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July 29, 2009

Movie Review: Overheard《竊聽風雲》

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My Rating:

This evening I saw the movie premier of Overheard《竊聽風雲》 at Grand Cinema, Elements, West Kowloon, Hong Kong. Not one of the movies from my Must See Movies list.

It stars 劉青雲 (Lau Ching-wan), 古天樂 (Louis Koo), 吳彥祖 (Daniel Wu) and 王敏德 (Michael F. Wong), with the former being one of my favorite actors, which I’ve watched almost every one of his movies.

The plot of the movie is smiple. It is about a unit of the CIB unit of the Hong Kong Police being assigned to keep surveillance on a company that the government is investigating. The movie did not spend enough time building the characters and background. There were moments of mission-impossible-esq scenes to create suspense but did not really carry through the movie. The several twists in the plot were too predictable and did not give the audience the feeling of originality.

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January 4, 2009

Movie Review: Lady Cop & Papa Crook (2009)

My Rating:

This evening I saw the movie Lady Cop & Papa Crook (aka《大搜查之女》) at AMC Theater, Pacific Place, Admiralty, Hong Kong. Not one of the movies from my Must See Movies list.

I normally do not watch too many Hong Kong made films, particular ones staring pop singers. Tonight it was different, it is a holiday Sunday and I had not watch a film for some weeks. The only US film I was willing to watch, Four Christmases, was sold out. So I bought tickets for the only Hong Kong made movie that did not seem too boring at the same time may be funny.

Not sure if it was my low expectations, but to my surprise, this movie was definitely entertaining. The two leads: Sammi Cheng and Eason Chan were not bad. Best of all were the plot and cinematography. They have this Infernal Affairs feel, and the plot twisted also like Infernal Affairs did.

For those who knows the directors this would not be a surprise, as one of the directors, Felix Chong, is the same director who filmed The Departed; the 2006 remake of the famous Hong Kong movie Infernal Affairs. Where the Chong’s partner in those movie, Alan Mak, again teamed up with him to make this movie.

That was two in a row, where a Hong Kong made movie presently surprised me. Next time, even if you have other choices at the cinema, do give this one a check before settling for one of the US films. I for one will not give Hong Kong movies a pass so hastily in the future.

Rating Legend:
	Not to be missed
	Wait for the DVD
	Buy from iTunes Store
	Rent it on iTunes
	Waste your time elsewhere

January 4, 2009

影評: 大搜查之女

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My Rating:

睇完套戲，有很多似曾相識的感覺…「Sex and the City」加「証人」混合版？我覺得「大」這套戲的題材同「証人」差不多，都係講綁架，可能睇咗「証人」無幾耐啦，同埋我實在睇咗好多次Sex and the City啦。「大」戲中4個女人的開場戲和戲中鄭秀文男友係藝術家醉心創作藝術品這部份實在勾起我腦海浮現Sex and the City部份類同的片段，所以有這樣的感覺…！
「大」戲故事雖然簡單，你我都會估到故事結局，但故事的轉折點係幾吸引，亦有意外的幽默情節，確實有它特別之處，都值得買飛入場睇。
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvkECYTt_MM

Rating Legend:
	Not to be missed
	Wait for the DVD
	Buy from iTunes Store
	Rent it on iTunes
	Waste your time elsewhere

January 4, 2009

影評: 大搜查之女

Poster

My Rating:

Rating Legend:
	Not to be missed
	Wait for the DVD
	Buy from iTunes Store
	Rent it on iTunes
	Waste your time elsewhere

February 22, 2008

Movie Review: Vantage Point

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My Rating:

This evening I saw the movie “Vantage Point” at Broadway Theater, Cyberport, Hong Kong.

It was a movie with a very different approach. The director attempted to show several different points of view by replaying 30 minutes of the story over and over; 8 times in all. Each time he reviews a bit more of the whole story, while stopping at appropriate spot each time to cause the audience to want to see more each time the scene stops.

Unfortunately, for audiences who did not appreciate this original approach found it annoying and were vocal about it in the theatre.The TV series “24” had an original way of telling a story as close to real life as possible. I admire this director, Pete Travis, for doing the same with a brilliant execution. Especially when he had not done too many movies in the past.

Rating Legend:
	Not to be missed
	Wait for the DVD
	Buy from iTunes Store
	Rent it if you can
	Waste your time elsewhere

August 10, 2007

Movie Review: The Bourne Ultimatum

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My Rating:

This evening I saw the movie “The Bourne Ultimatum” at UA Cinema, Time Square, Causeway Bay.

This is now the sixth movie in the row that I was very happy to give my 4 Penguins or above rating. Hopefully sign of even better movies to come. Although, the Summer blockbusters are almost ending.

