Bekas [ Coming Soon 28 Feb 2013]

The Plot

Iraq in the early 1990 was a devastating land to survive in. When we think of Iraq, the first thing that tends to pop into our minds is the war and Saddam Hussein. But there is another side too - it is perhaps the most notorious country in the world and it goes by the name Kurdistan. 

Welcome to BEKAS. This is a story about two homeless brothers (Zana, 7) and (Dana, 10) who live on the edge of survival. In the beginning of the story they catch a glimpse of Superman through a hole in the wall at the local cinema. Zana and Dana decide that they want to go to America and live with Superman. 

Once they get there he can solve all their problems, make their lives easy and punish everyone that has been mean to them. Zana, the younger brother, starts to make a list of all people he is going to tell Superman to punish. On top of the list is Saddam Hussein. Dana on the other hand makes a concrete plan for what they need to get there; money, passports, transportation and a way to get across the boarder. Unfortunately they have neither of those. But in spite of everything they decide to follow the dream.

Trailer

Evangelion 3.0: You Can (Not) Redo [ Coming Soon ]

Just a few updates for Evangelion 3.0 before the general release in Japan (4 Nov 2012)

 a pretty awesome movie poster for Evangelion 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo and ...


 

... a Pink Eva? and a chess game ... with a moody soundtrack ... hmmm

Another Trailer for Evangelion 3.0 (23 Oct 2012)




This time round, it's plays more like a "normal" trailer. Although it didn't reveal much but there's Kaworu Nagisa playing the piano and his interaction with Shinji Ikari. It would also seems that the 3rd Evangelion movie might not branch off too far from the original anime series as it was previously reported.

Horror Stories | 무서운 이야기 [ Movie Review ] ★★★

Horror Stories 무서운 이야기

"If you want to be alive, then tell me... Horror Stories 무서운 이야기"

The Pitch

It's hard to find good horror movies lately. After the disappointing introduction to Paranormal Activity franchise, the crave for a good eerie and sensible scary movie still lingers. The trailer for the Korean omnibus of short horror movie segments (that befittingly titled) Horror Stories seems to be a promising cure for the Paranormal Activity 4 hangover.

The setup for the main frame narrative reminded me of One Thousand and One Nights / Arabian Nights. A female protagonist has to resort to telling stories to stay alive. The fable setup might just work in a horror movie.

Plus I am also a fan of the recent Thailand horror movies that were structured in similar omnibus format. Movies like Four, 4bia and it's sequel Phobia 2 remained etched in the mind long after the credits rolled. They were testaments that some good horror stories are most effective when it's short and sweet. They are not constrained in feature length movie time frame and they branch out in different areas of creativity.

Personally, I can't wait to see what the Koreans have to offer with their omnibus of horror stories and Thanks to InCinemas, I will be watching this movie a day before it even sneaks in Singapore.

Paranormal Activity 4 [ Movie Review ] ★★

The Pitch

I have never watched the first three Paranormal Activity movies. The idea of watching long still shots of surveillance video for sudden burst of jump scares just didn't appeal to me. It's like a bad mutation of the shaky cam genre. Plus I am a fan of the Saw franchise and was kinda pissed that the Paranormal Activity franchise replaced it as the king of Halloween box office in recent years.

But I was lucky enough to be picked by UIP for the Paranormal Activity - WANT IT contest. I am not sure why I took part in this contest in the first place. It's been a long time since I caught any movies that is really scary and I guess I crave for a real good scare.

I am also wondering what's with the longevity of this franchise? Why is it still doing so well after three installments? Just last week, Paranormal Activity 4 topped the US box office with $29 million (although last year this weekend, Paranormal Activity 3 opened with $52.6 million) while outside of America, Box Office Mojo is reporting an average increase of 11% over it's predecessor. What the secret behind it's success? Is it really that scary that it's bringing enough audience back to make such an impressive debut on the box office?

Money aside, I am definitely looking forward to be spooked like the New Zealand test audience in this video.

Sadako | 貞子3D

The Pitch

14 years ago, one Japanese horror movie came and revitalized the Asian horror genre. It also inspired numerous copycats that tried to latch on to it's success in one way or the other. That movie would be The Ring (リング Ringu) and Sadako became an iconic horror character that is equivalent to the likes of Freddy Kruger, Chucky and Jason in Asia.

After the American made two movies out of it, the demands for another movie out of the Ring franchise seemed to die down and Sadako was left undisturbed for about 7 years. Now with the advent of 3D movies, companies are digging up their previously popular franchise for the profitable 3D treatment and Sadako is one of the few safe bets that the movie company could bank on cashing in.

