Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit

I still think Chris Pine is too much of a pretty boy to play a rugged spy/CIA type of role, but I suppose he did quite well. Still a lot of emphasis on his super-blue melt-worthy eyes but I guess they tried to minimize their effect. Honestly, it's hard to get myself into the action-film tense-thriller mode with those romantic-comedy blue eyes hahaha. They did try to make him especially dorky at the beginning where they set the background context of the Jack Ryan (Chris Pine) character, who studied at LSE. He looked kinda plump and really quite friend-zone material at the beginning.

What do you see? Well, blue eyes. I'm wondering if his lips are really that shade of pink. Since it looks a lot like Barbie's pink lips. 

Keira Knightley as overreacting Cathy Muller. Her character was really quite insecure and irritating in the movie, and it was really funny that she was so, so relieved when he told her he was a CIA agent and that he really wasn't cheating on her. 

Chris Pine looks so American, while Keira Knightley looks too British which made their relationship in the movie look a bit lacking in chemistry, but as individual actor/actress, their performance was rather impressive. I still think she suits period films a little more than modern films. Well, there was a good mix of twists, pensive moments as well as many action shots. 

I had to add this picture because I love his sleek outfits in the movie. Oh and I love long coats! Here's the lead villain, and his thin lips really add to the menacing and scary image of this creepy villain who determinedly wants revenge.

Enough spoilers!

All in all, a great movie. Finally a different kind of terrorist-themed show involving finance and corporate organisations rather than guns, violence and soldiers. Sometimes the same movie themes (i.e. Armageddon-themed films/Terrorist-themed films) do get old. I also feel that they perpetuate certain negative associations with certain races/nationalities that may or may not be true, and sometimes it's really not fair for those races/nationalities in question. They're always portrayed in a specific way in American movies.

Sometimes movies plant such nasty stereotypes about certain nationalities/races. Would you say movies are racist?

Old Sport

Two weeks back I went to catch The Great Gatsby in the theatre... and I would say it's one of the better, if not best, book to film adaptations! I loved the movie exceedingly! The vivid colour, fashion, videography & the story told from Nick Carraway's (played by Tobey Maguire) point of view, were all really well done and well-arranged. 

I would say the side story where Tom Buchanan cheats on his wife with Myrtle Wilson was well-developed in the show, and those scenes were very seamlessly sewn into the story without confusing the main plot. Of course, eventually, the side story meets the main story towards the end, where Daisy murders Myrtle by accident (with Jay Gatsby's car).

To be honest, when I read this book a few months ago, I hated it. It frustrated me. I'm generally the kind of person who picks up a book and has to finish reading the book regardless of how much I detest it. So, this is a book I finished, but not happily. I remember very clearly, throwing down the book after reading the last page, and saying "This book was an utter waste of my emotion." Haha. For one, I was particularly affected by the themes of the book, the lavish lifestyles, and the decadence. Not to mention, the nice guy died in the end, and no one went to his funeral? Come on! No matter how nasty one person is, people still go to his funeral when he dies, so this was completely awful to stomach. But I did like the story in its totality, for it made me think about the themes much more than any other book - which basically means it is a real gem of a book. Haha. 

Perfect actors & actresses. Leonardo DiCaprio & Tobey Maguire did especially well. (I really hated Spiderman because of Tobey Maguire, but well, he was a perfect Nick Carraway.) 

All in all, this movie was really excellently done. The soundtrack was a real bonus. The tunes definitely complimented the modern take movie produced by Baz Luhrmann. Of course the techno music (a.k.a. modern dance music) was quite funny to hear initially, but I can see that it was deliberately made that way, and somehow after a while, the scenes and the dance music really fit.

There, I end with my favourite quote from the book:

“I was within and without. Simultaneously enchanted and repelled by the inexhaustible variety of life.” ― F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby

Saving General Yang

Watched this on opening day, and I don't regret it!

Saving General Yang in essence: Uncommon story twist, very exciting and supposedly based on a true story that has been eulogized because of the many representations of good virtues and values such as benevolence, filial piety, etc. The movie has lots of fighting, lots of killing and splattering of blood. I always love a show with lots of fighting and war strategies!

Fans of these actors/singers may come just to see some pretty faces. The movie features 7 men who are supposedly the most handsome guys in the Chinese movie industry.

I don't know much of the Chinese movie industry, but I'll objectively admit these guys are pretty good looking. According to JS (who watches way more Chinese shows), he says these guys are very famous. To me, I only find 4 of them decently handsome. The rest are seriously not my cup of tea. Haha.

