Prowl movie review (2011)

Prowl (2011)

Brief review: Released on the same date as "Husk", "Prowl" is yet another mediocre 'Original' brought by After Dark Films. Although it starts out quite promising, and its first half is watchable-to-very good, as soon as the real horror starts, the film quickly turns into a chaotic mess with zero logical coherence, where nothing is ever fully explained. Furthermore, the twist in the end is so ridiculously anti-climatic, it totally destroys the rest of the movie, instead of being shocking and effective. Even though "Prowl" has some heart-pounding moments and a couple of boo scares, it's not neither as frightening, nor as tense as it thinks it is. The deaths are nasty and well-executed and the gore effects are rather impressive, but the attack scenes are so poorly-edited, and the lighting is so awful, you can barely see what's happening on the screen. The largely unknown young cast do very well in realistically portraying their characters in situations, with Ruta Gedmintas being the standout. Shot on limited budget in Bulgaria, "Prowl" is just okay, visually. The abandoned warehouse is grim and kinda creepy, and the washed-out cinematography and the muted color palette suits the dark tone of the film, though at the end, it all feels a bit flat, lackluster and lifeless.

Overall summary: Although this 'After Dark' Original offers plenty of gore, some thrills and a couple of jump-of-your-seat scares, its formulaic plot, poor script and ridiculous conclusion completely ruin the film, and as a result "Prowl" ends up being a jumbled mess of nonsense.

The Town movie review (2010)

The Town (2010)

Adapted from Chuck Hogan's novel "Prince of Thieves", "The Town" revolves around Doug MacRay, born and grown up in Charlestown, a working neighborhood in Boston, Massachusetts. It is an area where crime is part of everyday life. Charleston is basically the crime capital of the world, where carjacking, kidnapping and armed robberies are common things. Even more, the secret of the criminal crime are handled over from father to son. Doug is the leader of a bank robber group who managed so far to get out clean after every single bank robbery. Furthermore, MacRay gets romantically involved with a woman who doesn't know that he was her captor during group's latest bank heist. Just like his 'colleagues', George Clooney and Clint Eastwood, Ben Affleck is a much better director than an actor, and "The Town" proves exactly that. His second directional effort is arguably one of the better 'heist' movies of the last decade, as it's a smartly-scripted and subtly-photographed crime thriller, that while a bit moody at times, is consistently gripping and also quite intriguing to watch. The plot itself is nothing groundbreaking, but it's still solid and well-executed, and combined with some great performances and Ben Affleck's admirable directional skills, make this film a must see. "The Town" is generally very basic, visually, but very atmospheric at the same time, as the cinematographer uses pale colors and a washed out palette to create an atmosphere that feels quite appropriate for film's subject matter. Plus, the production design is excellent and complements the overall look of the movie. In terms of action, the chase sequences are brilliantly-shot and quite intense and definitely one of film's highlights. The acting is also one of the film's strongest aspects. Special mention goes to Jeremy Renner, who deliver a truly creepy and disturbing, yet incredible performance as the troubled James Coughlin, and he steals the show in every scene he appears in. Rebecca Hall's acting is nothing exceptional, but she does a great job as Claire Keesey, and she delivers a much better performance than her overrated Golden Globe-nominated turn in "Vicky Cristina Barcelona". Ben Affleck's acting is average at best - there's nothing wrong with it, but nothing memorable either. Jon Hamm is credible and very convincing as FBI S.A. Adam Frawley. Smoothly-paced, competently-shot and often intense, "The Town" pretty much has everything a proper 'heist' movie should have.

• My Rating: 7.50/10
• Rotten Tomatoes: 94% (7.7/10)
• IMDb: 8.0/10

The Smurfs movie review (2011)

The Smurfs (2011)

QuickRating: Apart from the vivid and absolutely dazzling animated sequences in the beginning, "The Smurfs" has nothing to do with the utterly brilliant TV series from the 80s. This modernized version just does not possess the magic of the mini-series, and it feels contrived and fabricated. The CGI smurfs are adorable, the cast is okay, and the voice work is good, but that can't compensate for a weak script and sub-par execution.

