Thursday 29 April 2010

Uncertainty – Scott McGehee and David Siegel

A young couple standing on Brooklyn Bridge talking about their decisions, one seems fine with any possibility the other seems uncertain. Suddenly the man takes out a coin and flips it, in that split second the two of them run in opposite directions meeting each other on the other side of the bridge. The story splits into two sides. Matching their wardrobes Green (Bobby Thompson stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt) for Brooklyn and Yellow (Kate Montero stars Lynn Collins) for Manhattan.

Green – Bobby meeting Kate for a family dinner. A family drama.
Yellow –Kate and Bobby find a cell phone in a cab. A thriller.

The movie is telling a story by these two scenarios. What would the same couple do in different situations. But no matter what they do, the two stories seem to be relevant and cohesive. When the Brooklyn couple running from the truth, the Manhattan couple literally running away from danger. The two couples are watching the fireworks at the same time, making out at the same time. So what does it tell us? Life goes on? Maybe. Things just happen, it is not a decision make by flipping a coin and running away from the answers, in the end we run into each other again and the dilemma stays. The uncertainty lies in front of us. The matter is how we interrupt the situation and make it something good.

“I’m afraid of deciding.” Kate said.
“I’m not afraid of either scenarios I just want this is something we are doing not something we are not doing.” Said Bobby.

The decision itself is not the most important thing. The thing is either way they are doing it together. It should be about the process not the consequence. We always fall into result-oriented scenario, which often won’t last long, however the opposite seems more valid and when we look back the memories seems more appealing that way.

I have to admit the yellow part of the story is much more appealing and more intense. Nevertheless, without the balance of the green side, the message might not be delivered as planed. Doesn’t mean I don’t like the green side, NO! It is more emotional and relatable.

Although the two stories are using the same actors, but there is no a single moment you will mix the two stories together, one is because the two stories are so distinct and one is their wardrobe, as both of the stories are coded in colours the actors themselves are wearing the two colours in both of the stories. Which I think it’s a brilliant job!

I watched this movie because of Joseph Gordon-Levitt, since Latter days, Mysterious Skin, 500 days of Summer, I know he is a good actor. It doesn’t really matter he can make it to the main stream or not, as long as he is still the lead in the Indies, I’ll be fine. Look at GI Joe, he can’t really show off his talent and people might not even notice him. So just stay where you are and keep making good movies.


Monday 26 April 2010

The perks of being a wallflower – Stephen Chbosky

Dear Charlie,

How are you? Haven’t heard from you since 1992, hope you are doing great. I guess you must be a writer now. I have to say, receiving your letters is one of my greatest moments, knowing that there is someone out there experiencing something which are similar, make me feel like I’m not alone. You probably won’t get this, but still I want to tell you I enjoyed reading your letters very much.

I find it hilarious no matter it was 1991 or 2010 teenage problems are just similar - Love, friends, family, school, drugs and sex. There are not simply teenage problems even adults might sometimes run into these problems. No matter how old we are, we are always trying to fit in. Either in a new school or a new company, it is really hard to live without any friend. No matter how tough we said we were, in a way or two we still need some companies.

Friends just come and go. You guys might be best friends for a few years but gradually you guys will grow apart. I’m not saying you guys argued or not friends anymore but once you are not sharing the same social circle (graduated/ changed jobs), it just happens. You guys will still have a good laugh and talk once in a while, however, it just not the same anymore. I’m not saying friendships don’t last. I’m just saying that we got different friends in different stage of our life.

Somehow there must be someone in the old days you loved but couldn’t be together, just like you and Sam. You guys might have been real best friends for while, nevertheless, never move on to the next stage. The part that I never could understand was, you both love each other. Then what held you back? The most common reason is either one you were ready but please define “ready”?

Charlie I want to know more about your life, how are Sam and Patrick doing. Reading your story make me understand what kind of person I should be as a friend - a supportive one. Being there for your friends are very important, no matter how they think about you, it only thing matters is how you think of them. I always know I’m an outcast (sometimes), people could easily misunderstand me It’s really hard for people to understand you when you are always so loud and crazy. I know you are the opposite but you’ve found your way, I hope I do too.

I start reading those books, which are your favourites, and I hope I will be inspired by them as much as you did. I would love meet you in person, I think we could really be good friends. Don’t think the day will come, Anyways, hope you all the best, and I will always miss you.

