Jumper (2008)

7/10

Action packed, great cast, entertaing and not your typical superhero movie.

Watching Jumper for the second time today I noticed multiple elements that I never noticed in my first viewing. I paid more attention to the cast of the film as well as the characters portrayed. There's a message hidden in the movie that is different from the other superhero movies (Spiderman, X Men and Batman).

Casting is one element of this film that made me notice and liked the film. Hayden Christensen's portrayal is adequate and is able to keep the movie entertaining. Jaime Bell has always been one of my favourite actors thus I noticed him more in my re-watch of Jumper. Samuel L Jackson gives a fantastic performance as the much hated 'arch-enemy' type role in this film. His simple facial expressions tell so much. During one scene when he is stuck in the canons, you can read disbelief, humor and impressed look in his expression.

The concept of the film is simple but quite captivating. The action is non-stop, especially coming from the director of the Bourne Identity and Mr. and Mrs Smith. The special effects are not stunning but is believable and captivating in it's simplicity.

What I love about this film is all the different destinations the film takes you. We travelled the world within the two hours span going to Tokyo, Egypt, US and so forth.

I never liked the main character David (played by Hayden Christensen). I found him selfish and hot-headed. But his sly characteristics, I believe, is the hidden message that this movie is trying to unravel. Jumper questions whether if we had superpowers would we use it for the greater good and save the world? Unrealistically, everyone would say yes, but realistically we most likely would have done what David did with his powers.

At one point, when David is watching the news on TV he see footage of a flood. In superhero movies, the hero would go and save the day but David just smirks and flips off the TV. His actions demonstrate the exact opposite you would expect from a superhero. This is the beauty of this film, it doesn't play off typical 'save the day superhero' movies. The 'arch-nemesis' Roland (played by Samuel L Jackson) may be cruel in his actions but he is actually the guy trying to protect the world.

Overall a not-so-typical super power movie that is action packed, with a great cast and a fun concept that is definitely worth watching!

Dan in Real Life (2007)

7.5/10

Heart-warming and realistic

Dan in Real Life is about a widower who finds out the woman he fell in love with, while on a family gathering, is actually his brother's girlfriend.

I have seen the movie cover for this movie, but never really noticed it until it was shown on TV couple days ago. With barely any expectation for this film, Dan in Real Life surprised me. The acting, soundtrack and storyline caught my attention and made me fall in love with this film.

Steve Carell had a very different role than that of The Office and his other films. He plays a father who is trying to find a balance in his life while raising three daughters. He is very natural in his portrayal of a father who is still trying to figure things out for himself.

One of my favourite actresses, Emily Blunt, had a brief appearance in this film. Though her character is not significant, I still wish she had more screen time.

Dan in Real Life captures the love and conflict of family perfectly, allowing viewers to go into Dan's life to see happiness, mistakes and pain.

Simple cinematography accompanied by a playful soundtrack, which neatly emphasizes the tone of the film.

All together a love romantic comedy that wraps nicely around family.

Death Becomes Her (1992)

8.5/10 [HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!]

Hilarious, quirky and very clever!

Death Becomes Her revolves around a woman who learns of an immortality treatment, she sees it as a way to outdo her long-time rival [only for things to go horribly wrong.] (imdb)

Great acting, hilarious dialogue, great special effects (especially for 1990's) and quirky storyline makes Death Becomes Her a very unique comedy/fantasy.

This movie won an Oscar in 1993 for its visual effects and it sure deserved it. The effects are fantastically balance that it does not over use special effects but has enough of it to create a realistic and believable appeal.

The acting is spotless and made the movie powerful. The combination of Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn is perfect in their portrayal of two rivals trying to out-do each other.

The script and dialogue is witty and fairly well written creating a side-splitting and very engaging atmosphere. Every scene focuses on the idea that beauty does not mean happiness and this is emphasized by sharp and witty writing.

Many creative uses of mirrors and shadows in this film shows how much thought was put into this film to make this film not only entertaining but artistically appealing.

Every time I watch this movie, I find it more hilarious then the previous time. Death Becomes of Her will keep you staring intensely on the screen while bursting out in laughter.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Sophie's Revenge (2010)

6.5/10

Is it madness or is it love? I'd say, you can't have one without the other.

