Fortune Cookie

Yeah finally Japan is doing something good! Iron Man 3 opens right on time like the rest of the world. It's the first movie for Marvel Cinematic Universe Phase Two and it's also the first movie after the hit The Avengers. RDJ is back, Gwyneth is back, Don Cheadle is back, but now it's Shane Black at the helm, writing and directing Tony Stark's latest outing. Shane Black previously written and directed Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, a nice, funny film starring RDJ and Val Kilmer. The cast is added with the super talented Guy Pearce and Academy Award winner Ben Kingsley. What more can you ask? The trailers were great and it's one of the must-see films of the summer. I have to remind you that this review will contain massive spoilers, and if you haven't watched it, I'd suggest you re-visit this after you watched the film.

Set after the events in The Avengers, a new terrorist called The Mandarin threatens America and eventually put Tony Stark's best friend/bodyguard Happy Hogan in harm's way. After personally challenged The Mandarin for a fight, Tony himself was attacked by The Mandarin, resulting in his destruction of his house. Tony tries to find The Mandarin and defeat him and also protect Pepper, however there was another person who also seek to attack Tony, Aldrich Killian, head of the organization AIM.

My feelings were mixed during and after watching the film. In some points, the movie went off the rails and became a little too talky with unimportant exchanges of one-liners and jokes. But on the action parts, it was more than satisfying. It was bombastic. Also, my other complaint was the presence of the Extremis super humans. It betrayed the whole gritty, down-to-earth tone of the first two films (not The Avengers, that's different). Don't get me wrong, Extremis was cool but idk, the way it was pictured in the film may be the thing. Actually, I could still suspend the disbelief about the whole Extremis thing, until [spoiler alert] Aldrich Killian breathes fire, like a freakin dragon. My feeling when I saw that was like when I saw the Isabel Lucas character in Transformers 2 was a Decepticon--like 'what the helllll'. And The Mandarin was completely misused and underused. The plot twist on The Mandarin was awful. But Ben Kingsley is wonderful, his Mandarin-speech pattern is so authentic that it is ripe for parody, like Bane's. Also what are Aldrich Killian's motives to be the bad guy? At least with the bird-loving Whiplash we know something. However I would like to point out that this movie focuses more on Tony Stark and it is great. It's great to see the other side of Tony Stark. And finally Robert Downey Jr. do some real acting in for his portrayal of Tony Stark. I'd like to clarify that that was a compliment because Robert Downey Jr is Tony Stark, not acts as Tony Stark. And a little note to Marvel Studios and Kevin Feige, don't you dare recast Tony Stark should RDJ chooses to stop doing Iron Man movies.

Also, the visual effects are great, Brian Tyler's music was nice and it was fitting to the tone of the film. I'd still say that Ramin Djawadi's score for the first Iron Man is the best but to have the same suite for this film would be wrong. Shane Black's screenplay is good but he abused his typical jokes and it became silly. You may argue, but this is my opinion, like in The Avengers, it used too much jokes that, for me, doesn't fit for the film. This is an emotional, character-defining film for Tony Stark's adventure, but the jokes undone that. Nevertheless, the cast is great and it's fun to see Gwyneth Paltrow's Pepper Potts kick some ass--(although in my brother's opinion, too much ass). The great scenes that are worth mentioning are the three big action scenes, the house-destroying, the mid-air rescue and the climactic battle. But the ending may surprise you and leave you wondering. There's also an after-credits scene that's just not that important for the continuation of Phase Two, but just fun. And there's also the magnificent trailer for Thor: The Dark World. I would also love to see the Chinese version of this film because there's no big China-related reference other than the Chinese Theatre or fortune cookies. It isn't right to say that this film is incredible, it isn't right also to say that this film sucks. It has its moments. Mixed feelings for this film. Iron Man 3: rated 3/4

You Think You're So Content

THIS WEEK SAW THREE GREAT TRAILERS TO THREE GREAT-LOOKING MOVIES GOT RELEASED WITHIN THREE DAYS. ALERT: SORRY FOR THE CAPS LOCK. I'M JUST TOO EXCITED. THIS MAY BE THE ONLY POST THAT FEATURED NOTHING BUT TRAILERS. I THOUGHT I WAS VERY EASILY SATISFIED WITH CATCHING FIRE'S TRAILER. BUT JJ ABRAMS AND ZACK SNYDER PROVED ME WRONG. I WAS NOT CONTENT.

