The Way We Dance 狂舞派 (2013)

How would a Chinese dance movie compared with their western counter part like Step Up ?

The answer is, they cannot.

Strange, because the Chinese excel at Gymnastic and Kung Fu.

The issue lays not in the technical know how, and have to add, it is the ability to express oneself freely.

I do not mean to put this movie down, where is has not reach the standards set by their Western counterpart, it does have it merits, namely, Chinese Kung Fu!!

It added elements from Chinese Kung Fu and it works!!

Namely and glow Stick Nunchuk and Tai Chi!!

Also the inclusion finger shadow puppet is actually quite brilliant!!

If you like dance, give this a go!!

My Two Sen

As the Germans say, It's the Wurst!!!

Vampire Academy (2014)

Once upon a time, a bunch of big shots at Reliance Entertainment got together.

They brainstormed for a bit, and this is what happened in the meeting...

Bigshot: So, any ideas as to what we can make for cheap and reap a ga-zillion dollars?

Executive #1: What's this I hear about sparkling vampires that kids are crazy about nowadays?

Executive #2: I believe you are think of Twilight. Yes, that made alot of money. But if we produce something similar, the public would think we are cashing in on the franchises...

Writer #1: Well... Not necessarily. We can come up with something similar and actually makes fun of the said franchise, should the movie can appear smart, trend and edgy! And at the same time give the general teenagers the same old, same old.

Writer #2: Well... serving the same thing and giving it a different name might backfire on us, we have to give it a different spin...

Executive #1: Wasn't there another franchise about a wizard kid that made Warner alot of dough??

Writer #1: Harry Potter.

Executive #1: Yes, yes that. It;s been awhile now, can we not do something similar to that instead?!

Executive #2: Well, we could try and do an original script, ...

Bigshot: Too expensive, to big a risk!! We have to watch the bottom line now.

Executive #1: Well, are there any other young adult novels that is doing well?

Executive #2: Or we can buy the right to the Narnia franchise and do a number 4?

Bigshot: No, no, no, Fox had already done that and the returns was poor!! We need something new, something fresh and we can get alot of unknowns to play the key roles inexpensively and maybe convincingly!

Executive #2: We might need SOME veteran actors to give this some weight. No one expensive. Just, you know... Known!! Well, Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy seem to have a large following...

Executive #1: Can we get the film rights cheaply?

Executive #2: Maybe... We'll see.

Writer #1: Vampires and magic...

Writer #2: Hmph... and maybe a dash of Juno in the lead...

Bigshot: Okay it is decided, get it done guys, and I want the product out by 2014!

The above is what I think happened which leads to this disastrous movie.

It is a dash better then the first Twilight, but not by much!

I watched this, SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO...

You've been warned kiddies, YOU'VE BEEN WARNED!!

My Two Sen...

This post has been edited by Mov_freak: Apr 28 2014, 02:56 PM

THANK YOU FOR THAT!!!

I don't think I can take it anymore... I really cannot...

Maybe a nice pad room with not AV is the answer... Yes, maybe THAT'S the answer...

To Catch a Thief (1955)

This is an interesting Alfred Hitchcock movie, though not at the top of my Alfred Hitchcock must see list.

Why, because it actually DOES NOT INVOLVE MURDER!! (Yes, I am THAT macabre)

Cary Grant was thinking about retiring, and Hitchcock managed to talk him out of it to do this. (And after that to do North By Northwest)

Grace Kelly's last few works in Hollywood before she became Princess Grace!! She supposedly like the script to Marnie (1964) , but because of her duty to her adopted country and family, did not return to Hollywood to do that.

Lyn Murray (composer who scored this) introduced Bernard Herrmann to Hitchcock and they say, the rest is History.

I also would like to take a minute here to talk about Edith Head. I think in the Hollywood movie industry, she well know, not because he is the BEST costume designer around, but because she is the most "people oriented" designer at the time, which made her very popular amongst the stars!! The reason why I want to talk about her is that, Google her, find a picture of her. Does she look familiar? No?? Really? Not familiar at all? All I can say is Edna 'E' Mode (think The Incredibles (2004)) She is THAT well know in the movie industry, even Pixar paid Homage to her!!

Okay, sorry for my ramblings, back to the movie.

As stated above, not one of my favorite Hitchcock movie, though there are some interesting bits to it.

Cary Grant plays a retired "cat thief" who is living the life at the French Riviera.

