G.I. Joe

Movies based on toys, theme park rides or other inanimate objects tend to be either hollow or surprisingly entertaining. Joe lies somewhere in between - it is at once hollow and surprisingly entertaining.

There's a lot if has in common with Transformers. Same producer, locations and formula.

But it is better than Revenge of the Fallen for the simple reason that it's actors are far more interesting and it doesn't waste time with filler - more than two-thirds of this movie is nothing but action sequences.

Yes, and there is the nifty weapons splattered throughout the movie. But of course, this movie is based on toys.

I enjoyed it, like a Saturday morning cartoon. A rather long one, but then that's more bang for your buck.

I Don't Understand Japanese,

But I would not rather watch this anime in English.

Here's the trailer for the english dub of Evangelion 1.0 (Gah, it should be called version 4.8.3.1). Close your eyes, and you'd remember the good old days, where Ash was voiced by a woman and Brock had his eyes closed all the time, too.

Star Trek

Two brave actors boldly playing infinitely parodied characters.

As with Transformers, Messrs. Orci & Kurtzman churn up a screenplay that is less concerned about coherence and consistency than the need to evoke artificial energy to entertain Generation ADD. J.J. Abrams directs. Pine, Quinto et. al. are superb as their respective characters.

Not a fan of Star Trek? No matter, this is a movie with almost universal appeal to said Generation. Cue shaky space camera (someone's been watching too much Battlestar Galactica), haha jokes, planetary destruction (After Star Wars, already getting old), lasers and lens flare.

Trekkie purists will rage, your buddies will gasp in delight and if I see the same formula being repeated with Revenge of the Fallen I will flip.

Revanche

Austria's submission for the Oscars (nominated, but lost to Departures) is one of those "what could go wrong" movies, where our unfortunate character(s) formulate a fool-proof plan to get rich quick only to have it backfire spectacularly (e.g., the sublime Before the Devil Knows You're Dead).

Whereas the latter film was a thriller, this one (like all European art-house films) takes a more meditative, still tone. Shots are paced slowly, but the story (thankfully) develops efficiently. And it may not be a thriller, it is still thrilling. Despite a few contrived scenes (mandatory, I must note, to establish a deeper drama), it is a solid film that alas, only those with a taste for "foreign" films will enjoy.

Oscars 2009

As one movie critic commented, the Oscars occupy a small corner in the universe of movies I like. So I shall keep my "predictions" brief, and will reserve further commentary until the results are out.

So:

• Slumdog Millionaire for Best Picture
• Mickey Rourke for Best Actor
• Kate Winslet for Best Actress
• Danny Boyle (or maybe, just maybe, David Fincher) for Best Director

More tomorrow.

Bye now. =)

Hymn To The Immortal Wind (Album Review)

Japanese Post-Rock band Mono presents us with this seemingly pretentious, undeniably sweeping album (with track names like "Ashes in the Snow" and "Battle to Heaven" complete with orchestra and heavy crashing guitar climaxes which I happen to have a weakness for.

Mono has had a tone downed sound in it's last few albums, but it ups one notch for this one to give us seven tracks of instrumental bliss, with little respite.

Rachel Getting Married

Aww...let's hug the junkie.

Demme's foray into the naturalistic side of filmmaking - complete with shaking, handheld photography and lingering shots - turns out decently well. Yet really, one does wonder about the motor-mouthed actors who blurt out their lines as if they were (egad!) written.

Now, fast-talking shows are enjoyable, but they are not the most authentic. Combine such a script with the natural, documentary-like tone this film attempts to be makes it seem a tad bit schizoid. Movies like Happy-Go-Lucky have a smart, fast paced script lines - but they are mostly spoken by one character in contrast to the other more "normal" people around her. In the perfect world of Rachel Getting Married, we find lots of laughter and quick retorts, a white woman marrying the singer of TV on the Radio, saying Christian prayers while dressing in saris and toasting in Jewish. All in blissful ignorance of a former drug-addict who was responsible for someone's death. Ah, the liberal happy family.

I liked it, but wasn't quite sold. If you want a movie where the camera pries and the actors no longer are actors but living a life, look at 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days (or more recently and to a lesser extent, Chop Shop) which all movies who call themselves "realist" will have to live up to.

10 Standout Films of 2008

The title says it - these are the movies that stood out and made an extremely favorable impression on me. A top 10 for viewing convenience, followed by a long list of honorable mentions. All are definitely worth seeing. Unless you've already watched it and didn't like it. I have nothing to say in that case. =)

(In alphabetical order)

"We would like to thank you for the Bay of Pigs."

