mygunyourhead613 Reviews

The Secret World of Arrietty (2010)

Simply beautiful!

[8/10 · 26 July 2013]

I'm a big fan of Ghibli movies, not only because they do a fantastic work with original plot and unique characters, but it's obvious how much effort and heart they put into making their films, they simply come out beautiful. So when I heard that this movie didn't get that much attention, I decided to give it a try and see what was up, and now I've lost faith in people. It was truly great! :)

This story deals with a Borrower (Tiny people who borrow things from bigger people in order to live) named Arrietty and how in order to survive in a world of bigger people she must maintain her and her family's existence a secret...until she is found by human-size Sho, a young boy with a heart condition who changes the way she perceives size and human existence.

Through this story not only is a sweet friendship born, but a realization that not all humans are evil - that just because someone is a different size or different from you it doesn't mean that they are a necessarily evil, and as Arrietty gave Sho a chance to prove, a relationship/friendship can start even from so seemingly different groups of people. It's just a matter of opening one's heart, which is something that I loved about this film.

Can I ramble on about how the soundtrack for the movie was SO pretty?!? I particularly loved the music at the beginning, right off the bat I was hooked.

I additionally liked the fact that the story is easy to follow (not saying that it was predictable, but you could relate and understand what was happening) and it's a seriously good movie for kids - or well, me.

The only "down" I found in the movie was I felt it was incomplete - at least for me, it ended too quickly and I didn't feel a true closure. I hoped to at least see what happened to Sho and where exactly Arrietty and the rest ended up living at. (I thought maybe concluding with them moving out by the ocean (as Arrietty's mom always dreamed of) and Arrietty thinking back upon Sho would have been a great ending, but I understand that the director wanted to leave it open to our imaginations, so that ends right there).

But all in all, 'twas a SWEET film!! I loved it!

Other than that, I simply liked it!

Mujhse Fraaandship Karoge (2011)

Fantaaaastic movie!! :-)

[8/10 · 12 June 2013]

This is the first Indian movie I've ever seen, and I've got to say: I'm IMPRESSED!! I'm looking forward to more movies like this! This isn't like the average "chick flick" that comes to mind, ya know...girl seeks "popular hot" boy, girl somehow gets "popular hot" boy (even through all the crazy things she does), this movie is REALISTIC and portrays how even for EXTREME hating-each-other's-guts opposites Vishal and Preity, there is STILL a thin line between hate and love. Unlike most high-budget Hollywood movies, this movie does a WELL-BETTER job of exploring that (which surprises me why movies like this one don't get recognized like they SHOULD), and let's face it, the songs are simply CATCHY! Good choreography and singing!

Have I mentioned it's funny?!? Gotta love the supporting roles and all the silly things Vishal and Preity do to pretend to be Rahul (Vishal) and Malvika (Preity)! And simply the movie overall, I can't find the exact words to define it, but 'tis simply FRESH! While it surely follows a common plot (starting a relationship not face-to-face, as seen in "Catfish" and "You've Got Mail"), "Mujhse Fraaandship Karoge" gives the concept it's little spin, as Rahul and Preity, who hated each other with a disturbing passion, are able to look past their differences and things they hated about each other and find things that made Preity and Rahul love each other.

To simplify it, this movie shows (through it's vivid acting, quality, originality and thought) that love, a beautiful thing, can make you laugh, smile, be happy...even if it's with that one person you thought you hated but once you found love you realized you could turn your differences away and into a beautiful thing. Heart it!

The Grudge 3 (2009)

WHAT. DID. I. JUST. SEE? This sure ISN'T what I would call a respectable "movie"!

