A Christmas Carol

The story basically goes like this:

On Christmas Eve in Victorian England, an old moneylender named Ebenezer Scrooge being a pain in the ass by scolding people celebrating Christmas on the street, rejecting a request for donations for the poor and needy, refusing to have a Christmas dinner with his nephew and forcing his underpaid staff to beg for a day off on Christmas Day. That very night he was visited by 3 ghosts. The ghost of the christmas past shows him about his own history and how he ended up being an ass. Then the ghost of christmas present shows him the present, on how his nephew make fun of him in his absence and how his underpaid staff struggle because of his stinginess. Finally the ghost of christmas yet to come shows him what is the future lies ahead of him, on how the people feel happy and relief after his death. When Scrooge wakes up the next morning, he repented and started as a new man on Christmas Day and his remaining life.

Read more of it here.

My take:

I never read this story before. And I like the story. The animation is superb. Looks like real people. But the most important thing is, the message of the movie. On how the environment shaped a person's behavior, then the consequences of his action towards people around him and how people react and think of him when he is not around anymore. Do you want to be someone who cause much trouble for everyone and no one remembers you or talk bad about you when you are dead?

If this happens in real world:

If the ghost of the past visits me, most probably he will shows me the junk i ate in the afternoon. Then the ghost of present will show me on the throne, curling my toes with tears on my eyes lausai-ing. Then the ghost of the future will show where the sai flows to and how the Alam Flora people treat the sewage...

Food to go along with this: Turkey ham sandwich and Starbuck's Toffee Nut Latte..

I rate this movie 4/5 buttered popcorns.

So, try to enjoy the movies!

2012

Tagline: We Were Warned

The story basically goes like this:

Based on the Mayan's theory, the world will come to an end on 21st Dec 2012. This is the story of how a small family struggle to escape the catastrophe by smuggling themselves to join in with the rich and powerful to take refuge in a specially build ship when the world comes to an end. The movie starts with an introduction on the signs that the earth is very sick few years before 2012 and as 2012 approaches, all earthquakes and tsunamis hit the earth causing massive destructions on buildings and mankind..

Read more of it here.

My take:

I think the movie will be better if it goes the other direction. Instead of telling the story of how the rich and powerful people can build a ship and escape, why not just zoom into the life of normal peasants like you. The sad stories on how people prepare to face an event like that. Throw in some emo moments, like Tsunami At Haeundae. So when the story focus on the special huge ship it becomes like a sci-fi movie. Who wants to see a sci-fi movie when the world ends? Show la how a family bidding farewell to each other.. or how people react on such thing.. the tears, the farewell etc... And the movie gives me the impression that rich people's life is only worth saving? Mona Lisa portrait is more important than human lives? sigh.. Anyway, the special effects are awesome.

Food to go along with this: International buffet spread. What? This is an international disaster what...

I rate this movie 4/5 buttered popcorns.

So, try to enjoy the movies!

Shuttle

Tagline: Never Ride With A Stranger

The story basically goes like this:

2 guys and 2 girls arrived late 1 rainy nite at a not so busy airport. Since it's late, the only ride to the city is the last mini bus. There is already 1 passenger in the bus and adding the 4 with the driver, 6 of them now heads towards to city. But the driver had another plan for the passengers. The ride ends up with screaming, killing, stabbing etc.. just to end with the 2 girls being in the cage, ready to be shipped out as a cargo.

Read more of it here.

My take:

So, human trafficking. Something new in the horror/thriller genre? Not sure if this is new but I seldom see movies that focus on human trafficking. The movie is abit draggy. And how can 2 guys and 2 guys can't even beat a driver and his accomplice knowing very well they are in danger? Anyway, there is some elements of suspense and the motive of the driver is not shown until the end of the movie. General knowledge: Stuff to be prepared in human trafficking includes, a cage, some breads, few bottles of water and a kitty's litter box.

Food to go along with this: Bread and water. But please poopoo in the toilet.

I rate this movie 3/5 buttered popcorns.

So, try to enjoy the movies!

The Unbelievable

Tagline: Winn and Gunipok Die Die Also Won't Watch

The story basically goes like this:

This is not really a movie but sort of a documentary of the spooky kind. This is originated from a TV documentary 'Guai Tam' in HK. This round, the sifu and the crew travel to Thailand and Malaysia to shoot some haunted places or haunted events hopefully will be able to capture the 'thing' in the camera. There are a few segments in this documentary, all with their own story and findings.

Read more of it here.

