An Highly Anticipated movie VS the generally B-Listed Action Movie, proves to be good in reverse

Alright everyone is facinated with The Lucky one and Think Like a Man.

But I didn’t go for the obvious choice this week. Reason, just because.

The two not so popular movies I went to actually proves to be great fun.

One is a film with the best dialog in script ever. Funny, witty and dangerous. The other is one with a great start and a bad ending. I must say.

You’d be surprised. The two movies I’m talking about are actually Lockout and Cabin in the wood.

At first I wasn’t really into Lockout. Simply because there’s nothing much to be interest about. U know the space prison thing been done dozens of time, and star Guy Pearce and Maggie Grace, not really your normal A-listed star. But to tell the truth, I’m kinda enjoy it. Without the star power, driving the whole movie along are fantastic dialog. The chemistry of Guy and Maggie is on spot, not romantically, just the dialog sparring part.

In comparison, the much anticipated Cabin in the Woods is like…… strange to watch. Well, not that it’s really logical when you watch the original version anyway. Cabin, killing, “the Evil Dead”-esque vibe.

The Evil Dead is as what people then say, strange to watch. Anyhow, I must say, I know that it’s a horror movie, and the name that comes in the movie is like Big Time, the younger generation attraction is Chris Hemsworth, and Jesse Williams, Anna Hutchison even Brian White. And of course the TV great producer, Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard plays a great attraction to me, and the most interesting set of actor/ actresses in the bunch is the Oscar and Golden Globe nominees, Richard Jenkins, Bradley Whitford and Sigourney Weaver?! Where can you get a casts that’s for diverse and creative as this. And Creative they did. Well. Too creative maybe. I’ll not blow the plot, I’ll just let you watch it yourself, I will say ,the first half is great movie, great scripting, just as the trailer promises, while the ending is unexpected ,it’s just an far too far an overloaded bloop (sad to say this but I was rooting for the movie when I went to the theater).

the Titans awake on the Titanic Anniversary, the Mirror is broken with the Street dance and one couple Vow to the end

Movie lovers all around, it’s been a great fun week when the spring break begins.

The studio started out with John Carter, then there’s Mirror Mirror and Wrath of The Titans, of course we how can we forget about the Hunger Games and The Vow, then on this great 100^th Anniversary of Titanic voyage and downfall, James Cameron turn out the amazingly reconstructed Titanic the Movie.

The UK is giving Step Up a chase for its money, Street Dance 2 in 3D.

Alright all the sequel and all the original which is better?

While I’m sure everyone is still talking about Hunger games, I would only say this once more. While the Hunger Games is hype and young, I felt that John Carter really have got a great gig going. Not to under mind Hunger Games, it’s a great futuristic story with great Character. But I must give props to the Director and studio of John Carter, the artistic value and the CGI Effects of John Carter is just pristine.

I’m going to see Battleship this week, while the movie might be Transformer-esque, I do not think that it’d top the spectacular imagination of John Carter, from storyline, character building, to the realization of the story with effects.

Let’s talk Sequel, The Wrath of the Titans?! While I love the 1980s version of the first movie more. I must say, this sequel to the 2010 version is not bad. Not bad at all. The story is original, there’s no comparison, so I can enjoy it just as it is. The story is pretty solid, so solid it felt short and simple. U have the Titans getting out, and the God been betrayed and capture. The Clash of the Titans is always about only one quest, and how a demi-God Perseus earn his place in the Racks of his father Zeus. Yet while the 1980s is a character piece (everything then is about sex, and character). That is what lacks in the 2010 version, just story is not enough to carry the whole storyline of just one simple quest.

Now after years, he is again called to save the world. Back is a storyline between the Hero and the Heroin, and some interesting character like other demi-God and a more in-depth look at the God themselves.

And As for Street Dance 2, I must say, it is not as good as the first movie. While the first is an interesting twist to a normal Dance storyline, for the second, while the idea and the dance is original, the footwork of the movie itself is not so great. The camera often blurred into an unwanted focus point when the dancer dances. It may be cause of unflattering dance move or simply sloppy camera moves. But I must say, the director would have to takes more care of the shot when it comes to 3D, the larger movement of the camera could very easy confuse the audience because of effects, audience have to get more time on each shot for the eye to adjust focus to the shot. So large camera movement is often replaced with large action of the actor in wider shot.

