Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011)

 

Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) returns in a brand new adventure, but this time without his beloved ship, The Black Pearl and without the appearance of Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann. His latest quest is to find the fabled Fountain of Youth. But he’s not the only one who wants to find it. The legendary pirate Blackbeard (Ian McShane) and his mysterious daughter Angelica (Penelope Cruz), the British with the help from Jack’s old enemy Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) and the Spanish are also eager to find the famous fountain. By far this is the shortest Pirate’s chapter, running at 128 minutes. Director Rob Marshall steps in for Gore Verbinski and he’s still using the same formula. Although it’s not as hilarious as the previous three, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides is still a welcome addition to the franchise. It’s entertaining, exciting and always fun to watch Johnny Depp and Geoffrey Rush with all their limitless talent.

The Conspirator (2010)

 

 

Robert Redford latest film, The Conspirator tells a story of Mary Suratt (Robin Wright), the only woman arrested and charged with conspiring to kill the President, Vice President, and Secretary of State. Frederick Aiken (James McEvoy) reluctantly agrees to defend her on the grounds that she is innocent until proved guilty. Packed with impressive strong casts and well written script, this historic political drama is interesting and chilling enough. But the slow pace will require your utmost attention and patience.

Bad Teacher (2011)

Cameron Diaz is Elizabeth Halsey, the Bad Teacher. She drinks, gets high, runs a DVD during class. All she wants is to find a wealthy man to take care of her. And she will do anything and get rid of everything that stand in her way. First of all, having hot teacher like Cameron Diaz teaching in my class is a dream come true. I wouldn’t mind even if she’s a bad one (I’m sure lots of guys feel the same way). As a film, I found it’s difficult to really like Bad Teacher. Got a few laughs, but the script is predictably thin and doesn’t have much structure. There is no chemistry between the lead casts. Plus there is this dry-humping scene with Cameron Diaz and Justin Timberlake that deserves an award for category the worst sex scene in a movie.

Submarine (2010)

 

 

Meet Oliver Tate (Craig Roberts), a fifteen-year-old quirky, loner and cool boy with all his universal awkwardness. He has two big missions: to lose his virginity to his cute girlfriend Jordana Bevanand (Yasmin Paige) before his next birthday and to save his parents' marriage. And the result will define who he is for the rest of his life. Okay, first of all, this is one of my favourite movies, a real gem in British cinema. The performances are top notch; Craig Roberts, Yasmin Paige, Noah Taylor, Sally Hawkins, Paddy Considine, they all’ve done a remarkable job. A little slow paced on occasion, but filmmaker Richard Ayoade managed to keep the movie focus, original, very funny, witty and completely entertaining. Based on a novel written by Joe Dunthorne, Submarine will take you down and keep you under until finish.

Route Irish (2010)

A gripping intelligent conspiracy thriller about controversies sorrounding the role of British government during war in Iraq. A private security contractor in Iraq rejected the official explanation of his friend's death and sets out to discover the truth. It's different from any other Ken Loach movies, but it still holds my utmost attention. The characters are well-drawn and convincing. The story is well written and real. Route Irish is the most dangerous road in the world, lies between Baghdad airport and the Green Zone.

Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011)

 

 

Po, The Dragon Warrior alongside his friends and fellow kung fu masters, The Furious Five are now facing the ultimate adversary, who plans to use a secret, unstoppable weapon to conquer China and destroy kung fu forever. The only way Po can beat the enemy is by unlock the strength he needs to succeed, the inner peace. The film's 3D visuals are thrilling; lighting, design and fireworks are spectacular. The story is more involving; it’s darker and yet still hilarious, lots of humour and fun to follow. The characters are the best part of the film. Each of them has personality, thanks to excellent voice-over work from the all-star casts. So without doubt, Kung Fu Panda 2 is more awesome than the first. Hardcore!

