Avenged

No this is not a post about how awesome The Avengers trailers are, we all know they are awesome. And no this is not a post about my fascination on Avenged Sevenfold--just so y'all know I have their album but only listen to two songs. Anyways, this post is to celebrate my achievement in avenging myself for not going to the cinema for two weeks! My last film before that hiatus was a decent mess starring Tom Hardy, Chris Pine and Reese Witherspoon: This Means War. After that break, I went to watch Hugo. But the week after Hugo, I went on to watch three films in one weekend. To some of you, that may not be an achievement, but to me it is.

I'll slip my opinion on Hugo before we continue. That film is a wonder. I don't know how exactly to put it but it is very touching and moving. Don't make me start on that film being incredibly inspiring. As a moviegoer, it is a very must to watch Hugo. It is everything we believe in, like Jamba Juice's boosts. You would not realize how much exactly you admire the motion pictures until you watch Martin Scorsese's new masterpiece. Incredibly setting, acting and unexpected powerful story. Asa Butterfeld is really promising whereas the others are already certified great actors. No wonder the marketing guys of the film can't market this film. Judging by the trailers, I thought the film would be just some kid running around escaping Sacha Baron Cohen. It is waaay more than that! Hugo: rated 4 out of 4 stars

Now let's begin on my avenging week.

First film: John Carter
The trailers aren't that interesting but it looks really amazing in terms of design. And it's Andrew Stanton. Furthermore, I learnt that Mark Strong also co-stars. It's legit then, I got to see this film. The story is pretty obvious from the tagline, so I won't talk much about it. The film itself is fun, and it had its moments for sure. Also it's very grand and expensive-looking. But it's a well-spent $250m, I assure you. I'd be surprised if it's not considered a contender for any awards next year for production design and maybe costume design. The weakness of the film is that it's not epic enough. With that scale of filmmaking, I was expecting a LOTR kind of epic and more regrettably, it is potential to be in the level of LOTR epic. The hero is not quite likable and it has character flaws. Like Matai Shang said, John Carter kinda lacks intelligence. However, the film really got better until the end. Like really really better. The actions are executed nicely too. Personally, I loved the ending so, no sequel please. John Carter: rated 3 out of 4 stars

Second film: The Woman in Black
Dubbed as (Wand-less) Harry Potter and the Woman in Black. I've been hearing good word of mouth about this film so, I went to check it out with my friends. Story is simple too: Harry Potter/Arthur Kipps got to finish his job to 'clean up' a haunted house before the week is out or he'd have no job. The film offers good scare and relies greatly on its sound effects. The setting is nice and the house's location is a-ma-zing. Daniel Radcliffe is yeah okay in his first major non-Harry Potter role but he's a miscast. No one looks that young as a dad, not even Aragorn. I've been accustomed to Supernatural series so, the film's solution is not that surprising. But it is still intense, and it's simply entertainment at the cinema. Did I mention that the ending is so good? The Woman in Black: rated 3 stars out of 4

Third film: Margin Call
I'm so attracted by its stellar cast. Spock/Sylar, Lex Luthor, Dan Humphrey, The Mentalist, Scar, G.I. Jane, Russell Crowe's friend from A Beautiful Mind, and say hello to Caesar Flickerman! Okay real names, sorry, Zachary Quinto, Kevin Spacey, Penn Badgley, Simon Baker, Jeremy Irons, Demi Moore, Paul Bettany, and Stanley Tucci. Did I miss someone? Because the amount of cool men in this film is too damn high! The story is about the event that started the 2008 recession. I guess that sums the film up pretty well. The acting is amazing by everyone, the story is very exciting. I mean, I have no idea what Wall Street does everyday but this film is really interesting by not being overly smart about its topic. Also, I'm not surprised at all that this film earned an Oscar nom for Best Original Screenplay, because the screenplay is (insert awesome adverb) amazing! The words are soo meaningful and damn beautiful. I lost words to describe this film's greatness. One thing for sure, this film can make you gay just like how Gosling-Clooney pairing almost did with The Ides of March. Margin Call: rated 4 out of 4 stars



OH and one more thing:
NEXT WEEK is THE HUNGER GAMES and THE RAID! tough choice though.

