Wrath of the Titans

About 2 years back, there was Clash of the Titans which was visually stunning and remarkable. I wouldn't expect them to come up with a sequel that fast. It seems a bit of rush and it ended up a tad sloppy.

Sam Worthington returns as demigod Perseus. Somehow, he didn't look as great as mythological character as of Clash. He would be better of as an offworld blue Avatar.

Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes return as well as Zeus and Hades. There's also the likes of other mythological beings such as Poseidon, Helius, Ares and creatures such as minotaurs, cyclops and chimera. Only one character steals the show, Rosamund Pike as the new Andromeda. Such sultry hotness.

The plot for Wrath is very much simple as compared to Clash. There's lesser actions, just more animation. Thought the concept of combining the mighty weapons of the god brothers of Zeus, Hades and Poseidon to form a mightier weapon to stop Kronos was awesome. I can just feel the power of it.

In all, the show lacks the action but Rosamund Pike steals the show for me. I just love her.

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The Dictator

It was just another meet up without anything planned or just that someone was admirably late. We ended catching a movie after the longest time and I needed something to cheer me up after a sorrowful week. In luck, The Dictator was out.

I've love watching Sacha Baron Cohen in his lead roles such as Ali G, Borat and Bruno. Except for Ali G, the other movies tried cramping too much jokes in it. Thank god, The Dictator was something similar to Ali G in terms of crude humor.

Yet another character surfaces from Sacha Baron and this time a North African dictator (with a dedication to North Korean Kim Jong Il). Under his rule, it was just crude and humorous. Unlike Borat and Bruno, the Dictator is not a mockumentary which was so much better. Simple plot but tons of great laughs. I can't recall the last time I laughed my @$$ off in the cinema (probably due to a hysterical audience whose laughter was infectious).

The Dictator made fun of every possible angle of the show. I seriously can't help but to burst out laughing which I rarely do. The joke may be racist, sexist etc but it just a comedy that you have to live it lightly. Given a chance to watch it again, I would as the jokes are just hilarious to be watch yet another time.

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J Edgar

I'm am quite noob with American history. For a while there, I thought J Edgar was a president. That was how ignorant I was. Well, History was my best subject, EVER. Even watching this had me falling asleep the first time round that I had to re-watch to understand.

J. Edgar is biography film about well, J Edgar Hoover on his career as a FBI director (I didn't know that - at least I'm learning via media). The workaholic ignoring social life managed to bring up the bureau and it's cataloging system and the birth of the FBI Crime Lab.

Something interesting was to know that he was a closeted homosexual and I learned a new word "Daffodil" which is actually a flower but used as a term for homosexual person.

Leonardo DiCaprio as J Edgar was quite compelling. His speech was dictated and narrated like the olden Americans. His transformation to an elder Edgar was slightly freaky. I was wondering whether they cast another for the old Hoover but it was still DiCaprio. Edgar character is quick stern and well versed which DiCaprio managed quite well. He seems well for historical figures - Titanic, Aviator, Catch Me If You Can etc.

Clint Eastwood direction is superb too but can be quite draggy. Remember, I fell asleep. Great direction and visuals but could do better with the make up as an elders for the cast. Clyde Tolson looks fake.

Now I know a bit more of American history. Autobiography can be a bore yet knowledgeable, than again that studying for some of us.

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Due to causing me to fall asleep.

Jack and Jill

Watching more and more of Adam Sandler's is getting a bit too boring. Worst when there's two of him, the lighter and more absurd double.

Ever wonder how having a twin would be like? You'll either love them or irritate the hell of each other. It might be nice somehow and you'll probably have a best friend for life beside your kin.

Did I mentioned 2 Adam Sandlers? Yup, he acts as the serious male Jack and the weird female Jill. Watching one was tolerable but watching 2 was painful. Jill is suitable for Adam Sandler's role but Jack was just a bore.

Having Katie Holmes was nice. How come Adam Sandler's always having great female companion? Al Pacino's in as well, playing himself. The show is killing his character as a great actor. Sure it's a comedy but it's a waste for such talent.

Bad jokes aside, it's typically ends the same. A jerk knowing of the wrong he did, makes it better in the end. TYPICAL Adam Sandler.

