REVIEW: WHITE HOUSE DOWN

Hollywood's yearly summer movies has reached halfway through the season and another blockbuster is feast for cinema audience worldwide. What more better way to add spice to the already hot summer movie line-up than having a film directed by one of the heavy-weights of summer blockbuster films, Mr. Roland Emmerich. I managed to see his latest film thanks to KLIPS Malaysia's invitation to a media screening.

Roland Emmerich has a string of box-office hits to his credentials such as Universal Soldier (1992), Stargate (1994), Independence Day (1996), Godzilla (1998), The Patriot (2000), The Day After Tomorrow (2004), 2012 (2009), and many more. Among his films, he has been known to have the White House (the official residence of the United States president) destroyed as part of the movie's plot (i.e. Independence Day, The Day After Tomorrow, 2012). This time around, the White House features prominently in his latest film White House Down.

White House Down is directed by Emmerich and starts Channing Tatum, Jamie Foxx, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jason Clarke, Richard Jenkins, and James Woods. The film is written by James Vanderbilt (The Amazing Spider-man).

SYNOPSIS:
Capitol Police Officer John Cale (Tatum) takes his daughter Emily along to the White House is escort him for an interview with the United States Secret Service. Unknown to them, a paramilitary group is plotting to take over the White House and hold its residence hostage. By using his skills in the task force, he battles the terrorist with the help of U.S. President James Sawyer (Jamie Foxx) while trying to rescue his daugther at the same time.



Maggie Gyllenhaal in a scene from White House Down

SCRIPT:
The premise of the script is original and indeed refreshing. On the surface, the film does have the same premise as movies such as Air Force One (1997) with Harrison Ford. The dialogue was not too complicated, however, there were too many subplots along the way. I liked how there were small little twists to keep the suspense going. Some slight injection of comedy worked well but were not consistent.

John Cale (Channing Tatum), Emily Cale (Joey King),
and U.S. President James Sawyer (Jamie Foxx)

ACTING:
For an ensemble casts, everyone did well. I am a fan of Jamie Foxx and was delighted that he portrayed his character well, although I was hoping to see more of him. Kudos to the actress who played Emily Cale (Joey King) that stole most of the film.

John Cale (Tatum) and President Sawyer (Foxx) looking out for terror group.

FILMING:
This film has the trademark of director Emmerich's big explosions and epic shots. However, having done movies which is set on a global scale instead of within a city, his creativity was slightly limited. The visual effects were minimal and just okay.

Channing Tatum and director Roland Emmerich at work.

PACING:
It starts of very slow, trying very hard to explain a lot of details. It gets exciting in the middle but slowly pulls back into the draggy feeling. The climax ending was pretty okay.

TONE (MOOD):
High-octane action film with lots of explosions and gunshots mixed with a 'how-to-solve-the-problem' plot.

Cale (Tatum) and President Sawyer (Foxx) under seige.

DOWNSIDE:
An action-thriller film that doesn't feel action enough although the action scenes were reasonably well filmed. Draggy a little bit.

UPSIDE:
An original story that is fresh in its concept.

OVERALL:
A good action film, with some plot twists and comedy, which sometimes work and sometimes doesn't. Good popcorn film.

RATING:
7 out of 10

REVIEW: WORLD WAR Z

Zombies. An interesting sub-category in the action adventure genre. There have been many good zombie films in the past, notably; 28 Days Later (2002), Dawn of the Dead (1978), Night of the Living Dead (1968) and many more. Since the genre is rarely seen in cinemas, this would be interesting to review, especially when the credits included an almost 'who's who' in the Hollywood entertainment industry. The film is adapted from a novel of the same name which was written by Max Brooks.

World War Z is directed by Marc Foster (Quantum of Solace, Machine Gun Preacher, Stranger Than Fiction). The film stars mega-superstar Brad Pitt, Mireille Enos, Fana Mokoena, and many more. Aside from Pitt as one of the producers, Ian Bryce (all Transformers films, Saving Private Ryan, The Island) is one of them too. It is adapted to a screenplay by J. Michael Straczynski (Thor), Matthew Carnahan (The Kingdom), Drew Goddard (Cloverfield, Cabin in the Woods), and Damon Lindelof (the last two Star Trek films, Prometheus, Cowboys & Aliens). I was mystified by the credits of the production team but was I zombified by the film? Do read on.

