Max Payne

Max Payne, 1 out of 4 stars

Mark Wahlberg as Max Payne and Mila Kunis as Mona Sax in "Max Payne" or should I call it "Max Pain"?

Max Payne, it is the worst game adaptation movie I ever seen recently. I said it and I mean it. "Max Payne" is based on a popular game also called Max Payne. This film is directed by John Moore who directed "Flight Of The Phoenix" at 2004. This movie is about a detective, Max Payne (Mark Wahlberg) trying to investigate and find the murderer who killed his wife and his daughter. In his search, he met Natasha Sax (Olga Kurylenko) and from there he also met Natasha's sister, Mona Sax (Mila Kunis). During his search, he found out that most of the people are taking some kind of drug which the film called "Valkyr". "Valkyr" is a drug which can make the person having hallucination and make the person become super soldier. So, Max Payne make his own way to find out the person who killed his wife. In the end he found out that the person who killed his wife is the person who he trusted well along the way. Well the plot is short because I don't know what to write about and because the story is very simple and boring, actually. Besides that, this movie only have a few scene of action sequences which I think it's sucks, even action junkies would not praise this movie I think. Other than that, I hate this movie because it only has two scenes using slow motion technique. Okay, let me tell you the truth, if you play the game before you sure know that the game contain a lot, which I mean hell lot of slow motion or should we call "Bullet time" sequences. But in this film, it only have two scenes using slow motion. Okay, maybe it's not suitable for one film having a lot of slow motion, but at least add more slow motion sequences in it just like they did in "300" and it will be a better movie. I want to have a lot of slow motion in this film is because it is a trademark in Max Payne (Game). After I watch this movie, someone told me that maybe they should try to make it like "Sin City" which contain alot comical style in it. Maybe it works. Despite a weak plot progression and bad acting, the only thing that I really admire from this film is the set design, it really follow the game design and they did it well. But still, this movie is a mess or just a toxic waste, even "Hitman" is better than this. I like "Hitman"(movie) a lot, actually. It's a lot better than this. Yes, this is a very short review so I will straight to the point, I'm quite disappointing about this film and it will be one of the worst movie this year. AND I MEAN IT!!

Quarantine

Quarantine, 4 out of 4 stars

Jennifer Carpenter did a lot of screaming in "Quarantine", a movie which also make you scream.

Woow. It since how many months that I didn't watch movie already. Haha Just kidding. I never update the blog doesn't mean I didn't watch movie. Actually I watch hell lot of movie recently. Today, I just wanna spend a little time just to review one of my favourite horror movie this year, which is "Quarantine". It is directed by John Erick Dowdle. Who is this guy anyway? I myself also dont know who he is. "Quarantine" really amaze me since "Cloverfield". It's really an effective horror film which can make you jump out from your seat. Maybe alot of people out there dont really like this film because it uses the shaky camera technique same as "Cloverfield" and of course a lot of scene are shaky. The film begins with a reporter Angela Vidal (Jennifer Carpenter) making a documentary at Los Angeles fire station followed by her cameraman, Scott (Steve Harris). Both of them are introduced to a night shift firefighters Fletcher (Johnathon Schaech) and Jake (Jay Hernandez). During documentary, a medical emergency at an apartment is reported and firefighters are needed just in case there is a fire or something else. Then Angela and Scott are following them. When they reached the apartment, they have accompanied by the apartment manager, Yuri (Rade Serbedzija). Yuri explained to them that he heard a woman screamed and now is silent. So they make their way to second floor if not mistaken. Yuri unlock the door then they see a woman just standing there. Her cloth is covered with blood. When they tried to take her out of the room, she bites James (a police officer) before subdued by Fletcher. They bring James downstair to get medical assistance. When they reached the ground floor, they found out that the building has been quarantine by the authorities. They have no idea why they quarantine the building. So they make their way to find out the answer and after that they realize that their simple goal is to get out from the building as soon as possible. I just watch this movie few weeks ago, it really amaze me and I forgot to write down some very important info which is this movie is a remake of the Spanish horror film "Rec.". When this movie came out from the theater, there is alot of people say "It will not as nice as "Cloverfield"". (Of course for those who like "Cloverfield"). But for me, it is as nice as "Cloverfield". I give this movie 4 stars is because their acting is very top notch. Don't talk about winning an Academy Awards, but their every expression in every conditions in this film are really 100%. Why impression are so important in this movie is because the story is only in an apartment. The apartment is just a small place, so intense action sequences cannot cover up the story or bad acting. In "Cloverfield", the set are big scale, so it has to use action sequences and more. Other than good expression, this movie also contain a little bit story telling to explain what was happening in this apartment before they get here, so that the audiences will know why the apartment has been quarantine, unlike "Cloverfield" it is a big scale movie so there is no story telling. Besides that, this movie contain a lot of blood and gore which is very suitable for this film and every scene from this movie are very intense and fun. I like it very much and it a lot better than "Diary Of the Dead". In conclusion, for those who like horror movies, this movie really works!!

