The Lucky One

(Movie, 2012)

Watch the trailer and you'll see the whole movie in 2 minutes, 32 seconds! 
The only thing I liked in this movie are the dogs (Zeus and company) and the kid (Ben).

Casting & Acting:         5.0

Cinematography:         9.0

Overall Production:      8.0

Plot/Story:                 7.0

Rating:                    7.25

Dodgeball & Tree of Life

  (Movie, 2004)

I knew about  Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story  since it was shown but I never got the interest to actually watch it until I saw some posts in Tumblr about The Ocho. For anyone who wants to have a good time, this is one movie to watch. Other than that, same old story, same old jokes. Ben Stiller though is creepily excellent in his role. He had excellent facial expression, voice, and gesture, which reminds me of Zoolander.

Casting & Acting:         9.0

Cinematography:         8.0

Overall Production:      8.0

Plot/Story:                 6.0

Rating:                    7.75

What stuck on me as regards this film was what Ben Stiller said at the end of the credits. He said that problem with American cinema, they can’t handle any complexity in it. “Don’t make me think, I just wanna be entertained.” Well, it’s not just about American cinema that’s for sure. I watched this movie last night, and right this morning I saw a very complex movie: the Tree of Life. 

(Movie, 2004)

The film was so intricate for me that I had to search online for the synopsis because I didn't get the ending. I thought I was watching National Geographic most of the time. The film reminded me of my interest on Astronomy when I was young. Unlike most movies that questions life as it is, this is the one that does not particularly make you doubt your faith.

As always, Jessica Chastain gives her best performance. And the kids really got potential in acting.

Casting & Acting:         10.0

Cinematography:         10.0

Overall Production:       8.5

Plot/Story:                   8.0

Rating:                      9.125

Hawaii Five-0

(TV Series, 2010-present)

I really like TV shows that are episodic. The stories are lighter and it will not take you years to have a closure. As I have watched and rewatched every episode of CSI (all 3 cities) and NCIS LA, I came across Hawaii Five-0. I first noticed this show when I saw a few articles on Flipboard. As I was looking for new shows to follow that are episodic in nature, I tried this show’s pilot and I liked it. I didn’t know about the original series thought the opening theme sounds really familiar. I probably watched some reruns in the past but just didn’t give much attention.

Anyway, I never knew the main cast except for Daniel Dae Kim so I don’t know how much they personally trained for. Chin Ho looks always smiling in this show even on scenes where he's supposed to be serious or even angry. This is kind of new for me compared to Daniel's role in Lost. 

At first glance between McGarrett and Danno, I thought Danno was the laid back, don’t-care-about-any-rules guy. McGarrett just look too serious not to care about rules. Other than that, he really has the hero-type skills. I like how these two discuss about their methods of apprehending suspects. It is a subtly humorous way of explaining to the viewers the right and wrong way of police work. However, I was quite disturbed about Danno’s hand gestures. He always waves his hands. It kinda reminds me of Tim Roth in Lie to Me, which for a human lie detector who’s a genius on human facial expressions and mannerisms, he quite can’t control his own.

Kono, on the other hand, looks too thin to have an impact when she hits bad guys. But hey, it’s TV, right?

I cannot help but compare Five-0 from NCIS LA combat-wise. In Five-0, there are some fights scenes where you can see some gaps. Like an awkward calculated move or something. For example in an episode where Kono and Ivana Milavec where fighting in a warehouse, they were both struggling on the floor one time, Kono’s running outside the next because of a bomb. I replayed that part thinking I must have missed something. But Ivana was just lying on the floor unconscious. Either that was a bad fight scene or the editing screw up.

 

Overall, the show is good. I finished the first season in 2 days. I’m up for the second season. 

