A Nutshell Review by daface

last SG · 2005-05-29T10:42:43+00:00

A Nutshell Review: I Hate Valentine’s DayI haven’t seen My Big Fat Greek Wedding from start to end, but from what I gathered from scenes, Nia Vardalos is qui...

daface SG

A Nutshell Review: Blood: The Last Vampire

Jeon Ji-Hyun, now known as Gianna for this international film, trades her demure demeanour for something that action junkies will probably find reason to cheer about – having a beautiful heroine kick some serious butt with her near-invincibility and possessing a blade that cuts through vampires, monsters and demons like hot knife through butter. But seriously, do we need another half-vampire, half-human hybrid being for the big screen, even though this has anime roots?

Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2009/05/blo…

daface SG

A Nutshell Review: Monsters vs Aliens

I’m beginning to wonder whether the 3D novelty is wearing out already, especially if slapped on films that think the beauty of visual effects and animation take precedence over a solid story. Everything here worked to a perfect T, from the very key component of animation, to voice casting, and sound, but what the film ultimately lacked, was a compelling narrative, and soul.

Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2009/05/mon…

daface SG

A Nutshell Review: The Baader Meinhof Complex

Although the events portrayed in The Baader Meinhof Complex dates back to the 60s and 70s, this look back at West Germany’s struggle with political extremism and armed resistance holds some relevance in today’s terror threats, given that it’s never always just about tackling the issue as an independent silo, but there’s this inter-connectedness with events around the world that shape rationale, objectives and outcome.

Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2009/05/baa…

daface SG

A Nutshell Review: Night at the Museum 2

I didn’t particularly enjoy my first Night at the Museum as I thought it had tried really hard to be funny, and going from set piece to set piece from within the New York Museum of Natural History, taking a while before it got its engine cranking. For me, the funniest Ben Stiller comedies had been the relatively more adult fare like There’s Something About Mary, The Heartbreak Kid and such, but this family friendly fare surprised me, and belonged to the rare few sequels which actually surpassed the original.

Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2009/05/nig…

daface SG

A Nutshell Review: Echelon Conspiracy

At one glance, it’s easy to dismiss Echelon Conspiracy as yet another Eagle Eye wannabe. Face it, it has a man who receives mysterious and anonymous instructions, being on the run from authorities, and constantly getting put into various lines of fire. Only that despite its plot loopholes and common ground factors, this B-grade movie is a lot more fun than the big budgeted action thriller from last year, and Shane West being a lot less irritating that Shia LaBeouf.

Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2009/05/ech…

daface SG

A Nutshell Review: The Young Victoria

The cinematic interests in the British monarchy continues with Queen Victoria (1837 to 1901), after having seen in recent years, the efforts with Keira Knightley’s The Duchess, Cate Blanchett’s Elizabeth films, and Scarlett Johansson and Natalie Portman’s take on the Boleyn sisters with The Other Boleyn Girl. More contemporary stories would include Helen Mirren’s award winning portrayal of The Queen on the current reign of Queen Elizabeth II at the turn of Princess Diana’s death.

Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2009/05/you…

daface SG

A Nutshell Review: Sunshine Barry and the Disco Worms

School holiday season would dictate more animated and family oriented films being released in the theatres, and while we would rue at having to wait until September for Pixar’s Up, we have to make do with the rather lacklustre Monsters vs Aliens with 3D gimmick, and the little unknowns (pardon the pun) like Sunshine Barry and the Disco Worms, set in the insect kingdom with earthworms species being put in the spotlight.

Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2009/05/sun…

daface SG

A Nutshell Review: Terminator Salvation

One thing’s for sure about the Terminator franchise now, we can begin to dash all hopes of a Cameron-Arnie comeback, given the former has mentioned he has done all he wanted with the first two films, and the latter now a politician. Terminator Salvation, with McG at the helm and a bevy of writers attempting to do a one-up on the original two films, only managed to bring about a thrill ride which is miles better than the third installment, but has plenty of catch up to do if the new films were to stamp their authority on the franchise.

Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2009/05/ter…

daface SG

A Nutshell Review: Hannah Montana: The Movie

My only exposure to the father-daughter make believe Disney World that Billy Ray and Miley Cyrus have gotten themselves into, as the reel father-daughter team up as Robby Ray and Miley Stewart, was the Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour 3D film. While I had enjoyed her performance with 3D gizmos, it didn’t actually pique my interest enough to follow the adventures of Hannah Montana and her alter ego, which is some art imitate life imitate art kinda tween series, which has recently been green-lit for yet another season.

Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2009/06/han…

daface SG

A Nutshell Review: State of Play

I’m a fan of a good investigative thriller, and State of Play combines that with some good old fashioned action from the newsroom with dogged reporters seeking perennial truth. Written by Matthew Michael Carnahan, Tony Gilroy and Billy Ray, you know you’re in for one gripping ride with relentless twists and turns, as between them they are responsible for stories such as Lions for Lambs, The Kingdom, Michael Clayton, the Bourne franchise screenplays, Proof of Life, Breach and Shattered Glass. Whew! Imagine all the going points about those films all combined into one!

Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2009/06/sta…

daface SG

A Nutshell Review: Drag Me to Hell

This film sucks a lot. As if the mouth tends to get in the way and having stuff shoved deep into it, be it the chin or even an entire arm socked right into it. Or at least that’s one of the images that got is now permanently scarred in my head. With its copious amounts of drool salivating out from mouths, extremely wet slobbering and dribbling from lips, Drag Me to Hell is erm, deliciously frightening yet funny at the same time, thanks to Sam Raimi going back to his horror roots and delivering one thrilling ride with an old school flavour to it.

Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2009/06/dra…

daface SG

A Nutshell Review: Man on Wire

James Marsh directed Man on Wire to critical acclaim, and snagged amongst other recognition, the best documentary feature in this year’s Academy Awards. Containing the usual talking heads styled interviews with everyone involved one way or another in high-wire walker Philippe Petit’s 1974 stunt at New York’s World Trade Centers’ Twin Towers, this film is extremely engaging as you the audience get to participate in what is sadly a stunt that can no longer be replicated.

Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2009/06/man…

daface SG

A Nutshell Review: Ghosts of Girlfriends Past

For those who have played the field and sown some wild oats around town, Ghosts of Girlfriends Past might be a walk down a personal memory lane into why nothing lasts longer than possibly that first, genuine relationship. There are reasons abound why some are either commitment freaks, or just plainly wanting to chalk up a list of conquests to show off, and for top fashion photographer Connor Meat, erm I mean Mead (Matthew McConaughey), it’s a run from responsibility, and the fear of never ever wanting to be hurt again.

Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2009/06/gho…

daface SG

A Nutshell Review: The Taking of Pelham 123

Tony Scott and Denzel Washington together have three collaborations under their belt (Crimson Tide, Man on Fire, Deja Vu), and given that I’ve enjoyed every single one of their outing, there’s no reason why I shouldn’t with The Taking of Pelham 123, especially with John Travolta contributing as an over the top villain sporting mean tattoos, a goatee and a foul mouth. A remake of a 1974 film by the same name, this one’s pretty much updated with the fusion of the Wall Street fallout and plenty of New Yorker tributes, from the mayor (James Gandolfini) to the average salaryman Waler (Washington) earning his keep.

Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2009/06/tak…

daface SG

A Nutshell Review: Land of the Lost

This is one of those movies marketed with the children market firmly set in its sights, and my money is that parents will be appalled to have given their little ones a family outing to the cinemas only to realize it’s a nightmare the first few minutes into the movie. It’s a one of a kind slap to any film ratings board (here included) given the number of innuendos, f-bombs and hallucinogen use in the film, that parents would likely be flabbergasted by a PG-rating. The two kids sitting in front of me were laughing for a while, before being awfully quiet, disoriented by some really adult moments.

Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2009/06/lan…

daface SG

A Nutshell Review: I Love You, Man

I Love You, Man is a delightful film not just for its brand of humour which worked almost all the time, nor because it stars the bunch of contemporary jokers who have taken Hollywood by storm, but because it had a meaningful story to tell, and has translated that key insight of friendships and relationships for the big screen effortlessly, wrapping up some deep, intrinsic behavioural observation deceptively behind a curtain of laughter.

Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2009/06/i-l…

daface SG

A Nutshell Review: Nobody to Watch Over Me

For all its orderliness and politeness in Japanese society, if what Nobody to Watch Over Me portrayed is accurate, then there’s the other side of the same society that we on the outside would seldom see, and that’s how they would react to serious crimes committed by minors. While you would expect identities to be kept secret in order to aid in the investigations and to offer some protection to the perpetrator and/or the victims, there’s this constant digging to fish information in order to inform, ridicule and condemn, and compromise any police protection programme.

Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2009/06/nob…

daface SG

A Nutshell Review: Trail of the Panda

Once the black and white penguins were the rage, now the pandas have taken over the mantle, thanks to Disney in China in producing yet another film about this reclusive, iconic animal that’s been the focus on preventing its extinction. Filmed in picturesque Wolong, Sichuan, it mixes documentary-styled footage of the pandas at play, with an extremely simple story (it’s Disney after all) about a lonely young boy’s friendship with an injured panda he nurses back to health.

Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2009/06/tra…

daface SG

A Nutshell Review: Autopsy

The fastest way to induce an audience’s nausea, is perhaps to throw up plenty of thick crimson blood and splatter loads of internal organs on screen, and there’s just something about having a ready made premise in hospital mortuaries where there are dead bodies ready to be exploited for some horror and gore, playing into the consensus that these places are just those that you wouldn’t want to linger for a second longer.

Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2009/06/aut…

daface SG

A Nutshell Review: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

This film felt like a slap in the face of US President Obama’s message of peace to the world, if things in Michael Bay’s Transformers world were to be taken literally at face value. It is nothing more than American military propaganda from start to finish in a huge 2.5 hour
commercial, championing their military might showcasing every conceivable weaponry from deep sea submarines to spy satellites and right down to a classified laser beam known as the “rail gun”, and marching into “enemy” territories like China and the Mid-East to take out terrorist targets called Decepticons, piling on civilian damages with total disregard. National monuments and natural wonders of the world become collateral damage for good measure too.

Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2009/06/tra…

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