Love,
Your Friend

PS.This is an epistolary novel, via letters, it makes you feel like you are really a friend of Charlie.

Sunday 25 April 2010

Kick Ass – Matthew Vaughn


After all those years watching superheroes movies, have you ever thought of being a superhero? It did make me wanted to be a superhero. The only hindrance is I don’t have any superpower. But Kick Ass just proved me wrong. The only thing you need is GUT!

Kiss Ass breaks all the stereotyping of super heroes, big and built, superpowers. Being a superhero is not all about how tall you are, how strong you are, it is about standing up and helping the others. Most of the people now are just being an audience, no better there is a fight or an accident, the first thing they do is forming a circle around the scene, taking out their phones and start shooting videos. You may say it could be evidence. But would you mind calling the police first? You could see this in the movie too, there is a guy always just watching Dave Lizewski/Kick-Ass being robbed, and do nothing, and he ended up dead as because of it. So sometimes being a bystander might actually hurts.


This is different from those typical superhero movies, it used a more down-to-earth, less serious and much more approachable way to send out the message. Since it is a comedy, with the help of relaxing music, those bloody fighting scenes seem more acceptable. There are places you will laugh out your lungs, and there is one scene like most of the audiences were clapping and laughing real hard. I am laughing now just because of thinking about it. I’m serious. The most important thing is they are not silly stupid dirty jokes. Which make the movie classy but not foolish.

When the name of the movie and all those posters are Kick Ass, immediately you associate the story will probably be about Kick Ass, however, only the first half of the story seems relevant, the second half is much more about Big Daddy (Nicolas Cage) and Hit Girl (Chloe Moretz) trying to put down the whole Frank D'Amic gang. Hit Girl is actually the star of the movie. She pretty much did all the fightings, which is really impressive for an eleven-year-old to do. The surprise is Nicolas Cage is actually playing Big Daddy, never ever excepted he will do comedies.

Got to mention the soundtrack. It used a few dialogues from the movie to introduce a few songs, which interlock the whole soundtrack together. And the theme song “Stand up” is very catchy, it will just play automatically in your mind after leaving the cinema. “Omen” and “Bad Reputation” are one of mine favourites! I just want to dance to the music!! And it fits the whole concept of Kick Ass. Great soundtrack!

This is more then just a comedy. Don’t deny yourself without even trying. Sometimes you just don’t know what your strengths are and you just need a little more time to explore the possibilities. I am not asking you to be Kick Ass, but he definitely has something you don’t.


Thursday 22 April 2010

A Serious Man – Joel and Ethan Coen


The first thing that popped up my mind after watching the movie was, “ Why so serious!” There are two lines keep coming back and forth during the movie, “I’ve done nothing wrong!” and “I am a serious man.” But do they really matter? Life is life, we are not living alone in the world, and we can’t control everything.

Life is not always fair, Larry Gopnik (Michael Stuhlbarg) a Jewish college professor, experienced the worst of his life, a divorce, a complaint might affect his career, a bribe, financial problems, health issue… etc. everything just seems rushing toward his way. He has been a good husband, a good father, and a good teacher. He didn’t really “DO” anything to deserve any of these. However, this is life, the more it seems we could control our destiny the more the possibility plummet.


Then he tried to seek help form the three Rabbis, the harder he tried the more confused he got. Being an audience it was fun to watch, you may enjoy a few black humors, I totally understand how frustrated it could be when you are so eager to find the answer and all you get are more mysteries. He was not satisfied with any of them and trying to find the answer why unpleasant things happened to him, but is there any answers? No,

When his brother was sitting at the edge of the empty swimming pool crying, shouting that Larry has everything, family, a job, and a life. It is true but was it how he wanted it to turn out? Maybe not. Somehow we are all living in the world of expectations, I would be lying if I said I didn’t have any expectations. Expectation is like the fuel of a better life, the motivation helps us to work harder, better to improve the life we are living. The flip side, we always fail to fulfill those expectations and started blaming ourselves for not doing enough, or in this case, “what have I done wrong?”

Thinking sometimes hurts. Too much of everything hurts in a way or two. Relax! Stop being so serious about anything, stop finding answers when you are suppose to learn during the process. Just breathe and stop asking why.