Splintered movie review (2010)

Splintered (2010)

In this low-budget UK teen slasher, Sophie, a teenager with a troubled past, puts herself and her friends at the mercy of a wild beast, when her obsession of the unexplained leads them deep into the Welsh countryside. Looking for evidence within an abandoned building, Sophie witnesses a vicious attack on her friend and then finds herself incarcerated in a locked room. She cannot escape and her only hope is that her friends manage to find her before her captor makes them his latest victim. While it tries to use as many well-known horror gimmicks as it can, "Splintered" fails to deliver, as in its second half, the film turns into a big ridiculous mess, where it desperately tries to bland a werewolf story with classic slasher elements, and the result is just plain awful. Worst of all, "Splintered" is not scary at all. The story is built on cliches and poorly-constructed, as it throws some ridiculously unclear and unnecessary explanations at the beginning and in the end. Although the locations look truly creepy at times, especially the abandoned mansion in the middle of nowhere, that's not enough to distract viewer's attention from the obvious technical problems this film has, such as atrocious special/gore effects, terrible editing and amateurish direction. The acting is average-to-horrible. Holly Weston as the lead female character, Sophie, manages to express a wide variety of emotions, though her physical beauty works against her in making a believable character. Stephen Martin Walters who plays her brother has very limited screen time, but he's likable enough and succeeds to evoke sympathy. Sacha Dhawan as Sam is so obnoxious, I couldn't wait to see him death. Sadie Pickering as Sophie's best friend is just as annoying. Sadly, "Splintered" is UK horror at its worst - a poorly-executed, badly-shot, messy and uninteresting horror flick, that brings nothing new to the table.

• My Rating: 3.00/10
• Rotten Tomatoes: 33% (4.0/10)
• IMDb: 3.9/10

Albert Nobbs movie review (2011)

Albert Nobbs (2011)

Brief review: Based on a short story by Irish novelist George Moore, "Albert Nobbsn" revolves around a woman passing as a man in order to work and survive in 19th century Ireland. This unusual story is slow-paced, yet compelling, but it never reaches its potential in terms of development, and it's neither as touching nor as emotionally dramatic as it should be. In terms of acting, "Albert Nobbsn" is definitely an Oscar material. The fantastic Glenn Close is back, and she's in top form indeed, delivering one of the best performances of the year, as the naive and struggling, yet loyal and kind-hearted woman who lives as a man. Mia Wasikowska gives another impressive performance as the tricky and confused hotel maid, Helen, and Aaron Johnson does a solid job as the manipulative charmer, Joe. Set in 19th century Dublin, "Albert Nobbsn" is about as authentic as it can get. The production design is highly effective, Rodrigo García's camera work is exquisite, precise and refined, and the era is captured beautifully, but yet, his direction lacks the 'wow' factor and the dynamic diversity that could have made this a great movie. The muted color palette of the cinematography also fits the time period well, and adds to the film's overall authenticity.

Overall summary: Subtle, oddly gripping and beautifully-made, if hardly anything special, "Albert Nobbsn" celebrates the welcome return of the incredible Glenn Close, who showcases her acting versatility, with an amazing, Oscar-worthy 'male' performance as the title character.

The Darkest Hour movie review (2011)

The Darkest Hour (2011)

QuickRating: It has a decent premise, the special effects are pretty adequate for the most part, and the scenery of Moscow city is absolutely glorious to watch, but "The Darkest Hour" remains an unimaginative and poorly-executed alien invasion flick that feels rushed and contrived from the very beginning and has a paper-thin plot and zero character development. Worst of all, the trailer is more tense, exciting and entertaining to watch than the movie itself.