For something sentimental and current, I think, guys, you can take your gal to The Vow. I know, I know, the Chick-flick. But it’s worth the trip, especially if you are planning to propose in the near future. What more can a movie show commitment than when you got married and then your wife wipe off every single memory of you and you have to chase her back?

Mirror Mirror, the classic story of the snow white revamp. The mood of the color in the movie is closer to the original story, but other than that I must say it’s a comedy. The costume and the character is comical. The Evil Queen chasing a Prince. A logical turn to the original. I love the movie. nothing bad about watching a comedy with great exaggerated costume and good looking human. Just one thing at the end of the movie they break into an Indian song. I understand that the director is Indian but the song just doesn’t fit because there’s no reference of it from the beginning til the end. While it’s charming and different it just felt out of place.

There’s been very few period pieces for the past 2 years that stood out. Most are just one-character driven by the incomparable Meryl Streep, anyhow, it’s a great thing that James Cameron is bring back the Biggest Chunks of them all, Titanic.

The truth is, Titanic is the only movie in the history that I think truly belong to the Big screen. If your experience of Titanic is only on the small screen on your office desk or the living room, then I must pursue you to go and watch it once on the Big Screen.

The reason is that, only a Huge Screen can truly show you the Majestic of the Ship that is truly fits to the name of Titan. And of course the little love story that makes 2 stars that burns brighter than ever since.

TV lately: a musical "SMASH" into a "Horror Story" with a "Suit" tagging on a "Touch" of sign

Lately there’s some fantastic scripted TV show that’s been coming out of the tube.

First off for musical lover, of course it the smashing “SMASH”.

The idea is original, the setup is interesting. Showing what a Broadway show goes from producer to the actor to the person behind creating the storyline, music and gathering the money for it.

There’s the outsider trying to get in, and the insider trying their best to stay in and like so many people in the world, while the world is big, most people tends to stay in small group and the circle is rather small.

Then there’s “Suit”, the ingenious story about how a guy with photographic memory sneak into the Law firm and pretended to be a lawyer without a lawyer degree. The twist in the story line just keeps going and going every month. There’s very little scandal other than him trying to keep up with a job and get ahead and office politics nothing huge like what they have in “The Good Wife”.

Then for the Supernatural gang, I’m sure no one is missing the “American Horror Story”, there’s nothing better than a horror story with the most elaborated storyline ever.

As for the New Age Type, your choice would be “Touch”. This one is classic. An autistic boy, with a genius mind that like Fibonacci into everything and fits about everything that happens in the world into one big network of connection that only he can see. And then he conveys the message to his father through the only thing he knows, numbers, who would try and solve and mend the broken ripple of the universe.

American Idol Top 13

I’ve stopped doing this for a long while now. Because I’ve lost my inspiration somewhat along the way, but I guess it is predictable that American Idol would have this started again.

I intend to stay off through the season before this. But when I saw the top 13 performed last night. It’s kinda inspiring.

Without watching any episodes, I know. Colton is the front runner from the start. But without a doubt either, he is the most bankable of all the contestant yet he still got a lot of potential on his voice because he is still molding it.

Phillip Phillips is my second choice for the guys. Because of his uniqueness. I haven’t seen a Bob Dylan or Bruce Springsteen on the show before. And Phillip have them both in his pocket. I just hope that the Idol actually don’t change him too much. Yet he still has to fix a position on how his voice could fit. But I hope it’s not the Idol mold but his on potential.

A small note. I was not surprise that Reed Grimm is gone but I was sad though. Because he is a character with a voice and a talent. Maybe it’s too random for AI but he is definitely with something there.

Joshua Ledet fits into the norm of AI as the Gospel soul, Jeremy Rosado is the cool bear, and Jermaine is the low ground. While Jermaine is good at what he sings, but his voice can be a bit dull at times. HeeJun however is a surprise. Not that he is not a good singer, only that American haven’t really heard much of a good Asian singer before. He is what a Typical most Asian Singer are like. A Typical Asian Look with a good voice. While I’m proud that he is in the top 11 but I do think that he would not last too long if he stay the course he is which the Asian singer usually does.

Deandre is unique. But he could be too unique either. Because there’s a play in the game and the unique card can be a low blow rather than a good thing.