[4/10 · 12 June 2013]

I'm usually extremely open-minded, but right from the beginning it was plain AWFUL. Once again, keeping in mind that whole "be open-minded!" concept, I decided to keep watching the movie and give it a chance...but strike three, batter's out! I'm a horror/scary movie enthusiast, and watching "The Grudge" (an interesting concept for a scary movie idea) get trashed like that by Toby Wilkins, well...it was disappointing. I'm not usually this criticizing, but it was THAT bad. It lacked originality (who, where, the people who were getting killed - it was TOO obvious), Kayako's and Toshio's appearance (once again, shaking head at Toby Wilkins)...NOT scary at all, more along the lines of awkward looking, I give "The Grudge 2" kudos for looking ACTUALLY looking scary'n peeing my pants and stuff. Additionally, as disturbing as this may sound, put some creativity in the (movie) killings! It was pretty much Kayako just showing up, making that awkward face of hers that just weirds me out, the victim apparently unknowing of how to walk and (OF COURSE!) heading for a wall corner where he/she dies an awkward death/Kayako putting her hand over their face and all that weird stuff. I just wish they put more originality, creativity and thought overall to the movie. It was just one of those "everyone dies" sort of movie, except badly developed, if you call THAT development.

Buuuuuut there's always a smiley face to things, and that was: Max's character acting like the father who killed Toshio and Kayako (possessed by his spirit, was it?) and trying to kill the same way...that was UH, clever. But that's it. That's where the smiley face ends. So oh, please, tell me THIS is where the curse ENDS! Like I said, "The Grudge" was an interesting concept, but one that needs to be DROPPED if they are going to continue making movies like this. Leave Kayako and Toshio alone!

200 Pounds Beauty (2006)

SARANGHADA! Proves beauty CAN'T be weighted!

[9/10 · 11 June 2013]

Like the Korean title ("Minyeo-neun goerowo") literally translates to, it is "hard to be a beauty". This film, through it's funny and cute moments, explores a society in which having the "perfect body" and weight are put in a high pedestal (today's society, to be exact, my friend), and just the criticism, mockery, and denigrating that people who don't fit in to that "perfect idea" get, in this case being towards an already NATURALLY beautiful but overweight girl, singer (and the true voice behind phony "singer" Ammy) Han-na. Constantly made fun of because of her weight and receiving negative commentary, one time overhearing from her crush Sang-jun that he was just using Han-na, Han-na decides she's had enough and walks out and toward the path of plastic surgery, not with narcissistic intentions, but as she put it, to "save a life", in this case, saving her inside from fully dying and fixing year's worth of low self-esteem and inner pain.

The magic of plastic surgery happens, she is what guys whistle at and call "beautiful!" Han-na (now under the name of Jenny) returns to the music scene and to Sang-jun and Ammy, this time, to change things a little bit! From Han-na's plastic surgery, a beautiful wave of confidence and higher self-esteem emerges, but so does a tide wave of vanity and superficiality, and this film does an AMAZING job of showing just how BAD society's views on looks and belief in "following the trend" (being thin, wearing the "right" clothes, etc etc) has on people and how it affects their outlooks and self-esteem, as bright and beautiful overweight Han-na who didn't judge by weight, when made thin, became obsessed with weight and making comments about "fat" people, and acting ashamed with the people she loved. Society's constant reminder to be "thin" and that being thin supposedly equated beauty affected people like Han-na, and through the ride that this film is, that idea is explored, with Han-na, in the end, dumping Jenny and coming face-to-face with the truly beautiful Han-na that not only beats in her heart, but the one that was looking back at her through the mirror.

With amazing character development, "200 Pounds Beauty" explores the self-conflict that society's bad values creates, and how one girl overcomes it and comes to term with herself, her natural flaws that made her just perfectly imperfectly beautiful Han-na. Though she changed in weight and looks, she had ALWAYS been beautiful from the very beginning (her personality and who she was as a person didn't change, she was STILL Han-na, for heaven's sake!), and through this ride she learns that, that indeed, beauty has no weight, beauty can't be defined by the number on a scale. She had been beautiful all along.

The Internship (2013)

Excuse me so I can go laugh my butt off!

