Let's Fight

The only words that Ryan Gosling spoke in Nicolas Winding Refn's Only God Forgives' trailer was 'Wanna fight?'. I say, let's do it. Only God Forgives landed on VOD and iTunes this week and I got the chance to watch it! It's the second Refn/Gosling collaboration after the instant classic-although some might say overrated-Drive in the year 2011 or some might call 2011 AG (Anno Goslingi, the year of Gosling). Adding to collaboration is Kristin Scott Thomas who plays Gosling's character's mother. The film is set in Bangkok and by the looks from the trailers, prepare to be blinded by neon lights.

The story is about this (once-again) verbally inactive character called Julian who resided in Bangkok and ran a front for drug business. His brother was killed brutally and their mother wanted revenge. However, things are not that simple as it involved some Bangkok powerful cop, Lt. Chang who loved using swords to instate justice.

That's basically the plot, add that with Refn's usual brilliance for visuals, Ryan Gosling staring at blank space, over-the-top violence, crazy great cinematography, and the super dreamy, electric score by Cliff Martinez. And you will get Only God Forgives. Yes, that's my first impression after watching this. Shouting loudly in my mind, 'what the fuck just happened?' But then again you review the whole film, read trivia on imdb and you can understand more about the film while not wholly understand the film's stupendous brilliance right away. That would need two or three more viewings. First things first, don't think this film as a reality-based film. Think of it as a fairy tale about a man who seeks redemption from the higher power for something he did in the past. Ryan Gosling is as usual cool in his role. Kristin Scott Thomas is AMAZING, so speechless. And the guy who played the God cop, Vithaya P (sorry I cannot write your last name), is equally disturbing and menacing while keeping a straight face all the time. Some sequences just won over me like the torture scene (which serves like the hammer scene for Drive) and the climactic fight scene. That fight scene was incredible because it's so nicely shot and the music is eargasmic. The world definitely needs Nicolas Winding Refn to top that scene. My only complaint about this film is that it plays too slow with people just staring at blank spaces. However, I need to watch it again to make my final judgment on whether I loved this film, or I liked this film or just hate it. As a whole, I liked Drive more than Only God Forgives but this film has that something special that Drive didn't have. For now, Only God Forgives: rated 3/4. 

Next week's The Lone Ranger review might include something else! clue: McConaughey.

From Nerdvana

Comic-con just wrapped up, and I just started my exam week. Just a quick post on the geek fest and what did we get from it and how do I feel about it. A super quick post because right now I'm studying for my psychology finals. Please do keep in mind, I'm not a full-on hardcore geek nerd that reads comics and can name the villains of Justice League of America. I'm a guy who loves watching films and that will be my perspective.

1. Jennifer Lawrence in Comic-con
Verdict: YEAH
Appearing in two panels, X-Men: Days of Future Past and Catching Fire, Jennifer totally took over The Hunger Games panel while almost took over the massive panel of X-Men that includes Michael Fassbender, Ian McKellen, Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart and Halle Berry. Even Peter Dinklage didn't get to speak while Jennifer talked more. I'm a fan of Dinklage but YEAH, JENNIFER. On the other news we got the show-stopping new trailer for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.

2. On Superman/Batman movie
Verdict: EMM
It should be a super-great, groundbreaking premise..... ten years ago, when Troy director Wolfgang Petersen proposed the idea. Now, post-The Dark Knight trilogy the idea seems strange. What the world need the least is the reboot version of Batman. The Comic-Con audience may realize that it will be Batman reboot, but come on even some of my friends are still wondering whether The Amazing Spider-Man is a sequel or prequel to Spider-Man trilogy. Suggestion for DC, let's not try to match The Avengers.

3. Marvel Cinematic Universe
Verdict: EMM
It is a quiet panel for me, if it's not for the bombastic entrance made by Tom Hiddleston in character as Loki. The reveal for the new villain for Avengers is not that exciting. I find it crazy that Marvel started out really grounded in reality with Iron Man and then continued on to have stories like Guardians of the Galaxy that has a talking raccoon in it and also Ant-Man which is totally okay to laugh at the premise if it's not Edgar Wright who's bringing the character to screen. The anticipation is still there, but not pre-Avengers great.

4. Days of Future Past
Verdict: YEAH
The most interesting and exciting panel this year, bringing First Class actors alongside the original trilogy actors. Definitely bound to be one of the biggest films next year.


