~ Come Rayne Or Shine ~: Movie review

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Phantom of The Opera 25th Anniversary - Royal Albert Hall

Monday, July 02, 2012 by Audrey

Where do I even begin? I'd been a fan of the Phantom of The Opera musical after watching the movie version back in 2004. Yes, I know quite a lot of die hard 'phans' did not enjoy it after having experienced the awesome stage production...but since I've not had the chance to catch it on stage, the movie version was the next best thing that I could catch and I had fallen in love with the whole story. I could definitely identify with the Phantom's yearning for love that is not reciprocated...but that's just me.

From then on, I'd had the privilege of watching Ramin Karimloo (who played the Phantom in "Love Never Dies" when it opened in the UK) last year at the "West End Stars in Concert" show in KL. His performance on the spectacular song "Till I Hear You Sing" just gave me goosebumps and made me ache to go and catch the musical! But, as my luck would have it, I didn't get the chance, and "Love Never Dies" didn't last long enough for me to get over there =( But I still remain a big fan of Ramin and even managed to watch him on the DVD of Les Misérables (my review here)! Recently, I've read that there is a DVD on the Phantom of The Opera for its 25th anniversary celebration, and they've cast Ramin and Sierra Boggess to play the Phantom and Christine respectively. Instantly, I thought...OMG! MUST. GO. GET. DVD! So now, here I am...having watched this a couple of times now, and still wanting to watch it again! I knew this I had to blog about coz I always can't contain myself whenever I watch something so awesome!

Unlike Les Mis' 25th anniversary which they did in concert form, they staged the performance of The Phantom of The Opera! Even so, they didn't use full stage sets...some props and projected images on the stage were used instead in the scenes, but it did not detract from the splendor of it all. For me, who had not seen the full production before, this was still AMAZING! The clever use of the images to portray the mirror, or backdrops of the scenes made it quite believable. One of the coolest ones was when the Phantom asks Christine to look in the mirror (in "Angel of Music"), and when she does, there is a camera (I suspect) that records her and the footage was projected on to the panel, along with a projection of the Phantom's face on it to show he is 'there, inside'. Same was used at the end of "Think of Me", when Christine turns away from the audience and turns toward the panels which projected footage of the audience applauding.

The scene in the Phantom's lair...how gorgeous is that?

I've read that this performance (when filmed) was also broadcast in cinemas worldwide simultaneously....not too sure how much was edited in the DVD, but I find it quite cool still. Viewers watching the DVD sure had the 'best seats' of the place. The cameras moved seamlessly to showcase not only the whole stage, but also close ups on the actors as the story moves along. And it was definitely mesmerizing to say the least!

The Phantom and Christine in "Music of The Night"

It was my first time watching Sierra Boggess perform, and I have to say she plays an excellent Christine! Not that I've got anybody else to compare to (except maybe Emmy Rossum from the movie, but I guess that doesn't really count right?), but I've heard her voice on the "Love Never Dies" soundtrack, and to put a face to the voice with her great acting was so cool. She really nailed it playing the young Christine who is hypnotized by the Phantom, falls in love Raoul, and torn between the two men who loved her so deeply. Let's not mention also her great voice...I'm no vocalist, but her soprano voice was amazing and not as irritating as some others I've heard. Makes me so want to watch her in "Love Never Dies" just to see the continuation of the story...but the DVD for that features an Australian cast, so I guess no chance of that =( Will post up my views on "Love Never Dies" soon too! *grins*

Hadley Fraser as Raoul...swoon!

Another actor I'm very surprised to see is Hadley Fraser, who played Raoul. I never really root for Raoul...partly because I find that his character is a little wimpy in the movie, and in "Love Never Dies", he was like this arrogant, snobbish alcoholic which gave me like a 'Huh?' reaction. Hadley's portrayal of Raoul though, totally made sense (and I think gave the story a better continuation between the two musicals). Since the Vimconte de Chagny is a very young aristocrat back in the day, I suppose he was a spoiled brat growing up and used to getting whatever he wants (since he had the money to do it). Hadley plays this out to the T, and it was quite a nice twist on Raoul....while being arrogant and snobbish, he still manages to make you kind of root for him a little. And it also helps that Hadley is such a looker...with his chiseled face and gorgeous eyes, one can see why Christine falls for the 'insolent, fool of fashion boy'..as how the Phantom puts it! *wink* I LOVED his voice too...so rich and deep! And I also thought he looked VERY familiar...a little bit of Googling and I found out he was also in Les Mis with Ramin in the 25th anniversary DVD! He played Grantaire...Enjolras' good friend =) And they are both good friends too off stage...so cool!

The agonized face of the Phantom...how the heck Ramin still manages to look handsome in all that makeup I have no idea!

Of course, this review would not be complete without me gushing about Ramin's performance! *grins* While I've quite enjoyed Gerard Butler's turn as the Phantom in the movie (he makes a great Don Juan! =P), I have to say Ramin's portrayal really embodies the tortured genius and artist but also evil in certain ways that is the Phantom. One can really see it with his little gestures; his ever twitching fingers (a 'habit' of his Phantom, or maybe it's like his clicks?), his cringe and turning away when Christine looks at or wants to touch him, the maniacal laugh when he killed, his shaking hands before Christine grabbed his during "Past The Point of No Return", the tears he shed when he knows Christine doesn't love him the way he loves her...I could go on and on. I've watched this twice so far, and he has never failed to bring me to tears each time.

