Reviews

Max Payne and Max Payne 2 were groundbreaking and innovative games that were released more than a decade or so ago. Everything about them was awesome, like the never seen before bullet time, the cool looking comic-page cutscenes, and the amazing story and gameplay. Skip to 2012 and Rockstar release Max Payne 3, this time more different in many ways to its predecessors. Firstly, while the previous games were set in the cold, dark, snowy nights of L.A., this game is set mostly in the blaring heat of Sao Paulo, Brazil and I didn't really appreciate it because it didn't feel like Max Payne anymore. Secondly, the comic-page cutscenes are gone as well to be replaced with motion scenes and I was a bit bothered as well by this because it was starting to feel less and less like the Max Payne we knew and loved. Another thing about the cutscenes in this game was that there were too much and control was taken away from the gamer a lot, yet the cutscenes were awesome and worth it. I could keep comparing the game to its predecessors but I think you get my point.

Max Payne has a strong storyline supported by great animations and brilliant voice acting. No character feels or sounds cheesy thanks to the animations and the talent of the cast members. The animations, while although can't compare with Crysis 2 or God of War 3, are still pretty neat and clear. As you travel through the slums of Sao Paulo you begin to see the insane amount of detail put into buildings and the environment around you. The story is different this time around, Max is still haunted by the memories of his murdered wife and and child, but this time he is protecting some rich family. Obviously things don't go well and someone gets kidnapped and its up to Max to wreak hell and get her back. The ending was a bit predictable but overall, the story was very immersing. One of the main things we as an audience love about Max Payne is the amount of ass he kicks. The game has strong violence and strong language as well yet in a game like this you cannot have one without the other. As you face waves of enemies after enemies, you have no choice but to spray the walls and the floor with their blood. There a different guns to choose from yet all of them have the same objective: kill. The use of bullet time is really handy in this game and it is crucial for you to use it in order to survive certain parts of the game. Plus, the game looks hell cool in slo-mo.

Overall, while this game might be different to its predecessors, it doesn't mean that it is bad. It is a great game yet no a game worthy of ten. I urge every gamer to play it. 8/10.

'Over and out.' 2nd of October, 2012.

The Dark Knight Rises is one of those rare films that you want to continue longer than its run time. The film is mind-blowingly awesome and I feel that the movie is immensely better than its predecessors. Why?

Well, for one, it has outstanding performances by each and every cast member and not once did I feel the acting to be corny or lame. The real standouts were, of course, Christian Bale, Michael Caine, and Tom Hardy. Bale returns to take up the mantle of Batman once again and he doesn't disappoint in any way. His butler Alfred also made this movie great because Michael Caine is such a fine actor who can really evoke your emotions. Tom Hardy's performance as Bane is indescribable. It is just so good. We all expect Bane to be ruthless,and he is, but he is also very smart and sophisticated. He is no shape or form similar in any way to the piece of sh*t Bane from Batman and Robin. That Bane was just a vomit-inducing dumbass. I consider Hardy to give the finest performance in the film. You just have to see him on screen. Anne Hathaway, Morgan Freeman, and the rest were also great in the film.

Secondly, the action along with the score make TDKR a film to watch. Batman is back after 8 years and he has a new vehicle at his disposal. The Bat-copter accounts for some action scenes in the film and it plays a crucial part in the story. Bane's physique, strength, and fighting skills are better than Batman's and the fighting scenes between them two makes you want to stand up and cheer. The score and soundtrack also alleviate the action and give the fight scenes a sense of epicness. We have Hans Zimmer to thank for that. Overall, the film's score makes every scene more better.

Finally, the story is very interesting and never becomes boring or makes you want the film to skip to the fighting already. Batman has to come out of his hiatus and take on Bane who is terrorizing Gotham City. The film cleverly explores Bane's background in order to give the reader a reason as to what causes him to become the madman that he is. Not everything is what it seems. I won't go into too much because I don't want to spoil anything.

I did have one issue with the film though. Bane's mask makes it hard to clearly understand what he is saying and a couple of times I had to ask my brother next to me what Bane just said. Even my brother didn't have a clue.

Anyway, I really enjoyed the film and I consider it to be one of the best superhero films made, even better than the Avengers - which I really liked.

'Over and Out.' 22nd of July, 2012.

Get the Gringo. Strange title. Hasn't been released in Australia or America, I'm glad I got the chance to watch this movie. Right from the start, the movie kicks off with a good, ol' car chase. The chase scene is quite fun to watch and it results in the capture of Gibson's unnamed character who is then thrown into a prison. Mind you, it is not a typical lights out at 10 sorta prison film but rather the prison has its own rules and to be honest, there aren't that much rules. For starters, the prison houses both males and females, adults and children, and the inmates can carry guns. Gibson is thrown into the prison and makes friends with a young boy with a knack for smoking. The two then work together to survive the harsh conditions inside the facility.

Mel Gibson is back to kicking ass and being cool. No doubt he is the highlight of the show and it is great to watch him being in one of his better roles in recent years. I think it is safe to say that he is better here than he was at 'The Beaver'. But anyway, Mel acts very cool and charismatic and his character is very likable. While the film may not star major or well-known actors, they aren't too bad. The kid he teams up with isn't too bad in this film and he is quite an alright kid. Kevin Hernandez has potential to be a great actor. It also stars Dean Norris, from Breaking Bad, who has a small but appreciated cameo in the film. This is Adrian Grunberg's directorial debut and he pulls of a fun, sort-of smart, and stylish action film.

The action in the film is entertaining enough but it is what we have all seen before in numerous other films. The thing I like about it is that it doesn't try to be anything too ambitious or over the top and throughout the film, it keeps a constant and steady pace. the film is around 1 and half hour long and while it could have been a bit longer it was very well done.

Some of the issues I did have was that some of the English-language was a bit hard to hear, especially from the Mexicans or whoever they were. Some lines were mumbled or a bit too fast and I got annoyed in certain parts. And yes, my hearing is fine.

Overall, it was nice action film to watch that didn't have a dumb story like lots of films today. Gibson has left a mark for people to see that he isn't going to be disappearing anytime soon and that he will still continue amazing us. While the film isn't going to gross much, those who do see it will like it.

'Over and out.' 13 May 2012

Believe me when I say that 'The Avengers' was my most anticipated movie ever. I mean, come on, a bunch of superheroes gathering and fighting evil, that is just priceless. And not any superheroes but the most well-known and well-loved. The movie has some of the best actors in Hollywood portraying some of the best superheroes to have ever been created. This movie has loads of Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Hawkeye, and, needless to say, Hulk Smash! They were all portrayed on screen brilliantly and I give thanks to the actor for making them feel awesome, cool, and really, really fun. I live in Australia and we get an earlier viewing of the film but for you Americans, this wait is is worth it. When the movie was over, most of the cinema clapped - this was the first time I had ever seen this ever at the movies. Even though it was 12 in the morning, the whole cinema was packed and all of them came out of the cinema satisfied and were glad they paid the $13 to watch it.

The plot of the movie is straightforward but done magnificently. Loki, previously seen in Thor, wants to wreak havoc on Earth by letting a group of aliens enter Earth through a portal. It's up to the Avengers to stop him but first they have to solve the rivalries and bitterness between them. The fight scenes between the superheroes are just f*cking AWESOME! I was so excited to see Thor and Iron Man battle it out - that scene was just plain epic.

The music and soundtrack in the movie was good and it did a nice job of alleviating the action, and trust me there is a LOT of action. The visual effects are also fantastic, one of the best I have ever seen in a film, and they will leave you in awe. Hulk, along with Iron Man, do a good job of adding humour into the film and ALL of the scenes with the Hulk left everyone at the cinemas laughing. It is pretty obvious that his squad mates think highly of him as seen in the scene where Stark and Loki have a confrontation ('We have an Army' , 'We have a Hulk'). That scene was what did it for me.

If you guys are in doubt as to see this then let me assure you that you are gonna get the bang for your buck that you deserve. So far, it is one of the best superhero film made but of all time? Not really sure, guess we have to wait for TDKR to come out. 10/10 - Perfect!

'Over and Out.' 25 April 2012

I have been waiting to watch Agneepath for a long time and I just got to watch it. I was fascinated by it's plot and the whole revenge thing is my kind of film. So, I was eagerly waiting to watch this and Boom! right from the start I was hooked. The movie is very entertaining and even though it is 3 hours long, you'll enjoy every minute of it. If you consider yourself to be a movie fanatic then the length of the movie shouldn't matter you as long as the movie maintains the entertainment and pace throughout the length of the film. In Agneepath's case, it does this sorta-yes and sorta-no. Believe me it is entertaining but it becomes too sappy towards the end and it tries to evoke your emotions and it didn't. Well, it didn't for me.

Agneepath is a story of revenge of Vijay Chauhan against an evil and sadistic Kaancha, who hangs Vijay's father to death. Vijay grows up with a single aim of avenging his father's death. The story revolves around Vijay Chauhan, his relationships with his family and above all, his Revenge.

The film is shot stylishly and the use of slo-mo in some scenes make the scenes even more epic. The music is also really well done in Agneepath as well. The songs aren't too long and they are entertaining. The music accompanying the action scenes alleviate the violence shown in this film and make a great addition to the film. Hrithik Roshan does a good job acting-wise and certain scenes really show what he is capable of as an actor. His performance in Agneepath is inferior when it comes to how well he acted in Guzaarish. Priyanka Chopra was all-right but I just didn't really care about her character at all. One thing is for sure, she sure is a beauty to look at.

