Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

Eccentric characters are great entertainment and amazement. An actor portrayal of that character is truly essential to bring out the character to live. Think of the Johnny Depp and his many zany characters, the late Heath Ledger as the villainous Joker in Batman, and now adding to the list is Robert Downey Jr as Sherlock Holmes.

The first installment that I caught during an in-flight entertainment, I found that Sherlock wasn't much of the eccentric character that I knew of but the show is still captivating with the plot. With A Games of Shadow, Robert Downey Jr played the eccentricity remarkably well.

Not many show faced off the villain and hero during start of the movie but SH2 did. The plot progresses with the battles of wits and intelligence. Sherlock had to figure out the next move and target of a mathematical genius.


Rachel McAdams had a minor play in this installment but the having Jude Law as Dr. Watson back alongside Sherlock is definitely the best chemistry - like Batman and Robin.Can't help to figure what is Sherlock sexuality in that (same as the British series - Sherlock which I'm anticipating the returning season).

Filled with the foresight and peculiar methods of investigation, the show is also filled with stunning action sequences especially the escape of the line of fire. Remarkably stunning!

Ratings: 5
Enjoyed every last bit of the show, maybe not much of the credits.

Paranormal Activity 3

The last of the Sunday Time Wasting movie marathon. I loved the 3 installment of the series but missed the latest in the movies. Apparently, it's nicer to watch it a home on your own. It's a great thrill. Sad that Singapore doesn't bring in the DVDs and there's non good illegal sources, I had to rely on video streaming to catch the show which is still of a poorer quality. I should have just caught it the movies when I can.

PA3 is the start of all the spookiness way back in 1988. I was just, hmm... let's say Kristie's age then. At that age, some are bound to have imaginary friends (thank God I didn't). Ever since Kristie met Toby (the imaginary friend), weird things happens around the house.

The camera's then were less tech, no night vision to view in the dark. So mostly the view is quite dark (or just the streaming quality) but it definitely capture the spooks. Well, some of it. This time, there isn't any static like before to keep you on the aged and scan through the screen for any happenings. It just whammed at you with a shocker. The rotating camera is one of them to look out for.

PA3 is said to be the spookiest of the 4 and I would agree so if I get to view out of the pitch black screen. The spooks are right in your face for those that I can view. Maybe I'll get the set from my next overseas trip if I managed to find it. Then I stay up for a spooky sleep deprived marathon.

Ratings: 3.5(4 - if I can view it properly)

In Time

The second movie for my time wasting Sunday which I realized is a bit too much Justin Timberlake for a day. I kind of dragged through to kill the time. If I was in the movie, I'll be dead literally.

In the movie world, your life depends on the time you have. Every second counts. Like puberty, once you aged 25, you take charge of your life on how much time you require. You stopped aging at 25 but your timer starts clicking. You can beg, borrow, steal or work for time and it's a constant struggle. Currency is based on time and the riches have a lifetimes to spare, practically immortal.

It's definitely a race against time for your life. With less time, you'll practically die in a second.A different take from the money craving world we live in. So which would you prefer, all the time in the world or all the money in the world. You decide.

Ratings: 3.5

Bad Teacher

I had a Sunday which was really a time waster. I had nothing better to do and decided to work, just to kill the time. Even when I'm done, I still have tons of time to spare so I set on a home movie spree. The first of the 3 for the evening:

Teachers are living role model. In view of kids, they are prim and proper. Out of view, they wreck havoc. I know of some but it's a tough job nonetheless. Can you be yourself? Sure just with restrain.

Cameron Diaz as lovely as aged, is a middle school teacher who just don't give an "F" to the students. It's just a job for her. Showing movies while sleeping in class and gold-digging any potentials.

To successfully win the heart of the wealthy bachelors, she plans to get her boobs enlarged. With a hefty bonus for a high scoring class for the States Test, she whipped her students into mental state. Kind of an excellent attempt to shut those whiny kids nowadays. I do remember some of the techniques used before. Effective yet torturous.

Ratings: 3

Puss In Boots

The last I've been to the movies was actually watching Real Steel which was about 2 months back and the last that I went out to the movies with my siblings was watching Gnomeo and Juliet. We tend to watch animations outside especially for the 2 little ones.

Boy do we love Shrek and Dreamworks have to make a spinoff on one of it's fiesty lovable cat, Puss.