Anyway, they look especially manly in all that armour (which I must add, is not CGI).

Not gonna say much about the story since it'll be a massive spoiler, but it was totally not what I expected from the "title" of the movie. Haha. People who have watched "300" may see some similarities - although I know that "300" and Chinese fighting are of totally different origins and influences. I did find some parts of the shows quite funny because some characters in the show have no idea what is self-preservation. There were so many points in the show when I just went "I mean, really?" and like "Oh my god, you didn't have to do that". Haha. But, all in all, a good movie! I'll give it an 8 out of 10!

If you're into the asian look, they're really not bad-looking huh. The guy in orange (Wu Zun) looked like he had serious water retention in the show cos his whole face was so terribly bloated (not fat). So that totally took some manliness points off him. He also was a pretty cowardly character for most of the show.

This version of the movie posters look especially good.

From now till 30 June 2013, MasterCard cardholders can enjoy preferential weekday and weekend rates for blockbuster movies. For all sessions from Monday to Thursday purchase discounted movies for only S$7. Weekend tickets are priced at S$9.50 from Friday to Sunday (including public holidays, eve of public holidays including sneak previews). READ MORE. 

If I'm not wrong this offer's just for Cathay Cineplexes. So, if you like fighting shows and Chinese medieval shows, do check this one out! I hope I've piqued your interest.

Ah Boys to Men 2

Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters

Starring: Jeremy Renner as Hansel, Gemma Arterton as Gretel, Famke Janssen (a.k.a. Jean Grey) as the Evil Witch (I didn't even know her name was supposed to be Muriel in the show)

Watched this yesterday evening!

I think I quite like Jeremy Renner, he's always given the same type of rugged, silent characters. Haha. I'm not the kind of girl who'd swoon over guys in movies, especially flower boys/pretty boys (e.g. Edward Cullen/any guy lead in a rom-com). I mean, yes they're handsome and all but I'm not that into that kinda flower-face, you know what I mean? Haha. (I admit I still go "Eh, so handsome") But hey, they're so deliberately picked to bring in the views to the movie - so of course the guy has to be some eye-candy right.

Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed the show!!! I liked how Hansel and Gretel were very clearly mortals, fighting with their fancy weapons and hands and heads (spoiler: lol at Gretel's unexpected head-butt into the obnoxious sheriff's nose) and getting injured. It was all so manual and no random 'pew pew' and flying here and there and then THE ENEMY IS CRUSHED - no unrealistic crap.

The show was pretty realistic and the hero and heroine did get seriously injured a few times throughout the show, and there were a substantial amount of fighting scenes that kept me on my toes. Haha. The gory bits were abit disturbing at some points because it was all too unexpected and shocking (We watched the movie without even watching the trailer hahaha). Lots of fake blood and pieces of meat thrown everywhere. Haha.

Jean Grey (Famke Janssen, I never knew her name was so complicated -_- I always called her Jean Grey, I guess X-Men really made her fam-famous. Haha.) was a super awesome bitch of a witch haha.

Jean Grey & her artisan thin eyebrows. Probably one of few that can really rock thin eyebrows.

Gemma Arterton (Gretel) totally has that greek goddess look (I remember her from other movies where she is some damn beautiful immortal in white flowy chiffon haha). She has this gentle, quietly-strong look and is really quite pretty. She also appears to look slim, but towards the end, she changed her costume to a sleeveless gladiator sort of outfit and my first reaction was automatically, "Wow her arms are huge". Haha. The face size to upper torso size ratio... pretty off I'd say. Haha. Ok I'm not being mean but I was slightly shocked cos I thought she might be slimmer.

Gretel also appears to be super tall compared to Hansel (haha). (A quick check shows Gretel to be 170cm and Hansel to be 173cm.)

For those who are deciding whether to watch it, I'd rate it a 4/5 for the unexpected twists, substantial plot and many intense fight scenes: Guys, there's a 15 second bit where a lady's naked butt is flashed and one breast completely exposed. I think that might get you interested, hahaha.

Movie: Ah Boys to Men

Just a quick post to say... how much I enjoyed the new Jack Neo film "Ah Boys to Men"!

To be honest, I didn't know what it was about. I mean local films are always hilarious to some extent, occasionally too slapstick, but usually at least a 6.5/10 for humour (whether dry or not). Haha.

There is something really homely about the whole movie. Everything felt so familiar, and so, so close to the heart, and it was so heartwarming when everyone in the theatre was just laughing out so hard and so loudly and for once, no one was 'tsking' the other, as people do sometimes (for e.g. American rom-coms). 

