Oldboy (2003)

An overwhelming revenge film that is definitely not for the squirmish.


For some unknown reason, Oh-Dae-Su finds himself abducted on the night of his daughter's birthday and he is locked away in a mysterious hotel for fifteen years. His only connection to the outside world is a television and his daily ration of dumplings for sustenance. He eventually learns to live his life inside his prison and the longer he stayed, the more vengeful he became. He plans to escape using a tunnel he has been digging for a long time using chopsticks, but before he can make use of it, he is suddenly released for no reason. He starts on a search for vengeance against his captors but soon finds out that he is swimming in an ocean far deeper than he imagined. 

One of the main reasons I wanted to watch this was because I liked the last film I saw by Park Chan-wook which was 'Stoker'. This South Korean director definitely knows how to spice up the revenge genre while successfully disturbing our minds at the same time. Another good reason why I watched this movie was because Hollywood is planning on a remake of the film and is set to be released within this year. I'm not really a fan of Asian to American remakes but I'm willing to give the remake a chance.

When I watch a movie, I always look for the character development. I want to see the character alive and see him transform from one person to another. This film did not disappoint at all. There is emotional attachment from the character to the viewers. Throughout the run of the entire film, it would be perfectly understandable for you to switch alliance from the protagonist to the antagonist. But by watching it, you might also end up asking yourself who is the hero and the villain. What I love about the movie is that it challenges the audience' morals and their views about revenge and what's right and wrong. 

The movie runs in a theme-driven plot and does not fail to deliver its message in a twisted and disturbing way. The movie highlights how solitude and the passage of time can change a man in different ways unimaginable. Oh Dae-su (Choi Min-sik) is a man who introduces himself as a womanizer with a strong personality but at the same time manages to amuse us. After his captivity, we see him grow into someone darker and violent. Such traits must have been present within him for a long time but the confinement surely made the inner violence surface.

But the theme that fuels the entire movie is revenge. Oh Dae-su seeks revenge to those who held him captive for fifteen years while the captor Lee Woo-jin (Yoo Ji-tae) is also driven by revenge or something that has happened a long time ago. The twists and turns will manage to keep you at the edge of your seat. You wouldn't know who is one step ahead of the game until the very end. The concept of revenge is challenged whether it is righteous to get even to the people who have done you wrong. In addition to this, the question of 'what will you do after you carry out your revenge' is raised. 

Story-wise, the movie is beyond perfection. If I continue to talk more about the morals and themes of the film then I might end up digressing. 

The acting is superb. Choi Min-sik is a national treasure. No inhibitions when he acts and always makes sure to give it his best. He delivers so well that you can feel his emotions and his character's hunger for vengeance. One of the most memorable scenes of his would have to be when he ate a squid alive. No CGI here. It was also said that four squids were used to take that shot. I could barely stomach that part but I still managed to get through it. 

The editing and the cinematography of the movie also deserve a big round of applause. There were numerous scenes that are memorable to me. The hallway fight scene which was shot in one continuous take was well choreographed, well executed and very entertaining. What I loved about it is like watching a real life fight happen. No cuts pure action. I also loved the part where he went back to his high school to search for answers and we enter a flashback sequence where his old self and his past self is are present in the sequence. It's a great execution of the concept 'tracing back your footsteps'. 

In conclusion, Oldboy really deserves to be called as one of the best films in Asia. Well crafted, well directed, and well executed. This film would definitely be  a winner for horror and gore fans out there. If you're not then don't worry, you can still relate to it. Definitely a film to watch before you die. Or at least before you take revenge on someone.

Rating: 5/5

World War Z: Toned Down

Great addition to the zombie film genre but the real essence of the novel got lost along the way.

Retired United Nations employee Gerry Lane (Brad Pitt) reluctantly leaves his family behind in order to find a cure for the zombie pandemic that is plaguing the whole world. Simple as that actually. The novel on the other hand is much more complicated.