My favorite scene was the final Lair...the trio singing together when the Phantom makes Christine choose between him and Raoul is just amazing to watch, and when Christine makes her choice...the look in his eyes when she kissed him! So heartbreaking towards the end....*sigh* It's hard to write down how I felt when I watch it. I guess one has to watch it to see what was it that makes Ramin such a formidable Phantom. Yes...every one has their favorite Phantom actor. For me, it's Ramin....LOVE LOVE his voice (such emotion! Even without watching him, you can just hear it when he sings...but couple that with his acting, OMG)! It's really great that I could catch his performances on DVDs coz I don't know when I'll be able to catch him in the West End. Now after the DVDs, I'm even more determined to go to the West End and watch him live!

When the last note had been sung, there were a few more surprises. Andrew Lloyd Webber came out on stage and gave a little speech. What's an anniversary celebration without bringing the original cast out on stage too right? Like in Les Mis, the surviving cast took their bows to a rousing and rapturous applause by the audience. Even the original Phantom, Michael Crawford, and the original Christine, Sarah Brightman made an appearance!

When Sir Andrew said that Sarah had agreed to sing for the audience, I was so hoping that Michael Crawford would sing too....I've heard about how great he was, but never gotten to watch him (Thanks to the Internet though, Youtube is awesome! I didn't manage to watch whole performances, but whatever songs he sang was so cool! He didn't have the deep voice that I've always associated the Phantom with, but his emotion was so clear in whatever he sings). But too bad, he didn't sing...instead, there were 4 other leading men (who I assumed also played the Phantom before) who accompanied Sarah in the number; namely Colm Wilkinson (OMG! I LOVED him in the Les Mis' finale...that voice!), John Owen-Jones (also another great voice! I hear he plays the current Phantom now), Anthony Warlow and Peter Jöback. Later, Ramin joined in too...and it was great!

I've not really heard Sarah Brightman sing before, but I kinda felt that her voice was a little....off in the sense that it didn't have the power like Sierra injected into the number =/ And that kinda threw me off a bit seeing how the songs that Christine sang were especially written FOR Sarah at the time. Weird, I know but I guess not everyone is on their game all the time right? It was still a great performance though, and I can't rave about it more without being too teenybopper (which at this point, I kind of am! LOL!). Now, to be a complete adult and start saving to go and watch a West End production live...hopefully I could catch either Ramin Karimloo, Colm Wilkinson, John Owen-Jones or Hadley Fraser. You know what would be the best scenario? All of them together in one production! O.O" Now THAT would be epic *grins*

Credits for DVD stills: Glasgow Theatre Blog & The Ugly Bug Ball

Contraband

Saturday, January 14, 2012 by Audrey

con·tra·band/ˈkäntrəˌband/

Noun:

Goods that have been imported or exported illegally.

Adjective:

Imported or exported illegally, either in defiance of a total ban or without payment of duty.

Yup, as the film title suggests it is about smuggling! Not a really unique premise, but it is a rather cool movie with some rather ingenious 'ideas' on how (really) good smugglers do their work.

Chris Farraday (Mark Wahlberg, looking quite buff here) is a smuggler-turned-legit alarm installer with a beautiful wife (Kate Beckinsale) and two cute boys. Back in the day, he was a very well-known smuggler who manages to pull off the coolest smuggles from different places. His brother-in-law wasn't that good though and botches a 'run', forcing Chris to 'go back' into smuggling for one last time before the henchmen get to his wife and kids.

Mark Wahlberg does quite a good job as the tough, previously-a-smuggler guy who dotes on his family a lot. He makes it quite believable that his character is a very street smart guy who has turned over a new leaf. Can't say the same thing about Kate Beckinsale though, as I feel the film makers are just using her famous name to pull in audiences. Her character is a little pointless as all she does is just be pretty or get beaten up by thugs to threaten Chris. A little sad, coz she is quite a good actress.

While the story is nothing much to shout about (It does start off rather slow as the characters are introduced), the action pretty much makes up for it...especially when Chris puts his plans into action. There are quite a few cool ideas on how to hide stuff in a confined space...though I'm not too sure if they have been actually used before, but cool ideas nonetheless. Think 'Prison Break' cool, except that they use those ideas for smuggling! And while there are some parts where it feels a little TOO easy for the characters to get to where they are, it is still rather interesting as the pace picks up exponentially towards the end. There are car chases, explosions, shootings, the works! My favorite scene would probably be the last few minutes of the film, where they really bring a new perspective to the term 'a sea full of money'! Watch it and you'll get what I mean. *grins*

All in all, it is quite a clever little movie....though not a big blockbuster like the big titles coming out this summer, it does deliver enough wit, action, and humor to keep your attention until the very end. Not bad to start off a new year *wink*

Real Steel

Monday, October 24, 2011 by Audrey

Hugh Jackman...that alone should be a crowd-puller to watch this movie. The man who immortalized Wolverine (for the guys); the one who melted countless women's hearts in "Kate & Leopold" is now a washed up, has-been boxer who does robot boxing in his latest offering "Real Steel".

Watching the trailer, I had anticipated to catch the movie since it had Hugh Jackman, cool-looking robots (ALMOST reminiscent of "Transformers", though not as high-tech of yet) and subsequent bashing of robots in a brawl that's a little like Iron Man beating the pulp out of those clone-bots! Action, grit, cute lead actor...yup, good combination! And it didn't disappoint *grins*

Initially, I had thought of the movie as a full-on, action-packed movie that pulls the punches from the get go and doesn't require a story. Just have robots kill each other via remote controls by the humans! But it surprised me with a very decent storyline (albeit a little Disney-ish if I do say so myself).

Hugh Jackman is Charlie Kenton, a guy who tries to make some money via his robots doing robot boxing. Unfortunately, his robots are sort of washed up like he was, and needless to say, they got served very badly (as did he!). Enter his estranged son, Max (played by a very adorable Dakota Goyo) who came into his care when his mom passed. The two make a very unassuming find in the form of an old robot while scouring for parts at a metal junkyard, and find that hey, this little robot might just be something else entirely.