MONDAY: THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE

LOOKING GREAT THERE, KATNISS. THE GREAT THING ABOUT THIS TRAILER IS ALTHOUGH IT IS 2.45 MINUTES, IT DOESN'T SHOW YOU ANYTHING ABOUT THE HUNGER GAMES AND ANYTHING ABOUT THE PRE-GAME PREPARATION (NO FINNICK ODAIR, NO CINNA). IT'S ALL ABOUT THE VICTORY TOUR AND LIFE IN DISTRICT 12. IT ALL HAS THE SAME LOOKS LIKE THE FIRST MOVIE YET WITH LESS SHAKY CAM. JEN LAWRENCE LOOKS GREAT AND SO DO THE REST OF THE CAST.

TUESDAY: STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS

THIS IS THE THIRD TRAILER FOR STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS AND IT STILL SHOWS US NOTHING BUT THE PROMISE OF A SUPER EXCITING, LENS FLARE-BLAZING SUPER SEQUEL. THIS TRAILER PROVES THAT THIS MOVIE MAY BE BETTER THAN MOST MOVIES THIS SUMMER. AT EVERYTHING. AND SO DOES BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH WHO I ACTUALLY MIGHT END UP ROOTING FOR. THE ONLY DOWNSIDE IS THE FILM OPENS 4 MONTHS LATE THAN THE WORLD IN JAPAN.

WEDNESDAY: MAN OF STEEL

THE FIRST TWO TRAILERS MAY BE MORE OF A MONTAGE THAN AN ACTUAL TRAILER. HERE WE HAVE WHAT SEEMS TO BE HANS ZIMMER'S NEW SUPERMAN THEME AND LET ME TELL YOU: IT IS CRAZY ADDICTIVE. IT MAY NOT BE AS SUPER MEMORABLE LIKE JOHN WILLIAM'S BUT BOY THIS ONE IS MAJESTICALLY THE SAME. HERE, WE HAVE MORE JOR-EL, MORE KRYPTON, MORE ZOD, MORE LOIS, MORE EVERYTHING. CLARK/KAL-EL/SU-(ZIIIINGG!--EXCUSE ME?) MAY THINK WE ARE NOT READY FOR HIM, BUT I AM MORE THAN READY FOR HIM. AGAIN, THE ONLY DOWNSIDE IS THE ZACK SNYDER FILM OPENS 2 MONTHS LATE IN JAPAN.

I'M SIGNING OUT FOR TODAY TO WATCH MAN OF STEEL'S TRAILER OVER AND OVER AGAIN. SEE YOU FO'SHO ON THE LAST WEEK OF APRIL FOR AN ACTUAL MOVIE REVIEW OF IRON MAN 3.

At the End of the Day

This week is my last week in Indonesia for this spring break. And I really made use of the given time to watch more movies in cinemas: a privilege absent in Japan. So this week I checked out Andrew Niccol's The Host, Park Chan Wook's Stoker and Robert Redford's The Company You Keep. In other news, this week saw Roger Ebert left the world; a legendary critic, a role model, a teacher, a preacher. Ebert (@ebertchicago in Twitter) is a Pulitzer Prize-winning movie critic. His name is plastered everywhere in movie posters, usually giving his iconic 'Two Thumbs Up' or just a quote from his review. Ebert's reviews are the one I look to for references before going to the movies, not Peter Travis' not Christy Lemire's. I would only refer to the one review made and written with such passion by Roger Ebert. I would definitely miss his opinions and sometimes his fun anecdotes in his reviews also his wide-ranging quotations to support his opinions. Truly a loss in movie industry. I may not know him personally but surely it impacted people all around the world like me that one of the most movie-passionate people has gone.

The Host

I know you may be thinking: uh, another Stephenie Meyer adaptation. But this one's not about vampires and werewolves. This one is about parasitic aliens who actually make life better if they didn't take over the humans inside. Saoirse Ronan stars with the help of Diane Kruger and William Hurt in the supporting cast. The movie experience watching The Host is more or less the experience you'd get when you watch a Twilight marathon: sometimes it's silly, sometimes it's unintentionally funny, sometimes it's exciting and sometimes it's boring. The cast are quite okay but Saoirse Ronan is a bit underused. Andrew Niccol's influence is basically zero which is lame. But it's still enjoyable although suffering from some really boring parts. The Host: rated 2/4.

