Movie Review: Up

Poster

My Rating: 5Stars

This evening I saw the movie Up at AMC Theater, Pacific Place, Admiralty, Hong Kong. Another one of the movies from my Must See Movies list.

Pixar again impressed me with another original movie. Great plot mixed with the signature Pixar humor, which no one else in the animation industry can mimic. Sony Pictures, Disney Pictures and Dreamworks all tried and failed drastically.

This was the fifth movie from Pixar’s own, Pete Docter. His story telling is very good. The voice actors were outstanding, particularly the 9 year old Jordan Nagai. This was Nagai’s first acting gig, although he did not use his face to act, he did a great job with his voice. Nagai is definitely someone to watch in the future. Of course, we could not forget the very talented animators who portrayed the characteristics of each of the voice actors behind the animated characters they were playing.

Continue reading “Movie Review: Up”

Movie Review: Duplicity

Poster

My Rating: 2Stars

This evening I saw the movie Duplicity at UA Cinema, Time Square, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong. Another one of the movies from my Must See Movies list.

I always enjoy movies with Julia Roberts and this one was no exception, but she was the only one any good. I never liked Clive Owen and his movies and I think this would have been a better movie if the cast were different. George Clooney and Brad Pitt would have been much better choices as Roberts’ partner in the movie.

It is a movie about corporate espionage between two rival corporation. Where Roberts and Owen are playing both sides for their self gain.

When the movie begins; actually during the first 15 minutes of the movie, you may be lost looking for the plot to begin. This is not surprising as you are dropped in the middle of a story about two spies. It is not until two thirds into the movie that you get the whole plot and back story. I guess this was the writers’ way of keeping suspense for a very weak plot.

If it was not for Roberts I would have given this 1 penguin like I did with most other Owen’s movies.

Rating Legend:
5Stars Not to be missed
4Stars Wait for the DVD
3Stars Buy from iTunes Store
2Stars Rent it on iTunes
1Stars Waste your time elsewhere

Movie Review: Night At the Museum – Battle of the Smithsonian

Poster

My Rating: 3Stars

This afternoon I saw the movie Night At the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian at AMC Theater, Pacific Place, Admiralty, Hong Kong. Another one of the movies from my Must See Movies list.

It was a typical performance by Ben Stiller that was nothing special. On the other hand his supporting casts were quite impressive, namely Hank Azaria, Amy Adams and Ricky Gervais. With Azaria carrying most of the movie by playing 3 characters.

Continue reading “Movie Review: Night At the Museum – Battle of the Smithsonian”

Movie Review: Race to Witch Mountain

Poster

My Rating: 2Stars

This afternoon I saw the movie Race to Witch Mountain at UA Cinema, Time Square, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong. Another one of the movies from my Must See Movies list.

I went into the movie without much expectation, since it was staring Dwayne Johnson, famous for his WWE character “The Rock” and his motion picture debut in The Mummy Returns, as “Mathayus the Scorpion King“.

The movie had two child actors, AnnaSophia Robb and Alexander Ludwig, and they were just as bad as Johnson. The only excuse Robb and Ludwig has is that they were playing aliens who are new to human speak, in this case English, but Johnson does not have this excuse, as he was playing an English speaking American.

I guess the blame cannot complete go to Johnson, Robb and Ludwig. The play writes, Matt Lopez and Mark Bomback should take some of the blame these bad dialogs. This would not have been a total surprise if I had known Bomback was the one who wrote the screenplay for Live Free or Die Hard. Next time I will look at the “play writes” in additional to leading actors and director in a movie before deciding on whether to include it in my” Must See Movies list.

Rating Legend:
5Stars Not to be missed
4Stars Wait for the DVD
3Stars Buy from iTunes Store
2Stars Rent it on iTunes
1Stars Waste your time elsewhere

影評:《收錯愛情風》He’s Just Not That Into You

Poster

My Rating: 4Stars

今晚睇完套戲《收錯愛情風》,有一個好強烈的體會,也是感覺,更加強化了自己和好朋友的一套的理論…當你的男人真的愛你,想同你共渡此生的時候,不用你開口,他就會娶你;當他仍然不想放棄這個森林時,無論你怎樣要求,怎樣歇盡所能地要求-結婚,他寧願放棄,也不會妥協。這並不代表他不愛你,只是時間上彼此的需求有差距,不配合。一個很多人覺得是人生自然的階段,說來自然,但是,對一些拍拖多年的情侶來講,卻並不是那麼來得得心應手,從心所欲!我相信沒有一個正常未婚女人不期待婚姻…

Continue reading “影評:《收錯愛情風》He’s Just Not That Into You”

Movie Review: Lady Cop & Papa Crook (2009)

My Rating: 4Stars

This evening I saw the movie Lady Cop & Papa Crook (aka《大搜查之女》) at AMC Theater, Pacific Place, Admiralty, Hong Kong. Not one of the movies from my Must See Movies list.

I normally do not watch too many Hong Kong made films, particular ones staring pop singers. Tonight it was different, it is a holiday Sunday and I had not watch a film for some weeks. The only US film I was willing to watch, Four Christmases, was sold out. So I bought tickets for the only Hong Kong made movie that did not seem too boring at the same time may be funny.