Noisy Boy with his 'handlers'...LOL!

Yup, the story is about family, with a little tearjerker towards the end...but don't let that stop you from catching this movie! It offers loads of action, brawn and flair in the form of the robot fights. Yes, you'll get to watch quite a few robots go head to head WWF-style, only with boxing. From underground fights to the big leagues of a world championship match, "Real Steel" delivers the excitement and atmosphere very well with great use of music, intricate camera work and impressive CG!

Like I mentioned before, the robots are pretty amazing. While not as high-tech as "Transformers", they do a pretty decent job as 'fighters' in place of real humans. Watch out for the scenes with a bot called Noisy Boy...when it first came on, there was an audible gasp seeing how cool it was! And yes, even the main robot Atom, is a joy to watch =) Old and unassuming as it may be, Atom will warm your heart as it takes hit after hit from the opponents. It doesn't speak at all, but it says quite a bit through its movements. Kinda reminds me of Wall-E, but this bot sports a mean punch as well as a few slick dance moves too! *wink*

Charlie teaching Atom how to box...awww!

Special mention should be given to the actors as well. Hugh Jackman's performance as a reluctant father and doesn't-think-before-he-acts persona plays off Dakota Goyo's kid-who-lacks-a-father-figure-in-his-life character really well. While Goyo can be a bit annoying at times, their banter with each other is hilarious, especially at a scene where Atom faces off another robot at "The Zoo". Evangeline Lilly is also very cool as Bailey, the love interest of Charlie and nerdy girl-next-door. The chemistry between Jackman and Lilly is palpable, which says a lot given that it's a family-oriented film *wink*

"Real Steel" is quite an enjoyable watch...give this a go if you like robots, boxing or just looking for a feel-good movie that - quite literally - packs a punch =) If you can, watch it in 2D. No, not the 3D one where you wear the glasses...the 2D version as mentioned in some bigger cinemas is actually a high-definition version of the movie! *grins*

Temple Grandin

Tuesday, October 11, 2011 by Audrey

I 'stumbled' upon this movie when I saw my sister watching it the other day and was intrigued when she told me that Claire Danes was in it, and she is portraying a lady who is autistic. Yes, I watched these movies to see how the actors / actresses play a difficult role...don't we all? But, as the movie progresses along, what caught my attention was not just Claire Danes' acting, but the whole story about a woman who is just brilliant at what she does, and yet is always ostracized by society because she is different.

This movie is based on the real life of Temple Grandin, a high-functioning autistic woman who works in animal science (and has a PhD to prove it!) and her struggles in coping with our 'normal' society, from her school days to eventually her degrees in animal science and how she influenced humane slaughterhouses. It is really fascinating to see the world from her eyes as she really does see things so differently....some are very literal, while her attention to details and visuals are astounding. The film also talks about her 'quirks' like not liking touches or hugs from other people and how she copes with it. Watch out for a scene where she finds an alternative to being soothed and calmed...while a little eccentric, the effect on her just makes you go, 'Wow!'

While at times some of the things portrayed is kind of stereotypical of the autism spectrum, kudos should also be given to the film makers in their interpretation of Temple's thought process. Thoughts can be so abstract at times, not to mention coming from someone who doesn't really get the puns and sayings thrown at them...and the film makers did a great job in not making it look ridiculous. Rather, it's quite artistic with a little sense of humour injected into it. One has to watch it to believe it!

Another thing that I really like is the side story of how Temple designed a system that is more efficient and humane for slaughterhouses to dip and lead the cattle to slaughter. Her insight into animal welfare is amazing, especially so because her autism enables her to view things so differently from a normal human. One of her greatest lines that I respect reads:

"I think using animals for food is an ethical thing to do, but we've got to do it right. We've got to give those animals a decent life and we've got to give them a painless death. We owe the animals respect."

Claire Danes with the realTemple Grandin!

Of course, special mention needs to be given to Claire Danes who portrays Temple so realistically you can't really recognize her until someone mentions to you that it's Claire Danes. Definitely not just a pretty face as she earns award nominations for her portrayal of Temple...and yet it's funny that it takes a movie like this to let people know that she is a serious actress instead of being taken seriously from the get go. All because she was blessed with good genes! Life is as such, isn't it? Anyway, I digress...

All in all, "Temple Grandin" is a must watch. Don't think that it'll be showing in cinemas here, so if you're smart you'll know where to look. *wink* This movie also got me Googling for Temple and the work that she does for animal science and autism. Really liked one of her speeches in TED regarding different kinds of minds...check it out if you can!

Horrible Bosses....When Do They Ever Stop, Right?

Tuesday, August 23, 2011 by Audrey

If you thought you have a terrible boss at work, this movie is definitely one to watch! It will either:

a) Make you feel grateful that your boss is not THAT bad (even though it could possibly be the worst for you)....OR

b) Provide you with some 'ingenious' ideas as to how to get back on your boss!

When I first laid eyes on the trailer a few months back, it was rather hilarious to see how these bosses treat their employees and I thought it would be a nice film to sit and chill as we empathize with the employees who got bullied by their superiors. Well, it certainly delivered the laughs, and a little more! *wink*

While the premise of the film is simple enough (3 different bosses who treats their employees as how the poster described the bosses...the psycho who works his employee to the bone and dangling a prospective promotion in front of him; the maneater boss who probably is the kind of person that sexual harassment laws are made; and the boss who is just a friggin' dumb-ass tool! Watch the movie and you'll get what it means), the little twist a midst all that fun makes this movie even more hilarious! If you've not heard about it on the radio by now, Nick, Dale and Kurt hate their bosses so much that what was intended to be just a 'hypothetical' thought of killing their bosses to make their lives easier became something that they thought they can do. LOLL!

