THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG

A mountain pile of gold, a big terrifying dragon, and more...



          The Desolation of Smaug is filled with fun and action from start to end, and brings lots of great characters in the mix like Tauriel, Bard, Legolas, and most importantly, Smaug. Though the plot is straightforward and predictable, it is still fun to watch, and the visuals are beyond praise.

          Many have stated this, and I will have to agree with them, the movie is an improvement as it packs a whole lot of action from the very beginning to the very end. Furthermore, elves with bow and arrows are a bit more entertaining than dwarves with swords and axes (no offense to the dwarves). And the most entertaining action sequence is indeed the barrels in the river sequence, which sees elves leaping around, arrows flying everywhere, and a massacre of the orcs. 

          The introduction of new characters are great, because they strengthen the plot points and are individually amazing characters themselves. Bard is an excellent addition and seems to be the character that is more than meets the eye. And though the characters of Tauriel and Legolas are cause for some debate, I have to say they are both excitingly brilliant characters. While the love connection between Tauriel and one certain dwarf felt unnecessary (except for, understandably, the cause of dragging more female viewers), it somehow felt a bit disrespectful to Tolkien's vision and doesn't feel coherent anyway. However the character Tauriel itself is great, while Legolas returns with a bang with some of the coolest and funniest scenes, and fans will really enjoy his return.

          The titular dragon Smaug looks amazing and I was stunned by the massiveness and the terrifying feel of just looking at it. Not only it is humongous, but it looks great with the wings and the breath of fire, and...well, you just have to see it yourself. The plot is straightforward and rather predictable, but it is not a big issue as there are more to enjoy than the need of a good plot line. The existence of a cliffhanger is not a problem, as this in turn keeps us anticipated and expecting the third and final film (kind of what Catching Fire did as well).

          The existence of consistent humour is a great addition to the already exciting action sequences, and most is due to Martin Freeman's brilliant acting. On the emotional side, there are less drama than what they have in the first film, so its a bit of a let down. In terms of technicality, the 3D effects are stunning and can really be felt at all times. And the visuals are, as I said before, beyond words and praise. The running time is shorter, but is still a hefty two and a half hours long so is still a wonderful journey.

VERDICT:

Good: Fully action packed, Decent humour, Amazing characters, Stupendous titular dragon, Brilliant visuals & 3D effects

Bad: Less emotional exploration

SCORE: 9.0

SPOILER Discussion - The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

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This one is going to be a relatively shorter one, as there is only one obvious twist to talk about, and its in the ending...
It may be more questions than answers, but its the things in my mind I can't let out without spoiling anything...

          The most surprising fact in my mind, is that Plutarch Heavensbee (Philip Seymour Hoffman) turns out to be a good guy, in that he plans this whole rebellion thing with Haymitch, and Finnick, too. But as I said in my review, the ending is just so abrupt and fast, that it lacks the clear explanation of what is going on, who are involved, etc. It could be deliberate, but it still gives us the half-frustrating, half-eager feeling.

          So, questions. Aside from those three, wonder who else are involved. Johanna could be in the whole thing, as she said the line, "I did this for you" or some sort during the arena. No idea about Peeta, there are no clear indications of his knowledge, but it could go either way. But most of all, is Gale part of the plan all along? Because he was the one in the very last scene of the film explaining things to Katniss.

          And yet, Plutarch's involvement intrigues me quite a lot. Or perhaps, the overall plan itself. Why would he go through all those things in the games, hurting Katniss and her friends, killing a few (like Mags). Did they really do all this to deceive President Snow? Is their plan that deliberate, and require lots of sacrifice? What about the risks of Katniss falling in battle or anyone else essential in the plan? They could instead just tell Finnick the idea to shut down the system, and make him lead the group there. Intriguing issue here.

          The bigger picture is also interesting here. Was this games literally part of the plan? Perhaps it is, maybe even the rule change here. Perhaps it was in their plan to collect some of the victors, and to take them away discretely to 'District 13' for their next step in the rebellion. It makes sense, because, as of now, President Snow is on the blind, which meant that the games was more of an advantage for them.