My take:

Scary and disgusting! Scary because this is not a movie as the settings and locations are real. Disgusting because some of the scenes shows how the wizards use live animals as sacrifices by killing the animals (chicken, fish, frog, lizard) brutally. But they are also scenes where it's too dramatic until I am not sure if it's real anymore. For example, one day the sifu is tired and that day he didn't follow the crew out for shooting. So the crew decided to try opening a coffin. During the climax, where the host tries to blow some air into the body in the coffin, the sifu suddenly rushed to the scene and say this is too dangerous and can cause death. And at the same time, the host fainted and admitted to the hospital. Isn't this abit too dramatic? Anyway, this is a good scare if you are brave as the music and the mood is there. Luckily I didn't watch this in the cinema. Imagine, if the cinema is empty... the aircon will be super cold....

Food to go along with this: None, as I need my hands to close my eyes.. and peep.

I rate this movie 3/5 buttered popcorns.

So, try to enjoy the movies!

5 Things Not To Do While Watching A Movie

If you think that's movie name, you need to do a recheck on your IQ. Pronto.

Ok, instead of reviewing movies after movies, let's take a break every 10th movies to look into something else. This round let's explore what are the 5 things not to do while watching a movie. But instead of the things you shouldn't do in the cinema, let's discuss about stuff you shouldn't do while watching movies at home.

1) Multitasking

Yea, watching movies at home means freedom. We can do other stuff as well, like eating steamboat, surfing the net, reading newspaper, sms-ing, yoga etc... But, let's try to focus on the movie.

2) Listening to the ipod.
You've just downloaded bought Bon Jovi's album in iTunes and wanting to enjoy the songs badly but you also wanted to watch Shaolin Soccer. Dude, choose 1. There is no way you can watch a movie and listening to the ipod at the same time.

3) Fastforward

Unlike the cinema, we can fast forward while watching a movie at home. Why fast forward? There is a storyline. Fast forwarding is killing the story. It's a murder! THE STORYLINE DESERVES THE CHANCE TO LIVE! YOU DICTATOR!! *skipping off to drink wong lo kat*

4) Talking

This is not allowed in cinema, same goes watching at home. Please plaster your mouth shut if there is another person watching the same movie with you. If you are watching alone, please plaster your mouth too. This is because your subconcious mind is actually trying to follow the story. By the way, if you start talking to yourself alone, please call Befriender at 03-79568144.

5) State of Art Sound Systems

Yea, you just invested in a RM200k sound systems. The sound is crispy clear with every single explosion sounds like something exploded right in front of you. Unless you stay alone in the whole neighborhood or your house is 100% soundproof, please, your own personal enjoyment is creating sound pollution for 100 people around you.

So, try to enjoy the movies!

Jennifer's Body

Tagline: She's Evil.. And Not Just High School Evil

The story basically goes like this:

The story is about 2 BFFs, Jennifer and Needy out for the nite to watch an Indie band in action. Some mishaps happens and Jennifer was ‘abducted’ by the band to perform a satanic sacrificial ritual. The band needed a virgin to be sacrificed to boost their popularity but unknown to Jennifer, she admitted she is a virgin (which she is not) because she thought they will not rape a virgin. Based on theory, during the sacrificial ritual, if she’s a non-virgin, satan will possessed the body of the girl, hence, ‘Jennifer’s Body’.. :) Anyway, Jennifer returns from the ritual, half human, half monster and need to eat human to stay fresh and pretty. There she goes, chomping guys in the high school until one day she decided to eat Needy’s bf. Last last Needy’s bf is dead and Needy ends up in the asylum. How? Go watch yourself.

Read more of it here.

My take:

The story mamadei jek but Megan Fox is super hot after she’s freshen up eating guys. But when she is deprived from human’s flesh, she looks dull and tired and boring. That’s the power of make-ups :D Ok, let’s put Megan Fox aside. I think if not for Megan Fox, this movie will turn out to be just another gory kind of high school movie. The other characters are not really outstanding. Or maybe they were outshined by Megan? Oh wait, did I just say let’s put Megan Fox aside? Damn!

Food to go along with this: Lollipops!

I rate this movie 3.5/5 buttered popcorns. (If you think I will say 4/5 because of Megan Fox, you are damn right. 4/5 because of Megan Fox :P)

So, try to enjoy the movies!

American Virgin

Tagline: Uncut (ok.. this is not really the tagline but I can't find the official one. How about 'Show and Regret'?)