"The three musketeers" meeting with their so-called hitman. LOL!

To add to the quirkiness of the movie, the movie makers have brought in some rather big names to star in the film...let's see, there's Jamie Foxx, Kevin Spacey, Colin Farrell, Jason Bateman and Jennifer Aniston just to name a few! All these stars and their perfect comedic timing add even more spice and hilarity to the movie! Case in point, watch the scene where Jamie Foxx's character (Motherfucker Jones....can you believe it???!!!) explains how he got his name...if you didn't at least giggle, you have NO sense of humour at all. LOL!

The poster says it all...haha!

Other noteworthy mentions include Jason Bateman for his turn as Nick, whose boss is the epitome of emotional abuse at the workplace! Somehow I'm sure there are people who can identify with his situation...even if it's not as extreme as Nick's case. While not straying very far from his "Arrested Development" character, his casting as Nick is spot on. The best lines from the movie though mostly comes from Charlie Day (who plays Dale), and he did not disappoint in his delivery as a dental assistant who gets harassed by his boss (a very sexy Jennifer Aniston!) daily....to most guys, I guess it wouldn't be called harassment at all, especially when your boss is as hot as Jennifer Aniston! But Dale does not like the attention and that's where it gets seriously funny.

Dr. Julia trying to get some action from Dale....LOL!

Of course, it wouldn't be possible to talk about this movie without mentioning Jennifer Aniston, who was superb in this movie. Totally derailing from the sweet characters that she plays in her other movies, she is now a sex-crazed lady boss who will go through any lengths or depths (pardon the pun) to get what she wants from poor ol' Dale...and wow, she slips into that character flawlessly. LOL!

All in all, a much recommended movie to watch and recount of how good (or bad) your bosses treat you =) However, do be aware that should you catch this in the cinema, you will encounter a lot of frustrated groans and sighs from everybody watching it as our beloved Censorship Board has been very snip-happy with the scenes. You know, what with the sexual innuendos, scenes and swear words that are so frequent throughout the movie (even though the movie is rated as 18! Pfft!). You have been warned!

Les Misérables - 25th Anniversary In Concert

Tuesday, August 16, 2011 by Audrey

A quick break from my trip blogs *wink* I can't believe I have not blogged about this amazing concert when I had watched this previously! Watching it again a few days ago still gives me goosebumps and I feel that I HAD to blog about this amazing DVD.

Les Misérables (or more fondly known as Les Mis to fans) is no stranger to anybody who likes / loves the theatre / musicals. Actually, even if you aren't a fan of the theatre / musicals, there are still many songs that are covered by many contemporary artists here these days. I'm pretty sure many have heard Susan Boyle's rendition of "I Dreamed A Dream"...or even if you live under a shell until today, perhaps even the ever popular TV series Glee's rendition of it (and some other songs from the musical too!).

The musical is set in France in the 1800's, a time where the poor are plenty and many are oppressed. Prisoners are worked hard like slaves, justice by the police is kinda weird, business owners are not as honest as they seem, and ladies with nowhere to go end up selling their own hair and bodies to stay alive; just to name a few of the scenes you will see in the musical. Then in the second act, there is drama as zealous young men rise to the occasion and fought against the injustice of the government to try and free the people from poverty. Quite a sombre musical, but very inspirational and touching as we also see the strength of the human spirit when put against the odds!

This DVD though is not a full-on musical. Rather, it is a concert (as the title mentions), where the cast stand in front of microphones and sing the musical numbers. Everyone is dressed in costume though, and there are some props used in the scenes as well as sound effects that are well-timed to bring out the feel and atmosphere of the time.

While at first I was put off by the idea of the actors just standing there and singing, by the second song I was hooked and couldn't take my eyes of the screen as I was swept into the whole experience. This, I believe, is due to the excellent casting...they really brought out the emotions of the characters and making you feel as if you're in the moment with them! For the 25th anniversary concert, they have roped in some of West End / Broadway's biggest names like Lea Salonga (best known for her role in Miss Saigon), Ramin Karimloo (the current Phantom in Love Never Dies!), and Norm Lewis (who originated the role of King Triton in the musical version of The Little Mermaid).

(Left to right): Norm Lewis as Inspector Javert...LOVED his interpretation of the character! His deep voice just brings something to Javert; Lea Salonga as Fantine....although her voice has changed a bit since her Miss Saigon days, she still brings a lot of depth to Fantine. Her rendition of "I Dreamed A Dream" really brought tears to my eyes as she sings of what she had lost.

Ramin Karimloo!! ♥ He was superb as Enjolras...the leader of all the young men who fought for their freedom! I first wanted to watch the concert after hearing about him being in it after seeing him perform live when he was in KL with Stephen Rahman-Hughes, and he did not disappoint in his turn as Enjolras =)

The biggest surprise for me was Alfie Boe, cast as Jean Valjean (the protagonist). I have no idea who he was at the time, but his voice is amazing and OMG there's something about his eyes...I don't know, I guess I'm a sucker for guys with lovely eyes. Whenever he sings, there is always a twinkle; so much kindness in his eyes, which really befits the character he plays...a doting father to his daughter and a man with a really big heart. The biggest solo for Jean Valjean just tugs at the heartstrings when he sings and prays about bringing Marius safely home from the war. Couldn't stop listening to it! Video is below...watch and you'll see what I mean *wink*

Ah yes, forgot to mention about Nick Jonas as well! He was another surprise...cast as Marius, he actually held his own quite well even though his voice was not as strong and not really made for theatre. Not bad for a teen pop star =)

And just when you thought the end of the concert was amazing enough (I was tearing and smiling as the audience rose to their feet applauding the cast), there is yet another surprise! For the encore, they brought out the ORIGINAL 1985 cast of London who proceeds to perform some of the numbers....words can't describe it! Especially the performance of "Bring Him Home" by the Jean Valjean Quartet - which are the 4 gentlemen who have played Jean Valjean throughout the years, including Alfie Boe....listen to the oldest Jean Valjean (Colm Wilkinson). I was absolutely gobsmacked that he can still pull those notes even at his age (though I shouldn't be surprised since he IS a performer)!

