COUPLES RETREAT - Funless Vacation

COUPLES RETREAT (comedy)
Cast: Vince Vaughn, Jason Bateman, Jon Favreau, Faizon Love, Kristin Davis, Malin Akerman, Kristen Bell, Kali Hawk, and Jean Reno
Director: Peter Billingsley
Time: 107 mins
Rating: * * (out of 4)


PREAMBLE: If you have seen the trailer of this movie, you would have seen all the best parts of it. There is nothing left in any manner of comedy or romance in the actual film written by two members of its cast, Jon Favreau and Vince Vaughn and co-written by Dana Fox.

For a vacation movie set in a tropical island, it can be rather depressing - and the outcome is so predictable.

WHAT'S IT ABOUT? Four midwestern American couples sorting out their problems in a vacation-cum-therapy stint. Jason (Jason Bateman) and Cynthia (Kristen Bell) put so much pressure in their need to have a child that they are considering divorce. To avoid this last resort, they plan a therapy treat but need three other couples to make up a group package and save money.

So they 'con' their friends to join in. The other couples are Dave (Vaughn) and Ronnie (Malin Akerman) who seem to have the perfect marriage with two cute kids; Joey (Jon Favreau) and Lucy (Kristin Davis) whose marriage is falling apart but for their teenage daughter; and divorcee Shane (Faizon Love) and his new girlfriend Trudy (Kali Hawk) who is half his age.

Will the Couples Retreat solve their problems?

HITS & MISSES: There's nothing very funny in this comedy that takes almost a quarter of the running time to build-up. Then when we get to Eden, the vacation destination, we are faced with more couples problems instead of the fun stuff like windsurfing, skiing, etc (which goes on at the East side of the island).

What's more, we get the feeling that the cast are taking a vacation from their jobs, given the lame performances and hamming we get on the screen. Jean Reno is unbearable as Frenchman Marcel and John Michael Higgins is annoying as relationship therapist who is incessantly scribbling notes. And as for the main cast, all we get from them are whining and bitching.

THE LOWDOWN: Cancel off this trip.

'New Moon' Still Tops at Second US Weekend

NOV 30, 2009 - Moviegoers continued feasting on vampire love as Twilight Saga: New Moon remained at No. 1 while Sandra Bullock's The Blind Side held steady in second place with just US$2.4 million separating the two. That was a far cry from the US$108.7M gap between the pair last weekend when they both opened as New Moon tumbled and Blind Side rose this Thanksgiving weekend.

Last year's Twilight also suffered a steep second weekend decline falling 62 per cent. The disaster film 2012 is third as no new release managed to make it into the top three.

Disney comedy Old Dogs, starring John Travolta and Robin Williams, takes fourth place with an estimated US$16.8M over three days. Newcomer Ninja Assassin takes No. 6 place with an estimated US$13.1 million.

Here is the rest of the Top 5 US B-O estimate grosses for Nov 27-29, 2009 weekend, in terms of rank, Movie name (studio), Weekend takings in USD, (Cumulative gross, USD) and week on chart, courtesy of Boxofficemojo.

1. Twilight Saga: New Moon (Summit) $42.5 million ($230.7 mil) 2

2. The Blind Side (Warner Bros) $40.1 million ($100.3 mil) 2

3. 2012 (Sony/Columbia) $18.0 million ($138.8 mil) 3

4. Old Dogs (Buena Vista) $16.8 million ($24.1 mil) 1

5. A Christmas Carol (Buena Vista) $16.0 million ($105.4 million) 4

Top 10 Biggest Losers of the Decade in US

NOV 29, 2009 - Whaddaya know! Reuters has come up with a list of the biggest Hollywood flops of the decade, at least where the US box-office was concerned. Hollywood's Biggest Losers of the new millennium are judged against their production costs and their gross in America.

Heading the list is Eddie Murphy's Pluto Nash (pictured), followed by John Travolta's Battlefiend Earth and the recent Land Of The Lost with Will Farrell.


1. ADVENTURES OF PLUTO NASH (2002) Estimated cost: US$100 million; Domestic gross: US$4.4 mil.

2. BATTLEFIELD EARTH (2000) Estimated cost: US$75 million; Domestic gross: US$21 mil.

3. LAND OF THE LOST (June, 2009) Estimated cost: US$100 million; Domestic gross: US$65 mil.

4. GIGLI (2003) Estimated cost: US$54 million; Domestic gross: US$6.1 mil.

5. TOWN & COUNTRY (2001) Estimated cost: US$90 million; Domestic gross: US$6.7 mil.

6. CATWOMAN (2004) Estimated cost: US$100 million; Domestic gross: US$40 mil.

7. THE INVASION (2007) Estimated cost: US$80 million; Domestic gross: US$15.1 mil.

8. ROLLERBALL (2002) Estimated cost: US$70 million; Domestic gross: US$19 mil.

9. GRINDHOUSE (2007) Estimated cost: US$67 million; Domestic gross: US$25 mil.

10. THE SPIRIT (2008) Estimated cost: US$60 million; Domestic gross: US$19.8 mil.

WEEKEND PIC - 27 - 29 Nov, 2009

YOUR GUIDE TO THE WEEKEND MOVIES

NEW THIS WEEK:

