The Grey

Ratings: 7.7/10
Film Class: B
Genre: Suspense Drama

Told myself I wouldn't miss any of the recent Liam Neeson movie and I didn't! The Grey is about the survivors of seven oil workers in a plane crash in Alaska. Braving the freezing weather to seek help isn't their greatest worry... a merciless pack of wolves has their eyes on the helpless seven...

I shan't spend too much time telling you how cool Liam Neeson is because it seems that all his recent movies lands him a very "zai" character. This time round, he's an expert in wolf hunting. However, no matter how pro he is at that, there's no way he's can win a whole pack of them without his rifle.

*spoilers alert* Judging from the way the story progressed, I can't help but assume that everyone would die at the end... because the numbers of the survivors just kept decreasing... depressingly. Suddenly all hope of surviving veered towards 0% because you know it's a numbers game. Did I think wrong? Well, guess you've to find out yourself.

However, while the story development was intensively engaging, the ending was quite a cliffhanger. Still, not to fret, there's an after credits scene which makes the cliffhanger less... hanging. So do remember to stay on during the credits.

The sypnosis of the movie is fairly comprehensive enough, the only bits that were left out was the story behind the characters, especially the main lead, Liam Neeson. Don't expect twists in plots or a strong story, what you would expect is a few seat jumps (due to the sudden ambush) and the occasional adrenaline pumping. With that expectation in mind, bruce yourself for Men vs Wolves!  

Tangled

Ratings: 8.8/10
Film Class: A
Genre: Fairy Tale Animation

I was hugely skeptical about the flattering critiques of Tangled. There are many great animations out there, such as Finding Nemo and Despicable Me. On the contrary, there were many flop animations, especially those which tried to "revive" the fairy tale stories... like the extremely bad Hoodwink (Red Riding Hood).

The classics were good, weren't great, Cinderella, Snow White, Aladdin and the other princesses. Even the new fairy tale princess stories such as The Princess and the Frog. Whilst a fairy tale story about Repunzel isn't the usual favourite princess, Tangled owned the fairy tale 3D world.

It's a remake, so you can expect that the story doesn't follow the classic Repunzel plot. Repunzel is a princess who is unknowingly locked away in a hidden, tall castle where an evil woman claims Repunzel as her own daughter, because of Repunzel's magically hair which is able to heal and maintain the youth of her haggard "mother". Growing up in a web of lies, Repunzel soon starts to feel that the lights (lanterns) she sees out of her window on every one of her birthdays might actually be meant for her...

Her chance to look for and see the lights upclose finally presents itself despite her "mother's" demands that she can't leave the tower, when a suave, smooth-talking unknowingly finds refuge in her tower. And so... the fairy tale story continues...

I was surprised at the strong story Tangled had. As usual, I let my first impressions judge the movie. The movie title Tangled, Mandy Moore as the voice of Repunzel and the poster design were quite a turn-off, lack of a strong motivation and were too kidish-like to me. I was slapping myself repeatedly for putting off catching this movie because thanks to the critiques, I was introduced to one of the best fairy tale stories of my time.

Strong narration and depth of the emotional connection. Kinda reminded me of, though comparing 2 extremely different things but very relevant, how I was feeling when I watched the Korean drama Stairway to Heaven. I love the jokes, the lines, the characters (I liked like 8/10 main characters in the movie, what's the odds of that?), the style, the development and the songs!

Thanks to Mandy Moore, who's a singer (yeah, stating the obvious if you don't already know), she was able to really bring out the songs in a fashionably classic manner. The songs were so... oldie fairy tale like, nostalgic till the very last tune.

Despite the exaggeration and too-convenient bits of the plot, there was really nothing much to not like about this movie. If you're someone who appreciates fairy tales, nostalgic disney songs and a great animated movie, do yourself a favor by devoting some time to one of the best animations I've seen.

Arthur

Ratings: 5.5/10
Film Class: B
Genre: Comedy

Heard from a couple of friends that this movie was real funny. I was never a fan of the main lead, Katy Perry's husband, Russell Brand. Thought he was too over the top with his accent, acting and his "style". Never thought he would be landed a leading role... but he did.

A free-spirited billionaire who's addicted to alcohol and always getting into trouble lands himself into the biggest trouble he could ever imagine - marry a woman whom he doesn't love or lose his inheritance completely (actually if you ask me, it's not that big a problem ;p). Well, if that's not bad enough, that's when he finally falls in love with a random, "ordinary" girl...

The movie started with strong cheesy British accent, which was kinda of a turn off for me. Don't get me wrong, I looovvve the British accent, but someone when Russell Brand speaks, everything, the whole package just sounded so low class. No offence to him as well, he's a decent actor, with an exceptionally irritating vibe about him.

