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Guardians of the Galaxy Review

23:04 | Labels:


Directed by: James Gunn
Casts: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, David Bautista, Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel, Lee Pace
Genre: Action & Adventure, Science Fiction & Fantasy
Release Date: 30 July 2014

Expand your galatic horizon and enter the outer rim of all things Marvel with the epic space adventure Guardians of the Galaxy, the first film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) to fully take on the cosmic side the world we have come to love. Enter Peter Quill/Starlord - a human who was abducted into space as a kid, Gamora - stepdaughter of titan warlord Thanos, Drax the Destroyer - a skilful  fighter with a zest for revenge and the fun duo of bounty hunters Rocket Raccoon and Groot. Being outlaws themselves, they must ban together to put out the real evil - Ronan the Accuser, who has set out for galaxy conquest. 

Praises: This is definitely MCU's biggest gamble to date, a make it or break it film that many see will either launch MCU to the next phase of achievement or finally put an end to their long winning streak. The concept is stars apart from what we've seen churned out over the years since Iron Man, and though we know space journey is inevitable given Thanos's appearance in the end credits of Avengers we still doubt whether MCU will actually be able to go into the unknown and emerge victorious. 

And indeed they did. GotG boosts so much fun; not only it's refreshing but rejuvenating. By now fans of MCU have become so accustomed and complacent with what they get from Iron Man, Thor and Captain America films leading to Avengers  that I know for sure, without some new spins things could get stale relatively soon. It's a risky but necessary gamble for Marvel since not knowing how warm the fans' reactions will be and I for one, am glad it pays off well. 

Let us for a moment forget about Tony Stark. Or Steve Rogers. James Gunn introduces us to a world where we still know Hulk exists somewhere but we can safely cast that aside and indulge in something totally different. It's akin to bringing in the fun of both Star Wars and Star Trek into the MCU, juicing them all up for a fresh intergalactic spin. The storytelling is filled with giddiness-goodness; many tensed-up moments intercepted by a "the-hell-with-it" response that left me cracking up on my seat. As the storytelling of the MCU shift gears toward the darker rim of things, it's nice to actually be able to sit back and indulge in some adventurous-comical fun.


 The real charm, however, lies within its primary casts. Each of them is written in such a way that they're interesting as an individual, but the real fun begins when they realise they need to work together to survive. Each of them has a dark past that shaped them into who they are and their differences couldn't be any more apparent. On top of that, each has their own agenda to follow through. The whole process of sacrificing their own interests for the greater good and coming together to form an "unlikely family" is gratifying, by the end of the film I left the cinema feeling whole - entertained and complete. That may sound corny but trust me, James Gunn know how to piece them together well enough.

I believe, hands down, the ultimate show winner here is Groot. Yes, the single-line-speaking, bulking tree-humanoid alien. Groot is certainly the most innocent among the bunch, a gentle nature spirit who believes in protecting his friends no matter the costs. What makes him so special is the pureness of his heart. He's like an overgrown baby, strong yet gentle and untainted. Yes. Untainted, that's the word. Get your tissues ready cause his little arc in the story will leave your eyes wet.


Last but not least, the music. GotG boosts a mix of catchy 1970s' tunes which still rings in my head whenever I think about the film long after I watched it. Finally, a modern film with real, good music. 


Honorable mention: Michael Rooker did a fantastic job as Yondu, the bounty hunter who abducted and subsequently trained Quill when he was a child. I love how true to the comic his character is, and hopefully he's here to stay in future instalments. Also, the ending credit cameo (which I shall not reveal details) is such a troll. 

Complains: As great as everything I have mentioned above, GotG ultimately suffers from underused, one-dimensional villains. Nebula has potential to be the most ass-kicking villainess MCU has yet to see, however, she's heavily underdeveloped and was more of a plot device than a character with actual weight. As for Ronan the Accuser, he's the stereotypical war-monger space tyrant that has no layers of complexity to his character or motives. An angry, open-book alien that might come across as scary to kids, but really, he's just a bad boy who can't handle big toys. 

Rating: 9.1/10
Hit or Miss: You don't know fun until you have watched Guardians of the Galaxy. Hit. 