Sunday 18 April 2010

Dear John - Nicolas Sparks

To my surprise Dear John is not as predictable as The Last Song. Still, you may guess a few details but it won’t distract you from enjoying the story. Again this is a page tuner, I’ve finished this book within a week, again. I just can’t stop myself from picking the book, reading it till I couldn’t bear the fatigue of my body.

John Tyree an infantry stationed in Germany went home for one of his leaves, and met the girl in his life – Savannah Lynn Curtis a special education student working for Habitat for Humanity. Soon after their first encounter they became a passionate couple. Due to the distance and the lack of acquaintance, their separation seemed inevitable.

Finding a job is always a worry for the graduates, some might have planned long for these days to come but like John, one of those rebellious boy, detests everything, contents living day by day, but one day he suddenly released he should find something to hung on and wanted his father to be proud of him so he enlisted in the army. I like how Sparks portraits the struggles John were suffering, It seems like everyone might have been through this kind of experience, though I did not really have been through these kind of stuff, I feel implacably related to John.

There is something special about Sparks, his writing is so easy to understand, he didn’t sugar coat any of his words, everything is very straight forward you don’t have to speculate any of his meanings. The simplicity of this writing touched me so hard that there are times I’m at the edge of cracking. You might say his stories are a bit old-fashioned, but still you can’t stop yourself. Reading his book make you believe there is love out there waiting for you.

The way Sparks writes about the relationship between love and family is always intense and true, no matter how does your father act, they will always cares about you in their own way, they may not put those concerns into actions, however, in their heart they always loves you.

And for those who always believe long distance relationship does not work. You should read this book, the way John has been aching to see Savannah, and staring at her photo for so long, it makes you think, does this type of people still exist? No matter how their story turns out, it doesn’t matter, the only thing that matters is their process, and how they enjoy the presence of each other.

Friday 16 April 2010

Daybreakers – Spierig brothers


Immortality, or extending our life span, is what the modern world chasing. Billions has spent on science to cure the incurable. What would happen if one day I told you “to exchange immortality is to feed on the human race and turn into a vampire”. What would you do?

2014, when the majority is vampires and human are like chicken being farmed by them to supply their needs. It is no surprise the human race is facing the extinction. The funny is what they have been avoiding all the years, in the end they are on the same line with everyone else – dead.

I always love science fiction especially vampire’s story. From Twilight, True blood, Vampire Assistant I frequently expect “something” more, not the typical vampire stories. Then I came to this - Daybreakers, when most of the vampires are finding a substitute for blood to keep them alive. There is someone wants to find a cure, to turn them back to human again to bring back the humanity from within.

I found this absolutely creative, I have never thought of when vampires feed on themselves or others vampires they will actually poison themselves and starts mutating into a half vampire half bat creature. And when they starve for too long their ears will start grow longer and hair start falling, lose they mind then start feeding on themselves or simply die. This is all new to me, a whole new chapter of vampire adventure for me.

From another angle, it is kind of like what we are treating the animals or the environment, we farm them, feed on them. I know this is the survival of the fitness, the whole food chain thing, but we just can’t go too far. It’s just like watching the scene when human are being hold like prisoner sitting on chair naked, needles half injected in their necks, barely breathing, not just one, but a whole lot of them and later the numbers are decreasing one by one. We can’t start thinking a solution when it’s only a few left, not just animals but tress and resources too.

We should start doing something before it’s too late.

“We’ve found a cure, it is never too late” one of the character said it at the end of the movie. Not only the human race doesn’t have to be extinct but also they vampires are given a second chance to live again. Totally agree with this it’s never too late for anything. The problem is how you take it and absorb it. If only we were given a second chance. Then we should start taking care of things around us before we wind up crying.

Tuesday 13 April 2010

Love in a puff – Pang Ho-Cheung














The first reaction when I saw the poster of this movie was, “What? Miriam Yeung another Rated-X movie? No way!” After I learnt what’s the movie was about, another NO WAY! How can a romance comedy rated-X when it doesn’t even include any sex or blood. It was said that the reason is the movie includes too many foul languages. Really? Although is not a problem for me, but I’m sure many teenagers would love to see this movie too, how ridiculous.

The movie portraits when smoking is no longer legal in covered areas. Which giving a whole new experience to that bunch of people - a new spot for them to hit on boys/girls. And this is where Cherrie (Miriam Yeung) and Jimmy (Shawn Yu) met.