One of the main differences between the film and the novel is the way it is presented to the viewer/reader. In the film, we watch Gerry Lane travel the world in search for the cure. It all happens in the present. The novel on the other hand is a collection of different stories from different people who lived throughout the ten year war against the zombies. So it's flashback vs. real-time. Another difference is that in the novel, there is no main character. Lots of stories, different people, one war. So fleshing out a character from the complicated novel must have been quite difficult but worth the effort. Lastly, the most important difference would probably have to be the novel's social commentary on...society (duh...) The movie was an action film while the book was a satire. So sadly, I did not enjoy the movie as much as I wanted to. I expected so much from it since I liked the book so much.

To be clear, the movie was good, just not a good adaptation from the book. The only thing that the movie and the book share in common is the title. It would have been better to make a movie separate from the book but stated that it was inspired by it. It makes no sense to make a movie based on a book but not staying faithful to the novel's content.

As earlier mentioned, one of the things that I appreciated in the film was them fleshing out a solid character from the book. After reading the book a few months ago, it really made me wonder how are they going to tell the story and who will be the character to tell it. Brad Pitt greatly plays the role of a retired UN employee, Gerry Lane. Gerry is our eyes and he shows us how the world would turn out to be if ever such catastrophe happens. Through him, we see how the world reacts to such threat. The movie might not have been satirical enough like the book but it is not entirely void of social criticisms. 

World War Z is definitely bringing something new in the genre of zombie films. It's different and unique unlike the repetitive, and some even unoriginal, zombie films that have been released since George Romero's Dawn of the Dead. I really love how the film approaches the Man vs. Nature concept. What made this entirely different from most of the other zombie films out there is that for once, we have protagonists that use their brain against the undead who don't. 

The film is pretty good in keeping the audience at the edge of their seats. The thrilling scenes definitely make up for the movie's lack of gore and blood. Choosing the 'eerie silence' for the thrills keep the heart pumping and the audience vulnerable. The film tries to connect the character and the audience. It makes the audience want to feel what the character is feeling. Once the moment the silence is broken and the zombies would pop out will definitely surprise everyone. Okay maybe not everyone, since some of them fall into cheap scares territory but most of them are pretty effective nonetheless.

One thing I noticed about the movie is that it feels racist. I'm pretty sure it's not just me. As usual, in the end of the world scenario, the Americans are always the hero. I have nothing against Americans but majority of Apocalyptic films consider America to be the hero. Can't really blame them though since this is a Hollywood film after all. Again, I'm going to use the novel as my reference but in the book, USA had it real tough during the first few years of the war against the zombies, but in this movie, it only takes a few days for an American to find something to turn the tide against a global threat. My concern is not only the American influence in the movie but also the portrayal of the other countries' fates on the hands of the plague. But if I have to choose one scene where it showed racism would probably have to be the scene in Israel where the zombies managed to scale through the wall because of the noise made by the Jews. 

Brad Pitt's acting on the other hand is worth praising. Although I'm pretty sure that if the character is played out by another actor then it wouldn't work. Why? Well, character development is present but it isn't exactly stressed out. It's almost unnoticeable. Having Brad Pitt as the lead actor might have just been its saving grace.

The cinematography and editing were nice. The score was haunting as well. Perfect fit for this movie. Have to at least give a few rounds of applause to Director Marc Forster for being able to pull off such a film. The movie, if you guys don't know, suffered a lot of setbacks and changes to it before it's finally shown to us. From changes of scripts, to changes in schedule and budgeting, the movie production was probably a hellish nightmare for everyone but kuddos for them for surviving their own plague.

All in all, the movie is good but the title 'World War Z' from the novel is just dead weight.

Rating: 3/5

The Place Beyond the Pines (2013)

This movie is beyond me! I cannot even...

Explaining the synopsis of the movie without spoiling you is very difficult but I would try nonetheless. The film tells three different stories but are all connected to each other. The first story is all about a motorcyclist named Luke (Ryan Gosling) who finds out he has a son from his former lover Romina (Eva Mendes). He starts robbing series of banks in order to provide for his son and somehow be a part of the family he once left. The second story is about a police officer named Avery (Bradley Cooper) who crosses paths with Luke. Avery has some troubles of his own as he struggles with the corruption inside the police department. The third story is about two troubled teenagers who become friends after sharing similarities but are unaware of something greater that connects the two of them.

