Elysium

This movie I watched last week as well. This movie was way BETTER than The Mortal Instruments. I can't even compare the quality of this movie with that movie.

1. I LOVE Matt Damon. He is hot, cute, good actor and good personality too. He played the role so well and I just completely thought of him as the character. He made me connect to the movie itself and that was brilliant. Using him instead of other action actors was a brilliant job because there is not other action actor who can act and do good action scenes like him. 

2. I like the storyline and the message of how he sacrified himself to save his first lover's daughter and to bring justice for earth people. It was sad that he had to die but I understand his choice. The movie had the theme of betrayal, sacrifice, power corruption, discrimination and all other serious themes and all of these themes were portrayed and played out really nicely and made the movie really good. It was also interesting to see how political people treated earth people, especially the people with criminal record. It was like if you have criminal record, you are a criminal. That's it. You cannot be a changed person. You are still a criminal. Also, how political people are all living in Elysium and uses robots instead of real people on earth. So instead of real police men, its the police robot. Instead of real stuff on government office, its the robot who don't listen to people's story. It's also interesting to see how this movie was based on South America. For example, they speak Spanish or Portuguese. All the people on earth was not European white people. Those people are living in Elysium.

3. The animation of the movie was well created. Elysium was so well portrayed and looked so real. Also, the action scenes and all the gun fighting and explosions looked real and well filmed. It was definitely a cinema movie where big screen and good sound system were necessary to  100% enjoy this movie. It was very creative as well in terms of how they created the structure Elysium.

4. The movie made me think. It made me think where I would be if I was living in that period. Would I be classified as a high living class and hence will be living on Elysium? or will I be living on earth? Also, how expensive was it to live in Elysium? how much high class does people have to be to be eligible to live in Elysium? Why isn't Elysium people not care about people on earth? Why is Elysium people do not send their first aid robots on earth to help the sick people on earth when they have all the equipment? Is it simply because they don't want to help them out because its not a good "investment"? do they really all just care about profit and money? So what happens now? Who is going to rule Elysium and Earth? There was so many questions and possibilities, I loved it. All the questions were not directly connected with the movie and instead, the questions were just "side" questions where I think in depth to make this movie more realistic in my head. If this was like Star Wars and has sequels and hence be more depth in terms of illustrating the life in earth and Elysium, it would have been perfect. I would pay to see more. However, this movie was just created for once. It wasn't created for a sequel purpose and hence, my questions cannot be answered.

5. I could notice some of the product placement. For example, Adidas shoes, GMC car, Bugatti, Bulgari and so on. I personally think it was unnecessary to show the brand in this movie as this was equivalent of post-apocalyptic movie. Yes, some people still live in earth, but they are all poor. So showing the car brand may be okay as it could have just been "stolen" or just using the existing car and that car happened to be GMC, but showing Adidas shoes and Bulgari was a bit too much in my opinion. Where did Matt got money to buy Adidas shoes? and where is Adidas shoes stores? Where is Bulgari, high class luxury brand on earth? if it was not on earth, is there Bulgari store on Elysium? the movie didn't even show Elysium people more than five minutes. So personally, this movie doesn't really need product placement to show the realism of the movie. 

6. you can also definitely tell that this was directed by District 9 director. A lot of similarity between these two movies in terms of big guns, camera angles and how camera moves and doesn't hold still, background colour (dustry, dirty, brown and dark), and setting of the movie.

Overall, 4/5. Good movie as it had good actor who made me connect with the character, solid storyline that made me think about the movie afterwards and kept me concentrated for two whole hours.

The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones

Apologies for late review. I watched this movie last week but I have been so busy with my job hunting. Plus I got sick for few days and my brain didn't work properly. So here we go for the late review of The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones.