The story is about the relationship between Cherrie and Jimmy. Sarcastically, in the real world Miriam is actually older than her husband like the movie does. However, the focus of their relationship is not on their age. It’s about giving up a relationship and embracing a new one. When you have a steady partner, will you be brave enough to start it all over again? Or even when you are single, will you be able to let go your past and move on?

“It’s exhausting to break in someone new.” Said Cherrie.

True, it is. But if you are lucky enough he/she might be someone special. “It is just another opportunity.” Her co-work replied. Sometime we are just too fragile to break out from our comfort zones, too content with the current situations. However, life is about taking risks and chances. Otherwise there will never be any new chapter or any improvement in your life.

We don’t have to rush everything in one night.” Said Jimmy.

When our insecurity kicks in, you will try to do everything to satisfy him/her in order to make them stay or love you. But the reality is NO! Love doesn’t come under any condition, it flows naturally, if he/she doesn’t like you, whatever you do is worthless.

Watching the movie is so relaxing, the mood is so light, couples of joke from here to there. The background music just blended with the movie perfectly. Miriam is radiant! When it comes to this kind of down-to-earth character, no one can do it better and bravo to Pang, very different from his previous works. Nice Work!

Monday 12 April 2010

Brothers – Jim Sheridan

Do you have to the guts to admit what you have done shamefully?

Toby Maguire and Jake Gyllenhaal play brothers in this movie, frankly, they actually resemble. Former is a marine captain and latter is an ex-offender of bank robbery. And Natalie Portman plays Toby’s wife. I have to say the cast itself is much more appealing then the story. The story is a bit flat but the message behind is shining through!

When Natalie and Jake found out that Toby was dead from a crash while he was in Afghanistan. The bad news started to bring the family together, even Jake has started to do more then only drinking at nights and he got more involved with his brother’s wife and the two kids. Later, Toby was found being held as prisoner in Afghanistan and after he got back home he suspected the relationship between his brother and his wife. He acted oddly not only he suspected his wife but reason behind his survival in Afghanistan made him go wild.

Toby stayed alive for this family but he has to sacrifice his teammate. When we caught up in a dilemma what is your decision? The consequence is not the decision made but how you handle yourself and others. Sometimes when you try to ignore it, it will chase after you and make you go crazy. They are all down to one simple question, Could you be able to admit your false?

Toby Maguire surprised me, may be the whole Spider Man series outshined his talent. His performance was brilliant, he captured the accent of a maniac spontaneously, from a blink of an eye to a wave of his arms, and he did make me chilled while watching him. And Jake Gyllendhaal just played the part as a caretaker seamlessly, Natalie Portman did a great job in adjusting her life after she knew the death of her husband. Everything fits perfectly.

What are your values? Family? Work? Friends? Reputations? Money? Free Time? The reality is when you have chosen A, you may lose B. We are living in a world of making decisions. Weight you values before any decision is made. You’d never want a burden you can never release. We can’t just only look at the one side of the story.

Sunday 11 April 2010

The Last Song - Nicholas Sparks


I have to admit i picked up this book from the book store because i want to read the story before i watch the movie. it turned out it was a good decision. it cleared the uncertainties in my mind, all the worries just disappeared! it was not the story which inspires me it was Sparks who did the job!

In spite of the fact that "The Last Song" is pretty much predictable, it still gives me chills and it is a page turner. there were times tears was running in my eyes but i have to hold my emotion as i was reading it on the bus, somehow deep down i told myself to restrain them. but i don't know why. i should just let go and cry with Ronnie. "you have to forgive yourself" said Steve, Ronnie's father, yeah i think that is totally what i should do.

The story mainly revolves around two main plots: one, Ronnie and Will (summer love), two, Ronnie and Steve (father and daughter's relationship). There were simple but yet touching. The relationship between Ronnie and WIll are not so easy to achieve not to mention they are in their adolescent. Somehow it requires a lot of understandings and forgivenesses (it seems that it only comes from one side). they are both looking not from the outside but the inside. Which is so difficult to understand for the age. love is not only about the affection but the bond between the two people.