The film could also have been smarter in some areas but if you did make them smarter, the film would've been much different and I don't really know if that will be a good or bad thing. The ending is very melodramatic and it tries desperately to evoke your emotions. It was kinda embarrassing watching the ending but it didn't really affect the movie overall. Agneepath was on its way to becoming my favorite Hindi film but it didn't get there. I guess Hera Pheri still holds onto its number one spot. Overall, an entertaining action/thriller that could've been better but is very entertaining and a pleasure to watch. 8/10 'Over and Out' 22 April 2012

Sword of the Stranger is highly unnoticed film here on IMDb and only has around 4 thousand people who have voted for it. This Anime deserves to be recognized for its beautiful animation, its characters, for its music and soundtrack, and for the good film that is. It is just the perfect length, around 1 hr and 40 mins, and it is fun the whole way throughout. The director Masahiro Ando has previously worked on Animes such as Cowboy Bepop and Ghost in the Shell and this time he has crafted an impressive and stylish anime with lots of dedication.

A young boy and his dog find themselves the target of the Ming: a foreign dynasty that will stop at nothing. One day, a quiet and solemn warrior crosses their path, and becomes irrevocably connected with the two. A deal is struck and the warrior agrees to take the boy to a remote, Buddhist temple, where a kind monk is waiting to care for him and the dog. Unfortunately, the Ming have sent their elite, and they will test their strength, courage, and quality every step of the way.

First off I want to say is that one of the things that really struck me about this anime was the amazing soundtrack. The music really comes to life during the battle scenes and the incorporation of drums, like in the beginning sequence, just alleviates the action even more and gives it that awesome feeling. Whoever composed the music should be proud of themselves. The story isn't really original and is kind-of stereotypical but its numerous characters really make this a different kind of anime to watch. The characters are really well done and they also look great as well. One of the main faults is that the story could've been a bit more original but it didn't really affect the viewing experience for me.

To all those who call themselves Anime freaks, they should be ashamed if they haven't already watched this. It doesn't matter if you like anime or not because this film breaks those boundaries and offers a marvelous anime with lots of heart. A really good film! 8/10

'Over and out.' 16 April 2012

Woah, Roger Ebert giving this movie four stars is no surprise to me after watching this movie. I just finished watching it five minutes ago and I can honestly say that 'Take Shelter', by Jeff Nichols, is one of the best movie I have ever watched. Everything about it is perfect. The art direction, acting, music, and the ominous setting this movie has makes it one of the best movies I have watched so far in 2012.

Curtis, a father and husband, is starting to experience bad dreams and hallucinations. Assuming mental illness, he seeks medical help and counseling. However, fearing the worst, he starts building an elaborate and expensive storm shelter in their backyard. This storm shelter threatens to tear apart his family, threatens his sanity and his standing in the community, but he builds it to save his family's life.

Take Shelter is probably the best drama-thriller that I can think of. It is the perfect example of what Hollywood can do if they seriously think. With so much crap Hollywood churns out these days, we the people seriously needed something smart to watch. The movie's plot is fairly simple and easy to understand. The acting is really good and Michael Shannon in particular makes this movie memorable. His powerhouse performance as Curtis is just amazing and a thing to watch. He is one of the reasons as to why I love this movie. Jessica Chastain along with the rest of the cast also give strong performances. Throughout the film you'll hear ominous-sounding music that further adds to the mystery of the film. The music is well-done and who ever chose it should be proud. Also, there are some scenes in the movie which can be frightening and add tension to the movie.

This film is a sleeper hit and should be viewed by anyone with good taste in films. Trust me, you will be more than satisfied after viewing this gem of a film.

10/10 'Over and Out.' 13 April 2012.

Having just watched the last episode ten minutes ago I'm still in the process of collecting my thoughts on what I have experienced through these seven beautifully written seasons. I haven't written a review for anything since, well, forever. I guess this show moved me in so many ways that it deserved to be known to the rest of the world. The Shield, created by Shawn Ryan, is a cop-drama with so many levels of humanity. It deals with many issues, no matter how exaggerated they seem. From rape to corruption to human flaws, this show has it all.

The Shields first ever episode was brilliant. It set the foundation on what we would see later on and it also gave us a peek into what our main characters would be like. It was a captivating episode with a perfect ending. The show is about Vic Mackey, referred to by a colleague as 'Al Capone with a badge', and his gang as they handle violence on the street while trying to evade authorities for the crimes they commit as the show progresses. Some of what they do has to be looked at from all sides and angles for it to be judged upon. They do bad but they also do substantial good. Its hard to hate Vic Mackey, no matter what crimes he commits - they just make a dent on how we view him, because he is one of those really cool anti-heroes who is smart and ruthless but still manages to do his job and keep the streets safer. His ethics are sometimes questionable but they help save many lives. He is one of the greatest T.V. show characters of all time.

The cast and crew of The Shield are really good at playing on screen and working behind the set. The actors are believable and act very well. However, there is one main actor they underused and under appreciate. Ronnie Gardocki (David Rees Snell) is the actor who was very underused during the first five seasons and he hardly ever spoke. It was kind of unfair. The show is also very graphic in nature and there are several scenes littered throughout the show depicting rape, sex, extreme violence etc. SPOILER! The scene with Vic kicking Armadillo's a*s was pure testosterone and i loved it for its over the top violence. SPOILER END! The show doesn't offer any mercy to its characters and some of our favorites have heart-breaking things happening to them but it just makes the show more captivating and believable.

I can honestly say that The Shield is one of my top 3 shows I have ever watched. Its gritty and realistic and its characters are very believable and likable. Some episode were pure fun and amazing while others were slow and not all that good. If you want to view a T.V. show with a great story, believable actors, great script, and a three dimensional view of the streets, The Shield is a must watch.

While the film was in theatres, I took my chance to read the book that made this film come alive. The book was fantastic and puzzles and twists were very surprising. When the film reached my local video store, I took my chance to grab it off the shelf and view it. The film does a good job of having the same atmosphere and dialog as the book while also staying true to it, as well. The cast did an excellent job of portraying the characters in the book and their performances were over the top. If I hadn't read the book, I would've given this film a perfect ten but that could, sadly, not happen since I already knew what was going to happen and it made the film a bit more boring. The dialog in Shutter Island is mostly what you read in the book but the people who say those lines do a really good job. Two particular lines that were used in both the film and books were, "Thorns as big as my d*ck." and "Pull yourself together, Teddy." and I remember them a bit more than the others because one was funny and the other one was cool. So cool in fact is that I wake up every morning and splash water onto my face and stare at the mirror and exactly say that line. The acting was top notch in this motion picture with Leonardo DiCaprio, Ben Kingsley, Mark Ruffalo, and Jackie Earle Haley taking the top four spots. Leonardo DiCaprio, in my opinion, did a superb job of portraying Teddy Daniels and my vision of Teddy was what Leonardo gave us. He plays a U.S. marshal who is investigating the disappearance of one of the patients from the Ashcliff Hospital for the criminally insane. Along the way he discovers puzzles and finds out that everybody is keeping a secret from him. He really gave a convincing act. Ben Kingsley does a well done job of Dr. John Cawley, who is the somewhat mysterious, and his accent is really cool. Mark Ruffalo plays the partner of Teddy, Chuck Aule, as they are sent to the hospital where a mystery plagues the entire hospital. Ruffalo impressed me a lot in this film and he does a good job of knowing nothing when he really does. The best and by the far most impressive actor has to be Jackie Earle Haley for his wonderful role as George Noyce, a mental nutcase who speaks in riddles. Haley knows how to act in a good, realistic way and that is what separated him from everyone else and made him the king of Shutter Island. A lot of people are saying that this isn't one of the Scorsese's best works but I have to disagree and say that this his second best film after, of course, "The Departed". I suggest that you stop listening to these remarks and just be immersed into this complex yet fascinating mystery/thriller/horror. The wardrobe for this film matches the year it was set in and it does give the film a 1954 feeling. The makeup is quite good as well from the hairstyles to the facial makeup.

In 1954, Federal Marshal Teddy Daniels and his new partner, Chuck Aule, from Seattle travel to Shutter Island to investigate the disappearance of a patient there, Rachel Solando. She had been sectioned at the institution for dangerous criminals at Ashcliffe Hospital, because she drowned her three kids. Teddy is a veteran WWII soldier, traumatized by the war experience in the liberation of the Duchan concentration camp and the loss of his beloved wife in a criminal fire. Teddy is unable to access the records of employees and patients and feels that his investigation is obstructed by the management by the Federal facility. Teddy has severe migraines and when there is a storm; Teddy and Chuck find that they are stranded in the island. Teddy interviews the internees and follows a lead to the lighthouse, where he discloses the mystery about the Shutter Island.

Roger Ebert wrote in his review, "the movie is about: atmosphere, ominous portents, the erosion of Teddy's confidence and even his identity. It's all done with flawless directorial command. Scorsese has fear to evoke, and he does it with many notes." and I have to agree with that. He awarded the film 3 and a half stars. People on IMDb who wrote negatively about the film mostly complained about the ending and how they would have liked it to go in another direction. Well, I have a message for them: LIVE WITH IT! The ending was as perfect as it gets but in the film you don't get as much shock form it like the shock you get by reading the book. If anyone is reading this review make sure that you don't read any reviews that contain spoilers because most of them ruin the surprise ending and with a delicate film like this it is easy to say, "Sh*t! I wish I could go back in time!!AHH!". The flashbacks that haunt Teddy are portrayed in a mean, nasty way from the war, his life, and his wife. This film should be recommended to people who love Scorsese's works because this is one of his masterpieces that you have to feast upon. I also strongly suggest is that, if you can, read the book before you watch the film because it will make you want to view the film more. I watched it so I could compare this with the book and I was very happy as a result. 8/10 - Shutter Island is a film that you can't miss out on and that is a rule!