          But finally, what is really going on, and what is this plan their doing? This one needs no urgent treatment, as it will be better saved for the sequel. And also, the mention of district 13 is haunting. What is this place? But again, better to be saved for the next. Some cliffhangers like this are better explained in the sequel, to grab the attention of viewers, and keep them eager for more. Its just that the details of what happened in the movie, like who knew about the plan in the arena, etc, should have been explained already. As it stands, (at least for me), the film felt a bit too rushed with the ending, and there are some unsatisfactory feeling combined with the curiosity of what's to come next.

Note: I know these plot points would have been resolved in the books, but I am no book reader, and I don't intend to, as I prefer to see it unveil in the movie itself...

Just Some News - 6 Dec 2013

There are just a few too many interesting news going on recently, well maybe not all news, but interesting updates going on with some films...


Fast & Furious 7 Future?

          The death of Paul Walker (RIP) resulted in the film production of Fast & Furious 7 being stopped to an unknown extent. I had thought that they were filming at the moment, and supposedly nearing its end, so it was a tricky situation depending on how much and which part of Paul Walker's sequences they have shot. But now, apparently, they have decided to halt production, so most likely we won't be seeing it in 2014, and we'll just have to wait for further updates to come from Universal. (All the prayers for Paul Walker and his family).

Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/06/business/media/production-is-shut-down-for-fast-furious-7-after-stars-death.html?_r=0

X-Men: Apocalypse

          Bryan Singer, director of X-Men 1 & 2, and the upcoming X-Men: Days of Future Past, recently tweeted signalling a potential sequel titled X-Men: Apocalypse to come in 2016. Furthermore, the release date have been tentatively set at May 27 of 2016. This is really big, big news, at least for me, because I love the X-Men franchise so much, and just knowing that it will go beyond Future Past is great news. Plus, while it is only a few years to go, it means most characters may have their roles reprised by current actors. Good thing its in 2016, as 2015 is far too packed as it is. And yet the question that begs, is "Apocalypse" the villain they will be up against??

Link: http://www.theverge.com/2013/12/5/5179658/bryan-singer-announces-that-x-men-apocalypse-is-coming-in-2016

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 Trailer

          In the link below is the trailer for the upcoming The Amazing Spider-Man 2, please check it out if you have not. It is one of the best trailers ever, one that shows a hell lot of action, and not afraid to hide anything. You can clearly see 3 villains there fighting Spidey. And yet, for comic book fans, there looks to be some hidden easter eggs if you can spot them (#SinisterSix). This movie is just one that I highly anticipate for next summer. The first film was, well, amazing. And this one promises much more action, more secrets to be revealed, and with two more sequels confirmed, it just cannot be any more interesting and exciting as it is. Oh, and Electro looks badass and electrifying in this one.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utdw4fYFToY

FROZEN

Relives the classic Disney moments...

          Before I start, I just have to say, this movie is in many ways similar to Tangled, and that is a good thing. In fact, Tangled is one of my favourite animation films of all time. Firstly, the film is about the character 'The Snow Queen', but retitled to Frozen, as 'Rapunzel' is retitled to Tangled, action words relating the character. And then, the leading female, Rapunzel and Anna, are way too similar, in that both are adventurous, awkward, clumsy, yet charming. This is very much a good thing because it is one of the main reasons I like Tangled, pushing aside the mainstream ladylike character and opting for a more interesting & dynamic one instead. So, these similarities are, in my opinion, a positive aspect and an embracement of what they did well with Tangled.

          I said earlier that this movie relives the classic Disney moments, because it just feels so. It has such beautiful songs, good story, and quite an emotional ride too. The voice acting is also good, and the 3D effects are awesome as well.

           The thing that I like the most are the wonderful, beautiful songs. I immediately fell in love as soon as I heard them. They resonate the brilliant, brilliant songs that Disney had brought before, and they are just enjoyable to sing along. The story line is decent, and is not too straightforward. It even has some twisty moments as well, which though were not all too surprising, but lets the plot stray from classic obviousness.

           Though not as strong as Lion King or the Toy Story's, it has quite the emotional ride for a family film, and yes, the moral of the story is a strong one too, good for children to learn. The blend of humour and sadness is brilliant. When it gets emotional, we can feel for it, and when it gets humorous, we can laugh at it. On a further note, the voice acting of the cast are brilliant as well. And to add some technicality, the 3D effects are great and definitely worth the extra price of admission.