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The Woman In Black

I remembered someone warning me that the show will a creepy one. I totally ignore him and watched it in the middle of the night alone. I paid the price for that mistake. LOL...

To start off, boy have Daniel Radcliffe grown. Gone were the days at Hogwarts and our dear Harry bares it all in a Equus and acted as a muggle in December Boys. Now all grown up, he's up for a suspense/horror/thriller.

With all the acting of despair and torment in Harry Potter 1-7, Daniel is able to act in a more serious role thought slightly unsettling to be cast as a father. True, he's grown but he still looks young.

The suspense and thrills of The Woman in Black kept me shocked in terror, thanks to watching it alone in the dark. Daniel fits the role and character well. Simple development but thrilling nonetheless. The UKs managed a great horror film without much aid of graphics unlike the US. The suspense for this UK horror is truly a shocking experience. Let's hope that my imagination run wild is such situations but where I'm from, there is such estate around.

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Superman vs The Elite

The second DCU animated movie for the year concentrates on Superman against the morality of heroism. Based on the comics series published in 2001, the animation is based on the year's art unlike the current Jim Lee or the late Michael Turner influence. The movie had it retro feel to it.

Superman vs the Elite is about Superman meeting a group of anti heroes, the Elites that hold no boundary. They took justice into their own hands by killing the enemy, very much unlike Superman. The people of the world felt unsafe when one of Superman's defeated foe returned and created more chaos. The people could have been safer if Superman had destroyed him.

Defeated and unappreciated, Superman surrendered to the Elite's conditions and accepted their ways of heroism. Superman was ruthless and simply put a badass, that everyone including the Elite being afraid to what had become of Superman but all was just a ploy to show everyone how wrong and violent fighting without ethics would lead.

I've always been admitting that I never did like Superman and I still stand by that. Superman is my least favorite characters from DC Universe but this show showed a badass Superman, fearless and ruthless. Sadly, it was just a ploy and still the same old boy scout. BORING till I fell asleep at some point.

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Journey 2: The Mysterious Island

With a possible hint of a sequel to Journey to the Center of the Earth, it actually happened with only the return of Josh Hutcherson as Sean Anderson. I've watched that guy grew from a wee boy in Little Manhattan to the latest Journey 2: The Mysterious Island.

Journey 2 have better cast than 1 with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson (Sean's stepfather), Michael Cain (Sean's grandfather) and Vanessa Hudgens (pilot's daughter). There are 2 other characters and that's all the people they have in the show. Cost saving much...

Journey 2: The Mysterious Island recollects tales of Gulliver's Travel, Treasure Island and of course, Mysterious Island. Atlantis also made appearance together with Captain Nemo and the legendary Nautilus. The show has a simple story but the stunning graphics best watched in 3D is quite admirable. Character development was so-so but still enjoyable to watch.

As expected, everyone managed to get off the Mysterious Island and live another day. Near the end, there might hints of another sequel but I'm just wondering what sort of adventure might awaits.

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You Are The Apple Of My Eye

They call it puppy love for your high school crushes/relation. Not many people end up with their high school sweet heart but every relations has it's story to tell. I remembered I was a jerk back then and something I'm not proud of but it made me who I am today. Serves me right. LOL...

High school years have always been the most memorable experience in one's life where friendship is bond and love blossoms. Even when graduated, we may part but we'll still end up together later on and share stories. We'll meet old crushes, either shunning away or rekindling a relation we now call friendship.Tell jokes that only a few will understand and laugh out to our curiosities.

You Are The Apple Of My Eye is all that. Growing up with friends and falling in love with someone you hoped it would stay. The story catches my heart especially reminding myself why wasn't I studious back then.

Michelle Chen is adorable and stunning in both ways, very much like my Indonesian crush Agnes Monica. Her sweet smile with them dimples and the ponytail hair melts my heart. Poor her being a prank at the end credits.

I'm quite impress with the directorial debut of Gidden's Ko based on his semi autobiography. He captures the greatest friendship bonds, weird events in life and of course love. Reminiscing the slightly olden 1994 Taiwan, the cinematography is well executed with stunning laid back environments.

The show is magnificent for a feel good movie with love and friendship. Definite laughs and grinning moments where one rekindles own personal experiences.