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Hercules Review

22:03 | Labels:


Directed by: Brett Ratner
Casts: Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Ian McShane, Ingrid Bolsø Berdal, John Hurt
Genre: Action & Adventure, Science Fiction & Fantasy
Release Date: 24 July 2014

We all know Hercules, the demigod child of Zeus from Greek mythology. The question: is his legacy real or mere folklores? The film is a retelling of one of the world's oldest legends, a hero who was constantly haunted by a dark past and has given his soul to the vile world of mercenaries. 

Praises: There's no pretence. The film strives in providing much fun and thrill with vivid action sequences and massive set pieces, lots of battle cries and gut spilling. It achieved whatever it set out to do; seeing a humanised Hercules (no superpowers or gods, folks!) battling evil warlords in ancient Greece with his trusty companions does make for  an interesting spin. A job well done on its misleading teasers and trailer. 


Quite frankly, I don't expect Hercules to have much of a story. It does, to my surprise, albeit a straightforward, non-mind boggling one but hey, can't have too much stories getting in the way of all the swash-buckling actions now, can we? The film heavily relies on The Rock to carry it through, and he did a pretty good job at it. Size and biceps apart, you can clearly see he dives deep into character to bring about a hero not so glorified as we're told, a hero full of nightmares and quite human (might wanna lose that silly looking lion hat though).

Complains: The supporting casts are pretty much relegated to fill in comical roles, stereotypical villains, crackheads and whatnot. Quite a waste, really. Hercules' comrades consists of a pretty interesting bunch but not one of them was even substantially fleshed out. Little is known on their histories except for a two liner explanation and they definitely deserve better than that. Together they make a great team, but everything is too Hercules centric after a while it gets boring.


Ingrid Bolsø Berdal, being relatively unknown, gave a solid performance with whatever screen time that was given. She has quite an uncanny charm and fits the badass heroine she's trying to come across as, but the constant drilling of sexist jokes thrown around the table by sweaty men really throws me off. Can we not have a Xena warrior without her being teased as to whether she can handle big cocks?


There're more cheesy moments in the film than I can count for, which is really not a big surprise but can't we at least get a, how should I put this... an ending that isn't quite palpably stupid? The entire film tries to inject sense into a beloved mythos only to deflate it with an absurd climax. 

Rating: 5/10
Hit or Miss: Not as bad as Clash of the Titans or its irredeemable sequel but nothing more than a decent, forgettable ride we have to go through while waiting for better things like Guardians of the Galaxy. Marginal hit.



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The Fault in Our Stars Review

21:00 | Labels:


Directed by: Josh Boone
Casts: Shailene Woodley, Ansel Elgort, Nat Wolff, William Dafoe, Laura Dern
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Release Date: 17 July 2014 (Malaysia, Nationwide)

Hazel Grace is a teenage girl suffering from terminal thyroid cancer for as long as she can remember. Often sarcastic with her views on what's left of her life, she meets Augustus Waters, a cancer survivor at a local cancer support group. The two became friends and as their relationship grew stronger, Hazel begins to find life is worth living after all. 

Praises: Most people would inadvertently weep during one of the many emotional scenes in the movie. I didn't, not because it wasn't heartbreakingly sad (trust me, it is) but simply because I find the film to be graciously (no pun intended) beautiful. 


There's so much to cry on in TFIOS - many which I will let you to discover on your own but generally what touches my heart most is the beauty of life illustrated in the story. How precious and limited it is, how so many of us squander life without second thoughts. How, in midst of despair, a little hope can light up even the darkest pit and give us a reason to live. Most people go through the motions of life, but how many of us really live in the moment? Each of these moments could be the last for Hazel, and within the time frame of 2 hours, director Josh Boone captured the essence of life that could take us a lifetime to discover.


Some scenes made me laugh out loud. Certain ones are downright heart-wrenching. Whether you go in for a romantic treat, or to rip open your tear duct, or to laugh and to look at life differently, TFIOS has something for everyone. Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort both gave a stunning brilliance performance, so much that when I look at them, all I see are Hazel and Gus persevering against all odds of life. Extended applause must be given to Laura Dern and Sam Trammell who played Hazel's parents, for their strong and convincing acts provide audience a wholesome view on the struggle against cancer - both from the patient's and those around them. 


Embrace yourself for a roller-coaster ride of emotions, for TFIOS with its catchy scores and richly-written script and talented casts will definitely give you a lasting impression and thoughts to ponder on. 

