The Simpsons Movie (Movie Review)

Finally, America’s most dysfunctional family is back on the big screen. Against the popular CGI (computer graphic animation), The Simpsons Movie is all traditional 2D for the old time sake because we all love the Simpsons in yellow 2D. It tooks decades for Matt Groening to have the world to grow fond and love this crazy family. With their comeback on the silver screen, the remaining question is will The Simpsons would make any difference in the movie format? Quite common that we enjoy to have only 30 minutes of The Simpsons on TV but how about lengthen it to 1 hour and 15 minutes? Would the writers even considered on improvising from the original theme or characters of this story? Ever since the announcement on April 2006, fans had been anticipating this for more than a year before its release on this summer of 2007. In fact, when the movie was announced on 1 April 2006, people thought that this was one of those April Fool pranks 20th Century Fox intended to do. It seems that the fans were foolish to not to believe it. By the way, the following synopsis will contain spoilers.

Watch out, the Simpsons are back. This time, on theater.

Homer is in hotter soup than ever.

300 (movie review)

Here is the Malay title for this movie - 300 pahlawan berani mati (300 fearless warriors). Which reminds me of Death Note being literally Nota Kematian. I wonder how Dreamgirls is translated? Perempuan Mimpi?

Absolutely fabulous. I did expect that 300 will be a good movie but I did not expect it to be great. In fact, I gave a wrong impression of it in the beginning because I was comparing it to Sin City. The cinematography style is indeed similar, yet what sets it apart is the stunning graphics along with intense battle scenes. This is no typical movie based on ancient Greek mythology. The surreal battle scene along with crazy intense moments in the battle field and the added factor was it’s a fight against 300 excellent Spartan warriors against one million Persian armies. For me, the instant magnate for me was the seamless graphic details. I did not expect a good storyline or even good scripts. Just for sheer thrill of watching people slashing and hacking each other. It was surprising for me to get so intense to watch 300. It was no thriller, just high intensity brewing up as the story progresses.

This movie is not suitable for kids. Sorry!

Ill Divo never looked the same again

Zodiac (movie review)

I have so many free time right now, even though it’s not my break yet. I just occupy myself with whatever movies that I got now. I hit Zodiac beforehand. The movie quality sucked (blame for the lousy pirated copy quality) and nothing prepared me for what I was about to face.

Zodiac is supposed to be a thriller movie. You know, something that brings you to the edge of the seat. Your heart beat gotten faster by the minute. Surely enough the story will catch you by surprise. Surprise! It’s not thrilling at all. It’s not lame though, just boring. So the story begins with the Zodiac who was a serial killer, committing his first murder. Surprising enough, there was a survivor. Months later, another victim falls into Zodiac’s hand. Yet another one survived the attack. The Zodiac was not good enough. He threatened to claim more victims but those are just blatant lies to shake off the police. This is how the Zodiac works. After murdering someone, he will report it to the police and even confess to the crime. However he was sane enough to not to give away his identity to the police. It’s like hit and run, just this time you tell someone about it. He also sent letters to the newspaper company which was San Fransisco Chronicle and also the police. In the letter, he told them his next move in the form of Zodiac code. It was surprisingly easy, given that you enjoy puzzles and stuff. This is a movie with puzzles, damn it! No thrill factor. No murderous rage. Just pure riddles needed to be solved.

Before Sudoku, they did Zodiac. They had fun.

Behold the person who cracked the Zodiac code - the first one was a housewife who enjoys solving puzzle. If Light, L, Near or Mello (from Death Note) managed to see this code, they would solve the code almost instantaneously. I was not enjoying the movie, not because of the puzzle. Instead I blame the approach of the story. They did managed to put some scenes of Zodiac committing his murder routine but those were not good enough. It’s just plain killing. No background story to it. Instead the movie makers brings the audience from the view of a cartoonist (what the…), Robert Graysmith. Yup, a cartoonist. He is the one who managed to solve the Zodiac case. On top of that, this movie was suppose to great and gripping considering the nature of the story being very factual. Did I told you that this is based on a real story? That there is actually a serial killer Zodiac? Guess what, it is based on true account told by the cartoonist himself, Robert Graysmith. It is actually based on the book about Zodiac authored by him.

The Pursuit of Happyness (movie review)

When I first heard of this movie, I ignored the fact that “Happyness” which was spelled wrongly was meant to be that way. I searched for this movie with the assumption of the spelling error and made self-correction to it as The Pursuit of Happiness. I was wrong. It is “Happyness”. I gave another thought of the intended spelling was served the purpose of being catchy. Again I was wrong. In the movie, I came to know that Chris Gardner (Will Smith) was trying to correct the owner of the backstreet Chinese daycare centre that was attended by his son. It was one of those murals painted on the wall and that includes the text “Happyness”. Somehow the film title was based on that event, which was the introduction to the movie.

A man with a dream of happiness

The Pursuit of Happyness is all about the life of Chris Gardner, whereby he came to rise as a successful stockbroker and eventually making millions. And it is based on a true story. Nothing makes a moviegoer happier other than having to witness someone else’s feat of achievement in their life. Yay… (in a sarcastic tone). Yes, everyone is curious how millionaires (and billionaires) become as who they are now but that does not make a solid factor to make a good movie out of it. The question is what is so different about this movie? The producers were up to challenge and delivered. This is no epic movie of a rich man’s rags to riches kind of story. They infuse a different flavour to it, something totally different - a father’s love. The American dream of wealth is portrayed as a father and son relationship. Okay now, this movie has a rather odd theme for the given plot but it’s a good one. Otherwise, it won’t be contended in the Oscars.

