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gojiro
Reviews
Entrapment (1999)
gorgeous catherine and handsome sean
I have to admit that Catherine is so gorgeous in this film and Sean so handsome (as always!) that they (themselves not the character) kept on getting my attention while we watched the film.
Now to the film... the picture is not so sharp and the audio is okay. (This is the next film that we watched after The Matrix). As for the storyline, the chase scenes didn't live up to how the story was brought up which was very good and exciting and intriguing.
Sean and Catherine make a good pair in this film. Catherine didn't look like she was 'intimidated' by working with a veteran actor like Sean. She endured the film and it looks like that she actually quite overwhelmed Sean on this one. It is an honor for Hollywood actors and actresses to work with an icon like Sean and not only Catherine was fortunate but she did fit as Sean's sidekick. The 'romance' that was built up between them has a good chemistry and they really are suited as a match (despite the age gap).
To my surprise, the latter part of the film was shot in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia where i worked for almost 6 months. It is very refreshing to see our side of the world in big films (with big names) like this. I am not sure about this but it's quite weird that there are no people/commuters at the train station at 6:30 in the morning. I felt funny seeing them alone on the station that really didn't look like realistic at all. I know for sure that KL is a busy capital and it justs doesn't look correct.
On the chase scene inside the current tallest building in the world, the tear gas event is also a disappointment. I've experienced the agony of what tear gas do to your eyes, skin and nose/lungs - and this without even being near the teargas can! I just can't imagine how the characters would have 'survived' going thru the smoke and then continue running away from the authorities.
Sean and Catherine were great together and the story was thrilling and exciting. If not for the sloppy chase scenes, I have given it 8 stars. In this case, it's a 7.
The Matrix (1999)
visually stunning and thought provoking
the matrix is amazing. i like sci-fi films and this one is really outstanding. the story line is new to me and it is very thought provoking although there are some vague areas which you just have to ignore so you can enjoy the story as 'whole'. keanu, laurence and carrie-anne did a great job on this film. carrie-anne is great! she looked stunning and dangerous which made her a very strong character in the film. while keanu and lauren did equally well. i understand that the matrix is based on a comic strip and this could be the reason why the script is very delightful. there're lots of good plots in the comic industry that need to be seriously looked upon. the visual and sound effects are great and the action sequences are amazing. the stunts are also well executed and graceful although at times very violent. the dojo' scenes are cool. this is a must see for the sci-fi and effects fanatics out there. this is one great film.
The Thin Red Line (1998)
War has no HONOR
So far, The Thin Red Line is the most INTIMATE war film I have ever seen and I liked it very much. I have to admit that this film is not for everyone. It is so abstract, poetic and philosophical in nature. Some of my interpretations goes like: not only people are destroying themselves but they are also ruining nature. It shows the evil that war brings. It was fortunate for me that I 'enjoyed' this film. This movie can't be compared with Saving Private Ryan. If Saving Private Ryan showed us the cruelty of war, The Thin Red Line made us venture into the consciousness/conscience of the soldiers who were directly in it. This movie is SO INTIMATE and thought provoking. Some will even argue how can a war movie can be so SLOW like The Thin Red Line. On this, I have to tell them that they have missed the point. This movie in its entirety tried to convey to the audience how some of those soldiers were thinking, feeling and acting during those unforgiving times. Saving Private Ryan made us abhor the war while The Thin Red Line will not only make you hate and feel the war but will also make you symphatize and emphatize with the victims of war - be it humans or nature. It will give you a glimpse on different points of views of soldiers while in war. I liked the visuals very much and the short battle scene on the hill - it was very tense and scary indeed. The sonics was not on par with Saving Private Ryan while the battle scene reminded me of Forrest Gump. I will not venture into the technicalities as I am not very good at it. The actors are convincing specially caviezel (pvt witt) whose face I really admired. He looked like very 'resolved' and it seems that he knows that he is in a war but can't really justify WHY he and the rest are in it! His thoughts were very philosophical. Chaplin as pvt bell also did a great acting. I felt the sorrow and the anguish that the pvt bell felt upon knowing that his wife wanted a divorce. The other actors did a wonderful job as well. I also liked Penn's welsh who said 'now, where's you spark' on witt's grave. Despite it's melodramatic nature, there are some whimsical moments in the film like a tribesman walking towards them and the barefooted tribesman who went with them through the jungle. True, funny but sad - depends on which perspective you look at it. I felt that most of the people who was in the movie theater with us last night didn't actually liked the movie (because of the phase) based on their reactions in the middle and after the film. We only saw the movie last night and I have to admit that I am still perplexed as to what the Thin Red Line is...