Max Payne

Chow Yuen Fatt introduced the jump-sideways-and-shoot-with-a-gun-in-each-hands-in-slow-motion to Hollywood, and everybody says it was cool, if not over-the-top.

The Matrix introduced bullet time, and every other movie tries to use it every now and then.

Then Max Payne (the game) enables users to (sort of) experience both Chow Yuen Fatt skills and Bullet Time in a game environment. Not only that, it also includes a decent storyline, and graphic novel-like storytelling.

But it must be so wrong when I was eager for a bullet time scene in Max Payne (the movie) to end, since it was so slow and agonizing. I can't remember much of the story (mind you, I just watch it less than a week ago), not to mention the scenes. Characters are forgettable, mainly because I just have no interest in the movie anymore.

The story follows the titular character (played by Mark Wahlberg) in the quest of finding the killer of his wife and child. That's all I can tell about this movie, as the rest, is just efforts by the director and the scriptwriter to fill in the blanks for about 2 hours.

On contrary of what many people criticised, I agreed upon the casting of Mark Wahlberg as Max, since he is exactly like how it was potrayed in the game - with no facial expression whatsoever. Just like Keanu in the Matrix, this kind of acting is actually well suited to the character, regardles of the fact that the expression shown is the only expression these two 'actors' know how to do best.

Scenery are in most part, in line with the game, with the neo-noir look. Snow plays a crucial part in the set, since it sets the mood, and like in most neo-noir movies, colors the scene with contrast. The movie would be more interesting if done in still shots and speech bubbles. At least I have less reason to sleep through it.

All in all, this movie is not worth watching in the movies. Do not watch if you haven't play the game, or not interested to, unless if you have insomnia, then you'll be cured in an instant. If you're a fan of the game, stay even farther, or else you'll find yourself in front of the director's house (John Moore), threating to stab him with a spoon.

If you still want to watch it, wait until Speedy Videos have them on a bundle rack with clearance discount.

2/5 stars

Disturbia

After writing the review for Eagle Eye, I realised that I missed the movie that showed Shia LeBeouf the door to international stardom. I won't get into details, since this is a 2007 movie.

Disturbia is a simple movie about a simple boy who lost his father in a freak accident, thus causing him to lose track of his life. After a year, he was still traumatised by the incident, that he punched a teacher just by the mention of his father. That, caused him to be in house arrest and so the main plot device is set.

The movie is a so-so movie. Nothing extravagant. even Shia's acting, if not because of his other movies, wouldn't leave any mark in my memory, except for 1 scene.

Among the first plot device - the death of his father in a freak accident - was made in a way that viewers can and most probably will be affected by it. It was so sudden, right when everything was so sweet and nice, showed the gruesomeness of accidents, and why people are affected by it.

Others, weren't anything special. But then it's in a good way. Nothing extravagant, nor out of the ordinary, making it more believable.

I won't rate this movie or anything. Just that I need to mention how traumatised I am by that scene. Worth the watch, definitely.

I Have A Question...

Recently the National Fatwa Council issued a fatwa banning all Muslim women from wearing manly clothing (and maybe vice versa, but I', not sure). The question is, is there any globally agreed guidelines of how dressing up as a certain gender is like?

I mean, if wearing an earing is considered as womanly, how about those cultures which regards wearing it in a certain way as manly? (I've heard that earrings have been explicitly mentioned in Hadith and/or Quran, but then again, I'm asking for clarifications here)

How about wearing skirts? Scottish wear them and call them kilts. Indians wear a kind of long skirt worn with the dhoti, and the chinese wear them with samfu (please, correct me if I'm wrong). Malays, who by definition are Muslim, have Kain Pelikat and Kain Batik (Kain Batik is worn mainly by women, but also by men in rural areas and especially the Javanese). In fact, the Turks wore some kind of long skirt.

My question comes from this scenario: If i were to wear a kilt, but cover my aurat with a long stocking or the black knee-length tight that Muslim men wear when playing sports (under the shorts), am I against the fatwa, or even, Islam?

Cost and Effect

Before the 80sen petrol price hike, was the 30sen price hike, where the Government promised to use the 4 billion shaved off from subsidy to improve public transports.

Now we have busses with faux leather seats, TV, and less seats and more place to stand. The same goes to the Komuter, which have several new or refurbished coaches with more standing space, and cheaper less seats but in smaller amount. I know, I counted.

Come June this year, there was a 78sen hike, and this gave the Government RM 13.7 billion savings shaved off from the subsidy. However, in the subsequent months, global petrol prices plummeted to almost half from it's highest point. Locally, there have been 3 price cuts and a fourth one in the pipeline.

So with the 13.7 billion savings reducing and being at the dawn of an economic recession, what can the Authority do to fulfil their promise?

They painted the line and call it some weird name. The people who gave the idea should get a Datukship. Hey, a gardener was knighted in England before, for suggesting the Crystal Palace to be made as a greenhouse, so why not pop stars and the fella behind this Q-line?

p/s: I however want to thank the Selangor Govt for discounting our water bill, whereas some would even be 'paid' to use water.

Eagle Eye

After 4 failed attempts of getting a movie buddy to watch this movie, I resorted to watch it alone.

In my office attire.

And lugging my office brick laptop along.

This movie will go down in my bad memories movie list, together with Die Hard 4.0.

Okay, enough about me. This movie is a very tiring movie, with ever moving camera angles and all. Action packed, fast paced, and in fact, a little too fast if you ask me. 

Story wise, it reminds me of a lot of other movies. First and foremost, Enemy of the State, then along the way, I, Robot (wow, both stars Will Smith!). Some scenes unintendedly reminds me of X-Men (All Aria scenes) and at times, Transformers (well, all criss-crossing fly-overs reminds me of the Optimus-Bonecrusher fight. and oh, because of Shia too).

