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1982 (2013)
Overrated
I rent this movie because of the high rating. I have to say I am very disappointed. The fact that there was only ONE review on the board should tell me something. 1. The wife's change was too drastic and not justified at all. 2. The husband's actions are too perfect. He is beyond a saint, which makes it very unbelievable. 3. The wife is very unlikable. Even before the drug takes control of her. 4. I find it very hard to relate to the story. Maybe I am too naive. But the wife's actions are way beyond my imagination. I personally have never taken drugs in my life. I find it very hard to believe she was a perfect mother and then overnight became so irresponsible that she had absolutely no regards to her daughter at all. I get that drugs take control of your actions, emotions and life. But still, the change is too sudden and drastic that I find it very hard to believe.
Minority Report (2015)
much weaker than the movie by Tom Cruise
This adaption of TV series is much much weaker than the original movie starred by Tom Cruise. I am a big fan of the original movie. Very smart plot and great acting. The female leading character is unlikable, maintains a weird pretentious tense facial expression the whole time. Sometimes she tries to do something with her lips, to make a sexy look, I guess. But she can't pull it off. The development of the characters are done poorly. It doesn't make sense why they behave the way they do. The technology in this movie is visually fancy, but very unrealistic. I know it's a sci-fi, but some technology in this movie just doesn't make sense. There seems to be a trend of adapting successful movies into TV series. 12 Monkeys, Limitless, to name a couple. Maybe it's too hard for the writers to come up with new ideas. The plots can't match the original movie, either. Overall, very disappointed.
Jupiter Ascending (2015)
Really BAD Sci-Fi
I would like to see sci-fi movies be real sci-fi, meaning fiction based on science, not no-logic completely made-up junk. Mila's acting is really bad. Channing is the only good part of this movie. 1. Mila's mother is a Mathematician. I've never met any mathematician ending up scrubbing people's toilets. I mean, COME ON. It's hard for immigrants to start a new life here in USA. Trust me, as an immigrant myself, I get that. But USA has a very high demand of mathematician. She could be an accountant, a math teacher, or even a math professor. She probably would have to work as a house cleaner or a waitress while getting her degree or certificate. But after 20 years, still scrubbing toilets? NO WAY! 2. When you learn there are other intelligent life in the universe, what will be your first reaction? Doubts. Shock. Surprise. Excitement. Those would be logic emotions, right? None of those in Mila's acting. 3. Channing's gravity boots? It throws in some big words to give some explanation. But for a physicist, that explanation makes NO sense.
After Earth (2013)
Bad bad acting
I usually don't give this low of a score to a movie due to poor acting. The ONLY reason Jaden Smith could be the leading role of this movie is because his daddy is Will Smith. From the very first scene, to the very last, it is bad and worse acting all the way through. There are many young actors his age, or even younger, he is the LEAST talented of ALL young actors I've ever seen. If they cast the real mom Jada to play Jaden's mother in the movie, it will be more interesting. Because Jaden does look a lot alike his parents. That'll add a little fun element in this movie. The beginning of the movie is too long. Some of Will's monologue is way longer than necessary. CGI is average. Storyline is average for this type of movie. Too predictable.
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)
Not as enjoyable as the book. Quite disappointed.
In my opinion, this film is not as good as the first one. The actors are marvelous. Jennifer Lawrence's performance is excellent. Believable, intense, with layers. I've read the books. It's written in first person, from Katniss's perspective only. The movie could develop the story from other people's angles, too. It has so much potential to explore from different perspectives. And it fails to do that. I will have to put the blame on the director. The arena scenes are very disappointing. Less excitement than the first movie. Overall, I am quite disappointed. The dialogue between Prim and Katniss in the trailer, which I liked very much, is partially edited out in the actual movie. You gave me a chance. To live. No. To do something.
Snow White and the Huntsman (2012)
Worst Snow White (or any Disney princess) EVER!!
Charlize Theron is the only reason I gave this movie a 4. Other than her, the movie is a complete disaster. Charlize is a true Oscar-winner leading actress. In my opinion, her queen is far better than Julia Robert's. The cast of Snow White is a big mistake. She looks more like a vampire than a princess. And what about the 'pure and innocent' aspect of Snow White? Who could tell me where exactly she acted 'pure' or 'innocent'? She is manipulative avenger. The cast of young Snow White is also a mistake. Don't get me wrong, the little girl is cute. But her freckles make her a bad choice for this role. (Again, I am not saying the freckles make her not pretty. I am just saying the role of Snow White needs to have perfect skin tone.)
Only God Forgives (2013)
Boring, Have to fast-forward.
I am a big fan of Ryan Gosling. Love him in Notebook, Drive, Blue Valentine, All good things, The place beyond the pines, etc. He is hot. And an actor with a wide range. It really is not his fault this movie is so boring. It is the director's. I just don't get what the director is trying to say. There is very little, close to none, dialog. So if you can't guess what the director is trying to tell, then bad luck to you. You get no help. The base tone of the movie is red, which is irritating after 20 minutes. I watched the first 20 minutes at normal speed, just for the love of Ryan. And then have to fast-forward through. Although I have never been to Thailand, I am pretty sure over there you can not just chop up somebody on the street, at night, but in open view, without fear of serious consequences.
Homeland (2011)
Too Slow
This is hardly a passing grade series. The story unfolds way TOOOOO SLOWLY!
24 is a much better series in that category. It keeps at the edge of the chair the whole time. This one just makes you want to scream DO IT ALREADY.
I like the portrait of the military family. It makes me understand more what the military families are going through, appreciate more the sacrifice. It is very painful when their loved ones can't go home. It is also painful when their loved ones DO come home but with a broken soul. At the end of the day, war is BAD for everybody involved, even the ones that win the war and come back home as heroes.