          This is indeed one of the best animation films of recent times, and it is old yet new. Reliving the classic moments, but with a modern touch of visuals and songs. A must watch film for the families, for audiences who like music, for those who like animation films, and for everyone, really.

VERDICT:

Good: Beautiful songs, Interesting & dynamic main character, Decent storyline, Good emotional ride

Bad: -

SCORE: 8.5

P.S. My favourite song of the whole movie is "For the First Time in Forever". Just the song to cheer up the mood for a better day.

THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE

Escalates everything good about its predecessor...



          Catching Fire really improves everything that makes The Hunger Games a great movie. While there are are some minor flaws in the mix, everything else just seem to grow in depth and quality. The film felt so immersive, and the world so real, that the political issues presented, as well as the reaction of the characters, resonates in our feelings as well.

           
          The plot is one of the strongest aspects of this film, in that it develops from its predecessor quite brilliantly, properly displaying the consequences of the first film, yet also staging for the '75th Hunger Games' which was to be played towards the end of the film. It does not stop there, as the plot is dynamic and ever changing, and really presented us with events that audiences wouldn't come to expect.

          The characterizations are brilliant, and the cast was great as well. Jennifer Lawrence was amazing, and did a wonderful job conveying the emotions like one would really do, given the situation. It's not like other science-fictions where the main hero just seemed so calm, and have no trouble killing bad guys. In this one, Katniss is such a fragile, vulnerable character thrown in the middle of a political warfare in a harsh and violent environment.

          The other characters were great as well. Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) seem more like a developed character than he was in the first film. Haymitch (Woody Harrelson) becomes more like a father figure (but with some "alcohol"). New characters like Finnick and Johanna are interesting additions to the series. These are two contrasting characters that seem to spark some initial rivalries, but quickly grow to become likeable. Praise to Sam Claflin and Jena Malone for brilliantly portraying these respective characters. Oh, and the character introduction of Johanna....is one of the best ever, really smart, funny and cunning. You'll know what I mean when you see it. 

          The movie is not without flaws, even though they are minor and not really a big deal. The games itself felt more like survival than fights. While the stakes are higher, the battle is different this time around. The action sequences weren't what I hoped they would be.

          The finale is interesting. The movie ended with some strong twist and revelations, but finished rather quickly without, perhaps intentionally, explaining clearly what had happened, leaving audiences in a blur. This raises more questions and is such an obvious cliffhanger, one that frustrates a bit, but makes us eager for more. The ending was good, and I liked it and I really didn't come to expect such a conclusion. The only issue was that it felt too abrupt and fast.

VERDICT:

Good: Strong dynamic plot, Great characterizations, Amazing cast, Brilliant new characters, Strong conclusion, Clear portrayal of emotions

Bad: Fast and abrupt ending, Not so great action sequences

SCORE: 8.5

(note: I may need to write a spoiler discussion about this, sometime soon)

SPOILER Discussion - Thor: The Dark World

I had to make this post because there are some things I like to share about the movie, but won't able to do so without spoiling the surprise. The movie is now out for nearly 3 weeks in Singapore & UK, and nearly 2 weeks in the U.S. So I'm hoping most of you would have watched it by now. If not, then please don't continue below, unless you don't mind spoilers.

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Marvel always have delicate surprises for the fans, and Thor: The Dark World is no different. With this one, there are a few things to be discussed, most notably Loki's mischief, Frigga's death, and Captain America's cameo...

Frigga's Death

          This scene, I believe, is where they just had to make that dramatic scene. If there is a character they can kill off, Thor & Loki's mother would be it. The impact is apparent on the main characters, but is not a substantial character to the universe and the fans. So, if there is any character that can be killed off and would make an impact without disappointing the fans, this would be the one. By the way, the funeral scene was majestic, and the visuals of it along with the realm of Asgard, is just stunning.

Captain America's Cameo

          This is a very funny scene that Loki did to annoy Thor. After transforming Thor into Sif, he transformed himself into Captain America. This little cameo by Captain America is a bit of a fan service, while at the same time may also tease for the upcoming movie, Captain America: The Winter Soldier. But the fact that Cap appears in this cameo, is just funny and satisfying for the fans.

