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Brightburn (2019)
Interesting idea but epic failure in delivery
The idea of telling the story of a world destroyer coming into town can be stimulating, but the delivery was nothing at all about it, instead just a mere gory horror story.
This piece is no different than poltergeist or Freddy Kreuger in Nightmare on Elm Street.
The Great Wall (2016)
Quite a surprise
Chinese production has tried to keep up with modern Hollywood style, but was never quite up there. This is the first one, especially for someone with no expectation. The cinematics told an ordinary but gripping story with extravagant visual effects.
However, some casts and makeup failed at an epic level. All the Chinese actors and actresses had Oscar Red Carpet makeup at all time. That's a war zone, not an emperor's palace.
The biggest failure is the female cast. Bad acting, crafted face and expression, concubine makeup style and shallow image. Her alone took away 4 points. Pity!
Doctor Strange (2016)
Strangely easy to watch
The movie preview emphasized the kaleidoscope properties and left a dizzy impression of visual confusion, but the complete visual effects in the movie is easy to follow. Basically MC Escher and his hyperbolic geometry in play. Beautifully done, but too short.
The casting choices are surprisingly close to perfect. Tilda Swinton delivers exquisite performance. Some like to say whitewashed, but the reality is there are white Asians. The important thing is she did a great job. Mads Mikkelsen as the villain is a good choice, but the makeup and fashion downplayed the character. As for Cumberbatch, the guy has the perfect image of Dr Strange, except I really missed his British accent, even though his American accent is very convincing.
This looks like first of a sequel. Hopefully the next one is as good.
The Men Who Built America (2012)
Improper use of History Channel
A big disclaimer missing from this film, that is "Based on true events".
It gives wrong impression to audiences who are familiar with the history of the underlying intent for inserting erroneous info. Is it just bad info? Or is there an alternate motive to feed wrong info to audiences not intimate with history judging from the remarks made by the modern influential men?
Since this film was distributed via History Channel, the inaccurate info take away 5 points. If it was simply someone's attempt to make drama based on true events, this score would have been higher.
This film cannot even be regarded as historical documentary. At best, a recount of PERSONAL perspectives, understanding and ideals of some history. It would probably be more enjoyable if it tried to learn from Elon Musk version of MARS TV show.
However, if the intent is to spread personal view, belief and agenda into audiences who don't care much about history, this may be the piece to create alternate reality for them.
Ben-Hur (2016)
Ordinary but not bad
All recent movie and TV script writers love to focus on the notion that "ignorance is a bliss, but it will kill you and your loved ones, and when it kills, lets get angry and forget that you are the culprit".
Ben Hur is just another one of that situational irony. The lack of gratitude for those who invite you into their house caused the tragedy, and the irony of those who claim to avoid conflict yet chose action that caused conflict. Then using a religious character in a non-religious way to own up to their wrong doings. Sounds kind of perfect, but feels crafted.
Nonetheless, CGI for the chariot race was enjoyable.
Secret City (2016)
Good start for Australian TV
The script is not tight enough. The dialogues can be slow and boring sometimes. Everything else seems fine, until an ambassador's wife claimed that China is unlike US can handle being viewed as bad. That gave a chuckle, whether it's the true belief of whoever wrote it or it meant to be sarcasm. All governments of any nation are equally with hidden agendas and secrets, with fear of being viewed in its true colour. The logic is slow but getting there, hopefully. The settings are not as smooth and natural, but definitely a good new beginning for Australian TV. Worth a 7 for still room for improvements. Too bad Daron Herriman's role is short-lived. His performance was the best.
Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015)
The force of irresponsible scripting and directing awakens
A sequel carries story line from its series, but maintain events of its own. This one has fragments of everything that are scattered all over. No single events can really grab the heart.
Aside for a 2-points worth visual effect, everything else feels like hunger games with 2 lightsabers minus the excitement.
The acting is terrible. Fake and exaggerated. It is hard to sit straight and enjoy in full length, tried to immerse in the story, but got bored soon.
If not for the star wars label, expensive props and special effects, this is nothing more than just a student movie.
Jessica Jones (2015)
Bad storyline and script, all over the places
Why do all superheroes TV series are not about straight thinking and common sense who make use of their good powers? Instead they are about pessimism, pathetic fixation to self-isolation and self-pity, lack of common sense, emotional and not very smart with bad judgement. All of these just to emphasize the villains, and make superheroes stories more like average human, what's the point?
Of all the superheroes TV series, CW loves self-loathing heroes, CBS offers naive but eager heroes, and Netflix just loves dark hero characters with many bad choices.
Why do TV networks love promoting pessimism and extremism in human with super abilities? Why can't it be about hero complex, but remove the pathetic and obsessive factors? There ought to be a realistic balance between the heroes and villains with consistent storyline to stick to the original notion that sparks so many comic readers. Otherwise, there is nothing special to it than just another vampire or ghost or dark side TV series.
Fantastic Four (2015)
Should have just made a new super hero team
Having watched comics and 2005 version, one thing bothered me most is, why even do a reboot?
The whole new storyline deserves its own name, why even bother using Fantastic Four, where only the characters' powers are similar. Why not change their powers entirely or somewhat, and name it The Teen Mutant or something.
If the name had been different, powers altered, and the storyline a bit more condensed and packed, I would give it a better score, at least more than 6. For a reboot on a long standing comic, I can really feel it for folks who really adore the comic, 4 is a merciful number.
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)
Bad directing
Old robot movements, terrible storyline, too much stereotyping, promoting human weakness and stupidity. Character personalities switch too often, almost thought this storyline is schizophrenic.
Bad scene to scene transition, no focuses or highlights on the plot.
Robots look like paper-built.
Showing too much effects with no meaning to the story, as if they are there to lengthen the show time.