Complains: I can't seem to shake off the feeling that certain parts of the film felt reserved, like as if Josh Boone is holding back when exploring the deeper and darker parts of cancer fighting. Maybe there's a reason for him to stay clear off those waters, but whatever it may be it certainly hindered the film from achieving more than it did. 

Rating: 8.2/10
Hit or Miss: One of the best of its kind, TFIOS is an experience that demands to be felt. Hit.

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Dawn of the Planet of the Apes Review

20:45 | Labels:



Directed by: Matt Reeves
Casts: Andy Serkis, Jason Clarke, Gary Oldman, Keri Russell, Toby Kebbell
Genre: Drama, Action & Adventure, Science Fiction & Fantasy
Release Date: 10 July 2014

Humanity is at the brink of extinction after the break of a deadly virus (like always) 10 years ago at the end of the first film, with the world inhabitants now split between a nation of genetically evolved apes led by Caesar and a band of weary human survivors. Peace is fragile between the two as both desperately fight for a place to call home.

Praises: Extraordinary. From the casts to the visuals to the set pieces to the screenwriting to the sound effects, everything about this film is extraordinary. Rise of the Planet of the Apes is a brilliant reboot to the franchise and back then everyone thought (well, mostly everyone) that was probably the best there ever will be, for a sequel that surpasses a great reboot rarely occurs. Now we get to scoff at how limited our thoughts were. 

DotPotA further expands the story of Caesar, whom we last seen separated from the man who raised him to lead his own newfound family. Where in the first film Caesar was a lost ape trying to find a place where he belongs, this time we see him fully grown into a leader and a father, bearing huge responsibilities of keeping all apes under him safe. We love seeing a character on screen grow (even if he's covered in fur) and his maturity means having to make more difficult choices, and each comes with a heavy emotional price. 


Most certainly, apes have parenting issues too! Being a grown up and a parent sometimes mean seeing your children following the footsteps of your younger, hotheaded stubborn self and that's the case with Caesar and his oldest son Blue Eyes. The strained relationship between the two makes for a compelling storytelling, as Caesar attempts to teach his youngling to see the world through his eyes which can prove challenging as he has seen both the kindness and cruelty of human; his son have not. 


Andy Serkis did a fantastic job with Caesar. The actor is just so versatile; he goes from portraying a cute, young and curious Caesar into a tough strong-willed leader he is now. Every character he touches comes to life; it's simply magical. He does not let the graphics define his work and style; he mesmerises us on screen with his gifted talent to dive in deep into character.  Tell me, between Gollum and the blue cat-aliens of Pandora which is more memorable? Of course, the entire team of actors and actresses who gave the other apes their individual persona deserves a praise of brilliance as well. 


While Jason Clarke isn't the most prolific actor out there, he carried his role well enough. His character, Malcom, understands the great costs of war as much as Caesar does and it's this common ground that led to their newfound friendship and respect for one another. Mortals and apes alike have their ugly sides, we get to indulge in both and make our own judgment. Various factors such as hatred and jealousy comes into play but quite frankly, the antagonists of the film actually care for the survival of their kin, even if it means plunging their hands into blood. Throw in Gary Oldman and everything becomes dramatically intensified. 


What's truly remarkable is how every pieces in the film falls together to give off a character-driven, summer blockbuster work of art. Each element is an extension of one another, and they all cohesively form a story that speaks to the heart, and as far as I'm concerned not many sci-fi adventures these days do that. 

 Complains: No James Franco? Okay I'm kidding. The film could use a little balance of lighthearted humour, for everything felt too intense throughout. 

Rating: 9.2/10
Hit or Miss: The amount of goodness here is thicker than gorilla fur, so yes, HIT. 

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Transformers: Age of Extinction Review

23:55 | Labels:


Directed by: Michael Bay
Casts: Mark Wahlberg, Jake Reynor, Nicola Peltz, Stanley Tucci
Genre: Action & Adventure, Science Fiction & Fantasy
Release Date: 26 June 2014

Five years have gone by since the Battle of Chicago and the Transformers - Autobots and Decepticons alike - have been hiding from plain sight ever since. Shadowy CIA agents have begun hunting down the leftovers with the aid of bounty hunter Lockdown, who have agendas of his own and once more it's up to Optimus Prime and a handful of trusty Autobots to save mankind; this time with the help of a certain Mark Wahlberg. 