Sophie's Revenge is about two ex-lovers work together to win back their lost loves, but not everything goes according to plan. (IMDB)

The storyline is predictable and typical lover's triangle, but what romantic comedy isn't? However, what made this film very appealing is the post-production editing, the quirky characters and the funny dialogues.

A lot of cute animation is put into this film to support the quirkiness of this movie and emphasize Sophie's profession as a picture book artist. Toys come to life and thoughts are described as drawn caricatures. All very cute and funny when put together with the acting.

The animation/acting/dialogue together made me laugh out loud multiple times during the movie.

I am not a big fan of Zhang Ziyi, but she gives a fantastic performance in this movie as a wacky-cute-jealous girl who has lost her fiance to another girl. Ziyi is very genuine and balanced in her portrayal making Sophie lovable yet annoying at the same time. Her awkward facial expressions are hard too miss and impossible not to laugh at. The supporting cast Ruby Lin and Ai Wan as Lucy and Lisa, Sophie's bff, made the film even more crazy and funny.

Use of flashbacks and dreamlike-states is frequently used in this film, requiring viewers to pay close attention and not take things at face value.

If you like romantic comedies then definitely watch Sophie's Revenge. The movie is in mandarin and the subtitles are a bit fast to read as the dialogue moves along quickly, so it may take a second watching to fully appreciate this movie.

Four Brothers (2005)

6.5/10

drama, gun fights, car chase, fist fights and some twist...

Four Brothers revovles around (of course) four brothers looking to avenge their mother's death.

I was drawn to this film after watching the trailer and Four Brothers met my expectation. I am not one for revenge films but the relationship established between the characters in this film caught my attention. The drama is spot on, with high and lows throughout film. Has a bit of a twist, but overall is predictable.

The acting is mediocre, with Mark Wahlberg in his typical tough guy character. (PS I met Wahlberg at the premiere of Fighter).

Storyline and cinematography are very generic action film technique, nothing too spectacular but entertaining if you're looking for gun fights and car chases.

I recommend this film to those who like revenge films but with a good story line and drama. This film has everything to make a guy flick, but with the bonus addition of solid drama.

I Sell the Dead (2008)

6.5/10

Scary and funny at the same time.

I Sell the Dead is about a grave robber reflects on his life of crime. (imdb)

Interesting editing technique plus golden performance made this film quite appealing.

Dominic Monaghan (played Charlie on the TV show Lost) did a superb job in this film finding a perfect balance between when to be serious and and when to be comedic. He is quite brilliant in moving this film forward.

I Sell the Dead mixes humour with horror so well that at points during the movie I was laughing in fear. With so many movies about zombies/vampires/ghosts/slashers, this movie felt rather refreshing. It focus on ghouls and grave robbers told by a man on death row.

I Sell the Dead is great for those who wants to watch a horror but, like myself, cannot handle the intensity and need some humor. Light subtle humour mixed with thrillingly scary moments.

The Maiden Heist (2009)

5.5/10

Kind of film that makes you appreciate art.

A comedy centered on three museum security guards who devise a plan to steal back the artworks to which they have become attached after they are transferred to another museum. (imdb)

Golden cast. Freeman, Walken, and Macy as three middle-aged man who's spent most of their lives working as security guards inside a art museum.

Predictable story line but the cast made it a fun and engaging film.

This movie went straight to DVD (for various reasons) but that does not mean this film is not good. This film is a light and entertaining film with bits of humour. The Maiden Heist allows you to get to know each character quite well with focus on each character.

Not spectacular, but nevertheless a good film for those who like a clever caper comedy that is not overly thrilling but has a Oscar winning cast.

When In Rome (2010)

7/10

Quirky, funny and adorable romantic comedy with a good cast.

When in Rome revolves around Beth, a young, ambitious New Yorker who is completely unlucky in love. However, on a whirlwind trip to Rome, she impulsively steals some coins from a reputed fountain of love, and is then aggressively pursued by a band of suitors. (IMDB)

I love the cast of When in Rome from the leads, Kristen Bell and Jason Duhamel to the supports Lee Pace, Will Arnett, Jon Heder, Dax Shepard and Danny Devito. The supporting cast of suitors are awkwardly cute and funny. Very genuine and believable performance. I wish Lee Pace (Pushing Daisies) had more screen time, as I absolutely love him. Kristen Bell is such a great actress,

The storyline is very quirky and fairy tale like, which made the film very adorable and light. I fell in love with the characters easily, thus enjoying the film came naturally.