Out of the blue the well to dos are losing their precious diamond collection one after another.

An insurance company representative H.H. Hughson, tracks down John Robie (Cary Grant) and requested him to find out who the "Cat" is and in the midst, John Robie meet up with a wealthy Jessie Stevens & and her daughter Frances Stevens (Grace Kelly)

While John Robie is trying to discover who the diamond thief is, Frances Stevens is trying to steal his heart!!

This is a rare thing for Hitchcock. Half of this movie was actually film on location (French Riviera) and the other half in the studio. Hitchcock HATES to film on location because of the lighting.

This movie also impress on us how Hitchcock alluded the censors. Back then he cannot show men or women in sexual context. What does he do, he has Grace Kelly wear a one piece swimsuit at the beach, rubbing sunscreen onto her skin! And when Cary Grant and Grace Kelly kisses, they then cut to a firework in the sky scene, letting the audience know that more is happening then meets the eye. I know they are sound rather tame by today's standards because these scene are copied to death, but back then, no one had done it before....

If you like Hitchcock stuff, you know who you are, watch this!!

My Two Sen

This post has been edited by Mov_freak: Apr 29 2014, 09:02 PM

A History of Violence (2005)

For some odd reason, this is one movie that I keep revisiting.

David Cronenberg brilliant directing. He took a page out of Hitchcock, and manage to put the audience at the edge of their seat!!

Josh Olson clever adaptation of the graphic novel.

Viggo Mortensen hands on approach to the character (in this case Maria Bello...) is quite something to see!!!

How David Cronenberg quietly broach the topic of VIOLENCE in this movie is really SPECTACULAR!!

There is NO wrong to this movie.

Direction, Script, Cinematographer, Cast, everything is SPOT ON!!

If you have never watch this, and you like to see MASTERS at work, watch this.

My Two Sen

Son of Batman (2014)

Having Marvel run rings around them in terms of live action movie, I have to say that DC/Warner is much MUCH progressive at their Animated Features.

Case in Point, Son of Batman, good storyline, great voice acting and animation is pretty good too!

The idea of Damian Wayne is pretty intriguing.

And it is well executed here.

The interaction between Damian and Alfred Pennyworth and for that matter Damian and Dick Grayson is actually classic!!

My only concern is the treatment of Ra's Al Ghul.

I really do not want to say more, so I do not spoil it for you.

If you like the idea of Batman, please watch this!

My Two Sen.

This post has been edited by Mov_freak: May 1 2014, 10:59 PM

Topaz (1969)

Well, I have actually seen this before and had forgotten, and that is actually a good summary of the movie.

Most people believe this is the beginning of the end for the career of Hitchcock!

Things were changing around Hitchcock at this period in his life... The Studio system which he is very comfortable with was crashing around him. Hollywood was changing. America, his adopted country was changing. Film making was changing, and he was aging...

For me, these are the issues with the movie

1) The Subject matter, Cuban missile crisis... I really did not care much for the subject matter.

2) I have no issue with a director experimenting. Outside of the of Hitchcock English movie, this has the most European feel, and adding to that making a spy thriller, with actors who are actually very good, the characters are... almost alien, and not VERY relate-able.

3) After Torn Curtain (1966) and having alot of issues with it's stars Paul Newman & Julie Andrews, Hitchcock choose to use mainly European actors, who, outside of Europe is not very recognizable...

This movie was not well received, even when it was being previewed before the launch of the movie. The test card after the movie was really really bad, which cause the studio to go into a panic, and they pressured Hitchcock to make several alternate ending to the movie and none tested well... It is my personal opinion that the one that ended up in the movie were the worst of the lot. Cest La Vie...

Do not let my opinions to stop you from watching it.

It is a Hitchcock movie, and even a second tier Hitchcock movie is a good movie compared to most director's first tier movie!!

As always, My Two Sen.

Police Story 2013 警察故事2013

Not many people in Hong Kong can claim to have been in the movie industry for as long as Jackie Chan and as successful!!

Many a people know that he is a risk taker and had done alot of his stunts himself and had paid the price many a times.

As you get to his age, how to you maintain THAT!!!

The answer is you cannot.

So what can he offer in this movie?

