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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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