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.

Heartbreaker (2010)

 

Alex (Romain Duris) and his sister Mélanie (Julie Ferrier) and her husband Marc (François Damiens) run a business designed to break up relationships. However, they have one rule : only breaks up couples where the woman is unhappy. But due to excessive debt, they have to break the one rule and take a job to break up the wedding of a rich man’s daughter, Juliette (Vanessa Paradis). The only problem is that they only have one week to do so. Heartbreaker or L'arnacoeur is a well made charming French romantic comedy. It makes you laugh and leaves you with a smile. The characters are loveable, chemistry between Romain Duris and Vanessa Paradis are fun to watch. The storyline flirts with some clichés but actually funny and enjoyable to follow.

Priceless (2006)

 

 

Charm is more valuable than beauty. You can resist beauty, but you can’t resist charm. Irène (Audrey Tautou) knows this very well. She uses her charm to seduce and taking advantages from older and very wealthy men so she can live a comfortable life. One day she meets Jean (Gad Elmaleh), a bartender at the hotel whom she thinks a rich man. Later they spend a romantic evening together, until she discovers he's broke and leaves him. But Jean doesn’t give up, he’s falling in love and will do everything to get her. This is a light romantic comedy, the plot is simple, clichés and predictable and yet it’s entertaining thanks to the sharp performances from both lead casts. Overall, Priceless or Hors de Prix is a fun decent movie.

Potiche (2010)

A satirical comedy about emancipation, the battle of sexes. When her husband is taken hostage by his striking employees, Suzanne Pujol (Catherine Deneuve) steps in to manage the umbrella factory. Surprisingly, Suzanne proves herself a competent and assertive leader. But things get complicated when her husband returns and wants to control the company again. Combine with unique characters, beautiful visual and non-Hollywood plot. Potiche or Trophy Wife is both hilarious and funny in a very French way.

Dogtooth (2009)

 

 

A movie about dysfunctional and isolated family. The children are raised by their strict controlled parents and have never been allowed to leave the house. The father is the only family member who can leave, while only one outsider is allowed to enter the house based on specific agreement. Dogtooth or Kynodontas is not easy to watch, but somehow I can’t take my eyes off it, probably one of the strangest movie ever made. It's both weird and wonderful. It offers plenty disturbing and horrific scenes, but all scenes are necessary. The film was nominated for Oscar 2011, category best foreign language film.

Katalin Varga (2009)

 

 

Katalin Varga (Hilda Péter) has been married for nearly eleven years when her husband abruptly throws her out of the house after learning he's not the biological father of their son Orban (Norbert Tanko). Then she decides to travel with her son in order to find and punish those who once raped her. The film has slow pace and the plot is quite simple, but the performances are powerful and the cinematography is beautiful. This is a well made tragic dark drama.