Category: Movies

Movies Watched Recently…

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The Dark Knight

The sequel to Batman Begins with Christian Bale reprising his role as Batman. There’s no Katie Holmes this time round to play Rachel Dawes but that’s pretty irrelevant. While some say this is better than the prequel, and most of the praises were given to the now deceased Heath Ledger who plays the Joker in this movie, I still liked the prequel better. Without a doubt, Heath Ledger did very well in his role, and he was very much different from the other joker. This is one Joker I find way too sinister and evil. He isn’t funny at all and frankly, I can’t even say if he’s even joking at all.

If you ask me what is the gist of the story, then it would be Joker’s ‘bet’ with Batman that good or morality is an easy thing to say and do when one’s life or loved one is not threatened. i.e. it is not difficult to even turn a good man, even the best among us, to become a bad one if the ‘right switch is flicked’.

In a way Joker’s view is right. I can’t explain that in detail here, as that would become spoilers even though I believe most people have already watched it. But still, it’s best for you to watch it on your own to get your own feel and understanding of this movie.

Personally speaking, I preferred the prequel with the dark and Gothic look to Gotham City. The Gotham in this movie no longer have that feel. Above which, the movie was really too long and almost 3/4 way through I could feel the level rising in the bladder.

Even so, this is the best movie I have watched for the month of July / August. And if there’s one movie you shouldn’t miss, this has to be it.

Addendum 25.08.08: I was clearing my hard disk today and I suddenly come across a screen shot of something a while back when someone said “It is impossible to understand the minds of certain people because that would be like trying to understand the mind of the Joker in Batman.”

It would have been true on the surface, but on deeper thoughts, the above statement shows just how shallow the mind of such a person. There was only one thing in the mind of the Joker, and that is to prove that everyone can break their own principles. i.e. even the best among the good can be turned to do evil. This was at the end of the movie in the conversation between Batman and the Police Commissioner. Apparently someone has left in brains in the freezer when he was watching the movie.

The Mummy III

My personal opinion after watching this movie? Make this the last. The joke one of my friend made about it was, in the next Mummy movie they will be fighting mummies of the legendary Wind [聂风] and Cloud [步惊云] from the HK Kungfu comics.

And there are a few things I didn’t like. First, Rachel Weisz is no longer reprising her role as Evelyn O’Connell. Second, Brendan Fraser looks are still too youthful to play the role of a father. And third, I think Michelle Yeoh’s Mandarin still sucks as bad as it was in Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon. To round it up, to imagine Qin Shihuang – the first Emperor of China – as a mummy is really pushing the limit of my tolerance. But in the book, it was some other fictional character known as Er shihuangdi, though I am quite sure Qin Shihuang and his unification of China inspired this character.

The story begins with how the Dragon Emperor (Jet Li) turned into a Mummy after being cursed by the sorceress Zi Yuan (Michelle Yeoh). It then fast forward 2000 odd years to show Alex O’Connell – son of Richard O’Connell (Brendan Fraser) – discovering the resting place and how General Yang (Anthony Wong) and his cronies ‘resurrected’ the Emperor or free him from the curse. Then of course, it goes on to the usual attempts to kill / destroy the Mummy.

I won’t dwell too much on the storyline. But suffice to say this movie is completely uninspiring, especially the part where you see an army fighting with iron age weapons with mid-20th Century soldiers. Simply put, I completely regretted watching it. I should have saved that $7.50 and convert it into another HK$35 to buy food for my stomach in Hong Kong.

Journey to the Centre of the Earth

The movie was a little too short for my taste and appears to be rushing through the parts. As to what the story is about is summarized by these few words – a simple investigation turning into a major adventure.

Trevor Anderson (Brendan Fraser) is head of the Center of Volcanic Activity in a university. His brother Max went missing 10 years ago leaving behind a widow and his nephew Sean. Max’ widow decided to leave Sean with Trevor for 10 days as she leaves for Canada to prepare for their eventual migration and Sean made Trevor take him along to Iceland to investigate seismic sensor readings that matches those during Max’ disappearance. When they arrived in Iceland they hired guide Hannah (Anita Briem) to take them up the volcano where the sensor is. The rest is ‘history’.

