In Bruges

In Bruges is a black comedy movie starring Colin Farrell and another-guy-but-I-can’t-remember-his-name. It’s not a new one, dating back several years ago if I remember correctly. The story is about two hitmen who were told to take cover at Bruges, a small town in Belgium, because of a messed up killing. Colin Farrell’s character, Ray, really hates Bruges which is, according to him, a s*ithole while the other guy, Ken, really enjoyed his time there, sightseeing around the town dragging the grumpy Ray with him. It was really funny watching Ray swearing now and again and their boss, Harry was also amusing, what with his love of the F word. Apart from the background of the characters (I’m never comfortable when I have to see prostitutes or drug sellers or anything like it), I really enjoyed the movie (whenever Colin Farrell started to speak in a squeaky voice he always reminded me of a leprechaun ), the plot unfolds very nicely, the characters are great, yet nearing the ending I was anxious because it seemed that the writer and director are of the true-art-is-angsty belief (though the actual ending is open to interpretation). But then again, I guess it’s good in a way, since it teaches you that being bad never pays off in the end.

Solomon Kane

The reviews were the reason I decided to watch this movie. They said only good things about it, saying it was good and blah blah blah. The opening was good (love the mirror scene) though concluded a bit oddly I think. Then came the main part, and the more I watched the more I couldn’t help thinking that even though it’s actually european it resembled hollywood movies more. And from the moment he left the monastery I knew that it’s going to be just another version of Constantine (keanu reeves’ Constantine) albeit the 1600 version. The movie is about Kane trying to redeem himself, escaping hell. Unlike Constantine, he took up pacifism, renouncing violence until at one point he was forced to embrace it again to save a family that had saved his life and then the viewers were presented with (more) fights and uncovering of several (not-so-surprising) secrets. Overall, the story didn’t flow very smoothly and the characters are weak. Basically,  a plot-driven movie. Though considering it’s an action movie, it’s understandable since most people watch action movies for the action not for the story (and I must say that suspense was built well in the movie).

One thing I don’t understand, in the beginning it was said that he was hiding from the devil reaper, carving lots of religious tattoos all over his body, hiding in a monastery so the reaper couldn’t find him. But when he was all-violent again how was it that the reaper still cannot track him down?

LOOOOOOVE MIKA!!

Bought “The Boy Who Knew Too Much” and I have to say it was worth every penny. I really really love it. ^^ The songs are full of energy and when you listen to it you will be too. But this is not for those who don’t like energetic songs. My sister thinks the album is loud and she hates it..

watch out!!

When “Watchmen” was being showed here I don’t know why, but I wanted to watch it so much even though I don’t usually like that kind of movies. But I didn’t have the time (and the money ) that I only got to watch it today (courtesy of ITC kuningan). And I thanked myself for not being able to allocate the money to watch it at XXI. IT WAS AWFUL. ughhh.

The guy playing Dr. Manhattan was trying too hard to be the all-powerful omniscient being that he was supposed to be (and failed badly at it), that stupid long-haired girl was completely useless and the makeup was mediocre at best (Dan has flabby tummy but somehow it was gone whenever he dons his costume). And the story.. ughh don’t get me started on the story. While watching it I can’t help thinking to myself, “what kind of a joke is this?”. Basically the movie was just a parade of special effects that you get tired of halfway (or maybe not even halfway). And it’s 2.5 hours long. Can you imagine sitting in the cinema for 2.5 hours cursing yourself for wasting your money on 2.5 hour-long torture?? I shudder at the mere thought of it. >_<

4 out of 10.

equilibrium.. mmm

Setelah berkali-kali ngubek-ngubek itc kuningan dan gak pernah nemu dvdnya aku berhasil juga nonton Equilibrium setelah di korea.  For those who didn’t know, Equilibrium is a 2002 sci-fi action flick starring Christian Bale. Ceritanya agak -agak mirip Minority Report kurasa (walopun aku tak pernah nonton Minority Report ). Anak mudanya mulanya was a part of the dictatorship but then turned against the government and became the champion of the people instead. Kira-kira begitulah ceritanya. Standar sih but that’s okay, namanya juga film action, what did you expect?  Yang jadi andalan dari film ini ya apalagi kalo bukan actionnya. Actionnya mirip-mirip matrix (lah posternya aja mirip bett) ato dengan kata lain kerennn. Tapi yang sangat disayangkan adalahhh… tamatnya. Hayyah antiklimaks sekali kalo menurutku, soalnya kok kayaknya gampang kali selesainya…?? Tapi pas baca-baca di internet ada juga yang bilang tamatnya “a brilliant climax”.   Kesimpulannya, equilibrium pas untuk kalo mo refreshing dan lagi malas mikir berhubung nontonnya gak pake mikir dan actionnya cukup menghibur. 

tobaatt.. gak bakal lagi aku nonton narnia

Just finished watching Prince Caspian (I know, I know, it’s an old movie but I haven’t written a movie review for a long time so there). The first half was surprisingly good. Compared to the first movie you might even say it’s very good. But the second half.. well.. it just seemed to me as if they’ve spent all their energy for the first half and by the time of the second half they’re out of steam. I mean, Peter is a High King for God’s sake. How could a High King let himself be distracted in the middle of a battle..!! The battle was not going in their favor so he was desperately looking for Lucy to save the day…?? Come ON!! And Caspian  was getting more and more annoying up to the end of the movie.