[7/10 · 11 June 2013]

When I first saw the preview of "The Internship", I thought nothing but a cheap comedy with cheap laughs (it didn't stood out or anything to me), I was just ready for that preview to be over and giggle away at Alan in "The Hangover 3". But after watching "The Internship" not long ago, it's obvious that the preview was presented wrongly, and the phrase "don't judge a movie by it's trailer" applied here, as it had me giggling away from the VERY first few minutes! At first, automatically, I saw Owen Wilson and Matthew Vaughn and thought John Beckwith and Jeremy Grey, but Nick and Billy's character in "The Internship" presented a whole new issue, and that was the unemployment issue. Though they don't address it directly, through their comedic ways, Billy and Nick present, as expressed through their Google internship online interview in a blender metaphor, that "it's not so much getting out of the blender, it's what happens next. That's the question." Being stuck in the blender, like being stuck in a seemingly never-ending cycle of unemployment, with enough creativity and motivation, you CAN get out of it, but what matters is if you KEEP using that same motivation and originality that makes you stand out EVEN after you've escaped that blender of unemployment, because that's what makes you grow as a person...it's not just escaping and then stopping, it's about KEEP GOING ON. And that's what Billy and Nick proved, though with their 70's references that not any of the college younglings understood. What "doesn't kill you make you stronger", and that's what learning to escape that blender, and look for another open door did for Nick and Billy, and well...learning teamwork, how to play Muggle Quidditch, and standing up against and beating Graham (not to mention, SWEEEEEEEET!). Though some scenes and happenings were a tad TOO obvious (Owen Wilson's character, Nick Campbell, getting with the "always busy" woman Dana; Nick and Billy beating Graham),and it was a lot of giggles (nothing bad with it), a comedy can STILL carry a message, and this movie's message, the idea to escape the blender (LAST TIME I bring up the "blender" metaphor, I pinky promise!) and keep fighting and make something for yourself, it IS still conveyed through the MANY laughs and silly things that these silly 40 year-olds do! I honestly DO recommend it!

Now and Forever (2006)

Now and forever stuck in my heart!

[8/10 · 6 June 2013]

Minding the corny-ness in my review title, 'twas genuinely one of those movies that grabs a hold of your heart and goes away with it. When I say I rarely cry watching movies, I really mean it, but this movie had me crying the Nile River! Truly BEAUTIFUL!! This movie was not only a perfect combination of comedy (let's face it, you got to love the stunts these silly lovebird children pulled throughout the movie!) but also taught a lesson, and that was just the power of love, how it could change (improve one's heart, rather) even the biggest of playboys known, in this case being Min-su (you know, the guy who thought he could get any girl he wanted???), as he is turned from his womanizer ways into a helpless romantic who fell for pure (but terminally ill) Hye-won's charm, and is helplessly drawn towards her. Even when finding out she was terminally-ill (and so was he), he still stayed by her side and dedicated to loving her and making her laugh until she could. With a sprinkle of comedy, romance, and a spoon of cuteness, through this movie Min-Su not only lets Hye-won experience TRULY living and love, but so does he, as he discovers the magic that comes with pure, sweet love. Though presented with a tragic end (Hye-won dying, which I truly hated), in the end, like the trees pictured in Hye-won's favorite photo in which she was a child, Min-su and Hye-won remained linked (spiritually and emotionally) through the power of love (the strongest force of all) that beat in their heart.

This movie simply beautifully portrayed just how powerful pure love is. And for that, I clap away.

Supernatural Activity (2012)

Still giggling! "Supernaturally funny!"

[6/10 · 24 March 2013]

For actual movie quality, I gave it a 6/10, because, well, it wasn't anything out of the ordinary - some of the effects were badly done and unrealistic, but that was budget problem and a whole different issue. Whether bad quality/with low budget or not, the movie itself, LOL times 10! I'm a big fan of horror films, but I also enjoy silly spoof movies that just poke fun at some horror classics, and this is one had me laughing through most of the film! While, like I previously stated, the budget for making this film was certainly limited, for an indie film, they did a fantastic job, and the characters' randomness, play with words, and just idiotic sense of humor had me giggling (YES, GIGGLING) for a long time.

While surely when watching a movie we expect a story to happen (a story behind this, the oh so wonderful plot giving the movie validity!)...it's a SPOOF movie, so you can't expect that! Spoof movies were born and created for the purpose of twisting real movies into comedic ways that we couldn't have thought of, and those laughs we get when watching them because they are just "SO silly!"? That's the purpose of spoof movies.They don't have to make complete sense, they are there to make you laugh, and with "Supernatural Activity"'s randomness and silliness, Andrew Pozza, I'm waiting for more movies!! And with a higher budget, I can certainly see myself laughing even harder!

From Me to You (2010)

In one word, "amazingfilmthatjustwon'tgetoutofmyhead."

