This line very hilarious lol.... "Channing Tatum (WHAT THE HECK MADE HIM DECIDE TO TAKE ON THAT ROLE laugh.gif)!!!!!!"

Last night watched special premiere
The Legend of Hercules (2014) - movie not bad....

This post has been edited by Mickey C: Jan 9 2014, 09:02 PM

August: Osage County (2013)

A slightly less than satisfying drama about a dysfunctional family. Meryl Streep delivers yet another amazing performance. Julia Roberts takes on a dark role in this film and nails it effortlessly, arguably her best performance since Erin Brockovich. The film on the hand, is off the mark on multiple occasions and focuses too much on some particular scenes in the middle, and the whole thing seems go down hill after that. Also, none of the characters are likable and there is nothing that the audience can resonate with. It sure has some good moments here and there, but frankly if not for Meryl Streep and Julia Robert's performances, it would be unwatchable.

Rating: 3/5

This post has been edited by ComposMentis: Jan 11 2014, 12:05 AM

Today watched:
Red Hill (2010) - btw this is Aussie movie....
Superman: Unbound (2013) - good, but this superman look is quite difference, horse face if you know what I mean.. ...
Stepfather (2009) - fun, good for entertainment.. this is remake, I didn't watch the original...

watched special premiere
Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (2014) - not bad. Jack Ryan is a marine plus CIA, but after he killed Embee, he freaked out, look like juniour not very pro. Later on he is very pro... Keira Knightley is lovely, I wish to have this type of gf, but I don't have...

https://forum.lowyat.net/topic/3067737/+60

City Of Ember (2008) - Good sci fiction fantasy movie, Good for family entertainment.

Guilt Trip (2012) - Very good road trip movie & is a family movie too.

The Legend of Hercules (2014)

Director: Renny Harlin
Stars: Kellan Lutz

Okay, okay, I can "feel" alot of eyes rolling and heads shaking!!

I know, I know most of you probably think of Kevin Sorbo (Hercules: The Legendary Journeys) or Ryan Gosling (Young Hercules) when you hear Hercules or maybe even the Disney's 1998 animation feature, Hercules (I know him as Heracles [Greek Version])

Bare in mind, when I hear Hercules, the below comes to mind

Us Production

Hercules in New York (1969) with Arnold Schwarzenegger as Herc

Italian Production

Hercules in the Haunted World (1961) with Reg Park as Herc
Hercules and the Captive Women (1961) with Reg Park as Herc
Hercules Against the Sons of the Sun (1964) with Mark Forest as Herc
The Adventures of Hercules II (1985) with Lou Ferrigno as Herc

The one that I have the best recollection of is actually the Lou Ferrigno's. Not because it is really good, but because it is really REALLY bad! So much so that I can still recall it (and I actually watched it in 1985)!!!

By I digress.

Okay, calling a bowl and bowl and calling a plate a plate, in it's entirety, this is NOT a bad movie.

There I've said it, and have to add, it does have it's good and definitely it's bad...

The Good

Say what you want about director Renny Harlin, he sure know how to use $70,000,000, because believe it or not, the movie does look bigger than the budget!!

From a story point of view, although the script writers did take some artistic licensing with a pretty well know myth, and have to say, the licensing they took kinda worked for the movie.

Liam McIntyre (Sotiris) is really good here and although I did not like her at the beginning Roxanne McKee (Queen Alcmene) she kinda won me over later on in the movie.

Additionally, say want you want about Kellan Lutz, having the weight of $70,000,000 on his shoulder is not a trivia matter, and for at least half of the movie, he did sell to me, he is Hercules!! In short, I believe he has potential as being the leading man material, than let's say Taylor Lautner (come on guys be fair, you should compare apples with apples and oranges with oranges, and not Kellan Lutz with James McAvoy!!) Having said that even compared to Arnold Schwarzenegger's or Lou Ferrigno's Hercules, he does a much better job.

The Bad


It is tough to be the chicks in this movie

So, in conclusion, this movie started out shaking, kinda find it's footing in the middle and somewhat gave the audience what they want at the end. It is NOT gonna get an Academy/Golden Globe Awards, but if you are in the mood for a sword and sandals movie, it is actually decent.

As always, I humbly submit, My Two Sen.

This post has been edited by Mov_freak: Jan 16 2014, 11:43 AM

What I didn't like about the movie was the fact it didn't really acknowledge anything about Hercules being mythical other than the frequent references to Zeus and Hera



The Nemean lion was a teasing hint at Hercules' 12 labours, but I was disappointed that they didn't go down that route and chose to make a derivative 300-like film (seriously? who uses capes in battle?)

Looking at all the negative reviews, here are additional conclusion I can draw about this movie...

As for the twelve tasks of Hercules, I suppose the producers are hoping this movie will do well, for a second episode, to tackle with the rest of the tasks... If you are familiar with the myth, you will know why Hercules had to accomplish the said tasks...

Also, is there really a need for two Hercules movies in a year. Expect Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson Hercules later in the year...

My Additional Two Sen

Don't Be Afraid of the Dark (2010) - Good..
Doctor Strange-The Sorcerer Supreme (2007) Very good...

