Scary Movie 4 (2006)

Only if you want to waste your $$$...

Another installment of the Scary Movie franchise, Scary Movie 4 continues to be the King of Parodies. Spoofing everything from Brokeback Mountain to War of the Worlds.

However this movie still pales in comparison with the previous Scary Movies (1 &2). The plot is too loose and the movie lacks flow. Humour is kind of low class and crude but hey, this is Scary Movie after all.

Do take note of the opening sequence featuring Shaq O'Neal and Dr. McGraw. And oh, don't forget the fake Micheal Jackson. That's really scary.

(2/5)

The Omen (2006)

666? Please call 999 instead.

Here comes the overly hyped show of the year, The Omen. It is a remake of the 1976 horror classic and it is released on, yup that's right, 6-6-06. I have to admit that the marketing gimmick of the movie is good, showing The Omen on 6-6-06, supposedly the end of the world.

This movie uses the usual sudden increase in volume and the sudden "hooded monsters". I was bored through out. In fact, I don't think this movie is worth writing for. It was HELL.

2/5

The Da Vinci Code (2006)

So dark the con of Ron

As the headline suggests, 'Ron' refers to Ron Howard, the director of this eagerly anticipated movie. And when i was typing 'the con of Ron' i certainly felt cheated.

This is the most anticipated film of the year. Millions had read the book. They love it. Religious groups had read the book. They loath it. You can see the impact of the book on us. Imagine what can a movie do. But sad to say, this film falls flat.

Howard tries to take the short way out. I was appalled when i see Tom Hanks decipher the anagrams by just looking at the sentences. Aren't there more trial and error? The entire scene at the Lourve seems fast fowarded and lacks the punch. Since its a some how like a scavenger hunt, there should be more excitement injected into it. The pacing of the movie is a bit slow and there seems to be no climax at all.

Well at least the cast is well essembled. Tom hanks looks himself (less the hair), Audrey Tautou is very lovable, Silas (Paul Bettany) loves S&M and last but not least we have Sir Ian Mckellen, the scene stealer.

All in all its a OK movie but if you are a fan of the book, prepare to be disappointed. And now we know why they cover the mouth of Mona Lisa in this poster. She is not smiling.

txq
3/5

Paradise Now (2005)

Will there be a paradise?

This film is about the last days of 2 Palestinian guys, Said and Khaled. Well this is no 25th hour (Spike Lee's movie), because we are not talking about just jail terms here. We are talking about their last days on earth.

Sick and tired but the 'occupation' of the Israelis, they are both 'chosen by god' for a suicide bombing in Tel Aviv. Seeing it as a chance to join God in paradise, they are overjoyed by it. However, things get out of hand when they reach the border and things get a little complicated. Both now have the chance to think whether carrying out the operation is good and whether the bombing will end the animosity between the Israelis and the Arabs.

I personally think this is a interesting movie, as it is a take on the Palestinian point of view. Like Munich, it forces you to think hard and again demonstrates that violence will not change anything. As for Said's point of view, he hopes his life will erase the wrong doing of his father and that God will lift them to paradise.

This Israel and Palestine conflict, from my view, can only be stop by peace. And peace, is paradise.

txq

Poseidon (2006)

Oh that sinking feeling...

I am going to try to make this review as exciting as possible.(I know i cannot) So hold your breath and let's go... "under the sea under the sea"

Poseidon is in a class of her own. Enormous, luxurious and enough safety boats to prevent a titanic 2. BUT this is a disaster show. The disaster is going to come so how. This time it is in the form of a tsunami. (Damn those script writers, they always have something up their sleeves.)

So there you have it, the ship capsizes and all hell break loose. See how Kurt Russell, Josh Lucas and others escape from the underwater hell. Well, for once, hell is freezing not burning.

Mission Impossibe 3 (2006)

Classic soundtrack, classic Cruise and classic mission.

Okay, after watching this show, i proclaimed that JJ Abrams is my favourite M.I director. He keeps the movie tight and tries to keep us LOST with Tom Cruise ALIAS Ethan Hunt being smash in the first scene. (Sorry folks, i have to include these 2 cult series.) When can you see the invincible Hunt being bash? I think a lot of people is thanking Abrams for that scene. HAHA.

Back to the story. Well this is a mindless summer block buster, so do not expect too much. After all this is mission impossibe, so try to digest the implausible. Hunt gets a call, off to the mission and safe the day. That is the typical routine in the M:I franchise. Throw in some twists and turns and some "awkward" sex scene in the hospital and the movie will get more interesting. A particular scene of Julia (Michelle Monaghan) giving CPR to Hunt is a reminiscence of LOST (Jack saving Charlie).

