Horrible Bosses (2011)

 

 

Horrible Bosses is about three horrible bosses (Kevin Spacey, Jennifer Aniston, Colin Farrell) and three employees (Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, Jason Sudeikis) who vow to kill their bosses for different reasons. It involves murder, car chases, affair, conspiracy, blackmail and revenge. The talented casts are the reason why the movie works. The lively chemistry between Nick, Kurt and Dale are joyful to watch. But the real star is the supporting casts. Kevin Spacey, Jennifer Aniston and Colin Farrell are superb. The script on the other hand, is very thin. The writers just wanted this movie to be another dirty slapstick comedy with absolutely no purpose. Horrible Bosses is not a horrible film, it has its crazy laugh moments and fun. But it doesn’t live up to the expectation and certainly can’t be consider as a great comedy.

Green Lantern (2011)

 

 

A dying alien named Abin Sur, whose spaceship crashed on Earth, gave the the power ring and battery (lantern) to an individual who was "utterly honest and born without fear" Hal Jordan (Ryan Reynolds) and then he became a member of the Green Lantern Corps, an interstellar organization of police overseen by the Guardians of the Universe. Later, Hal Jordan must face Parallax, a super-powerful being who feeds on fear. Ryan Reynolds has tried his best, delivering his usual charming and character to the Silver Age Green Lantern. Peter Sarsgaard gives Hector Hammond a new dimension of villain. But the weak script, poor editing and flaw directing by Martin Campbell are total mayhem. The movie could have been so much better. This is an example of comic book movie that fails to deliver. In our darkest hour, there will be light. But Green Lantern shall escape my sight.

Cars 2 (2011)

 

 

The cars are back! Lightning McQueen and his crew are now heading overseas to compete in the first World Grand Prix race to determine the world's fastest car. While Lightning McQueen is busy preparing for the ultimate race, his BFF Mater accidentally stumble upon a top-secret mission orchestrated by master British super spy Finn McMissile and the stunning spy-in-training Holley Shiftwell.

I personally think the writers (Ben Queen, John Lasseter, Brad Lewis, Dan Fogelman) have done a great job. The decision to expand the story, involving international espionage and gives Mater a chance to stardom is absolutely correct. It enriches the experience and makes it more enjoyable and entertaining. It improves the storyline by adding new story and new characters outside the racing line. I mean, let's face it, if the story only sticked on Lightning McQueen and World Grand Prix, the film would be crossing the finish line in 30 minutes or so and the storyline would be pretty much the same as the first instalment. Like other Pixar / Disney movies, we are dazzled and amazed with its visual and state-of-the-art animation. The film also teaches us that friendship is a joy to behold. It's not always a fun ride, but it’s worth fighting for. Cars 2 probably isn't as good as The Incredibles, WALL-E, Up, Finding Nemo and the Toy Story trilogy, but the film is totally better than its predecessor and a welcome addition to the franchise. It has good story, fills with humor, high-tech animation and heart.

The Three Musketeers (2011)

Yes, it’s another remake based on Alexandre Dumas’ famous novel. And yes, the story still follows the adventures of a young man named D'Artagnan (Logan Lerman) in his quest to become one of the Musketeers of the Guard. He is not one of the musketeers; his friends are. Athos, Porthos, and Aramis (Matthew Macfadyen, Ray Stevenson, Luke Evans), inseparable friends who live by the motto “one for all, all for one.” They are still fighting the same enemies; Cardinal Richelieu (Christoph Waltz), Rochefort (Mads Mikkelsen), Duke of Buckingham (Orlando Bloom) and a beautiful double agent Milady de Winter (Milla Jovovich).

So, what’s the difference between Paul W.S. Anderson’s and other adaptations? Anderson’s version is more like a steampunk-influenced reinterpretation, one might think it’s a parody of remakes, considering the film fills with tons of jokes. There are airships and colourful wardrobes. The fight scenes are great. But the film also has flaws. The script is awful, an array of baffling accents and some performances that would not look out of place at the pantomime. That’s a shame considering all the talented casts available. Even Christoph Waltz can’t save the movie from lack of character development. So if you somehow can ignore all those flaws, you’ll find the movie entertaining. Honestly, this is definitely not the best adaption of The Three Musketeers, but I enjoyed watching it. A popcorn movie.