"Over and Out." 13 July, 2010.

During my twelve year life, I have watched films like Battle Royale, Audition, and Tokyo Gore Police but none of them come close to as disturbing as Eden Lake, a film which is surprisingly British. Battle Royale and Audition were very disturbing and that is what made them masterpieces but with Eden Lake it is a whole different story. While the whole romantic getaway turned bloody is very stereotypical, your thoughts change as the film progresses and turns more violent while maintaining that horror feeling. I have heard of disturbing films that could easily wipe Eden Lake off the list like Salo or 120 Days of Sodom, Pink Flamingos and the likes, but I haven't viewed them yet and so Eden Lake is, officially,the most disturbing and shocking film I have watched......so far. I wasn't expecting this kind of disturbingness from this film and my vision about this film was "cheap horror thriller with a retarded story" and I have to say that I was most certainly wrong. The film doesn't automatically get into the action and you have to wait a good twenty minutes before the film gets injected with adrenaline but the introduction of characters is brilliant. During the introduction of the characters you begin to become attached to them and you have to flinch your eyes when one of them is being tortured. I also like the fact that this film has the adult-killing-kids thing back to front and you get pleasure when you see the kids doing the murdering. James Watkins made his directorial debut as a director by making this film and he should be proud for creating something like this which visualizes a threat of kids being more violent in UK. James Watkins is also the writer for notable films like The Descent. The acting by Michael Fassbender was memorable and very convincing. He did an excellent job of portraying a man who has to fight off a bunch of f*cked-up kids. The insane kids also did very good of making themselves in the film come to screen. The group leader Brett, played by Jack O'Connell, was very terrifying and had a sense of authority on him. Jack O'Connell did an over average effort in playing him. The performance which I most loved was by Kelly Reilly because she does an outstanding job of someone who has to release the beast within her in order to survive and escape from the insane kids. Her performance was as realistic as it could be and she, in result, made the film far more enjoyable.

Stephen Taylor invites his girlfriend, a kindergarten teacher (Jenny), to spend the weekend in Eden Lake, a paradisaical and remote place in the woods. However, his true intention is to propose Jenny. While camping at the lake shore, they are disturbed by a gang of loathsome boys leaded by the punk Brett. The next day, the couple realizes that they have been robbed and are stranded in the woods without their car. While walking through the forest trying to reach the road, Steve and Jenny meet the gang and they are brutally attacked. Steve is captured by the youths while Jenny is seeks a way out of the woods with the criminals chasing her.

Tension in the film builds up slowly from the part where they are on the beach enjoying the sun to the part where they have to run for their lives and hope to get back into town from the dreaded woods. The torture scenes are, what I found to be, quite fun to watch because they are shown in a realistic way and the actions are committed by a bunch of teens. The leader forces everyone to participate by force and it is pretty devastating to see thirteen year old kids doing atrocious acts. I read a review by someone who wrote "leaves u with desire to corner some teenager and beat him with something heavy," and I have to agree in a sick sense that, yes, it does make me want to do that to a random teenager after watching this film. The gore in this film is pretty tame but I was glad not to see tons of bloods and guts because it would have ruined the film in an artistic way. I highly recommend this film to anyone who wants to crap themselves and who likes tension at its best. Eden Lake is a film not be missed out on and I suggest that you watch it as soon as you can because............you have to!! 9/10 - Eden Lake is a very promising film that won't disappoint viewers!

"Over and Out." 11 July, 2010.

Daybreakers is, strangely, a film that was financed by the Australian Film Industry and the word "strangely" is used in this sentence because you don't get to see Aussies having their name on a blockbuster film, especially a vampire one. Yes, this film has the vampire theme stuck to it and no it isn't any of the Twilight bullsh*t. There is no way in hell that this is ever going to be compared with Twilight because while Jacob and Edward are cat fighting over Mrs. I-can't-decide-who-to-go-with, the heroes and anti-heroes are ripping shreds of each other in this film. 2009 was a good year for films and while Daybreakers doesn't belong on the top ten lists, it certainly shouldn't be put away on a shelf for another time viewing. In fact, you should get to watch this first because if you don't, you'll be missing out on the violence and the funny one-liners by "Elvis" (Willem Defoe). The film features an international known cast and some native New Zealanders such as Jay Laga'aia, who has a part in a children's show called "play School", but his role and performance is a bit of a disappointment. The whole film is shot in Australia, mainly near Gold Coast and Brisbane, and the scenery made me wonder where this was shot in since I had no clue that this even was part Aussie. Ethan Hawke plays Edward Dalton, a vampire scientist working on finding a cure, or substitute, for the near-extinction of the human race, who has a dislike to drinking human blood. When he is captured by a group of survivors a.k.a humans led by Elvis, he has to work with them in order to make sure that the human race thrives. Hawke described this film as "low art" and "unpretentious and silly" and, I think, that was the reason for the poor performance he gave. It was just average but really poor for a very talented actor who has starred in masterpieces such as "before Sunrise" and "Gattaca", just to name a few. Sam Neill portrays a vampire named Charles Bromely who is the leader of a company that produces and farms human for blood and the likes. His character is very dark and his cowardliness makes him look bad especially near the end but the outcome of his character makes it worthwhile. Neill has greatly performed as a vampire in Daybreakers and he gives his character a touch of evilness and the kind of guy who shows no mercy. Claudia Karvan is one of the Aussie on set and, sadly, she doesn't play a vampire. She would've looked sexy though. Before I go on, did anyone else notice that she looks a lot like Famke Janssen? I was very surprised at her performance and to make a long story short, it was worth it. Now to the star of the show: WILLEM DEFOE! He has a very good record of great performances and even though his role of Elvis in Daybreakers doesn't belong in that list, it was still the best performance in the whole film. He succeeds with one thing: humor. It was great to see him in this motion picture and his presence was nostalgic! I also love his character background! The Spierig brothers have done a great job of making this action/sci-fi film come to life in a good, dark way.

In a world 10 years into the future, vampires make up the vast majority of the population with only 5% of the human race remaining. This presents particular challenges as the vampires' food supply - human blood - is dwindling and rationing is now the norm. There is growing evidence that vampires deprived of an adequate blood supply are themselves evolving into wild, vile creatures that attack anyone and anything in order to survive. Dr. Edward Dalton, a vampire and hematologist who works for a pharmaceutical firm, has been working on finding an artificial blood supply that will meet the vampire society's needs. He is sympathetic to humans and sees his work as a way of alleviating their suffering but his views on finding a solution change considerably when he meets someone who found a way to transform himself from being a vampire to again take human form.

Now to the action and the plot. The action you see in this film is very violent and is very different from other vampire movies, so violence lovers don't worry about it being Nosferatu. The stunts are amazing and the car chase scenes have a great look to it while the gun-fighting scenes will blow you away. One thing I loved about this film is that the crew of Daybreakers don't hide anything in the action that would otherwise seem too violent. Throughout the film you will see heads being ripped off, vampires being exposed to daylight and dying in a painful but cool way, subsiders (these used-to-be vampires who have gone without blood and result in being terrifying creatures who attack both vampires and humans) being captured and dying in a torturous way, etc. The plot is, gladly, not a genre stereotype but is a whole new perspective at vampires. In this film it is not one vampire killing people but a whole world of vampires who rule the earth and hunt for humans to continue their existence. Their lifestyle and ways are no different than human ways but their food source is, obviously, more yuckier: Blood! The visual effects are used in a dark way to support the films atmosphere from crumbling apart. The whole new world looks very futuristic while being not too advanced. The visual effects have been presented in a neat way in fight scenes or when vampires are exposed to day light. Special mention to the make-up artists for making a new look for vampires! Awesome film!

"Over and Out." 7 July 2010.

The trailer for Mao's Last Dancer looked stunning but I was concerned if the movie will live up to its trailer. Before I actually start the review, you have to get one thing clear: ballet is like ears to snakes for me. I have no problem with it just because it is mainly a girls sport but I couldn't understand how ballet can tell a story by flapping your arms around. Mao's Last Dancer is, surprisingly, an Australian film and that can mean either one of these words: sh*t or sh*ttier. Unexpectedly, this turned out to be quite enjoyable, even if t does have some things missing out, because this film is the intriguing story about Li Cunxin, a Chinese man, who at the age of seven or nine was send to study ballet far, far away from his parent. Now, being grown up and a fully a man, he goes over to America and becomes obsessed with it. Some people wrote in their reviews that Li Cunxin was a selfish for letting down his government and all that bullsh*t but this shows one thing: all ways follow your heart. Li Cunxin is becoming quite a hero for me because of his passion for ballet and his hard working skills. I do not know him personally, nor can I relate to him anywhere, but no matter how he was, Chi Cao, the actor who played the real-life ballet king, has portrayed him with love and passion. His first role ever in a film outshined him above all, even Kyle Maclachlan and Bruce Greenwood, as the best performer in the film. In my opinion, an Oscar should go to him. Don't sue me!!! Bruce Greenwood plays the American ballet instructor Ben Stevenson, who brings Li Cunxin to America to study hard but things do not go too well. He did not seem nice and was more selfish than Li Cunxin. Bruce Greenwood was a little bit weak for his role but still maintained it for the rest of the film. Charles Foster seemed like someone who would try to sue Mao but his appearance was quite a surprise. Maclachlan did better than Greenwood and was way better as an entertainer. The only bad actors were the first love interest of Li Cunxin because she didn't seem right for her job and you could see on her face that she was trying to remember something. The scene where Li Cunxin confesses about something which I don't want to spoil, is probably the most unprofessional scene in the whole film and she gets all the credit for it. I love films which contain a past and present story and the one used here explains Li Cunxin's childhood and where he has gotten up to. It creates a nostalgic atmosphere as you see Li's childhood and the events leading up to his break as one of the best ballet dancers in history. Joan Chen was exceptionally beautiful and professional at playing Li Cunxin's mother and her performance, especially in the scene where she sees him dance for the first time was tearjerker and, quite, unexpected. Even though the film must be two hours long, at least, it felt to me like I watched a movie for thirty minutes and when something like that usually happens, it means that I love the movie so much that time flied by so quickly, stopping me from digesting what I had just seen.