Oh i almost forgot about the eye candies of the show. Guys get ready to be mesmerised by Maggie Q and girls, you can choose between Cruise and newcomer Jonathan Rhys Meyers. Mature ladies, you can definitely go for Lawrence Fishburne. (Fishburne's every line sounds like Morpheus and that's sexy)

Gadgets? Checked. Eye candies? Checked. Mission? Checked. Movie tickets? Unchecked? What the hell are you waiting for? This message will self destruct in 5 seconds.

Election 2 (2006)

Do you honour your blood or money?

This is the sequel to the 2005 sleeper hit, Election. Johnnie To remains as the director and the characters are left untouch and the story picks up where it left.

2 years had passed and Lok's (Simon Yam) era as the Wo Shing Triad's boss is coming to an end. It is the time for another election. Of all candidates, Jimmy (Louis Koo) has the highest chance of being the next kingpin. However he is more interested in the business world than the secret society's internal struggle of power. Things change when Jimmy realise that if he is the triad boss of Wo Shing, the Chinese police will give him more leeway in his business in China. To be the next boss, Jimmy must fight against Lok, who wants to compete for a 2nd term. This is where things get nasty, as both sides began an all out war.

Johnnie To again uses human weaknesses in this film. The weakness over power and money. The lure of both is too hard to reject. Once someone possesses them, he will do anything to hold on to them. This is what happen to Lok in the first film and Jimmy in the second. One defining scene sees Jimmy hacked one of Lok's assistants into pieces and fed them to the dogs. Though brutal, the pure determination in Jimmy's eyes cannot be hidden. Just to get things done, just to prove a point and just to be the the boss. One particular scene shows wads of money stained with blood on the floor. What is the director trying to say? Money is earned the hard way. Blood shed is inevitable.

txq
4/5

Hostel (2005)

Moral of the story....?

To be honest, i wanted to watch this movie because of that name on the top left corner. That's right Quentin Tarantino. Although Hostel is not directed by him, it sure makes me pay attention.

Alright, to be honest, the first 40 mins of the show is pretty graphic. Graphic as in there are always boobies bouncing around. Wow it is almost soft porn. But behind every boob, there lies a booby trap. ( Corny, i know)

3 backpackers, Paxton, Josh and Oli, were on a backpacking vacation. Both Paxton and Oli wanted Josh to get laid but the innocent Josh kept pushing away their advances. Until one night when they were locked out of their own hostel, they met a guy who told them that girls at a Slovakian city are beautiful and they dig Americans. The guy showed them the pictures he took with them and my oh my, seeing is believing.

Without any thoughts they immediately headed to Slovakia and stayed in a hostel. True enough the girls were friendly and they finally got laid but like the old saying: there is no free f**k in this world.

The next moment, Josh woke up in a dirty old cell. Feet and hands chained to the chair. I think the following quote will help me explain better: "I always wanted to be a surgeon. But the boards would not pass me. Can you guess why? You see? So I went into business. But business is so boring. You buy things you sell them, you make money you spend money. What kind of life is that? A surgeon, he holds the very essence of life in his hands - your life. He touches it." Your guess is as good as mine. Josh is so dead.

The pretty babes are part of the organization and they act as the bait for unwilling backpackers. Josh and Oli are dead. Can Paxton survive? Catch it before the blood dries up... It is quite a mindless movie and i hope you can see the punt in the headline.
txq
3/5

Singapore GaGa

A video about the unsung heroes of Singapore.

This video, directed by Tan Pin Pin is a reflection of the unseen life in Singapore. These colourful characters are seen at nearly every corner of Singapore. Busking and enjoying their time.

But do we Singaporeans stop and enjoy their performance? The pace of our life is zooming so fast, that we forgot to stop and appreciate the very performance decipting Singapore life. Even with the advancement of our technology, our roots are not meant to be forgotten. Give them a chance to show you what life really is. And perhaps what one of the Miss Singapore finalist said was true: We are going so fast that we never stop and appreciate busking. I think we need speeding tickets to keep us in check."

txq

Inside Man (2006)

Take me to the inside, man

So you think this is a heist movie or just a normal crime flick. You are so wrong.

Everything points towards a bank robbery. 4 robbers dress as painters, a bank and many hostages. The gang leader is the charismatic Clive Owen (a very intense actor, Ms Lucky would certainly agree). As Dalton Russell, Mr Owen is his usual self. Brooding, sexy and is simply oozing with confidence. His prologue of the film, narrated in a monotonous manner (and you thought monotonous is not sexy!) simply emits coolness. Check this classic line and imagine it spoken in a deep monotonous manner:"My name is Dalton Russell. Pay strict attention to what I say because I choose my words carefully and I never repeat myself. " Plus imagine Clive Owen shooting his mouth off while staring straight in your eyes. Even though he appears in most of the scene being masked. Girls, prepare to be blown away.