Like all rom coms (romantic comedies) the ending is predictable and follow similar storyline but When In Rome is unique in the sense that it had a very wide range of wacky but lovable characters. Because of the characters and the actors/actresses that portrayed them increased my appreciation for this film.

Also this film made me chuckle and laugh numerous times throughout...never failing to make me smile. Overall I really enjoyed it. There's also a bit of twist in the end, which I did not foresee.

The end credit scene finishes the film perfectly.

And there seems to be a lot of running in this film, made me want to go for a jog myself!

"To love someone is to put their needs above your own..."

The Count of Monte Cristo (2002)

6/10

Great cast, intriguing story, detailed costumes but slow

Story about a young man, falsely imprisoned by his jealous "friends," escapes and uses a hidden treasure to exact his revenge.

Acting, costume and set decoration are the strong elements of this film creating a fairly realistic atmosphere.

Jim Caviezal and Guy Pearce are the perfect duo. Pearce made it impossible for you to like his character, which is perfect as he plays the heartless backstabbing best friend. Caviezal is just fantastic as the man driven to despair and out for revenge.

The storyline of the film (I haven't read the book to know how close the movie is to the book) felt slow and overly convenient. Edmond Dantes who is illiterate and can't sword fight happen to have met someone in prison who is well-read and a good swordsman. The convenience of the match is a bit humourous but, I guess, is necessary to move the story forward.

I found myself thinking about the film The Man Behind the Iron Mask (1998) and wanting to watch that film again.

Overall, entertaining movie that is slow and predictable. The built up of the suspense didn't suffice the ultimate ending. Nevertheless, worth viewing if you enjoy action mixed with a complex storyline but slow.

No Reservations (2007)

7.5/10

Cute and sweet romantic comedy that satisfies the taste buds :P

No Reservations is a heartwarming story about how the 'life of a top chef changes when she becomes the guardian of her young niece'(imdb).

Great storyline, wonderful soundtrack, visual of splendorous dishes that can make you salivate and topped off with a perfect cast. If you're looking for a heartfelt story with some depth, then this is the perfect gem.

The opera music and Nick's (Aaron Eckhart) playful characteristic set a perfect tone for the film; sophisticated and playful forming a very charismatic atmosphere.

I love the talent the cast brings to the table. Great chemistry between Aaron Eckhart and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Abigail Breslin is very realistic and sweet as the girl who is dealing with loss, grief and change.

I adore this film :) it is delightful and cute. I have had the pleasure of meeting both Aaron Eckhart and Abigail Breslin, both of whom are very nice in person, which made this film so much more enjoyable.

Wristcutters: A Love Story (2006)

8.5/10 [HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!]
Cute and oddly uplifting

A film set in a strange afterlife way station that has been reserved for people who have committed suicide. (imdb)

Wristcutters: A Love Story, is a very interesting take on the afterlife. The story starts off quite depressing but builds up to be a beautiful story of love and loss. The film has many nice touches--such as great use of music and subtle elements of humor.

Character development is wonderful. Each character experiences, in their own way, a better appreciation for life in the afterlife.

The editing and cinematography is worth noting in this film. The film goes back and forth between life and the afterlife using the colour to distinguish life from the afterlife. The "afterlife" has a very desaturated colour scheme; dull and gray colours with the exception of red, which is made fairly saturated in comparison to the rest of the colours. In the "life" parts all the colours are very bright and saturated, making it appeal cheerful in contrast to the "after life".This clever editing of colours allows viewers to see transitions between the two worlds.

Not a typical romantic comedy, this movie has depth and is very emotionally driven. It is like an analysis of life and a focus on the idea of "not knowing loss, till you have lost."

Overall a very cute but unusual take of a story about the afterlife and love. Highly recommended...very well done film!

Across the Hall (2009)

6/10

Suspense , great editing (with a couple flaws)

I recommend this film to those who like thrillers that are a bit slow. I do warn everyone to avoid reading spoilers and revealing reviews before watching this film. I tried to keep this review as vague as possible so those who wish too see it will still find it entertaining.


The entire storyline takes place within a hotel, but is made exciting by great editing.

