No post this week

I’m really sorry but I’m currently very busy with my last year at sch0ol at the moment. Understand? Great. But do tune in next Sunday (5/04/09).

Thanks.

-Max

Fairly old news but good news

I’m sure a lot of movie fans have heard this before, although I am certain many haven’t.  Many film lovers believe that the 2003 Korean masterpiece that is Oldboy is going to be remade by Steven Spielberg and shall star Will Smith. Well, that is partially true. Here, let me explain: the 2003 Korean masterpiece that is Oldboy is based on a manga of the same name. However, for anyone who has both seen the film and read the manga, I am sure they can agree that they are both very different from each other. Yes, Steven Spielberg is doing his adaptation of the manga but don’t worry because it is going to be very different from the Korean movie, so I’m assuming it is going to be a more faithful adaptation of the Korean film’s source material. Therefore, Spielberg is remaking nothing. XD

Next post will be tomorrow – 23/03

My homework is killing me right now.

-Max

WATCHMEN review

For those of you who don’t know, Watchmen is a graphic novel written by Alan Moore and is considered one of the greatest comic book series of all-time. What made it so good is that it was a superhero series that focused more on the lives and memories of superheroes rather than their missions and them serving villains their justice. It is also quite a grim piece of fiction. It is quite amazing that it was considered ‘unfilmable’, yet it has been…well…filmed…for the big screen that is. And it’s amazing that they pulled it off.

Watchmen is set in an alternate 1985 America, where the world is near total destruction, President Nixon is still in power, the Vietnam was won by a mysterious blue man and superheroes are real people, although outlawed. One of these superheroes is the masked Rorshach (Jackie Earle Hayley), a man investigating the murder of The Comedian. In his investigation, he comes to contact with his former superhero colleagues; Nite Owl II (Patrick Wilson) and Silk Spectre II (Malin Akerman); the smartest man in the world, Ozymandius (Matthew Goode); and the only one from the group with superpowers, Dr. Manhatten (Billy Crudup). During his investigation, we get to know more about these retired superheroes through their everyday lives and their memories, which later on in the film, foreshadow the events to come.

If you’re a Watchmen fanboy and have not seen this film, although that is highly unlikely, hate to tell you this but there have been a few alterations. Most notably, the chapters in the comic book where the boy is reading Tales of the Black Freighter – which had a somewhat significance to one of Watchmen’s characters – have not been adapted for the big screen (although they have been for a DVD release that goes by the same name); and there is more action and explicitness than seen in the comic, yet it works really well with the film’s dark overtones. So yeah, this is a faithful adaptation and whilst there have been alterations, it still has Alan Moore’s message and themes, so it is certainly more than just a superhero film. I highly doubt fans will be disappointed with this movie.

Unlike director Zack Snyder’s previous film, 300, this is something that can definately be taken seriously. The characters in this movie are very deep, Dr. Manhattan in particular. There is also (thankfully) no slow-motion overkill; and the film does not take itself too seriously at times so there is a bit of humour here and there.

There is also a great use of soundtrack. The artists vary: there is Simon & Garfunkel, used spectacularly in a funeral scene and Nena (can you guess which song they use?). Furthermore, there is Jimi Hendrix, Mozart and Bob Dylan, whose song ‘The Times’s Are A-Changin’ is appropriately used in the in the spectacular opening credits sequence. But my favourite use of soundtrack is in the scene where Dr. Manhattan is on Mars by himself. In this scene we hear the famous Koyaanisqatsi score, making the scene somewhat hypnotising.

The actors do a really good job. However, some of Billy Crudup’s line delivery sounded too much like a robot sometimes (a lot like HAL, actually). Look at times it does work but at others it seems a bit overdone, since it does not always sound very natural. Also, was that cliched slow-mo sex scene supposed to be taken seriously?

But those complaints are quite minor and should not distract anyone from this rather breathtaking experience. Like The Dark Knight, this is a different sort of superhero film. It is definately more for a mature and grown-up audience. And neither is it for anyone expecting action-packed superhero fun. It is a rather deep character study. I recommend you see it before Hollywood turns it into a franchise, which will unfortuantely result in the subtraction of Alan Moore’s message.

4.5 bloodied badges out of 5

BRILLIANT LIES review

Brilliant Lies is a play written by David Williamson based on the issue of workplace harrasment. Despite a few changes in dialogue, it is still a faithful adaptation of his brilliant play.

Susy Connor (Gia Carides) claims she left the workplace because of Gary Fitzgerald’s (Anthony LaPaglia) sexual harrasment. Gary is well aware of her claims and that she is prepared to sue him for $40,000, yet he denies anything ever happened. So he and Susy must try to convince their colleagues and loved ones about who is telling the truth and who is not.

The performances are great. Everyone is superb. LaPaglia is menacing as Gary; Carides as the possibly lying Susy kind of convinces you towards the end; Michael Veitch is entertaining as the goofy Paul; and Ray Barrett is funny as the alcoholic and sometimes bullying father, Brian. The darkly funny dialogue and powerful performances produce a movie that will definately have you thinking after the credits have rolled.

4 people chucking papers into bins out of 5

Next week, Watchmen review.

FOUR HOLIDAYS review

Hollywood is no longer making the feel-good romcoms they used to make. How did they shift from films like As Good as It Gets to Licence to Wed? Their romcoms these days use the same storyline over and over again; guy wins girl, they have a problem, they lose each other towards the end, they get-together again and live happily ever after. It really is getting boring. Does it look like they care about telling us a good clichéd-free story anymore? No. So is Four Holidays an exception? No again.

Brad (Vince Vaughn) and Kate (Reese Witherspoon) are a couple who fly away every Christmas holiday in order to not spend time with their families. This Christmas (pretend it’s still 2008), however, their flight has been cancelled and they have no choice but to spend Christmas time with their divorced parents and dysfunctional families.

A lot of the jokes in this movie revolve around the expenses of others. Now I have laughed at people’s expenses in movies and I always will but that is if the film knows those sorts of jokes are not light-hearted. This movie, on the other hand is supposed to be a light-hearted comedy and it’s even advertised and classified as one. And for some reason, the writers seem to think that laughing at people’s expenses, such as a baby getting hit in the head then crying; a woman getting kicked in the face; and even parents laughing at their daughter’s obesity (the husband and other relatives of the daughter too, laugh at her) are supposed to be light-hearted jokes. It’s kind of sickening. Yet for some reason this movie is rated PG.

And while I will admit this movie does have a few funny moments, many of the others are either in-your-face or just do not work at all. Next Christmas break you’re better off watching Love Actually.

2 Xbox 360s out of 5