1. If you are Twilight fan who loves whole crazy love-in-first-sight, you will like this movie. watch it. But, if you don't like Twilight and doesn't like this crazy childish love-in-first-sight, you will hate this movie. don't watch it. Personally, it was okay because (1) I don't mind this childish movie. I only paid $8.50 for this movie ticket. (2) My friend who hates Twilight was sitting next to me and she doesn't eat popcorn but through out this movie, she was growling and ate popcorn. It was just hilarious to look at her reaction so my general movie experience for this movie was okay. (3) The main character guy's accent was H.O.T. I didn't find him hot but his voice and his accent was dead gorgeous. I personally love British accent and he had one. It was so good to listen to his hot accent.

2. This movie is a combination of other movies. Remake, if you prefer. This movie had a bit of Harry Potter, Twilight, High School Musical and other Fantasy movies. Harry Potter in terms of how there is one earth but different world (Harry Potter, it's wizard world and Muggles. For this, they call normal people as Mundane). Then this movie has magic. Then demons and angels (shadow hunter). Twilight in terms of how two characters, a girl and a boy fell in love at first sight. Then they have this tension and scenes where it looks like they are going to kiss (like when Clary falls on top of Jace, that was like "wow.. really? so obvious!") and when they go to roof top and the water sprays the garden, they get wet so they laugh and they kiss (this scene reminded me of High School Musical 3). 

3. The movie in overall is CHILDISH. I'm not talking about childish but okay to watch, I'm talking about, if you are in a workplace or even in tertiary education, you will not like this movie childish. It was SO childish and SO obvious. Nothing new and surprising came up. Instead, when you think "is this going to happen?", it happened. For example, I thought "they are gonna kiss", they kissed. When Simon came out from Clary's bedroom, I thought "they are gonna fight", they fought. Then when Blackwell came out and talks to Clary, I was like "don't tell me they are father and daughter", they were father and daughter. When Alaric told Clary a story of how she had brother, I was like "don't tell me it's Jace", it was Jace. Because all of these obvious and childish stuff in this movie, I couldn't concentrate the story plot of this movie.

4. This movie has everything abnormal. Shadow Hunter tattoos their body as if this was a normal thing to do. They have this symbol all over their body. I didn't read this book so I have no idea if that means anything but as an audience who didn't read the book, it just looked as if they just tattoo their body for fun. Funny thing is that the movie actually shows them tattooing. Imagine what young audiences will think of tattoo after this movie.Yes, many people these days do tattoo. But, it's not something that disappears. It lasts for the rest of your life. So personally, I think you need to be really really be careful when you are doing tattoo because you can't just erase it if you don't like it anymore. It's going to stay on your body for the rest of your life. This movie has made the tattoo look so easy, it could potentially deliver the wrong message to younger audiences. Second, this movie has gay concept included. I have never seen a fantasy movie that includes gay concept as this is still a very sensitive issue. Then they have brother and sister fall in love. Well, they didn't know when they fall in love. But, it was sick when Jace says "I don't believe it", "I don't care". I mean, they are brother and sister, how can he not care about loving his sister?

5. Movie was fast paced so people who didn't read the book like me, this movie was like "what the heck just happened". The whole idea of Shadow hunter and demon and mortal cup was confusing enough, I had to deal with Jace and Clary being brother and sister and the movie didn't confirm whether it was true or just Blackwell confusing them. I had to confirm this with my friend who read the entire book. Also, I understand that the movie should not be over 2 hours but it was so funny how Clary and Jace kissed and Clary just invites him to her room and when Simon came out from her room, Jace suddenly gets angry and jealous. This whole thing happened in one scene and I was like you guys just kissed and now you guys are fighting over someone who happens to be in her bedroom. How is this Clary's fault and why is Jace getting angry with this thing? He knew Simon likes Clary. He saw how they were close right before Clary meets him on the roof. It was so stupid and so silly and so childish and so fast! Was the book like this? or was it just in the movie?

6. Of course, there was some product placement. I can't remember it now because it has been over a week. But I remember me thinking "oh, product placement". I personally don't want to watch it again in cinema (I don't mind watching it again for free though, just because I like Jace's voice and accent) so I'm not going to tell you how many and what brands. But there was definitely more than two product placement !!