[8/10 · 23 March 2013]

I'm an Asian films enthusiast, and "Kimi Ni Todoke" didn't let me down. While surely Sawako had emotional problems (cried a lot, not enough self-confidence and self-esteem issues, etc), it's this same thing that made her an inspiring character that younglings like myself can relate to.

Kuronuma Sawako, a shy and friendless young girl constantly placed at a distance for her resemblance to Sadako from the "Ringu" film, is simply a sweet girl. She cares about others, places others before her, but it's that same concern and care that isn't reciprocal. And then Kazehaya, the most popular, friendly and liked boy in the class, comes in the picture, and he turns her world around, showing her that she is just good enough the way she is, by giving her the love that she never got back. From Kazehaya then comes getting exposed to the world of adolescence, where Sawako is exposed to first real friendships, love, and the fact that sometimes you have to think for yourself also, and if your heart beats a certain way, you just can't hold that back and inside. From being the shy kid who could hardly get a few words out, she learned to speak her mind, stand up for the people she loved and love itself, and in the end, she grows a lot (good character development). In addition too, it's just a cute story! I watched it yesterday and am watching it again in a little while. It's a story that leaves you with good feelings, but unlike most films, those feelings are realistic and is something that a lot of teens and young adults can relate to.

So like shy Sawako did, it's better to speak your heart out than let it's beat go. An inspiring film, indeed.

The Devil Inside (2012)

Maybe it was "The Devil Inside", but it was unoriginal everywhere else!

[4/10 · 23 March 2013]

Honestly, I'm a big fan of horror movies, particularly exorcism films, and saying that 1973's "The Exorcist" film was more believable and scary than a film developed (or in this case, just taped together) in the era of technology and special effects, well, like Dora the Explorer would say, no "bueno." By mentioning the original "The Exorcist", I am not bashing it, it is one of the best horror films I've ever seen, but I am rather comparing the quality, originality, and production technique to that of a movie made in present-time society.

Should I ramble on about how it lacked originality? Though I've already covered it, the extreme levels of unoriginality make me feel the need to make emphasis again - let's face it, exorcism and demonic forces seems to be a pretty hot topic in the 2000-2010 era ("Paranormal Activity" movies, "The Last Exorcism", "The Exorcism of Emily Rose", you catch my drill). And I get it, some of those films actually turned out decent, but it was the fact of having a story behind it that made a difference. "The Devil Inside" equals no story. Sure sure, they make you think it's a story about uncovering whether Isabella's mom, Maria Rossi, is either suffering from mental illness (disocciative identity disorder) or an actual demonic possession, but OF COURSE, they can't leave the woman alone to the fact that she might just be mentally ill - there really is no story. There are names, there is a place, there is a time, but there's no story - no development, as pretty much all the characters die (...for some reason...), accordingly due to the "demonic forces", but really not providing evident proof or at least some downright logic. We don't really learn anything, it's all too blurry like the camera movement of a majority part of the film.

So in the intellectual sense, Dora says "nada". This film was put together to earn a few bucks and give slight entertainment, if watching a movie going on about something that they don't know that was never figured out yet they pretend they did can be called entertainment. No strong action, no climax, some screams and scenes that made you jump a bit here and there, other than that, just another epic fail movie about exorcism. "...And they lived happily ever after."

A Werewolf Boy (2012)

Amazing. Truly beautiful. Sweet. Have I mentioned "Amazing"?!

[9/10 · 23 February 2013]

When my friend first introduced me to this Korean film, little did I know that my heart was going to get stolen. I've seen plenty of films, and this is by far one of the best ones I've seen. While 'tis simple like others said, simplicity doesn't define the quality or passion put into a cinematographic art form, rather it's this same simplicity that made the film so amazing - it didn't contain what most Hollywood films have, it wasn't caked in "make-up" and was truly magic just the way it was, it was about telling a sweet fantasy story and not getting the most ratings in mind. Now THAT'S what art is about.

