Movie Review - Water For Elephants

Movie Synopsis - Water For Elephants
Movie Trailer - Water For Elephants

After watching the movie, I was very upset with the Reese Witherspoon character, Marlena. I didn't like it that she lied to August that there is nothing between Jacob and her. Jas argued that even if she told August the truth, August might just kill her. Well, I had to agree with her on that but still I didn't like the lying part. For me, if she did a mistake, she had to face it and not lie her way through. Even now when I'm writing this review, I'm still pissed with her. I also didn't really like the ending of the movie. How can a liar like her deserved a happy ending!?!?! To clear things up, I'm not agreeing with August's attitude. I just don't like the cheating, adultery and lying Marlena It is just not right! If she fell in love with Jacob, conducted an adultery, she should face the consequences! It feels as though it is right to cheat on your husband if your husband is not good to you! I think I would be happier if she just ran away with Jacob without having to lie to August that there is nothing between her and Jacob. I'm just far too emotional after the movie. Me and Jas got into a heated up discussion on how the review should be after the movie. While I'm battling by the fact that lying is wrong, she fought back saying Marlena do not have a choice because August was too abusive. Both of us got our own stand but after a while, we decided that it is just too stupid to fight over a fiction. 

I have to agree with Jas that the movie is different because the story of a circus was told in a different perspective. Usually, in circus movie, it will always be how a circus was formed and how hard the people practice to gain fame. In this movie, it shows how a struggling circus try to make ends meet and how a circus die back in those days. The whole movie was quite slow in the beginning. I almost dozed off in the first half hour of the movie but it slowly picked up after the hour mark. As I was too emotionally driven, it kept me awake because I want to see the ending. Disappointing ending for me because Marlena had a happy ending but I cannot deny the fact that August deserved it and Marlena should be set free from him. It is just the lying part that pissed me off. Nothing outstanding in acting wise.

In my opinion, among the three main characters in the movie, Christoph Waltz as August was the most notable one. The character suits him. When I first saw Christoph Waltz in the movie, I couldn't help it but to keep thinking about his hilariously nuisance character as Chudnofsky/ Bloodnofsky in The Green Hornet. After watching Water for Elephants, I started to view him as a totally different actor. I think he is really a good actor. As for the other two, we can put in Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift and I think they can still pull through.

The script was okay. Nothing memorable.

Here's the hilarious out-of-scene thing that i realised about this movie. Robert Pattinson is Jacob in this movie. Hahahaha!

Overall rating 1.5/5. Honesty is always the best policy!

Movie Synopsis - Water For Elephants
Movie Trailer - Water For Elephants

Movie Review - Fast Five

Movie Synopsis - Fast Five
Movie Trailer - Fast Five

Fast Five, also known as Fast & Furious 5 or Fast & Furious 5: Rio Heist is the latest installation to the famous The Fast and the Furious franchise. The movie was very entertaining. The car race scenes were awesome because the director did it in a very smart way where I can actually identify the cars even when they were really quick.

Nothing much to comment on the acting because this is an action packed movie. Not much acting skills were required. All I can say is there were a little too much muscle in the movie. Sometimes it makes me wonder if Vin Diesel can fit into those car.

The plot was applaudable.Nicely done and arranged but the story line was very "Fast and Furious". Nothing special and no WOW factor. It is just a very entertaining movie but it doesn't make me want to watch it again. The scripts were okay. Not very notable.

As I did mentioned earlier in one of my reviews, action packed movies must be able to provide the viewers the feeling of adrenaline rush. This movie was very near into achieving it. The scenes were quick and make you want to know what will happen next.The best part was the post-credits scene because we know that there will be The Fast and Furious 6. 

Besides not having the WOW factor, there is one more unsatisfactory factor here.  There should be more car scene! I see many running around with weapons in this chapter but only a handful of car scenes. I want more car scenes!

Overall rating 3/5. It is very Fast and Furious.

Movie Synopsis - Fast Five
Movie Trailer - Fast Five

Movie Review - The Lost Bladesman 關雲長

Movie Synopsis - The Lost Bladesman
Movie Trailer - The Lost Bladesman

I've always been a fan of Donnie Yen because I simply enjoy the fighting scenes in his movies. The scenes all looked very properly choreographed and organised. It never fails to entertain me. However, Jas is not a big fan of Donnie Yen. So it took me quite some time to persuade her to watch it with me. Bad choice though. The movie is not as good as I thought it would be. Sigh... such a disappointment...

When I was watching the movie, I found myself yawning a few times. The fighting scenes were good but not impressive enough. The plot of the movie was a quite a let down. The movie was quite draggy. Nothing to comment on the scripts because it is very ancient Chinese. Being English educated, both Jas and me, we spent most of the time reading subtitles.

There were many movies made out of the Three Kingdoms theme but none of them were outstanding. Most of them were long and time wasting. Even though The Lost Bladesman seems to be an action movie but more effort is needed to lift up the fighting scenes. The fighting were just not impressive enough. It is not impactful enough to catch the viewers attention to remember it. I'm so disappointed.

Overall rating, 1.5/5. Good fighting but not memorable.

Movie Synopsis - The Lost Bladesman
Movie Trailer - The Lost Bladesman

Movie Review - Thor

Movie Synopsis - Thor
Movie Trailer - Thor

Among all the members of The Avengers, Thor is my least favourite. However, last year during the post-credit scene in Iron Man 2, I somehow looked forward into watching Thor this year.