 Compliments: As far as special effects and visuals go, Transformers: Age of Extinction surpassed its predecessors by quite a margin. Michael Bay clearly knows his way in churning out robot-gores, and the many Transformer battles (MANY) contain so much detailing in them that once the blu-ray is out you can watch them in clear HD, pause the screen, and count the number of screws and nuts flying around with each robotic punch.

 Casting of Mark Wahlberg is one of the better choices Bay has made (seriously Shia LaBeouf antics are getting tiresome). Stanley Tucci gave a rather good performance as well, honestly, all these two need is a better script. 

Complains: Boring. Loud. Noisy. Messy. These are the quick descriptions I gave to people who asked for my opinion on the film. The original Transformers is a pretty decent film, has its flaws but overall it's good. Then came the worst sequel at that time, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen which was a confusing clusterfuck, trying to squeeze in too many stories while focusing on none. Bay apparently learned his lesson with Transformers: Dark of the Moon which features a less congested plot and improved fight sequences, but this latest instalment clearly shows the acclaimed director don't give two shits about what makes or breaks his films in the past and went ahead with the idea that "the bigger and louder the explosions are, the better". 

Plot depth and development are almost non-existent here, replaced by Bay's need to utilise majority of the timeframe to showcase massive badass Transformers shapeshifting and conjuring their state-of-the-galaxy blasters. Thin and predictable, the storyline was lowered down to the basics so that viewers can tune their mind out and enjoy the mindless graphic splendours - which can still be fun if only Bay provided some breathing space in between. Room for the characters to actually flesh out. But no. Ain't nobody got time for that right? Got to fill in as much buildings collapsing from explosions and mechanical guts being ripped out. Pacific Rim was a visual buffet but the writers kept it fun with well-injected humours and characters we actually care for. Guillermo del Toro knows simplicity at its best - something Michael Bay might want to consider picking up. 

Don't get me wrong, there are humours in there all right. Some even have undertones of parental-problems commonly faced in society today but most of them are either dry or have really inappropriate timing (that's a huge difference from unexpected timing, which often gives a great aftereffect) leading to majority of the jokes being lost amidst the chaos that capsulate the characters. Other than Optimus, the Autobots are basically clowns with personality issues, a bunch of children that need constant babysitting (shame on you, Bumblebee!). Funny they are not, annoyance more like it. 

Too many leading baddies is never a problem for Bay. I think he rejoice in seeing the heroes get cornered by multiple crooks only to escape them all. Perhaps that's his sense of intelligence? Psychopathic agents. Ruthless bounty hunters. Greedy businessman. Old nemesis. Does it ever occur to him to that none of them will give a heighten sense of menace if they are all lumped together grabbing for screentime? Not one is even remotely memorable, and Joshua Royce is too much of an Agent Simmons rip-off. Authenticity, anyone? 

Whatever arguments or disagreements Bay may had with Megan Fox, she is still the most capable female lead that has been featured in Transformers films (and that is saying alot, since I considered Fox a mediocre actress). Nicola Peltz is a terrible actress, clearly a pretty flower to look at with no substance. Jack Reynor is.... wait, who is he again? Ahh right, Peltz's on-screen racer boyfriend with an attitude. As forgettable as a nameless Transformer (bad comparison I know, but I can't think of anything). 

 Rating: 3.5/10
Hit or Miss: Despite the heavy-duty promotional efforts, Transformers: Age of Extinction suggests that Michael Bay has lost inspiration for anything even remotely original. MISS.

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How to Train Your Dragon 2 Review

20:04 | Labels:


Directed by: Dean DeBlois
Casts: Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, Cate Blanchett, America Ferrera
Genre: Action & Adventure, Animation, Kids & Family, Science Fiction & Fantasy
Release Date: 12 June 2014

This summer, Hiccup and his dragon-best friend Toothless return for bigger, bolder adventures in How to Train Your Dragon 2, taking place 5 years after the vikings of Berk made peace with the dragons. As the duo travel beyond their northern home to discover new lands and reptiles, their bond grow stronger in face of emerging dangers and turbulences. 