a) MULAN (live-action war adventure with Vicki Zhao Wei , Chen Kun, Jaycee Chan, Jun Hu and Jiuzhe Li( Rated * * 1/2 (2.5 stars): Vicky Zhao looks too hot for the role as a warrior but Jingle Ma's remake of the folklore is passable, nonetheless. Good performance by Zhao also helps to make this version watchable. (Reviewed below)

b) TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON (romance sequel with Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Ashley Greene, Jackson Rathbone, Nikki Reed and Kellan Lutz) Rated * * (2 stars): A clear example of how hype and star-cult frenzy can transform a franchise from one of novelty to exploitation. Under the direction of Chris Weitz, New Moon is just skinflick for teen girls. (Reviewed below)

c) PLANET 51 (animated adventure with voices of Dwayne Johnson, Jessica Biel, Justin Long, Gary Oldman, Seann William Scott, John Cleese, Freddie Benedict and Alan Marriott) Rated: * * (2 stars): A forgettable galactic romp with tiresome and repetitive themes and scenes.

d) NINJA ASSASSIN (actioner with Rain, Naomie Harris, Ben Miles, Rick Yune, Sho Kosugi, Guido Foehrweisser, Stephen Marcus, Randall Duk Kim and Sung Kang) Rated * * (2 stars): Typical no-brainer Ninja flick featuring pop singer Rain as its main attraction and gory slice-em-up violence as the highlights. The novelty fades soon enough after watching Rain act and tolerating Kosugi's inane lines. (Reviewed below)

STILL GOING STRONG:

1. ASTRO BOY (animated adventure with Freddie Highmore, Kristen Bell, Charlize Theron, Donald Sutherland, Nicholas Cage and Bill Nighy) Rated * * * (3 out of 4): An entertaining adventure involving a 'discarded' robot hero and a villain bent on destroying it. A good balance of light and dark stuff as well as story and action. (Reviewed below)

2. A CHRISTMAS CAROL (animated drama with Tom Hanks, Jim Carrey, Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Bob Hoskins and Jacquie Barnbrook) Rating: * * * (3 stars): The spirit of Dickens and Christmas takes on an exhilarating new look here in this retelling by director Robert Zemeckis done in performance-capture animation similar to his Polar Express.

3. 2012 (Disaster thriller with John Cusack, Amanda Peet, Thandie Newton, Woody Harrelson, Danny Glover, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Oliver Platt and Chin Han) Rated * * * (3 out of 4 stars): Another apocalypse-type movie by demolition guru Roland Emmerich but this time around, he seems to have gotten many things right with this cinematic thrill ride. Edge of the seat CGI action. (Reviewed below)

4. PHOBIA 2 (Thai horror anthology with Jirayu Laongmanee, Worrawech Danuwong, Chalee Trairat, Nicole Terio and Masha Wattanapanich) Rated * * 1/2 (2.5 stars): The directors who gave us Phobia are back with another bunch of 'scary' tales. They don't start off well but end up nicely with a funny horror-comedy. (Reviewed below)

MULAN - Vicky's Too Hot To Trot

MULAN (war drama)
Cast: Vicki Zhao Wei , Chen Kun, Jaycee Chan, Jun Hu and Jiuzhe Li
Director: Jingle Ma
Time: 112 mins
Rating: * * 1/2 (out of 4)


PREAMBLE: The biggest problem viewers would have with a live-action feature like Mulan is its casting of the hot and sexy Vicki Zhao as the legendary heroine. The animated 1998 Disney version was not as distracting because Mulan looked tomboyish and passable for a drawn character. Here, Zhao looks as if she has wandered into the Mulan set from her recent role in Red Cliff II.

Looking as she does in the battlefield among thousands of sexually-deprived soldiers makes us wonder how she can continue to operate as a woman disguised as warrior...

WHAT'S IT ABOUT? You should be familiar with this folklore about a young girl taking the place of her ailing father at the conscription to war. Mulan not only manages to fool her brothers-at-arms, she also manages to rise up the ranks to become a general due to her bravery in battle against the land-grabbing Rourans!

HITS & MISSES: Other than my concern mentioned above, this rendition of the classic by Jingle Ma is passable - and even touching at times. Like the recent war flicks including Red Cliff, Ma's portrayal of war is no less gritty and violent. The fighting scenes hit the right emotional notes.

Zhao's portrayal of Mulan is touching, her beauty notwithstanding. Her Mulan is not a natural-born killer. She agonises over her first kill. The romance between the royal Wentai (Chen Kun) and Mulan is affecting too, given the demanding conditions of the war and their need to be discreet. However, an outdoor bath scene remains the only indication of Mulan's problem about her gender. Ma dismisses it soon after that.

I am also puzzled about the casting of Russian singer Vitas as the Rouran king's servant boy- a blond-haired effeminate-looking guy inviting suggestions of sexual impropriety at the royal tent. Jaycee Chan, however, acquits himself nicely as Mulan's village buddy, Tiger Fei.

THE LOWDOWN: It won't beat the Disney version but still watchable for Vicky Zhao fans.

NEW MOON - Skinflick For Young Girls

THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON (supernatural romance)
Cast: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Ashley Greene, Jackson Rathbone, Nikki Reed and Kellan Lutz
Director: Chris Weitz
Time: 125 mins
Rating: * * (out of 4)

FAREWELL KISS: Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson as Bella and Edward

PREAMBLE: I enjoyed Twilight because it offered a new kind of romance - between an (supposedly) ordinary human and a new breed of human-friendly vampire. It was even touching to see how a blood-feeder goes against his nature to sacrifice for someone he loves. Alas, how fast novelty fades... and ambitious greed takes over.