Well, it is one of the most "Chinese" movie he is ever in (eg. Chinese as in China Chinese. This movie is definitely made largely with the China Chinese market in mind)

Bare in mind China has a firm quota of only 34 US movie a year allowed into the Chinese Cinema market a year. So one can hypothesize that the China Chinese are not, shall we say, heavily saturate by the US movies so, tailoring your storyline to emulate US storyline with China as a back drop, maybe a good idea.

It is obvious which franchise this movie attempted to emulate, and I am sure it is well receive in China, being someone who is a self confess movie freak, I assure you are am so saturated by the US movie it is basically at toxin levels... What I'm trying to say it that this movie really did nothing for me...

Don't get me wrong, as usual, jackie give it his all.

Good try Jackie, but unfortunately for me, no dice...

My Two Sen

This post has been edited by Mov_freak: May 1 2014, 11:01 PM

Interesting how I cannot use the name Dick, without manipulating the text a little!!

That is EXACTLY why it is censored...

Please do. It is THAT good!

Grown Ups 2 (2013)

As mildly amusing as Grown Up was and ending was actually touching. If anyone needs a reason why a sequel should not be attempted, please, please note that THIS is it an EXCELLENT example.

It is PAINFUL to watch. REALLY REALLY painful.

You have been warned kiddies, YOU'VE BEEN WARNED!!

My Two Sen.

Kiss the Girls (1997)

I miss movies like this.

Decent storyline (Mystery/Thriller).

Good cast (Morgan Freeman, Ashley Judd & Cary Elwes).

And the film is well executed!!

If you are into sick serial killer, this movie is for you!

I would have to say Ashley Judd probably looked her best here!!

If that is not motivation enough to watch this movie, I don't know what will!!

My Two Sen.

Q: The Winged Serpent (1982)

For me this is a blast from the past!!

I watched this when it was first release (not at the cinema, but VHS tapes).

This movie is influenced by many movie, namely, King Kong (1933), The French Connection (1971), and many other B movies.

This is an instance that a movie can be so bad that is actually becomes good!!

Cast wise, it has David Carradine (Kung Fu anyone??), Michael Moriarty & Richard Roundtree.

They did not have much (story wise) to work with and by Jove, they worked their[COLOR=black] ass off for this movie!!

For those of you who is familiar with Aztec myth, this movie takes a stab at the Quetzalcoatl myth.

So you know what that means, A Feathered Wing Serpent, in GLORIOUS STOP MOTION!!!

Good luck finding this if you are interested.

My Two Sen

Body Heat (1981)

I am on an 80s binge!!

This movie is interesting.

It is very heavily influence by Film Noir!!

Script is clever!

Every censorship that was imposed on Film Noir are broken, and broken thoroughly in this movie.

William Hurt oozes sleaze!

And Kathleen Turner just oozes...

There is even a young Ted Danson & Mickey Rourke here!!

It is my personal belief that this kinda spearhead other movies like, with mix success rate:

Angel Heart (1987)
Two Moon Junction (1988)
Night Eyes (1990)
Wild Things (1998)

One word best describe this movie. Sultry.... Very VERY Sultry.

Not suitable to view with young kids!!

My Two Sen.

This post has been edited by Mov_freak: May 3 2014, 07:37 PM

Turbo (2013)

How do you lose USD 52 million dollar at the box office?

Easy, you make a CGI movie about about a snail who can out run an F1 car...

Even on paper the concept look weak.

How the movie got made is really beyond me...

Poor Ryan Reynold, he had had made several big budget doo doos...

There really isn't much else to say about this movie...

Just... weak...

My Two Sen

She's All That (1999)

A teenage RomCom.

There are two thing that I have to say about this movie.

1) So many names in this one, Freddie Prinze Jr., Rachael Leigh Cook, Matthew Lillard, Anna Paquin & Usher Raymond and they were ALL so young...

2) I forgot Paul Walker was in this one. It is still sad to see him...

A simple, light, mildly amusing and predictable movie.

There is a market for this kind of movies.

My Two Sen.

I suppose I am not the demographic they were shooting for...

What happens when you crossed Thunderbirds (1965) (eg Gerry Anderson) + ILSA + Ultraman + Inglourious Basterds (2009)?

Why, you get

Danger 5 (2011– )

It is tacky, corny, low budget and SO BAD, IT IS ACTUALLY GOOD!!

Plus, it is Australian made!

Will wonders never cease!!

Just give this a try!

Just do it!!

I have NOT laugh so hard for a very VERY long time.

My Two Sen.