Flipped movie review (2010)

Flipped (2010)

Brief review: "Mysery" director, Rob Reiner brings this adaptation of Wendelin Van Draanen's novel of the same name, that while well-acted and pretty watchable, brings nothing new to the table in terms of storytelling, except for a dual-narrative from the two young protagonists, each of them telling the story from their own perspective. The plot drags on slowly throughout the majority of the film, and as a result, "Flipped" feels dull and lazy, and it often becomes tedious to watch. Another issue is Rob Reiner's direction, which is so apathetic, that instead drawing you more and more into the story, it somehow pushes you away. Acting-wise, "Flipped" delivers partially. Madeline Carroll is absolutely adorable as the smart, modest and helpful girl, Juli, and she truly shines on screen. Callan McAuliffe, on the other hand, is somewhat stiff and uncharismatic, therefore he doesn't seem like a worthy screen partner to Madeline. The supporting cast which includes Rebecca De Mornay, Anthony Edwards and Penelope Ann Miller and they all do a farily good job with the given material. Visually, "Flipped" looks quite sterile and unimpressive, as it features mostly 'colorless' and boring environments.

Overall summary: Nicely-acted and interestingly-narrated, yet overly-familiar and rather bland, "Flipped" is a so-so nostalgic coming-of-age drama, that is neither as sweet, nor as touching as it thinks it is.

Hugo movie review (2011)

Hugo (2011)

Brief review: Based on Selznick's award-winning novel, "Hugo" is a delightful and exuberant, yet enlightening family-friendly adventure tale, that celebrates both the wonders of the imagination and the magic of cinema, and shows a whole new different side of Martin Scorsese, who pays homage to his favorite art in a deeply intimate and nostalgic way. Visually, "Hugo" is eye-poppingly gorgeous and absolutely stunning, as pretty much every single frame of this beautifully shot movie is a state-of-the-art perfection, thanks to Scorsese's innovative and impressively versatile direction, aided by the amazing skills of his technical crew. The highly-acclaimed director of photography, Robert Richardson, uses a unique color palette of dim turquoise and copper, complemented by a smooth, delicate lighting and vivid violet tint when needed, to deliver the most breathtaking cinematography of 2011, and the striking production design by Dante Ferretti gives the film a truly authentic period feel. The characters in the film are superbly written and portrayed, and the acting is top-notch. Asa Butterfield as Hugo conveys innocence, candor, purity and determination with ease, Chloë Grace Moretz is absolutely adorable as the amiable Isabelle, Ben Kingsley truly shines as the heart-broken filmmaker-turned-toy seller, Georges Méliès, and Sacha Baron Cohen delivers a hilarious performance as the grumpy Station Inspector.

Overall summary: With its magically moving story, delightful characters, dazzling cinematography and exquisite production design, Scorsese's personal love letter to cinema, "Hugo", is arguably, the most enchanting, absorbing, imaginative and visually-sumptuous film of 2011.

"Awesome" Bloggers: Beware of Dr Blood!

Hello, dear friends and readers!

I'm doing this post against my will, and I don't feel good about it at all, but since Dr Blood (who turned out to be the rudest, most arrogant and impolite bloggers I've ever met) presented ME as the bad guy who says mean things to people (take a look a this), I decided to "advertise" his rudeness and unacceptable behavior publicly.

First, read this comment on Porkhead's "Let Me In" review. His negativity is exhausting, isn't it?!

Dr Blood said: But it IS dumbed down. Eli was a castrato, Abby is just a girl who is now a vampire so the whole "I'm not a girl" thing is made simpler and the relationship to the "non-father" paedophile makes even less sense. Also "Let Me In" just has stereotypical American high school bullies, amped-up gore to please the masses, Abby is now a jerky CGI monkey vampire, and the swimming pool scene is much weaker. But, yes, the only thing that needed to be changed was the cat scene, i.e. it needed to be done better not left out entirely.

Nebular said: Dr Blood, you know what? Everything you say is bullshit. Sorry about that, but it's true.

So, beware guys! If you ever disagree with Dr Blood, or if you say to him something he doesn't like to hear, where's what follows:

Dr Blood has left a new comment on your post "[7.25/10] Sucker Punch (2011)":

"It sucked, just like your review."


