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fishbelly2002
Reviews
The Hunger Games (2012)
Only for teenagers...
Let's be fair, I am NOT a teenager, and I might like it if I'm under 18.
I did my homework by finishing the book over the weekend b4 watching(for which I don't like already anyway), and hope the actions would make it better.
The whole plot is simply following the book, all those "big events" just laid out to be served by the director. The "romance" is just cheesy and high school like.
Camera work is little overdone for being too shaky, and many of the "actions" are kind of skipped.
Acting wise, it's kind of up and down for Katniss, at some point you can feel her toughness but at times it just feels like she is just being "girl in iron mask". She has hard time interpreting the "fake love" feeling with Peeta. What's worse is the tributes all look so FRESH and unharmed after all the suffering and exhaustion, it almost feels like they just have buffet and sleep 12 hrs daily in the wood.
It just got kind of bad after mid point of movie, I keep seeing people come and go, to get water, get popcorn, go to washroom. And people LAUGH at somewhere that's suppose to be serious (I see a guy in deep sleep in front of me too..)
Nothing lost if you don't watch this movie honestly...
Sai de ke · ba lai: Tai yang qi (2011)
do background research before going
First of all it is better to watch the film in full 4.5 hr instead of watching as 2 parts, which is what I did in film fest.
Secondly, you have to know a little of history and tradition of Taiwan and roles of aboriginals to truly have a feeling for the movie. Just Wiki "Wushe Incident", and "Taiwanese Aboriginal" and that makes things much better as you watch.
Anyway back to the film, the selling point seems to be all the killing, the action, the big budget. However after watching it I've found out it's more about the value of "death" that the film tries to bring to us, and death weights in front of abstract values such as "tradition", "dignity", etc.
It's really an entertaining film for sure and throughout the 4.5 hrs time just flies, and you have to adjust yourself to have that desire to discover more about aboriginals believes and ways of living, much like watching documentary films mentality.
I can't stop comparing this "Civilization vs. Barbarian" plot to what is happening in middle east right now. In such sense history is repeating, and the film is definitely pointing out how pointless the loss of lives is (depends on which stand you are taking though).
Overall this is one of the best and most enjoyable films in recent years. The director is trying to lead us to think critically towards topics on death, values, tradition and how these would change when worlds collide.
3D Yuk po tuen: Gik lok bo gam (2011)
Adjust your mindset, don't take this film too seriously.....
The film is promoted as the first 3D porn to attract viewers, it is no doubt a very smart way of making $$ for the movie company, but I think those who pay to watch the film should totally readjust the mindset going into this film.
If you are expecting lots of sex scenes and expecting inappropriate things flying 3D in your face, you are asking for too much. When I bought the ticket to watch this film, I totally expected this to be a nonsense comedy that doesn't really make much sense.
When you take that approach I think this film is way more enjoyable. I find it quite entertaining and laughable at some scenes (so are fellow viewers, who couldn't stop laughing at some scenes), and even though a little cheesy, there is a theme into it.
Thing I give big thumbs up are the costumes and props, it makes me realize the producer is taking this film very seriously instead of just a low budget stupid movie. The musical department also deserves lots of credit as the sex scenes are quite steamy because of the background music they use.
Again, this is NOT an artistic film, just take it as a bubble gum film that makes you laugh for 2 hours.
Wai dor lei ah yat ho (2010)
A bloody film that reminds me of the SAW series
It takes a little background knowledge to understand how crazy it is for HK real estate market and the sufferers resulting from it. Such knowledge may be lacking for foreign viewers and therefore finding minimal resonance on this film.
With the film surrounding blood, sex, and violence, it reminds me of the SAW series, which use the 3 elements above to bring out the films theme.
It is not a bad film entertainment wise, however I find it is trying too hard to create the graphic scenes, which in some cases exceeds WAY too much out of reality. (e.g the eye popping scene, the guts falling scene)
One thing that worths mentioning is the beautiful cinematography in this film, which creates a lot of texture for the film.
Another thumbs up for the film has is its original score, it is hard to believe, after reading the credits at the end, that almost all of the songs are originally written, BY ONE MUSICIAN Gabriele Roberto.
I'm also glad that the ending does not end like all the other cheesy films.
Ting che (2008)
A well planned film that tells stories of the city
This film is really a quality film that tells different stories in the city of Taipei.
The plot involves tiny stories from various characters, portraiting different angles of life, what is important to each person.
The story ends a little bit awkward though, but it is all because it is not meant to be a typical movie with clear storyline, it is just like peeking at lives of different people.
The acting in this film is excellent, especially the main character Chen Mo, he can take the torch from Tony Leung in the near future as the number 1 actor in Asia. Other characters are well casted, since most of them are quite famous and solid actors for some years in the industry already.
I would definitely recommend this film for more serious and patient audience
72 ga cho hak (2010)
Simple nonsense, don't waste your time
A complete disaster trying to sell stars and non sense humour. Copying here and there, trying very hard to make it funny, but really fails big time.
The selling point of the movie is to have all the so called stars and celebrities to appear briefly, which turns out to make the whole movie looks cheap and unplanned.
To cut out the budget the movie involves a lot of scenes with sponsorship, and eventually goes ALL OUT like an infomercial on TV, which is really a disgrace to any film making.
Simply save your precious 1.5 hours, I can't even find a point in the movie that I can laugh at (given I'm also a Honger), seems like a film for elementary students more than a real movie.