To be perfectly honest, by the time I finished watching this movie, I seriously did not know how to feel about it. It has a simple storyline but it can be complex at the same time. I feel like watching Cloud Atlas all over again but this time on a smaller time frame involved and less CGI.

My favorite part of the movie is probably the first one. This is the most exciting yet presented in a very subtle tone. We see how Luke badly wants to provide and be with his son even though he has so much little to work with. But at the same time, we see his happy moments where he can be with his son and trying to patch things up with his former lover Romina. The character development of Gosling's character is very well done. We see from a being a famous motorcyclist in a circus to a bank-robbing daddy. The former, though it sounds more appealing, he had nothing to live for. He was living a routine that didn't seem to cut out for him despite his God-given motorcycling skills. The latter however, though he may have gone downhill and his job isn't exactly legal, he lives for something greater than himself. 

The second part of the movie is okay for me. Cooper's character is ambitious and luck for him, his character gets what he wants. But as soon as his fifteen minutes of fame is over, he is faced with the reality of how dirty the world is even when you are inside the police department. Cooper's character, Avery, is well portrayed and we feel the emotions of the character as he faces numerous decisions that can either make or break his life. What I didn't like about the second part though is that it was starting to get a bit predictable. You would be able to easily guess what's going to happen next and it definitely lacks the suspense that the first one had. Nevertheless, it was still good.

The third story was when the predictability in the second story is quite noticeable. It's really sad though since this can be considered as the climax of the story yet we are given something that could have been thought of as a fan fiction. What only makes the last part interesting is the decisions that the character has to make in order to reach the ending. Two possible ending but we are given only one. I actually like the ending but it left me hanging somewhere and I don't even know where.

Decisions, decisions, decisions. Basically this movie runs on a theme-driven plot and if you watch it by heart, you might actually learn a thing or two. Lots of themes but the one that struck me the most would probably be about the decisions we make. Our decisions would greatly affect other people even if we are long gone and sometimes, they would even come back and haunt us in the future.

In conclusion, you can either hate this film or love it. People may have different opinion from mine but that's what makes life thrilling.

Rating: 3/5

Man of Steel: Beyond Super!

Superman is back! This time, he decides not to wear his iconic red underwear but who cares right? 

It was back in 2008 when Warner Bros. decided to restart the Superman franchise after the previous film, Superman Returns, was considered a disappointment despite the fact of being critically and financially successful. Sure they had potential of earning so much more than what they had but at least it wasn't box-office bomb. To make the long story short, here we are with Henry Cavill as the new Superman out to save the world from those who seek to destroy it.

The movie is ridiculously long but with good reason. It starts off on the planet of Krypton where we are introduced to our hero's parents: Jor-El (Russell Crowe) and Lara (Ayelet Zurer). In the same setting, we are introduced to the antagonist General Zod (Michael Shannon) who led a coup against the council in order to take charge of Krypton. During the coup, Jor-El and Lara was able to successfully get Kal-El (real name of Superman) off the planet, much to General Zod's fury. After Krypton blows up, the next sequence is located on Earth. We see Kal-El, now called Clark Kent, is all grown up and every once in a while, flashbacks are shown of how he grew up to the man he now is. Before donning his cape and suit, he juggled numerous jobs for some reason. He was probably in search for his past since it is in one of his jobs that he found out his history and where he came from. Of course, where there is Superman, there would also be a Lois Lane (Amy Adams). Being the reporter that she is, she sets to find out who Superman is after being rescued by him. Did she ever find out? Watch it so you would know. Just as everything seems to be going smoothly for Clark, General Zod shows up on Earth and threatens to destroy it unless Superman is turned over to him. 

The movie has a darker tone to it and can even be compared alongside Nolan's Batman Trilogy. To be expected I guess since the producer is none other than Christopher Nolan himself and the screenplay was written by David Goyer, who also wrote the screenplay for The Batman Trilogy.

What I really appreciate when I was watching this film was how friendly it was for everyone. For sure, the die-hard fans would understand not only the historical background of Superman but also its minor details. Personally, I barely know things about Superman. All I know is that he's strong as hell, has Lois Lane for a love interest, from planet Krypton and his weakness is Kryptonite. After watching the movie, I felt as if I know so much more about Superman so kuddos to that.

