

Based on a true story.

Music is a blast from the past (90s).

Characters are well fleshed out.

And, an almost extinct thing in Hollywood, ASIANS are portrayed POSITIVELY!!!!

Will wonders never cease.

I like this movie.

My one regret is not watching it in IMAX.

It is true MADE for THAT format.

My Two Sen

This post has been edited by Mov_freak: Oct 1 2015, 11:09 AM

Hotel Transylvania 2 (2015)

Wow. No created thread for this as well!!

Nor it's first outing??

Why no love for this people??...

This is an unusual animation.

And who is the director?

Genndy Tartakovsky

Who?? You ask???

He created Dexter's Laboratory for Cartoon Network way back when (1996)!!!

Now you know who I am talking about??

This is actually pretty good!!

I think Adam Sandler should stick with being a voice actor...

Story, original

Execution good.

Humor GREAT!!!

I enjoyed this!!

You would too.

My Two Sen

This post has been edited by Mov_freak: Oct 8 2015, 08:39 AM

The Martian (2015)

With the summer over in the States, I thought MOST summer blockbusters are over.

Would you believe, it is NOT!!!

Ridley Scott still got IT!

I know alot of you, like me, had this mind set. Meaning, this movie is probably an amalgamation between Gravity (2013) and Interstellar (2014). IT IS NOT!!!

Most of you had probably seen the trailer, so you know what the movie is about.

I have already credited Ridley Scott for his great direction for this movie.

Another kudos goes out to Matt Damon.

Can this boy ACT!

The transformation he goes through....

This movie believe it or not, gloss over HOW VICIOUS space, space travel, and planet exploration, are.

Well, it does try to be "true" to what we know about all the above, and have to add, they did put whipped cream on it, to make it more "presentable". (eg, there is no way the movie director can express to you how, by know, Hermes would probably smell like gym socks/rotten egg because of all the astronauts living in it for such a long duration... Yes, this is applicable to the real International Space Station).

Is this a concerted effort by the west to "get back" into the manned interplanetary exploration business? (eg inspire the next generation of space explorers)


So if it still is unclear to you, I STRONGLY RECOMMEND THIS MOVIE.

My Two Sen.

This post has been edited by Mov_freak: Oct 8 2015, 08:43 AM

Well, you are right about Apollo 13.

I will actually go as far as this movie being Apollo 13 meets Castaway!!!

Oh? I thought the "shower" scene was Matt (Scurvy-ridden and all). If not, my bad.

Crimson Peak (2015)

Going in, I had high hopes for this movie. Why? Guillermo del Toro, babe!!!

I know alot of people had watched/is watching this because of Tom Hiddleston (Thomas Sharpe). I have to say he has gotten the "tortured soul" act down peg!!

Interestingly, just before this premier of this movie a few weeks back Charlie Hunnam (Dr. Alan McMichael) opened up about how hard it was letting go of the lead role in 50 Shades of Grey (2014), because he had promised Guillermo del Toro he would do this first, and there was a scheduling conflict between this movie and 50 Shades of Grey. I respect him for that!!

From a production point of view, Guillermo never leave anything to happy happenstance!! By Jove, the sets for Allerdale Hall are just... staggering!!

I was impressed with what they did for the house in the movie The Haunting (1999) (in terms for the sets), and have to add, this movie's sets, blows that OUT OF THE WATER!!

As for Guillermo's latest ingenue, Mia Wasikowska (Edith Cushing), every time I see her, I kept thinking to myself, gosh, she sure looks like a cross between Martha Plimpton (The Goonies (1985)) & Jodie Foster. To the point when it got in the way of me watching the movie!!

Now, for me, the real highlight of the movie is Jessica Chastain (Lucille Sharpe). From the minute you saw her character in the movie, she was able to project a certain... lacking a better term, "off-ness" and I will leave it at that.

A word of caution, this is NOT a ghost story per se... Just so happens that be a story, where ghosts do make an appearance or two once in a while. As long as you "get" that, you will enjoy the movie better (the characters in the movie, keeps reminding you of that).

There is an old school approach Guillermo del Toro takes when making movies. What do I mean. What I mean is that, he places emphasis on telling the story.

For me, truth to be told, I found the ending "anti-climatic". I have to add, please do not let that deter you from watching this movie.

Why?

When I first watched Pan's Labyrinth (2006) and Don't Be Afraid of the Dark (2010), I found their ending anti-climatic as well. And with repeat watching, I enjoy them MUCH better!!