• Che - Although it was shown as one movie, this four hour epic has been divided into two parts, and I think it works much better that way. Part One sketches out Che Guevera's first taste of revolution in Cuba. It is Che triumphant. Part Two moves on to his final days in Bolivia, where his attempt at revolution fails miserably, culminating in his death. The two movie's plots roughly parallel - and contrast - each other. One of the most enjoyable biographical projects I've seen, and it's such a shame that the movie(s), not to mention Del Toro's superbly measured and controlled performance as Che has been overlooked.

"I was born under unusual circumstances."

• The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - An affecting, magical movie. Even if it has "Made in Hollywood" written all over it, it still is one of the best of 2008 - filled with technical and visual achievements, but most importantly, it is outstanding because it tells a good story and tells it well.

"How about a magic trick?"

• The Dark Knight - Too long and bloated some may I say. Yes, on a return viewing I did agree that it could be trimmed. But then I remembered the first time I watched it and was engrossed in every moment of it - and that wasn't even during the action scenes. The best superhero/comic book movie so far but actually, as one critic noted, it's actually one of the best modern crime stories where the hero happens to be a guy who wears a batsuit. The intense plot with the trio of Ledger, Bale and Eckhart make it work so well.

"There can only be one."

• Frost/Nixon - Credits to the filmmakers for turning a play about a series of riveting interviews into a riveting movie. Langella and Sheen play their roles superbly.

"Grrr..."

• Gran Torino - Clint Eastwood's tale of love, revenge and redemption (actually, it isn't as dramatic as it sounds) with a cast of lovable characters got me where it matters the most: the heart.

"F*cking Bruges" / "What the f*ck?"

• In Bruges & Burn After Reading - I join them together as partners in superb black comedy that managed to make me laugh more than any other movies did this year.

"Come in."

• Let The Right One In - Perhaps I liked it for being the antidote to that other vampire movie. But why does it standout? Maybe because here, the vampire actually is cool. The "romance" doesn't hurt too. It's filmed in a beautiful, careful way. Might be slow for some, engrossing for others. Occasionally its cliched premise shows through, but then only to bowl me over with one brilliant moment after another.

"There must be something more..."

• Revolutionary Road - Might be American Beauty Lite for some; nevertheless a well-acted, thoughtful and thought provoking take on suburban despair that creepily resonated with me.

"It is written."

• Slumdog Millionaire - The rare kind of hyperactive movie that manages to refresh and entertain instead of leaving you puzzled and drained. Yes, it's based on a sappy premise, but watch how Boyle works his way around it, over it and through it.

"It's always the same dream."

• Waltz With Bashir - A surreal tale of war (which is surreal in itself). Boasts some of the most original and extraordinary visuals for a movie. And it's relevant.

Honorable Mentions (They may not be as great, but they certainly are as good. Hehe.)

The Visitor
The Wrestler
Happy-Go-Lucky
Defiance
The Edge of Heaven
Milk
Cloverfield
Changeling

Special Mention:-

The Band's Visit - A band of Egyptian musicians find themselves lost in Israel. Resonates in an odd way. Not a 2008 release (it was released in 2007) but only made it's way around last year. A must watch for those who enjoy off-beat and aloof drama/comedy.

Doubt

Certainty is relative.

Yet another play to the big screen, and it turns out to be a decent drama held together by a good cast. I say held together because if it were different actors, I'm not sure it would work. Meryl Streep is perfect in her role, as is Amy Adams and Hoffman is Hoffman. Not particularly exceptional, but it is a mature, thoughtful movie that I enjoyed.

Gomorra

No further comment.

The title is a play on Camorra, a certain Italian mafia organization that I have never heard about. It's a hyperlink story, you know, that kind made famous by Crash which in turn spawned so many other movies with similar styles, most of them quite good. All of them, somehow, seem to follow an implicit formula. If you've watched enough of these kind of shows, you'll be able to predict the story.

Gomorra lacks the punch that most of these hyperlink stories have - most of which comes from the climax and the denouement. Despite not having both of these elements, it still is a decent story. But boy, is it tiring to watch people getting capped, people talking, people getting capped ad nauseum. But kudos to the filmmakers for portraying the mafia in a perhaps more realistic way. This is no Godfather. The Dons live in run down apartments and and are unshaved and unkempt. This is the Italy that they don't show you in those tourist advertisements. Yes, Europe has its dark, murky underworld too.

Waltz With Bashir

Waltz With Bashir is not so much an "animated documentary" than it is a surreal work of art based on a true story. Narration and extraordinary visuals are interweaved in this recount of the 1982 Lebanon War in a way that live-action cannot. Ari Folman has at once crafted a psychedelic "LSD induced" tale that is also haunting in showing the way war affects an individual and how a human copes with horrible, horrible events.

Quick Reviews (14/01/09)

Frozen River (Impression: Not Quite There)

A decent entry in the "neo-realist" genre, but it's shortcomings are quite clear - it's not quite that entertaining, not really that interesting. And while it's portrayals of two desperate women are noteworthy, this is a story that didn't quite resonate with me the way The Visitor did (which was far more structured and plotted).