Praises: How to Train Your Dragon 2 is a prime example of a sequel done right, expanding on the formula which made the first one a success rather than repeating it. The much beloved young viking and his winged-companion continue to charm audiences with many "aww moments'"; couple that with some really heart-felt scenes it's near impossible to not leave the cinema hall without wiping a few tears off our eyes. 


Admitting to have drawn inspirations from Star Wars' The Empire Strikes Back, director/writer Dean DeBlois made this second chapter the bridge to the 3rd and possible conclusion of a planned trilogy, hence the darker shift of tone is highly noticeable. He did it in such a way that as the audiences of the first grows, so does the story and characters. Certain critics noted that it may be a tad bit too intense for younger audience but I hold my stand - to me the movie balanced its appeal to kids and adults evenly. 


Though I wouldn't blame them. The inclusion of Dragon Bludvist (who definitely sounds like "Bloodfist") as the chief villain itself sheds a grimmer light but one that I finds necessary to make the story better. He's a man who antagonises the dragons from his own earlier bitter encounters, however, unlike the vikings his hatred for the beasts rends him cruel and vicious and as a result becomes a megalomaniacal warmonger. His existence is opposite symbolism of Hiccup's peace-loving persona, which makes him a bad guy with actual weight to the story.  

From the trailers alone, we know that Hiccup's long-thought-to-be-dead mother is in fact well and alive. Wait, how? I will let you figure that yourself if you haven't already but Hiccup finally has it all - a complete family, a dragon buddy and the love of his life. How short-lived this happiness turned out to be and the subsequent repercussions truly magnify the emotional experience and serves as a stunning reminder that animation films can mess with our hearts as well as any live-action endeavour. 

Now now, it seems as though all I fascinate about is how serious everything is in this sequel. That's not the case really, for the film is a whole load of fun as well. DeBlois knows better not to let the sense of joy drop too low - after all it's what made the first so endearing to us. Many moments to laugh our hearts out, guffaw at the silliness of certain horny dragon-riders and seeing the world through the eyes of Hiccup and Toothless, How to Train Your Dragon 2 reinvigorate the child and youth in me.  

Vastly entertaining with breathtaking visuals and majestic scores, it is indisputable that this is the best animation film Dreamworks has churned out for quite some time and the best since Disney's Frozen last year. 

 Complains: I guess all that being said, I still prefer the first one slightly over this as seeing Hiccup and Toothless getting to know one another and their bond getting stronger - it felt a whole lot more personal to me. How to Train Your Dragon 2 hit extremely close to home, but still a notch lower than its predecessor. 

 Rating: 9.1/10
Hit or Miss: Even if everything else in the film fails (which they don't), Toothless is ridiculously loveable. Hit. 

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Kuroshitsuji Review

23:43 | Labels:


Directed by: Kentaro Otani & Keiichi Sato
Casts: Hiro Mizushima, Ayame Gouriki, Mizuki Yamamoto, Yuka
Genre: Action, Fantasy, Suspense
Release Date: 12 June 2014 (Malaysia)

Loosely adapted from the manga & anime of the same name, Kuroshitsuji (Black Butler) follows the exploits of Shiori Genpo (Gouriki), head of the Genpo noble family and her tailcoat butler Sebastian (Mizushima) as they solve crimes as the Queen's "watchdogs", all while searching for the true murderer of Shiori's parents. 

I was a huge fan of the anime's first season (and would like to pretend the horrendous season 2 never existed) so I'm half-heartedly skeptical about how a live-action adaptation would play out. To make it easy on those who know zilch on the original story, Sebastian is a demon - vowed to serve Shiori until the point where she exact her revenge and henceforth consume her darkened soul. Sounds grim, but the main appeal of the original work is the relationship between the butler and his master. As Sebastian stands hungrily by his master's side to devour the precious soul, he can't help but also be simultaneously amused by his master's humane actions that is often accompanied by cold demeanours. 


Praises: Fanboy-ing aside, there are several stark differences between the anime and the live-action. For one, Sebastian's original master is Ciel Phantomhive - a Victorian era noble while here, it's Shiori, a noble living in a 21st century "Eastern Nation". Apart from the settings, the stories differ significantly; but Hiro Mizushima of Kamen Rider Kabuto fame managed to pull off a rather impressive Sebastian Michaelis, maintaining much of the character's charming charisma without making it feel cartoonish. 


