Leap With Me

I caught this local production with Ann today. I guess I was prepared for the potential torrent of tears because as Gary said, I had too much bottled up emotions inside me. And indeed, I’ve never cried harder at any other movie before.

I guess the idea of love found and lost is simply too hard to bear.

It really is.

==========================

The Leap Years

Starring: LiLin Wong, Ananda Mathew Everingham, Ananda Everingham, Joan Chen

Directed By: Jean Yeo

Released By: 29th February 2008

Run Time: 103 mins.

Genre: Drama

Based on a novella by acclaimed writer Catherine Lim, the story is about Li-Ann, a young Singaporean girl who meets her ’special someone’ on 29 February. She decides to base her intuition on an Irish leap year tradition that no man will refuse any request of a lady and invites him out for a date. Together, they embark on a romantic journey that spans over 12 years, meeting only thrice in 12 years, on the leap year.

I always think that local production wouldn’t be able to interest me much, unless it’s a Jack Neo production but director Jean Yeo has definitely shown she has also that magical touch too. It’s refreshing to see a romantic Singapore-made film that managed to deliver. The show revolts between the past and present, with flashback, taking us back to when Li Ann was coming to struggle life w/o her love and pining all her hopes on her birthday,just to meet the man of her dreams. Li Ann (Wong Li Lin) was born on 29th Feb and she asked Jeremy (Ananda Matthew)out on her birthday. Jeremy agrees and after that 1st date, they made a pact to meet every Feb 29th and so for the nxt 12 yrs, both meet 3 times and each time, a very diff experience yet familiar feeling is felt. On the 3rd meeting, something magically happened… The Ending was quite a slip shod but the whole storyline was crafted beautifully and I would have to say it’s worth seeing, esp with your love ones.

Movie Review (A)

There’s always 2 sides to a story.

It’s scary when you realise, how different 2 versions of the same story can be.

And the truth is always somewhere in between.

**********************
Jumper

Starring: Rachel Bilson, Samuel L Jackson, Hayden Christensen, Diane Lane, Jamie Bell

Directed By: Doug Liman, David Carradine

Released By: 14th February 2008

Run Time: 88 mins.

Genre: Thriller

David Rice is a “Jumper”, a teleporter, who can go anywhere, anytime. He can see 20 sunsets in one day, whisk his girlfriend across the world in the blink of an eye and grab millions of dollars in minutes. However, his life takes a sharp turn when he finds himself pursued by a secret organisation sworn to kill Jumpers. Forming an uneasy alliance with another young Jumper, David enters a war that has been raging for thousands of years. Chased around the world, he discovers a stunning truth about his own past and his family. From the American Midwest to the streets of Tokyo and the ruins of Rome, David’s global odyssey is the first chapter in an epic adventure.

This movie suffers the same fate of winter/spring movies that are featured this year- promising publicity, disappointing quality. It got me lost, totally lost, when the movie ended. Seemed like the director is rushing in the production (Budget constraint? Rushing to meet the release date? Or another victim of the writers’ strike?) It had a pretty dull start, but as jumper learned his abilities well, thats where the fun begins. And shortly after that, it ends. As if the movie “jumped” to the end. And its not a good ending either- too many loose ends that are not tied up….. This movie better have a sequel, or it may well be branded as a money-making ploy by the 20th Century Fox.

Movie Review (B-)

The Kite Runner

Starring: Shaun Toub, Khalid Abdalla, Nasser Memarzia, Said Taghmaoui, Atossa Leoni

Directed By: Marc Forster, Jean-Jacques Mantello

Released By: 31st January 2008

Run Time: 122 mins.

Genre: Drama

In a divided country on the verge of war, two childhood friends, Amir and Hassan, are about to be torn apart forever. It’s a glorious afternoon in Kabul and the skies are bursting with the exhilarating joy of a kite-fighting tournament. But in the aftermath of the day’s victory, one boy’s act of betrayal will mark their lives forever. Now after 20 years of living in America, Amir returns to his homeland in Afghanistan, now under the Taliban’s iron-fisted rule, to help his old friend Hassan, and to face the secrets that still haunt him and take one last daring chance to set things right. Based on the novel of the same name by Khaled Hosseini.

Kite Runner is worthy of your support. It is something about kinship and friendship which focus on the statehood of Afghanistan. It is very down to earth movie and a sight viewing of kite challenge at the city Kabul which is the trademark of the show… And the humble humanity and loyalty of Amir’s friend, Hassan, the son of the family’s longtime servant, is something which we look upon… Amir’s father, Baba (Homayoun Ershadi), has displayed a good acting for a stern, righteous and fatherly figure… In some moments, the show was slowly paced with the focus on its cinematography and music aspects… but the ending was nicely executed with a heart warming for the rescue account of Hassan’s son… And implicitly, it provides some insights where Hassan knew wich area the astrayed kite will land in; and knowing his young master or good friend will return for him… Watch it and you will understand.Gaining Kite Runner as one of my favorite film this year, beating out all Chinese Movies currently playing in cinemas. I also like how they use the camera to show the kites flying over the beautiful Kabul. It’s one of the most beautiful scenery ever!!

Movie Review (A+)

Cj7

Starring: Kitty Zhang Yu Qi, Stephen Chow

Directed By: Stephen Chow

Released By: 7th February 2008

Run Time: 91 mins.