The plot is simple (without giving it away), it revolves around a 'standoff between a young man, his fiancée and his best friend who comes to his aide'.

Across the Hall gripped me from minute one and held my attention to some extent. The initial set up is my favourite part of this film. As the story unfolded it became somewhat predictable. Although the details remain suspenseful, the overall plot became apparent to me about half way through.

The acting is alright, entertaining to watch.

I recommend this to suspense/thrill/mystery lovers....the editing made Across the Hall amazing.

After Shock (2010)

8/10 [highly recommended]

Heartbreaking, breath-taking....

A bitter sweet movie that tells the tale of the Tangshen earthquake that tore a family apart.

After Shock is a masterpiece in capturing the aftermath of a devastating of an earthquake that left thousands dead and many broken families. The film tugs at your heart strings with many heartbreaking graphic scenes, leaving a tear in your eye.

The special effects in the earthquake scene is phenomenal. It is so real in capturing the fear that encompasses the devastation.

The cast brought After Shock to life. The acting by the two children is so real that you forget that you are watching a movie.

After Shock is filled with emotions. You can see each character develop throughout the movie as they come into contact with one another. The hatred, regret, anger and pain that built over the years seems to wash away as each character comes to terms with their grief.

The plot is so engaging that it pulled me in and held my attention from minute one. The movie does have over-dramatic moments, but it felt necessary and rightful for this film. When the mother had to make the difficult choice regarding the cement block (not to give anything away), it felt like the movie played off Sophie's Choice but does so in a effective way.

An emotional and powerful movie that is well worth a viewing!

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows Part I (2010)

8.5/10

Dark, thrilling and plain awesome

Ever since the 7th book came out in 2007, I've been waiting for the film and it did not disappoint.

Although the movie didn't completely follow true to the book, for example the film did not use the invisibility cloak once, but nevertheless it did not fail to entertain. This is by far one of my favourite movies of the series. The graphics, effects and acting made this film one of the best and one of the darkest.

The acting are spot on! Emma Watson, especially, had a very strong performance capturing Hermione wonderfully. She propelled the story forward with her acting and made the torture scene very realistic. Bill Nighy did a chilling performance as Rufus Scrimgeour. Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint were also stunning. Helena Boham Carter, in almost every one of her roles, is very creepy...so with Bellatrix,

The film's greatest achievement is the animated sequence detailing the "Tale of the Three Brothers". Using only animation of silhouettes to tell the story with Hermione's voice as the narration was bold move and worked magnificently.

Death eaters and Voldermort are portrayed fairly different from previous movies. There are a lot more interaction between them, allowing them to appeal very human.

The special effects, sceneries and cinematography made this an unforgettable movie. tThe special effects used on the 7 morphing Harry Potter is scarily awesome. As most of the film, for the first time, takes place outside of Hogwarts it permitted the use of stunning sceneries and landscapes.

The movie, we all know, will end at a cliffhanger and it concluded whetting your appetite for the final segment.

Growing up with the books and the movie series, I'm saddened that this is the second last movie of series. Saying goodbye to the series is going to be hard. July 2011 is going to be exciting and very emotional---feels like the end of an era.

11:14 (2003)

7/10

Captivating, smart and edgy story revolving around a 11:14pm car crash.

Occurring roughly at the same time, a car crush is told from five very different perspectives. This movie demonstrates the idea of "small world" and how we are all somehow linked to one another, but told in a very unusual storyline.

Without giving anything away, this film demonstates the consequences and the irony of situations people go through. Parts of the story are very far-fetched and funny, making it a very entertaining movie.

The credit introduction to this film is well achieved. The clever blend of animation and text made the film interesting before the movie even began.

The collaboration of the acting are believable and well performed. Hilary Swank made me chuckle as the uncertain, not too bright,overly honest yet kind of cute store clerk. Patrick Swayze (rest in peace) is fantastic and fairly funny as the protective dad.

Characters kept running into each other resulting in bad things happening. The movie seems to be like the passing of a karma torch, everything a character does comes back to them minutes later. The actions the characters takes, at times, is very frustrating but necessary to propel the story forward.

Overall, a smart odd but compelling movie, with subtly comedic elements sprinkled throughout. Highly recommended to anyone who likes multiple storylines with a bit of gore and subtle humour.