Dr Blood has left a new comment on your post "[6.00/10] Wake Wood (2011)":

"Yeah, it's about as original as PET SEMATARY! You are now banned from interacting with my blog after what you wrote on Porkhead's review of that crappy dumbed down remake "Let Me In". You are just a common, ignorant, pleb with no taste or discernment in movies whatsoever. I bet you really loved "Sucker Punch" which you raved about constantly too. Idiot."

And I just used the word "bullshit", and in my next sentence, even apologized for using it.

Dr Blood has left a new comment on your post "[6.00/10] Wake Wood (2011)":

"PET SEMATARY! LOSER!"

And then continued harassing me... so I had to fight back...

Dr Blood said: @Nebular - try backing up your juvenile insults with some facts next time or try watching some more films with subtitles. I know how you Americans hate that. :P

Nebular said: Dr Blood, LOL!:D First of all, I'm not an American. Secondly, I watch ALL the films with subtitles, much to your surprise. You're so overreacting, dude. Are you always so mean to people that disagree with you? That's so selfish. Now you've been crowned Dr. Blood the grumpy, self-centered egoist, who has zero respect for other people's opinions. Based on your attitude, I doubt have any friends in real life. Joel, sorry about this argument. It has nothing to do with you and your "Let Me In" review.

Dr Blood said: @ Nebular - "Dr Blood, you know what? Everything you say is bullshit." Yeah, right. What reaction do you expect to that? Hearts and flowers? Get a job, George, and buy yourself some manners

.

Nebular said: Yeah, and then I said I'm sorry, but now... I actually don't. Just learn to appreciate honesty, Dr. Grumpy. And you're talking me about manners?! LOL! You're so rude, it's unbelievable! Yes, I said 'bullshit', but your reaction was TOO arrogant. Dr. Blood: "You are just a common, ignorant, pleb with no taste or discernment in movies whatoever. I bet you really loved "Sucker Punch" which you raved about constantly too. Idiot." Don't worry about me, I have a great job. ;) Obviously, your job is to be rude to people that disagree with you. I'm done with you now. GOODBYE!

Dr Blood said: @Nebular - Good riddance! I hope you have great success getting your obvious bipolar disorder treated.


About Dr Blood: "I'm a Brit living in America who loves watching horror films late at night with two cats for company."

YEAH, BASED ON YOUR TERRIBLE BEHAVIOR, I BET THESE TWO CATS ARE THE ONLY FRIENDS YOU HAVE IN YOUR LIFE, Dr BLOOD... OR SHOULD I SAY Dr EVIL? ...OR Dr MENTAL ILLNESS??

Love and Other Drugs movie review (2010)

Love and Other Drugs (2010)

Brief review: "Blood Diamond" director, Edward Zwick, brings this refreshing, love story about a handsome, yet selfish salesman, who happens to fall for a beautiful young woman, who suffers from Parkinson's disease. Though Zwick hardly balances the drama with hilarious character-driven humour, the end result is a smart, funny and sexy, yet heartfelt rom-com, that will leave you satisfied. The films also delivers plenty of delicious nudity and delightful sex scenes to satisfy viewers' curiosity. The two wonderful leads are certainly driving force of this movie. Not only that they are extremely physically attractive, but they both possess some truly impressive acting skills. Gyllenhaal often steals the show as the ambitious and handsome Jamie, however Anne Hathaway's charisma is so strong, that it's hard to take your eyes off of her, when she's on screen. In terms of chemistry, Gyllenhaal and Hathaway are a match made in heaven! Their relationship feels sincere and believable, it makes you think they're meant for each other. However, Josh Gad really lets the film down as the annoying younger brother of Jamie. Unfortunately, Gad appears on the screen way more often than expected, and most of the time he's just barely standable.

Overall summary: Thanks to its extremely likable leads, and grippingly-enjoyable story, "Love and Other Drugs" is a bittersweet dramdey, that is every bit as engaging and amusing, as it's touchingly emotional.