While Twilight director Catherine Hardwicke concentrated on the story and character build-up in her US$30 million film, Chris Weitz's sequel uses its bigger budget to splash on effects and locations - at the expense of elements that really count. In his eagerness to please the franchise's hordes of teenage fans, he has turned New Moon into a softporn for young girls.

THE SKINNY: It is Bella's (Kristen Stewart) 18th birthday and what is supposed to be a celebration at the home of Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) turns into a near disaster. The result of this is that Edward and the Cullens leave town so that their presence would not pose a danger to Bella anymore. Poor Bella is heartbroken, numb and all alone.

No, wait. There's the hunky Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner) who is also in love with her. He is delighted to help Bella refurbish her motorbike and accompany her to the movies. While Bella's frozen heart starts to thaw in the warmth of Jacob's high body temp, she learns the gawdawful truth about her childhood friend! Yes, this sequel brings in the alter ego of the Quileutes in a triangle love tussle for Bella and Edward. Boy, how unlucky can one girl get?

THE REVIEW: I have not read the book, but going by Weitz's rendition, am I to conclude that Edward moves in slow motion, Jake goes about topless in a town that's mostly near freezing temperature and up to now Sheriff Swan (Billy Burke) still has no idea who's causing the brutal murders in Forks? And am I to conclude that Edward has supernatural powers that allows him to keep watch over Bella when she tries to be reckless - but has no idea if she is dead or alive at a crucial moment? And that the 'surprise' ending is supposed to make even bigger hordes of teen pack the cineplexes for the next sequel?

And more than before, New Moon exposes the leads' acting abilities. Stewart goes through the whole movie with just two expressions, and consciously flutters her eyelids for the benefit of her fans. Pattinson, on the other hand, seems to compete with her on who's looking cuter! As for Lautner, I don't suppose the young girls would care how he acts as long as he flexes those biceps, pectorals and abs. I was on the lookout for Dakota Fanning (right) as a European vampiress but her role is so brief and uninteresting, it must have been a walkover for her. And don't get me started on Weitz's direction or his version of how fast the months fly...

THE LOWDOWN: For those who still swoon over the franchise after New Moon, I pray they grow up soon...

'New Moon' Goes Over The Moon at US B-O

NOV 23, 2009 - The Twilight Saga: New Moon scored the third biggest opening weekend of all time at the North American box office last weekend. It earned an estimated US$140.7 million (RM474.93 million) during its first three days of release across the United States and Canada.

The record for an opening weekend is US$158 million set last year by 'The Dark Knight'. The 2007 'Spider-Man 3' follows with US$151 million. New Moon replaced 'Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest' (US$136 million) at No. 3.

Disaster movie '2012', fell to No. 3 with US$26.5 million taking its 10-day haul to US$108.2 million.

Here is the rest of the Top 5 US B-O estimate grosses for Nov 20-22, 2009 weekend, in terms of rank, Movie name (studio), Weekend takings in USD, (Cumulative gross, USD) and week on chart, courtesy of Boxofficemojo.

1. New Moon (Summit) $140.7 million ($140.7 million) 1

2. The Blind Side (Warner Bros.) $34.5 million ($34.5 million) 1

3. 2012 (Sony/Columbia) $26.5 million ($108.2 million) 2

4. Planet 51 (Sony/Columbia) $12.6 million ($12.6 million) 1

5. A Christmas Carol (Buena Vista) $12.2 million ($79.8 million) 3

'New Moon' Shatters One-Day Gross Record

NOV 22, 2009 - The Twilight Saga: New Moon raked in an estimated US$72.7 million (RM252 mil) on about 8,500 screens at 4,024 sites in the US - shattering the record for the biggest one-day gross. The Dark Knight was the previous title holder with US$67.2 million on around 9,300 screens at 4,366 sites.

New Moon's first day more than doubled that of its predecessor Twilight, which debuted at US$36 million on around 6,000 screens at 3,419 sites. Twilight's first weekend wound up at US$69.6 million, which was also less than New Moon's first day.

New Moon's US$72.7 million first day included an estimated US$26.3 million from its midnight opening, which was also a record. The Dark Knight made US$18.5 million on its midnight opening, which means it generated more business after its midnight showings (US$48.7 million) than New Moon did (US$46.4 million). The Dark Knight still holds the record for biggest weekend (Friday-Saturday-Sunday) ever: US$158.4 million. (Courtesy of Boxofficemojo)

NINJA ASSASSIN - Chopsocky & Cheapsocky

NINJA ASSASSIN (action drama)
Cast: Rain, Naomie Harris, Ben Miles, Rick Yune, Sho Kosugi, Guido Foehrweisser, Stephen Marcus, Randall Duk Kim and Sung Kang
Director: James McTeigue
Time: 98 mins
Rating: * * (out of 4)


PREAMBLE: Somewhere after the middle of this movie, someone commented that Rain's character, Raizo (pictured), looks more like a band boy than an assassin. And I laughed out loud because those were my sentiments exactly. The pop singer-turned-actor is just eye-candy here.

Indeed, Ninja Assassin is a dry (despite the presence of Rain), no-brainer of a film aimed at action-flick addicts in need of a fix. It is a chop-socky effort and a cheap-socky one at that.