Stake Land (2011)

 

 

Post-apocalyptic America. A vampire epidemic has struck and transformed human into vicious, feral beasts. The remaining survivors are now living together in rural pockets, fearful of nightfall. When his family is slaughtered, young Martin (Connor Paolo) is taken under the wing of a grizzled, wayward hunter Mister (Nick Damici) whose new prey is the Undead. Together, they are traveling across America's heartland, searching for a better place called New Eden. Along the way, they take down any bloodsuckers that cross their path, meet and recruit other survivors and face challenge from The Brotherhood, a fundamentalist militia that interprets the plague as the Lord's work.

I have to admit, Stake Land is surprisingly good, it exceed all my expectations. I thought this was gonna be about bloodletting action and explosions of gore. But turns out, the film is beyond that. Stake Land is more restrained, it’s about the bond that holds humanity together. It offers not only terror and brutal actions, but also relationship, hope and focus more on the characters. Vampires are just doing their job, the have no choice but killing and killing. But human has a choice and in this film, we are shown what we are really capable of in an extreme situation and desperate times. We learn to adapt, but how we adapt is another matter. Some choose to do good things, while others choose to do bad things. All the credit must go to the director Jim Mickle. He successfully crafted a film that works well as a whole: the eerie cinematography, quiet despair atmosphere, bleak soundtrack, decent acting, pace and above average storyline. Stake Land is a drama horror that deserves a better treatment in cinema business and surely bigger audiences.

Killer Elite (2011)

Based on Sir Ranulph Fiennes's novel "The Feather Men," the film follows Danny (Jason Statham), an ex-special ops agent and hired assassin is forced by oil sheik to come out from his retirement in order to save his longtime mentor, Hunter (Robert De Niro). The sheik wants revenge against the killers of his sons, four SAS men. Danny's assignment is tricky: He is to kill them, but make it look like each death is accidental, so no one will suspect the sheik. Spike (Clive Owen) on the other hand, leads a shadowy group known as the Feather Men, whose mission is to protect ex-SAS men from retaliation. Their task is to shield the four targets from Danny and his boys.
 

Actually, Killer Elite is a promising thriller. The story focus more on the characters than on action. That’s why the decision to put Robert De Niro and Clive Owen is definitely a good call. They are great actors and have proven track records. But you still need an actor who can play action sequences, that’s where Jason Statham comes in. He is one of the most explosive martial arts star today. The plot is rather sophisticated involving kidnapping, revenge, secret group and unexpected double crosses. One thing I dislike is the pace. There seems to be lack of balance between the complicated plot and action scenes. The result, although the movie is somewhat satisfactory, I think it can be better considering all the talented casts and good script at Gary McKendry’s disposal.

Warrior (2011)

 

An ex-Marine Tommy (Tom Hardy) returns home for the first time in fourteen years to enlist the help of his father (Nick Nolte) to train for SPARTA, the biggest winner-takes-all event in mixed martial arts history. His brother Brendan (Joel Edgerton), also join the event in order to save his home from foreclosure. This is SPARTA where brothers can be adversaries and finally, the two brothers must confront each other to earn the five million dollar prize.

For more than one hour, the film focus more on the drama, we will be shown each character’s background and motives; a mysterious war hero with his own hidden agenda, a science teacher returns to the ring in a desperate attempt to save his family from financial ruin and a father who has been seeking for redemption. Although the drama part is little bit boring, but I have to admit, it helps prepare us for the ultimate climax. The fight scenes are incredible. It will blow you away. Each are choreographed and shot with great energy, even the musical background is perfect, as if we are sitting in front row of a boxing match. One of the best thing about Warrior is we don't want to see either fighter lose.  We feel touch by their motives and sympathyze for them, even for Tommy because behind all those brutal actions and rude behavior, eventually he’s still the man with the golden heart. But in the end, there can be only one winner, but the winner doesn’t  take all.