A drama based on the autobiography by Li Cunxin. At the age of 11, Li was plucked from a poor Chinese village by Madame Mao's cultural delegates and taken to Beijing to study ballet. In 1979, during a cultural exchange to Texas, he fell in love with an American woman. Two years later, he managed to defect and went on to perform as a principal dancer for the Houston Ballet and as a principal artist with the Australian Ballet.

The dancing is purely incredible portrayed in this movie. It is so likable and easy to get used to but it also makes the film even more better. As you watch Li Cunxin going onstage about to perform a routine, I felt so proud of him even though he is a complete stranger to me. I am no ballet expert, but correct me when I say that the movements and motions were better than watch you see at the crappy ballet shows that they perform in Perth. And the bets thing is that you don't have to pay one hundred and fifty bucks. The music has a huge part in this film. It, most of the time, keeps in time with routine and matches with it. The high notes are great to hear, matter of fact, everything is great to hear in this film. Apart from the music used in the ballet concerts in this film, the music that accompanies the movie is also good, though it may lack a little bit of gravitas. This film is definitely recommended to those who hate ballet because this will change their views on ballet. I can't really judge this film since it is not a piece of fiction but whatever happened to Li Cunxin was for the greater good. 8/10 - This certainly beats the cr*p that was made before this e.g. Take the Lead and Center Stage.

After playing the very disappointing Half Life 2: Episode One, I was very upset and was thinking, "How can they propel Episode Two far enough to stop it from being an episode one?". My answer was answered as I played Episode Two through steam and from the first kill, I realized something: I had to get ready for the short ride, a very short ride indeed. From what I could gather, Episode One was supposed to be shorter than Episode Two but it's slow game-play and repetitive fights made the game seem twice as long. The second episode has more legendary scale fights that keep on coming and never stop. It introduces new enemies into the game that you couldn't vs. in the other games such as the "Hunters" and "The Striders" or even both of them at the same time. The Hunters are 2.4 m tall and have the ability to go wherever the player can go. The Striders are five times as tall and their long, long legs play an important part in his height. The Hunters can be defeated with any type of gun but they have a weapon called a flechette to retaliate back with. The striders have powerful guns that can easily kill a human. We also see some old must-kill-Gordon Freeman friends such as the infamous Antlions, Who are basically still the same from the previous two games but a new Antlion Guard makes an appearance as well, the cute but deadly head crabs are back and are still causing havoc, the Combine troops are not as much in this game but if you ever get into combat with them roll 'em and sock 'em. The Zombies or Zombines, whatever, are back and are fun to demolish but the best enemy in the whole game has to be either the Hunters or striders. The level designs have been been vastly improved and a new dark atmosphere is surrounding this masterpiece which creates the perfect effect for this game. The best looking level has to be those ant-lion tunnels or whatever that you have to roam in while being chased by a scary-looking guardian. The game is, oddly, very scary and during the times in the game where you have low ammo, your pulse starts going faster and faster and more enemies come charging at you but you have to learn to use your environment to your benefit. The friendlies are very fun to have around and for the majority of the time you will have someone accompanying you whether it is Alyx Vance or the Vortigaunts, who are very powerful and weird looking. You are still playing Gordon Freeman who is more bad-ass than ever but has no means to express it since he is a mute but all that killing pretty much sums it up. You rock Gordon!!! Now go kick Master Chiefs ass. The weapons that you use are the same and no improvements have been made but, hey, you still have the shotgun with you. The pistol is more reliable to use and when ammo from the shot gun or the assault rifle have been run out, it would be wise to turn to pistol. The assault rifle is ammo wasting and not very accurate but still does a lot of damage once you hit some one with it. The firing sound for it is great to hear. The shotgun has to be my favorite weapon in the episode. The Gravity Gun is used a lot during the end fight (S) and a new type of ammo has been created called The Magnusson Device (its use will become clearer in the end). The rest of the weapons are of no use, in my opinion.

Continuing the plot of Half-Life 2 and Episode One, Episode Two consists of seven chapters telling the story of Gordon Freeman and Alyx Vance's journey to a large Resistance base called White Forest. After the destruction of the Citadel, the Combine are working to open a massive superportal to call for reinforcements. An integral part of the plot is the transmission packet which the Combine sacrificed the Citadel to send, a copy of which Alyx and Gordon stole before making their escape. It contains information relating to the location of the Combine homeworld and allows the creation of the superportal to be controlled from the "other side". This information has to be delivered to White Forest so that the Resistance can use it to shut down the superportal and prevent another Combine invasion.

The story is thrilling and imaginative so much that you wish you could skip ahead to see what happens next. The ending was magnificent and I can't wait to see what will happen in Episode Three. There are twists that will shock you to the bone and 99.99% of times it is unexpected. The voice acting is superb and a lot of more effort has been put into it because the characters show a lot more ways to express their emotions and it makes the story a whole lot more serious. Two Thumbs up for Robert Guillaume voice acting as Dr. Eli Vance, the father of Alyx Vance, and his execution of him was flawless. Merle Dandridge who voices Alyx Vance was great but her voice was something that was being read out of a script and she didn't even bother to hide it. I could spot no emotion whatsoever except for the end. The Achievements system is a new style for the Half Life games because they propose challenges which are, I dunno, quite challenging. They should continue this into future half life games!! Overall, everyone should play this game because it is an adventure taht will live with you for many months. I highly recommend it to anyone, young or old.

P.S. I can't wait for Episode three!!!!!

"Over and Out." 20th of June, 2010.

The Hangover is, proudly, a film that does not follow the footsteps of those college and break up films, like Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Old School, that is being overused nowadays and is rapidly becoming a bore but now we have a dirty, rude, hilarious film called "THE HANGOVER". It is one of those films that seem worthless but, instantaneously, from the first scene becomes a destined classic comedy that takes up your number one spot on your top 5 comedy list. It is a film with a stupid plot that quickly changes into a film with, matter of fact, unbelievable twists and action, not to mention the slick, hilarious, continuous sick stunts and jokes. The film was probably the most deserving of its award at the Oscars for best comedy or musical because with a movie like this, it can definitely go wrong, in a good way. One extra award should have been given out for Zach Galifianakis for his priceless role as Alan Garner (P.S I am definitely not exaggerating when I say that he should have won an Oscar. Damn you Oscars!!!!!) Todd Phillips is my new director to look at out for and he, obviously, has some great films under his title. Here I come Road Trip! A director like him is very rare nowadays because he is someone who never hides or thinks something is inappropriate for the eyes. He is one of a kind. His camera angles are impeccable. The acting cast did a brilliant job of making this riot come to life and the four main actors were perfect for their roles. I haven't seen much of Bradley Cooper on film, with the exception of He's Just Not That In To You (which he acted great in), but after watching him in The Hangover I have to say that this man has some great talent to show-off. He left a great impression on me and I have to get The a-Team just for him. Bradley Cooper is playing Phil Wenneck, a school teacher who has the "same maturity level as his students when he is with his pals", is one of the unlucky friend that goes to Vegas for the (worst) two days of his life. Ed Helms is, surprisingly, quite funny for a geeky dentist that can get pretty wild at parties, especially when he is drunk, and he looks tougher than he actually is. He is another unfortunate soul. Ed Helms has a great transformation from a dentist who is under the rule of his soon-to-be fiancée to a newly made man. In real life Ed Helms is quite cool and with playing a dentist with no balls, he is someone to look out for. Justin Bartha (National Treasure I and II) is Doug Billings, a soon-to-be husband who is ready for the time of his life, too bad he didn't see this whole thing coming. Justin Bartha has changed a lot from the last time we saw him in National Treasure. He still felt a little out of his place. The Main Star of the show is Zach Galifianakis who plays the hilarious Alan Garner, the brother in law of Doug Phillips, and who has an addiction for trusting druggies. The whole sh*toad of trouble starts when he puts Roofies into each glass of wine that he brought from a druggie who seemed trustworthy. He is the landmark of stupid/funny characters in films like these that the laughter flows out from. He is the fat part of this film and also the immaturity as well. I do not know how Zach made this guy come to life and how he gathered up all the energy? Anyways, Zach is a gifted actor that belongs into the Mensa of films. Well done! The rest of the cast is history......

