Looking Forward: April 2014

Summer starts early with some big blockbusters in the month of April...



Captain America: The Winter Soldier (Apr 4-USA, Mar 28-UK, Mar 27-Singapore)

          Marvel studios is the early bird as they deviate from their early May spot (taken by Sony's The Amazing Spider-Man 2). But this doesn't signify any cut back on quality entertainment. On the contrary, as we have seen from the brilliant, brilliant trailers so far, it promises lots and lots of awesome action sequences. What's more, I personally believe that The Winter Soldier story arc is one of the most interesting stories in all of Captain America. All that, and now Marvel is already planning to attach the directors for a third film, after only a pre-screening test. They must have done things right, and with some common sense, this means that this film is going to be top notch. Great plot, awesome action, and brilliant direction could mean that this will take fans by storm when it hits into theatres, very soon.

Oh, and Winter Soldier is my favourite villain of Captain America. Doesn't he just look great in the trailers?? :)

Trailers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLWsK1ZFunA (Trailer #1) (Must See!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SlILk2WMTI (Trailer #2) (Must See!!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ode4Dy2dR6o (Clip + Trailer) (Must, Must See!!!)


Rio 2 (Apr 11-USA, Apr 4-UK, Apr 10-Singapore)

          Three years back, and Rio soared to new heights thanks to its amazing visuals and wonderful musical numbers. It received positive acclaim and obtained big bucks in the box office. So, its no surprise that we find ourselves now with a sequel that takes the birds back to the wild. With all the amazing casts returning, along with some new voice casts, this would easily be the family entertainment for the month, one for the kids to enjoy.

Trailers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsPMZMg055Q (Trailer #1)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkZM1Zc0mBU (Trailer #2)


Transcendence (Apr 18-USA, Apr 25-UK, Apr 17-Singapore)

          A film about a scientist who uploaded his mind and intelligence to a computer. This science fiction thriller does not only look awesome from the trailer, but also delivers an exciting plot line with lots of social & ethical issues in the mix. The idea of an artificial intelligence that may be of harm and danger to human beings is no new idea, but this film looks to be the one that properly explores the authentic consequences to what problems these advanced technology may possess. There looks to be more than just an exciting plot here, with some excellent looking visuals, and great deep drama among the main characters. Quite the blockbuster to look forward to.

Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCTen3-B8GU (Trailer #1)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QheoYw1BKJ4 (Trailer #2)


Other Movies:

Draft Day (April 11)
-A sports comedy-drama film starring Kevin Costner...
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0g81pwETvtI)

300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE

"Let it be shown...we chose to die on our feet...rather than live on our knees!"



          Gloriously employing Zack Snyder's style of slow-fast continuous shots, as well as taking the scale and dynamics to the next level, this is a worthy sequel to the awesome 300. It has pretty much the same weaknesses and strengths of its predecessor, but improves on what made the first film a success.

          A pretty obvious notion is that no other film does better with the long continuous shots of action with the occasional slow motions. This is a wonderful style to marvel on, for those who like these kind of things (I do!). This is the main reason I came to watch this, yet it is not the only thing that impressed me. But before moving on, I want to further claim that I seriously enjoyed these style of shots and frankly, all...ALL of the action sequences. They are just marvellous and glorious to watch and from minute one, I was attached and just smiling on every fight sequence.

          Still on the matter of action sequences, they are better in visual quality & dynamics of the setting, although I suspect the reason may be the budget and resource constraint on the first film. If Snyder had this the last time, it would be as good as this. Fortunately, Rise of an Empire, even in the hands of new director Noam Murro, didn't mess it up and brilliantly improves upon it. And though the quality of visuals were not perfect (such as the blood effects), the style is just so gratifying to watch. One last thing, the soundtrack is genuinely amazing, and is unbelievably fitting for the scenes. Even before the action begins, my heart pumps up, and during the fight itself, the soundtrack did good to enhance the suspense of the action. Words are not enough to explain it...you have to listen to it first hand.

          Actions aside, the plot was overall a straightforward one, except for those which relates to the original 300, which I was quite impressed of. Despite the lack of drama & humour, and the limited emotional range of the characters, some of the characters were great. I was initially skeptical of the main character, and though he may not have outdone Gerard Butler's Leonidas, Themistokles is still quite the likeable action hero. And while I had a great feeling about the villain, Eva Green's Artemisia really stole the show on every scene she was in. As further praise, if the producers do intend to make another sequel, they will need one hell of villain to top off Artemisia.

          Overall, this is a very very entertaining movie, if what you're looking for is fun, action, and visuals. They did extremely well in these aspects, and make it such a wonderful film for a great time in the movies.

VERDICT:

Good: Excellent style, Improved visuals, Highly entertaining fight sequences, Brilliant soundtrack, Amazing characters

Bad: Lack of drama & humour, Less compelling plot

SCORE: 7.0

NON-STOP

"I'm not hijacking this plane...I'm trying to save it!"



