Watching Movies

Twas a long break during the christmas holidays... time to catch up on some movie watching in the cinemas... there was plenty to choose from... of course the first thing I caught was Avatar...

We came in slightly late... the movie has started... maybe 5 to 10 minutes late... the hero has been transported to Pandora already... oh well...

Avatar's story is about humans trying to survive after they've nearly destroyed their own planet. They found a planet full of riches called Pandora and they're trying to get rid of the natives (Na'vi) so that they could harvest these riches.

Unfortunately, the Na'vi are not budging. Instead of a full scale invasion, some scientists decided to infiltrate the Na'vi using body doubles that they can control remotely ie the Avatars.

They need to get the Na'vi's cooperation or the army will start bulldozing and shooting...

I watched it in 3D. Avatar really is a masterpiece, combining all kinds of technology. The story itself was good and the acting is excellent. The final battle is a sight to be seen. One of the best movies out this year. Really.

Bodyguards & Assassins have a huge cast and it ran for 2 and a half hours. Quite long eh? The storyline is simple. A revolutionary leader intended to stop by Hong Kong to meet with faction leaders to discuss, what else, revolting... an assassination order was given out and the local rebels decided to put their lives on the line to ensure the leaders meet.

The 'chase' scenes were pretty good but there were too little fighting sequences given that there were plenty of action stars in it. Maybe if they shorten the movie, then the action sequence would seem longer...

There was a dubbing problem, not sure whether it was intended or an oversight... but a lot of the characters's mouth were not moving as the voices/dialogue that we can hear...

Couples Retreat. The rare one in this mix. The one with a lot of talking and no fighting nor explosion in it. Some people find that a turn-off. Well, with a title called Couples Retreat... you should know what kind of a movie this would be yes?

One couple (Jason Bateman and Kristen Bell) found themselves drifting apart because they could not conceive so they enlist their friends to come with them for therapy.

This is quite a funny, charming movie. The writing and the acting was spot on. The actors have great chemistry. I really liked Kristen Bell (Veronica Mars, Heroes) and Malin Ackerman (Watchmen).

Now, we're back to action and explosions and fighting. Sherlock Holmes. Who doesn't know him? But they've updated him into someone more dashing and debonair, slightly in the veins of 007 but slightly looser... and Watson is not just a doctor. He's a swashbuckling, handsome one.

The story starts out as Holmes and Watson thwarted Lord Blackwood's latest attempt to murder and it spiraled out of control from there. Apparently, Lord Blackwood's dealing with the supernatural and has risen from the grave and is now killing off people still. So now, Holmes and Watson needs to solve the mystery and stop Lord Blackwood's devious plans.

In the midst of all these, comes a distraction in the form of Miss Adler, who is working for someone else... and this is being set-up for Sherlock Holmes 2 I think...

Pretty good show, nicely mixing comedy, drama, mystery and action. Robert Downey and Jude Law have good chemistry together. Can't wait for Part 2... :)

Finally, Muallaf... technically, Muallaf is not actually about Muallaf... not too sure why's it's titled that way. Maybe the second time round, I'd get it.

First of all, I love the late, great Yasmin Ahmad. Her movies are all inspiring, beautiful and touching.

But... with Muallaf, I felt a bit disconnected. Hmm, how to say this... it's not her best work... but it's still good...

Some of the acting was a bit wooden but the girls (Sharifah Amani and Sharifah Aleysha) and Brian Yap were quite good. Guess Sharifah Amani and good goes hand in hand...

New Movies

According to GSC, new movies released today (17/12):

AVATAR
Running Time: 2 hours 43 minutes
Director: James Cameron
Cast: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Michelle Rodriguez, Stephen Lang.

"Avatar" is an emotional journey of redemption and revolution. The story tells of a wounded ex-marine, who thrust unwillingly into an effort to settle and exploit an exotic planet rich in bio-diversity, and eventually crosses over to lead an indigenous race in a battle for survival. Thus, combining the elements of massive spectacle and intimate character that made James Cameron's "Titanic" the highest grossing film of all time.