WHAT'S IT ABOUT? There's this ancient Ozunu clan which had for hundreds of years been killers for hire not only in Japan but throughout the world. Its fee? One hundred pounds of gold! (No wonder they invented suicide bombers).

Raizo (Rain) is a member of the clan who has a change of heart when he witnesses the murder of the girl he loves. While on a job in Berlin, Raizo teams up with Europol agent Mika Coretti (Naomie Harris) to go against the brutal, sadistic clan leader (played by veteran martial arts icon Shu Kosugi) and expose the hired killers.

HITS & MISSES: If you are looking for violent blood-splattered sequences, you get them here. If you want classic Ninja-styled action with flying blades and supernatural stunts, you get them too. Under the direction of James McTeigue, this effort looks like its made from a comic book on 1,000 Ways To Cut Up Your Victim.

However, if you want a decent plot and storyline, sorry, you won't find them here. If you want wit and humour, good acting or even proper dialogue, wrong movie. As the hero, Rain has the charisma of a sourpuss - even if his Raizo is trained to show no emotion at all. Harris, however, supports him well.

THE LOWDOWN: Only if you like bloody brainless flicks.

WEEKEND PIC - Nov 20 - 22, 2009

YOUR GUIDE TO THE WEEKEND MOVIES

NEW THIS WEEK:

a) ASTRO BOY (animated adventure with Freddie Highmore, Kristen Bell, Charlize Theron, Donald Sutherland, Nicholas Cage and Bill Nighy) Rated * * * (3 out of 4): An entertaining adventure involving a 'discarded' robot hero and a villain bent on destroying it. A good balance of light and dark stuff as well as story and action. (Reviewed below)

b) A CHRISTMAS CAROL (animated drama with Tom Hanks, Jim Carrey, Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Bob Hoskins and Jacquie Barnbrook) Rating: * * * (3 stars): The spirit of Dickens and Christmas takes on an exhilarating new look here in this retelling by director Robert Zemeckis done in performance-capture animation similar to his Polar Express.

STILL GOING STRONG:

1. 2012 (Disaster thriller with John Cusack, Amanda Peet, Thandie Newton, Woody Harrelson, Danny Glover, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Oliver Platt and Chin Han) Rated * * * (3 out of 4 stars): Another apocalypse-type movie by demolition guru Roland Emmerich but this time around, he seems to have gotten many things right with this cinematic thrill ride. Edge of the seat CGI action. (Reviewed below)

2. THE TIME TRAVELER'S WIFE (sci-fi rom-com with Eric Bana, Rachel McAdams, Jane McLean, Ron Livingston and Stephen Tobolowsky) Rated * * * (3 stars): A sentimental and intriguing look at a love story that transcends time. Somewhat like the Curious Case of Benjamin Buttons. (Reviewed below)

3. THE FOURTH KIND (horror thriller with Milla Jovovich, Elias Koteas, Will Patton, Hakeem Kae-Kazim, Corey Johnson, Enzo Cilenti, Daphne Alexander and Alisha Seaton) Rated * * 1/2 (2.5 stars): This mock documentary about alien kidnapping' tries to lull the viewer into thinking that it is based on real footage. There are a few scares - before we realise it's all a cheap thrill.

4. RAGING PHOENIX (Thai martial arts flick with Jija Yanin, Kazu Patrick Tang, Nui Sandang and Sompong Lertwimonkasem) Rating * * 1/2 (2.5 out of 4 stars): This female Ong Bak actioner with a touch of Drunken Master and 'capoeira' has superb stunts and fight choreography but a silly, laughable story. Action fans will lap it up, though and that's all it aims for.

5. PHOBIA 2 (Thai horror anthology with Jirayu Laongmanee, Worrawech Danuwong, Chalee Trairat, Nicole Terio and Masha Wattanapanich) Rated * * 1/2 (2.5 stars): The directors who gave us Phobia are back with another bunch of 'scary' tales. They don't start off well but end up nicely with a funny horror-comedy. (Reviewed below)

6. THE BOX (suspense thriller with Cameron Diaz, James Marsden, Frank Langella, Basil Hoffman, Gillian Jacobs, James Rebhorn, Michele Durrett) Rated * * (2 stars): This adaptation from a short story is a long winded affair that is more of an irritant than entertainment. It keeps us in suspense all right but the pay-off is disappointing. (Reviewed below)

7. NINJA (action thriller with Scott Atkins, Tsuyoshi Ihara, Todd Jensen and Miles Anderson) Rating * * (2 stars): A brainless B-grade effort about an American ninja student trying to protect a cache of weapons. Lots of stunts but lacks sense.

ASTRO BOY - Up, Up and Away!

ASTRO BOY (animated adventure)
Cast: Freddie Highmore, Kristen Bell, Charlize Theron, Donald Sutherland, Nicholas Cage, Bill Nighy, Matt Lucas, Samuel L. Jackson and Nathan Lane
Director: David Bowers
Time: 93 mins
Rating: * * * (out of 4)


PREAMBLE: My first impression of Astro Boy was that it smacks of Japanese manga - and thoughts of Spirited Away came to mind. However, when I chanced on its poster and saw the A-list cast, I started to expect something more than just the classic Astro Boy that Tezuka Osamu created in 1952 - as a Japanese version of Pinnochio.

And yup, I was not disappointed.