Movies Everyone Else Loved And I HATED Part

Thanks for all your comments on Part 1, guys, really appreciate it. It's time for Part 2... and for further disagreements. :)

Movies Everyone Else Loved
And I HATED

[Part 2]

The Last Samurai (2003)

As you may know, I'm a huge admirer of Asian culture, martial arts, weapons, etc, however I found "The Last Samurai" to be the sappiest, cheesiest and ridiculously over-dramatic samurai film I've seen in my life. It was beautifully-shot, but the story was too Americanized, often absurd, and it played out more like a soap opera, rather than a true samurai movie. And Tom Cruise... completely miscast!

Saw (2004)

Well, I'm officially one of the biggest "Saw" haters out there. I thought the original was poorly-crafted, ugly looking, terribly-acted, 'cold', repulsive, and lacking in atmosphere, thrills, chills and scares. Plus, it featured arguably the most shockingly ridiculous and downright laughable twist ending ever put on film. Call it a self-torture, but I've watched all its sequels, only because I was curious to see how much worse it can get.


30 Days of Night (2007)

I actually couldn't believe how pathetic this movie was. It had a rather cool premise, but 'thanks' to David Slade's incapable, unimaginative and pretty amateurish direction, "30 Days of Night" ended up as just another mediocre, uninspired and badly-executed vampire flick, that has only few thrills and even less chills. Even though Mr. Slade is only 42, I think he should already retire.

The Hangover (2009)

How this painfully unfunny piece of crap won a Golden Globe for Best Comedy is still a mystery to me. I would be grateful if someone can tell me what's funny about a bunch of complete idiots, drinking tons of alcohol and doing stupid things in Vegas? Nothing! I also hated "Old School", which automatically puts Todd Phillips on my list of "Worst Directors Working Today". And the sequel made near $244 million at the box office? My God, where is this world going?!

TRON: Legacy (2010)

I hated the previews, and hated the movie. I thought it was dull, lifeless, unspectacular, and the whole premise was so ridiculous. Let's not forget to mention the silly costumes, and the terrible CGI cloning of Jeff Bridges. Like I said in my review, "TRON: Legacy" is like a bad club experience - it offers plenty of fancy neon lights, intended pomposity and loudness, but not enough fun and enjoyment.

Hanna movie review (2011)

Hanna (2011)

Brief review: Although it has a couple of dull moments, and a few rather unnecessary scenes, Joe Wright's latest flick is a fast-paced, intense and fantastically-crafted thrill ride, that delivers the goods. "Hanna" is nothing short of captivating, visually, due to Wright's dynamically versatile, yet sophisticated direction, the beautifully washed-out color palette of the cinematography, and the various stunning locations used in the film. Furthermore, "Hanna" 'sounds' as cool as it looks, thanks to Chemical Brothers' original music score, filled with intense electronic beats that prepare the viewer for action. Speaking of action, "Hanna" is not only wonderfully-choreographed, but also creative and edge-of-your-seat thrilling. Acting-wise, "Hanna" succeeds vastly because of its top-notch cast. Saoirse Ronan is a true force of nature in her difficult role as Hanna, who discovers the world for the first time. Her sweet, innocent look contrasts with her daring, fierce spirit, and despite her superhuman strength and abilities, Ronan is thoroughly believable as the title character. One of the finest actresses working today, Cate Blanchett, delivers an outstanding performance as the cold-blooded Marissa, and the insanely underrated Eric Bana gives another solid performance as the bold, protectful father of Hanna, Erik.

Overall summary: Thanks to its unique premise, brilliant execution, impressive variety of settings, and Saoirse Ronan's show-stealing performance, "Hanna" is not only a true breath of fresh air into the genre, but also one of the most clever and spectacularly entertaining action thrillers of the past few years.

CM presents: Nebular's st Annual Movie Awards (WINNERS ONLY!)

NEBULAR's

1st ANNUAL MOVIE AWARDS 2011

( No, I'm not taking myself seriously:) )

100% Subjective! Winners only!