The movie runs for two hours and twenty minutes long and it was actually worth it except for the last remaining minutes. More than first half of the film, we get to know who Clark Kent is. We don't see Superman just yet. We witness how he was raised and the challenges he had to face not only as a child but also as a grown man. The first part of the movie is emotionally driven and makes the audience sympathize, in the worst case scenario, bored since I heard one movie-goer complained about it as I was going out the theater. Anyway, the emotions presented on the first half of the film foreshadows Superman's decision in the latter part of the film. Whatever he learned would greatly affect his decisions in the present. Sadly, it was barely noticeable since the remaining 45 minutes was non-stop action and fighting. I don't really know why the fight scene was too long but my guess would have to be because of the action-deprived Superman Returns. In relation to this, the fight scene was intense but messy. I guess that's expected yet again since this is DC Universe. If there's one thing I noticed when watching Justice League is that their characters are brutal in fight. They don't really care if it's a man versus a woman. They would hit and smash each other in any way they can. The ones fighting will just end up destroying everything in the wake of their fight.

The movie this time is more realistic. To be honest Superman isn't really my favorite hero since he's way too strong. I'm always skeptic about Superman and his adventures since he's invincible. No villain is good enough to stop him. The movie fixed that and we see Superman beat up Kryptonians while getting beat up in the process as well. We see a more vulnerable side to him.

As much as I actually liked the movie, there were a few things that failed to soar high. The movie fails in the area of character development. There was a potential but it was not emphasized. The scene where Clark comes out of a Kryptonian ship wearing for the first time his suit had me excited. That scene held such great importance for his transformation from Clark to Superman but it was so brief and unconvincing that it was a bit of a let-down. Unfortunately, the other characters suffer the same fate.

The set design and the editing was a job well done. This was especially true during the Krypton sequence. You can definitely see the difference between Earth and Krypton from its people to its surroundings. The Kryptonian ships were well-designed and the fight scenes were well choreographed and edited. There are just a few editing inconsistencies that I noticed when the fight scene was nearly finished. There were instances wherein it looked like as if an entire city is destroyed but voila, when they crash inside one building, everything is still in its proper and organized state as if no explosions and carnage were happening outside. Same deal when the fight was over: everybody was back to their jobs as if nothing happened. It was as if their pulverized workplace just immediately grew out from the ground after one night.

Bravo to Zack Snyder who shot this using only handheld cameras. Which reminds me, since it was shot using handheld cameras, I'm pretty sure the 3D experience wouldn't have much difference than watching it on 2D. Just a tip. Another round of applause to him for not even using a second unit. He shot every scene himself. Awesome director if you ask me.

In conclusion, I loved the film. Superman is back and he is more relatable and more human in a sense. If you're a fan of those emotionally-driven superheroes then this film is for you. If you're a fan of those ridiculously long action sequences then this film is yet for you again. The film may not be perfect but I'm putting a lot of hope and expectation to the future sequels. After all, it isn't an 'S' it's a symbol of 'hope' in the planet Krypton.

Rating: 4/5

Side Effects: May Include Brain Damage

I don't really mean the title in a literal sense and not even in a bad sense. The movie was great and it would make you think a lot, hence the brain damage. Unless of course you like these types of movies.

Emily (Rooney Mara) is reunited with his husband Martin (Channing Tatum) who was imprisoned for four years due to insider trading. Hoping to start a new life with her husband does not go smoothly since for some unknown reason, she's going under depression and almost killed herself. Dr. Jonathan Banks (Jude Law), a psychiatrist, takes Emily under his care and prescribes anti-depressants but none of them seem to work at all. Dr. Banks visits Emily's former doctor (Catherine Zeta-Jones) and suggests that he give Emily a new drug called Ablixa. Dr. Banks, knowing Ablixa is still new and experimental, reluctantly allows Emily to take it after another suicide attempt. Miraculously, the drug works on her this time and she manages to live her life normally again with a minor side effect which is sleepwalking. The movie doesn't end there though since all hell breaks loose when Emily kills her husband while sleepwalking. Emily is confined to a mental hospital and not prison since she was not fully aware of her actions when she killed her wife. Dr. Banks career however starts to crumble since he was the one who prescribed the faulty drug to Emily. With his pride and name on the line, he investigates to know what went wrong and as he digs deeper, he finds himself in a bigger mess and the truth behind all the lies.