A highly recommended DVD to watch especially if you're a big fan of musicals or just music in general....just remember to have some tissue at hand =) Now, if they could bring this musical over to Malaysia that would be just AWESOME! Or, I could go to London...even better idea! LOL!

Mr. Popper's Penguins

Thursday, July 07, 2011 by Audrey

Remember the animated movie "Happy Feet"? How it caught the world by storm with its infectious songs and dance moves? Well, "Mr. Popper's Penguins" is nowhere like that...in a good way :) Alike in some things (they have the cutest -albeit CG - penguins!!!), but different as well (alliterations anyone?) this movie is a feel-good movie for families.

As you can see from the movie poster, it stars Jim Carrey as Tom Popper, a very successful realtor who so happens to 'inherit' 6 penguins from his father (who travelled a lot during his lifetime). Everything in Popper's life gets turned upside down when he tries to deal with the penguins only to find something else in his life being turned around too =)

Jim Carrey as the titular character is amazing to watch. Granted, he doesn't play those silly characters like in "The Mask" or "Ace Ventura" but he's still got it with his comedic timing and uncanny expressions. Watch out for a scene where he tries to stop a press conference in 'slow motion'...hilarious!

Dining with penguins...gives you a whole new perspective of unwelcome dining guests!

The other actors in the film are very commendable as well. Kudos goes out to Madeline Carroll and Maxwell Perry Cotton who play Janie and Billy Popper respectively...they get along very well with Jim Carrey and their relationship with the penguins is believable. However, my hat is off to Ophelia Lovibond (what a pretty name...'tis rare to hear that kind of a name these days!) who plays Pippi, the assistant to Mr. Popper. Her lines are delivered FLAWLESSLY, which is a really hard thing to do (in my opinion) especially when her lines are almost all alliterations ("Procure a pertuberance, PRONTO!") and has to be delivered in motor-fast speed not unlike a tongue twister. Love it every time she goes on screen!

Tadaaa......let's hear it for the performing penguins!

As the other 'stars' of the show, the animated penguins are cute too. When they first appear on screen, it is a little too obvious that it's an animated animal, but as the movie progresses it's not hard to fall in love with the cute penguins and their funny characteristics...Captain, Lovey, Bitey, Stinky, Loudy and Nimrod will probably make the kids beg their parents for a pet penguin!

"Mr. Popper's Penguins" got mixed reviews from critics...sure, it has a predictable storyline (as with all family movies...what can one do to reinvent the genre?) and of course there is the nonsensical feel to some of the scenes. But if you look past all that, this movie can garner quite a few laughs (or at least some giggles) which is a good thing, in my opinion. In this day and age, we all could use a little laughter to lighten up the world! *wink*

Transformers: Dark of the Moon

Wednesday, July 06, 2011 by Audrey

Ah yes, the most anticipated movie of 2011 is finally here...with (somewhat) new characters, a storyline that still doesn't make much sense and kick-ass CG effects! Personally, I'm not really a huge fan of the franchise, but I do watch the movies for the special effects....they are AMAZEBALLS! (as a friend would put it)

Everybody is just waiting to see if Michael Bay will screw up this last installment since "Transformers 2" kinda bombed (yes, even I thought that...the effects were still great but the other aspects just fell short =\ ). And if you've read the other reviews, you've probably known the answer to the question of whether did Bay redeem himself. When the audience cheers at the sight of a character thought dead, or claps at the end of the movie...you'll know it's a "HELL YEAH"!

The movie started rather strongly with a flashback to the 60's, when Man first walked on the moon. Some pretty clever camera work and video editing makes the footage rather believable as we look at Neil Armstrong's 'actual' top secret mission on the moon. See if you can spot which ones have been doctored *wink*

From then on, it was all systems go (no pun intended) as we get bombarded with action scenes left, right and center. One can really tell that no expenses were spared for these scenes...from the chase scenes to the blowing up and destruction of buildings, everything is executed rather flawlessly. This time around, the details on the robots are much more intricate...up until at certain parts I could tell that the robots are superimposed onto the scene. Don't get me wrong, I still think they look great, but there were certain parts not unlike Peter Jackson's "King Kong" where you can really tell what is CG and what isn't. Thank goodness it was only some parts (or maybe because I was scrutinizing it too much, trying to see if I can spot where the CG starts and ends. LOL!)

Sentinel Prime...the new baddie. Voiced by Leonard Nimoy (Mr. Spock in the old Star Trek films!!)

Storyline-wise, there is nothing much to say....the action scenes more than make up for the story, which drags a little (I almost fell asleep at parts, can you believe it??!) but suffice to say the Decepticons are out to make Earth their new planet, but instead of using their own resources, they deceived the Autobots (Decepticons' deception...wahahahaha! Sorry, I'm on a roll with puns here!) into getting their own way, and as such the Autobots are banished from Earth. With no big giant robots to help us, will we ever survive this?? Fear not as we have...

Shia Lebouf! *hears crickets chirping* Honestly, I don't see why his character has to be there. As if he's not useless enough, the writers try to fit him into every scene of the movie....which is super annoying! Then again, there are some other new characters which are kind of quirky and hilarious. They bring out the fun in the movie. For one, we have Patrick Dempsey (aka Dr. McDreamy in "Grey's Anatomy") playing a bad guy role(!!!) It's hard to look at his face and imagine him being capable of helping the Decepticons...not a good thing, but it's hilarious to watch nonetheless! Then we have John Turturro playing the ever-funny-but-lovable Agent Seymour Simmons...his wisecracks are legendary!

