The MOVIE REVIEW Thread

[fortune_cookie]

Film: Kung Fu Hustle

 

Starring: Stephen Chow

 

 

This film is the funniest i've watched in years!!! You'll laugh out loud all through out the movie. It's definitely a lot better and funnier than Stephen Chow's first blockbuster "Shaolin Soccer."

 

Rating: 10/10

[Anaheim]

Saw AISHITE IMASU 1941 last night. A period film with a unique concept wherein an Imperial Japanese officer (Jay Manalo) fell in love with a gay filipino (masterfully played by newcomer Dennis Trillo).

 

Costume design and set decoration is a rarity in pinoy films (karamihan kasi ng mga local producers nagtitipid sa budget) especially in a period film and this film played it out so well in accurate detail (I just wish that it should contain more vintage cars instead of just two models). And thank God I could say that this film doesn't have an anachronistic feel to it (I saw a WWII film with a Ford Fiera in it!).

 

Noticeable flaws in the CGI effects dept....Japanese planes flew soooo fast that it almost look cartoonish. Acting-wise, what can I say? Pinoy actors/actresses are all top-notch when it comes to dramas.

 

My comment : Director Joel C. Lamangan focused his attention more on the story and on the actors/actresses instead on the chronology of the dates and events of the year (I was lost and was thinking of what year was it during the latter part of the film). Overall, a good script with some memorable acting sequences but the film's entirety felt like it was shot in a contained area without the magnitude of an epic scope.

 

Without following today's trend or current fashion this film boldly entered a time in our history that was used to be the theme of the local movie industry in the 50s. This film has all the elements that could have made this film a great/classic film. Acting is superb with a good story but it could have been more.

 

rating: 3.5/5

[Wolf]

Ocean's Twelve sucked.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Naman eh!

You're not following the format! :grr:

[Anaheim]

A. Caption

Title of the Film THE AVIATOR

 

Director MARTIN "Taxi Driver/Goodfellas/Raging Bull/Gangs of New York" SCORSESE :cool:

 

Lead Actors/Actresses Leonardo "Titanic" DiCaprio, Cate "Galadriel of LOTR" Blanchett as Katherine Hepburn, Kate "Pearl Harobor" Beckingsale as Ava Gardner, Gwen Stefani as Jean Harlow, Alan "M.A.S.H." Alda, Ian "Bilbo Baggins of LOTR" Holm

 

Remarks : I don't know if THE AVIATOR is showing locally but I've watched it in glorious DVD

 

B. Synopsis of the Movie Leonardo DiCaprio as Howard Hughes, the eccentric gazillionaire film-maker, aviator and playboy with an obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (with fear of germs)

 

C. Review/Criticism There are lots of good actors that could play Howard Hughes but the choice of Leonardo DiCaprio was due to his box-office appeal. Surprisingly enough, DiCaprio's performance as the phobic Howard Hughes is both touching and at the same time riveting. The Aviator marks DiCaprio's second collaboration with director Martin Scorsese (First was GANGS OF NEW YORK). DiCaprio deservingly won the recent Golden Globes and has a sure tie-in for the upcoming announcement for Best Actor nomination in the Oscars. Could DiCaprio finally be Martin Scorsese's "NEW" Bobby De Niro ? :boo: The spectacular sequence of Hughes' airplane crashing atop the Beverly Hills suburbs is so powerful that you could almost feel the bone crunching pain of Mr. Hughes (DiCaprio). The application of the hues of reds and greens as motiff in almost all scenes is a masterful touch designed by Scorsese. Vintage 30s and 40s musical score by Howard "Lord of the Rings" Shore. Kate Beckingsale is more gloriously stunning since her role in 'Pearl Harbor'. Cate Blanchett manages to capture the accent and the essence of the late Katherin Hepburn. Jude "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow" Law has a cameo as Erol Flynn.

 

The Aviator won Best Picture Drama in the recent Golden Globe. Shockingly Martin Scorsese was beaten by Clint Eastwood as Best Director...I haven't seen 'Million Dollar Baby' yet. It will be an exciting match between Scorsese and Eastwood in the upcoming Oscars this February 27

 

D. Rating EXCELLENT - 5/5 :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool:

Edited January 20, 2005 by Anaheim

[Brian®]

Movie Review: Blade Trinity

 

Just to give you a taste, here are some:

 

1. Nightstalkers are supposed to be 'proffessionals' so what's up with their two agents, leaving a BLIND WOMAN, to man the security cameras?