Not sure if it was my low expectations, but to my surprise, this movie was definitely entertaining. The two leads: Sammi Cheng and Eason Chan were not bad. Best of all were the plot and cinematography. They have this Infernal Affairs feel, and the plot twisted also like Infernal Affairs did.

For those who knows the directors this would not be a surprise, as one of the directors, Felix Chong, is the same director who filmed The Departed; the 2006 remake of the famous Hong Kong movie Infernal Affairs. Where the Chong’s partner in those movie, Alan Mak, again teamed up with him to make this movie.

That was two in a row, where a Hong Kong made movie presently surprised me. Next time, even if you have other choices at the cinema, do give this one a check before settling for one of the US films. I for one will not give Hong Kong movies a pass so hastily in the future.

Rating Legend:
5Stars Not to be missed
4Stars Wait for the DVD
3Stars Buy from iTunes Store
2Stars Rent it on iTunes
1Stars Waste your time elsewhere

影評: 大搜查之女

Poster

My Rating: 3Stars

睇完套戲,有很多似曾相識的感覺…「Sex and the City」加「証人」混合版?我覺得「大」這套戲的題材同「証人」差不多,都係講綁架,可能睇咗「証人」無幾耐啦,同埋我實在睇咗好多次Sex and the City啦。「大」戲中4個女人的開場戲和戲中鄭秀文男友係藝術家醉心創作藝術品這部份實在勾起我腦海浮現Sex and the City部份類同的片段,所以有這樣的感覺…!
「大」戲故事雖然簡單,你我都會估到故事結局,但故事的轉折點係幾吸引,亦有意外的幽默情節,確實有它特別之處,都值得買飛入場睇。
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvkECYTt_MM

Rating Legend:
5Stars Not to be missed
4Stars Wait for the DVD
3Stars Buy from iTunes Store
2Stars Rent it on iTunes
1Stars Waste your time elsewhere

影評: 大搜查之女

Poster

My Rating: 3Stars

睇完套戲,有很多似曾相識的感覺…「Sex and the City」加「証人」混合版?我覺得「大」這套戲的題材同「証人」差不多,都係講綁架,可能睇咗「証人」無幾耐啦,同埋我實在睇咗好多次Sex and the City啦。「大」戲中4個女人的開場戲和戲中鄭秀文男友係藝術家醉心創作藝術品這部份實在勾起我腦海浮現Sex and the City部份類同的片段,所以有這樣的感覺…!
「大」戲故事雖然簡單,你我都會估到故事結局,但故事的轉折點係幾吸引,亦有意外的幽默情節,確實有它特別之處,都值得買飛入場睇。
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvkECYTt_MM

Rating Legend:
5Stars Not to be missed
4Stars Wait for the DVD
3Stars Buy from iTunes Store
2Stars Rent it on iTunes
1Stars Waste your time elsewhere

Movie Review: What Just Happened

Poster

My Rating: 1Stars

This evening I saw the movie What Just Happened at JP Theater, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong. Not one of the movies from my Must See Movies list.

In a short several weeks I went from a 5 penguins rating movie to one that I am reluctant to give 1 penguin. I really should have known given it is a movie from Magnolia Pictures. I just thought, given it was staring Robert De Niro and with big stars like: Bruce WillisSean Penn and Stanley Tucci it cannot be that bad. Was I wrong!!

What can I say about this movie? It is boring, the plot is simple and does not capture the audience. The acting overall are weak. Bruce Willis plays an overweight, unreasonable, snob of himself. De Niro is an over the hill hollywood producer whose twice divorced that is grabbing onto his career by the thread.

Not only is this the worst movie this year. I can say it is a runner up to the worst movie I’ve ever seen.

Rating Legend:
5Stars Not to be missed
4Stars Wait for the DVD
3Stars Buy from iTunes Store
2Stars Rent it on iTunes
1Stars Waste your time elsewhere

Movie Review: Mamma Mia!

Poster

My Rating: 4Stars

This evening I saw the movie Mamma Mia! at AMC Theater, Pacific Place, Admiralty, Hong Kong.

I had not had much expectation for this movie. I didn’t even had it in my Must See Movies list. But I was presently surprised.

I believe much of my enjoyment was the direct results of the actors in the movie. They sure went all out and included some of the biggest in the industry: , and even Tom Hanks pitched in as one of the Executive Producer for the movie.

Reportedly the female lead, Amanda Seyfried had never heard any of ABBA’s songs prior to staring in the movie.

I went to the record store prior to going onto the theater to see if I recognize any of the songs. Since I was of that age (grew up in the 80’s), I did recognize most of the songs, but I did not find any of the songs that good. My opinions changed during and after the movie, where I found most of the songs to be catchy and enjoyable.

Like in Music and Lyrics and all musicals, the actors in this movie sang their own songs. Not that any of them were any good, but you will hardly notice as the lyrics become part of the dialogues.

Pierce Brosnan was surprisingly, at least to me, good. He wad kind of out of character. Not playing the typical Remington Steele, Thomas Crown or James Bond character.

The multiple Oscars awards actress, Meryl Streep was no exception. She was her typical but much much older self.

Overall this is a very enjoyable movie with a present mood throughout the movie, if you want to feel all happy coming out of a movie, then this is definitely the one to go see.

Rating Legend:
5Stars Not to be missed
4Stars Wait for the DVD
3Stars Buy from iTunes Store
2Stars Rent it on iTunes
1Stars Waste your time elsewhere