Loki's Trickery

          Being the God of Mischief, you would expect him to do naughty & bad things. While this side of him was never emphasised in previous movies, director Alan Taylor made good use of this fact in Thor: The Dark World. From making illusions in the dungeon, and even unto annoying Thor on their way out of Asgard, Loki's trickery was of the funnier bits of the whole film.
           While some were made to be funny, the major acts of Loki were the dramatic twists. Firstly, its the scene where Loki uses his mischief to trick Malekith, while seemingly betraying Thor in Svartalfheim. It was the kind of thing that I half-expected, as Loki's allegiance was one of my greater interests of the movie. When I first saw it, I thought Loki had really betrayed Thor, but when the truth was revealed, I felt caught off guard, while also feeling relieved that Loki turned out good. But the main thing I liked about this scene, is the idea that a stereotypically negative concept like "mischief", when used against the right individual, can be a good thing as well, as in this case, it helped Thor in his plan.
            The second twist was the faking of his death. I was disappointed to see his apparent death, as he was one of my (and certainly many others') favourite character in the Marvel universe. But he was an obvious fan favourite, and so I guess one of the reasons that his death was faked, aside from making it a potential story line for a sequel, is that Marvel felt that a character like this shouldn't be killed off, for the sake of the fans. They did realize their mistake in badly portraying a character in Iron Man 3, perhaps they are now aware that the heart of the fans is an important aspect in this business and intended to not disappoint them.

Conclusion

In the end, I feel that Frigga's death is just a scene that had to happen, while Captain America's cameo is simply a nice touch. While Loki's trickery twisted the plot a few times, but I am glad that the first one was of good use, and with the second, I am just extremely happy that he is still alive, while bringing upon a potential story for a third movie.

Looking Forward: December 2013

This December lacks the quantity of huge blockbusters, but not in quality with one of the biggest movies of the year...



The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (Dec 13-USA, Dec 13-UK, Dec 12-Singapore)

          And yes, I'm referring to this one as one of the biggest movies of the year, and frankly has also been my most anticipated movie of the whole year. Last year's Unexpected Journey did not receive highly positive acclaim, while some (including me) believed that it properly sets up the story & the world for what's to come next. I just have to mention that everyone's eyes will be looking towards the dragon in this sequel, having its name in the title, teased in the first movie, and shown part of, and his voice, in the trailers. The dragon is certainly the biggest thing here, but the trailers itself promises more action, more drama, and certainly more than just dwarves and hobbits (but elves and men and spiders and orcs and everything that makes Middle-Earth the world it is).

Trailers:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnaojlfdUbs (Teaser) (Must See!!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPVWy1tFXuc (Main Trailer) (Must See!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfflhfn1W-o (Sneak Peek)

Note: The first two trailers are just among the best I've ever seen. The teaser trailer is super brilliant, with an amazing soundtrack, as well as teasing the dragon in the end (being the core of the movie). The main trailer is just worth the watch because of what it shows, as well as the dragon's voice.


47 Ronin (Dec 25-USA, Dec 26-UK, Dec 19-Singapore)

          An American fantasy film, featuring an ensemble Japanese cast. Keanu Reeves is the only American actor in the movie, but even so, you got to admit he's got that Asian look in him. I have to say, the trailers did look cool, with science-fiction action in a fantasy world. Oh, they have a dragon as well. But to be honest, I didn't feel convinced in a way. The story is of a classical & traditional tale, but with a fictional take to make it an entertaining science-fiction. But I have doubts on the quality of the story. And the stylishness of the action sequences could be annoyingly far-fetched and be a drawback for mature audiences. But still, the trailer displays some decent fantasy action, and curiosity may just drive me to go and watch this.

Trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8cKdDkkIYY


Other Movies:

Out of the Furnace (December 6)
-A thriller film with a powerful drama, supported with some great casts...
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJH4Nf4jcLg)

Saving Mr. Banks (December 13)
-A biographical drama that looks good with some amazing cast...
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5kYmrjongg)

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (December 25)
-An epic film with a strong blend of comedy & drama...
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1Xk-yTuFEU)