Though another Brendan Fraser movie, at the very least this one was much more interesting than Mummy 3, though at one point of time I was wondering if I wasn’t watching Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. The eye candy, Anita Briem, was better than Mummy 3 of course.

There’s also quite a bit of computer animation put into this movie in the form of dinosaurs, prehistoric piranhas, relatives of the Loch Ness monster etc, and not just mummies, and more mummies. However, you are not missing much if you don’t watch it but if you absolutely ‘heart’ Brendan Fraser than I would suggest getting the cheap VCD version when it is released.

Movie: 钱不够用 2 & 十二莲花

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钱不够用 2

这是一部写实电影。梁智强以一贯的手法，轻描淡写的将新加坡人的一些不满和牢骚 – 如人民对 ERP、物价不断上涨和建赌场的看法 – 都给表达出来。但我要问，梁导演反映出来后除了得到了我们会心一笑，又对我们新加坡人又有些什么好处呢？政策从来就没有因为我们反映了而改变，通常还不是新加坡人自己咬紧牙关挨过去？

不过可以肯定的是，电影里描绘的杨家三兄弟所遭遇的，却也是典型新加坡人面对的一些问题 – 如对年迈家长和孩子在物质上给予的肯定不会少，但是在关怀与爱护方面却肯定做的不够。我不禁要问，电影的主题是表达新加坡人对金钱和物质生活追求的荒谬呢，还是要给新加坡人理解一下 ‘树欲静而风不止，子欲养而亲不在’ 的真正意义，让我们更加明白孝道的定义？又或许要我们除了物质生活外，要更注重家庭和亲属？就是说，不管一个人在金钱上如何贫穷，总不会比一个事业和家庭都失去的人更孤独、更可悲。

不管如何，这是一部把普通的人的喜、怒、哀、乐完全都表现出来的电影。我不想讲太多电影里的情节，但这些情节虽然没让我悲从中来，但却令我热泪盈眶。因为实在是我们生活中可以感受的到的。它娱乐和教育性两方面都很高的，但结尾却有点不切实际。为何如此说呢？因为戏里杨家的三兄弟的不屈不挠虽然值得我们学习，但是实际上能像他们跌得那么惨却又能从新再来的人又有几个？

总的来说，我个人虽然不是很喜欢梁导演，但仍然觉得这是部值得一看的电影。有空就去看吧，不过如果不太懂福建话的人就比较难理解里面的对白了。

十二莲花

我看电影通常都不会以艺术的角度来观赏，因为我缺乏艺术细胞。所以如果你问我， ‘十二莲花’ 和 ‘881’ 比较，我会比较喜欢哪一部，那么我比较喜欢 ‘881’ 多一点。原因很简单，虽然两部电影都以歌台为背景，但是 ‘881’ 就比较没有那么抽象和脱离现实。简单的说，虽然两部电影拍摄的手法都非常的 ‘波里活’ (Bollywood)，但是 ‘881’ 的娱乐性却是比较高的。

戏里主人翁 – 刘莲花 – 的悲哀命运让人心酸，可能甚至于掉泪。这也令我想起 ‘881’ 的结尾也是令人伤心的。我必须要问，是否导演陈子谦的人生中，个人遭遇了很多天意弄人的事？如果还有下一部以歌台为背景的电影，结局可否可以快乐一点？要不然王欣这个演员可能就会永久被定型，只能演那些楚楚可怜，命运坎坷的女子了。这样会否限制了一个演员的发挥空间呢？

而且，没有多少部电影能让我不断的看手表和盼望它的结束。因为有些情节我真的觉得和现实完全脱节，令我觉得我必须调整，不以看现实剧的的心态、沉住气的继续看下去。

弹的说完，说些赞的。这部电影并不是完全一无是处。刘玲玲演技是不错的，在这部电影里可以说是发挥的淋漓精致。而且戚玉武演的两个角色都演得不错。他是演什么就不必多说了，免得破坏还没看的人的兴致。

我个人的建议是，没必要在电影院看。最好是等 VCD / DVD 上市了才买回家看吧。和 ‘钱不够用 2’ 一样，不太懂福建话的人就比较难理解里面的对白了。

Movies: Hancock & Wanted

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As I was on leave today, I went to watch “Hancock” at GV Marina. I would have watched it at GV Jurong Point, but the first show clash with my meet up with my friend (who is also my insurance agent), and the second one is at 10pm.