          When you watch a movie as fun and as thrilling as Non-Stop, little does the details matter. Despite minor letdowns here and there, it never seemed to matter much because from start to end, the movie just flows with suspense that keeps your mind fixed on the mystery itself.

          The unique premise in its own is the strong foundation of this film. With the idea of a mystery killer in the middle of a flight high up in the air, all that needs to be done is to translate that to the screen, and it will be thrilling. The good news is, the production team did just that, and it succeeds where it needs to be. Every minute from when the culprit sends the first message, you just can't take your eyes off the screen, and you just can't help the feeling that in an enclosed space like this, and the killer is seeing our hero's every move and could possibly kill him at any moment. That feeling is what we pay this film for. They keep you guessing, and they keep you worried for the sake of our protagonist.

          Some characters were pretty likeable, while most of the cast portray them brilliantly. And you just can't hate Liam Neeson. He has that brilliance and charisma on screen, that you just want to root for him at every moment. The comedy gives some necessary laughs in between tenseful moments, and the drama of some of the characters gives for a more meaningful story. While these aspects were never very good, they are decently supportive of the strengths of this film. Yet, the action sequences were not fully brought to life, and while this film may not have the best or the most plausible of endings, it never really mattered when you are having so much fun with the film.

VERDICT:

Good: Clever premise, Great characters, Full of thrills & suspense

Bad: Implausible ending, Not fully structured fight sequences

SCORE: 7.0


note: watching a plane getting hijacked one day before taking a plane ride yourself is not a good idea...(what I did) lol

POMPEII

"We live in the shadow...of a greater power"



           I would want to say that this film feels different, yet somehow it felt familiar. The film felt different thanks to the climactic volcanic eruption, which added an extra dimension to the final act, yet in every other minor plot detail, it felt as if I've seen the act many times before. Overall, though, it is a joy to watch, despite the minor flaws throughout the film.

          One strong point in which I enjoy the film were the action sequences, which mostly are very practical sword fights, that turns out to be quite fun and enjoyable with the fast & swift hits. And then throughout the end, the suspense of the danger can be felt, which I attribute mostly to the decent soundtrack. Soundtracks which are supportive towards the appropriate situation is always a great thing to have. And while the visual effects were not perfect, it didn't really matter in terms of the overall experience.

          Yet the film is dragged down by minor flaws along the way. There was no humour in the mix, and while there is no deep emotional drama as well, at least I can still feel for the character. There are times where I felt that the scenes were not supposed to happen yet, although in the end, I could at least care about what's going to happen to these characters. And the closing scenes were too abrupt, where they could instead have added some finishing lines/quotes or maybe give some aftermath/future scenes. These minor details kind of let down what would otherwise be a solid thrilling disaster film.

VERDICT:

Good: Great action sequences, Decent soundtrack & suspense

Bad: No humour, Lack of emotional touches, Abrupt ending, (Minor flaws)

SCORE: 6.5

Looking Forward: March 2014

There is no shortage of movies this March as we have lots of new big films breaking into the market, as well as some sequels to make it yet another wonderful month...

300: Rise of an Empire (Mar 7-USA, Mar 7-UK, Mar 6-Singapore)

          Not necessarily a sequel as the synopsis states that this film will take place before, in between, and after the events of 300. Although the likes of Gerard Butler and Michael Fassbender will not return, we still have some of the original cast, while also welcoming newcomers to the franchise. And though Zack Snyder is not directing, he still remains highly involved with the screenplay, while also being a co-producer of the film, and that gives me the confidence that it can bring the quality and drama that 300 did.

Trailers:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zqy21Z29ps (Trailer #1)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WrAw2-R_20 (Trailer #2)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3Rzy7YqUVU (Trailer #3)

Need for Speed (Mar 14-USA, Mar 12-UK, Mar 13-Singapore)

         One of my top 10 anticipated films of the year, and really looking forward to seeing the hypercars in action. Very few gaming franchises have been successfully adapted into films, so this one will be facing odds against their favour, unless it can pull off a spectacle for audiences. I'm slightly doubtful with the plot at the moment, but I'm thoroughly pleased to see the cars in action in the trailers. Aaron Paul looks like a cool action hero, portraying the man seeking revenge. And I'm just really, really looking forward to this and hoping it can put on a show.

Trailers:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsrJWUVoXeM (Teaser)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e73J71RZRn8 (Full Trailer) (Must See!)


Divergent (Mar 21-USA, Apr 4-UK, Mar 20-Singapore)

          Based on a novel, telling the story revolving around a teenage girl, in a world of semi-fantasy. Does that seem familiar? Films like these have come and gone, some failing in the box office like The Mortal Instruments and The Host, while we all could recall the success of The Twilight Saga, which focuses on love and romance, and The Hunger Games series as the other side of the coin, focusing more on the action & the revolution instead. This one looks to be somewhere in between. But the question will be, can they replicate the success of the latter franchises and gain cult followers, or fall in the valley of cliche teenage romance?