Genre: Comedy

A fantasy tale featuring state-of-the-art visual effects, “CJ7″ is a comedy about a poor labourer (Stephen Chow) and his young son in mainland China. When a fascinating and strange new pet enters their lives, they learn a poignant lesson about the true nature of family and the things that money can’t buy.

I feel the style Stephen Chow brought out was different from his past shows. It carried meaningful storylines and each plot was planned carefully in a way so that the audiences can understand what exactly he wanna convey. Not forgetting the humorous parts. He placed more attention on the for-sure-to-catch-attention CJ7, especially the way it showed its emotions through facial expressions as it couldn’t talk. For Xiaodi, he (or rather she), made the best when the Dad passed away before CJ7 saved him, which she tried her best to hold her crying and tears flowed quietly from her eyes. That was the part when I could really feel the cinema was so quiet.

Movie Review (A)

Valentine’s Day 2008

I don’t want to be reminded of this day, but all those advertisements in the papers and gifts on sale outside more than reminded me! I’m single, I’m dateless and tomorrow I’m gonna spend Valentine’s Day alone! Ok, it’s not the end of the world but I’m sure if given a choice, everyone would rather choose having someone special or just someone to spend the day with rather than alone. Same goes for me, damn!

Now I’m thinking what can I do tomorrow. By rights I should be going to office in the morning, go home at 5.30pm, have dinner, surf the net and then sleep! But I thought of taking 1/2 day leave tomorrow to do something all by myself. What can a single guy do all alone on Valentine’s Day uh?

1. I can hit the gym, sweat it out, vent my frustrations on those weights and who knows I could end up meeting someone there?

5. I can hit a bar full of singles hoping to hook up some lonesome souls.
But all the above mentioned options have 1 thing in common - I will still be seeing lovely dovely couples with flowers everywhere!! Arghhhhhh!

*********************************************888**

Kung Fu Dunk

Starring: Eric Tsang, Baron Chen, Mark Waters, Jay Chou, Charlene Choi

Directed By: Ludovic Berthillot, Yin Ping Chu, Louis Leterrier

Released By: 7th February 2008

Run Time: 98 mins.

Genre: Drama / Sports / Comedy / Action

Shi-Jie (Jay Chou), grew up in a martial arts school and is well-trained in kung-fu. With his kung-fu skills and good reflexes, Shi-Jie excels in basketball by mastering the slam dunk technique. Wang-Li (Eric Tsang), who is trying to locate Shi-Jie’s real family, invites him to join the university’s basketball team in hope of making some money. Shi-Jie faces new challenges while trying to blend in with the basketball team members Ting-Wei (Chen Bo-Lin) and Xiao-Lan (Baron Chen). With the upcoming basketball championship and the appearance of Li-Li (Charlene Choi), will the team members set aside their differences and personal feelings for the love of the game?

True, the main appearance or the limelight belongs to Jay Chou. And the two other team mates look cool and skilful. There was no storyline but merely a remake of ‘’shaolin socccer” in the basketball. And some guest appearances like Jacky Wu and other HongKong veterans would make you giggle. Also, the show seemed nice to witness a good chemistry betweeen Eric Tsang and Jay Chou. Leave no expectation and you will enjoy the show with some cool slumming… But just could not figure why did not make it a Chinese Slum Dunk from the Japanese comic instead.

Movie Review (B)

Hello Guys… I will be gone on Vacation for the next one weeks… In the meantime, please visit the blog. I will try my best during my vacation to keep you up to date… ahh…. I mean when back. Haha…

Will be flying to Manila, Philippines in less than a day’s time. Meanwhile, take care and God Bless us all…

================================

Where is my soulmate?

I’m so occupied,I don’t have time for any thoughts…

It stills hurts when I’m reminded.

Sometimes, I wish I could have a good long cry and get it over and done with. But going to work the next day with puffy red eyes is such a drag. So my tears flowed inside, waiting for the final release.

I believe in miracles,
Because I know there are misfortunes.

=============================================================================

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street

Starring: Helena Bonham Carter, Timothy Spall, Sacha Baron Cohen, Johnny Depp, Alan Rickman

Directed By: Tim Burton, James McAvoy, John Goodman

Released By: 31st January 2008

Run Time: 117 mins.

Genre: Thriller / Music

Sweeney Todd (Johnny Depp), a man unjustly sent to prison, vows revenge not only for the cruel punishment but for the devastating consequences of what happened to his wife and daughter. When he returns to reopen his barber shop, he becomes the Demon Barber of Fleet Street who slits the throats of his customers and use their bodies to be made into meat pies by his amorous accomplice, Mrs Lovett (Helena Bonham Carter). Alan Rickman plays the evil Judge Turpin who sent him unfairly to prison, withe Timothy Spall is the Judge’s wicked associate Beadle Bamford. Sacha Baron Cohen is a rival barber, the flamboyant Signor Adolfo Pirelli, and Christopher Lee takes on the role of the gentleman ghost.

Spectacular movie with the exception of all the blood and gore. Starting was great…gives you the feeling that a you’re up for great movie ahead. Did not expect though that it was part drama, part musical..which makes it more interesting coz the songs tells you a lot.

Movie Review (A+)