 

5. Lastly, why did Blade leave Drake's corpse to be discovered by the FBI Forensics team, and why didn't he turn to ash after 'dying' and being exposed to the sun?

 

Really, this final installment of the trilogy was TRULY DISAPPOINTING! It started out fairly well, and ended up sucking (no pun intended).

 

If you're planning to watch Blade Trinity, DON'T! It'll be a waste of your P70.00.

 

Blade Trinity gets a blood clot of a 3 out of 10 for me.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I also watched Blade: Trinity. It really sucked. Very poor storyline, like it was rushed.

 

About number (1) yeah this is really the most stupid part of the movie.

 

About number (5) Blade left Drake's body so that the FBI would believe the vampire story. He didn't turn into ash coz he's (immune) to sunlight like Blade. Remember the chase with the baby hostage?

 

What really sucked is the very poor plot. VERY LAME! :grr:

[_eRon_]

just watched Kung Fu Hustle

 

Review:

 

Very funny movie, most of the time i was laughing my head off..some parts maybe dragging, slapstick comedy some of the time (but i like that )..nice effects & action scenes..watch it w/ friends..it's definitely worth your money..Stephen Chow is a genius..i hope next time when he makes a movie, i hope he dubs it rather than having subtitles..

 

i also watched blade trinity a 2 weeks ago

 

Review:

 

nice actions scenes but the plot was lacking..they picked the wrong actor for the character of Dracula, there was something missing w/ the character..the characters of Whistler's daughter & Hannibal King were disappointing except for the funny character of Hannibal king (at least on some scenes)..Wesley Snipes is still cool..very cute vampire pomeranian..Parker Posey was encouraging..Triple H was inexistent..

 

plan to watch meet the fockers, electra, batman begins, constantine next..

[Anaheim]

A. Caption

Title of the Film RAY

 

Director Taylor "An Officer and a Gentleman" Hackford

 

Lead Actors/Actresses Jamie "Collateral" Foxx as Ray Charles

 

Remarks : I don't know if RAY is showing locally but I've watched it in glorious DVD

 

B. Synopsis of the Movie RAY is a bio-epic of the legendary musician of soul music Ray Charles. Ray Charles never forgave himself when he did nothing to save his little brother from drowning. At the age of 7, Ray became blind. His mother advices him never to think of his blindness as a handicap but a motivation to succeed and succeed he did except to his heroin addiction at the height of his success. Womanizing and heroin addiction played hand in hand in the life of Ray Charles until a sudden realization that would change his course to a better fulfilment.

 

C. Review/Criticism Jamie Foxx epitomized the essence of Ray Charles in terms of speech and mannerisms. Although Foxx didn't do the singing (it's a Ray Charles soundtrack), it might jeopardise his chances of winning a Best Actor trophy in the upcoming Oscars (Feb 27). Director Taylor Hackford gives a sensitive portrait of Charles both as an entertainer and as an eccentric man. Authentic period pieces in the film, well-paced story...never gets boring and great Ray Charles songs "Georgia on my Mind", "I Got a Woman". Wait for the match-up between Jamie Foxx and Leonardo DiCaprio for the Best Actor trophy in the Oscars on February 27, 2005.....this I got to see

 

D. Rating EXCELLENT - 5/5 :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool:

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Edited January 24, 2005 by Anaheim

[_eRon_]

just watched ELEKTRA last friday..here are my comments..

 

MOVIE: ELEKTRA

 

STARRING: JENNIFER GARNER, GORAN VISHNIC, KEN WATANABE

 

REVIEW:

this movie has a great story but can lagging at the start..great cinematograpy, good shots in this film (especially of jennifer garner , she looks very beautiful in this film but she has a funny walk, maybe because she's trying to emphasize her butt hehe )..nice villains in this movie, especially the henchmen of Ken Watanabe's character (i.e. Stone, Typhoid, Tattoo & the other dude, didn't get his name)..great visual effects..nakakabitin ung action scenes, they should have inserted more action in this film, like Hulk, this movie emphasized on the story not the action so for those action junkies expecting some ass kicking action, it leaves much to be desired..entirely this is a good movie to watch, worth your money..