Sherlocked

I can't seem to get over with my obsession on BBC's Sherlock. So I may keep on posting about this although I have great movies to review like The Muppets or Chronicle or even Haywire. This time around, I'm going to make a list (again), now ranking Sherlock's episodes from the least good to the best (this is not elementary and this is harder than rocket science). For those of you who have no idea whatsoever about this, Sherlock is a modern update on the famous super-sleuth created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. This version stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock, Martin Freeman as John Watson. Joining the cast are Rupert Graves, Lara Pulver and Andrew Scott. The series is created by Steven Moffat of Doctor Who and Mark Gatiss who also stars as Mycroft. This list will be updated in 2013/Third Series premiere ;)

6. The Blind Banker
Series 1 - Episode 2

It's not bad, really. Every episode in this series is amazing, but this one is the weakest. It's supposed to be one of those stories that appears in a montage. However it's great to actually see John on a date. But there's one scene that is straight silly, where John leaves Su Lin to help Sherlock, resulting in Su Lin's death. That mistake is unacceptable for a colleague of Sherlock Holmes. Also, no Lestrade.

5. A Study in Pink
Series 1 - Episode 1

Again, ending up in fifth place doesn't mean it's not good but the others are more superior. This episode is the episode that makes us want to come and join Sherlock's adventure and a great case too. The meeting between Sherlock and John is epic in its own proportions.

4. The Hounds of Baskerville
Series 2 - Episode 2

Maybe it's because this episode came out after we saw the amazing Irene Adler and we learnt that she's not returning in this one. However, the mystery of the 'hounds' is mesmerizing and also we get to see John doing more investigation. The highlight of this episode is the fireplace scene, where Sherlock tries to cope with his new emotion.

3. The Great Game
Series 1 - Episode 3

Sherlock vs. Moriarty: First Encounter. From this one we could see that Moriarty is twisted and insane. And the game is not the one you want to miss. Nice ending to the episode, but a bummer continuation afterwards. Anticlimactic, I say, but that's on the next episode.

2. A Scandal in Belgravia
Series 2 - Episode 1

The formula: Benedict Cumberbatch + Lara Pulver = jawdrop awesomeness.
Two words: Irene Adler. She outwits Sherlock in one case, she got that with one look. And that's definitely the new sexy. Also, here we can actually see Sherlock Holmes wearing his signature deer stalker for the first time in the series. Nothing else to say, this one is incredible. /AAH/ <- text alert ;)

1. The Reichenbach Fall
Series 2 - Episode 3

Sherlock vs. Moriarty: Part Two. {spoiler alert!} For once, you believe Sherlock is a fake, but we all agree that no one can be such an ass all the time. Kudos to Moriarty who brought Sherlock to his tears. The best bit of this episode is Sherlock's vulnerability.

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That new American Sherlock Holmes modern day reboot is going to suck. CBS can suck a rock if they really make Elementary, no offense to Jonny Lee Miller. [none taken says him] Creativity please, Americans!

Sherlock vs Holmes

It's a war between Hollywood and British filmmaking, both of them rebooting Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes around the same time. Hollywood's got Guy Ritchie, BBC's got Steven Moffatt and Mark Gatiss. Sherlock has its characters call each other on first name basis while Sherlock Holmes films has its main characters call each other Holmes and Watson. It's time for a face off between them!

1. SHERLOCK HOLMES

British Benedict Cumberbatch was only a supporting actor before he landed the role as Sherlock. He has proven that his version of Sherlock Holmes is modern and is a high functioning sociopath (I did my research). See Series 2 to see his great acting as the super-sleuth yet vulnerable modern day Sherlock. In the Hollywood version, American Robert Downey Jr. aka the Iron Man played the detective in a different interpretation from the novels. Here, Sherlock is like Captain Jack Sparrow of the Victorian London. But still both Cumberbatch and Downey Jr. possess Sherlock's ability of masterful  deduction. And of course, both of them have their own charms. Robert Downey Jr. wins by a really really really small margin. Let's wait for Series 3 and the third film to further judge this matter. 1-0 for the films.

2. DR. JOHN WATSON

Jude Law's Watson may be the best Watson in the cinema. But Martin Freeman's Watson is also the best portrayal of Watson who had doubts and admiration towards Sherlock Holmes. Freeman's Watson is funnier and more mysterious than Jude Law's making Freeman's Watson is more interesting to follow and to gaze upon. Martin Freeman wins over Jude Law. One all.