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The Darkest Hour

For once, an American film with the end of the world concentrated away from New York or America. From alien invasion, virus contamination to apocalyptic nature, America has been getting all the attention. Now let's do it elsewhere, let's say Moscow Russia. Europe's too busy with their zombie infestation.

The start of the show kept me wondering whether it's true that electronic devices will obstruct flight landing procedures. I'm an electronic graduate, aerospace employee and a frequent flyer and don't really believe this "urban legends". Can't find the link but got a bit shock with the movie. Just a quick shock laughter.

Emile Hirsch(Sean) and business partner came to Moscow to sell their software. While adventuring the night, the whole city went on a electronic black out. Strange lights appears in the sky and started falling onto the streets. Situation went disastrous when the light started vaporizing the humans. Why do strange thing likes to vaporize thing? Why can't they just do something else like liquidify them?

The Darkest Hour is something different yet familiar. The new concept of world disaster is refreshing but the non-populated city is being used numerously. Can't human survived more proficiently? There isn't a need for a scumbag in this movie. I hated a character I wished he was dead which he did. An emotion and fearful character is definite must but I got agitated of her. Damn, I became those makcik where I'll be screaming to the character to run and curses her for being stupid.

In all, I did enjoyed the show. Did I mentioned that it's not situated in the US? Yeah, well that's a great start. Now, I'm keen to travel and experience Russia (Not interested in European countries). Maybe this could be a start for my interest to check out Russia/Moscow.

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Man on a Ledge

Just by looking at the the title and poster, I wondered how the plot for Man on a Ledge progresses. Could it be a sad story of misery of lost and defeat or something else. But after catching the trailer, the was a side plot that impels me.

Away with Titans and Avatars, Sam Worthington plays Nick Cassidy, an escaped convict arrested for stealing a $40mil diamond. To prove his innocent, we attracted attention by standing on a hotel ledge impersonating as a jumper. Requesting only Lydia Mercer, a negotiator whose last mission was a failure, he asked her for her trust in his plot.

What plot? To steal the actual diamond. Cassidy believe he was set up for the robbery of the diamond. In attempt to clear his name, he got his family to help break in the vault across the hotel he's standing at. His jump act was all but a cover.

I find heist plot interesting with all the planned breaking and entering. Researching schematics and high level securities and executing the plan is just thrilling. The best heist plan is also planning the contingency plan should the heist diverts. I adore such intelligence. I guess thats why enjoyed espionage movies as well.

Man on a Ledge proved me wrong. It's not just a simple jump plot. Progression of the show is smooth and well integrated. The heist feels real too, no fancy security system - just simple detectors and sensors like the real world which most would afford.

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Snow White and the Huntsman

Seems like Snow White is getting a lot of attention recently with the recent Mirror Mirror and the completed first season of Once Upon A Time. Summer 2012 comes Snow White and the Huntsman.

This is no ordinary fairy tale, more towards the grittier vision of the brothers Grimm. Sure there are fairies, dwarves and enchanted forest but it's not those that you'll expect like Disney vision.

For once, the story of Snow White is slightly different. We get to understand the nature and origins of the Queens power. Charlize Theron's Queen empowers greatness and sadness at the same time. No doubt she steals the show with great acting, stunning beauty and costumes.

I was quite very doubtful of asthmatic Kristen Steward's Snow. I don't see the tale "beauty as white as snow", more like as pale as snow. But she role was quite fitting in the rendition of the fairy tale. She's more of the tortured and sorrowful beauty and her asthmatic prowess is too predicted in times of stress.

As for our hero, substitute the hammer for an axe, Chris Hemsworth is the honorable hero, the Huntsman. Yup, no Prince Charming in sight unless you can count the son of the duke as one. Not much of a difference to Thor except for the axe. Hemsworth is great for many medieval roles.

The beauty of the kingdom is remarkable. The enchanted forest is just twisted and the fairies are wrongly mistaken as pixies. The 7 dwarves are stunningly rendered. The dwarves were too familiar that I did not believe they were Nick Frost and Bob Hoskins to name the few. The effects of the mirrors freaky and the magic castes were stunningly evil.

Snow White and the Huntsman is not the typical fairy tale rendition. More gritty than most and should be kept away from children. Their loved fairy tales will be turned to nightmares. Movies should do many more gritty renditions of fairy tales. Too bad Red Riding Hood did not do as well.

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