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Po · Dei Juk (2024)
The Last Dance
A Hong Kong movie for the people of Hong Kong, it's been a while since the last time I've seen something like this. And the result shows. A testament that movies should be based on quality and not for the wider market only then can you create something that truly transcends to everyone. The Last Dance delves into an ancient tradition of the Canton people, and looks at how something like this affects the society of today. And by looking at the deceased, can we truly appreciate the living. A wonderfully created, dynamic film that has more to do with emotions, families than the topic itself and the box office is its best testament. Perhaps more impressive is the immaculate cinematography, it's so picturesque yet soaked in tradition and culture.
We Bought a Zoo (2011)
We Bought a Zoo
Such a heartwarming story to revisit after all these years. Matt Damon's acting shines through the film in this family tear jerker that has everything you would want in a film like this one. Behind the story of a family who purchases a zoo to restart their life, the story is much more about courage, the courage to act, the courage for adventures and the courage to make changes in one's life. It's just such a great Dad film that adds an extra layer for myself, and adds an entirely different perspective from when I watched it as a teenager. Just an overall great movie for the kids and adults alike.
101 Dalmatians (1996)
101 Dalmatians
The 1996 101 Dalmatians has its moments. It has a romantic backdrop with pleasant characters and one of cinema's most iconic and memorable villain of all time. This character dynamic works fine, but the majority of the film feels like a Home Alone movie. The dogs alone simply could not take on the entire load of the film, and the momentum fizzles out as the movie progresses. The abundance of slapstick scenes cheapens what the film represents, a love story between people and dogs. The cast, from the protagonist, to Cruella, and the two dummies however are flawless and as a whole much more memorable than the dogs.
The Wild Robot (2024)
The Wild Robot
Quite simply, a masterpiece. Everything about The Wild Robot, from the setting, to the characters to the overall development is impeccable for me. A truly powerful movie that made the whole theater sob, adults and children alike. And this is the magic of it, it is able to create emotional linkage between people of all age, it's so easy to latch on to these delightful characters. It is so simple, yet it touches on so many deeper topics, like parenthood, love and responsibility. I do feel like the movie could have used a little more budget, perhaps on marketing or the overall art. It just didn't seem to have the same kind of dollar backing as other similar films have.
Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021)
Ghostbusters: Afterlife
I think they got the most important thing right, they got a wonderful group of characters and kids to take the franchise forward. The plot is by no means special, but it got the job done, linking the old with the new. The ghosts are also meh, and feels a little blend with the focus solely on the people and not enough on the paranormal. In all, the film has all the elements expected from a Ghostbuster film including the vibe and laughs, but going forward the bar needs to be set higher or this might be the end of this storied franchise. Also, considering the underwhelming story, I have no clue how this was what Bill Murray finally agreed on. The tribute at the end was very well done.
Alien: Romulus (2024)
Alien: Romulus
Alien: Romulus fails to build on the World that was built in Prometheus. The film has no storyline, but a bunch of jump scares and scenes that are simply grotesque but does nothing in the grander scheme of things. It relies on old gags and dated one line phrases, and the other characters don't have anything interesting to say. Outside of the last little bit, the movie will have a hard time surviving in my memory, and even that is simply because of how gross it is. So much of the film is featured in this monotonous setting with no interesting back history or music to push it any further. I have to say I'm a little dumbfounded by the immense interest it is getting in the Chinese market.
Nope (2022)
Nope
To be honest, I'm not exactly sure what I watched. It kinda feels like I was fed a really expensive meal, but something that is probably out of my league. Perhaps Peele was trying to touch on so many nodes that some of them got lost along the way, but nevertheless Nope is a really interesting film that is well shot and undoubtedly memorable. So creative in its own right, Peele always thinks outside the box, and Nope is no exceptions, I just wished I was able to take more away from it. Also, the thing about the eyes with the alien, not sure if it was explained at all, but didn't really make sense to me.
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014)
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
The second entry in the Planet of the Apes story arc is one that is not as original as the first. It much relies on the likes of classics such as The Lion King among others to create a story that is full of conflict and emotions, but yet feels unoriginal. Where the series truly shines is in its comparisons of apes with humans. It is one analogy that is so often used, but works so well in these epics. The film is also a lesson about leadership, and Caesar is perhaps one of the most iconic leaders in cinematic history. The acting simply can't go wrong with a powerful cast featuring Gary Oldman and Keri Russell, but yet somehow, Caesar still outshines them all.