A realistic Sebastian can be tricky (it's a flawless, handsome demon for Christ's sake!) but Mizushima makes it seem like an effortless stint and though he serves a different master here the love-hate relationship between Sebastian and Shiori mirrors the one with Ciel, thus not much to complain about. One of the many twists is that Shiori is actually a girl dressing up as a boy for the Genpo head can be of only from the male species, a comedic nod to the fact that Ciel looks quite much like a girl in the anime. I find this change rather hilarious and offers a refreshing take of a more emotionally compelling bond between the two. 


Much like the Phantomhive household, Shiori too has a clumsy, over-attached maid servant Rin and the quiet, tea-sipping old butler Tanaka. Both offered comedic reliefs while maintaining their role from the anime and despite shortage of two (namely an explosive-frenzy chef and a superhuman gardener) they filled up the void quite well, offering Shiori a sense of family-love that she has long lost. I can't get enough of their antics really, therefore I appreciate the excellent choice of Mizuki Yamamoto and Taro Shigaki for the respective parts. 


The film makers know well not to dish out a Sebastian that lacks class, elegance and  of course, speed  - I delight upon the fact that the demon butler moves with blinding agility both in battles and in service, something that mustn't be lost in translation. Another plus is that the action choreographies felt neat, demonstrating the demon's abilities without being way over the top. 


Plot wise, the film adopts a more current approach on social illness and themes of modern world and while I personally prefer the original 19th century London fix, these contemporary flavours can be quite exquisite. Fans of the anime/manga might be able to figure out the entire narrative before halfway through the film but still, the characters do smart things to thwart a seemingly smarter menace, giving a sense that the movie is constantly ahead of the audience. 

Complains: Unfortunately, the film loses its pace and momentum towards the climax. The final confrontation felt overly draggy, and just when you think it's over something else pops up to prolong it. I understand the need to emphasise the dramas in order to develop and flesh out  the characters but much of the intensity is lost in a stretched-out finale. 


It doesn't help that the villains are outright flat, one-dimensional characters that are utterly uninteresting. Hanae makes one helluva boring antagonist with a selfish motive sparked from deprivation of love; while her character aims to be tragic instead she came off as a spoiled whinny brat. There is at least one possible sequel given the way this film ended, so hopefully the film makers will get the baddies right next time. 


Jeez I almost forgot, there's the Undertaker.... a total waste of space. 

Rating: 6.8/10
Hit or Miss: Imaginative much but missing a few marks, Kuroshitsuji is best served with a pinch of salt. Marginally hit.

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Edge of Tomorrow Review

19:47 | Labels:


Directed by: Doug Liman
Casts: Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt, Bill Paxton, Jonas Armstrong
Genre: Drama, Science Fiction & Fantasy
Release Date: 29 May 2014

Alien forces dubbed "Mimics" launched a worldwide invasion on Earth, rendering humans defenceless and on the brink of destruction. Major William Cage is the face of the US military but has not seen a day of combat in his career. He unwillingly finds himself in the midst of a suicide mission - only to die minutes later before reliving the day over and over again in what seems to be a never-ending time loop. 

Praises: Slimy mechanical aliens. Grungy-looking battle suits. Lots of explosions and deaths. Time travel. Tom Cruise and his beautiful puzzled-eyes. Sounds like a pretty cheesy, messy, been-there-done-that kind of film right? I admit to not having much high expectations for Edge of Tomorrow but when the credits start rolling, I stood up and gave the film a double thumbs up. 

The overall plot felt clever, fast and evenly paced, innovative and intense, keeping me engaged throughout without losing momentum. Tom Cruise plays a military officer who is anything but a soldier. He is a PR figure, good with his speech, excellent with his persuasion. To put him on the battlefield guarantees a certain death, and true enough he didn't even last 5 minutes before meeting his Maker - or so we thought. I think it's fair to say we have more than enough of Tom Cruise being a skilled fighter/special agent; to see him confused, scared and helpless is rather interesting and refreshing.

Things get a lot worse for Major William - he dies, then revives the next second to relive the day again. And again. And again. To live through the same fear and pain repeatedly while seemingly unable to alter the ending can put a huge dent on anyone's psyche. Then comes the bitter-sweet mix - meeting Rita Vrataski (Blunt), one of the best Mimic-slayers in play. Having to die on your own repeatedly is one thing, having to see someone you care die along with you is another. In quite an unlikely romantic setting, the two leads have excellent chemistry mix that pretty much left a heart-wrenching feeling tugging at the bottom of my stomach. 