Overall, 1.5/5. It was 1.5 because I loved Jace's voice and his British accent. Also, I like Clary. She is so pretty ! but that's it. seriously, that's it. Don't waste your money.

We're the Millers

Wasn't planning to watch this but I watched it in cinema for $10.

1. Comedy. Some sexual R18 comedy but some good casual comedy that makes you chuckle. This movie is definitely not a trailer movie where comedy movies show all the funny parts on trailer to attract the moviegoers and when they watch the movie, they realise trailer has all the comedy and hence no surprises in the movie and didn't end up finding the movie funny. This movie has hide a lot of funny parts in the movie from the trailer, which was good surprise and gave the impression that this movie is funny the entire time. Definitely better than The Heat (this movie is a trailer movie. all the good funny parts except Denny's were shown in the trailer). 

2. No surprises there in terms of good acting and hence good character connection was created. Everyone portrayed their characters really well.

3. Storyline is obviously unrealistic. Four very distinctive characters coming along for different but somehow same purpose (lonely) and became like a "real" family. A definite transition of each character's personality (especially Rose and Casey) was shown in the movie and how they unconsciously became a typical family. They all have no family. Hence, for them to behave like a normal family is a transition and changes. This was shown very clearly where moviegoers can easily pick out the changes. Unrealistic in terms of how David can smuggle drug into USA borderline. It just made USA security look stupid.

4. I think you can say that this movie is a typical Jennifer Aniston movie. Obviously it's a comedy movie and another easy relax movie where it doesn't require you to think about the movie. All you need is a popcorn and a frozen coke and just laugh your way through the movie. Afterwards, you will either feel (1) not funny because the humour code isn't your type (2) like it. Me and my friends like it as we had no expectations of how good this movie is going to be. So we came out feeling good and made us to "like" this movie. This is a good $10 worth movie. But I won't personally pay $14 for this movie. I would rather wait and rent this movie DVD when it releases because I personally don't think comedy movie is worth $14 to pay and watch it in cinema.

5. So many product placement !!!! particularly YouTube and Apple. It was TOO obvious.

Overall, 3/5

The Wolverine

Finally, I've seen it. I heard good stories and bad stories about this movie and I was so tempted whether I should watch it or not. But I decided to watch it because of Hugh Jackman.

1. Obvious storyline as it is originally from comic book. However, even though the comic book was set in Japan, I can't help but feeling this movie was somehow advertising Japan. Saying Japanese, using Japanese actors/actress, main girl is Japanese and Logan somehow fall in love with her..?!, then Japanese food, Japanese traditional clothes, Japanese places..All Japanese. But, the main plot is about how one man that Logan saved from Hiroshima nuclear bomb, became obsessive with Logan's "gift" and even tries to fake his death, ruin his company, and tries to kill his life saver. But there is another plot in this movie. It's about Logan's moving on from Jean. He moves on when he meets Mariko, which I found it a bit funny and a bit "unfit" with the story. What was it about her that Logan fell in love? and made him want to live again? I didn't see how Mariko was saving him. To be honest, I felt that they were somehow forced to make the love scene in the movie so they can make more movies about the wolverine going back to being a solider. Another thing I don't understand was Mariko's best friend, Harada thinks Logan was the bad guy and tries to kill him to save Mariko..?! It was weird for me.

2. Some funny parts where Logan says American/Western comedy. But I don't think it was necessary to be there, in fact, I believe wolverine says stuff like this in any of x-man movies. So to me, I was surprise how Logan can in fact, says stuff like this and made audiences laugh/chuckle.

3. This movie definitely had product placement involved. Mercede Benz was a bit obvious. Then FedEx, Nokia etc. Wonder what people will say about Mercede Benz and Nokia especially when they watch this movie? For me, Nokia was just like "eh" with absolute no increase in purchase intention. Mercede Benz in fact made me wonder "wow nice car" but I wonder, why Mercede Benz? If the movie is in Japan, they could have perhaps used Japanese brand cars? which are quite many in the car industry that are well known internationally. Made me curious.