This movie reminds me of the medical thriller movie Contagion which was also directed by Steven Soderbergh. Both films are great in their own extraordinary way. Personally I couldn't really relate to the concept of the movie. We Filipinos don't really make use of anti-depressants that much since we are happy in nature and if we're depressed, family and friends are always there. On the bright side, I appreciate that Soderbergh introduces the culture of a country reliant on anti-depressant drugs when coping up with, of course, depression. Correct me if I'm wrong but that's one of the themes I saw in the movie; a country reliant on these types of drugs that they have an advertisement for it on television. The fact that I mention this means that here in my country, we don't have those types of ads. 

Cultural differences aside, I really appreciate the build-up of the story. The first thirty minutes really shows Emily struggling with her depression. Very realistic and convincing. Rooney Mara's acting is so good that even her character, Emily, acts so well (you'll get what I mean when you watch it). Jude Law and Catherine Zeta-Jones also give stellar performances in this movie. The way they bring life to their characters is amazing. The characterization was well done. Each character had his/her own distinct and strong characteristic that leaves a huge first impression but this impression is constantly challenged as the film continues to unravel.

The story is very interesting and even has a Hitchcock vibe into it. A dramatic and thrilling build up followed by a twist and turn of events will keep you at the edge of your seat and keep you guessing as well. The first half is focused on Emily and her struggles from depression while the second half follows the struggles Dr. Banks on his quest to clear his name. There is an attachment from the viewer to the character as the characters struggle with the conflicts they have. You are no longer a mere viewer of the film; you are part of the film.  The first half would make you sympathize with Emily as she goes through her depression and confinement and by the second half, you investigate and find clues with Dr. Banks as he tries to clear up his name. By the time the big surprise is revealed, the sense of accomplishment is not limited to the character but in you as well.

Soderbergh is really a great director. What I really love about him is his consistent and noticeable directing style. Having watched Behind the Candelabra and Side Effects in succession made me appreciate it more. You don't really need to see both films to notice it since watching one would already prove my point. The way he wants it edited and shot is very apparent. He does this jump cuts from one sequence to another which actually works. He sure knows how to make the audience remember him. 

The cinematography is awesome as well. The simple use of depth of field gives a whole new meaning to a shot. I took notice of a scene in a cruise ship where Emily starts crying and goes out to the ship deck for a fresh air. The camera is still inside the party hall but pans through a transparent glass where we see Martin follow and comfort her and while this is happening, the reflection of the guests inside the room is seen on the transparent glass as they look at the couple outside. Genius, rather than having the camera outside and see the guests from the inside looking at them.

The musical score was eerie and mysterious, a perfect fit for a movie like this. Not over the top and domineering. Just right.

In conclusion, Side Effects is a great thriller film. May not exactly be for everyone since it requires a great load of patience and analytical skills. There may be a few dull moments but it's not really worth fretting over. Might not be a good idea to watch this when you're depressed though since it might give you ideas.

Rating: 3.5/5

Behind The Candelabra: Flamboyance at its Finest

The film was indeed 'Too Gay' but who cares when it's two Academy Award Winning Actors doing one another.

The film is based on Scott Thorson's book "Behind the Candelabra: My Life with Liberace". It premiered during the 2013 Cannes Film Festival and was later aired at HBO. Before I further continue babbling about the movie, let me tell you first a brief background of who Liberace is. Liberace was an American pianist who was very known for his flamboyance on stage. During his time, there were rumors that he was gay but he would sue anyone who dared to say so. Later in his life, the same period where the movie focused on, he had a secret affair with a much younger man named Scott Thorson and that's where the story of the film begins. The love between them started off fantastic and wild but as it reached its highest peak, it had nowhere else to go but down. In this film you will witness one hell of a ride (no pun intended) between two gay men and the struggles they had to face in life. 