SYNOPSIS:
A retired employee of the United Nations Gerry Lane is forced by his former subordinates to help the planet solve a massive zombie crisis. Along the way, he discovers a trail of clues which would lead him to many problems.

SCRIPT:
A very good script. I like scripts which on the surface may have a lot of technical jargon to explain (like science-based films) but easier to understand. This script was the latter, easier to understand. It focuses on the pursuit for clues throughout the plot. However, there was lack of characterization.

I must save my family first. Brad Pitt as Gerry Lane.

ACTING:
Speaking of lack of characterization, the film was dominated primarily by star Brad Pitt, with the other supporting cast diminished greatly. Though Brad Pitt gives a fine performance, it was not as memorable as his previous films. The supporting cast of relative unknowns were okay.

Gerry Lanne (Brad Pitt) attaching a bayonet to his rifle.

FILMING:
In my opinion, director Marc Foster excelled in this. He and director of photography Ben Seresin composed some magnificently beautiful shots. It was a mixture of handheld and aerial camera work. The editing could have been tighter to make it snappy. A good amount of scare for the audience.

A scene from the film with Gerry Lane (Pitt) and his family.

PACING:
Not too fast and not too slow. Just moderate and not boring. The film goes straight into the action after the first 5 minutes.

TONE (MOOD):
Suspense does not escalate but scattered around the film well enough. May not be suitable for young children.

Gerry Lane (Pitt) on the hunt for a cure of the pandemic.

DOWNSIDE:
Lack of characterization which I felt could have been developed more. Less blood and gore compared to previous zombie films.

UPSIDE:
Good audience reaction. Some few parts could make you cringe.

Lets fight zombies together as a team, shall we?

OVERALL:
Good zombie film but still not as good as Danny Boyle's 28 Days Later.

RATING:
7.5 out of 10

REVIEW: MONSTERS UNIVERSITY

It is my first movie review for an animation film. I have had a soft spot for animated feature films for the longest time. Back from the Disney animated films in the 1990s until now, I have always tried to catch an animated film in cinemas. I like animation because it gives the director and production team creativity to do shots that cannot be achieved using a regular film camera. Recently, I had the opportunity to attend the press screening of Monsters University, the sequel of the blockbuster animation hit Monsters, Inc. thanks to KLIPS Malaysia.

It took quite sometime for Pixar Animation Studios and Walt Disney Pictures to come up with a sequel to Monsters, Inc. which was released in 2001. For those not familiar with the Monsters, Inc. , the characters in the film are based on the concept of the supposedly 'creatures' which go bump in the night. This time around, Monsters University is not a sequel but a PREQUEL which chronicles the journey leading up to Monsters, Inc. film.

Monsters University reunites the voice talents of Billy Crystal and John Goodman as the two main leads. Also reprising their roles are actors Steve Buscemi and Frank Oz. Joining Monsters University are fellow actors Sean Hayes, Helen Mirren, and Alfred Molina. Dan Scanlon makes his animated feature film debut taking over the helm from Pete Docter.

SYNOPSIS:
Young Mike Wazowski (voiced by Billy Crystal) aspires to become a 'scarer' in the prestigious Monsters, Inc. company. For him to do so, he must first attend Monsters University and graduate with flying colours. Once enrolled in the university, he befriends James 'Sulley' Sullivan (voiced by John Goodman). Together, they have to face heavy scrutiny under the watchful eye of academic teachers and overcome college bullies at the same time.

Mike Wazowski (voiced by Billy Crystal)

James Sullivan (voiced by John Goodman)

SCRIPT:
The script is pretty straight forward for it is directed at kids. However, I do prefer Monsters, Inc. which was more stronger. I do like how the script is not only suitable for kids but also adults.

ACTING:
Voice acting is difficult to critic. Each actor brought their own unique trademark to their respective roles. However, having a star-studded cast as mentioned above is worth the ticket

An aspiring young Mike Wazowski

FILMING:
Pixar Studios is known to have energetic shots but was lacking somehow in this film. Could have been better by putting the camera at certain unique angles. When I say camera, I mean designing the shot. The new characters are well drawn and the choices of colours are wonderful.