Stoker

Park Chan Wook's Hollywood debut with a script by Wentworth Miller. Yes, the Prison Break Wentworth Miller. It stars Mia Wasikowska (Alice from Alice in Wonderland), Matthew Goode (Ozymandias in Watchmen) and Nicole Kidman. The story revolves around India Stoker, an introvert daughter who just learned after his father's death that she had a mysterious uncle. The film is intense, scary and filled with unforgettable images. The cast is amazing particularly Matthew Goode with his commanding presence. Park Chan Wook's direction is obviously one of a kind and it made the movie better than it already supposed to be. Add that with Clint Mansell's crazy cool hypnotic score. And then add that with creepy yet beautiful cinematography. You get Stoker: rated four out of four.

The Company You Keep

Robert Redford directs the all-star thriller about a former activist who goes on the run to clear his name after being accidentally exposed by a local reporter. stars Shia LaBeouf, Julie Christie, Stanley Tucci, Brit Marling, Terrence Howard, Anna Kendrick and Susan Sarandon just to name a few. The trailer looks really promising but the film kinda falls flat. At some parts the film really works as a thriller but at the other parts it just becomes boring. The cast, led by Redford himself, did a great job though and for me it's great to see more Brit Marling after her supporting role in Arbitrage. I'll definitely get The Sound of My Voice or Another Earth after this. Bottom line, it's a half-baked thriller with so much unrealized potential, interesting plot and great ensemble cast. The Company You Keep: rated 2.5/4.

In the upcoming weeks I'll probably review Welcome to the Punch and Java Heat. But for the sure thing I'll be back at the end of April for Iron Man 3.

Retalia-meh

About eight months ago, the sequel to the Stephen Sommers-directed G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra was bumped to March 2013. That particular sequel is being helmed by the guy who brought you Step Up movies and most recently a Justin Bieber 3D concert movie. My expectation was low for this movie, obviously. Add the fact that the movie only used one--let me repeat that for ya-ONE good guy from the original film. I'm actually fine with it until I knew that that one guy isn't going to survive the whole movie just from the trailer. And then they added Dwayne Johnson, Bruce Willis and some miscellaneous names. But they just didn't sell it for me. I hated this film as soon as the trailer arrives, I mean it's not a good sign right? This is the kind of movie that falls to the category "An Uninteresting Movie That Looks Bad But I'd Like To Watch So I Can Talk Crap About It". The latest entry to this category is last year's The Amazing Spider-Man. Let me make this perfectly clear that I never saw G.I. Joe cartoons or play with the action figures so I'm perfectly viewing this from a moviegoer perspective that already saw the passable-yet-awesome Rise of Cobra.

G.I. Joe Retaliation, obviously tells the Cobra Commander's retaliation after being locked up in a super prison. The Cobra in this film has the unexplained-back-from-dead Storm Shadow, Firefly and Zartan (Imhotep) who infiltrates as POTUS whereas the Joes has Snake Eyes (....), Roadblock (the CIA guy from Fast Five), Lady Jaye (Brenda), Flint (what kind of cool nickname is FLINT?) and the original Joe (John McClane). Basically, the fraud president is being an ass and tries to get rid of the GI Joe to make way for Cobra to show-off their latest weapon Zeus, which is a bomb-dropping satellite.

Despite being one of the biggest film this month, it's not that good as promised. It's never a good sign when you got bored 15 minutes into the movie. And it's definitely not a good sign when the most okay character is the one who has no face and dialogue. One thing for sure, the visual effects disaster GI Joe: Rise of Cobra is way better than this one. The characters are unlikeable, especially Flint. Flint, a stupid, show-off Joe who made Channing Tatum died and in the words of Sherlock Holmes, lower the IQ of the whole block. The whole team's chemistry is none especially if you compare it to the first one's. I'd definitely trade Marlon Wayans for three Roadblocks for sure. The whole team is like a collage from other movies. I'd say it's a combination of a retired John McClane and Hobbs from Fast & Furious. And that decision to kill Channing Tatum affects me gravely. I actually think the movie ends right when Tatum dies. And don't get me started on RZA as the blind master which is hands down the silliest thing since the water-bender teacher in The Last Airbender. I'd like to think that Bruce Willis and Dwayne Johnson are despicably underused here. The action scenes are heavily edited or may be it is my fault that I didn't pay attention much. Great job hiring a dance film director for an action movie. However I'd like to give credit for every scene that has Snake Eyes in it and of course the cliff sword battle scene--which is unfortunately the only action scene that is worthwhile in this film. The other good point in this film: Jonathan Pryce. I just thought the first one gave so much material to continue and they just decided to reboot the whole thing. Retaliation may be this year's biggest disappointment and this is nothing compared to the silly-yet action-packed Rise of Cobra. The worst thing is that this film is a disappointment even after I had very low expectations on this film. My advice: team-up with Marlon Wayans, Rachel Nichols, Dennis Quaid and Sienna Miller and remove Flint for the third movie. G.I. Joe Retaliation: rated 1.5/4