Bridesmaids (2011)

 

 

Usually, I don’t watch chick flick. But something tells me I should watch this one. Okay, that something is Judd Apatow, the producer. I like his films because he offers more than just average comedy. His films are realistic, energetic and full with comical improvised dialogue. So here comes Annie (Kristen Wiig), the woman who just hit rock bottom, her Milwaukee bakery shop has just gone bust, have to share rooms with a surpassingly peculiar British brother and sister, treated badly by Ted (Jon Hamm) who only thinks of her as a fuck buddy and to make her life worse, her BFF, Lillian (Maya Rudolph), is getting married and the trophy wife of the groom's boss, Helen (Rose Byrne) try to steal Annie's thunder. The other bridesmaids, Rita (Wendi McLendon-Covey), Becca (Ellie Kemper) and Megan (Melissa McCarthy) are caught in the middle.

What I like most about Bridesmaids is the casts. Although large, each of them is unique and has an important role in the development of the story. There is real depth to the characterizations and friendships. But still, the stand out from the crowd is Kristen Wiig. She’s a goddess of comedy. As co-writer and lead actress, she plays a huge part in the film's success. I hope she does more work like this. The director Paul Feig also managed to keep the pace alive so you won’t feel bored. I think Bridesmaids is the female version of The Hangover and Wedding Crashers. It’s hilarious, rude and gross sometimes. But it’s also a moving drama and painfully real. It can happen to anyone anywhere at a certain point of time. For me, Bridesmaids is a strong candidate for best comedy of 2011. So what are you waiting for? Just GO SEE THE MOVIE (even if you’re dudes).

Colombiana (2011)

 

 

A little girl witnessed her parents killed in front of her eyes. She fled to US soil, trained by her uncle to be a professional killer. And now, she’s ready. The hunted becomes the hunter. She’s hunting down and getting revenge on the mobster responsible for her parents' deaths. Vengeance is beautiful. But the film is far from it. Poorly directed by Olivier Megaton, the movie suffers from the boring action, lack of suspense and horrible plot. The performances are also flat, but you can't fully blame the performers. The dialogue needed a writer to come in and blow it up. So in my opinion, just skip the movie, unless you’re a huge fan of Zoe Saldana.

Bunraku (2011)

A samurai without a sword. A cowboy without a gun. A lover without a woman. They all share one thing in common; personal vendetta against Nicola the Woodcutter, the most powerful man east of the Atlantic. But in order to defeat him, they must face nine highly skilled and deadly assassins, plus the deadly Red Gang. The title Bunraku is derived from a 400-year-old form of traditional Japanese puppet theater, a style of storytelling that uses puppets with highly detailed heads, each operated by several puppeteers who blend into the background wearing black robes and hoods. The movie follows the same concept, combine with Spaghetti Western and samurai story. The result is you’ll be entertained by its lavish and unique visual style. But I’m afraid that’s the only thing you will enjoy. The fight scenes are too long, the narrator’s voice is annoying, the pace is off-balance and the characters are like puppets.

Final Destination 5 (2011)

First of all, I must give credit to the writers of the movie, Eric Heisserer, because c’mon, from the title itself and the previous four movies, you know how the movie will end, yet you still wanna watch and see all the actors to be slaughtered one by one. And there’s a little surprise at the end of the film. In this latest installment, the event is suspension-bridge collapse and the remaining survivors soon will learn that there's no way you can cheat death. All the actors’ performances are effective, considering they know from the start that they finally be killed by different creative horrible and gruesome methods. Let's face it, Final Destination 5 is not gonna win an Oscar, but I had a good time watching it.

The Hangover Part II (2011)

 

Following the critical and commercial success of The Hangover, Hollywood decided to produce the sequel, The Hangover Part II. Two years after the unforgettable bachelor party in Las Vegas, The Wolfpack travels to Thailand for Stu's wedding. Learning from previous experiences, they have opted for a safe a quiet night on the beach with a beer and toasting marshmallows by the camp fire. However, things don't always go as planned. The Sin City adventures is coming back, only worse. By using the exact same formula as the previous film, The Hangover Part II is still using pretty much the same plot (drug-induced chaos), still relies heavily on the performance of Zach Galifianakis and Ken Jeong, Bangkok replaces Vegas and the guys are doing the routine. So in other words, The Hangover Part II is a blueprint of The Hangover. So there’s no point telling you any further. Don’t get me wrong, the film still offers plenty of laughs and dirty scenes. But just like The Economists speak of a law of diminishing marginal utility, meaning that the first unit of consumption of a good or service yields more utility than the second and subsequent units. So without any improvements and surprises, my verdict is The Hangover Part II is less entertaining and enjoyable than the first.