The X-Files: I Want to Believe

The X-Files: I Want to Believe, 3 out of 4 stars.

David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson team-up again for a new cases in "The X-Files: I Want to Believe".

This is not about alien anymore...but the truth is still out there.

I write this reviews after I wrote Eagle Eye review. Actually I watch this movie before "Eagle Eye". Sounds strange? Ah...cut the crap. Actually I found myself a lot of time today, so I just using this free time to do some reviews. The X-Files: I Want to Believe, directed by the creator of The X-Files TV series, Chris Carter. Sounds nice isn't it? Since that I almost forget my comment in my head, so I just make it quick. The film begins with a FBI agent, Monica Banan has been attacked by an unknown person. Then the films jump to the scene where Father Joseph Fitzgerald Crissman (Billy Connolly) and a group of FBI found a broken hand on the spot. After that, the films focus on Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) are now a physician in a Catholic Hospital and she's now treating a boy named Christian who has Sandoff disease. One day, an FBI agent came and ask her to help them to investigate the disappearance of two women. Scully, then trying to convince her ex-partner, Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) to help her. Then both of them has been sent to Washington D.C. There, they met Father Joe who claims god giving him the vision to see crime and others. From there, Mulder has found out a lot of clue and finally knowing the answer of disappearance of the women and before the time has gone, Scully and Mulder have to face the problem with each others and Scully has to make a choices whether to continue treat Christian or just let Father Ybarra, the head of the hospital to make the decision which is removed Christian from the hospital to a palliative-care facility to live his remaining day. Actually, I'm tired to write out all the story of this movie, because I don't want to be a spoiler sometimes. Actually and honestly I really enjoy this movie more than "Eagle Eye", of course not a lot. First, this movie is about making a choices, mindset and other small issue about moral. That's why I liked this movie. Like I said "this is not about alien anymore.." Unlike the first X-Files movie, "The X-Files" (1998), although I not yet see it, but it is about aliens. The story of this movie is fine but not great. I think some of the TV series fans will feel disappointed with the story, but for me I think it is fine because it is not involve in alien or other supernatural things. I think aliens are outdated already. The story is very simple, easy to absorb and easy to understanding. The acting is great especially Gillian Anderson. It been a while I didn't see her in the big screen, and I found out that her acting is still great when she act in X-Files. Besides that, the chemistry between both of them is very good. Despite good acting, this movie also contain a few thrilling moment which is I quite admire of. The director done a great job in maintaining the thrilling sequences with the story telling. He arrange it perfectly, and audiences will not feel this movie is boring or draggy. Did this movie require a lot of thinking? What I can say is yes, but not a lot. The ending of this movie is nice also because it doesn't show how it ends, the ending is depends on the audiences themself, and that's how the x-files tv series sometimes did, if I not mistaken. I'm a fan of x-files, and I really like the way they do the ending, it sometimes scary and very disturbing but not this one. This ending is very comfortable and relaxing. Here comes an overall. Oops, this is a very short review. It is short because this movie is very simple but very absorbing. That's all I want to say. Overall, this movie is very absorbing, sometimes thrilling, sometimes touching and I really enjoy every moment from this movie.

Eagle Eye

Eagle Eye, 2.5 out of 4 stars

Shia LaBeouf and Michelle Monaghan are getting instructions from an unknown woman in "Eagle Eye".