What am I saying?

I am saying, that Guillermo del Toro's works are like fine wine. You have to sip it slowly, let it air abit, let the flavour open up and then when you have another sip, you appreciate it even more!

... Clear as mud??

My Two Sen.

Goosebumps (2015)

Okay, right off the bat, this is a fun movie.

How much fun?

Think Jumanji (1995).

Think Zathura: A Space Adventure (2005).

Think, the first, Night at the Museum (2006).

Yes, that kind of fun!

I have NEVER read any of the books.

I may have watched some of the episodes for the TV series (if memory serves either Ryan Gosling or Ryan Reynolds were in some episodes... Quick search on IMDB and it is.... Ryan Gosling is the winner!!)

Jack Black plays the character R. L. Stine (author of the Goosebump books. The actual author made a cameo at the end). And honestly, I have not seen Jack Black plays a character so straight before!!! (HE COMBED HIS HAIR!!)

The lead kid Dylan Minnette (Zach. First notice him in Prisoners (2013)). I have a feeling he maybe a break out actor in the near future.

Not many people has watched this?

Hmpph...

Why no love for this movie people?

Really!?!

IT

IS

F.U.N.!!

My Two Sen

Aw...

Why did you have to go tell me that...

But then the good news is he is back as Bourne, so that maybe why he did not thin down. Or like me he CANNOT thin down...

Fantastic Four (2015)

This bombed at the box office.

And here's why...

Ronna Kress (Casting By) should be hung, for putting this cast together.

Pre-Disney Marvel sold the movie license to major studios

20th Century Fox
Fantastic Four: Doctor Doom/Victor von Doom, Human Torch/Johnny Storm, Invisible Woman/Susan Storm, Mr. Fantastic/Dr. Reed Richards, The Thing/Ben Grimm, Nova/Frankie Raye, Alicia Masters, Willie Lumpkin
X-Men Mutants: [Agent Zero/Maverick/David North], Angel/Warren Worthington III, Arclight/Phillippa Sontag, Beast/Dr. Henry Phillip “Hank” McCoy, [Blob/Frederick J. Dukes], [Bolt/Christopher Bradley], Callisto, Colossus/Piotr Nikolaievitch Rasputin, Cyclops/Scott Summers, [Deadpool/Wade Wilson], Emma (Grace) Frost, Jean Grey/Phoenix, Juggernaut/Cain Marko, Gambit/Remy LeBeau, Glob Herman/Herman Gardner, Iceman/Bobby Drake, Jubilee/Jubilation Lee, Katherine “Kitty” Anne Pryde, [Kestrel/John Wraith], Lady Deathstrike/Yuriko Oyama, Leech, Magneto/Erik Magnus Lehnsherr, Mastermind/Jason (Wyngarde), Multiple Man/James Arthur Madrox, Mystique/Raven Darkholme, Nightcrawler/Kurt Wagner, Phat/William Robert “Billy-Bob” Reilly, Professor Charles Xavier, Psylocke/Elizabeth “Betsy” Braddock, Pyro/St. John Allerdyce, Quill/Max Jordan, Rogue/(Anna) Marie, Sabretooth/Victor Creed, Sebastian Hiram Shaw, [Silver Fox], Siryn/Theresa Rourke Cassidy, (The) Spike, Storm/Ororo Munroe, Wolverine/Logan
X-Men Non-Mutants: Drake Family (Steven, Madeline, Ronny), Grey Family (Dr. John, Elaine), Henry Peter Gyrich, Robert Edward Kelly, Dr. Moira Kinross MacTaggert, Dr. Kavita Rao, William Stryker, Bolivar Trask, Warren Worthington II

Universal Pictures
The Incredible Hulk (2008)

Sony Pictures
Spider-Man: Spider-Man/Peter Parker, Doctor Octopus/Otto Octavius, Green Goblin/Norman Osborn, (New) Green Goblin/Harry Osborn, [The Lizard]/Dr. Curt Connors, Sandman/Flint Marko, Venom/Eddie Brock Jr., Vulture, Mysterio, Kraven the Hunter, Black Cat/Felicia Hardy, Silver Sable, Electro/Max Dillon, Rhino, Carnage/Cletus Kasady, Sinister Six, Shocker, Chameleon, The Gentleman, Dr. Ashley Kafka, Beetle, Betty Brant, Dennis Carradine (Buglar), J. Jonah Jameson, Ben Parker, May Parker, John Jameson, Joseph “Robbie” Robertson, Gwen Stacy, Mary Jane Watson, Mendel Stromm, Flash Thompson, Allistair Smythe, Spider-Slayers, Miles Warren/Jackal

Newline
Blade

What I understand from the deals are that if the above companies do not do anything with the movie property after a few years, Marvel/Disney get the movie rights back.