Bumblebee! My niece's favourite Autobot...love the yellow Camaro he turns into!

Need I mention the stars of the show? The voices of the Autobots and Decepticons are spot on...I like how the characters (especially the new ones...look out for the Wreckers!) are suited to the voices. Even the characteristics are cool...watch the Wrecker robot with a 'pot belly'!

Carly Spencer...love of Sam Witwicky's life. *barfs*

Hmm....yes, the other 'pull' for people (or should I say guys) to throng to the cinemas. Rosie Huntington-Whitely (OMG...what a mouthful for a name!) is definitely a looker. Who wouldn't look when you've got someone like THAT walking around in skimpy outfits and caressing the contours of an expensive car? When she first appeared on screen, audible gasps abound in the cinema *rolls eyes* Oh well, what can I say? I'm jealous of the girl. LOL! Then again, which normal, SANE girl would run around the city (amidst rubble and debris no less!) in heels that are 6 inches high AND still be able to outrun those Decepticon robots? Let's not also forget how perfectly clean and coiffed said girl could be after everything is over...yup, definitely the girl of a man's dreams!

Aside from all the oohs and ahhs about how hot Carly is, the movie is pretty rocking! I didn't catch it in 3D but I'd definitely want to catch it again in 3D...those close ups and slow motion action scenes with bolts flying around definitely scream 3-effin'-D! I just need someone to go with...anyone?

Inception

Thursday, July 29, 2010 by Audrey

If "Avatar" was THE must-watch movie of 2009, then my friend, "Inception" is THE must-watch movie of 2010 (so far)! And trust me, whatever you have heard from other reviewers, friends or family who have watched it, etc...it's ALL true! The movie will (almost literally) blow your mind away! *grins*

If you have already watched the trailer, it would probably not make much sense to you...how can the mind be the scene of a crime? And they talk about dreams and stealing and, and...well, if I talk about it, it's so much of a spoiler it might turn you off. I myself, however, read the plot of it all in the Wikipedia entry (I actually like spoilers...yes, you've read right! Not that I would intentionally spoil it for you, but I like to see how the movie unveils itself and see how it would wow me, even when I know how the movie ends and all that. It's the process of it, not the destination that matters *wink*) and it STILL didn't make much sense! The whole concept is rather convoluted when put into words, so you WILL have to watch it to really understand what's it about =)

What I CAN tell is that, aside from the brilliant story line, the cinematography and effects are equally (if not more) kick-ass than ever! Since the movie is talking about dreams and the mind, things can get rather abstract right? Sometimes to the point of being utter rubbish (or is it in MY mind only? o.O"). But the film makers portray the inner workings of the mind really, REALLY well...big big kudos to Christopher Nolan for the fantastic scenes and not making it something nonsensical! Not only that, the action in the film is so spot-on and tight, it's a joy to be immersed into it all...you get some slow-mo parts a la "Matrix", some hard hitting scenes like in "Batman Begins" or "The Dark Knight" and then some! To add to the awesome-ness of it all, there is also drama, romance and quite a bit of humour injected within...how's that for a must-watch movie?

Let's not forget the incredible cast as well...we have the big names like Leonardo DiCaprio, Ken Watanabe, and Marion Cotillard; Leo is rather at his peak I would say...he definitely came a long way from the infamous "Titanic" Jack Dawson, playing the cool and brilliant team leader. But let's not forget the other supporting casts also! They definitely held their own: Cillian Murphy, Ellen Page, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and more. This stellar cast with their strong performances give this movie that edge in its greatness =)

And like everyone says, don't move out of your seat to get popcorn or to go for a toilet break...the story line is so intense that if you missed even a bit of it, you'll find yourself scrambling to understand the bigger picture *wink* It's a rather heavy film, if I may say so myself, but it still manages to keep you on the edge of your seat from the start with the action scenes...even to the very end, when the film cuts to black, you'll groan in either frustration or confusion (as in the audience I was in today); but right after that, you'll definitely go "WOW! That is one. Effin'. AWESOME movie." I think I want to watch it again now....*grins*

The Cove

Wednesday, July 28, 2010 by Audrey

When you think about dolphins, what is the first image that comes into mind? For me, it was an image of a dolphin flying up from a water and doing some cool tricks at a show in an aquarium / zoo. Recently, after getting exposed to more shows like Animal Planet & National Geographic (thank you Astro!) I see dolphins swimming happily through the waters of the ocean...that changed after watching "The Cove".

"The Cove" is a documentary expose directed by National Geographic photographer Louie Psihoyos about dolphins being hunted en masse in a particular cove in Taiji, Japan. Apparently, not many people knew about this horrific practice, so they (the film crew) set up hidden cameras and equipment illegally at the cove to uncover the killings...o.O"

Of course, the movie doesn't start off by delving into those footage...rather, we were given a background (sort of) about how they came about this cove, what other whaling activists were doing prior to the movie and the actual process of them setting up the cameras. It is very interesting to note that some of the film crew involved are special effects experts in the film industry and they have created seriously ingenious ways of hiding the cameras along the cove. There is also a brief appearance by some popular actors-turned-activists in the film...see if you can spot them ;)

I have to say though, that although the film is very educational about dolphin and whale hunting I can't help but feel it's very one-sided in the sense that they're trying to push everything on the Japanese about the killings and what not. In return, the Japanese are saying that it's a very traditional culture and has been practiced for quite some time now. I suppose, in retrospect, dolphins are to the Japanese what normal fish and cattle are to the other nationalities who consume them. Coming from a race that has a reputation for 'weird' foods by the Western standards, it's easy to see where the Japanese stand as well as what the film is advocating.