Fish Story (2009)

 

Paulo Coelho once wrote in his allegorical novel The Alchemist, “No matter what he does, every person on earth plays a central role in the history of the world. And normally he doesn't know it” and “It's the simple things in life that are the most extraordinary.” I think those words are the best to describe this clever dark comedy film. Based on a novel by Kotaro Isaka and adapted by Tamio Hayashi, Fish Story or Fisshu sutôrî will explain how a song called Fish Story composed by unpopular Japanese punk band named Gekirin can actually save the world from Armageddon. Going through the movie, the audiences are shown four different stories using non-linear structure storylines taking place at four different points of time, ranging from 1975 to 2012, where a meteor is on a collision course for Earth. Each story seems unrelated and stands on its own, but they are interesting and captivating, like a puzzle, a mystery waiting to be solved. You can find the answer at the end of the movie, and when you do, you’ll feel astonish and satisfy. So make sure you pay enough attention to the film, especially on the characters. The acting was great, I particularly enjoyed Nao Omori, who played the producer that discovered Gekirin and Mirai Moriyama, playing a guy trained since birth to be a champion of justice. Fish Story might seem like an ordinary, but to tell the truth, it’s an extraordinary movie.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)

 

Determined to find the cure for his father’s Alzheimer, a brilliant San Francisco scientist Will Rodman (James Franco) developed ALZ-112, a possible treatment for Alzheimer's. Shortly after a test animal goes berserk and attacks at a board meeting, the experiment is called off. Will saves a baby ape, Caesar (Andy Serkis), and brings him home along with a supply of serum to test on the animal and Will's own father (John Lithgow). A beautiful primatologist Caroline (Frieda Pinto), said to him, "Some things aren't meant to be changed." But Will choose to ignore her and continue analyze the experiment. The baby ape, Caesar, on the other hand, is growing and continues to show cognitive skills that far exceed that of a human counterpart. These skills, combine with a series of unfortunate events, enable Caesar to lead an ape revolution against the humans. Apes will rise, and they won't go down easily.

To be honest, the film exceeded all my expectations. I thought it was gonna be an average movie. But NOOOO, turns out, the film rises together with the apes. Biggest credit goes to Andy Serkis, with the help of impressive motion-capture technology, gives the best performance in the movie. He probably has already got used to the role, consider that this is the second film in which he plays an ape, having previously portrayed 2005's version of King Kong. He was also the man behind Gollum in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. So if you are a die-hard fan of Planet of the Apes, watching this prequel is a mandatory. But even if you aren’t, watching it will be an enjoyable experience because it is well executed by director Rupert Wyatt. The story is evocative and engaging, although there are some slight plot holes, but easily forgiven. The special effects are state-of-the-art and the scenes, especially at the Golden Gate Bridge and Redwood Forest are stunning.

The Tree of Life (2011)

 

 

On the surface, The Tree of Life has a simple story. It portrays everyday life of a Midwestern family in the 1950s. The father (Brad Pitt), the mother (Jessica Chastain) and their three children experience and learn happiness and insecurity, love and fear, forgive and regret. The movie is definitely not everyone's cup of tea, it’s heavy, but you should fully appreciate what Terrence Malick has tried to accomplish, the ultimate message about life, not only human, but everything that has been created by God, the origins and meaning of life, the purpose of our existence. The script has few spoken words, but almost every word is philosophically meaningful and important. It’s the visual impressions that makes the film unlike everything you’ve ever seen. The Tree of Life packed with lots of stunning cinematography, dazzling visual effects and brilliant camera movements. Watching The Tree of Life is like listening to a poetry with pictures. Editing and storyline may find difficult to follow because of fragmented and non-linear narrative, but those are the beauty, they keep me focus and intrigue. There are some surrealist and experimental scenes that seem unnecessary, but I personally think those are part of director’s singular deliberate style and have its purposes. The Tree of Life took some patience to watch, but in the end, this artistic film will take you to an emotional spiritual and visual journey and deserves your utmost attention.

Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

 

 

Chris Evans. The man is destined to be a super hero, or at least a man with special abilities. We all previously saw him as Human Torch  (Fantastic Four), Nick Gant (Push), Jensen (The Losers) and now  we see him as Captain America. From all four, I think this is by far the best super hero movie he has ever played. Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), has a big heart, but that is not enough to join the army because in the army, big muscle is more important. But there’s a way, thanks to Abraham Erskine (Stanley Tucci), who turns skinny Steve into supersoldier. Of course, supersoldier needs a supervillain Red Skull (Hugo Weaving) and a super sexy girlfriend Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell). First of all, the story is much better than other superhero movie, it has a dimension and weight. I also like the retro vibe. CGI is also great and it’s more reality-oriented. The casts also have done a wonderful part, specially Tommy Lee Jones and Hayley Atwell. But the pace is too fast, no room for character development and makes the film falls flat. I think the best part in this movie is when the story sticks with skinny Steve. Anyway, overall, Captain America: The First Avenger is a satisfying and entertaining film.

The Whistleblower (2010)

 

 

Inspired by actual events. Kathryn Bolkovac (Rachel Weisz), an Nebraskan police officer who signs on with a private contractors called Democra who has a security contract with the United Nations.as a peacekeeper in post-war Bosnia. During her line of duty, she discovers and witnesses dangerous reality of corruption, cover-up, and human trafficking. This is a powerful film, relentless and frightening thriller. Human trafficking is one of the fastest growing criminal industries, many has become victims, but yet the government and authorities haven’t done enough to stop it. What surprise me most is the performance of Rachel Weisz. Her acting in this film is both brilliant and intelligent. Although sometimes it can be depressing, The Whistleblower deserves your attention because there is more to watch than Rachel Weisz; the pace is well balanced, the script is provoking enough and the supporting casts played their part.

Oldboy (2003)

 

Kidnapped and imprisoned for 15 years, now Oh Dae-Su (Min-sik Choi) is released and he only has five days to find his captor and the reason behind his locked up in a prison cell. Based on Japanese Manga by Nobuaki Minegishi and Garon Tsuchiya, Oldboy or Oldeuboi is a skillfully made by Chan Wook Park. This is definitely a must-see film, the story is well written, the tension is all over the place and it packed with full of surprises. The visual is haunting, lots of both beautiful and disturbing violence scenes. The performances from the casts are also the strong point. Watching Oldboy is a challenging offbeat experience from start until finish! A masterpiece!

I Saw the Devil (2010)

Kyung-chul (Choi Min-sik) is a dangerous psychopath. One day, daughter of a retired police chief becomes his prey and is found dead in a horrific state. Later, her fiance Soo-hyun (Lee Byung-hun), a top secret agent, decides to track down the murderer himself and avenge her death. I Saw the Devil a.k.a Akmareul boattda is a South Korean revenge thriller directed by Kim Ji-woon that fills with violence, torture, cannibalism and sexual sadism. But it’s also about morality and human fallout. A compeling and powerful film. Recommended but it’s not for everyone film because of the large amount of horrific scenes.

Flame and Citron (2008)

Based on true story about two fighters in Holger Danske World War II resistance group. Their imperfect methods in hunting down and rubbing out Denmark's most prominent Nazi collaborators and The Gestapo make the movie perfect. The film is everything you want from an action thriller war noir movie. The performances of Thure Lindhardt and Mads Mikkelsen as the dynamic duo universally strong and there is a real chemistry between the two of them. The script is well written, not only about heroism, but the effect of war is described and told in details. Each scenes is skillfully shot. Flame and Citron or Flammen & Citronen won Robert Festival 2009 category Best Special Effects, Best Sound, Best Production Design, Best Make-Up, Best Costume Design and nominated in 9 other categories.