It's about Jerry Shaw (Shia LaBeouf), after the death of his talented twin brother, got into trouble after finding weapons in his apartment, and a woman calling him and giving orders. He's not alone. Rachel Holloman (Michelle Monaghan) was also roped into the chaos, when the same woman threatens to derail the very train her son was in.

But that's just the beginning. They were ushered by the voice to do stuff that doesn't seem to make sense to them. The woman is all watching, and aiding them in ways that reminds me of The Matrix (didn't I tell you it reminds me of a lot of other movies).

Over time, they learn of who this mysterious woman is, and what exactly, did she want.

Although this is an entertaining movie, if you can stomach fast cuts and drunk cameramen. But it's a pity that such strong premise is flawed by aesthetic. In order to make the movie understandable to non-nerds, futuristic visual were often used, and that was what pushing me away from believing such realism.

I've seen Shia in 3 characters now, and he seems to be different in all. Although he may have youth in his face (pairing him with Michelle Monaghan makes him like a younger brother and the last scene is very awkward for me), he has a lot of acting in him. No wonder Spielberg loves him so much. Kind of like Leonardo DiCaprio, in some of his movies (compare Titanic, Catch Me If You Can, The Aviator, Blood Diamond, to name a few, although many of DiCaprio's role are actual characters).

That seems to be my main focus in this movie, because for the other part, I can't relate to it, like I said, because of the flashy visual effects. Believe me, that is not the way to go, when everybody knows nowadays how an Operating System like Windows or Mac OS looks like.

Actions, are almost non-stop. Crazy actions, that is. Car chases were done craftily, and so are those on foot. All to just do one thing, and all because of one entity. This is one hell of a ride.

My last grudge, is amazingly, Billy Bob Thornton. I just can't see him being a tough cop. Sometimes, he even looked scared and unsure! Although, in Eagle Eye, he was kind of pushed around by tougher persons, both men and women. I guess that is how his character is supposed to be? He looked more like a concerned father, than someone who'd be sent to interrogate a terrorist suspect. As the 'good cop', maybe so.

I know this review is not like what it's supposed to be, since I keep relating scenes, with their 'twins' in other movies. Not to mention I can't really reveal spoiler  (not that you haven't watch it before, right?).But then, it's a movie worth the ticket. Not to mention the popcorn you'd fail to finish because you're can't miss all the action.

3.5 / 5 stars.

Don't Play Play!

Karpal Singh has been banned from the Dewan Rakyat for two days for implying that the Speaker was playing a fool.

Just when I thought the news has lost it's attraction due to the abundance of " <state> MP nominates <another> " in my RSS radar.

p/s: The news also reports about the man who died after his motorcycle was hit by a lorry who then fled the scene. I passed through the scene when the man was still lying on the road, roughly 15 minutes before he died. Ambulance came only 1 and a half hour later. Actually, no less than 3 ambulance came, but too late. One of them was aiding another patient, but what of the others?

Follow The Leader

Some Iraqis, both Sunnis and Shiites are missing Saddams iron clawed ruling, which to them are better than the weak leadership they have now. They are weary of the uncertainties of life, even though it offers more possibilities and chances of living a better life.

Sounds eerily familiar, doesn't it?

The House Bunnies

I had very low expectation for this movie. The only reason I went to watch it at the cinema was because my colleagues want to watch movies, and the other choice is Mamma Mia!

The trailer reminds me of Legally Blonde, and Anna Faris looked horrible in it. She somehow reminds me of Pamela Anderson or Jennier Coolidge. I just hope that her rubbery cheeks in this movie is just make up, cause her face is one of those I prefer to look at in Hollywood movies.

The movie is about Shelly, a Playmate Bunny in the Playboy Mansion. She had just turned 27, and ousted from the Mansion for being too old. Being homeless and inapt to survive in the real world, she seeks refuge as a House Mother in the Zeta Theta Alpha Sorority House.

The Zeta House is not your ordinary sorority house. Somehow, the only 'girls' to pledge to this house are geeks, nerds, and weirdos. The 7 girls ranges from geeky, hide-in-the-closet shy, wearing full body braces to being very pregnant. Even the boys across the street try not to stare at them.

This becomes a problem when they have not enough pledges (or members). The rules requires them to have at least 30 more pledges or they will lose their charter to the prestigious but pretentious Phi Iota Mu.

I admit, this movie have it's moments, where I suddenly have admiration to the scriptwriters, but for the most part, it is entirely predictable, and dangerously shallow. Playmate Bunnies should feel insulted, if not for the scenes where Shelly rationalizes her silly remarks, and silences insults thrown at her.

The rest of the time, my friends oogled at their make up and dresses, and laughs at their silly antics (Mind you, I was with 2 girls so their oogling are strictly to the styles). For me, 2 hours of scantily clad women is just too much. The similarities to other movies doesn't help. And the worst of all, is Anna Faris looking like she injected Botox into her cheek. Either that or she took too much lemang during Raya. Oh wait, maybe cookies.

This is a light movie, and don't expect too much brains from it, so you'll be pleasantly surprised. Expect silly antics, slapsticks, and transformation from ultra weird to ultra hot. Not to forget nipple pinch and breast slaps. And if you're into Playboy that much, then this movie is for you. Oh, and don't expect anymore flesh than what a 2 piece bikini can reveal, and only the pair of nipples are male, by the way.

2 out of 5 Stars

Oh, And Hefner, surrounded by Bunnies doesn't make you a good actor, at all. But you still have the Mansion, and the Bunnies, and for that, you're my hero...