3. IRENE ADLER

Now this is where it gets tricky. Irene Adler in the films and in the series are very different, it's like north pole and the Sahara. Rachel McAdams' Adler is slimy, lovely and also mysterious. But all in all, she's a total heroine. And boy I love McAdams as Adler. But TV's Irene Adler played by Lara Pulver is incredibly different. Here, Irene Adler is a dominatrix. While both of them are portrayed to have outsmarted Sherlock Holmes, Lara Pulver's Irene Adler did it in a more memorable and sexier fashion (See A Scandal in Belgravia). It's definitely the new sexy. Lara Pulver wins. 2-1 for BBC. 

4. JAMES MORIARTY

Moriarty is, as we all know about it, Sherlock Holmes' arch-nemesis. Jared Harris' Moriarty is menacing yet smart and a total schemer. While Andrew Scott from the TV series is an absolute lunatic. Although film version Moriarty is a great villain, he lacks screen time. He's a big picture criminal so we don't get the best scene out of him and Sherlock until the very end of the film. However, Andrew Scott's Moriarty is incredible. He outsmarted Sherlock and broke Sherlock. 3-1 for BBC

5. SUPPORTING ACTORS

Lestrade in the series is more powerful and useful rather than useless and dumb-looking in the films.

Mrs. Hudson is more lovely in the series than the stern portrayal in the films.

Mycroft Holmes played by Stephen Fry in the second film was hilarious but an enigmatic brother to equalize Sherlock is much more needed than a funny one.

4-1 for BBC.

P.S.

Hollywood's version must've bigger budgets and crew. Guy Ritchie put on some fancy camerawork, which is a plus point and a killer soundtrack theme by Hans Zimmer. But in terms of music, David Arnold has proven that he's still worthwhile although not scoring the current James Bond film. 

It is the safest to say that both version has its golds and ashes. But it's hard not to compare both of them.

Elementary, Watson. Elementary.

See Sherlock Series 2 for the best TV episodes ever (especially The Reichenbach Fall).

See Sherlock Holmes (2009) for currently the best big-screen adaptation of the detective.

my darkest hours

No, this is not a survival guide. I'm going to do something new here. I'm going to point out some crap points of the incredibly crappy film The Darkest Hour. Let's kick off with the good parts, shall we?

THE GOOD PARTS
1. The cast
I cannot miss this dreamy cast. Juno's friend is here. One of the two kick-ass girls from the original Transformers is also here. Winkelvosses' friend is also here. And also Christopher McCandless returns.
Okay let's hear the names: Olivia Thirlby, Rachael Taylor, Max Minghella and Emile Hirsch.

2. The premise
Invisible aliens invades our world for energy? Sounds poetic and promising. Plus it is produced by Timur Bekmambetov while shot in actual location in Moscow.

3. Watching it with your girlfriend
Need to say more?


THE SHIT PARTS
1. Max Minghella got cheated. Again.
I know his next film's gonna be: I Invented MySpace and Someone Stole it From Me or perhaps I Make Apple, Not Steve. Because here in the film, he and Hirsch's character invented a social network website for travelers named globe-trot.com and is apparently stolen by some Swedish prick with a non-Swedish name.

2. Skyler?
Yes that is the name of the Swedish prick with a non-Swedish name. While the name's origin is Danish and means 'shelter'. It is widely used in USA, not Sweden. And what is a Swedish doing business all the way in Russia? Like your name, maybe you don't belong in your country.

3. Characters
I usually don't complain about characters. But this is way too much. For instance, Rachael Taylor's character is, i don't know, afraid of running or afraid of strangers? You will never know, because {spoiler!} she's dead before she could tell. How about Emile Hirsch's character, who just made an inspiring speech about fighting back but instead he just saw in awe when his longtime friend {spoilers!} got sucked by the alien, while he could actually grab a gun and shoot at the bloody thing. Talk about character degradation.

