The Uninvited (1944)

A ghost/horror movie made during WWII, and is the first that takes "ghost story" seriously (instead or camp/comedic).

Quite well cast.

Beautifully shot.

Movie opens with a pair of carefree brother and sister, "discovering" a huge "abandon" mansion on a cliff, by the sea.

On a spur, they made a ridiculous offer on the house to the owner of the house and surprisingly, they offer was accepted!

They moved from the city (London) to the country side to their new mansion and soon befriended the original owner's grand daughter, who has a strange attachment to the mansion...

Things soon goes bump in the dark?

Interesting movie.

Actually uses something that is widely copied in future ghost movie, ectoplasm, which is quite well done (not quite sure how they managed it back then).

If you like old movies, give it a go.

My Two Sen

RED (2010)

I re-watched this recently and it does survive re-watching.

Funny, clever and action packed.

Wonderfully cast really!!

Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich, Brian Cox, Helen Mirren, Richard Dreyfuss and Bruce Willis.

My only concern is how to you get from directing this, to R.I.P.D. (2013) (I am looking at you Robert Schwentke!!!)????

If you like action movie, with a difference, give this a go

My Two Sen.

Risen (2016)

Joseph Fiennes (brother of Ralph Finnes) plays a Roman Tribune (Clavius), who is tasked with finding the missing body of an executed Jew (rumored to have risen from the dead). Hence the title. C.S.I. much....

To top it offer Draco Malfoy (erm I mean Tom Felton) plays a young Roman Centurian eager to prove himself.

I found this tedious...

My Two Sen.

Watched, Listened,

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (2016)

I am rarely surprised by a movie.

Especially if it shows signs of originality!

I was constantly surprised by this movie and surprisingly quite original!!!

Jane Austin and zombies are NEVER spoken together and like and oxymoron they do now!!

Believe or not the oriental killing arts comes into play!! Horror as well!!

The casting perfect.

Great production value.

Script is witty and the direction on the point!

I like this movie ALOT

My Two sen.

This post has been edited by Mov_freak: May 28 2016, 09:24 PM

Gods of Egypt (2016) Addendum

For my original review, please goto

Mov Freak's Gods of Egypt Review

It is STILL not good second time round...

Was surprise to discover that Chadwick Boseman played Thoth (he is now more well know as Black Panther)
What is sad is that if you watched the making of, the whole team put so much afford into this movie. I actually had more fun watching the making of, compared with the actual movie (At the beginning of the movie, there was a fight between Set and Horus, in the making of, during rehearsal, Horus (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) kept grabbing Set (Gerard Butler) privates.... When Set was standing over Horus.... (Gerard actually blushed!! )

Also sad the fact I was enthusiastic about this movie was because of Alex Proyas (who also directed I Robot (2004) and Dark City (1998) both I like alot)

A for effort
D for delivery...

My Additional Two Sen

Nice!

Er... no love for Eye of Agamotto, Doctor Strange??

Watched Zoolander 2 yesterday....

The only thing worth mention about that is Benedict Cumberbatch' s All!!

Er... You know that "Ironman" was Marvel 2nd grand character until the movie right

Marvel had at that time licensed out all the 1st grade character (X-Men, Spiderman Daredevil, Thor etc)...

I wouldn't know they 2nd grade character, not after 2008, not after Ironman...

Independence Day (20th Anniversary Edition) 1996 (2016 release)

Picture this, 1996, me and a couple of friends, drove up to K.L. for a day trip.

Objective?

To watch the movie, called Independence Day.

Leading up to this, I bought the Trading Cards, read the novel, and even then I was so excited, I did not sleep much the nite b4, (bad, I was the designated driver).

Got the One Utama, got our tickets, and THE movie started and IT WAS WORTH IT!!!

Twenty years later, even owning the 2008 release, I had to get my hands on the 20 Anniversary version?

Why, well, there is JUST something about the movie, and more importantly, this is a brand new remaster (because Fox is releasing this on 4K so one would assuming this bluray is from the same remaster)!!!!

So, is it worth is!!!

O.M.G. is it ever!

Compared to the 2008 release, the difference is Night and Day!!

The details, color, depth (and also an Extended Cut) all much MUCH better!

If you have not watched this, or if you are thinking of getting this, THIS is the version to get (unless you or one lucky fellow who had invested in 4K TV and UHD player, then maybe the 4K version is better)

I cannot emphasis how much better this remaster edition is.

And plus, the movie STILL magic!

My Two Sen

My goodness!!!!

I cannot stop watching this!!!!

Jeepers Creepers (2001)

Wow, it's kinda a reruns for me these few days.

This also got a new remaster and also new special features!!!

This movie never looked better.

Do not compare it to, let's say Avatar (this is after all a pretty low budget movie).

But compared to it's previous releases (DVD and Bluray) this is the best it has looked.

This movie is basically a road trip.

Brother and Sister going back home from college for spring break.

Instead of taking the highway they decided to use the scenic route.

Can they bumped into something they should not have bumped into.

Basically this is a creature feature.

The first half of the movie was just BRILLIANT.

The second half, because of budget constraints, the director did not get to tell the story he had written but did not filmed.

Even then, it is a pretty darn good scary movie.

Interested to note that this is Justin Long's third feature.

He and his sister's reaction is from the the point of view of the audience.

If you have not watched this, threat yourself

My Two Sen

Jeepers Creepers II (2003)

What do you do, if a small movie you put out there, which you had not much high hopes for makes alot of money??