WHAT'S IT ABOUT? The little hero of the piece is the spiky-haired Toby (voice of Freddie Highmore), a child prodigy who lives in the futuristic Metro City, a robot-serviced utopia orbiting above the Earth. The planet, as we know it, has become a garbage dump, especially for discarded machines.

Toby is accidentally killed during a weapons experiment that his father, Dr Tenma (Nicolas Cage), is conducting for Metro City's President Stone (Donald Sutherland). The grieving Tenma creates an identical-looking android copy using the magical Blue Energy stone, complete with Toby's memories and consciousness (as well as the ability to fly and shoot a cache of missiles from his hands and butt). Soon, however, Tenma is disappointed with his creation and 'discards' it - just like any used machine. Finding himself on Earth, Toby is discovered both by a bunch of abandoned kids as well as a group of rebellious machines. And he becomes Astro Boy!

HITS & MISSES: Like WALL-E, this one should be a hit with both the kids and adults. Its futuristic/apocalyptic tone (which is similar to WALL-E) is nicely balanced with a Fagin-like story involving a sleazy show-promoter named Hamegg (Nathan Lane) who pits fighting robots against one another. The animation is first class - stylish yet reminiscent of 50's Disney-type cartoons. Ultimately, of course, the highlight is the clash between Astro Boy and Stone's Red-Energy Monster-Bot - and this smacks of the action in Transformers.

I like it that Dr Tenma has a dark, selfish side (in rejecting his own creation) and I can overlook some overly-childish elements obviously meant for the younger kids. Also, Astro Boy is not shot in trendy 3-D but no one will be complaining. Thanks to its top-rate cast, it accomplishes what the other manga-originated efforts - like Speed Racer and Dragonball Evolution - could not, like winning over wide audiences.

THE LOWDOWN: Catch Astro Boy if you like WALL-E.

NOTE: This movie is also available in Cantonese (with voices of Aaron Kwok and Ian Iskandar Gouw) in selected cinemas.

'2012' Grips World Weekend B-O with US$225mil

NOV 9, 2009 - It comes as no surprise that disaster flick 2012 rocked the international box-office last weekend, taking an estimated US$225 million (RM759 million). The apocalyptic movie (pictured right) registered the biggest opening for a non-franchise movie, Columbia Pictures reported.

Moviegoers in the United States and Canada chipped in US$65 million while the foreign tally of US$160 million came from 105 countries, led by France with US$17.2 million, Russia with US$15.3 million and Emmerich’s native Germany with $12.4 million. It opens in Japan next weekend. The North American opening of US$65 million is the biggest since Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen launched with US$109 million in June.

2012, which cost about US$200 million to make, uses the Mayan calendar and other end-of-days prophecies to depict the end-of-the-world during a solar meltdown.

Here is the rest of the Top 5 US B-O estimate grosses for Nov 12-15, 2009 weekend, in terms of rank, Movie name (studio), Weekend takings in USD, (Cumulative gross, USD) and week on chart, courtesy of Boxofficemojo.

1. 2012 (Sony/Columbia) $65.0 million ($65.0 million) 1

2. A Christmas Carol (Buena Vista) $22.3 million ($63.3 million) 2

3. The Men Who Stare at Goats (Overture Films) $6.2 million ($23.4 million) 2

4. Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' (Lionsgate) $6.1 million ($8.9 million) 2

5. This Is It (Sony/Columbia) $5.1 million ($68.2 million) 3

THE BOX - They Pushed The Wrong Button

THE BOX (suspense thriller)
Cast: Cameron Diaz, James Marsden, Frank Langella, Basil Hoffman, Gillian Jacobs, James Rebhorn, Michele Durrett, Andria Blackman and Sam Oz Stone
Director: Richard Kelly
Time: 113 mins
Rating: * * (out of 4)

Frank Langella, Cameron Diaz and James Marsden in THE BOX

PREAMBLE: Look, if someone gave me a box with a button on it I would sure as hell press the button just to see what it does. And if that someone were to give me a MILLION BUCKS to press the button, well, so much the better. If some stranger dies
because I hit that button, so what???

WHAT'S IT ABOUT? So when you have a 'suspense thriller' about a middle-class couple in Richmond, Virginia, USA, being given a Box with this sort of deal, where's the mystery or suspense? We know that Arthur Lewis (James Marsden), and his wife, Norma (Cameron Diaz) are gonna hit that button because they need the cash (who doesn't?) and Gawd, in 1976, that's a lot of dough!

And of course there's a catch. When the weird-looking 'benefactor' named Arlington Steward (Frank Langella) comes along with a bag of a million smackeroos, he tells them about the catch - and that's when all hell starts to break loose.

HITS & MISSES: Directed by Richard Kelly (of Donnie Darko fame), The Box is adapted from the short story 'Button, Button' by Richard Matheson, the writer who also gave us the original idea for 'I Am Legend'. However, Kelly, who writes the screenplay, includes lots of twists and turns involving a NASA Mars probe and the NSA (the US National Security Agency) and turns an interesting plot into a gawd-awful mess. Why, Kelly even intimates supernatural or extra-terrestrial powers in a story that is basically about choices - making the right moral decision.

And for a movie set in the 1970s, Kelly has come up with some pretty cool effects - like a block of water levitating over a bed, and Langella's character with half his left cheek gone so that we can see his teeth through a scarred hole. Indeed, this 'spectacle' tends to distract us from the narrative - like I was wondering how the make-up wizards accomplished such a look, or was it CGI?