Since the plot is too complicated and funny to comprehend, I took the liberty of copying this straight from IMDb: Just two days before his marriage with Tracy Garner, Doug Billings, in the company of two friends: Phil Wenneck and Stu Price; and Tracy's eccentric brother, Alan, head out to party in Vegas. Driving his father's Mercedez, they rent a pricey villa at Caesar's and head for the rooftop to have a good time. Three of them later wake up with a hangover, unable to re-collect what exactly happened. With the villa in a wreck, turned upside down, they find that they have a baby in the closet, a grown tiger in the bathroom, Stu has a missing tooth and a hooker for a bride, and Doug is missing. Hilarious chaos results as the trio head out to re-trace their steps, find out that occurred in order to try and locate Doug, and bring him home in one piece before the wedding.

The film has a cameo by Mike Tyson who is a fierce little fella and he lights the screen on fire once he makes an appearance. The punch must have hurt when Alan got it! The film has too many classic scenes and it would be very hard, if not impossible, to choose one but there are some scenes which stand out from the rest. The whole Alan making the baby look like it is jerking off is stuck in my mind for days and I laugh whenever it is thought off. I laugh in the classroom in sleep, even in the toilet. The Ending, which I won't certainly not spoil, is also very funny because it outlines the stupidity that the bunch had to go through after realizing......... (lets leave it at that.) The film amazes me when I think of the R18+ rating it got because the film had hardly any nudity to what you might expect but the foul language and the offensive acts fill that up in a flash. This is a must recommend for Comedy fans who are looking for the word "Originality".

"Over and Out" 10th June, 2010.

Title: The Mothman Prophecies

Director: Mark Pellington

Genre: Thriller

Cast: Richard Gere, Laura Linney.....

Rating: 9/10 - Near Perfect!

The Mothman Prophecies is one of those unexpected movies which after you watch has you thinking about it for days and nights. It is also one of those movies which you also love because it came to be a surprise pang in the face - and a good pang as a matter of fact. The Mothman Prophecies is referred to as an "UFO" film but that description is partly right because Supernatural is the word mainly used to describe this film. Wait a minute, make it supernatural/thriller/horror. The film is reported to be based on the accident that saw the bridge on the River Ohio crumble and break in two but the events leading up to that are complete fiction. The first thing is that The Mothman Prophecies is set in the present rather than the 1960's when the disaster struck, so, to be honest, it lacks in fact and excels in fiction. The film does a good job of telling the story with a few stereotypes here and there but apart from all that crap, I actually, believe me or not, LOVED it! The film has everything from good, unexpected scares that make you jump out of your seat and crap your pants, to a brilliant dialogue, to a great supernatural story that ultimately captures your attention. I don't get why people gave this film such a low score, or stars, because this surely deserves at least a seven point five, if not belonging in the top 250. Forgive my exaggeration but what I speak comes from the heart. The film is believed to be an adaptation from the novel, it's highly likely because Mark Pellington is not a great story writer, but I do not know if it stays true to the book or is far away from being close to each other. The surprising thing is that I knew nothing about the Great Tragedy on The River Ohio (need to study my history) and so the events leading up to the climax actually had me shocked to the bone. Sometimes it is good not to know your history of a movie that centers around a fact. The Great Tragedy of The River Ohio is a fact that occurred in Point Pleasant, so you better not report me if a I told you a spoiler that wasn't a spoiler. The main actor in the film is Richard Gere and he plays a man who's wife is killed by the same supernatural forces that are randomly happening in Point Pleasant. John Klein is an interesting character with a background full of stereotypes but is an interesting result. He is brought to life by Richard Gere who plays John Klein with great focus and a lot of skill. His acting is top-notch but somehow people are saying the opposite of what I am saying about him. Laura Linney was nothing new and I found her as a nuisance. No more comments. David Eigenberg was great to watch as he played Ed Fleischman, a man who accuses Klein of being the man who keeps on knocking on his door. He played the game properly and to his limit....or so I think? Supernatural Fans will without a doubt love this film and the genre even more.

When John Klein, a Washington Post journalist, and his wife Mary finally find the house of their dreams, they just can't believe their luck. On the way back from the bargain, Mary nearly runs over a caped, winged figure, jerks the wheel and skids into the sidewalk. She hits her head badly, and dies in the hospital a little later. John, completely devastated, soon finds some sketches his wife made after the accident. They all show a winged creature, yet there is no angel resemblance at all. Two years later, John all of a sudden finds himself one night in Point Pleasant, West Virginia. He has no idea how he has journeyed the 400 miles in less than two hours. In the small town, local cop Connie struggles with many sightings of a mothlike creature taller than a man being reported, while John believes that an explanation for his wife's fate can be found. The deeper John digs, the clearer the mothman's purpose arises - only to leave his life in immediate danger, as it seems.

The mothman is something that is quite terrifying and leaves clue on disasters in the future. The Mothman has a terrifying voice filled with dread and sounds like a computer dying of a virus. The part where John Klein finds out that the mothman's voice is different, you then start being alert of every scares around the corner that re to come. The music is, what I remember of, quite enjoyable to hear because in scary situation the music will rise and more creepiness will be added to it while other times it will be a haunting soft low music that sinks in your bones, making it the perfect atmosphere for a good, old scare. The Mothman Prophecies is rated PG-13 in America but sometimes it has R18 themes that is cleverly used. The Mothman Prophecies can beat most horror or thriller films that are out in stores today, so I highly recommend taht you view this with a couple of friends but try and watch it alone.....with the lights switched OFF! The special effects are very limited in this film because it does not need to thrive on it but it does have it's moments. The visions of the Mothman are superbly stylish and the River scene was very realistic.

"Over and Out." 27 May 2010.

Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas is a story with pointlessness as a point to the story and the film is packed with enough drugs to make even a monkey high. Someone like me who has knowledge of Hunter S. Thompson, his friends, and gonzo journalism, will definitely not get this movie or love it as much as the people who know a lot about it. Hunter S. Thompson seems like the man who has broken everything that every religion says about drugs along with his friend "Dr Gonzo". I haven't researched him up but if he sounds, looks, and talks like what Johnny Depp Portrayed in the film, then he surely is weird. Johnny Depp has probably made this character look presentable on screen at best. Johnny Depp is an amazing actor who has starred in a lot of masterpieces that, definitely, includes Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas. I love his mannerism, his speech in the film, and of course, I loved his performance to the point of extreme madness. Benicio Del Toro on the other hand was immaculate as well for portraying an overweight lawyer and friend Of Raoul Duke (Hunter S. Thompson) who looks disgusting on the screen. His part was one of the most disturbing character studies ever, "it" was a mix between the cannibals out of Wrong Turn and Hannibal Lecter. That is how disturbing it was. The film itself will make you high with pleasure as you see life through the two mismatched pairs as they are being taken over by hundred drugs of drugs. The film will go all fuzzy and twirly, and swirly forever when the the duo are on drugs and at times, they see imaginary creatures like bats over their heads. Scenes like those are very hard to digest and very annoying because you don't really know what is going on. I give two thumbs up for the brilliant narration, spoken by Johnny Depp, because sometimes, as I have said before that, the film will be hard to take in and the narration will elaborate more on what is happening. The narration was also great to hear because it had a great voice saying the narration and it also contains a lot of expression. Tobey Maguire plays the "Hitchhiker", a character without a background and who has long white hair that looks vile. Tobey Maguire was still in his rookiness and so I fail to give him a positive review about his performance. Aside from this small role, we also see Camera Diaz who is listed on IMDb as the "Blonde TV Woman" taking on somebody who has a "negative" encounter with one of the boys who has a gun. Cameron Diaz will happily get a positive review from me.

An adaptation of Hunter S. Thompson's novel of the same name. The film details a whacky search for the "American Dream", by Thompson and his crazed, Samoan lawyer. Fueled by the massive amount of drugs they purchased with an advance from a magazine to cover a sporting event in Vegas; they set out in the Red Shark. Encountering police, reporters, gamblers, racers, and hitchhikers; they search for some undefinable thing know only as the "American Dream" and find fear, loathing and hilarious adventures into the dementia of the modern American West.

The music used in this motion picture has been greatly chosen. This film contains songs by Jefferson Airplane who have a song called "White Rabbit" that immediately caught my attention and another song by them called "Somebody To Love" which was glamorous as well. There are also songs by The Blues Brothers, The Young Bloods, Frank Sinatra, and many, many more. One other thing I want to talk about is Johnny Depp's hair in this film and how absurd it looks. It might have belonged to Hunter S. Thompson but it doesn't look good on Johnny, I don't know why I brought up the hair thing but isn't it weird? Terry Gilliam has some notable films on his list and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas has to be one of the notable film. This film came to be a surprise and I didn't expect much out of it but it is quite promising to those who understand it. I recommend this film to people who have "no Life"! That was a joke, right? I recommend this film to people who want to watch it. That's it! The End!

"Over and Out." 27 May 2010.

