Wreck-It Ralph

I have a lot of movies I want to catch up on but for today, I stuck to Wreck-It Ralph. It's always a little awkward when you are the only adult surrounded by other adults who are accompanying their little children. It's as though the rating of this movie says "Children only, adults allowed only if accompanied by children."

An extremely short summary first. It's about Wreck-It Ralph who plays the villian in an arcade game but who really wants to be a good guy. To read more about the plot, please click here. 

Here's the trailer.

The movie was admittedly slow going at the beginning but gained pace towards the middle. Unlike the usual Disney princess productions that we are used to, here's one exploring a pretty innovative theme- life of video game characters. However, the underlying themes remain largely the same, about finding true friends in adversity, self-discovery etc. Another really captivating aspect of this film was the burst of colours, especially in the game Sugar Rush. It might also make some adult viewers feel nostalgic about the arcade games they used to play decades ago!

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Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted

Ever since I watched Madagascar 3, I have been annoying those around me and potentially bursting their ear drums by singing Circus Afro.

I didn't watch the first two installments but I don't think I missed out much because they did some recap here and there to provide the context.

There is a unspoken cardinal rule when watching cartoons: Don't laugh louder than the children. But then again, the cinema is so dark, you probably won't be judged for it later because the other adults wouldn't know where the laughter came from. 

I found the movie rather entertaining. Plot: The animals wanted to get back to New York but stopped at Monte Carlo first so that they could ask the penguins to fly them back to NYC. Because they were spotted in the casino at Monte Carlo, Captain Chantel DuBois was called to deal with the animals and she, ever so zealous, wanted to catch the lion to add to her trophy collection. Through their escapades, they met a bunch of animals from a failing circus. The lion later managed to revive the circus and as usual, a happy ending ensues.

Here's a trailer.

My friend found the movie lame, in the sense that different things are pulled together in a haphazard way then infused with vibrant colours and laughable moments. While it may be quite lame, I didn't get the feeling that I wasted my money at the theatre (it's a feeling I often get by the way). The exaggerated prowess of DuBois was hilarious and even the big bear which didn't speak at all was portrayed in a rather endearing manner. 


I watched it in 2D, because 3D movies give me a headache. But this show is obviously geared towards 3D, especially where the  circus performance starts bursting with a million colours. The soundtracks of this movie are also star studded, with Katy Perry, Edith Piaf and Hans Zimmer. 


Worth a watch I think!

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Hugo

I watched Hugo on the airplane- imagine a small little screen with bad resolution, bad sound system, air turbulence and an elbow poking from the person next to you. Despite all these, I was enthralled by the film. It is obvious that they deserved every single Oscar (bagging five of them is no mean feat).

This movie is best watched 3D and is based on Brian Selznics' novel The Invention of Hugo Cabret. It is about a boy who lost his father in a fire. Prior to that, his father used to take him to the movies and his father particularly loved those of Georges Melies. After the death of Hugo's father, Hugo's uncle takes him away and teaches him to maintain the clocks in a railway station. Meanwhile, Hugo steals mechanical parts to repair a mechanical man which his father particular treasured. From there, the story unfolds.

(photo credit: Wikipedia)

I put off watching this movie for so long but finally watched it on the plane. It seems like a children's movie, with all that whimsical elements. But more than that, it stands for broader themes such as finding hope once again and following your dreams. What stands out the most is the cinematography. It doesn't even take conscious effort to realise why this is deserving of best cinematography.

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The Great Magician 大魔术师

What happens when highly acclaimed actors/actresses come together to make a Chinese New Year film? The Great Magician is precisely that, a movie which combines magic, action, philosophy, traditional and new elements and romance.

Is the film trying to accomplish too much? Perhaps. But did they pull it off? Yes. Although the transition between scenes wasn't smooth all the time, the characters of some actors weren't developed fully (making you think that their role in the movie was redundant), and the movie finished rather awkwardly, this movie fully plays on the potential on the heavyweight actors who have not lost their shine at all in so many decades.

(photo credit: onmovie)

This movie is about a magician who comes back for his fiance, who has been abducted by a warlord. His fiance is unwilling to be with the General, yet she continues to stick by his side, because her father has been thrown in prison. It later turns out to be a love triangle of sorts. For the rest of the plot with twists and turns, you have got to watch the movie itself. No spoilers here!

The movie has a few funny moments and I was actually misled by the thriller itself. The thriller of this show portrays this as a show which is very serious and leaks nothing about its comedic elements. Nonetheless, you can be assured that the movie theatre was roaring with laughter at some moments.

With the stellar cast of Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Lau Ching Wan and Zhou Xun in this movie, complete with the elaborate sets and comedy elements, there's every reason to watch this show! It's like paying for movie ticket to watch a movie and to catch a magic show at the same time! 

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Already Famous 一泡而红

The main reason I watched Already Famous 一泡而红 is because of Michelle Chong's involvement as scriptwriter, producer, director and actress. I always thought that her talents are too understated, and that she's much more than your comic actress impersonating Barbarella or Lulu. I read a few of the media interviews she has given over the years, and she comes across as a deeply intellectual person. 

This is a interview of Michelle Chong by Grace and there's a trailer of the movie in it, in addition to the interview.

This is another interview on Primetime Asia on CNA.

This movie is about a girl, Ah Kiao, from Yong Peng, Malaysia, who harbours dreams of being a star in Singapore and how she works very hard towards it. Along the way, she meets all kinds of people, people who get her into trouble, people who don't honour their promises and people who love her (her grandmother and Ah Seng, acted by popular Taiwanese host Alien Huang).

Michelle Chong does what she is best at in this show- imitating the Malaysian Chinese accent in this show, although it has gathered some unhappiness from across the causeway. Besides that, noteworthy performances include those by Chua Enlai, Ah Kiao's grandmother and the chubby boy (who reminds me of the guy who acted in 小孩不笨）.

It's interesting to draw a parallel between Ah Kiao and Michelle Chong (who sold her condominium to finance the movie) who both work very hard to seek their dreams. In all, if you are a supporter of local productions, if you value talent, if you are looking for some laughs, go catch the show!

p.s. I was fine with everything in this show, minus the soundtrack when Michelle Chong sang 不放弃. It's obvious she's singing it in the capacity of Ah Kiao but it riled me a little as it sounded too many times in the show.

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Johnny English Reborn

I just had to insert this post about how hilarious Johnny English Reborn was and that, if you haven't watched it and need a much needed laugh, this is the show for you!

I'm nothing like a movie critic (or any critic, for that matter). But when there are movies that will make the cinema roar in laughter, clap their hands and slap their thighs- you know you have to watch it. So even if the newspapers or professional movie critics find this show not funny, resist your instincts to trust reviews (excluding mine) and go on and watch it. You just can't believe those jaded cynics all the time.

This show is full of slapstick humour and was entertaining. To quote a friend, "This show was super funny! I felt like my IQ went to rock bottom after the show!" Yes precisely how this show is. But Rowan Atkinson (Mr Bean) remains full of charm and his expressions are PRICELESS. Plus, another person to catch is the vacuum lady. She's a STAR. I can still hear her piercing laughter ringing through the air- freak factor.

At the end of day, I couldn't make sense of some of the stuff that happened in the movie. But what matters is that this show has given a run for my money.

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