Story was weak, typical, and lines were too cheesy, most of the time. However, because of the enormous loads of lame lines, it makes the good ones really good, think they call it relativity. Gotten a couple of good laughs but other than that, for most parts of the movie, I was just forcibly making laughing sounds.

The saving grace of the movie was the Russell's love interest, Greta Gerwig, the only "natural" and "normal" character. Actually there was a touching sequence between Russell and his nanny, Helen Mirren which I thought was pretty good as well.

Quite the no-brainer, feather-lighted movie which no one would really remember in years to come. Honest opinion, time-waster.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Ratings: 7.5/10

Film Class: A

Genre: Thriller

I shan't pretend to be atas or intellectual by saying that this movie was awesome just because of the seemingly intellectual plot (or subtle) it has. However, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is indeed a classy old school espionage film. The film begins in media res (meaning the story begins either in mid-point and end-point and relating the story backwards) and is about uncovering a mole in the highest echelon of the Secret Intelligence Service, the Circus. There's this high class, intellectual, vintage film noir feel to the story, cinematography and casting. 

There's Gary Oldman, Mark Strong, Colin Firth, John Hurt and other outstanding casts which made Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (man I'll never get sick of saying the title) more classy than it already is. However, I really thought the movie was going somewhere, until the middle portion where they kinda lost me. It was then an uphill battle for me to try to decipher what in the tinker tailor were they talking about? After wiki-ing it, ahh, the plot wasn't that hard to understand afterall. However, the way the movie was filmed, it was too "subtle" for me to grasp.  

It's not those kinda movies that gives you the story right smack in your face. There's a lot of thinking, but somehow the movie doesn't seem to put me on the right track of thinking. Before I knew it, the "facts" (the identity of the traitor) was laid out in front of me and I was clueless how they even came to such a conclusion. 

Tinker Tailor Solder Spy is not an artsy thought-provoking movie but you're sure to get a hardhitting mind f*** (pardon the language, don't think there's a more appropriate way to put it) experience if you decide to give this movie a viewing. Either that, leave your brains shut down, watch the movie, and go "huh"? when the credits roll.  I believe that will be a happier option for most. 

PS.: This movie deserves to be A class purely for the cinematography, style, soundtrack and cast. Don't expect drooling special effects because there are close to none. Don't expect any action because there are close to none. And don't expect any humor because the words "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" are as funny as it'll ever get in this serious movie. 

Chronicle

Ratings: 7.4/10

Film Class: C+

Genre: Sci-Fi Drama

Chronicle spans around 3 guys, the lead actor (for simplicity's sake, only their first name is mentioned), Andrew, his cousin, Matt and their high school friend Steve. The gist of the film revolves around the life of the main lead Andrew, about how he just brought a new video camera (which explains why he's filming the movie with it) and  how he's being bullied by his peers in school as well as his abusive father. Alas, his mother is suffering from an incurable disease and is soon dying... the only person keeping Andrew in check. 

I don't believe I've given too much of the story away, since from the trailers, one would already know where this would lead to... The 3 guys gaining superpowers, gradually abusing it and finally going over to the "dark" side. The entire movie is shot from different angles of amateur video cameras, unlike most other "realistic" shaky cam movies which is mostly seen from 1 handheld cam. As long as there's a source of videography, eg. store's security cam, a girl who's also filming for her blog, the reporter's cameras, etc, that's how you'll be viewing the progression of the movie. An interesting take if you ask me. 

However unpromising of a story plot this movie might seem to you from the trailers, it's not. As a matter of fact, it's one of the better plot movies of such genre/movie style. *major spoilers ahead* Find out the reason behind Andrew's "evil nature" (opps, I've already disclosed it above), about what made him that way and think that way (latter not disclosed), and the movie makes you think what you would do if you had superpowers? Also, don't let the trailers fool you, not everyone is bad in this movie. And the movie doesn't development in reverse chronological order, it follows the normal timeline. I thought the crew was well chosen, and everyone was C+ Class exceptional in this movie. 

While most movies of such movie style would get a C for shaky hand held camera works, there's a + for the efforts in the special effects (though a little fake, great work on that). The flying scenes were a little too much for me to take, kinda felt too exaggerated but I shouldn't fault it since if one to have superpowers, then anything is possible isn't it? 

Some loopholes I found were how physically vulnerable they were even though they were able to prevent a fork from piercing into their hands and how the other 2 guys' powers seemed to be "controlled" by the lead actor's. Andrew doesn't get nose bleeds from the other 2 overusing the powers but the opposite is true for his mates. And yes, don't expect the part about how they managed to get superpowers to be explained. 

