Movies Revue

June 3, 2008

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Filed under: Uncategorized

One of the most eagerly and long-awaited series follow-ups in screen history delivers the goods — not those of the still first-rate original, 1981’s “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” but those of its uneven two successors.

“Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” begins with an actual big bang, then gradually slides toward a ho-hum midsection before literally taking off for an uplifting finish.

Nineteen years after their last adventure, director Steven Spielberg and star Harrison Ford have no trouble getting back in the groove with a story and style very much in keeping with what has made the series so perennially popular.

Director: Steven Spielberg
Genre: Action, Adventure
Cast: Harrison Ford - Indiana Jones
Cate Blanchett - Irina Spalko
Karen Allen - Marion Ravenwood
Shia LaBeouf - Mutt Williams

May 8, 2008

Iron man

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Billionaire inventor Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) enjoys a lavish lifestyle with few emotional attachments and plenty of Scotch. Tony’s only real ties are to his best friend, Jim Rhodes (Terrence Howard); his personal assistant, Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow); and business partner, Obadiah Stane (Jeff Bridges). Tony’s Stark Industries is the premier weapons manufacturer in the world, a business that has earned Tony the nickname "the merchant of death."

Following a military demonstration in Afghanistan, Tony’s convoy is attacked by a terrorist group called the Ten Rings. The onslaught leaves Tony with bits of shrapnel in his heart and his freedom in the hands of the Ten Rings. The group’s scowling leader tells Tony to construct a missile or face execution. With the help of a fellow captive, Tony instead builds a massive, clunky suit of armor and escapes.

Being kidnapped by terrorists is a sobering experience. Tony witnesses firsthand the atrocities his inventions have wrought and his personal Jiminy Cricket begins to chirp. Tony decides to halt all weapons distribution and turn his focus on designing a new armor. Following more than a few mishaps in development, Tony soon takes to the skies, zipping between fighter jets and rescuing refugees on the verge of being slaughtered.

The casting here is extraordinary, especially that of Downey Jr. in the lead role. The well-versed actor brings humor to a character that is relatively dry in the comic books. The casting of Howard is also inspired, especially when thinking ahead for sequel or spin-off possibilities. The jaw-dropping visual effects are stunning and the pacing perfect.

April 4, 2008

LIVE FREE OR DIE HARD

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New York City detective John McClane (Bruce Willis) delivers old-school justice to a new breed of terrorists when a massive computer attack on the U.S. infrastructure threatens to shut down the entire country over Independence Day weekend.

It’s superb direction, fantastic acting, groundbreaking special effects and clever quirps will leave you with (almost) nothing to complain about. Die Hard may very well be the best action flick of 2007.

I am proud to say that Bruce Willis still has some John McClane left in him. Die Hard is one of my best movie experiences to date. The crowd laughed and screamed and then cheered at the end.

Director: Len Wiseman
Genre: Action / Adventure / Crime / Thriller
Runtime: 130 min
Country: UK / USA

Cast: Bruce Willis John McClane
Timothy Olyphant Thomas Gabriel
Justin Long Matt Farrell
Maggie Q Mai

March 18, 2008

The eye

Filed under: Uncategorized

 Jessica Alba plays a woman who undergoes cornea transplants in a remake of a Chinese film of the same name.

The moment she opens her eyes she starts to see things that aren’t there. These include a number of grim reapers, recently dead people, vivid images of someone else’s past premonitions, and a director and editor who aren’t sure whether their making a horror film, thriller or a ‘who dunnit?’.

There is a faint oriental air to the movie with does add a bit of mystery. This is essentially a relatively cheaply made Alba-vehicle. There is no-one else in it other than a periodically appearing sister and a doctor who you never quite get interested in as he has nothing of worth to say.

You do jump from minor shock every now and then (but then an unexpected rapid orchestral crescendo does that to most people).

Directors: David Moreau Xavier Palud

Genre: Drama / Horror / Thriller

Cast: Jessica Alba - Sydney Wells

       Alessandro Nivola - Dr. Paul Faulkner

       Parker Posey - Helen Wells

       Rade Serbedzija - Simon McCullough

       Fernanda Romero - Ana Christina Martinez

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