Having only watched only one film of his "...Police story" film, I randomly decided to rent out an action film. After a lot of searching around my eyes were stuck to New Police Story because it got a reasonable score on IMDb: number one site to search up films! The films blurb was interesting enough to make me rent this film our and after finishing this, I am glad and happy for the price I paid for this film. First thing you need to know is that this film is no Ong Bak or The Protector but it is different in it's ow way. The story is far more interesting than Ong Bak's and the action isn't one o one style all the time because there will be moments in the film where guns, traps, and even bombs are used to make the film a lot more fun and way more unbelievable. Apart from all the fighting stuff, there are a lot of stunts used in this film, like the part where Jackie Chan makes an entrance into a rampaging bus. Or maybe the part where he is dangling from the burning rope. Even the stunts were unbelievable at times. Jackie Chan is fantastic as ever in this film and this time his police story is far more interesting and funner to watch. I like the way that he is seen with such heroism but quickly descends down and tries to make a scene again and maybe regain his reputation with his fellow police officers. The heist scenes are cool to watch and with all the crazy monkeys leaping around the place, it is hard not to treasure scenes like those. The movie would have had ten stars if it wasn't for the length that was used for this particular film. Isn't an action film supposed to be fun, short, and nonsense. This film definitely has fun, a little bit of nonsense, and definitely sucks in length. If they had made the movie a bit shorter, it would have been the perfect action film. The plot is more interesting than the whole action bits whole together because the story is more heavy and, surprisingly, quite good. Jackie Chan is truly the best I have seen in a long time to star in a film, his acting has rather improved a lot but his great acting comes with a price: he hardly is humorous in the film. That is good in a way since this film deals with situation that are meant to be taken seriously. Jackie Chan is awesome and continues to amaze us with this film. His role is an self-guilty police officer who witnesses the death of his entire team is emotional, making it his most emotional role in his life. I, especially, love his fighting style and his performance. Bravo! So if Jackie Chan has no humor in New Police Story then where do we get it from. Answer: Nicholas Tse. Nicholas Tse plays a huge and important part in the film because he is the one who urges Jackie Chan's character, Inspector Chan Kwok-Wing, to stop his drinking habit and to come back in order to capture the mysterious, intelligent gang led by Joe Kwan, Daniel Wu, which is the named The Gang of Five. Nicholas is the stand in comedian for Jackie Chan. He looked like he wanted to be a mini - Chan and he mostly succeeds. Daniel Wu plays an evil gang leader who hates cops and wants to cause havoc. His team is rich, young fellows who have nothing better to do thank kill cops and rob banks. In Joe Kwan's case it is a whole different case. He doesn't come from a wealthy family like his gangs and throughout his childhood, he was beaten by his dad and his anger for the cops started from then on. Daniel Wu has everything to be a villain but often he disappoints.

(Minor Spoilers)Inspector Chan Kwok-Wing is China's most valuable cop who comes and saves the day...most of the time. He has confidence and a whole lot of fighting skills backing him up but this time his confidence will ruin his life. A gang of thieves suddenly appear out of nowhere and start shooting cops with machine guns to earn money. A whole lot of cops die on that night. Chan, along with his whole team and his brother-in-law, find the thieves hideout and are prepared to face them. What they didn't expect is a confusing puzzle where they are taken one by one. As his whole team dies, he finally confronts the evil and ruthless gang. They play a sadistic and torturous game where he challenged to a game of random things that will secure his men....or kill them. A year later, Chan has quit the force and now is a drunk roaming the streets of China with criminals on the loose. When he passes out on the Sidewalk, a stranger helps him regain consciousness. After a lot of persuading from the strange man who is soon going to be his partner, Chan rejoins the force. This time the criminals will have nowhere to run.....

The CGI is quite impressive and pretty strange. A Chinese Martial-art film only needs fighting to succeed but the case with this is different. The visual effects aren't crappy and fake but instead look pretty authentic. Thumbs up for that! The music and soundtrack in this film is epic and great to hear. During the opening credits and throughout the film, the music will appear a lot for the good reasons. One thing that really surprised me was that there was blood used in this film. Since when has blood ever been a film.....only breaking bones are mainly used. That was a little bit strange but it made the film a little bit more violent. Some of the games that the gang play are, literally, torturous and painful to watch.

"Over and Out." 25 March 2010.

Identity maybe the best thriller film of all time considering that it has all the elements and a unique substance that holds this film together and, simply, it just is a unique masterpiece by James Mangold. James Mangold is a visionary director who has made great films like 3:10 to Yuma, Walk The Line, Girl, Interrupted but even though they maybe great, Identity easily tops that list in a flash. James Mangold uses a lot of twists and sometimes confusing puzzles to make you like this film and out of nowhere the puzzle will be answered with a new brilliant twist. Even though I give films ten stars, it still does not mean that they are perfect but with a film like this, it is a whole different case. Identity and a lot of other ten star films surely do come to be perfect. A few centimeters more and they will become my next best friend. Gosh, how could I have thought that this would be time wasting? How could I think that this will be crap? How could I think something bad about this? Answer = Stupidity. This film defines the "Don't Judge a Movie By Its Cover" tagline. Now to the acting and performances by the crew in this film. John Cusack is in his game with this film as he plays a likable ex-cop turned limo driver, who ends up in a motel that is in the middle of nowhere along with more people who, mysteriously, all have a connection to each other. His acting is what defines acting in a good way and when I mean that, I am f*king dead serious. Ray Liotta is also another performer to watch out for because he portrays someone who knows more than he is letting on. I love his scary, yet deadly secret. Liotta acts beautifully and convincingly all the way till we find more about him. Amanda Peet plays a prostitute who is heading for a place to start a new life specializing in growing oranges, who also, strangely, goes to the motel. Amanda is strong in this film and near flawless. Before I go on, you might be wondering that why are they all ending up in a motel. Answer = it is raining and the streets are flooded. Alfred Molina is unrecognizable as he plays Dr.Mallick and I didn't even know that he was performing in this film if it wasn't for the credits. Nevertheless, he still does a great job. The plot is greatly crafted and engaging from the first scene. The storytelling which is seen from all sides is quite clever and adds a little bit more depth to the whole film. The cinematography is outstanding and spooky because, since it's raining, with no where to go, you have no choice but to go to a motel where you are wondering who is going to die first. The rainy setting is the perfect setting for this psychological thriller. The atmosphere also has a clear sense of horror stuck to it, a perfect atmosphere for a film. This review is all positives but no negative. Erm......The film is too scary!! That is my only concern - thank you! I am ranting on too much about this film but that is hard to since I wanna tell you all about it and why you should watch it. One: Great acting. Two: Brilliant cinematography. Three: Great twists. Four: likable characters. Must Watch!!! I highly recommend this to anyone, children and adults alike since I am not a classification freak like some, but the only concern I have is that it has a confusing story that takes a lot of time to figure out but if you want to have a go at it.... please do.

Strangers from all different walks of life: a limo driver escorting a movie star, parents with a young son, a cop transporting a convict, a prostitute, a young couple, and a motel manager are caught up in a nasty rainstorm, stuck at a motel in desolate Nevada. Soon they realize they may be at the motel for another reason when one by one, people start getting killed off. As tensions flare and fingers are pointed, they have to get to the bottom of why they're there. Meanwhile in an undisclosed location, a psychiatrist is trying to prove the innocence of a man accused of murder in an eleventh hour trial. How these two through-lines are related can only be found in Identity.

Minor spoilers hereon: When you find out that they all have the same birthday and are named after a state or country, you are think WTF! but the ending tells you why this is what it is. The waiting to find out what happens is really annoying because with a film like this, storytelling has to be fast and clear at the same time. The story about the "Indian Cemetery" is a really scary mini-story that gives you something to think about. It is haunting as well. The ending was great and unexpected so you don't really know what is happening until PANG you are hit in the face with an unbelievable twist. The boy who, reportedly, dies is quite scary to think about. The funny thing is that, if you have watched the film, John Cusack is actually a fat, bald guy. For a reason I found that funny. My words are running out.....Damn!! The original score is great and adds a bit more creepiness to the film which will make you enjoy it way more. The uniqueness of this film is very rare and hard to find nowadays in film. The "I met a man who wasn't there..." poem is frightening and greatly written. The voice that says that adds a bit more effect to the hauntingness of it. Should definitely be on you "Must Watch list!" 10/10 - A Masterpiece! Bravo!

"Over and out." 24 March 2010.

Review: 13 Tzameti

Director: Gela Babluani

Review:

13 Tzameti is a film that is either a masterpiece or a violent, disgusting tale. To me this film is both: a modern violent masterpiece by an unknown director, Géla Babluani, who came out of nowhere and made his violent debut with this film. A film with a low budget like this once again proves that we do not need Avatar like budget to make you like a film. Surprisingly, this film was a lot better than Avatar for its exciting plot and its valuable dialog that you become attached to in the first few minutes of the film. The entire film was shot in Black And White and you might be thinking, "Who the hell does that?" but the director made his reasons clear as the first gun shot went off. What I mean is that the color for this particular film made the experience a lot more....more...splendid. I cannot visualize this in color. When 13, Géla Babluani's remake of 13 Tzameti comes out in cinemas around the world, then we can compare each one but my hopes are stuck onto this one. The beginning starts out really boring as you see a roof repairer repairing a building. Then things start to get more interesting when he is requested to help a woman carry her friend who is a morphine addict into the house. From then on, it's a ride to hell and mainly, fun. The atmosphere is what I call perfect in this film because it creates something that suits the film and also adds a bit more effect to the deaths. Some people might be thinking that is a Russian roulette based film but no it isn't but instead it is a French Roulette where they all stand in a circle with a gun to each other's head. Since this film is quite short then this review has to be, sadly, short as well.

Sebastian, a young man, has decided to follow instructions intended for someone else, without knowing where they will take him. Something else he does not know is that Gerard Dorez, a cop on a knife-edge, is tailing him. When he reaches his destination, Sebastian falls into a degenerate, clandestine world of mental chaos behind closed doors in which men gamble on the lives of others men.