I've Loved You So Long (Impression: Sad, Character Study)

This movie is practically all about Kristin Scott Thomas' character, and she carries her role well as a just-released convict. But really, if you're not all that interested in her then this movie really doesn't have much to offer now, does it? Interesting at time; dull at others.

Quick Reviews (10/01/09)

Appaloosa (Impression: By The Book)

A somewhat safe effort by Ed Harris that translates into an okay (so-so, middling, etc.) western tale that's not worth watching unless you're a fan of the genre. Don't expect lots of gunfights; do expect lots of talking.

City of Ember (Impression: Fun)

A decently filmed adventure that is, in my opinion, too short. It's 90 minute runtime means that the story goes from beginning to climax too quickly. For the children that may be a good thing, but as for me I wouldn't mind sitting through more exposition just to enjoy the sights, story and Saoirse Ronan the actors.

Featured Band: Yndi Halda

Instrumental/Post-rock band. Extremely accessible, catharsis inducing. Have released their 1 hour long EP, Enjoy Eternal Bliss with four tracks. Favourite would be "Illuminate My Heart, My Darling".

Wikipedia Page

Band Page

Tell No One

Not much running, actually.

Fulsome praise has been lavished upon this thriller, and watching it I wonder why. Maybe it's something called "backlash", or perhaps my expectations were too high. Either way, I came away underwhelmed. Not really any edge of the seat moments (although I do admit that one sequence was particularly tense). Just a whodunnit that winds up only to loosen up right after, with a storyline that occasionally lost me. I'm the guy who likes mystery from the beginning right to the end with oh, lots of chases and twists and turns. This film has them, but in the most minimal amounts, with the rest being devoted to "characters" and lengthy expositions. But that's just me.

Defiance

Who needs Schindler when we have James Bond and Sabertooth to protect the Jews?

In theory the stars seemed to be aligned for Defiance. We have Edward Zwick, the guy behind The Last Samurai and Blood Diamond along with Daniel Craig and Liev Schreiber. The setting is woods of Belarussia where two brothers take on the duty of protecting a bunch of Jews. Cue the emotions, gunfights and beautiful scenery. Heck, they even have Joshua Bell to do the violin solos! What can possibly go wrong?

Well, nothing is quite wrong with Defiance, yet it somehow does not seem quite right. It dares not leap out of the invisible boundary set by oh, Schindler's List or Saving Private Ryan. Yes, the longstanding tradition of shellshock continues here too. A typical war movie, one might think.

But although it may be somewhat typical, it is by no means bad. We have outstanding performances, wonderful cinematography and pleasant music. All these make a good movie, but not necessarily a great one. Defiance is not great and comparing it to Zwick's last two films, it seems somewhat weaker. Still, with its impeccable production values, it stands tall as a war movie and is also one of 2008's outstanding films. Do watch it, do expect to feel those same things when you watched Schindler's List. But do wonder why they chose to tell a remarkable true story in an unremarkable way.

Happy-Go-Lucky

Smile.

Sally Hawkins pulls off a remarkable performance of being a motor-mouthed unrealistically optimistic woman who in the end somehow still manages to offend people. It's a comedy, and a funny one at that, but you will have to identify with its brand of humour. I managed to get it most of the time and came away laughing, but there were some bizarre, random scenes that just puzzled me. More good than bad I would say, and certainly one of the standout comedies of the year.

Notes For 2009

Yes, it's a new year and I unfortunately haven't done most of the stuff I posted about earlier. Sigh. That's me. I've decided to forgo resolutions after I realized that I tend to achieve my goals as long as I do not set any. Some of you may find yourself in this situation too, hehe.

So here's the plan for the next month or so:

• Top 10 Movies of 2008 - which will be in the end a top 20 or something, because there's no one good movie that stands out and so provides a benchmark (hence why I won't rank any movies these year) for me. I'll try to narrow it down.

• Features and essays will come up soon. Yup, expect write-ups on movies, bands, books etc. When I have the time, that is. Expect film and literary criticism, albeit in a much more subtle style, since it turns me off whenever someone attempts to deconstruct Transformers to find a hidden agenda.
  

That's it, for now.

Happy 2009!

Shotgun Stories

A drama/thriller set in rural Arkansas. Yes, usually the domain of boring indie films. But writer-director Jeff Nichols does a wonderful job of utilizing the minimalist, almost uninteresting setting as a canvas for a spartan yet solid story.

Very little takes place. There is not much "action" per se. Dialogue takes precedence as the story drifts from simple to intense moments. What makes this film all the more remarkable is that it relies on almost no tried and tested gimmicks - no quick cuts, pounding music or bankable stars. But it works beautifully. The result is a tale of revenge where the resolution is not found in violent closure or forgiveness, but weariness.