Insomnia (2002)

I caught a couple of Christopher Nolan's films over the weekend. They were Inception and Insomnia. It's just a coincidence that both titles started with the letter 'I'. Since almost everyone and their aunts know about Inception, I'll talk about Insomnia in this post.

Insomnia came out more than 10 years ago in 2002 and starred Al Pacino as Detective Will Dormer, Robin Williams as Walter Finch and Hilary Swank as Detective Ellie Burr. The movie takes place in Nightmute, a small Alaskan town on the Artic circle which has the 'white nights' phenomenon. This is where for certain periods of the year, the sun is always in the sky.

A murder of Kay Cornell, a local 17 year old in Nightmute has shaken the town. This is because the murderer has taken the pains to thoroughly clean the body to rid if of any evidence that might point to the perpetrator. The Nightmute local police, knowing that this is way out of their league, calls for help from the LA police and Detectives Will Dormer and Hap Eckhart (Martin Donovan) are sent to assist. What the Nightmute police don't know is that both Dormer and Eckhart are being investigated by Internal Affairs. On their first day on the case, Eckhart told Dormer that he's accepting an offer from Internal Affairs to testify against Dormer.

Working on the Cornell case, Dormer managed to lure the suspect back to the murder scene but the attempt to arrest the suspect fails and the suspect flees into the fog. Giving chase, Dormer is fired upon by the suspect and as he pursue the suspect, Dormer returned a shot towards a figure in the fog only to find out later that he has accidentally shot Eckhart. Eckhart dies from the shot. Dormer manages to retrieve the suspect's handgun and hatches a plan to pin the blame on the suspect.

Detective Ellie Burr is assigned to investigate Eckhart's shooting as Dormer continues with the original murder case. Dormer falsely testifies that the suspect shot Eckhart but he isn't aware that the suspect, Walter Finch, has seen the whole thing. Thus begins the cat and mouse game between Finch and Dormer as both try to warp the case for their own benefits. Dormer does not want his accidental shooting of Eckhart to be uncovered and Finch wants to be free of the blame for his 'accidental' killing of Kay Cornell.

Both Pacino and Williams gave great performances in the film and the story is gripping. If you like a criminal thriller, then you should not give this film a miss.

Rating : 3.5 stars out of 5

I Saw The Devil (korean)


My heart ache watching this movie.
I would put it in the same level with Se7en.
Great acting, well shot and directed, very thrilling and VERY DISTURBING.
9/10

My 1st Platinum Movie Suites,
Lone Survivor (2014) - Very very good war action movie.
Platinum Movie Suites is very comfortable....

Her.

Go see it at the cinema because

1. It's possibly the single best film I've seen from 2013. Spike Jonze, you little quirky genius.
2. your support will convince GSC to keep bringing in movies like this?

Wouldn't call it level with Se7en; it's far less classy and far more blunt in its themes and violence, and its deliberate insistence in planting your feet in morally murky waters is questionable, but the shock factor, zippy pace, and sheer audacity of the direction (the cab scene.. whoa) make this a very worthy watch for those who can stomach it.

Big Bad Wolves
A revenge torture porn flick that does not play it straight to the conventional thriller mold.Fantastic dialogues laden with very dark humour scenes.Although the plot may have similarity to The Prisoner which took itself seriously,BBW has a lighter approach and a lot more easier to watch.Imagine Johnnie To bringing his A game to the table.
Tarantino was raving about this movie as one of the best 2013 release.
Highly recommended.

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (2014)

I've always like the Jack Ryan movies.

I have never read the books, mind you, but ever since The Hunt Of Red October (1990), I've been a fan.

So I was intrigued by the announcement of this movie.

Watched it yesterday and... a little disappointed...

I believe by now, many a people probably know I am prejudice against anything too "American-Centric" and there in lays what is wrong with this movie...

Even in the beginning, it started on a wrong footing... (eg. Sept 11). I am not suggesting it is not a terrible thing. What I'm suggesting is, that event is currently used by the States to get away with... well murder... They complain to the world like a bully in school who tells the teacher a small boy had hit him, but hid the fact that he had been picking on the small boy for years!!

Also the premise of the movie also suggest the fact that their eavesdropping on the world is JUSTIFIED... (Snowden anyone. Or propaganda for that matter).

This Jack Ryan is a little different from the other Jack Ryan movies. In the other movie, Jack Ryan is an Analyst who end up as a reluctant field agent. In this, he is an Analyst, who is a reluctant field agent, but with MARINES training...

I don't think Chris Pine, is the best choice. Pairing him up with Keira Knightley (look at me I'm American.... NOT) wasn't a great idea as well...

Any silver lining? Well veterans like Kevin Costner and Kenneth Branagh did their roles well, but am too used to having great African Americans actors playing Thomas Harper...

Almost ALL characters are under develop, and the Russian sleeper agents premised is just weak, weak, weak!!

Quickfire

If I had read you review on Her (2013) earlier, might have watched that rather then this...

A very disappointing affair...

My Two Sen

Just finished watching Her.

I think that movie just trumped Forest Gump as my personal favourite movie of all time.

The movie is sci-fi, but it feels very real.. the emotions...
The feels...

Nice this will be on my list

Crappy movie despite Van Damme's over-the-top villainous character.

Not truly worth it.