As we already know from watching the trailers, Hancock (Will Smith) is this drunkard, bad ass hero that goes around Los Angeles dealing with the crime and the problems. Unfortunately, when getting the job done, Hancock’s methods usually caused the city a large amount of money in damage. As a result, the people of LA are very upset with his vigilantism even though Hancock participation has kept the crime rate in check. The story revolves around how PR Executive Ray Embrey (Jason Bateman), in gratitude of being saved from certain death by Hancock, take it upon himself to help Hancock remake his image.

To do so, Ray set up for Hancock a series of steps to take in order regain the trust and appreciation of the very people he is saving and protecting, and as a result also led Hancock to re-discover something about his true self.

How do I like the movie? Well, just like any movie where you get Morgan Freeman, most Will Smith movies can never be too bad. While I did enjoy the early part of the movie very much as it was quite funny looking, especially that part where the criminals Hancock put in jail confronted him when he went to prison. However, I felt it to be a little dry at the middle part when he became our usual prim and proper hero and I definitely didn’t quite like the ending.

On a scale of 1 – 5, I’ll give 4 for entertainment, 3.5 for story and 3 for ending. And yes, there’s a short “after credits”… if it can be called that as it is shown before the names of the cast.

And by the way, even though in the end Ray did achieve his objective into remaking Hancock, I doubt a real life Ray would have any luck in remaking the image of certain Community Managers Manglers. But what can be learn from the movie is Hancock’s moral courage – his willingness to listen to criticisms even when he didn’t like to hear them – and bravely do what is necessary to change for the better.

I watched “Wanted” two or three weeks ago, also at GV Marina with an old friend who didn’t have much time to meet up with friends ever since he has gotten married.

The story revolves around Wesley Gibson (James McAvoy), the rare mega-loser you probably won’t find among your acquaintance or in your office. Wesley’s life begin to change when he met Fox (Angelina Jolie), who inducted him into a Fraternity of assassins with special powers run by Sloan (Morgan Freeman).

Wesley was told of his real ‘identity’ and was subjected to a series of devilish training to succeed the position of and to avenge his father he never knew. As you have seen in the trailers, Wesley would ultimately learn the special skill – curve the bullet (sort of like Obi-Wan and Yoda training Luke Skywalker in the Force kinda stuff). He would then go on to meet his destiny – getting the mission to kill his father’s killer – Cross (Thomas Kretschmann), a former member of the Fraternity.

What do I think of the movie? Well, grossly over-hyped and too much blasted computer graphics! The only redeeming quality of the show, as I jokingly told chaosdingo some time back, is the view of Angelina Jolie’s back and butt crack as she comes out the bath (though I think the freaking tattoo sucks but I am not Brad Pitt so what the heck.).

Anyway, Morgan Freeman and Angelina Jolie more than make up in acting what is lacking in substance and it is not too often I see Morgan Freeman in the kind of role he plays in this movie.

On a scale of 1 – 5, I’ll give 3.5 for entertainment, 3.5 for storyline and 3 for ending. While there is an unexpected twist almost near the end of the movie, it wasn’t so much of a shock or a novelty. If you won’t consider it spoilers, I would like to say I considered it a tribute to Star Wars.

On thinking back, if there is anything to learn from this movie, it would be not to be too trusting to what is apparent or circumstantial and unverifiable. You won’t know when you might end up getting stabbed in the back or being used to further another person’s agenda.