Thor is quite entertaining. The movie is more of an introduction to Thor. Nothing outstanding about this movie except for the eye-catching body of Chris Hemsworth. The gorgeous Natalie Portman need not put into used her award winning acting skills in this movie as her character can be played by any actress. The plot of the movie was okay. We cannot expect too much as this is just an introductory to the Thor character. The scripts were normal. The visual effects were quite fake but again good effort for making it look real.

Honestly, there is nothing much to review about this movie. It is just another Marvel comic hero movie. The only way to make this genre of movies interesting is by having cooler villains, the hero possessed cooler powers and most important, non-stop action scenes that pump the adrenaline of viewers.

Overall rating for Thor is 2/5. Just another super hero movie.

Movie Synopsis - Thor
Movie Trailer - Thor

Movie Review - A Chinese Ghost Story 倩女幽魂

Movie Synopsis - A Chinese Ghost Story 倩女幽魂
Movie Trailer - A Chinese Ghost Story 倩女幽魂

I've always been a fan of A Chinese Ghost Story. I watched the animated version and the version starring Leslie Cheung and Joey Wang. I watched it several times and I'm never bored with it. I find the story very original and amazing. So much creativity is required to write this story. The writer Pu Songling is my idol. When I first knew that there would be a remake for this movie, I was very excited. I told Jas that we must watch it. However, this new version comes with a different story line.

This new version tells the story in the view of Yan Chixia. I think Louis Koo did a great job in the role. He need to put up a look that tells the tale of a man who couldn't tell his loved one that he loves her because he choose to make her forget him. It is quite a confused character but Louis Koo did a great job because at the end of the movie, Jas and me felt sympathise for him. Liu Yifei as usual, not much facial expression. If she gives a little facial expression, it felt as though she is over reacting.

The flow of the movie was somewhat confusing. Throughout the whole movie, Jas kept telling me she didn't understand and I had to explain it to her. However, during the last half an hour, all pieces were put together and the whole movie makes sense to her. If I didn't read the reviews earlier, I would be in the same situation as her. I personally think the flash backs shouldn't be there in the beginning. It is confusing. 

The visual effects were noticeably fake but good effort to make it look real. The jokes were more of trying to be funny. This version is not as emotional as the original one but good enough to bring out the some emotions in the end. Honestly, Jas and me agrees that we feel so much better that Xiaoqian choose to die in the temple with Chixia. He sacrificed too much for the love and it would be very unfair if Caichen get the girl in the end.

Overall rating, 2/5. A movie with a relieved sad ending.


Movie Synopsis - A Chinese Ghost Story 倩女幽魂
Movie Trailer - A Chinese Ghost Story 倩女幽魂

Movie Review - Just Go With It

Movie Synopsis - Just Go With It
Movie Trailer - Just Go With It

Chick flick! I love chick flick! I know this is quite an old movie but this is a good chick flick! Well, we cannot expect too much from chick flick but Just Go With It is really a very enjoyable chick flick. Both Jas and me enjoyed the movie so much.

I can say that this is the best chick flick since a long time. I don't remember when was the last time I watch a chick flick that I enjoy it so much. The movie is very sweet. Jas and me enjoy the movie so much that at the end of the movie, we kissed. We felt so in love and grateful having being in each other's arms after watching the movie.

Nothing much to comment on the acting because it is a chick flick. Not much acting required. Brooklyn Decker is girl that will definitely caused nosebleed. Oh gosh! She is HAWT! Even at 42, Jennifer Aniston is equally good. The story line was well done. It climax at the right time and brought it down instantly and ends it just at the right dot. The jokes were awesome! I think the last time I laughed so much in cinema was last year when I watch Toy Story 3. Oh man..I laughed so hard that the next day, my stomach muscle hurt when I sneeze.

There was something very disturbing throughout the movie though. Adam Sandler is always looking down when he is talking face to face with the girls. He did it to Brooklyn Decker and Jennifer Aniston. I really do not want to guess what he is looking at but at that angle, at that particular moment, I can only conclude that either he is holding his script or he is staring at the girls' cleavages. It is very disturbing that even the two girls sat next to us were annoyed by it.  

Overall rating, 3/5. Sweet movie with humour.

Movie Synopsis - Just Go With It
Movie Trailer - Just Go With It

Movie Review - Source Code

Movie Synopsis - Source Code

Movie Trailer - Source Code

The movie was slightly mind boggling. Not as mind boggling as Inception but enough to make you stop and ponder over it. The plot was not bad. The flow of the movie was quite notable. The movie was not too long neither was it too short for the audience to want more. Just the right amount of suspense and action to satisfy the appetite of viewers.

Acting wise, not much comments on the acting because the intensity took control of the movie. Audience are more interested to know what will happen next rather than paying attention on other details of the movie.

Besides the feeling of wanting to know what will happen next, there isn't much that I can say about the movie. It is just another movie. After the movie ended, there wasn't much to talk about. Jas asked me what do I think about the movie. I just say, "It was okay." It doesn't really satisfy me in any way. I asked Jas the same question and she gave he the same answer.

Personally, we like to watch movies but we love it more if the movie can give us an after-movie-feeling which not many movies can live up to it these days.

Overall rating, 2.5/5. Slightly mind boggling but manage to capture viewers attention.

Movie Synopsis - Source Code

Movie Trailer - Source Code