Music and Lyrics (2007)

Writer's Block!

Will be up soon! Come back later!

Very sorry people for the super late entry. This blog is still going on strong despite the lack of funds. I just needed a break. You know like those song writers who encounter a block and wander off alone just to find inspiration? Yeah that is what I am going through. To my haters: Sorry, but I'm back!

I guess the person that I can relate to is Sophie Fisher (Drew Barrymore). In Music and Lyrics, Sophie plays a bubbly girl who has a penchant for talking to herself and unknowingly sprouting beautiful poetic sentences.

One day, when she is substituting her friend to water some plants for the has-been pop singer, Alex Fletcher (Hugh Grant), she begins to blurt out sentences upon hearing the tune played by Alex. Although raw and unpolished, Alex immediately appoints her as his lyricist and both of them set out to write and compose a new hit single for Cora (Haley Bennett), the biggest singer on Planet Earth at that moment. Expect plenty of sparks and humour to come out of this one.

One thing that surprises me is that both Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore can sing and they actually sound quite good! As usual, Hugh Grant is at his charming best and few women can resist his drooping eyes . On the other side, Drew Barrymore looks stunningly delicate and sweet in this movie. No more Charlie's Angels tough chick persona, just plain old sweet girl-next-door look.

Jokes are in abundance here but beware of Hugh Grant's humour, sometimes it gets too English for my liking and I fell short trying to get some of his jokes. If you are looking for romance and laughter, I will recommend this movie to you. Besides, whats not to like when we, guys, can see Drew Barrymore in a sizzling red dress?

3.5
txq

PS: I seriously hope Zouk can include the song "Pop goes my heart" into their song list for their Mambo nights. That song is wicked!

300 (2007)

Slash. Block. Kill. Repeat.

Most of us probably don't know anything about the Battle of Thermopylae (480 BC) or who is Leonidas, Spartan King during that war torn era. Suddenly, 300 comes along. And holy s***, we don't know what hit us.

I write this review with a feeling of being just run over by those 300 fit (fit is seriously an understatement) men. But the after effect of being mowed down is not of pain. Instead I felt an overwhelming sense of determination after I left the cinema hall.

300 loosely tells the story of the Battle of Thermopylae and is the brainchild of Frank Miller, the creator of Sin City. So expect to be embraced by a very visual kind of cinematic experience. Prepare for stylish shots, elaborate acting, great fight choreography, superb one-liners and a heart pounding sound track.

The king of Persia, Xerxes is planning to conquer Greece, and later, Europe as part of his plan to be the 'king of kings'. Many small Greek cities bowed down to Xerxes but not Sparta, for the king of Sparta is one tough nut to crack.

Without the consent of his blind and corrupt cabinet, he leads a small army of 300 men towards Thermopylae. The 300 men show great courage and determination even though they are facing certain annihilation. This is masochism at its very best. 300 against the entire Persian army? You must be kidding.

Though not historically accurate, the main gist of the story is still intact. The figures are real, the characters are real and most importantly the fighting spirit of the 300 Spartans is real. The fantastical part of the movie will be the strange creatures fighting for the Persian Army. But hold your horses, this movie is after all an adaptation of a comic book. When is Spider man and the X-Men real? They are merely the result of human imagination. Yes, we pay to be the fool, but I would rather be a fool for 2 hours and enjoy the picture than be a genius that keeps whining over every single mistake.

Pick up your shield (money) and join the fight (watch the movie) because: This is Sparta.

4
txq

Rocky Balboa (2006)

The last hurrah

I knew it. I know there is still some life in those old and rugged boxing gloves. Mind you, those gloves are not your normal Everlast boxing gloves. They belong to the boxing champion of the world, or to put it bluntly, the ex boxing champion of the world, Rocky Balboa. Old and slow, but he is definitely not out.

It is amazing to see Sylvester Stallone back as Rocky for the 5th, i mean 6th time. Man, it has been a wild ride. To think that I wasn't even born when the first installment of Rocky was flashed across the screen on 1976! Exactly 31 years later, Rocky is back. And he isn't taking old as an excuse to do what he does best.

After a computer generated 'fight' between the 'has been Rocky Balboa' and the current world champion Mason 'The Line' Dixon ends with a convincing win for the former, the public is curious whether the old warrior really has what it takes to beat the current unbeaten champion. Meanwhile, Rocky still grieving over the loss of Adrian, decides to give it one more shot. One last shot to prove to the world he is not history and that there is still something left in the basement.
Will it be glory or ridicule for Rocky?

The answer is so obvious. Unless, you are totally oblivious to the world of Rocky; Rocky never quits and it is as simple as that. Damn, Stallone's body still looks fabulous (that's professional for you). That being done, what else makes a Rocky movie? Is it the famous soundtrack? Check. Is it the under dog spirit? Check. Is it the running scene that ends up with Rocky scaling that flight of steps? Check. Looks like everything is in place. All Rocky needs is you to be there for his swan song fight.

Though the dialogue could be better, it is still a heart warming film of the under dog for the under dogs. What a way to end the Rocky franchise. For now, i guess it is really over.

3.5
txq

Little Children (2006)

Adults with child like naivety.

After the Oscars were presented on Monday morning, I was pretty disappointed. Firstly, I was puzzled how The Departed won the Best Picture award. It is good, no doubt, but it is definitely not Scorsese's best work. I thought Little Miss Sunshine deserved the award. It is a simple movie that simply makes you cry, laugh and cry again all in two hours.

Secondly, which relates more to this review, is Jackie Earle Harley losing his Best Supporting Actor award to Alan Arkin. Harley's role as a sex offender is nothing short of amazing. His performance is one of the reasons why this movie is named Little Children.

The story Little Children tells the tale about a group of adults living in a small neighborhood. Though they are adults, they still have the cravings and desires like a nine year old craves for sweets; only the objects of attraction here are not sweets but something darker and more sinister. Sarah (Kate Winslet, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) is a lonely and unattractive housewife who takes a liking for the charming house husband, Brad (Patrick Wilson, Hard Candy). Meanwhile, Ronnie (Jackie Earle Harley) a former sex offender moves back to the neighborhood and causes much hoo hah among the community. Larry (Noah Emmerich) an ex police officer with a troubled past is stalking Ronnie, thinking that he is still capable of committing those heinous crimes against kids. Everyone here has an object of fantasy going on in their minds. The problem is, will those fantasies turn sour and destroy the serenity of the neighborhood?

Based on a novel of the same name by Tom Perrotta, Little Children explores the darker side of humans. Adults are fully capable of behaving like little kids; yearning for something so much that they pursue it without thinking much about the consequences, even though the consequences can be destructive not only to them but also the ones around them. Its as though the kids have exchanged identities and roles with the adults. With a witty running narration, it seems like the narrator is explaining the story to the audience, as though it is too difficult and profound for them to comprehend. Overall it is a good simple story but the running time can be shorter (130 mins).

What is your ultimate fantasy? Dream all you want but remember this: reality bites.

3.5
txq