PULAU ASMARA
Running Time: 1 hour 44 minutes
Director: Uttam Kumar Thangiah
Cast: Abby Azis, Faizal Ramliy AF4, Sheikh Bolkhiah, Shasha Arsheela, Nadia Kesumawati, Leez Rosli AF4, Dato’ Aziz Singah, Azie Shah, Latif Ibrahim.

Synopsis: Three friends Taufik, Jeffri and Sam go to beautiful and mystic Pulau Langkawi for a break from their IT jobs in the big city. Each of the youths has his own notion of Love and women.

Sober and sweet-mannered Taufik does not believe in romance and says that he will marry the girl of his parents’ choice when the time comes. For ladies’ man Jeffri, there are many fishes in the sea and thinks that love and marriage are only forms of captivity. Comic and naïve Sam believes in love-at-first-sight, and hopes to meet the love of his life on the island.

Fate however, brings three young women into the lives of the youths. Sam chances upon pretty and chirpy village lass, Sofia seated at the window of a kampung house and decides that she is the love of his life. Sam pursues his love but is shocked when he finds out that Sofia is physically handicapped. Unable to accept her imperfection, Sam flees from Sofia. Sofia’s fisherman father Anwar is heart-broken when he sees his darling daughter in tears.

Jeffri saves little Daniel from a danger and at once becomes attached to the cute boy. However, Daniel’s young and attractive mother Amy warns Jeffri to stay away from her son. Jeffri’s every encounter with Amy ends in a fiery and bitter quarrel. Amy breaks into tears when Jeffri calls her a frustrated woman who probably does not get enough love from her husband. Jeffri later learns that Amy is widowed, and regrets his harsh and cruel words. Jeffri realizes that he needs the love of a family, and proposes to Amy. Amy, though regretting her earlier misconception of Jeffri, turns him down.

Taufik who thought that no woman can affect his life meets sad, mysterious and attractive Lina. Taufik helps Lina’s father Osman when the elderly man slips and falls in the waves. Osman and wife Halimah are immediately drawn to Taufik’s good manners and soft nature. Taufik is shocked when at a later meeting Osman reveals that Lina is terminally ill with cancer. He feels deeply sorry for the old couple but at the same becomes totally disturbed by the news. After a fight with Sam who accuses him of running away from love, Taufik realizes that he wants to marry Lina. Taufik meets Lina’s parents to seek her hand in marriage but Lina insults him and turns him away.

The three youths find that their holiday on the island has brought only misery, and decide to return home. Taufik makes a last minute decision to join a yacht cruise when he sees Lina and her parents amongst the cruisers. The three friends join the cruise in a tensed mood.The climax is a misadventure at sea. Lina and Taufik go missing in the waters. What happens to them? What becomes of Amy and Sofia? Does the love island turn into a tragedy island?

BODYGUARDS & ASSASSINS
Running Time: 2 hours 19 minutes
Director: Teddy Chen
Cast: Donnie Yen, Wang Xue Qi, Tony Leung Ka Fai, Nicholas Tse, Hu Jun, Eric Tsang, Li Yu Chun, Simon Yam, Fan Bin Bin, Zhou Yun, Wang Po Chieh, Leon Lai.

Synopsis: 1905, City of Victoria (British Colony of Hong Kong). Before Dr. Sun Yat-Sen can become the Father of Modern China by instigating the revolution of 1911 that overturns the Qing Dynasty, his life is almost cut short when he arrives at Hong Kong for a secret meeting to establish a united anti-Qing revolutionary front.In the distance of thirteen blocks, the one man Dr. Sun Yat-Sen who holds a nation’s fate must survive relentless attempts on his life with only five bodyguards, a group of ordinary men and women who actually possess extraordinary fighting skills. Against hundreds of assassins, these men must put their courage to the test in order to protect the hope of millions even if it means fighting to the death...

VETTAIKARAN
Running Time: 2 hours 45 minutes
Director: Babu Sivan
Cast: Vijay, Anushka Shetty.

Synopsis: "Vettaikaran" is an action film starring Vijay and Anushka. The film is said to have the usual commercial elements of any Vijay film and similar to his previous hit "Thirupachi". Vijay plays the role of an Auto driver and Anushka plays a medical student as his love interest.