To be fair, apparently this movie is based on Ringu's author Koji Suzuki's new novel S (2012). If anyone should continue this successful horror franchise, he probably the best person to do so. It brought some hope that it might be a faithful continuation of the series or manages to recapture some of the magic that made the first Ring so unforgettable. But then again, Thomas Harris, the author of Silence of the Lambs also wrote the novel in which the disappoint Hannibal Rising was based on. It would be interesting to check if the lightning could strike twice at the same spot.

Then there's also the choice of director. Tsutomu Hanabusa's resume had been primarily made up of bright wacky comedies. I love his Handsome Suit (ハンサム★スーツ  2008) but crossing over genres has always been tricky. Let's hope he doesn't make a comedy out of this horror movie.

Dredd [ Movie Review ]

The Pitch

It was as simple as keeping the helmet on.

Sylvester Stallone had trouble keeping them on during the 1995 Judge Dredd movie. It's "understandable" that the filmmakers would not want to hide the face of their most bankable star but then again, it defiles the tradition of the Judge Dredd comics as Judge Dredd rarely removes his helmet.

The result was a critical and commercial flop. Judge Dredd creator John Wagner made his sentiment clear that the 1995 movie was not a proper Judge Dredd movie. The negative reaction was so bad that no one dares to touch it again for many years.

Fast forward to 2012 and the tough lawman is getting a reboot. Early indications would appeared that they got it right this time.

When the new Judge Dredd movie was announced, lead actor Karl Urban (Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy of 2009 Star Trek) reportedly said that he wouldn't have taken on this role if Judge Dredd was to remove his the helmet during the movie. As a long time fan of the Judge Dredd, Karl Urban understood the need for Judge Dredd to keep his helmet on in order to honor the comics roots. That for me was a sign that this reboot was heading towards the right way.

Another plus point for this Dredd reboot would be that Alex Garland is writing and producing this movie. His screenplay for Sunshine and 28 Days Later are both impressive entries to their respective genre. His short story "Sunrise" was my faveourite story in Batman Black and White Vol 3 comic. I am always interested to see what screenplay will he be writing next and to find out that he will be writing this Dredd movie was just another sweet incentive to catch this movie as soon as it comes out.

Last but not least, endorsement from Judge Dredd creator John Wagner and one of my faveourite Judge Dredd artist Simon Bisley. If these people who made Judge Dredd worked in it's comics form are supporting the movie, it's a really good sign for the movie.

Dredd Prologue Comics

Before heading to the movie, perhaps you might be interested to check out the origin story for the movie villain Ma-Ma. The origin comics can be found here and IGN has a motion comics over here.

Trailer for Dredd



Bulk of the trailer felt awfully similar to The Raid Redemption (shown in Singapore earlier this year). It would seemed that it was an unfortunate coincidence as the writing process for Dredd took place before The Raid Redemption started production and it's unlikely that both parties copied each other's premise for a movie. Other than that, awesome "Slo-Mo" special effects with it's dazzling color saturation and slow motion effect :)

MTV Exclusive 'Dredd 3D' Featurette

Get More: Movie Trailers, Movies Blog

Contains some new footage that's not featured on the trailer or various TV spots. Karl Urban, John Wagner and Alex Garland contributing some insights to this Dredd movie. Highlight of this featurette would be definitely be John Wagner summarizing Judge Dredd as your greatest hero and biggest nightmare wrapped up in one. Nuff Said!

The Plot

The future America is an irradiated waste land. On its East Coast, running from Boston to Washington DC, lies Mega City One--a vast, violent metropolis where criminals rule the chaotic streets. The only force of order lies with the urban cops called "Judges" who possess the combined powers of judge, jury and instant executioner. Known and feared throughout the city, Dredd (Karl Urban) is the ultimate Judge, challenged with ridding the city of its latest scourge--a dangerous drug epidemic that has users of "Slo-Mo" experiencing reality at a fraction of its normal speed.

Quick Review
An admirable adaption of Judge Dredd comic. Karl Urban did a fine job in reintroducing the beloved British comic character. the problem was that we just had the raid redemption earlier this year and there was too much repetitive gunfights that were no where as impressive as the raid. DREDD ultimately makes a good introduction arc but it would have been better if there more revelations Dredd and rookie Judge Anderson.

Rating *** 1/2

Ruby Sparks [Coming Soon]

The Pitch

It's not a new concept. When it comes to magically creating the dream girl, John Hughes did it with Weird Science back in 1985. A successful novelist with writer's block encountering his creation in real life and realizing that what he writes could have an effect on his creation? Marc Forster's Stranger than Fiction with Will Ferrell did a pretty good job back in 2006.