For Ronnie and Steve, it is a typical father wanting his daughter's forgiveness story, nowadays, most of the teenagers grow up in a single parent family, sometime they may not know how to channel their emotions. reading this story might inspire us. one point to note, not every father is like Steve, he is the perfect father in the world, the nicest man in the universe! it is too good to be true. but i still believe there are people like him.

I'm really glad I came across this book at this specific of time. the story itself of cause did inspire me, however it is the words inside inspired me the most. I aways thought a good novel must include poetic wordings and expressions. Reading Sparks totally has broken the misconception! His words are simple, easy to understand, apart from the meaning behind you don't have to worry too much about anything else. which again proved less is more!!

BTW, i don't know when will HK show this movie!! maybe never!! lol!!! anyways "Dear John" you are next!!!!

Saturday 10 April 2010

Amphetamine - Scud



If i only have a word to describe this movie, it would be CATASTROPHIC! Honestly, it was a self-satisfying movie, he utterly failed to tell a story by cinematography, unbearable editing, wrong choice of actors, peculiar dialogues and most importantly greedy, it was way too much!!!

Alright where should i start? I should start from the very first moment when a started to feel uncomfortable. The film editing, There were flash backs of the characters from time to time but somehow they were beyond out of order nothing coherent. it made you confuse even more, you will think when did things actually happened. i will say there were too many unnecessary flesh backs, which at time you can't even follow!! i wont blame the film editor for this but only scud, what was he thinking??

second, again, i have mentioned it thousand times!! "really? it is necessary to expose that much skins?" if Scud wants to be provocative, this is not the only way! as an audience if i want to see that much skins, i don't think i have to come to see your movie, there are thousand of porn online! so you'd better make them count!! somehow i don't think all those naked scenes helped him to tell the story, it just simply reveled how obsess he is in a male body. even those scanning up and down shots (the shower scene), it did not help to portrait the indulgence of Daniel to Kafka. or maybe one shot is enough, not necessarily to scan up and down, back and forth a million time.

Who would speak like that in the real world? their dialogues simply just made your ear bleed. really im not exaggerating! especially those cantonese ones!! and in one hand there were just redundant, a good thing about a movie is sometimes you don't really need words to tell the story, however, Scud has not faith in himself or the audience, he doesn't believe he could tell a story by cinematography, so he used a lot of words trying to fill in the lack of confidence. on the other, Scud should really think his ability of being a director.

No surprise, he always cast the good-lookings or built bodies. Nonetheless, it seemed like a bunch of amateurs having a good time. especially pang (played Kafka) his acting techniques is even worse than those teens drama club members, the only good thing is having the Bak (played Daniel) he is the only reason i stay seated.



Scud never knows when is enough, too many ideas, doesn't mean he had to put them all in one movie!! first the naked bodies, fine!! the disastrous film editing (the flash back), fine! peculiar dialogues, fine! but a flying man, mum and dad with wings in the heaven?? no way!!! from the way Kafka were taking amphetamine, im sure most of the audiences understand how important family is to him!! its just too much, sometime less is more, simple is powerful!

Form the movie we could totally tell what kinds of boys he likes. to me there were too many distractions, it overshadow the message behind the story. The fact that he is the only gay movie maker in HK doesn't necessarily make him a good director! i truly admire the courage Scud has to showcase such a disaster to us, to drop us a note that we need more gay movie maker in HK, otherwise the reputation of HK gay movies will be ruined.

Friday 9 April 2010

Single Man - Tom Ford


Colin Firth in Single Man


So far Single Man has topped my list of being one of my favourite movies in 2010.

Single Man depicts a day of George Falconer's (Colin Firth) life. What has been going on in his life after his long love Jim died in a car accident. 'have you ever felt like drowning?" asked George. life has been difficult for George, 16 years of love disappeared in a split second. He was not even invited to the service. it was torturing,

Matthew Goode and Colin Firth in Single Man


I have a penchant for realities. not too fancy, simple but powerful. I just cant imagine what would happen to me when i lost my loved one. through i seriously think love could be found and last. i know there is no forever. one of us will die earlier than the other. we have to walk the last bit of life ourselves. Can you deal with it?

What i get form Movie is "everything is written" no matter what we do, we cant stop it from coming or enliven the outcome. its about how we absorb it. no matter good or bad it is an experience.

not every movie work with such a slow pace! but this is just brilliantly done. it is like giving you time to sunk in, to think.

at the end there are lot more to think about than your self suffering.