A low-budget film like this will draw away most people but don't fall for that and make sure that this is in your hands no matter what you are feeling. Who cares if you are the odd one out in the whole video store because you would get the most pleasure out of viewing this. I would like to say, again, that Gela Babluani is a talented director who actually creates shocking miracles. I cannot wait to compare this film with its remake, 13 with Hollywood actors. The first shot was unexpected and really frightening. The deaths were so real that you wish you could tear your eyes off the screen but couldn't since this film gets you in a hypnotic trance. I highly recommend this masterpiece to people who love the genre (s) like Crime, Thriller, and Drama, or a mixture of all. 13 Tzameti is the year's best foreign film, maybe the decades, for its brilliant story and a great cast all worthy of praise. George Babluani plays the role if innocent to not so innocent Sebastian well. He lacks acting skills but has a lot of expression. The ending is different from what you have in mind but it is sad as well. If you liked this movie I also recommend....mmmmm....oh, I forgot this film is unique........... 8/10

The series Firefly was an intelligent Sci-Fi show that was original and brilliant at the same time. I was very angry at Fox for canceling the show because they stopped a series that would change human civilization for ever. Damn You FOXXX!!!! BUT my anger eased when I heard of the live action film called Serenity. Hearing about it was a miracle and seeing it was a blessing. Never before have I been so proud of Joss Whedon after watching this Science Fiction masterpiece that changed my life. I disagree with anyone who poses bad comments or rebellion against this. This movie truly deserves to be on IMDb 250 and I have no idea in the world why the staff members decided taht this was no longer a top 250 film. This film has the essence and soul of the FireFly series and if you take that and combine it with this film, you will be amazed, even better, BLOWN AWAY. The film introduces new deadly characters like the assassin called The Operative, but apart from new characters they also tell you lot more about the mysterious race called the Reavers, barbaric soulless monsters who rape their victors for "hours without end", and once they kill their enemies they skin them. That is utterly disgusting and also fascinating in a sick, weird sense of way. That is my humor at work....I guess. The Operative is a deadly and smooth assassin who has a sense of "belief", killing his objectives, and creating a world with no sin. He has a lot of awesome moves and is impressive in result. Chiwetel Ejiofor truly was a surprise at playing him because to me he seems like someone who belongs to the genre "Drama". Ejiofor is someone you have to look out for but be sure to stand away. The crew is back even more funnier, smarter, more heroic and slick than they could ever be. We see Nathan Fillion taking on the captain of the ship serenity, Mal Reynolds, and he still shines like a star. Adam Baldwin is still back with his brawn and humor as Jayne. He did an impressive job. Gina Torres is not up to her full potential and lacks the experience of what she did in the series. Her toughness became a weak point to her at the end of the film. To say what it is will be classified as a a spoiler. Alan Tudyk is as brilliant as ever for portraying Wash, the ships pilot. Morena Baccarin was a bit of a nuisance for me, no reason specified. Jewel Staite was, surprisingly, fun to watch as she, for the first time in her life, shot a gun....at the Reavers. She is valuable to the film. Sean Maher returns as Simon, a magnificent medical doctor who, obviously, seems the only one mature enough on the ship. He isn't the weak and vulnerable doctor anymore. He would surely kick Dr. Hannibal Lecter's A*S. The biggest surprise of the whole cast was Summer Glau for her can't-begin-to-describe acting. Her fighting talents are put to use in this film and she is even more deadlier than The Operative. I consider her as the best performer in the whole film. The Shepherd returns back but has a small part in the film. First of all, I want to say is that the actions scenes are spectacular and breath taking. Never before have I seen such brilliant fighting choreography from any choreographist before. Near the end, This film truly reaches its potential. The visual effects have improved a bit and a lot more detail has been put into the film. I would have loved to see some more floating islands though.

In the future, when a passenger with a deadly secret. Six rebels on the run. An assassin in pursuit. When the renegade crew of Serenity agrees to hide a fugitive on their ship, they find themselves in an awesome action-packed battle between the relentless military might of a totalitarian regime who will destroy anything - or anyone - to get the girl back and the bloodthirsty creatures who roam the uncharted areas of space. But, the greatest danger of all may be on their ship. From the mind of Joss Whedon, comes a new edge-of-your-seat adventure loaded with explosive battles, gripping special effects and fantastic new worlds.

The most disappointing thing about this motion picture is that it left out that legendary song that was played in every episode of FireFLy. I was expecting to see that one last time. The story is clever and exhilarating. Two hours is not enough for a film like this but with a director like Joss Whedon, miracles can happen. I was happy that the film let in a bit more on The Ravers. Firefly didn't tell us anything about them but, thankfully, this film corrected that mistake. The race is even more barbaric than I imagined. And in relation to the Reavers, the costume designers and makeup artists have done a perfect job in making the reavers and the characters presentable. An award should go to them. My favorite scenes were when you first see the operative in action and his samurai-way-of-dying stunt. The other has to be (very minor spoiler) is when River single handily kills an army of reavers in a small area. I loved that scene! (end of minor spoiler). My least favorite part has to be (biggest spoiler ever!!!) when Wash dies by being pierced through the heart. (End of biggest spoiler ever). One thing everyone should know is that before you watch Serenity make sure that you have watched the season Firefly first. You will get to know a lot more about the crew and the story will become much more clearer. Trust me on this. The film does an excellent job of having one or two, maybe zilch, stereotypes and even if it did, it did a good job of hiding it. Recommended to science fiction fans!

When I was attending my Young Leaders National Day in Australia, they showed some random clips from films about leadership and always following your dreams. They showed movie clips from Over The Hedge, Up, and, of course, Chariots Of Fire. I would have never bothered watching this if it wasn't for everyone claiming that they had watched it and it made feel like the odd one out. The clip showed the part where Eric Liddell confesses to his sister that God made him to run. That scene was memorable and was so intriguing even if it was only one or two minutes long. My local library, luckily, kept a copy aside for me and I couldn't wait to watch this MASTERPIECE. I was ready to face anything but somewhere I knew that this movie wasn't meant for me. First of all, it was made thirty or so years ago and films that long ago don't appeal to me as much as the new ones. Second of all, I was prepared to be bored out of my mind by listening to all that British accents being portrayed and the boring plot. Third of all, I had no history of what the story was about and that, surprisingly, made the film feel more intriguing. The competition between Eric Liddell and Harold Abrahams is very fun to watch and since I hardly know anything about them, you won't know who is going to win. At times you are rooting for Eric Liddell and his fast legs but the majority of the time, my attention was focused on Harold Abrahams because he is more likable and way more determined that Eric Liddell. The beginning creates a sense of nostalgia as you see either Eric Or Harold, maybe one of their friends, half-narrating the story which you will watch. The story starts as a bunch of runners are running on the beach dressed in plain white-clothes. That was a perfect background for the credits to be portrayed in. Even though the film is more than thirty years old, it felt like something made in the nineties and that's a bad thing. The date which it is set in doesn't even feel like it is the right time. It looks too futuristic for the date it was set in. Ben Cross is lovable as Harold Abrahams and he is fantastic in this picture. I guarantee you no one can play Harold better than him. I was very surprised that the film won four Oscars but none went to anyone, except a nomination for Ian Holme. Ben Cross should have truly won an Oscar or, at least, a nomination for his notable performance. Ian Charleson was fine not to win an Oscar but if it wasn't for his death, I am pretty sure he would be having an Oscar held in his hand right round. I can't say if he portrayed Eric Liddell beautifully since I don't even know how he was but if he was something like this in the film, I am sure he would've been proud of him. Ian Holme came to be quite a surprise for his performance of Sam Mussabini, the coach of Harold Abrahams, and he is hardly recognizable. He was the coach that everyone wishes they had. The award for Costume Design was earned well because the costumes filled in a lot of its time.

The story, told in flashback, of two young British sprinters competing for fame in the 1924 Olympics. Eric, a devout Scottish missionary runs because he knows it must please God. Harold, the son of a newly rich Jew runs to prove his place in Cambridge society. In a warmup 100 meter race, Eric defeats Harold, who hires a pro trainer to prepare him. Eric, whose qualifying heat is scheduled for a Sunday, refuses to run despite pressure from the Olympic committee. A compromise is reached when a nobleman allows Eric to compete in his 400 meter slot. Eric and Harold win their respective races and go on to achieve fame as missionary and businessman/athletic advocate, respectively.

The moments where the film, literally, speed up or are filled with adrenaline are the best moments you will find in the film. The college race is memorable and contains a vague sense of nostalgia. The race is a race worth shouting for in approval, matter of fact every race in his film deserves your respect and more importantly, your valuable time. The Olympic races were tense and exhilarating, just the way I like it, and, surprisingly, I jumped out of my couch a lot of the time, to clap or shout " You can do it Harold! Yes, Harold! Good!". The music is ear catching and body moving. The film also contains, I think, some native British songs like "He is an Englishman" and many more. The music is great to hear but the title of the song is very hard to remember. The music is most of the time Christian themed. I highly recommend this film to anyone and I can't seem to understand why people do not like this movie. It contains of the best stories that are centered around the Olympics. Chariots Of Fire - there isn't a film like this nor will there ever be.