As for the girls, It’s a huge competition. Because last night they show off everything. Erika Van Pelt did great with a perfect fit with her voice on Whitney, Hollie too have fit Whitney in her show. Skylar did a Reba on Whitney. And who can forget Jessica. But Jessica rendition of the most difficult-to-pull-off song of the Whitney play book is perfect, but I fear that it was too perfect. While we are in the nostalgia of the late singer original, Jessica is still lacking Individuality in her fit. Maybe after another couple of weeks she’ll shine as the girl who can sing about everything perfectly. And that can be her trick.

As for Elise, whether it’s the song choice, the lack of time, I can only says, this is a huge break she got, the second chance. She has to bring it next week. And redeem herself. As for Shannon, she is not in a good place after last night performance. The song almost exposes all her flaws, and I’ve seen lack of potential all over the place. She too have to do much much better to get herself ON again.

For the guys, the game is right on, they are in the popularity game. Because they have shown all the potential but they haven’t have shown all of it. And because this year it’s obvious that the popularity vote have gone on even before the top 13 begins. As for the girls, most of the best singers are there. So it’s a game of talent. While with all the great voice, it can be a bit boring at times. So the girls game is creating variety, and create interest on them.

I am sad that Jeremy have to go because I think he got a good voice and he is not supposed to go. I’m sure and Elise would get a big slash back from the whole drama. But it is a choice of whether you burn the one who show potential but show not enough or the one that made a bad choice and haven’t show her potential yet. I just hope that they make the right choice and Elise would really step up and do a good job next week.

it's the Holiday STylized movie week, The Muppets VS Cheering New Year's Eve NYC Crystal Ball Drop

With the end of the year coming, the movie theater is rolling out holiday movies in drove. First up this week would be the totally star-studded New Year’s Eve. Here you can find the rarely seen Michelle Pfeifer and Hilary Swank. With other big name like, Robert DeNiro, Zac Efron, some original cast from the sister movie Valentines Day like Jessica Biel and Ashton Kutcher with newcomer, Lea Michele and Jake T Austin and Abigail Breslin with Sarah Jessica Parker as her mom. To tell the truth, going into the cinema for this one, I’ve half expected it to be mediocre, because Valentine’s Day didn’t really strike any chord with me. But how wrong was I, New Year’s Eve, beside this star-powerhouse it is, it’s totally a really funny movie. it’s the Garry Marshall Effects stretch to the most optimum. I almost laugh my teeth off for this one throughout. And to cast Sofia Vergara is the most genius decision.

Well, just like Valentine’s day, this one is a whole bunch of people intertwine with some intricate relationship and as a special day comes in New York, everyone have prior plan something for the date or resolution to resolve and plenty of things happen out of plan and closure to be closed.

The next feel-good movie of the week is The Muppet show. All the Muppets is back for one more shot at the big screen. Though the singing and the storyline is a bit weird. But I guess with the Muppets anything can happen. The movie is a really soft touch to the old show where the jokes are rough at times. But this time it’s really heartwarming and really talented people’s cameo makes it even more fun.

So the story goes that the theater is in trouble, the disbanded gang join back once more to save it.

Arthur Claus VS the Lady of Dagenham

As for last week’s movie review, there’s the holiday cheer from Santa himself, Arthur Claus, the 3D Animated movie is quite a fun movie to watch, how Santa reach all the kids in the world to send them gifts and how the job is inherited and how normal and unnormal a family of claus is. Many movie have been made according to the dysfunction of a Claus family, but I think this one is worth a watch for the fact that it’s heartwarming and somewhat easy.

The next stop would be for a little British movie called Made in Dagenham. It’s about the Female Workers in 1968 Dagenham Ford Car Plant Strike. The common and often raunchy and not-really-Good-Looking Lady of a car plant, decided to take a stand for their right and make the first strike ever against Sexual Discrimination. And with that, the whole country rally behind the effort and pass a law in the Commonwealth. This is what I love and fascinated by great British Artistry in Film. They can take a very important issue, infuse it with some fantastic ordinary people that looks blend in, with some fantastic common humor and makes a story worth telling and makes people listen again and again. Here is a bunch of normal looking great actresses, portraying every normal woman working hard in their life and still maintain the dignity to fight for what’s right. And the struggle and the conflict of doing what’s RIGHT.

One more for the little story movie from the Great Britain. And it’s proven again that great story doesn’t need to make a big scene to be art worth appreciation.