Happy Feet (2006)

Its not all fun and games

Penguins attack! After the success of last year's March of the Penguins, the flightless birds are back and they are cuter, smarter and funnier. Heck, I think they are the new g spot for girls. Can you imagine how many girls go gaga over these birds? These birds are lucky they can't fly. Why? Because girls can't fly neither!

The story here is pretty easy. Weird penguin can't sing and is the odd one out. Weird penguin loves tap dancing but dancing ain't a penguin thing. Thus, weird penguin is ostracized and can only stand aside as other penguins woo weird penguin's dream girl. Meanwhile, the entire penguin population is having some sort of famine. Weird penguin sets out to investigate and , yes, save the population.

Alright, this movie is commendable because it is not all play and fooling around. Environment issues are discussed in this movie. ( I seriously doubt any kid can understand the theme of this show. Well the kids are here to bring in the crowd.) Pollution and overfishing are seriously causing harming these birds. I hope you guys feel bad after watching the show because we are murdering these harmless birds. Have any of these birds cause harm to us? There is no point in thinking how cute these fellas are when we are indirectly killing them. Come on dudes and babes, we can make a difference. Save the wild and preserve the environment. And remember these words, what you reap is what you sow.

3.5/5
txq

Saw 3 (2006)

It's a SAWry show.

Finally, it has arrived. Saw 3- the latest offering from James Wan and Leigh Whannell. Expectations are sky high after the huge success of Saw 1 (i agree) and 2 (i don't agree), can Saw 3 live up to expectations? Can director, Darren Lynn Bousman, redeem himself after the dismal Saw 2? Let us find out.

This time, our grand daddy of s&m, Jigsaw, is dying. And it is a slow and painful one. However, being the wily and naughty old fox he is, he wants to play a game. Yes, even though he's dying he still want to play a game. Game is simple. Catch a doctor, fix a bomb on her head and if old fox's heart rate becomes zero. BLAM! You know. Like a watermelon. Meanwhile, another guy gets to play the game! Yeah, i'm happy for him. (Not everyone can participate in Jiggy's game, you know?) Who is this guy? Is he related to anyone? Can he survive the game(s)? Wait! What happen to that cop in Saw 2? Ooohhh. Answers and all in the show!

First things first, this installment is the worst of the franchise. (That's my 2 cents, you sick mofos can disagree!) Saw 3 is like a link that bonds the Saw franchise together. It provides all the answers to the unanswered questions in Saw 1 & 2. This is where the problem lies. You see, Saw 3 tries so hard to hold everything together, that it has no identity at all. The new story is so-so and who cares about the history? Fans want a hardcore new story with twists, more blood and more stomach churning gore! Give that man a saw! With that said and done, I just want to say that Saw is history. And hey Mr. Jigsaw. Please, just die. Spare us your games.

P.S: Sorry BM. She's Amanda not Shannon.
txq
(3/5)

Casino Royale (2006)

Yes, considerably

The headline will be my answer if you ask me the following questions: Can the new James Bond act? Is the movie too long for a Bond movie? Is it worth the ticket price? I have been hearing a lot of negative remarks on Daniel Craig recently. Plenty of expletive remarks about his face and erm his face. And, not surprisingly, majority of the criticisms come from the ladies. I know you girls miss Pierce Brosnan. But hey, you all can see him at the Visa ad. You mean the ad is not showing anymore? Damn, I will miss the Tuk Tuk driver. "Mr. Brosnan?"

Back to Craig. Well, for once, Bond gets his hands dirty. I mean, look at all the bad ass stunts he executes in the show. Not bad for a blonde Bond eh? And hey, look who's looking good with that baby blue swimming trunks. Bet that Brosman can't beat that swagger from Craig when he walks out of the water. Ok i am sounding a bit gay. Back to serious business. This Bond can act and for once, the Bond franchise looks serious and not corny. Q is not even in the show so you can forget about the out of this world gadgets and the weapons. This is the Bond staring down at you with his fists somewhere between your eyes. A gritty and almost insane Bond. A Bond that thinks being tortured is equivalent to getting his balls scratched. His name is Craig, Daniel Craig.

Well i do not like to spoil the fun. Hence, I'm not writing any sypnosis here. No I'm not being lazy. I just want you to experience the new Bond yourself. Just remember: Never Say Never Again, otherwise you will find Thunderball beating The Living Daylights out of you. If The World Is Not Enough for you, you can Die Another Day. With A View To Kill, Casino Royale hits the jackpot.

From Russia With Love,
txq (3.5/5)
PS: And remember, You Only Live Twice.