Young Woman and the Sea (2024)
Young Woman and the Sea
A great film that feels overshadowed by what it tries to do socially. It is a film about human courage, bravery and the power of fighting against all odds despite being at a very disadvantageous position. Seems like we are getting less and less of these films, which is a massive pity as these are the easiest ones to get one inspired. Watched this at the office with colleagues and everyone left inspired. Although there are alterations to reality in the film, but it doesn't take anything away from the story and that one scene in the water towards the end is a truly memorable one. Great film, worth watching.
Inside Out 2 (2024)
Inside Out 2
Pixar is back! Inside Out 2 is the best movie that we've seen from the studio in quite a while, and hopefully a statement of things to come. The second entry of the series in my eye is a much stronger, polished film than the first. It takes the audience away from a sometime monotonous feeling setting with the introduction of fitting new characters and new areas. What's most impressive about the film is how it really dives into the minds of a teenager, and is expressed in a manner that is both relatable and emotional. Disney and Pixar's effort to simplify things and just focus on the story seems to be on the right track with this one...
Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Rewatching Rise of the Planet of the Apes more than a decade later I am still amazed at how great of a film it is. The film has everything that you could want from such a film. The origin story, to Caesar's development and later the conflicts and his rise in stature within the group, it is fascinating to see his character development. The biggest weakness of the film is all the scenes associated with the lab as everything seems rushed and not carefully thought through. The visual and overall look and feel of the film does not seem outdated whatsoever, so would even argue it is better than many contemporary films.
Dune: Part Two (2024)
Dune: Part Two
What an epic. Textbook perfect of how a modern day sci-fi should be made. Every scene feels impactful and is a work of art. The politics, character development and cinematography all goes beyond what you expect from a science fiction film, and shows the path of how movies like Star Wars ought to be. Timothee and Zendaya's performance are also top notch. While the first film was a work of art, the second film is the real progression and heart of the film and deserves to be watched in IMAX or better only. The only gripe I have is there are a couple scenes where I am confused by Paul's motivation and his sudden change of heart, I felt that needed further explaining.
Zhou chu chu san hai (2023)
The Pig, Snake and Pigeon
An award-winning performance from Ethan Juan that is deserving of all the accolades he has received for this film. The Pig, Snake and Pigeon is a thought provoking film that is daring in both its topic and film making. Three seemingly irrelevant parts glued together by one single premise, and you can see Chen's personal growth, development, hope and despair in each. The emotional value of the film predominantly comes from its very strong cast and their acting. If you dissect the story itself it is a rather simple and not so ground breaking story. Nevertheless, I am glad it made its way into Mainland China, which has become a breath of fresh air for a much needed market.
Dune: Part One (2021)
Dune: Part One
A little overwhelming at the beginning with all the different factions and names, but as the story progresses you realize why it is important to spend 2.5 hours to set up the story. Dune: Part One does a brilliant job at bringing audience up the pace with the brilliant world created. For a full length movie that is clearly only the appetizer for what's to come, you don't really feel like it much of a drag because all the ancillary stuff is so well constructed and meticulously thought out. The music, sound and cinematography are all top-notch. Now I simply cannot wait to watch the second installment on an IMAX screen.
Influencer (2022)
Influencer
Not often do I have the time nor chance to watch an independent film, but I have to admit it is quite admirable to see a film like influencer made. Right off the bat, the film is relatable to people of this generation and does raise some questions regarding how we view things through different lenses. You can also tell the team behind the film must have really tried to make this film good. But it doesn't really excuse the film itself to be rather "primitive". Character motives and some of the plot lines are questionable, and the story lacks real depth or meaning. At the end, it is an interesting watch at times, but completely forgettable.
Migration (2023)
Migration
A perfect movie to welcome my newly expanded family member. While Migration seems to be a movie about adventures and getting out of one's comfort zone, at its heart, at least to me, is about family values and the importance of sticking together as one. The movie truly has everything you would want out of an animation of this sort, cute characters, decent laughs, a memorable villain, making it a simple holiday movie for kids. But at the end of the day, the film is handicapped by it's subject matter, and doesn't break into the realm of animation masterpieces. I also suspect there will not be any followups as the character designs are still rather mundane.