Trailers:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uUKIIoekQc (Teaser)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sutgWjz10sM (Trailer)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=336qJITnDi0 (Final Trailer)


Other Movies:

Mr. Peabody & Sherman (March 7)
-Looks like another interesting animation film by Dreamworks...
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=za56MdewGzM)

Muppets Most Wanted (March 21)
-Not one that I'm interested on, but has a huge number of star cameos...
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQiGyBiNjLI)

Noah (March 28)
-An epic by the legendary Darren Aronofsky...
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qmj5mhDwJQ)

Sabotage (March 28)
-Looks just like another one of those action movies...
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeHpSdQSH0c)

The Raid 2: Berandal (March 28)
-An Indonesian film franchise that gained international fame...
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MG9uFX3uYq4)

THE LEGO MOVIE

"I think I got it...but just in case...tell me the whole thing again, I wasn't listening"



          I have to say, this is one rare animation film that could satisfy audience of all ages, but I didn't find it as great as the critics suggest. There all lots of positives, yes, but I find several aspects less than satisfactory, including the soundtrack, and perhaps surprisingly, the twist.

          Let me start with the positives first. I have to say I was genuinely pleased by the humour that was presented, some of which are easily laughable, even for adults. They range from the weird & foolish actions that would please little kids, to the plain responses & simple jokes that would trigger a laugh on mature audiences as well. This is a smart & rare quality possessed by an animation film.

          The characters are very much likeable and the excellent voice casts simply makes them just that more charming. Emmet is a fun main character as he is simple, ordinary & easily relatable. His funny responses are among those that appeal to adults as well. And pretty much all the characters are easily understandable, and this makes for a great connection between them and the audiences.

          I thought the overall plot was decent though, and makes for quite an emotional ride with the characters. The twist, however, is a bit more interesting. I have to say it was probably a good twist, in that it makes perfect sense and explains the things that happened before. But to be perfectly honest, for me it wasn't satisfactory, in fact I was quite disappointed it had to go that way. It kind of eliminates what emotions I have felt of the characters so far. Not a bad twist in terms of quality, but not a likeable one, at least for me.

          In terms of technicality, the visuals were okay, but the soundtrack didn't really appeal. I may have stated in previous reviews that soundtracks make for more intense and interesting scenes. And here, the opposite is true. The soundtrack doesn't seem to accurately convey the emotions, and so the tension of the drama & action was slightly reduced. Other than that, though, this is simply one rare animation movie, in which the whole family can really enjoy, as it caters for all range of audiences.

VERDICT:

Good: Excellent range of humour, Likeable characters, Decent plot

Bad: Unexpected twist, Weak soundtrack

SCORE: 7.5

SPECIAL: Super Bowl XLVII Movie Trailers

I didn't actually intend to write anything about this, but with the number of trailers out, perhaps I have some things to say about this. Note that on most cases, a Super Bowl Spot is shown in the Super Bowl itself, but along with it comes a full trailer, released online...


Transformers: Age of Extinction

          This movie is the only one where we have not had seen any trailer or clip of, so this is one to be very excited about. Unfortunately, it also one of the few that only showcases a short spot, without a full trailer. Basically, all it does is show some shots of transformers, and some of the main characters. Nothing much, even the CGI doesn't look finished yet. However, one thing I love about this teaser, is the dinobot. It looks awesome, and so huge as Optimus is riding on its back. So, nothing much to be excited about here, for me, aside from the awesome looking dinobots which give me something to look forward to.


Captain America: The Winter Soldier

          The Winter Soldier takes the stage as he becomes the centre point of this whole trailer. While the first trailer shows glimpses of him, this trailers revolves all around The Winter Soldier, and especially hearing from the lines of Black Widow, and Captain America himself, this puts Winter in a position where he is looking to be quite a challenge and a powerful adversary to Cap himself. Plus, catching the shield, and throwing it back to Cap, isn't it just badass?? 

"Most of the intelligence community doesn't believe he exist...the ones that do call him The Winter Soldier" - Black Widow


The Amazing Spider-Man 2

          This is a very long trailer, at three and a half minutes, but I'm very pleased to get to see lots of action. More importantly, the first two minutes focused on how Electro came to be, so that is pretty much revealed there. So Electro begins as this ordinary electrical engineer called Max Dillon, who even fancies Spidey. But as things turn bad all around him, along with this accident with the electric eels, and now he's got powers and probably he seeks vengeance upon those who hurt him. More will probably be revealed, but as of now, it seems pretty clear of Electro's origins. Aside from this, the remaining scenes in the trailer are mostly from the original trailer, with a little bit more fun. Effects look brilliant though, and this movie is one to look forward to in the summer.