Transformer 1 was much better, humorous and fun. Nothing funny or exciting in this one.
IMDb restricts to 10 lines of comments. This feature needs to be smart enough, at least restriction must be based on how good the movie is. There just aren't enough things to comment on.
Imagine Me & You (2005)
What a lovely simple love story!
It's a very enlightening light romance. A love struck that could befall on anyone at any time. Lightly put, rid of all political agendas. Just suit my kind of audience who can't seem to find issues in somebody else's choice of sexual partner. Love should just be love, and choice should simply be a choice. The characters' main concern was simply focused in minimizing any hurtful feelings from being betrayed. Many social codes are mere copies of masks of somebody's ideals. There are those who are willing to wear it, and those who think nothing of it. This story was handled in such a way as if our society has progressed so far ahead, whereas all sexual propaganda have been overcome, and people handle differences with a slight frown and a tiny shock within seconds. Nice. Well done. The romance stole my heart. The neutral settings kept me afloat and entertained. The honesty is rare and precious.
One of those films with perfect casting. The main 4 characters aside, Anthony Head, Celia Imrie, Sue Johnston were just brilliant.
Fantastic Four (2005)
Some good moments, can be better
This is a superhero movie. Ideally the focus should be on the conflict between the superhero and the villain, but instead it focused slightly too much on the human flaws. When only 1 hero, like spiderman, focus on human flaws and inner-conflict can be interesting. However with 4 heroes, trying to share 4 experiences at the same time can be a burden for some viewers.
The special effects are good, especially with the human torch, awesome. The accident on the bridge is terrific, but the final and only fight against the villain is too easy. Hopefully this is just a warm up for good sequels to come.
The storyline is considerably acceptable, but lack of strategic superhero actions.
Kate & Leopold (2001)
Lovely advertising for OTIS elevators
This movie delicately unfolds a compelling romance. Writing compelling romances means leaving details to the imagination. So I never try to analyze the history or the background aspects of it. Just enjoy the coincidences and the sweet romance. Simply let yourself be swept away by the classic gentleness of the English gentleman. Perhaps that's why I find Hugh Jackman extremely attractive in this movie.
The final timeline somehow reminded me of terminator 1, where a future man returned to the past to be with the woman whose picture he fell in love with to give birth to the future key person that started the whole terminator sequel. While this movie had it reversed, where the romance started from a series of coincidences that brought a future woman to the past to be with the man she fell in love with as a result of all these coincidences, and stopped at that.
I simply love the romance and the frequent laughters that it can bring.
War of the Worlds (2005)
Great special effects, try not to analyse it, just enjoy it!
The special effects for this movie is awesome, but the technology concept is not as convincing. The sound of the alien ship is exactly that of a ship's horn, that made it a bit funny than scary. The aliens are quite similar in shape to that in "Independence Day." The storyline is not smooth enough. Without knowing the story ahead of time, it's hard to understand who actually killed the aliens, is it the virus or the birds.
However, Tom Cruise's performance is excellent in presenting a father's most original intention. Not to save the world, but just a daughter. Parallel to the son's interest to save the world, it further emphasized basic human characteristics in troubled time.
The scene at the harbour, where they were forced to give up their car is relatively realistic- basic survival instinct.
If your intention is just to enjoy a good sci-fi special effect movie, and not too picky about the logic or what does and doesn't make sense, this is it.
Herbie: Fully Loaded (2005)
Excellent movie for kids!
It never occurred to me that I would enjoy this movie. I grew up with the old herbie, and thought this movie would be too kiddish for grown-ups. However, our nieces and nephews between the age of 6 and 12 are so eager to go, and so we went.
The children totally enjoyed it. They were laughing and questioning every little detail. They were completely into it. Angela Robinson is especially meticulous with details, like how she pays heed to even the smallest facial expression (check out D.E.B.S.), and the children really appreciate that. They were thrilled the whole way through. They practically found no stale moments.
The only thing that was rather out of place is the last stunt that herbie pulled during the final race. It's a bit too much fantasy, even for the children. However in overall, this is a perfect weekend movie for the kids.
Frequency (2000)
An excellent, magical masterpiece.
Recently joined a DVD club, and somehow picked up this DVD by chance. Then I just fell in love with it. I watched it over and over again. The father and son relationship, the opportunity to change the past, the suspense, it's a complete excitement.
What an excellent and magical idea that was. Northern light affected the electromagnetic field, and punch a wormhole that allows electrical impulses to travel across time in duplex mode. How many of us would like this experience? So perhaps we have a second chance to make something better. A dream comes true.
Real fulfilling. I don't know where to begin to describe how much I love this movie. Definitely a must have.
D.E.B.S. (2004)
Fun, cozy, entertaining and worth having around.
This is the kind of movie to watch if you really feel like relaxing, no thinking and no stressing, but need to have some laughs. It also makes learning to accept diversities fun.
I was impressed by the simple subtlety of the storyline. It carries many little messages and values that can be easily identified and accepted. I definitely agree with the previous reviewer from Australia about the modernised Disney-like values.
It was a really fun movie. It reminded me of my sweet ex-boyfriend and his romantic pursuit in our teen years. The kind that's hard to come by in grown-ups. The romances are very believing and sweet. All the different personalities bring up memories of some high school friends. It's easy to look passing through the sexual orientation and the crimes, and just extract the fun and the values.
So it got me thinking about how minor changes can affect the way the world works. This movie definitely can serve as a factor of change in expanding our generosity.
Excellent performances
Cool story
Directing well-done
all and all, wonderful teamwork.
Some may find the commentary in the DVD a bit excessive and redundant, but I love it. It's fun to know all the efforts involved in the film making, and what they feel towards it. It's like sharing their passion and gratification.