Arbitrage

There's nothing really new about this drama-thriller film Arbitrage but it got all the right ingredients of becoming one of the best thriller films of all time. Mr. Robert Miller (Richard Gere),a  multi-millionaire who owns several companies desperately tried to complete a sale before getting noticed on his fraudulent act. He tried to weigh this with his infidelity to a young French-girl who later resulted to a tragic accident. The movie revolves around these two acts that he is trying to walk away from, sacrificing innocent people around him including his family. What I like most about the film is a strong script and genuine acting from the cast. It was unexpectedly moving too, the short scene of Mrs. Miller and her daughter Brooke touched me, and the life of the accomplice Jimmy Grants also added to the great story, creating twist and turn to Robert's fate.

Great mixed stories of infidelity and fraud in a Wallstreet-like setting has set this indie movie a total sold out for people loving its genre. The performances from the cast were outstanding, lead by Richard Gere who should really get an Oscar-nod this time. Susan Sarandon as always as one of the best actresses, she never fails to impress me even in this little role as Gere's wife. I've seen a completely different Brit Marling in this movie compare to her previous role in Another Earth, her work as Gere's smart daughter showcases her real versatility, I'd love to see more of her and hopefully in hugely-produced and widely-distributed ones. Also starred Tim Roth, written and directed by Nicholas Jarecki. This is surely one of my favorite movies of the year, I'm giving it a healthy rating of 4.5/5

Rurouni Kenshin (Live Action)

I wasn't aware of the live action version of this famous manga and anime Rurouni Kenshin 'til it started to be shown here in our local cinema this December. I was reluctant to believe when one of my peers asked me about the film since I hadn't heard about it 'til it was shown (I thought it was just some web series or fan-based videos online). I'm not a fan of the manga nor its anime series, though I have come across an episode or two of its TV adaptation I lacked background about what the story is all about. So earlier today I took time watching the movie version of it, it was a little over two hours of non-stop sword-clashing  and  and I kinda like it.

The movie centers on a former assassin Himura Kenshin who wanders the city of Japan trying to forget about what he really was, a murderer. With too much blood on his hand he tried helping people as an atonement to the crimes that he committed, this time without killing them. He later met Kamiya Kaoru, the owner of the fencing school that was owned by her father. Her school discourages the use of sword for fighting and doesn't believe in killing. As Kenshin seeks a new life, with the help of Kaoru he remains true to his pledge of not using his sword to kill under any circumstances.

The film goes from slow-paced drama to a non-stop sword-clashing action. Fight scenes were beautifully choreographed and managed to show some blood without appearing it be gory as young adults are expected audience. The score and music sounded a little off sometimes but mostly it was great, especially towards the end of it. What amazed me are the characters, they looked like the ones in manga or in tv series which somehow added to your viewing interest. While I couldn't really speak on how this film as an adaptation I would just based my review from the movie itself and I could say it's among those samurai films that you'll surely appreciate. It wasn't moving nor life-changing but it wasn't a waste of time either. (Rating 3.5/5) 

Cloud Atlas

Cloud Atlas is one of those movies that requires serious attention for you to fully realize its significance. It was more than a film or a published material that will continually haunt you even after seating through it for almost three hours. Adding to its beautifully narrated story is mesmerizing visual effects and scores. Actors were amazing for taking multiple roles, it was like watching multiple films in a one show and if you don't really know them you won't realize that it was them all along. 

The film is about how people from the past, present and future interconnected to each other. How a single piece of work inspires and changes one's belief. It has six main stories presented in six different times. With multiple story lines, the film goes from the present time back to 1800 then to the far future of 2044. It was carefully edited so following the story wasn't that difficult and at the end of, it will leave you so moved that you want to watch the movie again.  

From the time I've seen the first trailer of the film it has already gained my curiosity but I didn't know that I'll get so hooked up to it. There maybe some obvious unlikable stuff in it, like the make-up maybe which I think was overdone, and some plot that were vague or  something that wasn't agreeable but it wasn't that much. In general Cloud Atlas is lovable, this is one the films that you want to see stocked on your shelves and seeing it there among others brings you joy and reminds you the beautiful feeling when you first watched it. Starred by Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Jim Sturgess, Jim Broadbent, Hugo Weaving, Hugh Grant, Ben Whishaw and Susan Sarandon. Adapted from the novel of the same title, written and directed by Andy and Lana Wachosky (who also wrote and directed The Matrix trilogy) and Tom Tykwer. 