I was a bit skeptical entering the movie, whether this 3rd edition of the franchise can live up to the typical Bourne action and plot twists. I was presently surprised.

One thing I will advise, like all the James Bond movies, you “DO NOT WANT TO BE LATE” for the one. The action begins 2 minutes into the movie and did not stop.

At times there was the typical “flash back” which prevented me from giving this movie the “5 Penguins” rating. Although, I do understand the needs to do so, to offer a sense of closure to the Bourne trilogy. Aside from that it has the car chases and action sequences to keep the audiences at the edge of their seats.

Matt Damon, was obviously older in this movie to the point of overweight, which made some of the actions a bit unbelievable.

They did try to develop a hidden back story between the character Jason Bourne and Nicky Parsons (played by Julia Stiles), but did not carry it to fruition. Is this an attempt to give themselves an option to have a 4th version of the franchise? No one will know until that happens.

If you like action, spy, espionage movie, this is definitely not one to miss.

Rating Legend:
	Not to be missed
	Wait for the DVD
	Buy from iTunes Store
	Rent it if you can
	Waste your time elsewhere

July 1, 2007

Movie Review: Live Free or Die Hard

My Rating:

This evening I saw the movie “Live Free or Die Hard” at UA Cinema, Time Square, Causeway Bay.

One simple word, WOW!!

If the plot of this movie was a bit more different than the previous 3 movies in the franchise, I would have easily given it my 5 penguins rating.

The special effects in this movie is very similar to the up coming movie “Next” with Nicolas Cage. You can find the exact release date in Hong Kong from my Must See Movies list.

I do not want to get into the plot, as it will give it away. I was presently surprised that it can be better than the previous 2 movies: “Die Hard: With a Vengeance” and “Die Hard 2” in the series. Of course, very few sequels can be better than the original. So if you like the Die Hard franchise you will like this movie.

PS: the “Mac Guy”, Justin Long, from Apple’s Get a Mac commercials co-star in this movie with Bruce Willis.

Rating Legend:
	Not to be missed
	Wait for the DVD
	Buy from iTunes Store
	Rent it if you can
	Waste your time elsewhere

June 24, 2007

Movie Review: Zodiac

My Rating:

This evening I saw the movie “Zodiac” at UA Cinema, Time Square, Causeway Bay.

After watching the trailer for this movie I was anticipating a movie of intriguing plot with a difference, but fifteen minutes into the movie I realized my assumption was incorrect. The plot does have the twist and turns of a murder mystery, unfortunately this was only evident on the surface.

Much has to do with Jake Gyllenhaal’s acting and his character “Robert Graysmith”. Graysmith is very similar to the obsessive nature of the character, “Anthony Swofford” that Gyllenhaal played in the 2005 movie, Jarhead.

I am now batting 3 for 3 in bad movies. Is it time for me to review my criterions before choosing the next movie to watch?

Rating Legend:
	Not to be missed
	Wait for the DVD
	Buy from iTunes Store
	Rent it if you can
	Waste your time elsewhere

June 8, 2007

Movie Review: Ocean’s 13

My Rating:

This evening I saw the movie “Ocean’s 13” at UA Time Square, Causeway Bay.

Unfortunately, this is yet another movie that fell into the sequel hole. In my opinion the only one from the series that’s original was the first one “Ocean’s 11“, which was a remake of the 1960 original.

Yes, the clothes on George Clooney and Brad Pitt, but other than that there is really no surprise in this one and the plot is even weaker.

Rating Legend:
	Not to be missed
	Wait for the DVD
	Buy from iTunes Store
	Rent it if you can
	Waste your time elsewhere

May 13, 2007

Movie Review: Fracture

My Rating:

This evening I saw the movie “Fracture” at UA Cinema, Time Square, Causeway Bay.

Another movie staring Anthony Hopkins. He plays a character similar to his “Dr. Hannibal Lecter” character from the Hannibal series. An intelligent, devious and meticulous character.

The similarity of this movie with the Hannibal series is not a coincident. As the screenplay is again written by Thomas Harris, the author of “Hannibal Rising“, “Red Dragon“, “Hannibal” and “The Silence of the Lambs“.

The surprise for my in this movie; aside from the plot, is the performance of “Ryan Gosling“. He fits the character, “Willy Beachum”, perfectly. Who is a young up and coming prosecutor for the city of Los Angeles.

I cannot say any more about the movie or I will ruin it for you. If you like a crime mystery you will definitely like this movie.

Rating Legend:
	Not to be missed
	Wait for the DVD
	Buy from iTunes Store
	Rent it if you can
	Waste your time elsewhere