Ok, enough of Mr Owen. ( I know i sound so gay) Back to the robbery. The band of "Steves" (you will understand after watching) is in total control. They demand the usual stuff from the cops: a getway bus and a plane etc. And as usual, a bullshitter ( negotiator) is being sent. Insert Denzel Washington. He plays Detective Keith Frazier, a negotiator with problems of his own. After a few rounds of negotiation with Dalton, he realises that this case is more than what it seems. It gets more complicated when Ms. White (Jodie Foster) is being called in. Ms White is a 'fixer' of some sort and can promise Det. Frazier a pay raise and a promotion to a top notch detective. But, they are only applicable if she can go into the bank and strikes a compromise with Dalton. What compromise i will not say. I don't like to be a spoiler.

Spike Lee directs this flick and you can expect some pot shots on racism, government issues and sexism. Check out the scene when a Sikh is being caught. The dialogue is superb. There are no cheesy one- liners. Perhaps its because they way the leading actors talk is simply so engaging. It keeps me on the edge of my seat. Not to mention the interrogation scenes where Denzel Washington is at his best. However the bad part is that most of the vulgarities are blanked out. Thats kind of annoying. Why censor when it is obviously an adult show? Only god knows. However do pay attention to the words of Dalton Russell carefully because they hold the key. As Dalton mentions, the why of the robbery is not half as interesting as the how.

(4.5/5)

txq

Keeping Mum (2005)

Mum's the word

Fans of Mr Bean beware! Although this movie is starring Rowan Atkinson, this is not the typical Bean episode you see on TV.

For a start, this is not exactly a very funny film. This is humor taken to another level and not the usual kind of jokes you often hear on Mr Bean. What kind of humor do you expect when the movie is about murder, adultery and sex? Not very pleasant, i supposed.

Pastor Walter Goodfella (Rowan Atkinson) and family reside in this small quiet village by the name of Little Wallop. All seems well until the arrival of Grace Hawkins (Maggie Smith) the family's new housekeeper. Upon the arrival of Grace, all the annoying people and animal (the dog who cannot stop barking) seem to disappear. No awards for guessing who is the mastermind. Why is Grace so good to the Goodfella family? Is she up to no good? Or are there any dark secrets that lie beneath the family? You decide.

Although this film portrays murders and adultery in a light fashioned manner, several virtues are also seen throughout the show. The importance of the family, friendship and kin ship are several virtues mentioned in the movie. One important lesson learned though: "You can't just kill people because it's convenient!"
(3/5)

txq

Blue Velvet (1986)

Its a strange strange world...

Caught this film on 31st March 2006 at the Arts House. One of the 3 films being offered at the Arts House. The others being Gozu (Japan) and Old Boy (Korean). These 3 films are part of he Arts House's second anniversary's celebrations titled VOLUME II: BIZARRE.

Well this film is really bizarre. It is different from the mainstream movies we see in the commercial cinemas.

Blue Velvet is twisted and provocative. But it also comprises of a tinge of sadness and artistic beauty. This movie is like an abstract drawing. Only those who can appreciate will enjoy. David Lynch's (the director) vision of this movie is lucid. That everything is not what it seems. Underneath a small and peaceful town lies something hideous and dangerous.


Kyle Maclachlan stars as Jeffrey Beaumont. One day, while taking a stroll, he discovers a human ear at a grass patch. Curious by his discovery, he makes his way to report his discovery to Inspector Williams. As he is not given an opportunity to explore the case, he trys to find his way around the case and gets more than he asked for. Jeffery is being entangled in a web of drugs, s&m and violence. The people he met while investigating the crime will change his life, especially from Frank Booth (Dennis Hopper).

Frank is the epitome of evil. His presence just reeks of evil. From his expression to his mannerism. Dennis Hopper has done an excellent job and can be compared with Joe Pesci (of Goodfellas and Casino fame). No wonder he won several acting awards for this role.

With the bright and refreshing colours used in this movie, i think David Lynch is trying to say that the world is a facade. Beneath these wonderful colours, lies something dark. And the medium to the dark world is thru this velvet, Blue Velvet.
(4/5)

txq

The Arts House

The Arts House is built in 1827 and is situated at 1 Old Parliament Lane. As the road name suggests, the arts house is formerly the parliament house. After the parliament vacated the building, it reinvented itself into the arts house in March 2004. It now stands as the only government building to be gazetted as an arts centre.

Today, the arts house is the home of art films, visual and performing arts. Do not be put off by the house's grandiose look, the house yearns for visitors and performers, all for the name of art.

I hope i can create awareness of this historical building thru my blog. You guys next time can stop complaining of having no where to go on a weekend. The Arts House is the place to visit and be prepared to be overwhelmed by the ambience. (For more info visit: www.theartshouse.com.sg)

Hot new releases

Behold the gorgeous Milla Jovovich in Ultra Violet (opening 30th March 2006)! Prepare for some butt-kicking entertainment. Looks like Milla Jovovich is going to be the next bone breaking heroine!