The Hobbit: The Unexpected Journey

My love for Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings Trilogy was the primary reason why I watched his new adventure trilogy. It was one of my anticipated films of the year. Though I didn't really care watching it in 3D, the  first part of The Hobbit trilogy was still worthy to watch but I would say it falls a little behind the the LOTR films.

'The Unexpected Journey' is the first part of the prequel of the new trilogy which took place 60 years before 'Fellowship of the Ring' where Bilbo Baggins was young and went on an adventure with Gandalf The Grey. Accompanied by thirteen dwarves lead by the Thorin Oakenshield whose kingdom was taken by a dragon Smaug,  Bilbo Baggins reluctantly joined the the group and went on a journey that changed his life forever. While traveling to the  Lonely Mountain where the dragon resides, the young Bilbo met the Elves, Giant Spiders, Goblins, Orcs and Gollum with his precious Ring along the way. I haven't read the book so I didn't have any idea how the story goes, I sat through it and satisfied my eyes with great special effects, though the story felt a little vague as the first LOTR I still find the ending a little touching and makes you hang on for two more films to come. (Rating 4/5)
  

The Perks of Being of Wallflower

"Let's go be psychos together" as Sam said to Charlie in the movie that I recently watched The Perks of Being a Wallflower. That's I think the sweetest thing that I would ever hear from a girl. The film is the least movie on my list  to watch this year but has become one of the best movies I've seen. It was a little melancholic but satisfying and moving. 

It centers on a story of an introverted boy, Charlie who's having a tough  freshman life. His best friend just passed after committing a suicide while his aunt's death is hunting him for years.With all these Charlie is having a hard time to belong in school despite the presence of a supportive family. While with great potential his English teacher Mr. Anderson encouraged  him to participate in class and inspired him to write by giving him books. Even as depressing as he thinks, Charlie found a friend through his teacher Mr. Anderson. Meanwhile, one football game Charlie befriended Patrick, a senior and happy-go-lucky type of person who has a step-sister, Sam. The three started to become close and for the first time Charlie is happy and started to grow feelings for Sam. His life started to revolve around his friends and his feelings for Sam. The story goes from a teenage romantic story to a melancholic journey of a boy who has learned that life is free and limitless despite his health condition. 

The three main casts were exceptional. Logan Lerman's dramatic performance as a troubled teen was convincing enough, you'll find yourself sad when he suffers and smiling when he is happy. Emma Watson and Ezra Miller were great too as Sam and Patrick. The film is adapted from the book of the same title authored by Stephen Chbosky who also wrote the screenplay and directed it. 

The Perks of Being a Wallflower may not be among those multi-awarded films despite the positive feedback from critics because only a few people have actually watched it. But it deserves to be seen and it's definitely worth of a positive review (ok, it may not be as great as this). (Rating is 4/5)

World Invasion Battle: Los Angeles - A Movie Review

Just got off from watching "World Invasion Battle: Los Angeles or simply known as Battle:LA in North America. Due to not-so-good reviews from the movie critics (only got 34% from Rotten Tomatoes) I didn't expect too much from it and to my surprise I found the film interesting as alien-invasion themed movies District 9 and Independence Day.

Set in August 2011, Extraterrestrial invaded and started to colonize the Earth due to its abundance of water. While people from all over the world were being exterminated, a group of marines in LA headed by retiring Sgt Michael Nantz was sent on a mission of securing the remaining civilians before Air Force bombs the entire invaded area. Carrying the baggage from the last mission, Sgt Nantz realizes that aliens are not just his only concern, he also needs to deal with his marines and their bad speculations about him.

Filled with non-stop action thrills, World Invasion is a pretty good action flick which promises to give you more explosions despite of being short in exploring human emotions. Director Jonathan Liebesman could have extracted deeper from the characters though it isn't really necessary in an action film but since Liebesman started showing it on the beginning he could have been more consistent with it to make the ending more joyful and unforgettable. But despite all that still I was a bit moved by its little drama and the action-thrill with decent special effects is worth watching. (3.5 out 5 stars)

World Invasion Battle:Los Angeles is starred by Aaron Echkart (Dark Knight, Rabbit Hole) as Sgt Nantz, Michelle Rodriguez (Avatar, Fast and Furious), Michael Pena (Observe and Report, Shooter) and R & B singer Ne-yo. Directed by Jonathan Liebesman whose directing jobs includes Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning and now working on Wrath of the Titans (Clash of Titans 2).