 

RATING: 3.5/5 (may butal na .5 dahil ang ganda ni Jennifer Garner! )

[Anaheim]

A. Caption

Title of the Film : MILLION DOLLAR BABY

 

Director CLINT EASTWOOD

 

Lead Actors/Actresses CLINT EASTWOOD, HILARY SWANK, MORGAN FREEMAN

 

Remarks : Saw it in DVD format (DVD Quality)

 

B. Synopsis of the Movie : Maggie (Hilary Swank), a waitress and an aspiring female boxer, sought the help of boxing trainer Frankie (Clint Eastwood). Scrap (Morgan Freeman), an ex-boxer and an ex-protege of Frankie, senses the dedication of Maggie on what it takes to be a winner. Frankie was reluctant to train her at first because "he doesn't train girls". He was finally convinced by Scrap. Maggie went on to win match after match until she suffered a fracture on the cervical spine which led to her quadriplegic condition. While bedridden, a mutual respect, fondness and unconditional love developed between Frankie and Maggie which led to Frankie's heartfelt inescapable decision.

 

C. Review/Criticism : Produced, directed, acted, and music composed by Clint Eastwood. This is the most straightforward film by Clint Eastwood....no fancy mambo-jumbo special effects...just plain old light and shadow effects, no heavy dramas...just honest/sincere and deep-down acting by Clint, Moragan and Hilary, no rap/hip-hop music...just plain and simple tune by Clint. Hilary Swank delivers a fierce intensity as Maggie (remember her in 'Boys Don't Cry' as a tomboy?). This is not a boxing movie so don't expect any 'Rocky Balboa' type of action. Characters are deep and inter-related, plain and simple truthfulness. Prepare to be moved by Clint's heart-warming performance...(I still can't imagine Dirty Harry crying).

 

D. Rating EXCELLENT - 5/5 :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool:

[Wolf]

Folks, please stick to the review format.

Non-review posts will be, as I have, deleted.

[Kaftig]

<post deleted>

 

Thank you very much! Continue to support Philippine Cinema!

 

 

 

Dude, please do your plugging somewhere else, NOT in this thread.

Thank you. - Wolf

Edited February 14, 2005 by Wolf

[HimuraButosay]

Movie Title: Meet the Fockers :cool:

 

Genre: Comedy

 

Starring: Robert De Niro, Ben Stiller,Dustin Hoffman,Barbra Streisand, Blythe Danner, Teri Polo

 

 

My Review:

 

A very hilarious movie !

 

Hoffman and De Niro blend well in this movie...

 

except for some profanity, the movie as a whole is quite good.

 

this is a must-see movie for couples...definitely not for kids.

[Anaheim]

Title: SIDEWAYS

 

Director : Alexander Payne

 

Actors/Actresses : Paul Giamatti, Thomas Haden Church, Virginia "Electric Dreams" Madsen and Sandra Oh

 

Synopsis : The comedic mishap embarks on when Miles (Paul “Man on the Moon/Planet of the Apes” Giamatti), an un-recuperated divorcé and wannabe novelist with a wine obsession, decides to gift his old college buddy and washed-up actor Jack (Thomas Haden Church) with a celebratory trip to the vineyards of California the week before Jack’s wedding. During the trip, Jack is searching for his “last taste of freedom” (or sextrips), Miles is just hoping not to get even more depressed from his failed marriage.

 

Review : This is Paul Giamatti’s film. His performance in this film is straightforward, no pretentions, just plain good old acting with a dash of humor and, at the same time, heartbreaking execution. I can now see why some people are critical to the Academy Guild for denying Giamatti a best actor nomination. This is a well-written script obsviously with a low budget which goes to remind you why can't the local film industry here in RP emulate this kind of genre (low budget with a great script). This film has no action elements, just heartwarming 2 male lead characters (one depressed and one sex-starved) intertwined with 2 female charmers. Virginia Madsen deservingly nominated for best supporting actress. This film will not win the best picture plum but rightfully deserving its nomination for best picture.