On the technical side, I like the way the movie's being 'washed' in brownish hues to make it look 'Seventy-ish' and even the fashion. However, Diaz's Southern accent wanders and sounds phony.

THE LOWDOWN: They seem to have pushed the wrong buttons on this one and it blows up in their faces!

WEEKEND PIC - Nov 13 - 15, 2009

YOUR GUIDE TO THE WEEKEND MOVIES

NEW THIS WEEK:

a) 2012 (Disaster thriller with John Cusack, Amanda Peet, Thandie Newton, Woody Harrelson, Danny Glover, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Oliver Platt and Chin Han) Rated * * * (3 out of 4 stars): Another apocalypse-type movie by demolition guru Roland Emmerich but this time around, he seems to have gotten many things right with this cinematic thrill ride. Edge of the seat CGI action. (Reviewed below)

b) THE BOX (suspense thriller with Cameron Diaz, James Marsden, Frank Langella, Basil Hoffman, Gillian Jacobs, James Rebhorn, Michele Durrett) Rated * * (2 stars): This adaptation from a short story is a long winded affair that is more of an irritant than entertainment. It keeps us in suspense all right but the pay-off is disappointing. (Review pending)

STILL GOING STRONG

1. THIS IS IT! (Michael Jackson's concert rehearsals & clips) Rated * * * 1/2 (3.5 stars): This is one of the best pop musical concerts I have seen in a long time and wow, what a show. If these were just rehearsals, I can't imagine what the real thing would be like! Makes me wanna see it again. A must for all music lovers. (Reviewed below)

2. THE TIME TRAVELER'S WIFE (sci-fi rom-com with Eric Bana, Rachel McAdams, Jane McLean, Ron Livingston and Stephen Tobolowsky) Rated * * * (3 stars): A sentimental and intriguing look at a love story that transcends time. Somewhat like the Curious Case of Benjamin Buttons. (Reviewed below)

3. THE FOURTH KIND (horror thriller with Milla Jovovich, Elias Koteas, Will Patton, Hakeem Kae-Kazim, Corey Johnson, Enzo Cilenti, Daphne Alexander and Alisha Seaton) Rated * * 1/2 (2.5 stars): This mock documentary about alien kidnappings tries to lull the viewer into thinking that it is based on real footage and events. There are a few scares - before we realise it's all a cheap thrill.

4. RAGING PHOENIX (Thai martial arts flick with Jija Yanin, Kazu Patrick Tang, Nui Sandang and Sompong Lertwimonkasem) Rating * * 1/2 (2.5 out of 4 stars): This female Ong Bak actioner with a touch of Drunken Master and 'capoeira' has superb stunts and fight choreography but a silly, laughable story. Action fans will lap it up, though, and that's all it aims for.

5. PHOBIA 2 (Thai horror anthology with Jirayu Laongmanee, Worrawech Danuwong, Chalee Trairat, Nicole Terio and Masha Wattanapanich) Rated * * 1/2 (2.5 stars): The directors who gave us Phobia are back with another bunch of 'scary' tales. They don't start off well but end up nicely with a funny horror-comedy. (Reviewed below)

6. NINJA (action thriller with Scott Atkins, Tsuyoshi Ihara, Todd Jensen and Miles Anderson) Rating * * (2 stars): A B-grade effort about an American ninja student trying to protect a cache of weapons. Lots of stunts but lacks sense.

7. JENNIFER'S BODY (horror comedy with Megan Fox, Amanda Seyfried, Johnny Simmons, Adam Brody, J.K. Simmons, Amy Sedaris and Chris Pratt) Rated * 1/2 (1.5 star): It's actually Megan Fox's luscious body that the title refers to here - plus a bit of Seyfried's. Those are the main attractions and not the silly story about how a 'college-evil' girl turns into real man-eating evil. (Reviewed below)

Ekin and Aaron To Hit KL on Dec 1

NOV 12, 2009 - 'Stormy' Wind and Cloud are coming to Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday, December 1.

Nope, this is not a forecast from the Meteorological Dept - but a release from Golden Screen Cinemas announcing the scheduled visits of Aaron Kwok and Cheng Ekin to promote their blockbuster STORM WARRIORS which opens in Malaysia on Dec 10, 2009.


The duo are the male leads of the movie, playing the roles of Wind and Cloud respectively (so forgive the cocky intro above). Also tagging along are the Pang Brothers, Danny and Oxide, the directors of the fantasy sequel adapted from the comic-book by Ma Wing-Shing.

The storyline is about the two warriors (pictured above Ekin and Aaron) going up against a ruthless Japanese warlord intent on invading China. Also in the cast are Charlene Choi, Nicholas Tse, Simon Yam and Patrick Tam.

2012 - Edge-of-the-Seat Thrill Ride

2012 (disaster adventure)
Cast: John Cusack, Amanda Peet, Thandie Newton, Woody Harrelson, Danny Glover, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Oliver Platt and Chin Han
Director: Roland Emmerich
Time: 158 mins
Rating: * * * (out of 4)


PREAMBLE: We were warned: Roland Emmerich's 2012 would be the disaster movie to end all disaster movies. We sneered a bit, but we believed. Emmerich has been vying to be Hollywood's Demolition King since his Independence Day (1996),
Godzilla (1998) and The Day After Tomorrow (2004). Now, with the aid of superior CGI, he seems to have done it.