Overall, apart from the not so pleasant movie experience (inconsiderate couple - uncle with china lady [not intended to be a racist comment] who were talking non-stop for the entire, yes ENTIRE 84 mins the movie was run) the movie turned out better than expected. Good story progression and a fitting ending for this dark film. 

Safe House

Ratings: 7.4/10
Film Class: B
Genre: Action Thriller

Matt Weston (Ryan Reynolds), a CIA agent working as a safe house keeper for 10 years is hoping to be transferred so that he can lead a more "normal" life with his girlfriend from Paris. Nothing big seems to have happened yet, not until legendary rogue agent Tobin Frost (Denzel Washington) turns himself in and is sent to Weston's safe house... Things start to spiral out of hand as the safe house is compromised and Agent Weston must do everything he can to "protect his guest".

There's a dull-grainy-type feel throughout the movie, made the movie feel like a C grade movie, but thanks to big stars like Ryan Reynolds and Denzel Washington, it doesn't make the movie that "cheapskate". The colors are similar to "Push" and "Unstoppable", both of which I wasn't fond of. *Major spoilers ahead* However, it would seem that this style of filming was intentional, because after the whole ordeal was over, the colors and lighting were brighter, and the quality even feels sharper (less grainy). I'm not sure if it's just my imagination but it sure felt that way towards the last 5 minutes of the movie.

Heard reviews from my cuzzie and imdb that the movie was a senseless roller coaster ride. So I sought their advice, left my brains at home and checked out Safe House with my dear. I was more than satisfied with the movie. It wasn't brainless, story wasn't totally predictable and sure enough, there was harda** adrenaline pumping action scenes which would keep you at the edge of your seats. Though there were several scenes which had an easier "solution" to and would have you question "Why didn't they/he just ....".

But overall, a great weekend movie (at a horrible cinema @ Bugis Junction, because 1. Popcorn was bad with huge sugar bits 2. Cinema was pitch black, even after the credits rolled, 3. The cleaners didn't bother clearing up leftover tidbits so I knocked over a half filled coke while groping my way in pitch darkness which soaked both my feet) that would be worth $10 per pax at a decent cinema.

In Time

Ratings: 7.5/10

Film Class: B

Genre: Action Sci-Fi

I really loved the ideas and concept behind the movie. In Time is set in a hypothetical era where everyone only gets to age till 25 years old, and only has a year more to live. However, the people can "trade" or more accurately "transfer" time from one individual to another just by the grabbing of another's arm (a little too easy I feel). Their "lifespan" or timespan is shown on their left arm. 

Justin Timberlake, or Will Salas is just an ordinary guy living in the "dumpster" or lowerclass citizen doomed to die after he reaches 25 years old and isn't bothered by it. He makes full use of his time by running to destinations and doing meaningful stuff. However, everything changed for him when he tries to save another guy who has a century of time in his hands, literally. People with that much time in their hands only suffer 1 fate in the lowerclass zone... death by murder. 

Will was unexpectedly given the 100 years by his new acquaintance and was told to make full use of his time. He then travels to the inner, or outer parts of the city, to another zone where the time-rich people are... where a hundred years is nothing to wow about. There, he meets the tycoon's daughter, Slyvia Weis, played by Amanda Seyfried and steals her heart and life. 

Hunted down by "time-keepers" or rather the "cops" of the era for murder, Will, together with Slyvia must find a way to disrupt the imbalance of time in a warped world. 

Though I personally didn't like the acting of both leads, the storyline got me on the edge of my seats most of the time. Whenever the leads' time clicks down to mere seconds, it never fails to cut off the oxygen in my lungs. This movie reminded me to cherish my life, and make full use of my time on earth. Unlike the movie where you almost certainly know when you're gonna die, it's not the same here in the real world. 

Before I start muttering on philosophies and urging you to cherish your lives and those around you, I better not waste yours and tell you if this movie really is worth your time watching... It is, it kinda reminded me of Total Recall (no idea why) and it has a solemn and abstract feel to it. There's actually more to this movie than meets the eye, but with eye candy casts like Justin Timberlake and Amanda Seyfried, it's expected to get lost in them instead of the movie. 

Cillian Murphy was exceptional in this movie. Everything about him just feels detestably cool. I liked the motivation and ideals the leads were working towards, and though the movie wasn't super action-packed with hot car chases, blaring explosions and high-teched guns, In Time would easily be one of the top Sci-Fi movies with a great storyline concept.