Michael Douglas plays the role of the fabulous pianist Liberace while Matt Damon plays the young lover Scott Thorson. As expected from Academy Award winners, their acting is superb! Douglas' performance and portrayal of Liberace was splendid and spectacular. He wore those Liberace inspired costumes like he wears them everyday. Douglas versatility in acting really deserves a huge round of applause. Not only does he portray a gay character but he was able to make it real. He was successful in introducing who Liberace was to people who did not know him. I may have not seen Liberace before he died but with Douglas' performance, I'm pretty sure I get a clear picture of what the Vegas pianist was like. Of course, Matt Damon does not fall far behind. His portrayal of the young man who fell in love with Liberace was worth praising well. I love how he can show such great deal of emotion even without saying anything. In the latter part of the film, he's usually angry and he doesn't have to tell you that he is, you just know judging from his face and acting. Hands down, these two actors was a key in making this film a success. There were no inhibitions especially to the numerous sex and kissing scenes they shared. As a viewer, you can feel what's going on between them. You may not be a fan of two guys going at each other but their love is no different from that of straight couples. I think. If there's anything I learned about Liberace in the film is that he's a weird lover. So I can't really say.

The story is pretty much great on its own I think especially if its based on real events. What it really needed in order for it to work was a great director and great actors, which it did have. The progression of the story was really good and it made me want to watch it more. There were no dull moments and every scene and shot has its own significance to the movie. The climax was intense (no pun intended...again) as we see a reversal of situation for the characters. As much as I wanna say more I'd be spoiling it already but one thing is clear, it shows that you have to fight for what you want to keep but without losing yourself in the process.

The 'too gay' quote earlier was based on the reaction of Hollywood studios when Director Steven Sodenbergh was asking for financial support in order to finish the film. Thank goodness that HBO was open about it and funded the film. Sodenbergh really did a good job in his supposedly last film before his hiatus. That's one way to exit Hollywood even for just a while. Great direction, cinematography, and editing. I love the shots whenever Scott is drunk and high. The camera is shaky and everything is blurred aside from what Scott can clearly see. There was also a plastic surgery scene which I did not need to see at all. The set design was also magnificent. It really gives off the 80s vibe and not to mention the musical score by Marvin Hamlisch was wonderful and well fitting into the movie. Sadly, the poor fellow died on August last year. 

Basically, Behind The Candelabra is worth watching if you're not really the homophobic type of person. If you appreciate good acting, great characterization, grand set design and Matt Damon's bare butt then this is the movie for you.

Rating: 4/5

After Earth: Crash and Burn

After Earth is a movie than runs on a paper thin plot and with CGI animations that barely pass above average.

After Earth is a movie that takes place after the humans left the earth since it was deemed no longer fit for living. As the remaining of the human population venture into space, they find the planet suitable for existence and call it Nova Prime. The humans are not alone in the planet though. The humans find themselves against an alien species called the S'krell who wishes to conquer Nova Prime. The S'krell's secret weapons against the humans are beastly creatures called Ursas, blind and rabid creatures who hunt with the use of their sense of smell. They hunt by smelling their prey's fear and once they get hold of the scent, escape is almost inevitable. Enter the hero, General Cypher Raige (Will Smith) who was able to suppress his fear, a process called ghosting, which enabled him to save the world. His glory does not come free though since he loses his daughter to an Ursa after it attacked their home. A witness to his daughter's death is his son Kitai (Jaden Smith) whom his daughter chose to save and die for. Kitai, having witnessed her sister killed right before his very eyes is ridden with guilt and aims to be a Ranger like his father but fails to do so. Cypher is about to retire as a ranger and as he sets up for his last mission, his wife convinces him to take Kitai with him so they can bond like father and son. Aboard the ship, they encounter an asteroid shower which causes their ship to split into two and crash on the now evolved earth. With Cypher wounded,  his son must now go to the other half of the wrecked ship to retrieve the emergency beacon. Along the way, Kitai faces danger in the unfamiliar world and to make matters worse, the Ursa they carried on board the ship is set loose  and hunts down the remaining survivors.

This movie soared high but crashed and burned. Star Trek Into Darkness just came out less than a month ago and it definitely set the bar high for any upcoming sci-fi films to follow its lead. What After Earth lacked that Star Trek had was the grandeur of what a sci-fi film should look be. We expect to see futuristic gadgets, spacecrafts combined with an action pack adventure. After Earth was nothing more than just a boy running for his life in a jungle that was supposed to have evolved drastically but can be barely seen in the movie.