The Departed (movie review)

Finally I got time to watch The Departed. And here is my review (may contain spoilers).

This film by Martin Scorsese had proved another point to Scorsese’s brilliant directing. And here is the rip-off. Being adapted from the Hong Kong movie, Infernal Affairs, this remake is indeed a total copy of the original. Undermining those minor changes to the storyline, the plot is definitely the same. This is rather a let-down, given that the story is predictable and lame. I am saying this because all of those lame Hong Kong movies are very lame and appeared consistent to each other with their boring police and triad battle storyline. But what is different about Infernal Affairs, however, is that it is the first movie involving spies on both sides of the police force and the triad. Lame, I have said to those Hong Kong movies (the last time I watched on TV was last month during my holidays, and I was quick to turn the channel) but the obvious differences that Scorsese made in The Departed are the violent scenes that remarkably Scorsese and the well written script. At least, for once, Leonardo DiCaprio is not talking rubbish. What I really admire about this movie is actually the script writing. It is among the best so far (in my interpretation, of course).

So what is the whole deal of The Departed? Given the vicious gunfights expected between the battle of the police and the mob, the movie is indeed a bloodbath. So Infernal Affairs to The Departed? I was guessing The Departed is about those countless death as a result from the mob’s dominance, which was hinted throughout the movie. But the screenplay writer, William Monahan, claimed that it is about the people who are departed from their actual job and deal themselves into something else. And he also claimed that he did not referred (and not even ever watched) the original adaptation of Infernal Affairs. Well, I don’t speak Cantonese anyway. So I won’t be able to get a clue of what are they talking about. The only ridicule flaw that I came to light is the excessive use of profanity, specifically “fuck” and “cocksucker”. And here I go, what the fuck? Is Monahan fuckin’ nuts? Is Scorsese fucking accept those fucking script? And even those fucking cast of this fucking movie! They don’t give a fuck about talking all of those fucking bullshit. Are they fucking lost their mind? So fuck it. I mean, I better stop it.

Ouch! That’s gotta hurt… a lot!

Movies On My List

The year 2006 was a not-so-memorable year for the filming industry. Critics found themselves frustrated over the absence of any decent movies for viewing. Only a few movies managed to make it big, hitting blockbusters worldwide. However this year of 2007, not only movies are deemed to make big bucks, the movies are also expected to be at par to the Academy Award benchmark. Movies in my list might not make it to Oscars but surely they are worth watching.

	Ocean’s Thirteen For me, this is the most anticipated movie of the year. Even though I have missed the the first installment of the movie, the second movie is pure genius. Judging from Ocean’s Twelve, the sequel, Ocean’s Thirteen is expected to be a good one. All I need is Ocean’s Eleven - to complete the whole puzzle. Anyway, there are the usual lineup Hollywood giants. There are no other movies as star-studded as Ocean’s movie series. George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle, Andy Garcia; you name it. And in this third installment, there is Al Pacino. This tops my list of must-watch movies.
	Reign Over Me Starring Adam Sandler and Don Cheadle. Get the picture? Or rather, the whole deal of irony that is going here. This time, funny man Sandler won’t be in his usual movie attics. In fact, this movie is rather inspiring and touching. Nothing like The Pursuit of Happyness or any that is based on real accounts of life. Roughly the character by Don Cheadle met an old college friend as acted by Sandler who went through the toughest time of his life as he lost his family in a car crash. Cheadle helped Sandler undertaking the challenges of life as the friendship of these two grows fond.
	Spiderman 3 Yet another anticipated movie of the year. This third installment of the series returns with more villains, more drama, and more action. Spidey has to face off Sandman, the murderer of his beloved uncle, and Green Goblin, the son of the former who seek revenge against Spiderman. Yet the biggest enemy that he has to confront is himself - the darker alter ego of Spiderman, Venom. This movie is not to be missed - I am a fan of the Spiderman series myself. The fun factor is it’s a 3-on-1 battle.
	Zodiac Enter the mind of the wicked and twisted. To be honest, the criminal mind is always brilliant, especially when dealing with serial killers who seemed never cease to stop their pleasure in bloodbath. Introducing Zodiac, the killer maestro who stills managed to elude from the police despite tipping off himself to the police by sending letters of possible future attacks. He deciphered certain codes into those letters, leaving the police task force beleaguered. Hence forth, a detective whose passion is solving such puzzles left by Zodiac. Based on real events of murders done in San Francisco during the 70’s, this brilliant movie is not worth the miss.
	300 Another piece by Frank Miller who authored Sin City, the movie 300 is about 300 Spartan soldiers battling against the mighty 1 million Persian army. Odds of winning? You have to watch the movie yourself. Cool factor? It’s a damn battle movie. At least, it is far more better than Alexander. Along side with this, the captivating visual effect like no other. Since I am into the war/battle genre myself, I made this movie a must on my list.
	The Simpsons Movie America’s favourite is back. Now on the big silver screen. Unlike other animated films (as they have claimed), this movie will make a breakthrough. It’s going to be in 2D. No such thing as 3D computer-generated animations about fishes, bears, and robots. They boast 2D simplicity, and gut-piercing humour as an added bonus. Why this movie is a must-watch? Because it’s the Simpsons we’re talking about here. The best part is this time, the fate of the world will be on the hands of… Homer Simpson. Tough luck.