4. Logic
a) In Russia where all people are dead, one cannot hear the other's screaming voice within the distance of 5 meters. b) When you just fell from a boat, you suddenly arrived at a place kilometers away from your initial place. c) Out of so many buses, one picks the bus with the broken brakes, which miraculously slowed down before it hit something. d) so many more

5. VFX
okay the disappearing people bits were quite okay. But I cannot tolerate that un-rendered black alien sighting which is actually a black skull with black scorpion legs. So baddddddd. A Hindi rip-off of E.T. has better aliens for god's sake.

6. Stupid people
A supposedly rescue submarine was about to depart without any survivor except for themselves. And they are still taking orders from a dead captain. And there's a Russian girl, who can't act. Oh save me from this agony.

7. Crap end-credits song
So bad, I feel so bad hearing it. I cannot actually remember the lyrics but it says (roughly): we're going to rise but we don't know when.

8. Resistance? More like running away!
In the end, Emile Hirsch character says that this is the beginning of the humans to fight back. Suck that, he didn't do anything. He flees from a whole army of aliens after he killed only 5 of them when he rescues Olivia Thirlby. This reminds me of Terminator Salvation, where John Connor destroys one factory and is going to destroy more. John Connor DESTROYS one big factory along with a CG Schwarzenegger. The Darkest Hour characters RUNS AWAY from the scene of the crime. That's a big difference both in meaning and spelling you know.


And that is why those one and half hour was the darkest hours of my life in 2012.
However, I'd pick this movie over Abduction. At least The Darkest Hour has likable cast.
The Darkest Hour. rated D-

You Missed Me

Hey it's my first post of 2012! (So whattttt). So for this first post of 2012 I'm gonna review the sequel to Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes film in 2009. The famous detective is played by Tony Stark himself, Robert Downey Jr. and his sidekick Dr. John Watson is played by Jude Law. This second film promises to be bigger because it features Holmes arch-nemesis, his equal in every way: Professor Moriarty. However, if you judge from the trailers, you can learn that this sequel will not surpass the original. But I was hoping for any kind of surprise.

The story is a bit complicated and I'm worried if I tell too much it would spoil the film but I'll give it a shot! Sherlock Holmes finally meets his true enemy (objection! Lord Blackwood is almost his equal as well), a professor named James Moriarty (Jared Harris-familiar face, no memorable roles. except this). Moriarty is up to something big that even Holmes and Watson can't even figure out. Holmes gets even more determined to take down Moriarty after Irene Adler (McAdams) was killed [now that's a spoiler!]. This case takes Holmes and Watson to Paris, and meeting a gypsy Simza (the original Lisbeth, Noomi Rapace) and also taking a help from Holmes' brother, Mycroft (Stephen Fry).

This is absolutely a cool film, however the story is so complicated that sometimes it seems disconnected. Maybe it demands a second viewing. The action scenes is, like the first film, amazing. All the slow-mos, and choreography are nice. Filmmaking technique conveyed by Guy Ritchie proves that he's the right guy (Guy proves he's the guy, kinda funny. Not funny sorry) to helm this film. Comparing this to another December blockbuster, Mission: Impossible 4, I'd pick Holmes rather than Ethan Hunt. Sherlock is more involving and smarter. In fact this is one of the smartest film of the year. I remember after watching the first one, I felt smarter when I exited the cinema. Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law are amazing together and even if the story is terrible, both of them can save the movie. I'm disappointed with the death of Irene Adler because I personally think that Adler is the perfect heroine and is a bit like the female version of Holmes. The addition of Mycroft is somehow not important, we can give his responsibilities to Eddie Marsan's Inspector Lestrade. But who am I? I'm not the scriptwriter. Lastly, let's give a cheer to Noomi Rapace who managed to make a good debut in Hollywood, unlike her Dragon Tattoo co-star Michael Nyqvist. Refreshing your memory, this year Nyqvist starred in one of the worst ever film Abduction and is the worst Ethan Hunt villain in history. So who's up for Prometheus this year? Now it's really the last thing, I want to say my favorite scene of the Holmes film which is the mind battle between Holmes and Moriarty. Now that, people, should win the MTV Movie Awards for Best Fight. I've never seen a fight both mentally and physically like that, and it's freakin genius! However I think the villain-o-meter of Moriarty in this film is really low. I'm more scared and threatened by the presence of Mark Strong's Lord Blackwood from the first film. Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows. rated B.