Don't get me wrong...I don't think that killing dolphins mercilessly in droves every year is good, but there is also another side to that story (which the film makers didn't show...naturally). To me, I see it as a documentary that talks about the food industry...much as it is about dolphins and whales, I can't help but also think about countless other animals that are slaughtered and killed for food every year to meet the demands of - you guessed it right - people. Us. You and me included. And yet, we don't even bat our eyes at the enormous number of cattle, pigs, chickens, sheep, fish, etc that are killed for the food industry. They are animals too, no? And yet, we consume them just like any other food...in bulk (myself included). How is that much different from dolphins being killed for their meat in Japan? Is it because it is the norm in other countries to consume other 'normal' kinds of animals that we overlook their suffering too?

And yet, I still do find myself longing for meat dishes almost every day...I have to admit, I'm no vegetarian! But yes, "The Cove" is a very hard-hitting documentary about the dolphins being killed in droves over the years. The footage of the killings itself is not long, but is enough to make you think hard about the consequences of supply and demand. And who do we blame for that? Not just the Japanese, but the human RACE as a whole...

Despicable Me

Monday, July 26, 2010 by Audrey

This has got to be one of the animated films that you MUST watch in the cinema...preferably in 3D! I didn't, and it was still quite an experience, which makes me want to go watch it in 3D now =)

Who knew that the word "Despicable" could be a whole new meaning in this context? It's awesomely cute, with great actors as the voices and a rather cool (but kind of predictable) storyline.

The film is basically about Gru (Steve Carell in a voice that doesn't sound like him at all!) who is a 'bad' guy...you know, the evil villain thing? He tries to be the best bad guy ever with his throngs of tiny minions (stealing the Statue Of Liberty....the small one from Las Vegas! *snickers*) but kind of falls short almost always. Still, that doesn't stop him trying and he tries to pull off the biggest heist ever...to steal the moon! In the process, he is thwarted by another bad guy, Vector (Jason Segel) and gets responsible for 3 adorably cute girls!

What I love, love, LOVE about this movie is the actors who voiced the characters...they did such an AWESOME job in bringing the characters to life! Initially I only knew that Steve Carell is the voice of Gru, but then after reading more about the characters, it's a very pleasant surprise to learn this movie has quite the cast! They have Russell Brand (Dr. Nefario), Miranda Cosgrove (Margo), Will Arnett (Mr. Perkins), Kristen Wiig (Ms. Hattie) and the ever lovely Julie Andrews as Gru's mother! They all don't sound like their normal talking voices, but I think that's a good thing because it might take away from the story when we see a character that sounds like Julie Andrews and then find it weird! (Well, I do anyways)

Gru and his minions in action

Although the characters are amazingly funny in their own way, the ones that steal the show are the minions! Small and 'ugly' in a way, they bring the most laughs by their antics...and they don't have to talk much! When they do, it's mostly gibberish, but the voice is SOOO cute you can't help but giggle when you hear it =) One scene to note is when Gru walks in on the girls playing with the minions who are in charge of them...and the girls blame the minions. LOLL!

Speaking of the girls, they did a great job too with their own brand of humor and fun: Margo, the responsible eldest girl; Edith, the tomboy-ish girl; and Agnes, the sweet youngest girl with a penchant for unicorns and kitty cats! They bring out the best and sometimes the worst out of Gru, which is hilarious with his outrage and bursts of annoyance. Look out for the scene when they go to Funland with Gru and Agnes wants the unicorn toy. It brings a whole new meaning to the words "Knocked Over!" and "Fluffy"!

"It's so FLUFFY I can DIE!!"

All in all, a very enjoyable film to watch with your family...it's been a while since I've had so much fun laughing or giggling at a movie screening before =) Quite a nice getaway from all the horror and gory films lately! *wink*

Twilight Saga: Eclipse

Monday, July 26, 2010 by Audrey

I really don't know where to put myself in the "Twilight fan" category...on the one hand, I loved (and still do love) the books. And yet, when the movies are out, they always seem to fall short...but then I still do go watch them every time it opens in cinemas. LOL! Maybe it's the cast (??!!), or maybe I'm just trying to see what the film makers come up with when they interpret the book...either way, I think I'll still be back to watch the movies until the end of the series. LOL!

"Eclipse" was my favourite book in the series, so I went in with a little bit of anticipation - seeing that the trailer for the movie was quite good - and hoping that they don't spoil the book too much!

The opening scene with Riley is quite promising...even though it is a slight deviation from the book, but it set the tone for what was to come towards the end, which is quite good =) New director David Slade certainly brings out better material than "New Moon"'s Chris Weitz (but then again, I suppose "New Moon" itself is not a great book to bring to the silver screen in the first place...too dry & morose!). And what comes later in the film is shot rather nicely, with definite better CG and effects.

Don't think I'll elaborate more on the plot, since everyone already knows what the book is about (if you don't, Google is your best friend! *wink*) but suffice to say that Bella had been proposed to, and she is rather torn between Edward and Jacob, since Edward has come back and Jacob...well, Jacob has his views on who she should love =)

"From now on, I'm Switzerland!" *rolls eyes*

The cast are mostly about the same...we get the Cullen family, the Quileute boys, and some of the Volturi. But there are some other new faces too, like Leah Clearwater (Julia Jones), Seth (Boo Boo Stewart), Riley (Xavier Samuel), and Bree (Jodelle Ferland). Not really big characters, but they are quite memorable, especially Riley. Xavier Samuel is quite a looker and brings the anger to his cute face rather well =) Can't say the same about Victoria though...somehow, I think Bryce Dallas Howard can't pull off the 'scorned vampire whose handsome boyfriend got killed by another handsome vampire' look as well as Rachelle Lefevre. Maybe it's her hair...she had some kind of a bush for hair and it's so distracting (!!), not like Rachelle's natural auburn curls. Still, she is gorgeous as a vampire...her pale face and red lips are just nice!