Kudos to the actors who played Lobang, Golden Hair (I forgot his show-name), Aloysius Jin, Alex Ong, Ken Chow. I think they really did a really good job in representing the different kinds of Singaporean guys. I've never been to the army, but I thought the character Alex Ong really did portray the sergeant role really well! Haha. 

Somehow the show did remind me of my military band days, where we didn't brush our teeth during camps (because there was simply no time and we had to fall in at the parade square at 6am) , do some crazy shit exercises (push-ups, run 4km, more push-ups, marching), water parade (drink it all up and turn the bottle over your head and not a drop of water must fall out, or you'll have to drink another bottle). An awful, fulfilling but yucky at the same time, period of my life. Haha. 

Sooo, no spoilers, but this show's worth about 9/10 stars. The beginning part was rather overdone, too long maybe? Haha but it was really quite funny, with all that stereotypical Singaporean men behaviour when it comes to army and reservice. 

A must-watch! This is worth the money. Full-house theatre on a Wednesday evening - that must mean something! Goodnight!

Skyfall in Hindsight

Skyfall was disappointing (in comparison to the previous two Bond movies). I would still rate it a 7.5/10 (which is still a distinction) but the style of presentation was a different style as before. The short introductory digital art "clip" at the beginning of the show was unimpressive and too choppy. Haha, I guess if you start comparing stuff, some things always seem worse off than they really are.

Comparisons aside, Skyfall is still a good movie to watch! So much action, and some really hot chinese girl. There's no distinctive Bond girl in this show, so well, that's disappointing too. Haha. There is that girl with maggi mee for hair, Naomie Harris. (She is not actually The Bond Girl, after further reading. Refer post-note below. She's Miss Moneypenny.) She is hot, you know, just not very pretty, and also a terrible shooter of a field agent (haha). I always thought Bond girls should have that effect on people: drool upon appearance. This one? Nope. Haha.

So the Bond Girl is actually... the hot chinese girl - she's Bérénice Lim Marlohe. Born to a French mother and Khmer-Chinese Father, according to Wikipedia, French actress. Guess she couldn't leave the Marlohe out of her name, or she'll just be written off as another chink. Somehow, chinese surnames never sound good in American/European movies - well other than Jet Li, whose name is short and impactful, and has a nice ring to it.

I think M dying at the end was such a waste. The whole movie was about her, escaping from that super-smart faggot (I would say his performance was so good and so funny!) and in the end, she still failed, and died. Sigh. (And please don't tell me she resurrects in the next movie, you know how movies can be.) I'm wondering if it's a hint that they're gonna change the actor of James Bond too. They kept suggesting that Daniel Craig in the show was getting old and rusty. Haha.

Ah well. Show business is cruel.

***Post-note: The definition of Bond Girl on Wikipedia is really quite funny: A Bond girl is a character or actress portraying a love interest of James Bond in a film, novel, or video game. Bond girls are considered "ubiquitous symbol[s] of glamour and sophistication."

There is no set rule on who a Bond girl will be or what role she will play. She may be ally or enemy, pivotal to the mission or simply eye candy. 

Despite this broad scope there are female characters such as Judi Dench's M and Miss Moneypenny who are not Bond girls. However, M may be considered a special Bond girl in Skyfall, where she plays a pivotal role and her emotional backstory with Bond is explored.

Must-Watch Movies This November

1. Skyfall
Opens November 2 in Singapore

I have had a certain liking towards Daniel Craig ever since I watched Casino Royale (thrice). The artistic direction and photography and perspectives in the Craig Bond movies are something I really like. Even though Daniel Craig is not the kind of guy you instantly fall in love with or like just because of his appearance, he really grows on you - he portrays that really stable and feet-down-on-earth character in the show and I do get quite fond of these characters in movies in general. (Another example is Jeremy Renner, the guy who acted as Hawkeye in The Avengers, the lead in Bourne Legacy, William Brandt in Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol. I quite like that actor!)

I love the clean, simple poster of this movie, and the Bond soundtrack. The Bond soundtracks are always so tastefully written to compliment the 007 James Bond signature tune, I don't know what you call it, but the songs on Bond are always so good. This year Adele's Skyfall is really good. Something I would like anyway, my sister hates it haha.

The only reason why I haven't watched this is because I told myself I can only watch it after my exams! So yes, when Tuesday comes, I'm going to watch it, yes I am. Haha. 

2. Breaking Dawn Part 2

Opens November 22 in Singapore

Possibly the lamest looking poster I could find, that didn't just have their side profiles or headshots. Their posters always look so heavily edited and photoshopped that they look kinda ridiculous - I can almost imagine them fake-running in front of a green screen. Too funny to imagine. 