Max Manus (2008)

 

 

The true story about the life of Max Manus (Aksel Hennie), a young Norwegian hero known for his daring and spectacular sabotage during World War II. After having fought the Russians during the Winter War in Finland. Max Manus joined Norwegian resistance and became a member of the Oslo Gang during Nazi-occupied Norway in 1940. It's not only his heroic act, but also about his battle against his inner demon.That's what makes the movie comes highly recommended. The script is rather flat, but the visual cinematography and the casts are excellent. Max Manus won Amanda Awards 2009 for Best Actor, Best Cinematography, Best Film, Best Screenplay, Best Sound Design and Best Supporting Actress.

Katyn (2007)

 

 

Amazing historical true story about the slaughter of thousands of Polish officers and citizens in the Katyn forest in 1940 by the Soviet Army. Using conventional narrative and documentary-style filmmaking, experienced Polish director Andrzej Wajda masterfully crafted the film. The dark atmosphere creates emotional and personal wartime tragedy. Watching it is truly unforgettable experience.

Thor (2011)

Banished by Odin (Sir. Anthony Hopkins), The Mighty Thor (Chris Hemsworth), powerful but arrogant reckless warrior was forced to live amongst humans. On Earth, he realizes what it takes to become a real hero, the worthy heir of Asgard and (of course) falling in love with mortal Jane (beautiful Natalie Portman). Based on Marvel Comics character and Norse mythology, The God of Thunder is a film that relies heavily on special effects. The design of Asgard, Thor's mythical realm, is awesome and some of action sequences are amazing. The story itself adapts the original Stan Lee for Marvel, add with intentional humour and effort to combine myth and real world, magic and science. Performance department: Chris Hemsworth and Natalie Portman gave their best, but it seems there’s lack of chemistry between them. Others leave their mark. But it was Tom Hiddleston's Loki that stole the show. Thor may not be the best superhero film to have made the transition from comic book to screen, but it does what the audiences want. Director Kenneth Branagh successfully crafted Thor and made him more than just a man with Mjölnir hammer in his hand. 

Friends with Benefits (2011)

 

 

From Will Gluck (Easy A), comes clichés romantic comedy about two persons who had a horrible history in relationship. They meet, befriends, and decide to add spice in their friendship: SEX. They soon discover that getting physical really does always lead to complications. If you have watched No Strings Attached, this movie has similar plot. Althought the storyline is deeper than most rom-com, still you won't find anything new. The two lead casts are good enough, chemistry between them is strong. Justin Timberlake definitely looks a lot better in this movie than in Bad Teacher. Mila Kunis is sweet as usual. But the best acts came from the supporting casts, Woody Harrelson and Patricia Clarkson. Their presence makes the film more alive and hilarious. The film set is another advantage. I really enjoyed the NYC landscapes and the LA beach view. So those are the benefits of Friends With Benefits, a Hollywood rom-com which surprisingly, I find it amusing and entertaining.

Cold Fish (2010)

 

 

Shamoko (Mitsuru Kukikoshi) and his wife Taeko (Megumi Kagurazaka) run a small fish shop. One day, their daughter Mitsuko (Hikari Kajiwara) is caught stealing in a supermarket. Before the manager calls the police, the friendly owner of another fish shop, Murata (Denden) settles the issue. Later on, Shamoko and Murata become friends - and then partners. But Murata is not who he seems, he and his wife Aiko (Asuka Kurosawa) are actually serial killers. First of all, this is both strange and insane movie. There is a lot of depravity and violence throughout the film, much of it will test even the hardest stomach. But aside from the incredibly disturbing visuals, the film is furiously original and interesting to follow. The acting is superb, specially Mitsuru Kukikoshi and Denden. The cinematography, camera movement and musical background are excellent in keeping the tension and grim atmosphere. The director Shion Sono has done a great job combining extreme graphic violence and black comedy. Cold Fish a.k.a Tsumetai nettaigyo is seriously unsettling, but it’s still impressive. This movie was "inspired by true events” known as the "Saitama serial murders of dog lovers"; the convicted killers in the real-life case are Gen Sekine and his ex-wife Hiroko Kazama.