The story basically goes like this:

A Christian girl by the name of Priscilla vowed to remain a virgin until her marriage. She went to college and shared a room with a punk girl. One day the "Girls Gone Wild" crew went to the college for a party and Priscilla accidentally ate a marijuana-laced jello and went high by stripping in the hall full of people. Her act was recorded for the "Girls Gone Wild" DVD. Since she is on the scholarship from the church, she is afraid that the DVD will caused her to lose the scholarship. So, with her roommate and 2 more friends, they went to track down the "Girls Gone Wild" crew to take back the recordings.

Read more of it here.

My take:

Funny? Not really. Entertaining? Sort of. Drama? Almost zero. Storyline? Oklah. That's about it. Maybe the producer wanted to include the Girls Gone Wild element into the movie but I think it fails. The movie is painfully draggy and the jokes are lame. By the way, why are American girls so stupik to flash infront of the camera just for a free Tshirt?

Food to go along with this: Double Cheeseburger with extra cheese and bacons and a big glass of iced-cold coke. At least can enjoy the food without much concentration on the movie.

I rate this movie 2/5 buttered popcorns.

So, try to enjoy the movies!

Invitation Only

Tagline: Getting In Was The Easy Part

The story basically goes like this:

This movie is about this guy, a school drop out who works as a driver for a very rich businessman. One day, he saw his boss having a sex with a glamor model in the car. So, to shut his mouth, the boss pass him an invitation to a very exclusive party, cater only for the rich. At the party, he met a girl and few other 'first-timer' as the rest are regulars. After a warm welcome, the party begins. But this is not an ordinary party. Apparently all the first-timers are 'pushed' in by getting the invitation from someone else. Halfway through the party, this group of first-timers were hunted and dragged to the stage to be tortured alive, in front of the rich audience. Sick but true, this is their entertainment.Then the story goes continues on how the 2 of them struggling to escape the craziness of the party.

Read more of it here.

My take:

This is the first Taiwanese slasher movie I watched, not to say I watch alot of Taiwanese movie :P. Anyway the movie is entertaining if you like some sort of gory horror. Lots of 'painful' scenes if you know what I mean. Oh, Maria Ozawa cameo as the model is olalah. I quite enjoted the movie as it keeps me seated wanting to know what will happen next or how they manage to survive and escape the mess.

Food to go along with this: Fries with lots of ketchup and maybe a glass of wine?

I rate this movie 3.5/5 buttered popcorns. (3/5 if not for Maria Ozawa)

So, enjoy the movies!

Orphan

Tagline: There's Something Wrong With Esther

The story basically goes like this:

A couple who lost an infant from childbirth. To make it up the loss, they decided to adopt a kid from the orphanage. At the orphanage, a girl named Esther is sitting alone in a room and painting a beautiful picture. Esther is talented in her painting and social skill and immediatly caught the heart of the couple. So, Esther moved in with the couple. Everything seems nice and sweet until she started to show her real evil side. She managed overturn the household just to achieve her motive.

Read more of it here.

My take:

Pretty good movie. Lots of intense moments. Isabelle Fuhrman carried the role as Esther is quite good where she looks lovely in the beginning and you feel like strangling her towards the end. But there is some similarty with Aaron Kwok's Murderer. Not sure if there is any copycats but this movie is enjoyable and entertaining.

Food to go along with this: Maggi Asam Laksa Flavor and plain water

I rate this movie 4/5 buttered popcorns.

So, enjoy the movies!

MJ's This Is It

Tagline: Like You've Never Seen Him Before

The story basically goes like this:

No story. This is a documentary on the making of MJ's final concert, This Is It. The director compiled all the snippets from the rehearsals which transformed into a brilliant and awesome journey of the legend preparing himself for his concert. It features songs which he practices in the hall with the dancers and musicians and the crew.

Read more of it here.

My take:

Halfway through the movie, I suddenly felt abit emo realising that MJ is no longer with us. This is how enjoyable the movie is.. All the songs featured are MJ's hits which he performed live with the dancers and musicians. I was wondering, how does it feels for the dancers, who travels across the globe just to audition to be MJ's dancers and being selected. Then few months they are practicing very hard with MJ to perfect all the moves and when the show is about to begin, MJ is no longer here. The sudden feel of lost.. all the efforts.. all the sweats.. is like *snap* gone suddenly. RIP, MJ. You are great.

Food to go along with this: Popcorns and Coke (I enjoyed mine throughout the movie)

I rate this movie 4/5 buttered popcorns.

So, enjoy the movies!