*********************************************

BEST PICTURE

• "The Social Network"

BEST DIRECTOR

• David Fincher, "The Social Network"
  

BEST ACTOR

• James Franco, "127 Hours"

BEST ACTRESS

• Natalie Portman, "Black Swan"

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

• Christian Bale, "The Fighter"

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

• Melissa Leo, "The Fighter"

BEST ENSEMBLE CAST

• "The Fighter"

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

• "Tangled"

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

• "The Social Network"

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

• "The King's Speech"

BEST ART DIRECTION

• "Alice in Wonderland"

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

• "Let Me In"

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

• "Alice in Wonderland"

BEST FILM EDITING

• "The Social Network"

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

A) ASIAN

• "Jianyu" a.k.a. "Reign of Assassins"

B) NON-ASIAN

• "Trolljegeren" a.k.a. "The Troll Hunter"

BEST STRAIGHT-TO-DVD / MADE-FOR-TV MOVIE

• "Temple Grandin"

BEST REMAKE / REBOOT / SEQUEL / PREQUEL

• "Let Me in"

BEST MAKEUP

• "The Wolfman"

BEST ORIGINAL MUSIC SCORE

• "The Social Network"

BEST SONG

• "If I Rise" ("127 Hours")

BEST SOUND EDITING

• "Inception"

BEST SOUND MIXING

• "Inception"

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

• "Inception"

*********************************************

Buried movie review (2010)

Buried (2010)

When Paul Conroy awakens six feet underground with no idea of who put him there or why, life for the truck driver contracted to work in Iraq instantly becomes a hellish struggle for survival. Buried with only a cell phone and a lighter, his contact with the outside world and ability to piece together clues that could help him discover his location are maddeningly limited. Poor reception, a rapidly draining battery, and a dwindling oxygen supply become his worst enemies in a tightly confined race against time. Spanish filmmaker Rodrigo Cortés' second full-length feature film is, hands down, the most utterly claustrophobic movie ever made, as it's entirely shot in a single narrow wooden coffin! "Buried" is super uncomfortable to watch and a nightmare-come-true for people, like me, who have issues with claustrophobia. "Buried"'s 'limited space' settings create an atmosphere of claustrophobic intensity, leaving the viewer unable to take a deep breath, literally gasping for air. Plus, the impasse that the character finds himself in, contributes to the film's overall effectiveness. "Buried" is single-handedly driven by Ryan Reynolds's exceptional performance as the doomed truck driver Paul, who does everything he can to save his life, fighting panic and frustration. Reynolds's acting skills have improved tremendously over the years, and it really shows here. He carries the whole movie on his shoulders, and performs terrifically - he's believable, emotionally expressive, and very convincing in portraying genuine fear and desperation .Moreover, Raynolds brings a true fighting spirit to his character and makes him consistently engaging, earning and retaining audience sympathy throughout. "Buried" is very hard to shoot movie, due its limited scope and settings, but Rodrigo Cortés does an outstanding job. His direction is highly competent, providing a great variety of camera angles, with all of the movements paced excellently. Rodrigo Cortés' creativity and incredible shooting versatility compensates for the film's lack of various set pieces, and the result is rather impressive! All in all, "Buried" can be considered as an experimental type of film, but a very good one - it's an inventive, unpredictable, gripping and super-tense thriller, that possesses an undeniable originality.