Rio (2011)

 

Blu, an intelligent macaw bird that does not fly lives a comfortable life with Linda in Minnesotta. Out of the blue, Brazilian ornithologist visits and explains that Blu is the last male of his species alive and they must come to Rio de Janeiro to mate with female macaw Jewel and save their species. So that’s the plot, quite featherweight. But the brightly-colored visual, upbeat music and funny characters will delight the entire family.

Rango (2011)

From zero to hero, with the help from Spirit of the West. From director Gore Verbinski, comes the story of Rango, the less-than-courageous Hawaiian shirt chameleon who suddenly has big responsibility to bring civilization to Dirt, an untamed Wild West town tormented by villains and running desperately short on water. Rango is no ordinary chameleon and turns out, it's no ordinary movie either. Yes, this is a typical good, bad and ugly film, but it is shown in an amusingly creative way. The movie is wonderfully well-drawn and the characters are strong, unique yet easy to love. Overall, The film is smart, funny and entertaining. Highly recommended!

Fast Five (2011)

 

 

The film picks up right from where Fast & Furious left off, with Brian (Paul Walker) and Mia (Jordana Brewster) busting Dom (Vin Diesel) out of prison bus. Then they all head for Rio de Janeiro, Brazil where they start to take on a heist that goes wrong and end up being chased by Reyes (Joaquim de Almeida), a corrupt drug lord who has (almost) all Rio cops in his pocket. To make it worst, they are also hunted by a tough persistent federal agent, Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson). Feeling tired of running away, they attempt to pull off one last job in order to gain their freedom. So they assemble a team consists of characters from every instalment. The film still suffers from illogical storyline, inane dialog and impossible action scenes. But never mind those. We see this movie hoping to experience jaw dropping, eye popping action that gonna pump our adrenalin from start to finish. And that's exactly what you gonna get. Sport cars, muscle cars, car chase, drag street race, guns blaze, bruising hand-to-hand combat between The Rock and Vin Diesel, beauty sexy ladies and exotic country. What more do you want? Usually a sequel won’t be as good as the original. But that’s not the case with Fast Five. This one is as good, perhaps even the fastest and most furious to date. I surely wouldn’t mind seeing another one. So Justin Lin, start your engine and fire the sixth!

Super 8 (2011)

 

From writer/director J.J. Abrams and producer Steven Spielberg come Super 8, a movie about a small town’s strange occurrences looked through the eyes of early teens. It all begins when a group of friends are making a super 8 zombie movie while suddenly they witness a catastrophic train crash that leads to unusual disappearances and inexplicable events in their town. I have to say, Super 8 remains me of early Spielberg’s works, such as Goonies, Close Encounters of the Third Kind and E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial. It’s like J.J. Abrams’ combining elements from those films and put it into Super 8. And if you’re expecting an alien movie like the one you see in Cloverfield (produced by J.J. Abrams), well, you will be very disappointed because Super 8 is NOT a full packed action mystery thriller. This film is emphasized more on human elements; such as romantic relationship between Joe (Joel Courtney) and Alice (Elle Fanning), relationship between Joe and his father (Kyle Chandler) after their beloved mother passed away, relationship between Alice and her drunken father (Ron Eldard) and connection with Joe’s family, etc. Even the monster has human element because all it wants is to go home. I guess Super 8 is Cloverfield with big heart, humor and family values although it offers nothing new. Super 8 may not be a super film, but it deserves at least eighty percent.

The Ward (2010)

 

 

In 1966, in North Bend, Oregon, the runaway young girl Kristen (Amber Heard) is captured by the police after burning down a farmhouse and is locked in the North Bend Psychiatric Hospital. There she meets fellow inmates Emily, Sarah, Zoey and Iris and they are terrorized by a ghost. Turns out that the ghost is the key to uncover the truth and solve the mystery. Another disappointment work from cult director John Carpenter. The plot borrows heavily from thrillers such as Shutter Island and Identity. The patients are too cute and too beautiful. The eerie atmosphere is nowhere to be found. So just skip this one.