Eagle Eye, released few weeks ago and I'm planning to watch it few weeks ago but I couldn't make it. I just saw "Eagle Eye" yesterday with my friends and I just feels like this movie is not what I expected from director D.J Caruso who also brought you his masterpiece, "Disturbia" in 2007 and also starring Shia LaBeouf who is nowadays a great young actor. The films begins with the army forces lead by The Secretary of Defense (Michael Chiklis) are tracking down an unknown terrorist and they have to make a decision to eliminate the terrorist by using a MQ-9 Reaper UCAV. But they have a difficulty of getting a possitive ID proves. So, the system recommend to abort the mission. But the president orders The Secretary of Defense to carry on the mission. Then the films focus on the life of Jerry Shaw (Shia LaBeouf) which is very lifeless and gameble everyday to earn extra money. One days, his mother called him and told him that his twin brother is dead. After the funeral, Jerry when home and found out that his room is filled with explosives, weapon, and other top secret documents. He then recieve a call from an unknow woman who told him that the FBI will catch him in 40 sec? If not mistaken. He must escape before the FBI come in. He don't believe and he was catch by the FBI lead by Agent Thomas Morgan (Billy Bob Thornton). Then the films focus on the life of a single mother, Rachel Holloman (Michelle Monaghan). The unknown woman call Rachel and she's been told that if she didn't follow her instruction, her son will be kill. Then in the FBI office, Jerry have a permission to make a phone call. But the unknown woman call Jerry again and he been told that she's already plan his escape plan. During the escape, he meet up with Rachel, both of them escape from the FBI by listening the instruction which the unknown woman gave. During the escape, they finally found out the identity of the unknown woman and before the time went out, both of them must find a way to save themself and Rachel herself must also find a way to save her son. Since last week, I write a review about "Death Race" and I said "this movie is not a really good movie". So, Eagle Eye also not a really good movie either. Most people or my friend will ask me, "Why? This movie is so much fun!" I personally quite like this movie but not much. This movie is not what I expect from D.J Caruso actually. First of all, I'm not statisfied the way he handle the plot progression. For example the part where Jerry has been told that his brother is dead, and the part where Jerry has been told that the unknown woman is actually is a ....(I'm not going to be a spoiler) then the film only started to introduce the ....(I don't want to be a spoiler). It feels very weird when you watch it and it doesn't give you the intense feeling and it does not require a lot of thinking. Besides that, the thing which happen from the first half of the movie for example action sequences is not intense at all and I didn't feel any eye-popping moment. But I liked second half of the movie, it started getting more and more intense. I don't know whether you all got notice one thing from this movie or not? which is if this movie don't have action sequences at all, this movie actually don't have a great story and it will be suck. I think I better stop blaming this movie already. The only thing I envy a lot from this movie is the acting. Shia LaBeouf is a great young actor, his acting in this movie is great. I think his acting is better than in "Transformers". His expression delivers the feeling of sad, curiosity and andrenaline rush at the same time. This is why I give this movie a credits. If there is no Shia LaBeouf, this movie will be boring. Overall, despite the great acting delivers by Shia, it is still not a great but fine action thriller.

Death Race

Death Race, 2.5 out of 4 stars.

Jason Statham (second left) and his crew in "Death Race".

I'm going all the way back....

It's been along time I didn't update my blog because I've been very busy, so now I just need a little more time just to update my blog. So I'll make a quick one. Death Race, directed by Paul W. S. Anderson who brought you his masterpiece "Soldier" in 1998. The film begins with the introduction of the death race in Terminal Island Prison. Death race is a race between cars and cars. The cars are filled with a lot of machine guns and other weapon and this show is broadcast to the world through a popular paysite on internet. Then the films jump to the scene where there is a battle between Machine Gun Joe (Tyrese Gibson) and a very popular masked driver, Frankenstein. Frankenstein has been defeated by Machine Gun Joe and dead. After that, the film introduce Jesen Ames (Jason Statham), a man who has a normal life with his wife and a baby. One day, he has been attacked by a masked intruder. The intruder killed his wife, and Jesen was sent to the prison. During the life in prison, he trying to find the killer of his wife, but one day the sadistic prison warden, Henessey (Joan Allen) offer him one chance to become a new driver of Frankenstein's Ford Mustang. Henessey told him that she know where his baby is. Jesen accept the offer and started to become a racer in the prison. Death Race have three stages. In stage one and two, the driver must survive but in stage three, the driver must win in order to add to the count towards freedom. So Jesen Ames make his way to stage three, and finally he slowly noticed that all this racing is a deception and he slowly found out who is the killer of his wife. Then he trying to find a way to get back his baby and make a new whole life. I watch this movie few weeks ago, and all my comments are already stored in my mind and waiting me to let it out. So now is the time. First of all, this movie is not a really good movie, but I still give it credits. When I watch this movie, I found out that this movie not require a lot of thinking. You no need to think about the characteristic of the character, what are they thinking, what are their mindset and others. All you think from this movie is they want freedom, that's all. Except for Jesen, he want freedom and get back his baby. Other than that, what make this movie is not a nice movie is because the acting. The acting is quite bad actually, but for Jason Statham his acting is normal, not as good as his previous work which I admire in "Transporter 2". I don't want to talk about others actor except Joan Allen. Joan Allen's acting is quite good. Maybe this is the first time I heard she say "Fuck" in movies. Besides acting, the plot of this movie is not good also. The story is too simple for this kind of action movie because nowadays action movie contains a lot of thinking, and explain the inside characteristic of the character to improve the story telling, for example "The Dark Knight" and "Hellboy II :The Golden Army". Despite bad acting and story, there is few things that I admire which is the concept of the racing. When I first time watch the trailer of this movie, I thought when the race begins they can start shooting with each others. After seeing it, then i found out that, the weapon system is locked. If you want to unlock it, you need to go through the unlock system which is you need to fight for it. Besides that, this movie shows that somel of them is not only fight for freedom, sometimes they also co-operate with each other to defeat another for example where Jesen and Machine Gun Joe defeat the Henessey's secret weapon, an 18 wheel tank truck filled with flame thrower and machine gun. Other than that, this movie has a lot of explosion. The action sequences is quite unique and intense. A lot of things blows up real good actually. Overall, if you want to have some dumb fun and some action, this movie delivers but if you want to have great story telling better avoid it.