Anyway, I love the Twilight series, filming-wise. I often watch and enjoy a movie because of its filming perspective, the way the camera takes the shot, the style of the filming, more than the story line or the actors and actresses in it. Somehow a bad filming style will make the plotline feel not-right. 

Bella is finally a vampire, YAY, after dragging us along for 3 movies and 4 movies. I am so happy we've finally reached the final book of the Twilight series. I quite enjoyed the 4 books and films so far, although I did find Bella a very annoying, indecisive and overly emotional character. I mean when her Cullen boyfriend left her, she went into the woods and stayed there writhing about for a while or something. The heck is that? I'm just possibly happy that Kristen Stewart improved in her acting by leaps and bounds after the first movie hahaha.

So that's 2 movies I picked out for November that I must, must watch! I hope they're both good.

Marvel's The Avengers

So I'm watching this tomorrow, 1 day after it's been released in Singapore, in 3D.

I can't contain how excited I am, since I hardly ever watch 3D movies. The last one I watched in 3D was Rapunzel and that was in Penang, Malaysia, so yes it's the price of a Singaporean normal 2D movie and is well, worth the price. Haha. (I think it was RM14/16.)

Well tomorrow is gonna be a good day. I can just feel it.

>>>

Edit: 3 May 2012, 11am

So I had such a good day yesterday! It feels slightly bittersweet that I'm having this much fun, considering that I still have one more exam to go in a week's time, and I really should be staying home and mugging my face off... I'm not really the mugger type, it just makes me feel ill and sometimes I feel so ill, I really do succumb to some fever or something. I think it's all in my mind.

But anyway, THE AVENGERS WAS SO GOOD.

Here's 5 things I liked about the movie!

Mini Spoiler Alert, so don't read beyond this point if you plan to
soak up the whole movie in all its goodness without others' opinions.

5 things I liked about The Avengers' movie:

1. Robert Downey Jr's character here (Ironman/Iron Man) is so incredibly self-absorbed, rude and annoying. With the added fact that he's just simply so intelligent, I think I grew quite fond of his character in the show.

I think a lot of movies portray 'irritating' characters in such a matter that you will simply detest them (and their purpose in the show is really for viewers to hate them haha) but here Iron Man's obnoxious personality is really quite hilarious to the point it becomes likeable, to some extent anyway. Haha. (Other than Iron Man, I think Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory is one of those characters that are so absurd and inconsiderate but still so likeable.)

2. The Avengers has a combination of characters from different movies. It's really refreshing for the viewer because of the "scope" of the movie, covering a few main lead characters rather than one or two main leads which can get a little tiresome and boring sometimes. As a bonus, we also have a very presentable cast: Handsome guys... Pretty girls...

The full cast list here.

3. Great mix of physical and verbal humour, action, more humour, heartfelt moments (briefly)!!! The entire theatre was laughing out loud at so many points, it really felt like a house party.

4. Unparallelled Computer Generated Imagery (CGI)
I simply love CGI for its ability to really portray a specific scene, say the fight scene with all the aliens. I mean, duh, dressing people up in alien costumes and masks and make-up is gonna cost too much and takes too much effort, and these "aliens" can't be jumping up and off buildings like they should in this movie, so that's troublesome. They also can simply look like they're celebrating an uncreative Halloween in the middle of Manhattan since they're all dressed similarly. Haha. So that's where CGI comes in and makes it all come alive with less effort, less cost.

Also, I think the CGI here is better or equivalent to Transformers' CGI (the latest one). For the record, I'm not quite a fan of CGI because it can look so artificial and I feel like a fool if I could "believe" that movie on the screen. (Reference: The movie "Immortals") The CGI in "Immortals" had me laughing so much because it looked simply too unrealistic and at times, odd.

5. Last of all, the development of the story was really detailed and "left nothing out", and the filming was impressive.  

There were no apparent loopholes in the story that left me going like "Huh? What was that?" and the filming was impeccable. I loved the different points of views, in terms of camera angles and the moment when there was complete destruction and suddenly the camera (in the position of an overturned car) turned 360 degrees just like the car did. Another moment was when they filmed Captain America in the side mirror of some truck or something. I think it really added some depth into the filming that made the show so enjoyable.

ALL IN ALL, I would rate it a 5 stars! The movie had a good duration (You really get your money's worth), good storyline, good CGI, handsome cast. Haha.

So please go watch it if you haven't! You won't regret it.