PACING:
Moderate and fun. Builds well towards the end. Good insertions of humour here and there. There's one unnecessary subplot involving a villain which made it a little slow.

TONE (MOOD):
Fun and laughter for both adults and kids. Family oriented.

DOWNSIDE:
To understand Monsters University, you have to watch the first one, Monsters, Inc. (2001).

UPSIDE:
New characters and an interesting ending.

OVERALL:
Straight up family fun and best watch in 3D

RATING:
7.5 out of 10

REVIEW: MAN OF STEEL

Oh my. Oh my. Oh my. What an experience. The much hyped superhero film Man of Steel flies into theatres worldwide and it sure delivered a punch. Based on the best-selling comic superhero Superman created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster and published by DC Comis, the iconic character has been re-imagined several times over the decades by various film-makers. For this edition of re-imagining Superman, property rights-holder Warner Bros. turned to British director Christopher Nolan for help.

Man of Steel is directed by Zack Snyder (300, Watchmen, Sucker Punch). It stars Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Russell Crowe, Michael Shannon, Kevin Costner, Diane Lane, Laurence Fishburne, and Ayelet Zurer. The film is written by David S. Goyer (who co-wrote all Nolan's Batman films) from a story conceived by Nolan and Goyer.

Having achieved tremendous success on re-imagining the Batman film franchise for Warner Bros., Nolan seems to be the obvious choice to reboot Superman on film. When this was announced several years ago, I admit to being skeptical. I mean, how would Superman be given a revamped since he has super human abilities. Nolan revamped Batman by making the comic book character rooted in essence of logic. How would this work with Superman? Judging how I write the film's synopsis, the film has a different feel...

Henry Cavill as Superman

SYNOPSIS:
As the alien planet Krypton is dying, its citizen and top scientist Jor-El and wife Lara must make the ultimate sacrifice to preserve their race and protect the planet from the rebel military leader General Zod. Carrying secrets of the planet Krypton, they launch their newborn son Kal-El into outer space heading for Earth in hopes his life will be blessed with longevity. On Earth, Kal-El who is now adopted by Jonathan and Martha Kent and given the name Clark, struggles to grasp what are his origins, discovering the meaning of life, and balancing his superhuman abilities at the same time.

Amy Adams as Lois Lane

SCRIPT:
The script had a single theme, hope. It managed to combine two separate storylines well, one that takes place on Earth and the other on the planet Krypton. The lines were snappy and modern. There are no cheesy comic book dialogues. However, it tends to get dry and too serious sometimes. It is really an 'origin' story to the core with a lot of backstory explanation. Lacked comedy even for a little bit. Great attempt at bringing out some moral values in the film.

Russell Crowe as Krypton's head scientist Jor-El

Ayelet Zurer as Jor-El's wife Lara,

 

ACTING:
Very very strong. Having an ensemble cast of such magnitude is worth its ticket price. Cavill shines as Superman. Adams gives a different take on Lois Lane. I loved how the actors playing parents; Costner, Lane, Crowe and Zurer carried their roles. Although Fishburne's role was small, he managed to leave an impression on the film. Michael Shannon as the movie's villain was pretty menacing. 

Kevin Costner as Jonathan Kent, the adoptive father of Kal-El
 

Diane Lane as the adoptive mother of Kal-El

FILMING:
Director Zack Snyder made an impact into the film world with his breakthrough 2nd film 300. He is generally known for a certain style of filming but he didn't adopt such style for Man of Steel. The action scenes were tremendously great. There are action scenes like you have never seen before, although I felt it was a little too fast and too loud at times. The production design and costume were a total departure from the comics. It looks more organic and brings more life. The visual effects is headed by New Zealand based company Weta Digital (Lord of the Rings trilogy, King Kong) and they delivered a great job doing so. No standout visual effects to splendour.