 

Rating: 4 out of 5 :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool:

Edited February 12, 2005 by Anaheim

[Anaheim]

Title : LET THE LOVE BEGIN

 

Lead Actors/Actresses : Richard Guitierrez as Eric, Angel Locsin as Pia, Mark Herras, Jennylyn Mercado as Alex, Berwin Meily and Ms. Gloria Romero

 

Director: Mac C. Alejandro

 

Synopsis : It was love at first sight when Eric (Richard Guitierrez) saw Pia (Angel Locsin). Pia has the beauty and the wealth. She is the campus sweetheart and the girl of every guy’s dream. Eric has the intelligence and the heart but not a deep pocket to live in comfort and luxury. He is forced to work as a janitor in Pia’s high school where he admires the young girl from afar. Although belonging to the extremes of the social strata, their worlds cross when they share the same seat in class – Pia during the day and Eric at night as part of a scholarship program. Pia failed to answer her teacher's algebraic quiz, she wrote the formulaic quiz on her desk. Eric saw the written quiz on the desk during his nightime classes, knowing it's from Pia he then wrote the correct answer. To Pia's surprise the following morning she was able to correctly answer the quiz to her teacher. Pia wonders who is her "savior".

 

Reviews : This film clearly imitates some of the elements from popular Hollywood teen movies such as the dress code by the high school high-society group....same yellow knit sweater don by all members of Pia's (Angel Locsin) group as seen in Lindsay Lohan's 'MEAN GIRLS' and Jennifer Garner's '13 GOING ON 30'. Even elements from 'SPIDER-MAN' wherein Pia's waving to her friends in which Eric (Richard Gutierrez) thought she was waving to him. Mark Herras and Jennylyn Mercado's role were added just to give some zest or "kilig" to their fans. The Mark and Jennylyn scenes is so much of an annoyance and without relevance to the love story that their sequence together could easily be deleted out. The Mark-Jennylyn pair always manages to painfully/awkwardly appear in all vital scenes of the story as if just to add some screen-time. Again, local films won't be complete without the 'slapping' scenes courtesy of a tyrant and frustrated dad (Tonton Guitierrez)....is it always necessary for some 'slapping' sequence in almost all pinoy film be it drama or comedy? Maybe it's just for showing off their 'crying' skills in heavy drama, right? Spare me the drama...this film should stay to its light-hearted theme. Gloria Romero is an excellent choice for playing Richard's grandmother which makes sense since Richard is a meztizo and so is Gloria being a meztiza. Some storyline doesn't makes sense to me personally, for instance...Eric, a janitor in high school and after 5 years he's again a janitor in the corporate building where Pia works as an executive. "Ang liit ng mundo" uttered by Gloria Romero which purposely and supposedly rationalizes its weak storyline by the writers of the film. Spare me the cheesiness of the film...just give me a good and believable script. At the high school graduation ball scene, Pia's group hotties danced to the tune of 'Voltes V', an awkward tune for these hot babes :cry:....let's 'Volt out' shall we? In fairness, Richard Gutierrez could really act a tender and sensitive character, and I was moved by his performance. Angel Locsin is a dynamite! :boo:

 

Rating : 2 out of 5 :cool: :cool:

Edited February 14, 2005 by Anaheim

[sickness]

Title : CONSTANTINE

 

Lead Actors/Actresses : Keanu Reeves, Rachel Weisz

 

Director: Francis Lawrence

 

Synopsis : John Constantine (Reeves) is a world-travelling, mage-like misfit who investigates supernatural mysteries and the like, walking a thin line between evil and good. Constantine teams up with a female police detective, Angela (Weisz), who seeks Constantine's help while investigating the suicide-like death of her twin sister. Does it have something to do with a mysterious group called "The First of the Fallen"? And what is it about Constantine that puts him in a position where he is making deals with representatives from both Heaven and Hell?

 

Reviews : I like the movie a lot, the story is good. The special effects is great! The acting is ok, it's a Keanu Reeves movie! I really enjoy watching the movie, CONSTANTINE is one of the best comic book translations to come down the pike. It’s creepy, cool, and captivating.

 

Oh, watch out for a scene at the start of the movie where a girl is being possessed by a demon. When Constantine is doing his stuff, the demon will speak something like "Papatayin na siya".

 

Rating : 4 out of 5