Casting & Acting:         8.0

Cinematography:        10.0

Overall Production:      8.5

Plot/Story:                 7.5

Rating:                    8.50

The Langoliers

(Movie, 1995)

I read this book from Stephen King (a.k.a. Richard Bachman) when I was in high school.  The [two-part] TV-Movie adaptation is kinda disappointing from what I imagined through the book. Technology in mid-nineties is already good. I don’t understand how they can’t make the Langoliers appear better. It was flatline fake! Did they have a very low budget? The Langoliers only appeared once and yet they couldn’t make it appear realistic. Shame. Visual effects in some 70’s films were better. When you see the Langoliers, you are supposed to be petrified, not smirk.

 

Casting & Acting:       8.0

Cinematography:       6.0

Overall Production:   5.0

Plot/Story:               7.0

Rating:                  6.50

Iron Sky

(Movie, 2012)

I gotta say this movie made me laugh a few times with its reference to recent events and persons. I’ve seen a lot of movies involving Nazis but putting them in the dark side of the moon is, well, unorthodox.

Casting & Acting:      7.0

Cinematography:      9.0

Overall Production:   9.0

Plot/Story:               8.0

Rating:                 8.25

Strangers in a Train

(Movie, 1959)

This movie has been referred to in a few CSI episodes and other movies and TV series. This movie is a legend. This movie is fantastic for something that was made in the 50’s. The production, the effect, the props, design, etc. is magnificent for its time. It certainly is a classic. The music, unfortunately, kinda doesn’t coincide with the scene sometimes. But I gonna let it pass as it was made at the time that cinematography and such are limited.

Casting & Acting:        8.5

Cinematography:       10.0

Overall Production:     9.0

Plot/Story:               10.0

Rating:                    9.375

The Woman in Black

(Movie, 2012)

Well, it’s kinda new for me to watch Daniel Radcliffe out of Hogwarts. The first time I saw him, it was when he played as a son of  Pierce Brosnan in The Tailor of Panama. 

But unlike other kids who tasted fame on a very young age, he doesn’t seem to take his career for granted. Being in theater, that may prove Daniel’s passion for acting. I think he was better in this film than on any of his Harry Potter days. He certainly grew in terms of acting. The story? Well, kind of predictable. It’s something you’ve already seen, but overall, entertaining. That is, if you consider horror flicks entertaining.  

Casting & Acting:         8.0

Cinematography:       10.0

Overall Production:     9.0

Plot/Story:                 7.0

Rating:                    8.50

Apocalypse Now

 (Movie, 1979)

I only watched this movie because my brother downloaded it being curious that it’s one of the very few Hollywood movies being shot in the Philippines. The movie was interesting until when it got to the last 20 minutes or so. It suddenly became dull. It was fast-paced for most of the scenes and when the Captain finally met Kurtz, the confrontation was dragging. I don’t know… It’s just one of the movies I’m glad I was able to watch, but not the type that I’d watch again and again.

Casting & Acting:        8.5

Cinematography:       10.0

Overall Production:     9.0

Plot/Story:                8.5

Rating:                   9.00

The Green Mile

 (Movie, 1999)

This movie is one of my favorites of all time. The book is an ultimate favorite, too. Stephen King sure writes great stuff! I read the book in high school (I think) before I watched the movie. Frank Darabont made a really great adaptation of the book. It was really impressive. I was disappointed though when I didn’t see my favorite part of the book. It was when John Coffey, upon his final prayer (or something) recited a child’s prayer.

 "Baby Jesus, meek and mild, pray for me, and orphan child. Be my strength, be my friend, be with me until the end. Amen."

I remember crying my heart out in upon reading this part. I was disappointed not to see it in the movie. There were some differences and alterations but they're acceptable given a film's limitations over a book. In conclusion, the movie was superb!  Perfect cast, perfect acting! I still cry everytime I watch it. And everytime, I still wonder why Michael Duncan Clark didn’t get an Academy.

Casting & Acting:       10.0

Cinematography:       10.0

Overall Production:    10.0

Plot/Story:               10.0

Rating:                  10.00