Director Zack Snyder with Henry Cavill

 

PACING:
Not too slow, not too fast. However, do remember that Man of Steel functions as an origin story. Therefore, you should expect a lot of dialogue and explanation.  At a duration of 2 hours 23 minutes, it didn't felt long.

Clark Kent (Henry Cavill) returns home.

TONE (MOOD):
Superman, in essence, is an alien from another planet. Throughout the decades, in films, television series, and comic books, Superman has been portrayed primarily as a newspaper reporter who is secretly a superhero. Man of Steel goes back to the essence. Superman is depicted as an alien in humanoid form that comes from another planet and eventually becomes the saviour of Earth. A science-fiction drama with added action.

This device plays a very important role in the film.
As mentioned in the trailers, it is a symbol of hope.

DOWNSIDE:
The length can be a little draggy but necessary to accomplish the ending. Although they were many flashbacks that was necessary to tell the story, it could be too much for audience to digest. Don't expect the Superman of before but the Superman of tomorrow.

UPSIDE:
A new take, a new look, and a new feel entirely. Lots and lots of action and noise.

OVERALL:
This film is well-made in my opinion. An attempt to make Superman more edgier. I like the underlying theme of the film which is easily recognizable and good for family and children.

RATING:
8.5 out of 10

REVIEW: PECAH - Malaysia

It is very rare for Malaysian cinemas to have a film which is adapted from a published novel. Therefore, I was looking forward to a film of such magnitude. This time around, the much anticipated best-selling novel Pecah comes to the big screen. Pecah is a crime-caper novel written by Nizam Bakeri and published by local publisher Buku Fixi. For non-Malay readers, the meaning of the word 'pecah' in English is 'broken'.

Pecah is directed by Asrulhisyam Ahmad or better known as Black in the local entertainment industry. The film stars Tony Eusoff, Soffi Jikan, Fizz Fairuz, Ako Mustapha, and introduces newcomer Izreen Azminda in the female lead. I had the opportunity to attend the premiere screening courtesy of the film's distributor, Grand Brilliance.

Before I begin my review, here is the trailer:

 

SYNOPSIS:
Four men succesfully robbed a bank but unfortunately one of their gang members was injured and had to be brought to the hospital. At the same time, a lady who cares for the elderly at an old folks home, brings one of its occupants to the same hospital for treatment. What unsues is the unravelling of a hidden agenda where no one suspects the least, while being pursued by a police investigator at the same time.

Book cover of the novel. Author is the model for the book cover.

 

SCRIPT:
I haven't got the chance to read the novel so I can't really make a comparison. I like the fact that despite being a crime drama, it manages to blend some comedy to lighten the mood. Dialogues were kept simple although parts of explaining the plot could have been more clearer. It will eventually be revealed towards the end.

A scene from Pecah, the four robbers masterminding the robbery.

ACTING:
Established actor Soffi Jikan stole the show. Although he doesn't play the lead, his character as the injured robber was memorable. Newcomer Izreen Azminda and lead actor Tony Eusoff did well. However, the role to Fizz Fairuz as the police inspector could have been more prominent.

Izreen Azminda is a scene from Pecah.

FILMING:
The cinematography was okay. I do feel that should have been more shots in the film to make it more exciting. The editing was fancy and could have been quicker to give it some edge.

The police force hot on the trail of the robbers.

PACING:
The film started off very well. However, as the movie progresses, it felt kinda slow. Real slow. But, towards the end, it picks itself up again and resolves loose ends. The film is told in a 'non-linear' style in which the ending could be the beginning of the film and multiple flashbacks.

TONE (MOOD):
Crime drama. Heavy on the dialogue which requires audience to pay attention but kept light-hearted with some comedy.

Actor Fizz Fairuz as the lead police investigator

DOWNSIDE:
The slow pacing in the middle of the film which felt a little draggy.

UPSIDE:
Good story structure as it compiles multiple plots into one film.

OVERALL:
A good and decent crime drama. Worth a watch!


RATING:
7 out of 10

TOP 10: FAVOURITE MOVIE QUOTES OF ALL-TIME

I would like to present to you my list of Top 10 favourite movie quotes of all-time. I had them listed and written somewhere a long time ago. Glad I could remember them.

I am gonna share why these lines are my favourites.