Now, this time is not about movies

BRILLANTE WEBLOG AWARD



Today when I wake up at 2.30pm in the AFTERNOON, the first thing I do of course is brushing my teeth..After switch on my computer then I log on to my blog...and suddenly Pow!! My eye become wide open...I was so surprise Pei Pei has nominated me for this award. Actually I had no much to say, but thank you Pei Pei, I really appreciate it. So now I'm buying some little time to update my blog and really hope next time can do a lot more better.

What is Brilliant Weblog? Brilliant Weblog is a prize given to sites and blogs that are smart and brilliant both in their content and their design. The purpose of the prize is to promote as many blogs as possible in the blogsphere.

Here are the rules to follow:

When you receive the prize you must write a post showing it, together with the name of who has given it to you, and link them back. Choose a minimum of 7 blogs (or even more) that you find brilliant in their content or design. Show their names and links and leave them a comment informing they were prized with ‘Brilliant Weblog’. Show a picture of those who awarded you and those you give the prize (optional).All the bloggers have wonderful work and content in their blog and all deserve to get this.

I would like to pass this award to the bloggers mentioned below:
1. Daniel Goh
2. Joon Heng
3. Fong Yun
4. Pei pei
5. Qi Guang
6. XinYing
7. Adrian

WALL-E

WALL-E, 4 out of 4 stars

WALL-E has a date with EVE in "WALL-E".

This few days, I'm trying to update myself by watching latest movie in cinema, but I'm failed to do that. I watched WALL-E few days ago and I found out that this movie is much more better than "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor". WALL-E stands for "Waste allocation load lifter Earth-class". My first impression about this movie is like "What kind of story that Pixar can come out with by putting a robot in it?" When I watch this movie and do some research from Internet, I can say that this movie is very entertaining. WALL-E, directed by Andrew Stanton who direct "Finding Nemo" in 2003. He is also the voice of Fred in "Cars"(2006). The film begins with a close up of the earth, and it shows the earth is full of trash. The trash is compacted and stacked into sky scrapper-like tower. And there is WALL-E, which is the last robot remaining and it (It is a "He") still functioning. Everyday WALL-E's duty is to compact the trash into a cube and then stack it so that the trash is easy to disposal. He also collect items from others inactive WALL-E for spare parts. Every night, he watches a videotape which is 1969 musical film "Hello, Dolly!" (I want to watch it!!) From there, he learns how to communicate, emotion, love and others. Every morning, he have to recharge his battery by using the solar panel from his body, and continue his work again. One day, when he's collecting items and prepare to go home, he found a small plant which is very surprise for him. He put it in an old shoe and store in his house. One day, there is a giant spaceship sent by the Axiom (A spaceship which is a home for human beings and can support every needs for human.). The spaceship deploys EVE (Extraterrestrial Vegetation Evaluator). WALL-E fall in love with her on first sight. But EVE didn't show any sign of loving him. EVE came to earth to search for plants. Shortly afterward, WALL-E took EVE to his home and he shows her the video tape, and finally the plant that he stored. EVE quickly stored the plant inside herself and deactivated. After that, the spaceship came again and retrieved EVE. WALL-E quickly races to the ship and grab the outer hull as the spaceship depart to the space. After arriving the Axiom, EVE and WALL-E must find a way to cooperate with the captain of the Axiom also the human to restore the images of the earth. And both of them fall in love. First of all, in every animation there must have a lesson to tell. I think this movie is very meaningful. Every tiny part from this movie has a meaning and lesson. For example the parts where a girl said "I didn't know we had a pool!". It means that, nowadays people just sit in front of the computer and didn't know the outside world. Other than that, it also show us that what will happen to us if we too rely on robots. This movie is great, because the lesson which teach us is very meaningful, and the way it shows the message is very unique and sometimes sarcastic. Besides that, there is not much conversation in this movie. And because this film is what we called "Silent movie", it still can tell us the story by using emotion and so on. Besides that, this film has a jaw dropping visual effects. It makes this film very charming and inspiring. The team behind the visual effects really put alot of effort in it. This movie has alot of fun from the start until the end and the audiences will really enjoy it. Overall, this movie is really a masterpiece from Andrew, and probably the best animation of the year or should I say the best animation so far produced by Pixar.