Shake, Rattle & Roll 12 - Movie Review

I don't exactly remember when Shake, Rattle & Roll or SSR started scaring audiences but what I remember is the creature "Undin"(starred by Manilyn Reyns and Ai-ai Delas Alas) gave me ghost bumps every time I'm left in the rest room alone. Several years have passed and technology has become more sophisticated, SSR reaches its 12th films but unfortunately delivered less scary stories compare to its predecessors (talking about the films released in 90's).

Just like the usual trend of the series, SSR 12 comes with three different episodes, "Mamanyika", "Isla", and "Punerarya". While the first two episodes were disappointing, the movie as a whole was concluded with a great one.

Mamanyika: Is a story of a possessed doll that kills every one or everything (including its fellow dolls) who gets its way. The episode was not scary at all, everything was ridiculous. First time director Zoren Legaspi apparently wasn't ready to take the director's seat. Starred by Shaina Magdayao and Ricky Davao.

Isla: The second episode focuses on a heartbroken woman who let things cooled down in an island haunted by "engkato". Though it got better visual effects, the second story was even more boring and totally a waste of time. Dir Topel Lee should have focused on the story line than working more on the effects and the killing scenes. Starred by Andi Eigenman and Rayver Cruz.

Punerarya: The final episode is the most suspenseful story among the three, one of the best episodes I've watched in SSR series actually. The plot was simple and I believed was used in horror films before but still made into a real shocker. Focusing on a story of a teacher who takes a private tutor job for two children of a family whose business involving funerary services. Intrigued with the family being different from normal people, the tutor realizes that she has to run for her life before the whole family prey on her. Starred by Carla Abellana and Sid Lucero.

Don't know why our local movie makers can stand with ridiculous stories that are not even worth of a single peso to spend for. With the strong final episode, SSR 12 obviously could have been better. The movie is watchable but you just need to suffer on the first part of it for you to enjoy what has been stored at the end of it. (My rating is 3 out 5 stars)

HP 7.1 has become the top grossing HP movie overseas among the series

Down to its last book, Harry Potter continuously vows both the critics and fans with its breathtaking conclusion of this beloved book-adaptation series that has become the most successful book adaptation of all time with a total of $6.4 billion. The latest film Deathly Hallows Part 1 has become the top grossing overseas among the series with $952,175,796 million while Sorcerer's Stone (Philosopher's Stone) rules the North America and World Wide box office tally. Both of which are in the top 10 all-time highest grossing films (boxofficemojo.com)

The series follows the life of Harry Potter, a young wizard who has been running for his life since his parents died from ruthless evil wizard Lord Voldermort. With people around him doing everything to protect him and end up dying, Harry Potter with the help of his best friends Ron and Hermione, they must find Voldermort's weaknesses quickly as possible to spare the people they love. (My Rating is 4 out of 5 stars)

The three have gone to searching and destroying Horcruxes which help them to defeat Lord Voldermort on this first part of the last film, which is the 7th and final book of J. K. Rowling. With David Yates on the director's seat again, HP has never been this great. The dark-noir effects and musical scoring were really outstanding bringing a different experience, more so if the film was successfully converted to 3D-IMAX. Personally, "Prisoner of Azkaban" is my best book and best film among the series and assuming the last film would carry on thesame style and over-all cinematic presentation, it would be either fall next to 'Azkaban' or surpass it. The film is obviously vague, but that's how it really is, the momentum may have gone downhill after watching it but prepare for a roller-coaster ride once Deathly Hallows Part 2 hits the 3D-IMAX cinemas this July.

Tangled - Movie Review

Tale as old as time has once again brought to live by Disney and I’m not talking about the Beauty and Beast, I’m talking about the young girl who has been known for her very long hair, Rapunzel. The story didn’t need a retelling to do for it to be famous but Disney in a way relive Rapunzel’s tale not just to be enjoyed by the children of today’s generation but the adults as well.

Rapunzel was kept in a hidden castle for years by a woman whom she thought was her mother. Every year, during her birthday, she watched these hundreds of lights in the sky from a faraway place. Curious with what was out there, Rapunzel wanted to see these lights closely on her 18^th birthday and decided to leave the castle for the very first time. With the help of a young bandit Flynn whom he made a good deal with, her chameleon friend Pascal and the castle horse Maximus, Rapunzel will see these lights brighter than she could imagine.

The movie was a lot of fun, it doesn’t require too much thinking but not too shallow either. Beautifully scored and voiced by Mandy Moore (Rapunzel) and Zachary Levi (Flynn), this animated re-imagination of the classic tale will once again capture you heart and perhaps would last for another century. (4 out of 5 stars)