Puss in Boots is about, well Puss in Boots before he made his appearance in Shrek 2. Puss tells his story of his child hood and the adventures he's been with his "brother", Humpty Dumpy. What a pair! The 2 sets out in search of the magic bean for the goose that lays golden egg.

At first, the atmosphere feels more from a Mexican movie and less fairy tale like even with Puss around. Bring in Jack and Jill, and the magic bean that grows into a bean stalk reaching up to the clouds, Humpty Dumpy and the Goose that grow golden eggs, then the set is more of a fairy tale mishap.

As a Mexican, Puss is a charmer and as a cat, he's darn adorable with the full-pupil-eyed tactics that melts the viewers. Cute and lovable. Definite watch for fairy tale with twist lovers.

Ratings: 4

A Christmas Carol

It's too early for the festive season, but it's still December. So it's never too late for Christmas. To get in the festive mood even though I don't really enjoy the rest of December, a good Christmas movie could actually start the mood.

An adaptation to Charles Dicken story of the same name and adding a 3D animation graphics and a touch of Disney's Magic, the show is quite entertaining. Adding Jim Carrey as Scrooge, just makes me hate the character even more. Not that I hate him, just find him annoying.

Storyline is very much the same as all the other 'A Christmas Carol" movie ever made only the touch of Disney spectacular directorial. Same old stingy Scrooge, haunted by Christmas ghost of the past, present and yet-to-come. Graphically, it's amazingly similar as the Polar Express.

Ratings: 3

Rise of Planet of the Apes

I've not been to the movies since ages. Fine, maybe since Real Steel or 6 post back or since 30th Aug. Man! That's long. What's worse is I've watched Rise of the Planet of the Apes 2 weeks back before I'm reviewing it. A refresher with the help of wikipedia is needed.

A prequel to all the Planet of the Apes, I think. I've not watched the originals except the remake of Planets of The Ape. I'm a sucker for remake if they include better graphics. From what i've known, they didn't really pursued the Rise for the originals due to the monkey constrain. How would you create the evolution of the prime apes to highly evolved simians with technology then? I bet they'll use costume which portrays an oversized chimp.

With modern technology and visual effects, we can now envision the Rise of these simians. From a primitive ape to a highly evolved intelligent.

Andy Serkis aka Gollum, is chosen to use his physical movement and not his true self as chimpanzee, Caesar. Not too sure if that is an insult for him. If the movement is truly 100% Serkis, he is one fine ape.

Storyline and plot are quite straight forward and expected, it's a prequel!!! Actions sequence are like those you'll see in the zoo with a few runts and grunts. Overall, just another old movie with modern technological visuals.

Ratings: 4

Apollo 18

Yet another found footage style of movie and I'm still drawn to catch it yet again. This time I transferred the movie into my iPad for any long travel entertainment. I managed to watch it on my way back from Hualien to Taipei.

Apollo 18 is a secret lunar mission after all other Apollo mission after the successful Apollo 11. Footage are based on cameras around the shuttle and hand held cameras used around the landings. Mission requires planting of detectors around the moon.

Upon landing on the moon, astronauts Commander Walker and Captain Anderson sets out planting the detectors and collecting some specimens. Mysterious things happen during their first rest when they heard noises outside the shuttle. The following day, the 2 astronauts continued setting up the detectors till they discovered footprints that leads them to a Soviet lander.

More mysterious things happen that I will not provide the spoilers. Do check out if you enjoy this footage thrillers.

Ratings: 3

Spy Kids 4: All the Time in the World

Oh my, it has been a month plus since I last updated my movie blog. I'm too tied down with work and other schedule that I can barely make time for movies in the cinema or at home. Even when I can managed to watch a show, I'm unable to find the time to blog.

I watched this movie way back in late October. It's a home movie so it's not really 3D nor 4D, just a simple Hi-Def show. The only reason I caught it is due to Jessica Alba and nothing much else since I missed the third installment.

Marissa is a spy who retires when she was about to have a baby. She then became a house mom looking after her newborn and her 2 step-twins. Both her step twins and husband who is a spy-hunter have no idea that she was a spy.

In an attempt to save the kids, the twin were informed that Marissa didn't really left the spy business and secretly assisting OSS with missions. The twins were enrolled in to Spy Kids program to help save the world.

Previous siblings Carmen and Juni Cortez returns as an adult agent and also cousins to Marissa. Those 2 grew up being less attractive. Well, not all kid star can blossom well.

Ratings: 2.5