Honorable Mentions:
Godzilla's teaser poster might be the coolest in Comic-Con alongside with X-Men's. Plus we got a glimpse of Tom Cruise's latest Edge of Tomorrow. On the small screen panels, we got exciting video tributes from Game of Thrones titled In Memoriam and also from Supernatural. Don't forget Bryan Cranston cos-playing as none other than Walter White in a Bryan Cranston mask to promote and talk about the final episodes of Breaking Bad.


Next week: The Lone Ranger review!

Quarter Mile on a Fast Lane

Finally Fast and Furious 6 hits Japan! Or as Justin Lin called it, Furious 6; or as the Japanese called it, Wild Speed: Euro Mission. Thanks to the brilliant Fast Five, now we have this sixth entry to the ever-growing franchise. The film adds Haywire's Gina Carano, Luke Evans and brings back Michelle Rodriguez while totally removes the two Mexican siblings character. After the cliffhanger ending to Fast Five, we know what would happen: bringing back Letty to the family.

The story starts as Agent Luke Hobbs (The Rock) tries to capture the global terrorist Owen Shaw (Evans) by putting Torretto's team back together, fight wolves with wolves he said. O'Conner and Mia already have a kid, Han and Gisele are trying to settle together, while Roman is just Roman with more money. Toretto wants to help Hobbs because they found Letty to be one of Shaw's crew.

The film is crazy entertaining. It's packed with action right from the start until the end. The action might be super over-the-top but hey, anything to make our tickets and time worthwhile. Particularly the Toretto's super-jump to save Letty, that's like the coolest and sweetest thing at the same time. Although, as a whole, Fast Five wins by default. FF6 is better in the villains and the stunts. I like Gina Carano's addition to the franchise although not liking the way her character turned out. Gina Carano vs Michelle Rodriguez might be the coolest girl-on-girl fight ever filmed. Everytime Gina Carano flips and locks, my jaw dropped, which happens throughout Haywire. But her acting might be a little off from the others. And then there's Joe Taslim from Indonesia (woohooo!). His screentime apparently is quite plenty which I did not expect. So proud of him being in one of the biggest Hollywood film of the year. For the other cast, everyone seems to be better than before, most notably Paul Walker. Vin Diesel is cooler, Tyrese is super funny, and whoever doesn't love Sung Kang and Gal Gadot together can start looking for their lost soul. And there's a cameo from Rita Ora too!

Letty's return might be too cliche but still passable. And the writer's decision to include Braga from FF4 is quite smart (not to mention the Tokyo Drift connection, which is incredible). Plus, the always-included 'family comes first' motto is a high point in the script. But my least liked decision about the film is still the fact that Mia is pregnant which avoided her from doing much action. And also the exclusion of Elsa Pataky's character in the story which is a big loss. In all its great action sequences, Fast and Furious 6 still manages to be the Game of Thrones of Hollywood films by killing the beloved characters and doesn't give them a proper closure. Come on, if Han really loved Gisele, would he just wait for her to emerge from the fires? He would find her body and bury her himself! That waiting from the fire scene is just plain silly. Also Elena's total willingness to be traded with Letty is cringe-worthy. But that's nice of Dom to still invite her to the family. However, I can live with that now that JASON STATHAM IS ON BOARD FOR FF7! SPOILER ALERT B*TCHESSSSSSS. Fast & Furious 6: rated 3.7/4 (minus points for the silly parts, plus points for the cool parts)



BONUS three-sentence reviews:
1. Trance
Danny Boyle's latest is a fun, trippy film like its title drawing inspiration from Inception. James McAvoy is amazing but the film's level of mindfuck is just slightly below standards for these kind of films. 3/4 

2. Spring Breakers
One of my most anticipated film of the year. Think of it as your average teen film meets Terrence Malick meets Nicolas Winding Refn and add that with cool Cliff Martinez/Skrillex soundtrack and one of James Franco's best performance. It has flaws but can you really hate a film with two Britney Spears song? 3/4

3. 42
A good old-fashioned true-story drama. Great direction, great acting, great film. It has Harrison Ford, Alan Tudyk and also Lucas Black of Tokyo Drift. However it's just so formulaic to default. 3.5/4

4. Evil Dead (2013)
The remake to one of the most effective horror film ever. It substitutes black humor with gore, with so much gore. The final scene is just the best sequence ever in a horror film but this being the most terrifying film experience? Definitely not. 3.5/4


Maybe no new film reviews until The Lone Ranger finally opens on August 2. See you soon!