==========For Your Eyes Only============

The Prestige (2006)

Feel the repercussion

Magic. Don't you guys love magic? Be it watching the act or being involved in the magic act itself, there is always some kind of magnetic pull that glues us towards magic. Come on, who doesn't love watching the likes of David Copperfield, David Blaine or Criss Angel performing their tricks? If these guys are synonymous with magic, then The Prestige must be synonymous with, yes, The Oscars.

The Prestige is a period thriller starring Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman, Micheal Caine and Scarlett Johansson. (Excellent cast, isn't it?) Angier (Jackman) and Borden (Bale) are both young and budding magicians. They are good friends and they are from the same magic troop. However, a freak accident makes them then their backs on each other. A fierce rivary is thus formed. As they try to outwit each other and create more new tricks, it is Borden who has the ultimate trick: The Transporter. Angier trys to emulate this trick but only to a certain success. Driven with rage and jealousy, he sets out on a destructive war path that will threaten to uncover Borden's trick and destroy the world surrounding these 2 feuding magicians.

Directed by the talented Christopher Nolan (Memento, Batman Begins), this picture again showcases the masterful storytelling technique of Nolan. Plenty of flashbacks and twists and turns make watching this movie a mind bending experience. True to his usual style, he will have the audience guessing right up to the credits. It is the questions you ask yourself, or discuss with your fellow movie goers, after the movie that make this film world class. This might also be Christian Bale's carrer defining moment. His portrayal of Borden is suspenseful and intense. Kudos to the rest of the cast, they are also nothing short of superb. This is one picture that the other movies must watch out for. Because, Abracadabra, The Prestige might just be the best show in 2006.

4.5/5
txq

The Oh in Ohio (2006)

The Oh in OH-NO!

Finally a Lido ticket in my blog. Its been some time since i caught a movie there. I still remember the rocking seats and the reknowned i-don't-give-a-damn attitude of the box office aunties. Not forgeting that you can bring absolutely anything inside to eat. That's how movie going should be! Sorry i think i am saying irrelevant stuff but hey this is what the movie is about. Irrelevance!

Parker Posey is Priscilla Chase, a beautiful and successful woman. She is married, has a beautiful car and a nice house. What she lacks is, to put it explicitly, an orgasm. Yes, she is suffering from sexual dysfunction. However, she does not think it is a big deal. Only if she knows that kind of torment she is putting on her husband, Jack Chase ( Paul Rudd of The 40 year old virgin fame).

As you see, Jack is hell bent on giving his wife the orgasm. His inability to give his wife one is making him sink deeper into depression and just to quote what he says: "No dick, no life." Thats how important to him and everyday he goes to school teaching lifelessly. Thats when Kristen Taylor (Mischa Barton) comes in. She can see that he is having a tough time and offers help. What kind of help? Can she help him discover the finishing touch, so that his wife can achieve a climax?

Truth to be told, some of the jokes in this movies are actually quite funny. However as time goes by, the movie seems to run out of steam (and i thought it is suppose to be steamy) and although the cast is not bad, the story betrays the effort of the cast. The final scene of the movie is like a low blow of epic proportions. How should i describe it? Well, it can be compared with premature ejaculation. The ending came at a wrong time.

2/5
txq

The Sinking of Japan (2006)

My heart sinks, not Japan

This is like a masterpiece in the making. Wonderful CGI, crazy plot (sinking of Japan! Come on who would have thought of this?) and its one of one of our favourite genre, the-end-of-the-world-but-hey-someone-is-going-to-save-it kind of movie. However, surprisingly, Sinking of Japan falls flat. Be warned, it is flatter than Thomas Friedman's flat world.

It is estimated that Japan has around 40 years to stay afloat as a country. However, a rather mad looking scientist, has a shocking revelation! Japan has less than a year and the clock is ticking. He explains that the magna or the earth's plates will move and because of some geographical theory, the plates will be dragged into the deep blue. And what is standing on top of the plate? Yes, the 109 plaza. To save Japan from sinking, the Japanese have to split the still floating land from the sinking, which is dragging it down. And you guessed it, a certain hero, Tsuyoshi Kusanagi of SMAP fame, has to venture into the sea and blow up the land. Hold on, no blowing up before some melodramatic love struggle between him and Kou Shibasaki. Will he leave his lover? Can he do it? Your guess is as good as mine.

A good movie, in my opinion, must have a engaging storyline. Perhaps the maker of this movie is too obsessed with the CGI and neglects the story. Thus resulting in excellent, breathtaking CGI but poor, choppy and a bad breath story line. Alright, enough said. I must save my heart from sinking. Why is it sinking you say? Because i paid $9.50 for this movie.

(2.5/5)
txq