MY TOP 10 FAVOURITE MOVIE QUOTES OF ALL TIME


10. "I'll have what she is having." - When Harry Met Sally (1989)

The line symbolizes sensuality and arousal in the most innocent and unexpected manner.



9. "Bond. James Bond." - Dr. No (1960)

The definition of suave and style. It is very rare to find people mention their last name before their first name during that time period.



8. "You beat Nicky with fists, he comes back with a bat. You beat him with a knife, he comes back with a gun. And you beat him with a gun, you better kill him, because he’ll keep comin’ back and back until one of you is dead."
 
- Casino (1995)

This is not in the many top 10 list but I like how the line shows consequences and repercussions of revenge.



7. "Gentlemen, you can't fight in here! This is the War Room!"

- Dr. Strangelove (1964)

A political satire film by Stanley Kubrick. The line itself has a double meaning.



6. "The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he doesn't exist. And like that (snaps fingers), he is gone."

- The Usual Suspects (1995)

The very last line of the film by the villain who unravels the puzzle of this superb crime caper thriller.



5. "Love means never having to say you are sorry." - The Love Story (1970)

A symbolization of true love. Doing it at 100%. Listed in many Top 10 favourites.



4. "No. I am your father." - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

George Lucas, the creator of the Star Wars franchise has said that the saga is essentially a family drama, played out across the galaxies. This line sums up the core of what Star Wars is as a whole.



3. "My momma always said, 'Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get'"

- Forrest Gump (1994)

The line that defined the meaning of expecting the unexpected and unpredictability.



2. "May the force be with you." - Star Wars (1977)

Symbolizes giving hope.



1. "You, complete me." - Jerry Maguire (1996)

This still my number one. Why? We all know that the most famous three words that form a sentence is, "I love you." But, in this film it was never said (as I recall). The symbolization of love in three words is redefined without the word 'love', and in essence is stronger than "I love you".



There you go. By Top 10 favourite movie quotes of all time. Open to discussion.


Feris.

ADDING VALUE TO MY BLOG.

I was telling myself the other day, if I love movies so much, why not expand the concept I initially had for my blog, SECOND OPINION.

Besides movie reviews, I will also post some sharing about movies in general. Personal thoughts of how certain movie-related stuff mean to me. Perhaps, some facts of how it has had an impact to popular culture.

Of course, everything is open to comments, suggestions, and debates.

It starts with the next posting...

Feris

REVIEW: AFTER EARTH

One of my favourite movie stars, Will Smith, returns to the big screen in his favourite science-fiction genre in a movie titled After Earth. In this sci-fi adventure, he teams up with his son Jaden Smith who has established himself as an up and coming star. Jaden's breakthrough role came in the film The Pursuit of Happyness (2006) alongside his dad, followed by films The Day The Earth Stood Still (2008) and remake The Karate Kid (2010).

After Earth is directed by M. Night Shymalan (The Sixth Sense, Signs, The Happening), whose last film was The Last Airbender was widely panned by critics worldwide. It is a science-fiction film which I like to sub-categorize it as the 'apocalyptic' type film. Example of 'apocalyptic' type films are the Terminator films, The Book of Eli, I Am Legend and many more. Can the director Shyamalan win over his critics? Read on.

SYNOPSIS:
Somewhere in the future, Earth was struck by an environment catastrophe which forced the human race to abandon the uninhabitle Earth and seek a new home on the planet Nova Prime. A group of rangers (like a group of soldiers) of the planet is led by General Cypher Raige (Will Smith). On a mission to deliver a secret cargo to another planet, General Cypher and his son Kitai encountered turbulenece and crash lands on an unknown planet. They soon find out that it is Earth, now a planet with no humans and poses environmental danger. Having being the only two crash survivors, they must battle the odds in order to get back home.

SCRIPT:
I like the premise of the story. Having to depend on teamwork and trust to survive. However, I feel there were too many scientific jargon which doesn't engage the audience to follow. You need to pay close attention to what the dialogue is otherwise, you might get lost. Writers Shymalan and Gary Whitta should have kept it simple but the underlying themes fascinated me.