Sebetulnya filmnya lumayan sih. Lumayan lah untuk mengisi waktu. I’d say 7 out of 10. Eh ato 6 ya?  

The Dark Knight

The dark knight = kereeeeennn!!! Great movie An exhilarating fast-paced action movie. Another one of those rare movies where I didn’t glance at my watch in the first 15 minutes I walked into the cinema expecting just another run-of-the-mill action movie and boy, was I in for a surprise. And a very pleasant surprise it was I didn’t expect too much since the first movie was just so-so to me. But this one exceeded my expectations and showed that Hollywood can still dish out a great movie every now and then. Christian Bale IS Bruce Wayne. You cannot picture anyone else playing that role (George Clooney, anyone?). Heath Ledger acting was superb. He made the psychotic Joker a believable real-life character. Joker is no longer just another villain from a comic.
Another thing that I love from the movie is the setting. All the previous movies were shot mostly at dark. Since Gotham has always been described kind of like a city in eternal night. But Gotham in “The Dark Knight” was different. Just like real cities, it has day and night. In short, Christopher Nolan has turned Gotham from just a fictional city in a comic into a city so realistic you’d think it actually exists in reality. That Batman lives there. And I mean he LIVES there. He doesn’t just happen to live in a city named Gotham. That the action could take place anywhere. No, with this movie you could never imagine Batman is from a city named XX (write in any name you want here).
However, one thing to keep in mind, DO NOT LET CHILDREN WATCH THE MOVIE. The violence was a bit, well, above (or below?) average. I actually grimaced at several scenes though I’m usually not disturbed by violent scenes (or is it because I’m getting old?? )
Bottom line, it’s a great movie. Even if you weren’t interested in it, give it a chance. VERY satisfying. I’d say 9 out of 10

Death by Chocolate (yeah, right)

Death by chocolate is a cafe in PIM 2 specializing (so they claim) in chocolate. If chocolate is what they specialize in, I shudder when I think of how the non-chocolate products might taste (brrr). I mean, do they seriously think anyone will like those so-called “food”? And what’s with the name? The food is so good that you’d die?? Not a chance. If there’s anything in that cafe that can kill you, it will be the boring, definitely not cozy nor hip, atmosphere. And it’s also very, and I repeat, very, expensive. A slice of chocolate cake costs 40K and it doesn’t even taste decent!! (Actually, I’m exaggerating here, the chocolate sauce is actually okay.) But overall, another expensive-yet-definitely-not-worth-your-money cafe. I suggest you stay away from this one.

NEVUH. EVUH. EAT AT CHOPSTIX!!

ever heard of chopstix? if you haven’t, then good. it means you’ve never eaten there. and you better stay away from it!! FYI, chopstix is a restaurant. supposed to be chinese cooking i guess. only three words to describe it. the. food. sucks. oh, two more words. big. time. it doesn’t taste good at all. and it’s expensive. the price seems even more outrageously expensive when you consider the taste. bleaagghh >_<

if after reading this, you still insist on going. well…

note: maybe i’m being a little bit unfair here. maybe i just happened to order the worst food there. so, for those of you actually wanting to go there after reading this, then don’t order the black pepper beef. be it with  fried rice or just white rice. those two are what made me write this.

Stardust: a refreshing movie :)

Huhuhuu aku lagi senaangg after a long long time I finally watch a good movie. watching the movie reminded me how a good movie would make you feel afterwards. It would make you feel satisfied and refreshed the moment you got up from your seat instead of grumbling and trying to forget about the fact that you’ve just wasted your money and time. Watching Stardust last night also reminded me that I haven’t watched a good movie for a long long time. And that made me wonder. Is it only because Hollywood has a serious shortage of good movies? Or is it me getting older and more critical at every movie that I watch?

For me, myself, my own parameter of a good movie lies in the first 15 minutes. Any movie that I don’t think as good, would make me look at my watch during the first 15 minutes. And then I would groan “oh no, there’s still more than one hour left”

Eh kok jadi gak ceritain Stardust ya? hahaa. Pokoknya kalo Stardust mah cuman tiga kata lah. Go watch it!!