Anyway, when one considers that tragic ending (watch it to find out!), it is certainly wiser for one to leave and to stand on one’s own principles, even if that means facing and fighting the very Fraternity he once believed in and is a part of.

Movie – 赤壁 [Red Cliff]

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今晚我和一个旧同事和他的好友去看了赤壁这部电影，看了之后觉得有点是在看喜剧片的感觉。有些对白真的可以说的上是低俗和不知所谓。真的我还真怀疑我是否是在看星爷以前拍的电影。如果你问我电影里的情节哪里最印象深刻，我只记得 “还匹马有责呢!” 和 “你们现在读书，将来就有饭吃。” 这两句莫名其妙的对白。虽然如此，但是如果你工作上有压力，我看这些好笑的对白可能有松懈身心的益处吧！

感官上一看上去就知道这是出自吴宇森的电影，因为里头充满了《英雄本色》的影子。甚至连演赵子龙的胡军都有点像《喋血双雄》里的李修贤。但是叙述历史的电影不是英雄片，太过的注重夸大一些人物的勇猛或者过分的渲染英雄主义却成了这部电影最大的败笔。这部电影的血腥和排场肯定是可以媲美《投名状》，只不过《投名状》比较严肃一些。

电影的情节往往和历史是有些差别的。就如电影里的周瑜和诸葛亮一见面就犹如惺惺相惜，连话都不用说就明白对方心里在想什么为例子，就是其中的一些差别。况且，江东的东吴和荆州的刘家宗室是有杀父夺将之仇的，孙权哪有那么容易就被诸葛亮的三言两语所动摇，和刚战败的刘备结盟?

不过电影归电影，历史归历史。当你观赏这部电影的时候就用娱乐的眼光去评价它好了。如果你把它当成历史记录来看，那你肯定会大失所望。最后要提起的是，这只是他妈的上集而已。看了实在有点不过瘾，还有一点被骗的感觉。

我个人建议就是不要在周末票价比较贵的时候看。反正都是上下两部的，周末看还会觉得有点不值。

Movie – 老港正传

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这是一部描绘香港这几十年变化的电影，在我的印象里似乎是从来没有在这里上映过的。可能是本地人对这五、六十年来香港的变化没有认同感吧。甚至可以说，新加坡人肯定对电影里的情节会感到非常的陌生。

电影围绕着老港 (左向港) 一家的经历来体现香港漫漫成长之路。片中中莫文蔚饰演的陆敏和郑中基饰演的左忠体现了香港人坚韧不拔的精神。虽然不断跌倒和失败，但是却不屈不饶的从失败中站起来从新开始。黄秋生和岑建勋二人也把左向港和陆佑两个在政治理念完全不相同的人演活，虽然都不认同对方的政治理念，但是两人在面对困难处境时还是会站在一起面对 – 这从两人对钓鱼台的观点上相同和同仇敌忾、和老港丧妻之时陆和妻子如何安慰和安抚老港两父子可以看得出来。

我个人很喜欢这部电影，应为我觉得它实在是拍的很好，而且里面的演员的演技非常精湛。特别是在老港妻子 (毛舜筠) 因劳累过度而心脏病发而去世的时候，和当老港看到妻子的遗书和儿子左忠和解时我可看的热泪满眶。

如果你问我看了之后有什么感想，我只能以两个字来形容老港一家的一生：错过。老港错过了和老伴去北京的机会，儿子左忠错过了受更好教育的机会，而也差点错过了和青梅竹马的陆敏的爱。虽然说老港本人一生正直，很多时候常舍己为人，但却错过了对自己家人的关爱。我从网络上甚至看到有人写了如此的评价：老港对朋友的无私，反而演变成了他对家人的自私。基本来说，能把存了起来给自己儿子的钱给老友的儿子深造，如此伟大的人，我相信这世界上已少之又少。

但虽然很多的错过，到最后还是有完美的结局的。父子两最终都互相谅解，而左忠最终也赢得美人归。而最值得安慰的，是到了最后老友的儿子对老港和他儿子的回馈。可以说老港当初的决定是对的吧？

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