Arthur (2011)

Irresponsible British brat Arthur Bach (Russel Brand) has always relied on two things: his unlimited fortune and lifelong nanny (Helen Mirren). But now he must choose between two options: marry the woman he doesn't love and in return he can keep his lavish lifestyle, or give up everything to be with the only woman he's ever loved. I must say, this movie surprised me, it's actually an enjoyable one, lots of laughters but at the same time it contains important messages: dare to take a risk and learn what it means to become a man. I can’t say Arthur is among best movie this year, but the film surely serves its purpose as a remake classic romantic comedy.

Super (2010)

A sad loser human named Franck (Rainn Wilson) transforms himself into hero Crimson Bolt after losing his ex-addict wife (Liv Tyler) willingly snatched by a seductive drug dealer (Kevin Bacon). With the help from a crazed sidekick named Boltie (Ellen Page), he beats his way through the mean streets of crime in hopes of saving his wife. Super may not be a super movie, but it serves its purpose; that an average joe can do great things if he/she wants to and  it may change the course of his/her life forever. I wish the director can send the message in a better way, so the movie will be more fun, easier to watch and more entertaining. Perhaps it is meant to be a dark comedy like Kick-Ass, but some scenes in this movie are too brutal and disturbing. Cool soundtracks by the way, and I think the heart of Super belongs to the super casts.

True Grit (2010)

 

 

A marvelous story of revenge is a dish best served cold. In order to capture the man who killed his father, 14-year-old farm girl Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld) hires the toughest U.S. marshal available, Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges). Together, with the help from Texas Ranger LaBoeuf (Matt Damon), they ride into the wild and find danger and surprises on the journey. Based on Charles Portis novel, True Grit is solid and hugely entertaining works by Ethan Coen and Joel Coen using the combination of drama, humour and western adventure. It is also boosted by stellar performances from Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, Hailee Steinfeld, Barry Pepper and Josh Brolin. Unlike other Coen brothers’ films, True Grit is accessible for everyone, from casual film fans to Coen brothers obsessives. The film was nominated for 10 Oscars for the year 2011.

Barney's Version (2010)

 

 

Based on seriocomic adaptation of Mordecai Richler's award-winning 1997 novel, the film tells the unusual journey of Barney Panofsky; his highs and lows, his lost and love. The strength of the movie lies in the hand of the talented casts and the beautifully and well written script. Paul Giamatti is perfect portraying Barney, you can actually feel for this pathetic, misguided, adolescent shell of a man. The supporting casts also play their part. But they are all overshadowed by Dustin Hoffman in the role of Barney's father and loyal right-hand man. Barney's Version is not only entertaining, but also deeply human and full of humour and tragedy that will touch our hearts and our minds.

Your Highness (2011)

 

 

Thadeous (Danny McBride) and Fabious (James Franco), two princes of royal blood who can’t be more than opposite with their attitude and achievements, with Thadeous being the gross underachiever compared to Fabious' alpha-male tendencies. When Fabious' bride-to-be, Belladonna (Zooey Deschanel), gets kidnapped by the evil wizard Leezar (Justin Theroux), the king gives his deadbeat son an ultimatum: Man up and help rescue her or get cut off from the family tree. The film mocks everything about medieval time movies, kings and knights, etc. by applying exaggeratively sarcastic and cynical humor. But the result is the opposite, the humor feels dull, corny and definitely not funny. It’s such a shame considering the director David Gordon Green has so many talented casts at his disposal. The only reason why I kept watching was because there’s Zooey Deschanel and Natalie Portman. That’s it!

Henry's Crime (2010)

 

 

Released from prison for a crime he didn't commit, Henry (Keanu Reeves) targets the same bank he was sent away for robbing. Despite fine performances by Vera Farmiga and James Caan, the film suffers from predictable plot and its slow pace. Henry's Crime is not only about robbing a bank. In fact, his real crime is robbing a woman's heart. A decent charming movie!

Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011)

 

 

Autobots vs. Decepticons is back in action. Turns out, mankind's first mission to the moon was intended to investigate an alien space craft that crashed on the dark side. And that space craft carried secret devices that can bring life back to planet Cybertron. Using all Michael Bay trademarks; a little bit soft-core porn in the beginning, camera movements, dramatic slow motion scenes; the film is all about giant robots, big bang explosives, massive destruction and special effects show off. The movie suffers from lack of character development. For example, John Malkovich and Frances McDormand are talented, but they seem talentless. Not to mention the two-and-a-half-hour running time, incoherent flat storyline and inane dialog made me bored and lost my interest. I know the robot is suppose to be soulless, but that doesn’t mean the movie has to be without a soul either.

Winter in Wartime (2008)

 

 

 

Nazi-occupied Holland, 1945. Based on Jan Terlouw's novel, the story centers on Michiel (Martijn Lakemeier) a boy who finds and aids a wounded British fighter pilot. Soon he realizes that war is more than just an exciting adventure, it’s even turns to danger and desperation, as he is forced to act and be part of the resistance without knowing whom to trust among the adults around him. The film benefits from winter atmosphere and convincing performance from its young lead, Martijn Lakemeier. The director Martin Koolhoven also manages the constant tension and effective shots during the film. Winter in Wartime or Oorlogswinter is an evocative and wonderful film.

The Beat That My Heart Skipped (2005)

The Beat That My Heart Skipped or De Battre mon Coeur s'est Arrêté is a great film. It has WOW factor. Mesmerising story about a man torn by two very different worlds; collection agent and a career as a concert pianist. The casts are top notch, superb stylish directing offers realism, maturity and energy in every scenes. Another brilliant film from director Jacques Audiard (A Prophet).

Love Me If You Dare (2003)

Love Me If You Dare or Jeux d'enfants is an unconventional romantic black comedy starring the beautiful Marion Cotillard and Guillaume Canet. The film follows the life of two would-be lovers from childhood to adulthood and all their problem and games. Although this is not a perfect movie, it brings magic with the unusual story, interesting characters and lavish visual. Film recommandé!

Winter’s Bone (2010)

Winter’s Bone is a great movie, gripping, tough, haunting, it pulls you in and doesn't let go. Ree, a 17 years old, is willing to risk everything, even her life for the sake of her family. It boosted by stellar casts, specially Jennifer Lawrence, a star in the making. The film was nominated for four Oscars and won Grand Jury Prize and Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award at 2010 Sundance Film Festival.

Mr. Nobody (2009)

Mr. Nobody is not for everybody. Fantasy romance drama about the tale of Nemo Nobody, the lives he might have had, all mix between reality and fantasy. It’s not about the choice, there are no good or bad choice in life. It's simply about how you live your life based on the choice you've made. Watching Mr. Nobody is truly an unique experience, sometimes it's boring, sometimes exciting, but it takes an effort to understand the purpose of the film.

Brighton Rock (2010)

Brighton Rock is a British noir gangster, the story of Pinkie, a young man clawing his way up through the ranks of organized crime. Disappointing debut for Rowan Joffe. The characters are both unconvincing and confusing, music seems out of place, plus poor editing. Overall, the film feels mostly flat and also redundant. Brighton Rock is a remake and an adaptation of Graham Greene's classic novel.

X-Men: First Class (2011)

 

The end is the beginning. Just when I thought the X-Men franchise was finished (yes, The Last Stand and Wolverine sucked), comes the classy prequel, powered with strong script, marvelous performances from its casts, blast high tech SFX and superhuman direction by Matthew Vaughn. The year is 1962, soon-to-be Professor X (James McAvoy) starts recruiting humans with superhuman abilities. Among them is soon-to-be Magneto (Michael Fassbender), his best friend … and future nemesis. Together with stunning CIA agent Moira McTaggert (Rose Byrne), they’re gonna Kick-Ass Sebastian Shaw (Kevin Bacon), the super absorb energy mutant with super plan to bring the world at nuclear Armageddon. In the end, this pre-boot is a fine addition, succeeded in re-establishing these characters in a superb and interesting manner. Can't wait for another sequel.