Collectively the visuals are an orgasmic treat; be it the ships, suits, or alien tentacles they work cohesively with the narrative to never give a single dull moment. The concept of time-loop was used without creating much self-conflicting paradoxes, effectively feeling brilliant while avoiding serious complications. A sci-fi cinematic experience that doesn't tire, Edge of Tomorrow puts Tom Cruise right back in the game. 

 Complains: How often do we see great buildups in movies only to be hampered by a lukewarm climax? More than my fingers can count, really. Edge of Tomorrow may be ambitious right from the start but seemingly resort to cheap, safe fallback towards the end, giving a somewhat confusing and not to mention predictable conclusion to a story that could offer plentiful. Was it to cater to mainstream appetite I do not know, but the film certainly lose some points with me there. 

Rating: 8.7/10
Hit or Miss: Edge of Tomorrow is one of the better films this summer, a sleeper hit as I like to call it.

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Maleficent Review

23:42 | Labels:


Directed by: Robert Stromberg
Casts: Angelina Jolie, Sharlto Copley, Elle Fanning, Sam Riley
Genre: Science Fiction & Fantasy
Release Date: 29 May 2014

A retelling of one of Disney's most well-known classics Sleeping Beauty from the perspective of its chief villainess, Maleficent offers a rather sympathetic tale of origin, a look at the betrayal which led to the once kind and loving faerie into becoming the mistress of evil we all know and fear (kind of). 

Praises: I'm no master fan of Disney fairytales, but at the very least I know what to expect of a Sleeping Beauty remake - somewhere along the line of a bad woman in black who cursed a princess to sleep and prince charming comes to the rescue with a kiss. Although that isn't entirely wrong, writer Linda Woolverton gave a few surprising twists to the narrative to make the entire experience familiar but fresh, even for those who grew up with the story. 

Prior to the film's release, the public has taken keen interest on Angelina Jolie's new stint - teaser images of the Tomb Raider actress in full Maleficent costume garnered positive response with great anticipation. Now, having finally watched the film, I must say I'm truly enchanted by Angie's spectacular performance. She moulded the character that would befit her own image and the end result can be described as "sexy evil". There's no other better way to put it - Angelina Jolie is Maleficent and likewise Maleficent is Angelina Jolie. Even if nothing else impresses you, there's no denying that she is simply magical. 

Of course, she wasn't the only one noteworthy in the film. Sharlto Copley played the paranoid and treacherous version of King Stefan, who incurred the wrath of Maleficent after betraying the latter for the throne. What I mean by that, well, you have to watch the film to find out (this is strictly a spoiler free review!) Sharlto of District 9 and Elysium fame is definitely a brilliant choice when it comes to a role that is rather twisted in the mind.

Now, how can it be a Sleeping Beauty film without the eponymous princess herself? Elle Fanning puts up a really attractive smile as Aurora, the cursed heir of King Stefan who's fated to prick her finger on a spinning wheel spindle during her 16th birthday and inadvertently falls into deep sleep. Her relationship with Maleficent is unlike any other we have ever seen or heard and is integral in her emotional transformation (apart from the betrayal for sure). Without revealing further, it's safe to say Aurora is a whole lot more integral to the plot progression and culmination than her mid-20th century incarnation did. 

Sam Riley may not be a well-known name yet at this point, but he sure is entertaining and funny to watch. Be it a crow, a wolf or a giant reptile.... he's charming nonetheless. 

 To sum up the good parts, Maleficent thrives on its casts to deliver an old story anew and for someone like me who often shrugs at fairytales, I enjoyed the film for the most part. 


Complains: For all it's worth, the effort to revamp Sleeping Beauty did not spare it from certain Disney cliches. There are several moments when I'm drawn into the character conflicts only to be taken aback by certain lines so cheesy I cringed. I know it's still a Disney flick, but to have the story flicking back and forth indecisively between what's corny and what's not seems rather lackluster on the writers' side. 


The visuals are stunning but holds no weight on the narrative, besides, it's not something we have not seen in other fantasy films. 

 Rating: 7.7/10
Hit or Miss: A remarkable summer treat from Disney, I beckon. Hit. 

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