Die Hard: Red Dawn

Olympus Has Fallen is the first part of the 'White House Attack' movies just like Mirror Mirror was the first part of last year's 'Snow White' movies or for some people just like Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter was the first part of last year's 'Abe Lincoln' movies. This summer, the bad guys will re-attack America's most protected building with Jamie Foxx in it and Channing Tatum plays the good guy. Expect over-the-top mayhem from the master of disaster himself, Roland Emmerich. Anyway, here I am going to review the film that marked Gerard Butler's return to action after two meh movies (three if you count Movie 43 as a proper movie). Olympus is directed by Antoine Fuqua of Training Day fame and whose last movie is not his finest although titled Brooklyn's Finest. The supporting cast is quite amazing with Aaron Eckhart, Melissa Leo, Ashley Judd, Angela Bassett, Dylan McDermott, Radha Mitchell and Morgan Freeman.

The plot is basically Die Hard in White House. The whole thing started when a paramilitary organization from Korea headed by a notorious terrorist impeccably infiltrated White House and took it over. And Mike Banning (Gerard Butler), an ex Secret Service found himself inside the taken-over White House and he's suddenly the only hope for United States to fight back against this terrorist attack. He may be disgraced from the service but he has an insider knowledge on the building and he also find himself in a chance to redeem himself from his past.

Sorry, WRONG movie

While the movie borrows elements from other movies, it still one hell of a movie. It was intense, bloody, pulse-pounding action/thriller. The whole plot maybe a little illogical like first of all, attacking White House and killing all the Secret Service agents and then what did the terrorist (Rick Yune/the Diamond Face from Die Another Day) expect after they succeeded? And whatever happens to the "United States of America doesn't negotiate with terrorists"? There are also some loose ends that remain unsolved until the credits rolled, like how did the super Korean invaders got ahold of the Hydra weapon or whatever happens to that drone? Olympus Has Fallen is truly the Die Hard sequel that we need and we deserve. Gerard Butler is fit for the role and he's pretty badass. Aaron Eckhart is also good in his role. Eckhart's presence made me think that this is what would happen if Harvey Dent didn't become Two-Face and eventually became POTUS. Anyway, bottom line the cast is fine. And the action oh my god. This is what the R rating is for. Using a lot of blood fx, violent killings, coarse language. The violence is, for me, satisfying and I wouldn't mind if they show some more. Olympus is not a big studio project so expect a so-so visual effects. Despite the plot flaws, the movie works as a good, thrilling time at the movies. One thing for sure, after I watched this, I'd like a Die Hard film with John McClane shooting Korean baddies and shout, "Gangnam style, motherf*ckers!"For those of you who can't wait for a sequel to OHF, don't worry, White House Down is just months away (or for me in Japan, a year perhaps). The paramilitary organization will strike back! although it may not be the same one. In conclusion, Olympus Has Fallen: rated 3.5/4

BONUS: Olympus Is To Die Hard For synopsis

In this sequel to Die Hard, John McClane took a vacation and decided to visit his son Jack in DC. John is oblivious to what Jack does in DC. Through his detective/parenting skills he found out that his son is working as one of the President's Secret Service. When John wanted to visit the White House, the Korean Prime Minister is having a meeting with the President of the United States. Suddenly, the Korean paramilitary organization headed by a notorious terrorist attacked White House and put the president as hostage and the whole nation in danger. John managed to get in the White House to find his son and became the nation's only hope to stop the terrorist's plan to unite Korea and take all of United States' money because in Die Hard movies, no matter how elaborate the plan is, it's always about money.

Next week's review: G.I. Joe Retaliation!