The film first caught my eye a few years ago and I had really wanted to get it then but couldn't find it anywhere. Seriously! The title alone mystified me and after reading what the film was about I was greatly intrigued by this film. One of the reasons why this captivated me was because the title, "a simple plan", had a sense of sarcasm stuck to it. It should have read "not a simple plan". Only a genius like Sam Raimi can do something like that to make you love the movie before you have seen it. He has created blockbusters like The Spider-man Trilogy, The Evil Dead Trilogy, Darkman, and Drag Me To Hell, and I have to say that A Simple Plan tops that list in an instance. I had high hopes for this film but not too high and I was surprised to see this movie wrap around me like a warm, bloody blanket. Sam has done a great job and why isn't this on the IMDb top 250 list! It should be on there!!! The cast is perfectly chosen because it contains actors who have a lot of talent to give to this film and who also are quite famous so you can say, "Hey, I know that guy...and that guy too. Matter of fact, I know them all!". The depiction of innocent Hank to not so Innocent Hank is portrayed with great execution by Bill Paxton. He plays his role smartly, seriously, and enthusiastically, couldn't say that in the movie though. Jacob is Hank's older brother and his life isn't as great as his brothers. I guess, you could call him a loser! And do you know who plays him? Yep, you're right, Billy Bob Thornton is the appropriate choice for the portrayal of Jacob. This role should have helped him for Bad Santa. Life is the same, personality ain't. Bridget Fonda plays, at first, a charming pregnant lady who is the wife of Hank. Things are going well, until the money rolls in and from then on she becomes a great tactician on how to hide the money and keep it safe. She is deceiving and her intentions become clearer on how to use the money at the end. In my opinion, I consider her act the finest and tastiest. There have been a lot of questions on which one is better: The novel or The film. I haven't read the novel, nor plan to, but whatever anything originates from is not as good as the original. That is my saying. The motion picture will sound lame to you at first but, hey, looks can be deceiving. To me it seemed like an drama that moves slowly and boringly but , in fact, this picture is quite the opposite. The first few minutes are slow but from then on a trail of murder, deception, and cover ups lie in the way for Hank and his brother. The first murder scene was unexpected and it shocked me but then when the second murder scene came on, I knew from then on that this was the beginning of a long and murderous task.

(minor spoilers)It all starts when Hank, his brother Jacob, and Jacob's friend, Lou, are driving when a fox run in front of their car and later, their dog follow the fox. The trio discover an abandoned, crashed plane, that, mysteriously, has four million dollars in cash in it. The bunch decide on keeping the money if no one claims it by Spring break and they have to let Hank Keep it, considering that Hank can be the only one trusted. Hank shows the money to his wife Sarah and, at first, she doesn't want to keep it but, eventually, realizes on how the money can make their lives better. To seem like that no one has stolen the money, she asks Hank to return five hundred thousand dollars back, and he happily does. A nosy farmer on his ski disturbs things and they kill him. This is the first of their murders and the rest have to follow. The ending will be one of the best in a long time because it doesn't contain one twist but instead three. How about it folks? (spoiler end)

The murders are brilliantly planned as they hit you in the face with a sick churn. They are sickening and very shocking. The deaths and blood do not terrify me but instead on saying "Sometimes good people to evil things". It is pretty hard watching an innocent man with no reason to hurt anyone to someone who you do not want to be near with. The thought of it terrifies me! The actors portray these scenes very realistically and carefully. The haunting music that goes along with this film creates the atmosphere that this film really needs to succeed. The ending was even better than The Mists, and that was a beautiful one. My favorite bit was when (Spoiler) they find out the whole thing was useless because the money could not be used(spoiler end) and my worst bit was (spoiler) the ending again, because I had to watch all that money go to waste when it could've been filling my tummy with food(spoiler End). Final Thoughts: This is a awesomely crafted thriller that will captivate audiences in the very first twenty minutes, and I can guarantee that. It lacks in nothing and has everything. This film will live with me since I die! A great film! 10/10 - first movie so far of 2010.

Who doesn't love Al Pacino? Anyone.....Come on..... there at least should be one hater! Guess there is not. Al Pacino is loved by everyone who has seen him as "Michael Vito Corleone" in The Godfather Trilogy or the ruthless "Tony Montana" in Scarface. These films were the highlights of his career and even though he isn't as memorable as Will Dormer in Insomnia, it is hard not to give him an honorable mention. Insomnia is referred to as a "Cat and Mouse" thriller and it proved that it is one because of the whole chase thing between Will Dormer, a cop, and a local writer who goes by the name of Walter Finch, a man who is under the suspicion of killing a teen. This is proved even more when there is an actual ground chase between them two on the logs in the flowing river. That scene was full of heart pounding action and added a bit of intrigue that made you appreciate the film a little bit more. The film would have been unknown to me if there weren't the three Oscar winners, Al Pacino, Robin Williams, and Hilary Swank that made this thriller for what it is, also if Christopher Nolan hadn't directed it. He is truly a great director. Steven Spielberg has to watch out for the might of Nolan. Al Pacino was absolute and admirable in Insomnia therefore making him the best actor in the whole film. His role as a tough cop was fascinating and hypnotizing. Robin Williams, who portrays Walter Finch, was not as great as Al's however he still doesn't disappoint. This is not Robin Williams best role but it MIGHT be his most evilest role in his "Evil Trilogy". Hilary Swank's character Ellie Burr made you think that she was unnecessary but as the film reaches its climax you realize that she plays an important part. Swank's performance could not rival against her other roles in "Million Dollar Baby" or "Boy's don't Cry" however she is agreeable but not fun to watch. The films chilly, or spooky, atmosphere is the best in any movie, I have ever seen so far. It just makes the films setting really home-sweet-home. The scenery at the beginning was beautiful as the plane flew over the ice and glaciers of Alaska.

In Nightmute, Alaska, seventeen year old resident Kay Connell is found murdered. As a favor to the local Nightmute police chief, two Los Angeles Robbery Homicide police detectives, Will Dormer and Hap Eckhart, are called in to assist in the investigation. Although renowned in the police world, both Dormer and Eckhart are facing some professional issues back in Los Angeles. In Nightmute, Dormer has a major case of insomnia due to a combination of the incessant midnight sun and from a secret he is carrying. This insomnia is causing him to be delusional. Something he is not dreaming about is that the murderer has contacted him, informing him all about the murder and the fact that he knows everything that is going on with Dormer. They begin a symbiotic relationship in keeping secrets for each individual's benefit. But ambitious young local detective, Ellie Burr, might piece the story together on her own.

Australia makes the most sh*tty films which no one overseas watch and they think that their films are masterpieces. After watching Wolf Creek and Samson and Delilah, I have to disagree to that. Australia uses one side of the brain in each film and that is the reason for their long, long lines of failure. I might live in Australia but I am, thankfully, not one and I hate Aussie "Films. "Good day, mate" and "Wanna come over for a barbie" are what Australians use the most. Know wonder they are the second most obese nation in the world after Homer and America. Aussie directors make themselves look like a bunch of....weirdos. This was all true, and it still is , but when Danny Deckchair caught my eyes, I was impressed. I didn't know a single actor or actress that starred in the film but that didn't stop me from having fun. A few years back, Danny Deckchair was on T.V. and I caught a glimpse of the part where the chair with helium balloons lift of the ground. From that little glimpse of I was intrigued... and still am. At the start of the film it didn't look promising because the Aussie accent was being used. Not again! Australia has this Sesame Street-kind-of show called Play School and the actors from that shows star in this, and I was glad to know that there is at least one Aussie actor that I know. The transformation of Danny Morgan (Rhys Ifans) from someone who is a loser to someone that rocks a town alive, is great and really well-done. Rhys Ifans brings Danny Morgan to life and no one could have done it better. He provides enthusiasm for his role and his character Danny is really intriguing. Miranda Otto portrays Glenda Lake, a car ticket office who mainly keeps to herself and doesn't like going in crowds, and she seems really boring until Danny Morgan comes alive. She finds an interest in him and the rest begins from there. The story is enjoyable to watch and is also different from the gay movies out now, having flop written all over them. The story should, and will be, easy to understand but it doesn't seem possible....in a away. A new stranger walks into town and most of the town don't even bother to check his background but rather refer to him as a "Hottie". Trudy Dunphy is a deceiving, cheating, all about fame, b*tch who thinks that her husband, Danny Morgan, is a loser with no possible future and ends up having an affair with a news broadcaster. Justin Clarke is the perfect choice to play her and she id good to watch. Jeff Balsmeyer (never heard of him), the director of Danny Deckchair, had a few main ingredients missing out that made the movie sometimes feel dull but never slow. His third film is good but his previous two are probably in the sewers.

Based on a true story, the tale of a cement truck driver named Danny, whose long awaited vacation is cancelled thanks to his scheming girlfriend, Trudy. Danny escapes his grim life in suburban Australia and blasts into the skies in a chair tied with helium balloons. A mighty thunderstorm blows him clean off the map, and spits him out far away over the lush green town of Clarence. In this new town, he rockets into the world of Glenda, the town's only parking cop. While the media back home becomes obsessed with the story of his disappearance, Danny gets to reinvent himself in this new town, and in his great adventure, he discovers a true soulmate in Glenda. Fate catches up with him eventually, as Danny's true identity is revealed and Trudy--now a tabloid celebrity--comes to the idyllic town to claim Danny and drag him back to Sydney. Danny, however, is a changed man; he's discovered what it means to be happy and has found a new self-worth. Saying farewell to Trudy, Danny makes a dynamic re-entry to the town of Clarence--determined to win Glenda back again and embrace his newfound zest for life.