Can't say the same about some other vampires though...ESPECIALLY the Cullens, with a particular note on Edward since he's the main thing you see throughout the movie. I guess the make up crew didn't get the memo about NOT making vampires being too pale that they stood out from the other 'normal' people in the movie. Some scenes between the cast in the school just makes me go "Edward looks like a zombie instead of a gorgeous vampire trying to blend in amongst humans". And the hair! That perfectly coiffed hair from "Twilight" is gone...*sob* Oh well, people don't come to watch the movie for the make up and wardrobe right (speaking of which, is particularly non-existent for Bella! I doubt that she's THAT poor to not able to get a proper dress for the party...what happened to Alice helping her out?)? I digress...

What I do like about the movie though is the expansion of some of the Cullens' characters in the movie...granted, the book does talk about Rosalie and Jasper's backstories, but it's really nice to see it played out on film. It's almost exactly how I pictured it in my head...which I loved! *wink* The camping scene is also something to watch...I finally found that Kristen Stewart can act cold very convincingly! LOL! That, and some very choice words from Jacob about being "hotter" than Edward just brings it home...=) The big battle between the newborns and the Cullens (together with the wolves) is also something to watch. Although not a very long scene, but it's great to see that they followed through with the vampires being 'hard as marble'. Although the battle between Victoria and Edward wasn't what I expected, but it's still quite a nice thing to watch...gosh, I feel so sadistic saying that I liked people getting killed. LOL!

Wolves and vampires get it on!

In short, it was not bad for an adaptation of the nicest book in the series (for me). Sure, I would miss Edward's nice hair, they could do better with the make up and wardrobe, and there are still cheesy (yet funny that can go both ways) lines; but essentially the story line is good with commendable effort from the film makers in making the movie watchable =) This makes me rather curious too as to what "Breaking Dawn" will offer...it will be directed by yet another director but this guy did "Dreamgirls" previously so I'm hoping it's another step up....and no musical-like qualities in it coz the movie is no musical! Although, it would be rather funny to see Edward & Bella burst into song when Renesmee is born...LOLL! *wicked grin*

Toy Story 3 - Toys Have Never Looked Better!

Thursday, June 24, 2010 by Audrey

Growing up, I still fondly remember reading Enid Blyton's books about toys; how they come alive when we're asleep and we would go on 'adventures' together in my wild imaginative world. Sadly, I grew up. But then, "Toy Story" came along, and I relived all my kiddie days of playing with my toys and imagining them to have all sorts of adventures not unlike Woody & Buzz when I was asleep!

As we all know, "Toy Story 3" is the continuation of the adventures of the toys we came to know and love in the first two installments (minus a few minor characters). The difference is that, this time around Andy - the boy whom the toys all belong to - has all grown up and is heading off to college! What will be the fate of his beloved toys? I won't spoil it for you, but suffice to say (especially if you have seen the trailer) they found themselves in a day care center led by an enormously cute and gregarious Lots-O'-Huggin' Bear, and lots of hilarity, drama and amazement at the toys' adventures ensue! *wink*

Andy's all grown up...will he bring Woody or Buzz to college?

If you had noticed the toys have been seriously decreased in numbers, fret not..."Toy Story 3" introduces a whole new host of toys for you to gawk at. Some are plain freaky yet adorable (The Baby) and some are so life like it'll also freak you out (case in point: Barbie & Ken)! I remember my sister remarking that Barbie is the EXACT one that she had when she was younger...the detailing is just remarkable! They got everything down pat, even to her hair! Pixar SO deserve kudos on that!

Effects and great animation aside (that alone should be awesome factors for you to catch the movie!), the storyline of "Toy Story 3" is also great. These days, it's hard to find movies that can score so well on all these levels, but "Toy Story 3" brought it home...It's amazing to see how they gelled all the scenes together, and the story of the toys finding their place in a world where toys get mistreated, abandoned, replaced, etc etc. And that's not all! Not only do you get slapstick humour that the kids will enjoy loads, but there's also jokes that the adults will appreciate (or at least, I did! LOL!). Laughs are abundant, especially in the scene where the toys try to escape, and Mr. Potato plays a huge role in bringing in the laughs! Watch it and you'll know what I mean...you'll never look at Mr. Potato the same way again! *wink*

Andy's toys come out to play...and THEN SOME!

The film makers have also succeeded in making the toys have their moments to shine...if previously we've seen lots of Woody & Buzz in the first two movies, "Toy Story 3" also focuses on the other toys which makes this movie very interesting as all the characters are just awesome! Not only that, we also get to see some touching scenes for some of the toys too =) And as the movie comes to a close, one (okay, me at least. I'm a sucker for touching scenes) can't just help but reach for a Kleenex as we know that this is the last installment for the "Toy Story" franchise. I got ribbed loads by my niece when she saw the state I was in after the movie ended, but hey...I love me some toys! *sob*

This one REALLY has got to be seen in the cinemas to get that feeling (unless you have a life-sized theatre at your home!), and if you could, watch it in 3D! Sure, lots of people might complain that it's nothing much to shout about in terms of things popping out at you, but I actually prefer the subtle dimension effects that they made for "Toy Story". Kind of like "Avatar", but with cute toys =) It's totally worth the ticket price...heck, I might just watch it again. And again. Just to relive my kiddie days as Buzz's famous saying, "To Infinity....AND BEYOND!"

P/S: Oh yes, don't forget to be there early to catch the short animation film that Pixar always shows...it's AWESOME to say the least! They always say the most even when the characters don't talk =) Enjoy!

~ Come Rayne Or Shine ~