• My Rating: 7.50/10
• Rotten Tomatoes: 86% (7.2/10)
• IMDb: 7.7/10

Despicable Me movie review (2010)

Despicable Me (2010)

In a happy suburban neighborhood surrounded by white picket fences with flowering rose bushes, sits a black house with a dead lawn. Unbeknownst to the neighbors, hidden beneath this home is a vast secret hideout. Surrounded by a small army of minions, we discover Gru, planning the biggest heist in the history of the world. He is going to steal the moon. Gru delights in all things wicked. Armed with his arsenal of shrink rays, freeze rays, and battle-ready vehicles for land and air, he vanquishes all who stand in his way. Until the day he encounters the immense will of three little orphaned girls who look at him and see something that no one else has ever seen: a potential Dad. The world’s greatest villain has just met his greatest challenge: three little girls named Margo, Edith and Agnes. With Dreamworks' "How to Train Your Dragon", Pixar's "Toy Story 3" and Disney's "Tangled", 2010 has proven itself an exceptionally strong year for animation, and "Despicable Me" is no exception. Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud's first full-length animated feature is yet another jewel in the crown of animated filmmaking. "Despicable Me" is an adorable, hilarious, truly imaginative and beautifully-animated feature, that never fails to entertain the audience with its gripping story and witty homorous script, and to blow their minds with its dazzling CGI visuals. In terms of storytelling, this flick doesn't break any new grounds, but it's hugely entertaining nontheless, as it's filled with hilarious situations, amusing characters and plenty of action and clever jokes that work very well. "Despicable Me" is never boring or inert, as it moves briskly from one great scene to another at a very dynamic pace. The characters are "Despicable Me"'s main strength. Steve Carell's Gru is a terrific a villain - he seems tough and vicious on the outside, but he's soft as a cotton on the inside and quite emotional, without being too sappy. The three little girls - Margo, Edith, Agnes are smart, sweet and delightfully engaging, with Agnes in particular being my absolute favorite. Vector is wicked, yet somewhat sympathetic and geniously clever. Miss Hattie's not a very likable character, but she's hilarious to watch nonetheless. Animation-wise, "Despicable Me" is a true visual treat. The animation is richly textured, very detailed, and wonderfully-inventive. The CGI backgrounds are beautifully-crafted, and the graphics are vivid, colorful and eye catching. All the character are also very well-drawn, especially the endlessly adorable yellow minions, who are so sweet and likable, they bring an absolute joy everytime they appear on screen. Unfortunately, I didn't get the chance to see it in 3D, but the film looks stunning enough in 2D as well. The voice acting from everyone involved is just excellent. Russell Brand in particular does an incredible job in breathing life into his character, Dr. Nefario. Steve Carell and Elsie Fisher also shine as Gru and Agnes. Although it doesn't shine with an enormous originality, with its consistently funny and gripping story, quirky yet multi-layered characters, and breathtakingly colorful animation, "Despicable Me" is an absolute winner!

• My Rating: 8.25/10
• Rotten Tomatoes: 82% (6.8/10)
• IMDb: 7.6/10

We Need to Talk About Kevin movie review (2011)

We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011)

QuickRating: As emotionally exhausting as it's utterly horrifying, Lynne Ramsay's latest is every parent's nightmare. Focusing on the deeply complicated relationship between а long-suffering mother and a cruel monster child, "We Need to Talk About Kevin" is more shocking, sinister and unsettling than any other movie this year that dares to call itself a horror. Besides, Tilda Swinton is nothing short of sensational here!

Jaw-Dropping First Trailer for Ching Siu-Tung's "The Sorcerer and the White Snake"

Jaw-Dropping First Trailer
for Ching Siu-Tung's
The Sorcerer and the White Snake

It has finally arrived! The first trailer for Ching Siu-Tung's martial arts fantasy flick "The Sorcerer and the White Snake" starring Jet Li has been released, and from what we can see, the movie looks nothing short of stunning! Heavy on CGIs and spectacular action, it promises to be a true martial arts extravaganza and a dream-come-true for all fans of Jet Li and kung fu cinema in general. Check out the trailer below the synopsis.

Synopsis: White Snake (Huang Shengyi), in the incarnation of a beautiful lady, falls in love with a young herbalist by the name of Xu Xian (Raymond Lam). With the help of Green Snake (Charlene Choi), she ventures into the human world and gets married to Xu Xian. In a twist of fate though, Fa Hai (Jet Li), a sorcerer from Jin Shan Temple, crosses path with White Snake. A fiery battle is about to begin...