Other than that, it is a boring series.
Killer Joe (2011)
Am I the only one that doesn't get it?
This is one of the WORST movie I've ever seen. I don't get the story. This is a seriously twisted family. Son frequently hits his own mother. Mother tried to smother her own baby girl. Son wants to kill his own mother. Stepmom walks around naked in front of the grown stepson. Father and brother have NO problem whatsoever to pimp out their little girl. Father and sister kill their own son/brother. Wife cheats on husband, which seems so trivial for this family. Husband watches wife being beaten up and offers no help.
What's the point of this movie? What's the merit of watching such an unbelievably twisted family? What is the enjoyment I will get as an audience? Am I supposed to feel better about myself because my family is normal? Am I supposed to feel sympathetic to the characters that I can NOT relate to at all? How am I entertained?
I am very surprised to see such a high rating on this movie. Maybe there is something I am missing. I don't get it at all.
The Soloist (2009)
Touched the bottom of my heart
I am very surprised to see this movie is only getting a 6.6. This is one of the best movie I've seen this year.
I learned to play accordion when I was little and learned piano by myself when I was in graduate school. Although I am a scientist, music has always been a part of my life. It has given me joy, comfort, power and peace when I was in the ups and (especially) downs in my life. I understand how powerful music can be.
This movie is about how music can save a person when he is in the deepest hole you can imagine in life. Jamie Foxx is marvelous in this movie. I've never really liked him before I watched this movie. His music background certainly helped. My only small complaint is that when he is playing with the orchestra, you actually can tell he is not really playing. His arm motion and body expression is certainly out of place when compared with other cello players. But when he is playing violin or cello by himself, it is very believable. You would think it is really him playing what you hear from the soundtrack.
The biggest lesson I learned from this movie: every homeless people has his/her own story. You will feel compassion and sympathy if you actually take the time to listen to their story.
Bravo!
Taken 2 (2012)
Simple physics
I like the first Taken very much. I actually searched every movie starred by Liam in my local library after watching Taken.
Taken 2 is not as intense, but still entertaining.
There are many holes in this movie. I'll just point out a simple physics one.
Speed of sound in air is 343 m/s. So if he hears the explosion 4 seconds later, it means he is 1372 meters away. If he is 4.5 kilometer away (as in the movie), he should hear the explosion 13 seconds later.
This is simple high school physics.
They seriously should have hired a science consultant.
The fist fight scene is a little disappointing too. Hong Kong movies always have superb fight scenes. So they should have hired a stunt coordinator from Hong Kong.
Battleship (2012)
bad choice of leading actor
This is my first time (at least the first time I can remember) to see Taylor Kitsch. I have no prior knowledge of him. So I think my judgment is unclouded. I have to say, he doesn't have it in him. He is not leading actor material. At least not in this type of role. There is no growth of his character in this movie. The change (from a nobody to a hero, as you can expect from this type of movie) is totally unjustified. I would have to say that I think the best performance in this movie is given by the Japanese character, Joji Yoshida as Chief Engineer Hiroki.
The CGI is pretty good. The storyline is pretty good, too.
Prometheus (2012)
disappointed, totally unprofessional
I am quite disappointment of this movie. It's a scientific fiction movie. You basically can make up anything you want that contradicts any known scientific theory. So I am not going to be picky about the discoveries in the movie. As a scientist myself, I have to say that the 'so-called' scientists in this movie are totally unprofessional. The writers need to have REAL scientists as consultants. Just like when you are making a war movie, you want to have real military personnel, pilots, snipers etc as your consultant, to make sure the things the actors do and say in the movie are authentic and believable. I am a big fan of Tom Hardy after 'Warrior'. I think he gives an Oscar worthy performance in that movie. In this movie, he is good, but not marvelous. Mostly because of the role he is playing.
Abandoned (2010)
Bad plot, bad acting.
This is one of the worst movies I've ever seen.
The story line is the WORST. I don't know how it can see the light of production. There are so many holes in the plot. There is no logic at all. First of all, when you make a wire transfer, it takes TIME for the money to actually transferring to the account. Second, if they just try to threaten her with her boyfriend's life into wiring them money, why do they have to do it in a hospital, where there are MANY potential witnesses. They could have just kidnapped him from their home. There are many others. I am just tired to point all them out.
The acting is terrible. The first second, she was pointing a gun at somebody, like a pro. The next second, she was gasping in shock, like a little school girl.
Straw Dogs (2011)
bad cast, except Dominic
I've never seen the original. So I can't compare the two. Watching this story for the first time, I am quite disappointed. The biggest problem might be the cast. James Marsden is just not right for this role. Kate is beautiful, but I can't understand her. I don't understand their relationship, either. There should be some problems in their marriage. But the movie fails to convey that. Alexander is very bad-ass, as his character should be. The only shining star in this movie is Dominic Purell. I love him in 'Prison Break'. He is still very manly as he physically can be. This movie just proves that he can play a very wide range of roles and make them convincing.
Warrior (2011)
Deserved an Oscar
This is the best movie of the year. It has the elements for both gender. Fight scenes for guys, and emotional/love scenes for gals. The fight scenes are very well conducted. Seem very real. It's extremely hard to find male actors who can fight AND act, I mean real act at the same time. Tom Hardy is brilliant. Joel Edgerton looks a lot like Conan O'Brian. It's a little weird for me to watch comedian 'Conan OBrian' do fight scenes. Tom Hardy is so sexy in this movie. I love strong men with something vulnerable and childish inside. The love between brothers and father/son is strong yet subtle. Men don't express their love for each other easily and often. I'm touched to the bottom of my heart when I see them communicate their love through fights and arguments. They can seem strong from the outside, harsh to each other. But the love is stronger. I think Tom Hardy deserves an Oscar.