WHAT'S IT ABOUT? Basically, it is about the Earth melting at the core! The ancient Mayans knew about this and researchers say they have even pinpointed the date to 12-21-12 - or December 21, 2012! Scientifically, though, mutant neutrinos have boiled the Earth's core like a microwave, causing quakes, spilling lava and shifting the Earth's crust. That's right. This means our land mass moves about so violently that we may find Wisconsin right on the South Pole!

A few people are privy to this info about the imminent end of the world. One person who stumbles onto the truth is writer Jackson Curtis (John Cusack) and he goes all out to get his ex-wife (Amanda Peet) and kids (Liam James and Morgan Lily) to safety. The authorities (represented by Danny Glover as the US President, Oliver Platt as the Chief of Staff and Chiwetel Ejiofor as Adrian Helmsley, the American scientist who alerts the White House) must use the time they have to prepare for Doomsday - and a Brave New World!

HITS & MISSES: Well, what can I say about a disaster movie that has all the best bits of all the other disaster hits like Earthquake, Volcano, The Poseidon Adventure, Airport and Armegeddon? The CGI effects look so real and involving that they keep us on the edge of our seats. Those, plus the Indy Jones-type escapades of Cusack's Jackson who always manages to be just inches and split-seconds away from danger and mayhem. Some of these, like the underwater bid to undo a mechanical problem (a'la Poseidon films), may be old stuff but they mainly keep us occupied for the two-and-a-half hour rollercoaster ride!

The subplot about Jackson's family set-up is engaging enough but many of the plot turns and situations are utterly preposterous. However, Emmerich makes it clear that he knows how silly they are - by showing some of them in a tongue-in-cheek manner. It is all a theme park extravaganza - a thrill ride through one spectacle after another. I can imagine the fun Emmerich must be having, demolishing national icons like the White House (for a second time), the Christ statue of Rio and even St Peter's of Vatican City.

THE LOWDOWN: It's no great cerebral fare, but as an End-of-the-World flick, it gets you there!

'Christmas Carol' Tops US Weekend B-O

NOV 9, 2009 - Disney's 'A Christmas Carol' topped the US box-office this weekend with an estimated US$31 million. The movie, starring Jim Carrey and directed by Robert Zemeckis, is starting off rather early in the holiday season but the producers hope the film will play long enough to recoup its huge cost, believed to be more than US$200mil (RM680 million).

Meanwhile, Michael Jackson's concert film This Is It slipped to No. 2 in its second week on US$14m for a US$57.9mil gross. On the international front, however, it is still doing great with the running total hitting an estimated US$128.6mil after two weekends.

Paranormal Activity is poised to make US$100mil and ranks fifth on US$8.6mil for a $97.4mil total after seven weeks.

Here is the rest of the Top 5 US B-O estimate grosses for Nov 6-8, 2009 weekend, in terms of rank, Movie name (studio), Weekend takings in USD, (Cumulative gross, USD) and week on chart, courtesy of Boxofficemojo.

1. A Christmas Carol (Buena Vista) $31.0 million ($31.0 million) 1

2. This Is It (Sony / Columbia) $14.0 million ($57.9 million) 2

3. The Men Who Stare at Goats (Overture) $13.3 million ($13.3mil) 1

4. The Fourth Kind (Universal) $12.5 million ($12.5 million) 1

5. Paranormal Activity (Paramount) $8.6 million ($97.4 million) 7

WEEKEND PIC - Nov 6 - 8, 2009

YOUR GUIDE TO THE WEEKEND MOVIES

NEW THIS WEEK:

a) RAGING PHOENIX (Thai martial arts flick with Jija Yanin, Kazu Patrick Tang, Nui Sandang and Sompong Lertwimonkasem) Rating * * 1/2 (2.5 out of 4 stars): This female Ong Bak actioner with a touch of Drunken Master and 'capoeira' has superb stunts and fight choreography but a silly, laughable story. Action fans will lap it up, though and that's all it aims for.

b) PHOBIA 2 (Thai horror anthology with Jirayu Laongmanee, Worrawech Danuwong, Chalee Trairat, Nicole Terio and Masha Wattanapanich) Rated * * 1/2 (2.5 stars): The directors who gave us Phobia are back with another bunch of 'scary' tales. There are actually five here, ranging from novice monks to film crew capers. They don't start off well but end up nicely with a funny horror-comedy short called In The End. (Reviewed below)


STILL GOING STRONG

1. THIS IS IT! (Michael Jackson's concert rehearsals & clips) Rated * * * 1/2 (3.5 stars): This is one of the best pop musical concerts I have seen in a long time and wow, what a show. If these were just rehearsals, I can't imagine what the real thing would be like! Makes me wanna see it again. A must for all music lovers. (Reviewed below)

2. INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS (war adventure with Brad Pitt, Diane Kruger, Melanie Laurent, Eli Roth, Christoph Waltz, Daniel Bruhl, Samm Levine and Til Schweiger) Rated * * * 1/2 (3.5 out of 4): This is 'Pulp World War 2 History' according to Quentin Tarantino - set in the template of spaghetti westerns. It is at times funny, outrageous and loquacious but entertaining, especially for fans of Tarantino and 'pulp cinema'. (Reviewed below)