Alone movie review

Alone (2007)

Short review: Thai horror film "Alone" tells the story of the surviving half of a conjoined twin who starts to see her dead sister when she returns home to Thailand to visit her dying mother. "Alone" had some nice cinematography and beautiful art direction, yet unfortunately, the plot was a standard horror fare, and the film wasn't neither scary, nor creepy enough. The acting was average at best. Marsha Wattanapanich did a decent job as Ploy/Pim. Vittaya Wasukraipaisan as Ploy/Pim's boyfriend played his part well most of the time, and he was the only likable character in this film. The twist at the end wasn't shocking or suprising... actually, it wasn't much of a twist. "Alone" didn't provide any heart pounding excitement or inventive scares, simply because we've seen it all before.

• My Rating: 5.25/10
• Rotten Tomatoes: N/A
• IMDb: 6.4/10

Tangled D movie review (2010)

Tangled [3D] (2010)

Walt Disney Animation Studios put a cool and modern twist on Brothers Grimm's popular fairy tale, "Rapunzel", to bring their 50th animated feature - "Tangled" - a lavish, vivid and thoroughly delightful 3D animation, that's not only wildly imaginative and visually-spectacular, but also super-engaging, hugely engrossing and laugh-out-loud hilarious! While the story is in some ways familiar, "Tangled" never fails to entertain and wow the audience with its creativity. It follows Flynn Rider, a rouge who chooses an isolated tower for his latest hideout, having no idea, that the tower is already occupied by a princess, named Rapunzel, who was kidnapped as an infant. Rapunzel, who can use her magical hair to heal, sees the devil-may-care bandit as her escape from the tower and a chance at a life of adventure – one that may reunite her with her long-lost parents and restore her royal heritage. There are not enough superlatives to express how magnificently enjoyable this 3D animated feature is. "Tangled" has everything and even more - it's joyous, exciting, action-packed and consistently entertaining, as its story moves along at a nicely brisk pace, without a single dull moment. It's full of wit, clever jokes and great tongue-in-cheek humor. In fact, "Tangled" is so funny and enjoyable, it will make you laugh every five minutes. Furthermore, "Tangled" is filled with likable and engaging characters. Rapunzel's is sympathetically naive, yet she has a true fighting spirit and great sense of humor. Plus, she's adventurous, funny and as sweet as a lollipop. Oh, and her hair's shiny, sparkly and breathtakingly beautiful! Flynn Ryder is no less interesting or likable, and he's overloaded with charm, energy and joy. However, it's Pascal, the chameleon, and Maximus, the horse, that absolutely steal the show! Pascal has to be the cutest and most adorable animated character ever, while Maximus is so hysterically funny, you can't help but laugh hard every time he's on screen. Mother Gothel is the villain, and she's narcissistic and selfish, yet delightfully evilicious. The voice acting by Mandy Moore, Zachary Levi and all the other actors involved is incredible and completely satisfying. Visuals-wise, this Disney flick is nothing short of mind-blowing, as the animation is slickly-crafted, rich in detail and stunningly colorful. "Tangled" is filled with bright and striking imagery, and its CGI scenery, in particular, is so lush and jaw-droppingly gorgeous, you won't believe your eyes. The 'flying lanterns' sequence deserves a special mention, as it's very impressive and truly eye-candy. "Tangled"'s brilliant and flawlessly-executed 3D effects make for an even more atmospheric and magical experience. Also, the songs are meaningful, emotional, moving and beautifully-performed, bringing back memories of Disney classics like "The Little Mermaid" and "Aladdin". Filled with smart and witty dialogues, hilarious characters, eye-popping visuals and stunning 3D effects, "Tangled" is, arguably, the best non-Pixar Disney film, since their 1991 masterpiece, "Beauty and the Beast", and, hands down, the funniest animated flick I've seen in my life. Absolutely glorious!

• My Rating: 9.50/10
• Rotten Tomatoes: 88% (7.6/10)
• IMDb: 8.3/10