Guan yu wo han gui bian cheng jia ren de na jian shi (2022)
Marry My Dead Body
Taiwanese films have been making these Chinese supernatural inspired movies and I absolutely love them. However, Marry my Dead Body is not the best execution of one as it is bogged down by inconsistent story writing, rather boring quotes and stuck up on a lot of the motifs. Nevertheless, the film carries some interesting themes that is bound to connect with young people of today and adds spice to the overall film. Overall, a cheap flick that is great for killing time, but nothing more than that. Perhaps more supernatural/scarier scenes would do the film some good, otherwise the movie is a clear downgrade from Yue Lao (Till We Meet Again)
Gone Girl (2014)
Gone Girl
As someone who has read the book, the twists and turns are not the highlight of the film. The story simply feels more suited for the book than on the big screen. In the movie adaptation the focus turns to things around the mystery, the media portrayal, the friendships and the meaning of marriage. Ben Affleck delivers one of his stronger performance here, and the overall movie making of the film feels very good. If I remember correctly, the film also features a different ending, and this is one of the better, more interesting endings in a mystery I've seen in a while. Perhaps I should go back and read the book again sometime.
Jin shou zhi (2023)
The Goldfinger
There's a Chinese saying called tiger head, snake tail, which perfectly describes the film. The Goldfinger starts with a bang with over the top scenes that harkens back to the heydays of HK cinema. But as the story progresses, you realize how thin of a plot the movie has. The film fails to develop further on what is a very interesting rivalry between Tony Leung and Andy Lau, even worse if you consider how much of a classic The Departed was. In the end, the film is too "business-oriented" and not driven by its story enough. To make matters worse, the ending feels like something to appease movie authorities.
Inside Out (2015)
Inside Out
Quite bittersweet to be watching this in 2024 for the first time. Inside Out is a typical Disney film that the studio used to churn out on a consistent basis. Funny, wholesome and most importantly, empathetic. Yet these are qualities that have seemed to disappeared in the past couple years. It is so easy to empathize with Riley as all of us feel the same emotions everyday, and developing a story with the 5 emotions is such a joyful ride that harkens to other Disney blockbusters. For me personally, this is more like a typical Disney film that I can enjoy with the kids, but it's not as emotionally powerful as my other favorites.
Yi qi (2023)
Eye of the Storm
Eye of the Storm tells the emotional effect that an infectious disease can have on the ones who are at the forefront of the battle. I can see how the film tries to portray different personalities and how they each sacrifice for the greater good, but it just feels flat. It tries to paint this canvass with all these different colors but nothing really jumps out. There is also not a whole lot of story going on here, and it doesn't have a satisfactory closure at the end. Audience is thrown around in each character's emotional struggle during the pandemic but it is hard to latch onto anyone specifically.
Leave the World Behind (2023)
Leave the World Behind
Really a bit of a mess, a pretty straight forward plot that tries so hard to mean and be something more in this modern society to the point where everything just feels so deliberate. I get it, how people nowadays are so addicted to their phones and reliant on the internet, like the book, Amusing Ourselves to Death, but it does take away from he movie itself. The the World Behind has a star studded cast that feels poorly utilized and supporting actors, mostly kids who are just very green and uninspiring. Yet, there is still enough intrigue to keep the story alive and for us to be excited about the next entry.
Wish (2023)
Wish
Exceeded my expectation a little bit considering the overwhelmingly poor sentiment from all around me. Wish as a movie has a plot that is fitting to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Disney, an easy, cookie-cutter Disney-esque animation. The story is also more geared towards slightly more mature audience, so I'm sure it loses the focus of younger demographic. Nevertheless, the story was more inspiring than many other recent Disney films as it showcases simple human triumph and the will to defeat evil at all cost. In some ways, it is a reversal of many other animations where the premise far exceeds the quality of the film itself, in this case the story is just better than everything else. Case in point, the character design, costumes and setting of the city may be the worst I've ever seen in any Disney films, it was completely forgettable.
PS: the Disney short in the beginning was amazing.
Us (2019)
Us
Us has a great premise to the film but executed poorly, mostly through jump scares and at times feels like a cheaply made horror film featuring some good guys fighting off bad guys. So much more could have been told about the idea, but unfortunately that is only done in the last 10 minutes or so. Even the comedy that is supposedly Peele's calling card is very weak and is very much overshadowed by the horror side of the film. I can also see some of the metaphors that the creators are trying to get at, but at the end of the day those are a little farfetched and at the end felt like out of their grasp. The film is simply too disturbing and unsettling to be likable.
Oppenheimer (2023)
Oppenheimer
Flawless. Oppenheimer is an autobiography film that is significant, complex and gripping, three words seldom associated with an autobiography. Although I cannot tell whether if the real character is as nuanced as the one in the film, the one depicted in the film is such a fantastic character that is so relatable. Oppenheimer touches on so many subjects, and enters the psyches of each character so effortlessly, adding new layers to the film through every dialogue, every frame and every character. At last, the story of the Manhattan Project needed to be told cinematically, and I am ever so glad it is told via Nolan's lenses.