Will Smith headlines the film as General Cypher Raige

ACTING:
It is obvious that Will Smith headlines the movie but the lead of the film is Jaden Smith. He gets more screentime than his dad who plays a supporting role. I am impressed with Jaden's performance as the film is on the weight of his shoulders throughout.

Jaden Smith pondering the next course of action.

FILMING:
Most of the movie is filmed outdoors. Cinematography was pretty good. The visual effects were well made and kept at minimal. I felt there could be more creative shots to enhance the feel of the film. The production design was impressive.

PACING:
The movie started aggresively into the plot. However, the middle was slow and felt draggy. The ending is a little predictable but felt light-hearted and sweet.

TONE (MOOD):
Teamwork and survival. Triumph and fear.

Jaden Smith in a climactic scene of the film.

DOWNSIDE:

Movie is filled with scenes either both Will and Jaden or them separately. Slow pacing in the middle.

UPSIDE:

Some good CGI and moral underlying values.

OVERALL:
Althought this film received many negative critical reviews in the United States, I liked it. I guess many critics gave bad scores because the film basically has two people throughout, but that didn't bother me. Tom Cruise's Oblivion was even worst. Simply because it had underlying moral themes which can teach the audience a thing or two.


RATING:
7 out of 10


ACKNOWLEDGMENT:
I had the pleasure of attending a press screening at the invitation of KLIPS, Malaysia's Movie Community. You can check their website here or follow them on Twitter by clicking here. Thank you very much!

REVIEW: NOW YOU SEE ME

The last time I watched a film centered around magicians (or illusionists but for this posting, they will be called magicians), it was The Prestige (2006) starring Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman, Scarlett Johannson, and Michael Caine. Directed by Christopher Nolan, this film is magical.

Now, I just saw Now You See Mee which is directed by Louis Leterrier (The Incredible Hulk, Clash of The Titans). The film stars a huge mouth-watering cast of Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, Dave Franco, Morgan Freeman, and also Michael Caine. By ensembling such a group of professional actors, is this movie magical? Well...

 

 

SYNOPSIS:

Four magicians of various backgrounds come together after being recruited by a mysterious individual. Having known each other prior, they together form a magician troupe called The Four Horsemen. During one of their shows, they blantantly rob a bank in front of the eyes the public. Caught and released by the FBI, lead investigator Dylan Rhodes (Mark Ruffalo) starts hunting them down. Little did he know, he was going on an adventure of unraveling secrets.

 

(L-R): The Four Horsemen; Eisenberg. Fisher, Harrelson, Franco.

 

SCRIPT:

The script has an original premise. Fresh and unique. However, the multiple plot lines are scattered all over the film. There was no consistency, sometimes difficult for audience to catch up. From time to time, it tries to be funny but fails at it. In other words, it was slightly choppy. My biggest problem with it, the film tries too feed so much info!!! Great ending though.

 

ACTING:

Having a film with an ensemble cast will always make it hard to narrow down which actor outshines in a movie. It is a great pleasure to see veteran actors Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman together on-screen again after the Christopher Nolan's Batman Trilogy. This is worth a ticket in itself.

 

Mark Ruffalo (center) as the lead FBI investigator

 

FILMING:

The camera shots and movements were pretty great, especially when it involves crane work (that's high angle shots for those who do not know). Visual effects were moderate but I do like the snappy editing.

 

PACING:

It is a crime caper film. Which means more action, less talk. It feels fast at times but in the middle of the film, a little draggy. Sometimes I felt like they should quickly get to a turning point and find a resolution.

 

TONE (MOOD):

It is set in New York, Las Vegas, and New Orleans. I like to call this film a 'hipster' film, for the young and dangerous so to speak.

DOWNSIDE:

Too many plot holes. Tries to be too much and ends up too little to desire.

UPSIDE:

A surprise ending.

OVERALL:

Despite a plot line with twists, in fact TOO MANY, it is fun. Too many action scenes made it exciting but too many can be a bit tiring too. It does have a good climactic (most seem to like just the end part), but my standards of suprise ending are even higher than this (think The Sixth Sense with Bruce Willis). Watch it if you have nothing else to watch.

 

RATING:

6.5 out of 10