After this movie, I forsee the movie right for Fantastic Four revert back to Marvel/Disney.

Back to the movie

They changed the origins

At least the origins I am familiar with. (Closer to the Fantastic Four (2005))

I know the comics had been reboot, so maybe their followed the newly reboot origins and have to add, it is NOT good.

The movie tried really REALLY hard to be cool and there lays the biggest probably, in trying so hard to BE cool, the opposite is was achieve.

After the accident that produced their powers, they were brought to Area 57 (Alaska?)

Again, not sure if this is in the new comics, after they got their powers, the military tried to weaponized them?... (How very American) *Sigh*

Oh, another troubling issue with the movie, you know you are in trouble when you "care" more bout the main bad guy Victor Von Doom / Dr. Doom (Toby Kebbell) then you do the main good guy Reed Richards (Miles Teller).

Again casting issue, Jamie Bell as Ben Grimm / The Thing??

Come on??!?

This is BAD!!

REALLY REALLY BAD!!

You have to see it to believe it...

My Two Sen

NOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

You just SPOILT Specter for me!!!

I have NOT watched it yet....

Considering what??

I am always parked at a cinema??

I wish...

Spectre (2015)

Gosh, this is hard....

Why?

Because of... wait, I am getting ahead of myself...

First of all, I am sure most of you are familiar with the fact that a movie, usually consist of three arch!!

I kinda like the first two arch and then... the third happened and I went what the HECK!!!...

Again I am getting ahead of myself...

Secondly, is that Ed Sheeran's James Bond song? Er... what happened? He suddenly discovered falsetto?? Seriously!! (Shame on you Ed, and me, an actually fan!!)

Thirdly, Léa Seydoux is drop dead gorgeous!! So beautiful in fact she seems surreal. To me anyway!! And here is the problem, if only she can act!!! I mean, come on!!! Okay she is not as superfluous as the bond girls in Roger Moore's James Bond, but come on. Since Pierce Brosnan, the bond girls have been great... Wait, there is an exception!! Teri Hatcher in Tomorrow Never Dies (1997). I can still remember that GOD AWFUL feather dress!!!

Andrew Scott...

In fact,

Going back to my What The HECK, I was just blown away by the fact that I was so UNBLOWN AWAY by the ending!!! Am I making sense??

*Sigh*

Okay, okay, I had stated I kinda like the first two arch, namely


And when it was revealed that


I don't know. This movie could have easily been one of the biggest money maker this year, if only the ending was more... unique.

It really does not matter what I say here, if you are a James Bond movie buff, you will watch this. And chances are you will enjoy it.

I believe many a people will insist that I am nitpicking.

Maybe I am.

As always,

My Two Sen

P.S. I wonder I wonder, did QuickFire enjoy this? Hmm...

Howl (2015)

A direct to DVD movie in England is a feature movie in Malaysia.

It is good

Extremely good.

Low budget, yet entertaining.

Puts alot of big budget horror movies to shame really!!

If you like werewolf and you like movies like An American Werewolf in London (please note the Paris one), chances are you'll like this.

My Two Sen

I am relax.

I am chill.

See!? (holding my hand out, and it is still)

Oh, you cannot see that can you...

Yes, thank you.

I have made a boo boo...

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 (2015)

Deja Vu

Why Deja Vu???

This is Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011) ALL OVER AGAIN!!

Okay

Okay, I am getting ahead of myself again...

Just putting it out there, if you are adapting a book, YOU REALLY DO NOT NEED TO MAKE THE LAST BOOK A DOUBLE WHAMMY SO YOU CAN SQUEEZE MORE MONEY OUT OF YOUR VIEWERS.

ONLY DO IT IF THE MATERIAL REQUIRES IT!!!

Seriously people...

Instead of a long drawn out part one and two, this could have easily been a one... well movie!!

Having said that, is this movie worth watching??

An a word, yes!

A few observations

The ending is quite heart wrenching, for me anyway

I just wish they did not dragged it out into two movies.

This is much MUCH better compared with... Twillight... *Shivers*

My Two Sen