The story of After Earth was written by Will Smith after being inspired from a show he watched on tv about a father and son stuck on a mountain. Originally not a sci-fi, Smith thought it was a good idea to have the same concept in a movie set 1000 years into the future. Sadly this film might not even be remembered for the next five years, how much more a thousand. 

The entire movie is cold. From the story to the characters. It does not have an emotional attachment to its audience the way Avatar (James Cameron) or Star Trek has. From the beginning till the end, all we see is Jaden running for his life and fighting off animals. The characterization of Kitai and Cypher is poorly executed as well since it's not given much importance. A grave mistake such as this will only make the audience apathetic and distant. The story of your life can be playing right in front of you but you will wonder if it really is your life on the screen.

Don't get me started on the acting. Jaden's acting would not exactly be something to be proud of. I don't know what his father might think but I'm certainly not convinced. Such a pity considering the name his father made in the business. I cannot help myself from wincing every once in a while whenever Jaden has a big act to deliver. Nepotism really has its price. Will was the one who personally chose Jaden to act along side him. 

In terms of CGI animation, it was okay. More than satisfactory at most but not great. The newly evolved earth was promising but unexplored. It's actually fun thinking of what the earth will look like a thousand years from now and I'm sure that the writers of the script had fun thinking about it too.What I don't understand is by the time the movie is out, all I saw were bigger animals and moving plants. Lots of moments that you would actually forget that the story takes place on earth after a thousand years. A few effects were also a bit unrealistic. It was as if they were still under post-production.

Director M. Night Shyamalan is not doing well for his past few films. The Last Airbender was a complete failure and the only reason why I still watch his works are because of his previous films. The last film he made that was worth watching was probably the 2010 film 'Devil'. To be fair, After Earth can be considered as a good stepping stone. This was by far a bit...just a bit better than the others he made.

In conclusion, After Earth is a movie that fails to entertain. Cheap shocks, mediocre editing and poor characterizations is not really something to be proud of. To be clear, It wasn't a good movie but it wasn't all that bad. I've seen worst movies and After Earth can be the last on that list.


Rating: 1.5/5

Now You See Me: The Closer I Looked, The Less I Saw

Just say the magic word. 

Whatever that word is and no matter how many times I say it, I just don't see the magic happen in this movie. It had an interesting premise, but it failed to deliver the final act into something magical and memorable.

The movie is about four magicians who call themselves "The Four Horsemen" who sets up a series of bank heist and give all the money they get to their audience. Not everything is as easy as it seems though since they now find themselves in a game of cat and mouse against the FBI. The Four Horsemen must now always stay one step ahead in order to complete their mission and avoid getting caught.

Although the movie did not satisfy until the very end, it was not all that bad. The movie's star-studded cast was one of the things worth praising. The different actors and actresses who made a name for themselves in Hollywood didn't fail to deliver with their acting despite having cardboard cutout characters to portray. They managed to bring life to the story of the movie and were definitely not overshadowed by the special effects which were also magical. The special effects used were extraordinary and above normal for the average tricks of your magicians. The editing were good as well and didn't disappoint. These things are actually given and expected especially from a movie with magic as its gimmick, so it was a job well done for them to have executed it nicely. 

With regards to the plot of the movie, it actually showed great potential and could have been a great movie if not for its problematic ending. What makes a mystery thriller film like this one work is its buildup of clues throughout the film which encourages the audience to throw in their guesses for the big surprise. In addition to this, the surprise must not only make complete sense by the end but it should also bring conclusion to all doubts and questions by the audience. Sadly, the movie's final trick failed to mesmerize the audience. Technically speaking, the big surprise did make sense if you look back but it doesn't give justice to the story. Rather than feeling awe and wonder after this magic ride, you'll actually feel like you've been cheated. All those magic, action and story, wasted into something trivial and petty.

Now You See Me is a movie that I'm not exactly thrilled to see twice. Their famous line in the film is "The closer you look, the less you actually see." Forgive me for looking closer and trying to see depth and meaning in an otherwise shallow movie but even the farther I go, I still don't see much from it.


Rating: 3/5