4. I watched it in 2D and I think it was worth it. I personally don't think this movie is 3D movie but it was shown in 3D as well and now, I wonder how 3D might look like because i think it will look like exactly the same as 2D. Nothing pops up that made me think "this movie will be great for 3D". 

That's it. It didn't really make me thing about the plot, didn't make me think about anything indeed. Just fun to watch Hugh Jackman's hard work on this body. Oh! when he twitched one of his breast muscle, that was funny. 

Overall 2.5/5

Now You See Me

When I saw this movie poster, I was like "what is this..why so long movie title?". Had no interest of watching this. Then I watched the movie trailer when I'm watching some other movie in cinema and o.m.g it blew my mind. MAGIC !! and THIEF?! i got interested and started to Imdbed it and went to cinema website to see when it releases and this week, a day after it released, I watched it.

1. The story is about magic. I personally love story like this. It is so unusual and unique topic to have in movie. So many movies are now based on robots and monsters and typical love story or comedy and somehow cruel horror films. This movie was different. It was serious and not funny (it was funny some parts but not as comedy funny. Didn't intend to have comedy genre at all). It didn't involve any robots or monsters or love story and wasn't scary at all. This movie stood out from other movies are I have watched in cinema because of the distinctive storyline. Refreshing will be the word.

2. Excellent use of actors and actress. The movie used all familiar faces, which means that all of them have experience. Good years of experience in acting and hence knows how to act. None of them were weird and made me uncomfortable like Pacific Rim. Acting helped me to connect myself with the movie and movie characters and concentrated on watching movie for entire 2 hours without thinking when this movie is going to end.

3. Well made. I don't think the cost of producing this movie is as high as other action genre movies. Hence, relatively, this movie is well made. Good and relevant use of graphics, lines that make you chuckle and whole magics that create your movie experience positive. I believe the director knows how to make good film, which was pleased to see because I enjoyed it a lot ! But I'm not sure if I'm going to watch it again in cinema. I don't know why but I just think this movie is second time cinema movie. Definitely watch it in cinema because you can't wait until it releases DVD but doesn't make you want to watch it again in cinema. I will definitely buy it in DVD when it's on like $10 (which means I have to wait after a year). It would have been maybe more interesting and exciting and make me want to watch it again if it was on 3D and some of the magic trips are shown in 3D, for example the card flying and shooting to detective or the bubble magic. It would have been amazing if it was available in 3D.

4. Lots and lots of product placement. Starting from Las Vegas' hotels, cars (BMW etc), Pepsi (so obvious !) and so on. Some cars and Pepsi were very obvious and can tell that they paid this movie production cost. I personally think Pepsi was too much to see. Why is it so necessary to have Pepsi on interrogation room? it was just silly.

5. Good twist on characters. Some were obvious like a magician dying on car explosion. For the entire time, I was thinking maybe the detective is the eye magician but I couldn't confirm my feeling but that when it did, I was like "wow". During the movie, I thought Morgan Freeman was indeed one of the magician and It was interesting to see how he was framed by the detective. I also thought the French girl might be the real magician's assistant or that whole characters were hypothesized by one of the magicians. The movie made me think like I am the one who is solving this case and it was good to see how one of my solution was indeed true. It made it "obvious" but good obvious because I thought about other scenarios too (which made is not so obvious). But I can't help but think that the movie was rushed at the end. It was slow paced in the beginning and all of a sudden, everything was fast-paced as if it was rushing to show the audiences how all of this is solved and how this was possible for 2 hours. Yes the magic shows were amazing and maybe appropriate but maybe because it was showing the magic tricks for several minutes, at the end, there was a rush of chasing the magicians, trying to explain how all of the story are linked together at the end. It was just rushed. I personally would not mind if it was a bit over 2 hours and keep up their pace so I don't feel rushed but I understand that majority of moviegoers are expecting the movie to finish in 2 hours.

Highly recommend to watch this movie in cinema !
4/5