So what made Ruby Sparks stood out? I would say it's the Little Miss Sunshine factor.

The directorial film debut of Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris was seriously good and unforgettable. The comedy drama road film Little Miss Sunshine was quirky, heartwarming, poignant and funny. The directors demonstrate that they could handle multiple characters well and make us love them all. It's hard to believe it's been six years since their debut and I been anticipating their follow up to their critically acclaimed road movie.

Little Miss Sunshine also brought my attention to Paul Dano. He continues to reaffirm his acting chops in There Will Be Blood. Lately he been doing forgettable supporting roles for the likes of Knight and Day and Cowboys and Aliens. I wonder if the trio of Jonathan Dayton, Valerie Faris and Paul Dano could bring back some of the Little Miss Sunshine magic.

Before I ends this pitch, it's interesting to note that Zoe Kazan who plays Ruby Sparks is currently dating Paul Dano. Let's see if any of the real sparks get rub off on the film reel.

The Plot

A sharp, modern take on the Pygmalion myth, RUBY SPARKS is the story of a novelist’s vision who inexplicably comes to life, only to prove far more complicated than even he could have imagined. With a light touch and a dash of magical realism, the first screenplay from actress and playwright Zoe Kazan attracted the attention of Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris, the married team who directed the run-away hit LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE. The film takes an unpredictable route into fantasy, identity and the ways we invent love – and how love can re-invent us.

(Taken from Cathay Webpage )

Branded [ Trailers ]

While flipping thru Flipboard on my Samsung Galaxy S3, I came across this article that talks about the New Trailer for Dystopian Sci-Fi Thriller Branded by heyuguys.co.uk. Even before playing the trailer, I was intrigued by the following synopsis.

“After Misha skyrockets to the top of the advertising business, a tragic mishap on the set of one of his productions torpedoes his career and he retreats into self-imposed exile. Ten years later, Misha returns to a radically changed world and finds himself plagued by visions of bizarre and terrifying creatures with the ability to influence people’s thoughts, desires and actions. Creatures only he can see.

He soon realizes the creatures are part of a clandestine campaign unleashed by a rival advertising agency to make “fat the new fabulous” and create a new era of uncontrolled consumer appetite. In order to save mankind, Misha uses his own considerable marketing skills to launch an ingenious plan to try to eradicate the plague. But the corporate legions will not go down without a fight.”

I know this is a Sci-Fi movie that plays with fantasy elements but perhaps the subject matters that this movie is touching on couldn't be further from the truth. The advertising medium as the villain is pretty much a novel approach and the trailer somehow invokes the feel of Donnie Darko. I just hope that it doesn't take the easy "Hollywood" way out like the recent The Adjustment Bureau.

and here are the two trailers to wet your appetite

Trailer 2




Trailer 1

How I Spent My Summer Vacation | Get The Gringo [ Movie Review ]

The Pitch

"How I Spent My Summer Vacation" sounded like it was either going to be a slasher horror, travel comedy or a coming of age movie. But taking a closer look at the movie info, it's Mel Gibson and the movie plot is nothing remotely close to the impression given by the movie title.

Yup Mel Gibson, one of the most recognized but unbankable Hollywood star right now. His DUI anti-semitism remarks and the ex girlfriend's domestic violence still lingers around his reputation. Jodie Foster tried to put his career back on tracks with The Beaver but poor box office collection in the USA seemed to put the final nail on his career coffin.

Well he's back and in a movie that seemed seemed to tailor fit Mel Gibson's brand of screen charisma. It also seemed that to minimize the risk of another box office bomb in the United States, Mel Gibson's independent production company, Icon Production will be releasing this movie through video on demand. The rest of the world who don't "hate" Mel Gibson that much will be getting a theatrical release.

The Plot 

The story of Driver, a career criminal who is picked up by the Mexican police as he desperately tries to cross the border in a car stuffed full of stolen cash. The police take the cash and dump him in the infamous El Pueblito prison - a hell on earth where the prison gangs run the show.

Driver has no ID or fingerprints but he still gets a visit from a corrupt American Embassy official who has heard about the money. If Driver doesn't find a way of paying him off while he's inside, then he's going to let the authorities know where Driver is. And it won't be long before the guys he stole the money from find him too. Driver knows it is sink or swim. He hooks up with a young boy who shows him how to survive in the prison, but the kid has a terrible secret. He shares a rare blood type with Javi - the criminal who ruthlessly controls the prison and everyone in it. The kid is Javi’s life insurance policy and he has doctors on standby to transplant his liver whenever the time comes. But Driver has other ideas and pretty soon he devises an audacious plan to escape with the kid, the kid’s mother and the money.