3. THE TIME TRAVELER'S WIFE (sci-fi rom-com with Eric Bana, Rachel McAdams, Jane McLean, Ron Livingston and Stephen Tobolowsky) Rated * * * (3 stars): A sentimental and intriguing look at a love story that transcends time. Somewhat like the Curious Case of Benjamin Buttons. (Reviewed below)

4. LAW ABIDING CITIZEN (crime thriller with Jamie Foxx, Gerard Butler, Bruce McGill, Colm Meaney, Leslie Bibb, Michael Irby, Regina Hall and Viola Davis) Rated * * 1/2 (2.5 stars): Director F. Gary Gray's tale of one-man against the city's justice system is far-fetched and whimsical, if at all ingenious. Still, Foxx and Butler make it watchable as they pit their wits against each other. (Reviewed below)

5. NINJA (action thriller with Scott Atkins, Tsuyoshi Ihara, Todd Jensen and Miles Anderson) Rating * * (2 stars): A B-grade effort about an American ninja student trying to protect a cache of weapons. Lots of stunts but lacks sense.

6. JENNIFER'S BODY (horror comedy with Megan Fox, Amanda Seyfried, Johnny Simmons, Adam Brody, J.K. Simmons, Amy Sedaris and Chris Pratt) Rated * 1/2 (1.5 star): It's actually Megan Fox's luscious body on parade here - plus a bit of Seyfried's. Those are the main attractions and not the silly story about how a 'college-evil' girl turns into real evil. (Reviewed below)

PHOBIA 2 - The Best For Last

PHOBIA 2 (horror anthology in Thai)

Cast: Jirayu Laongmanee, Worrawech Danuwong, Chalee Trairat, Nicole Terio and Masha Wattanapanich.
Directors: Songyos Sugmakanan, Banjong Pisanthanakun, Parkpoom Wongpoom, Paween Purikitpanya and Visute Poolvoralaks
Time: 122 mins
Rating: * * 1/2 (out of 4)

A scene from the segment, 'Backpackers', of PHOBIA 2

PREAMBLE: While the original Phobia anthology had four shorts, this sequel of sorts provides one extra that turns out to be the cream of the crop. As for the roll call, they are the works of horror film directors: Banjong Pisanthanakun (Shutter, Alone, 4BIA – In the Middle), Paween Purijitpanya (Body, 4BIA- Tit for Tat), Songyos Sugmakanan (Dorm, Hormones), Parkpoom Wongpoom (Shutter, Alone, 4BIA – Last Fright), and Visute Poolvoralaks the producer of Shutter, Alone, 4BIA, and Coming Soon.

WHAT'S IT ABOUT? Paween Purijitpanya's Novice is about a boy, Pey (Jirayu Raongmanee), who is sent by his mom to hide out in a Buddhist monastery to escape punishment. However, he can hide but he cannot run from his Karma!

'Ward' by Visute Poolvoralaks is about accident victim Arthit (Worrawech Danuwong) who is moved to hospital room that has a dying leader of a religious cult. Of course, we can expect things to go bump in the night.

Songyos Sugmakanan's 'Backpackers' is about a couple of Japanese hitch-hikers getting a nightmare of a ride; while in Salvage (by Parkpoom Wongpoom), a car dealer (Thai-American singer Nicole Theriault) makes her living by refurbishing used cars, sometimes with tainted pasts. One night after closing, she discovers her son is missing!

The closing act, In the End (by Banjong Pisanthanakun who gave us in In The Middle in Phobia), is about four boys filming a horror movie. As they are shooting their last scene, one of the actresses dies mysteriously. Going by the axiom 'the show must go on', they have to make her complete her scene, dead or not.

HITS & MISSES: There seems to have been a great deal of thought put into the line-up of the shorts. Novice, the first, is not frightfully scary but it sets the Phobia mood with its theme about redemption and regret. The middle three are rather weak, with Backpackers resorting to heavily made-up zombies for its scare.

However, the last, In The End, makes up for the flaws of the predecessors. It is a 'hormedy' that pokes fun at thrillers like Alone and Shutter and will have most of its viewers in stitches.

THE LOWDOWN: Technically better than the original Phobia but overall, inferior.

'MJ's This Is It' Tops Weekend B-O Worldwide

OCT 26, 2009 - As predicted, Michael Jackson's This Is It danced its way to the top of the Halloween weekend box-office worldwide, collecting an estimated US$101 million (RM350 million).

This Is It fetched an estimated US$21.3 million in the US over the weekend, grossing US$32.5 million in cumulative box-office since the musical hit cinemas on Wednesday amid overheated expectations of a US$40 million-plus opening through its first five days. With a simultaneous international debut, Sony said it has extended the film's run for three additional weeks in North America and one to three weeks in overseas territories.

Paranormal Activity was second with US$16.5 million while Law Abiding Citizen ranked third with US$7.3 million.

Here is the rest of the Top 5 US B-O estimate grosses for Oct 30-Nov 1, 2009 weekend, in terms of rank, Movie name (studio), Weekend takings in USD, (Cumulative gross, USD) and week on chart, courtesy of Boxofficemojo.

1. Michael Jackson's This Is It (Sony/Columbia) $21.3 million ($32.5 million) 1

2. Paranormal Activity (Paramount) $16.5 million ($84.8 million) 6

3. Law Abiding Citizen (Overture Films) $7.3 million ($51.4 million) 3

4. Couples Retreat (Universal) $6.1 million ($86.7 million) 4

5. Saw VI (Lionsgate) $5.6 million ($22.8 million) 2