Opening next week (6th April 2006) is Spike Lee's latest movie: Inside Man. Starring Denzel Washington (Academy Award Winner: Best Actor for Training Day ), Clive Owen (Academy Award Nominee) and Jodie Foster (Academy Award Winner: Best Actress for The Silence of The Lambs). What a cast! 3 very intense and superb actors lock horns in this thriller. Expect some marvelous acting in this crime thriller.

Transamerica (2005)

Forget about the outside, look from the inside.

First and foremost, i would like to thank 'Ms Lucky' for dragging me to watch this film. As the word 'dragging' suggests, I am not actually keen on watching this film. I just feel that this is just not my kind of movie. I mean who would like to watch the usually sexy Felicity Huffman to grunt? (If you are an avid desperate housewives fan, well you have been warned.) Ironically, i think the performance of Felicity Huffman is amazing and sometimes flawless.

Huffman stars as the transexual, Bree. 'He' is about to undergo a sex change operation when he receives a phone call from a New York police station. Apparently a 17 year old boy is in lock up and is identified as her son, Toby. Bree is of course bemused by that. She tells her therapist about it and is strongly encouraged to face her past before undergoing the operation. Reluctantly, she agreed and set out to bail his son, Toby. Kevin Zegers stars as the sexually confused Toby. Bree poses as some christian missionary and together they undertake a roadtrip from the east to the west and begin to discover each other.

Are some of us comfortable with our own sex? Is it what we really want? Many of us are confined to the walls of society and are afraid to break thru it . Bree demonstrates here that you do not have to care of what other people feel about you. It is your life and yours only. No one can teach you how to obtain happiness. Only you have the key to unlock the heaviest door in your life. I like the tagline of the show: " Life is a journey. Bring an open mind." Yes we really need an open mind. (3.5/5)

txq

V for Vendetta (2006)

Liberate your mind, liberate your soul and lose your locks!

Okay so i nearly doze off in the first 20 mins BUT, and i mean BUT, that does not make it a bad movie. To be honest, the first 20 mins were pretty draggy (Ms Em will agree) and the lead characters were quoting shakespearean lingo. Evey (played by Natalie Portman) was nearly raped by 3 fingermen (some secret agents) when she was caught breaking the curfew. Enter V (acted out excellently by Hugo Weaving). The charismatic anti government hero who had a penchant to string long sentences with V words in it. Who is V?Versatile, Vivacious, Villan or Victim? Who is the man behind the Guy Fawkes mask?

As expected, V rescued Evey from the evil fingermen and subsequently changes her life.

The year is 2020. England is the super power of the world. United States has become the 'new third world'. So whats there to frown about? Super power, booming economy and safe country. England has it all. Or so it seems...

England is in a crisis , proclaimed V. Citizens are under the rule of a dictator, totally ignorant of what is happening in England and are stuck in a totalitarian state. They need to see the truth, see beyond Adam Sutler (the irritating chancellor played to perfection by John Hurt) and see beyond the lies.

I shall not reveal too much of the movie. I can only say that it's a conspiracy stuck in another conspiracy. Oh yes, lets not forget about the pivotal scene when Evey got her mane shaved.The movie makes me think hard. Question marks filled my mind and it makes me ponder. Are ideas really bulletproof? (4 out of 5 stars)

txq

Scarface (1983)

Al Pacino's defining moment through 3 hours of mayhem.

"In this country, you gotta make the money first. Then when you get the money, you get the power. Then when you get the power, then you get the women," so said Tony Montana. And what a spectacular surge of power indeed. You got to give it to Al Pacino. His acting skills are being stretch to the limit. From his heavy Cuban accent to the occasional habit of pulling up of trousers he imparts to Tony Montana, every single movement and mannerism is painfully being acted out in detail. A certain manly charisma is projected on Montana. The way he speaks, walks and swears just oozes out a certain charm. Ruthless and his archaic way of handling matters make him a 'one-man army vs. the rest of the world' and how accurate it turns out to be.

Arriving as a part of the Cuban 'political refugees', Tony Montana and Manny Ribera (the charming Steven Bauer) are in search of freedom and, of course, to make it in the land they describe as a 'great big pussy just waiting to get fucked.' They see limitless opportunities to make it big. However it appears that the only way out of poverty fast is to take the criminal route. A route laden with violence, blood and drugs.

Kudos to Brian De Palma, the director, for showing us a different side of Miami. For his direction and his casting of actors make Scarface a truly memorable film. This film will always be known for its wild and provocative style. And true to its grandiose style, I will end this review with one of my favourate quote:" What you think I am? HUH? What you think, I a fuckin' worm, like you? I told you, mayne, I told you, don't fuck with me!"

txq