Well. You make a sequel.

The original team came back

Writer/Director Victor Salva got more money and control on the project.

Not as original as the first, but as sequels goes, it is actually decent.

This take place (in terms of time frame) quite close to the first movie.

About a bunch of high school students, trapped on a broken down bus, on a desolated country road.

The "creature" is slightly difference and definitely more "cheeky".

If you like the first, you would like this.

Again, movie never looked better.

My Two Sen.

Not quite my cup of tea.

I prefer Legends of Jazz with Ramsey Lewis (2006) better.

Victor Victoria (1982)

In the spirit of La Cage aux Folles (1978) (The French [original] version of Birdcage (1996)), Julie Andrews headline this movie, in which she shed her goody two shoes image (wanna be nun and English Nanny)!

I am doing what I usually do not do, provided a synopsis of the movie.

Victoria Grant (Julie Andrews) a starving Opera singer meets Carole "Toddy" Todd (Robert Preston) equally financially low talent scout, in Paris.

After their chance meeting and discovering that Victoria can hit a perfect "G" (which shatters glass), Toddy comes up with the idea of Victoria, pretending to be Victor (a guys) who is the BEST female impersonator in the world!

They managed to convince a club owner, Andre Cassell (John Rhys-Davies) to give them a show, which turns out to be a hit.

At the same show Andre invited a wealthy American club owner, King Marchand (James Garner) in which he did, and he was mesmerised by Victoria and even gave her a standing ovation (much to the chagrins of his girlfriend Norma Cassady (Lesley Ann Warren)). And when it was revealed that Victoria is actually Victor, he was horrified!!! Mayhem ensues....

Henry Mancini wrote all the music for this, not sure if it is he last work, and the music is great!!

I like the Le Jazz Hot best, though Crazy World seems to be the movie maker's favorite.

The highlight? Seeing Robert Preston doing the Shady Dame From Seville!!!

Definitely NOT for everyone. And have to add if you like The Birdcage, you will like this.

Interestingly, Julie Andrews reprised the role many years later in Broadway!

My Two Sen.

Hail, Caesar! (2016)

It is amazing how they managed to recreate old Hollywood

Also amazing how they took what was a "witch hunt" during the 50's for communist which in this movie turns out to be true!!

Great movie,

Great Cast.

Great direction.

And a really funny movie.

My Two Sen.

Sky High (2005)

A silly heroes going to school movie produced by Disney (before the purchase of Marvel) which is quite good and does survive multiple viewing.

Quite like this.

Not sure why they did not made a part 2....

Not to be confused with Zoom (2006) which is a disaster.

My Two Sen.

Legends of Jazz: Showcase (2006)

If you want a true definition of the English word "MASTERFUL", watch this.

Every single performance, masterful.

Highlights for me are

Take That - Al Jarreau & Kurt Elling
They Can't Take That Away From Me - Jane Monnet & John Pizzarelli
Obsession - Dave Valentin

If you are a fan of Jazz, you know what to do.

My Two Sen.

History of The Eagles Parts 1 & 2

It has been a musical weekend.

I am assuming that I caught "The Eagles" bug, after watching their MTV special in 1994 (showcasing DTS).

And after watching this documentary...

People are... hard.

Creative people are even harder...

They obviously are talented, but boy the egos...

I have to give credit where credit is due, they are honest in this documentary.

They show the world all their sides, warts and all.

Also it did re ignite my interest in their music.

Watching this until 4am this morning...

My eye bags will appreciate me...

My two Sen

The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness (Rough translation, documentary)

A documentary crew follows Miyazaki Hayao san, around while he was making The Wind Rises (2013) (Which I have not watched). Though I have watched and enjoyed Takes of Princess Kaguya (2013).

It took him 2 year to come out with the story boards, while the animators are working on scene he had already storyboard.

He does not write scripts, everything is on the story board (dialogue etc)

I have heard of people "visualising" scenes in their mind, watching him work, really "solidify" this concept for me.

After finishing the story board, he then explains to the animators the mannerism of each character in detail for scene... The information knocking around the guys head is staggering!!

No wonder it takes them such a long time to make a movie and the company is on the verge of finacial ruin...

I cannot say I am a die hard Miyazaki fan, and have to add, after watching this I have develop respect for him.

There is absolutely no rhythm or reason why he does things the way he does, and you cannot fault him for doing things his way.

The only other person I can think of who works the same way as him is... Walt Disney, hence the constant comparison.

Some people are just born with talents.

My Two Sen

From Up on Poppy Hill (2011)

Managed to catch this again during the weekend.

A Studio Ghibli production.

This company is very good at drawing you in with the mundane!!!

What do I mean, the start of the movie consist of a young girl waking up.

A young girl preparing breakfast.

The same girl runs up some flags.

The rest of the house hold wakes up

They have breakfast

The kids go to school

And like that you are hooked!!!

I kid you not.

This is a love story, not in the sense of Romeo and Juliet.

There really isn't much earth shattering situation that occurs, but you are sold, right to the end!!

Story takes place in 1962, two years before the Tokyo Olympics.

Bare in mind these "kids" were born right after WWII, after the horrible atomic bombs.

So maybe the banality is a conscious decision by Miyazaki to balance out the horrors of WWII...

Anyway, I love the movie.

I LOVE the animation.

And you root for the two leads, even if the lives are extraordinarily... normal!!

My Two Sen.