From making me laugh really loud at times to making me tear up at scenes (which rarely happens to me), "A Werewolf Boy" truly reaches your emotions and takes you through a ride in which you find what true care and love is - learning to look past others' differences and make out the beauty that their hearts beat, and be there for them, no matter what. Soon-Yi's dedication to teach and help Chul-Soo learn to speak and acquire skills not only had "a-d-o-r-a-b-l-e" written all over it, but it also showed that truly meaningful things don't just happen, they take time and determination, and with that same time, those meaningful things don't just disappear...time passed, but Soon-Yi and Chul-Soo were still there for each other, a few mistakes underwent their way, but there they were at the end, Chul-Soo finally able to read Soon-Yi her favorite childhood book, she giving him the 100 pets she had promised since the early years of their love, which was still their love. And it's that same sweetness which touched my heart. I could ramble on and on, but point is, "A Werewolf Boy" shows that behind every living form, there is love, pure love waiting to be expressed and let out, and we can't change it, rather we embrace it for what it is.

Radio Rebel (2012 TV Movie)

Disney's Little Rebel Of The "Same Story, Same Boring" Saga!

[7/10 · 18 February 2013]

I'm not going to deny, when I saw this film announced, first thought "sounds interesting", but then I read "Disney" at the bottom and I started regretting my first feelings and wondering if I suffered from mental insanity. But no, I'm still here, not locked in a safe room or anything.

Let's start with basics. Lesson one, children, grasping the standard Disney plot - unpopular girl with big dreams, a nemesis/Queen Bee who ALSO loves that same big dream and tries to make unpopular girl's life miserable in order to get it, a "hot" guy is thrown in between the process, the guy notices Unpopular Girl but then is dragged away by Queen Bee, a failed-attempt at character development and BAM! ...there's a dance, Queen Bee becomes Queen Fail and Unpopular Girl gets the guy.

While "Radio Rebel" DOES somewhat follow the basic scheme, it at least reaches a level of awesomeness. Don't get me wrong, I see the resemblance (or was it "copying of"?) "Pump Up the Volume", but what made it worthy of seeing was the fact that it adapted to what today's teens understood, lived, and would enjoy seeing. Debby Ryan (portraying main character, Tara) is a rising star that a lot of teens know and look up to - so her portraying a shy high schooler with issues of her own (the cute guy she's too afraid to talk to, the Queen Bee trying to bring her down, not being that close with her new stepfather, and have I mentioned the extreme shyness that could be mistaken for monastic silence?). It's what us average teens know and breathe. So while there's nothing sparkly in the scheme, it speaks to today's teens and that's what we like. Not to mention, there were a few giggles here and there. More to the "like" list.

So what am I saying? I'm saying that this film is different from the usual "same story, same boring" pattern that Disney movies tend to follow...while it was strongly based from "Pump Up the Volume", it still had strong elements that make me want to watch it again, particularly the lessons that shy high schooler Tara teaches us - to just be ourselves...to embrace it and not just hide it away in the dark (or in Tara's case, a recording studio), to go out into the sunlight, scream, and let our uniqueness shine in the daylight.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)

The perks of making an OUTSTANDING movie!

[8/10 · 17 February 2013]

Usually movies turn good literature bad, but Emma Watson's proving that her magic didn't stop at the Wizarding World and Logan Lerman's true grasp of Charlie's character...that was truly great. Lerman's portrayal of shy and awkward Charlie made awkward younglings like myself be able to relate to him - and that's impressive.

Because let's face it, children and adults, teens and prepubescent younglings, we've all dealt with negative things trying to bring us down to the darkest of places, from which freshman Charlie started off - having dealt with his best friend's suicide, his aunt's death and having this something haunting at the back of his neck which he himself didn't even know what it was...

...And then Sam and Patrick come in a FLASH! and kidnap him away, into this world of friendship, this world of drama, this world of experience...into the teenage world. Having being withdrawn from normal social interactions since his past held him back, Sam and Patrick help expose Charlie to the real world, where while "you can't change where you came from, you can change where you're going." While being faced with having to chose over right and wrong (while being exposed to good music and first kisses in between), Charlie learns whether he should be making his life revolve around others' or take a chance and chase what his heart truly beats for, whether he should just remain quiet or let the world know who he was. Through the "tunnel" of life, Charlie learns he can be anything, even "infinite".

From making great literary references and literally making a reference or name for himself, Charlie proves that your past has no say on your future - YOU do.