(Plot Outline taken from Cathay Cineplexes)

How I Spent My Summer Vacation or otherwise known as Get The Gringo in America

The Avengers [ Movie Review ] ★★★★1/2

The Pitch

The Avengers is not like any summer blockbuster movies that came before. It's a comic book superheroes team like no other. The seed for this movie was planted in the first Iron Man, way back in 2008. From then on, it was a cumulative of movies that introduced the likes of The Incredible Hulk, Thor and Captain America that collective forms the basis for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

With this group of super-powered individuals, it gave Marvel the opportunity to bring one of their most beloved and long enduring superheroes team onto the big screen. Personally The Avengers is one of the most anticipated movie of the past few years.

The biggest worry would be how would these characters be handled. Will the main characters from four different movies blend well together or will they be jostling for screen time? Would the filmmakers be able to make a villain / threat so menacing that requires a team up of such super powered individuals?   

The burden / task / glory lies in Joss Whedon's hands. Mainly known as the creative force behind the Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Firefly television series, Joss Whedon had only directed one movie and that's Serenity, a movie spinoff from Firefly. The Avengers would mark as his second directorial effort and it makes me wonder if he could handle the scope of such magnitude. He is a comic book fan and wrote well received comics for Marvel Comics before but it was the Astonishing X-men comics, not the Avengers.

But still Joss Whedon has impressed many with his writing skills and it's unlikely that Marvel would just throw one of their biggest movie event in recent years to someone who might not be up to the job. There's only one way to find out if The Avengers will live up to the hype.

The Plot

Marvel Studios presents “Marvel’s The Avengers”—the Super Hero team up of a lifetime, featuring iconic Marvel Super Heroes Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye and Black Widow. When an unexpected enemy emerges that threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury, Director of the international peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. Spanning the globe, a daring recruitment effort begins.

(Plot taken from The Avengers Singapore Facebook Page) 


The Perspective


Joss Whedon's The Avengers definitely managed to live up to the hype, met the expectation of (most) comics fans and set the bar real high for the next few superheroes comic book movies to come. It's been a long time since I had so much fun with a superheroes comic movie and the last one that made me craved for more was Iron Man. Here are some of the highlights of The Avengers movie.


First and foremost, the movie did a great job in characterizing the various superheroes in the limited time frame. There are four main heroes (Captain America, Iron Man, Thor and Hulk) and three supporting ones (Nick Fury, Hawkeye and Black Widow). It's not easy to handle all of them and yet this movie managed to put enough focus on them for the audience to care about their respective motivation and struggle. 

It's a delight to see how these various characters interact with each other. Their conflicts in personalities and opinion brought out quite a few interesting insights to their character and how much they differs from each other. The only thing that topped their fight with each other was the antagonist of this movie, Loki.


Let's just put it that these heroes need a cause so epic and a villain so devious that they would brand themselves together to fight the common enemy. Loki's evil plans and methods in this movie were definitely the crescendo rising to the climatic finale.


Last but not least, I couldn't remember caring so much about characters like the Hulk, Thor or Captain America. Iron Man was a delight when the movie came out but the other three were simply unmemorable. In Joss Whedon's direction, he brought out the essence of why these characters had remained so popular after all these years and he did it while juggling with all these other characters. Marvel needs to rethink how to handle those three characters in their respective upcoming sequels.


The Avengers is simply the best movie of the year. Nuff Said. Now go watch it in a good cinema near you.

Rating: ****1/2
 
Coda

As usual for the movies in Marvel Cinematic Universe, there are some goodies left after the movie. The scene occurs during the mid Credits. It's Thanos getting report from the minion that the invasion had failed. There's a line in that scene that the minion said gave me goosebumps ... the Infinity Gauntlet type of goosebumps ... and that line is ""To challenge them is to court death!""

Reportedly, ComingSoon mention that there's a additional second scene at the End of Credits that's NOT included in the international prints. Yup that's right! Only the US theaters get it. But then again, there are those people who seen it and complained that the scene was too short and was a waste of time to stay back for. I was anticipating that scene and was disappointed that it wasn't included in the Singapore print. In case you want to know what is it about, it was a quiet scene of the Avengers having shawarma together in a diner.

The Avengers Official Trailer 2

 

Marvel's The Avengers Super Bowl 2012

The Avengers Official Trailer

 

New Set of Avengers Banner poster
 

Marvel Studio just released a set of characters poster for the upcoming The Avengers at Comic Con 2011. Awesome piece of work isn't it? Nuff Said!