Temporarily on hold

Sorry, dear readers.

I'm sorry I have not been updating my blog. I've watched plenty of movies already but it's hard to find time to sit down and poured out my thoughts on the movies. I got a recent change in location of my job and the nature of my job might not make it easy for me to constantly keep up with the movies. But once I settled down in my new location, work out my schedule that I can find time to relax and catch a movie, I'll continue my blog once again. As of now, I have The Princess Bride still half done and stuck in draft and I've been meaning to go through all the X-Men movies before the coming Day of Future Past comes out. And as of now, I've watched:

G.I Joe: Retaliation (2013)

Way better than the first one! I much prefer Dwayne Johnson over Channing Tatum in this sort of movie. Snake Eyes is Kick ass and we got Bruce Willis too! Love it!

 The Conjuring (2013)

Creepy in some parts but not as scary as I expected. Well done for a film that doesn't rely much on cheap jump scare. But eerily creepy in a lot of areas, the way I love my horror movies. A rather ok horror movie.

The Princess Bride (1987)

Truly a classic and a masterpiece! May be cheesy in some parts but the writing is brilliant and smart. Love the story, characters, the sword fights and the comedy!

When I update the blog properly, I will put up a notice on Facebook. Feel free to check out the previous reviews and drop comments. Thank you again for visiting Post-Movie.

X2: X-Men United (2003)

Wolverine: Got any beer?
Bobby: This is a school.
Wolverine: So that's a "no"?
Bobby: Yeah, that's a "no."
Wolverine: Got anything other than chocolate milk?

 Ice..Ice.. baby!

The second film in the X-Men series, X2: X-Men United directed by Bryan Singer continues the story of our mutant heroes and villains from the first X-Men, after the events at Liberty island. After an assassination attempt on the President of the United States by a teleporting mutant known as the Nightcrawler (Alan Cumming), the president gives permission for human military scientist, Colonel William Stryker (Brian Cox) to raid Xavier's School for mutants. Professor X (Patrick Stewart) and his team of X-Men (Famke Janssen as Jean Grey, Halle Berry as Storm, James Marsden as Cyclops, Anna Paquin as Rogue, Shawn Ashmore as Iceman, Hugh Jackman as Wolverine) then have to find the mutant assassin, only to learn there's a plot involving the extermination of mutants around the world by Colonel William Stryker. They then have to band together with their former foe, Magneto (Ian McKellen) and Mystique (Rebecca Romijin) in order to stop Stryker. But ultimately William Stryker holds the key to the mystery of Wolverine's past.

 What's better than a mutant villain? A human Villain!

One of the best comic book sequels around! I think as far as the story goes, it's actually good. Having the heroes and the villains of the first movie put their differences aside to go against a common enemy is a bit of a cliche but looking back, but it's a good cliche and a good direction for a sequel. I'm surprise there's not much to the Magneto's Brotherhood of Mutants, consisting only of Magneto and Mystique, but then again, you have them team up with the heroes, there's already a good number of characters you have to follow. But that being said, this movie essentially plays out like a proper Wolverine movie cause it's very much character driven and really focuses on Wolverine and William Stryker. There's not much going on with Rogue with her social isolation issues and her relationship with Bobby the Iceman, and there's not much also going on too with Cyclops and Professor X, who pretty much wasn't around in a huge center chunk of the movie. And as for Jean Grey, her story is pretty much written to hint and set up for the next sequel. So yea, this should be called X-Men 2: Wolverine Origins.

That's right, this movie is a spotlight on Wolverine.

Action wise, well if you put Wolverine Adamantium claw action aside, there's really not much. Nightcrawler's menacing and cool teleportation fight in the White House stole the limelight in the introduction scene before he's reduced to a wimp and Mystique acrobatic take down of Stryker's guards was not only cool but humorous at times, especially when you as the audience also get caught off guard when she disguised herself as Stryker. Perhaps, the most boring fight scene is between Cyclops and Jean Grey. Somehow there's a potential to be good... you know, having the two lovebirds pit against one another and Jean is moving closer to her "Pheonix" Dark side. But it all came out pretty boring. But really, the action is best when Wolverine is unleashed. How he deals with Stryker soldiers during the attack at the school was really cool...and looks pretty painful too. Then you get the fight scene with him and Lady Deathstrike. It's like a female version of Wolverine (They haven't introduce X-23 yet), sexy yet deadly...and instead of claws, she has..nails. I guess nothing gets more feminine than that. Although Wolverine has his healing powers and indestructible claws, it's good that he has a foe that really deals him a lot of harm and pain, and brings a form of threat to him. Lady Deathstrike will then be the staple form of Adamantium enemies that Wolverine is going to have to fight with in the future movies. Think about it, the messed up Deadpool has healing factors and Adamatium swords..including an array of powers and abilities and then in the recent Wolverine movie, you get him to fight the Silver Samurai which is pretty much Adamantium steel armor. So, his fight scene with Mystique in the first movie is perhaps the most unique and interesting foe he has to fight with.

If you don't cut your nails for like 20 years and you paint them silver, you can cosplay as Lady Deathstrike.

The special effects still stands up to today. The teleportation effect that Nightcrawler may look a little dated, and you can tell there's some wiring and green screen effect. Cause now you can compare with the X-Men Origin's Deadpool's teleportation fight which came out a lot smoother. But back then, Nightcrawler's fight, flips in the White House and teleportation effects were really cool and mind blowing. A good step up from the first movie.

Even the make up is really good.. Smile! =D

Continuity wise, here's a list I've noted when watching X2:

• Remy LaBeau a.k.a Gambit's name on Stryker's computer. In Origins, he was mentioned to have escape from Stryker's island. So, Stryker certainly have kept a record of him.
• Lady Deathstrike as Stryker's bodyguard is also consistent with Stryker's character on experimenting on mutants in the past with Adamantium and mind controlling them as his puppet.
• Mystique talk to Nightcrawler about not needing to hide is consistent with Mystique's choice of not hiding at the end of First Class.
• Magneto's talk about asking Pyro to reveal his REAL name is consistent with Magneto's talk to Mystique to reveal the REAL her.

 Hey, looks it's Gambit!

 Inconsistency-

• Dr Hank McCoy is featured on the television without his beastly hair. I guess one can argue that this dude could be a different Hank McCoy. Some tease...
• The conversation between Stryker and Professor X revealed a history that Professor X once took in Stryker's son to his school.. which the story was either never bothered to be showcased in Origins or it could have took place before or after Origins. Well, we got to see young Jason frozen in ice in Origins.
• We are treated with plenty of Wolverine's flashbacks which were very and vastly different from what we see in Origins. Even the lab of Wolverine's Adamantium experimentation looked so much different from the lab we see in Origins. Even the look and the location of Alkali lake and the dam is very different from what we see in Origins. Can somebody please do a proper Wolverine origins movie?!

Hey, look it's Beast...cleanly shaven and de-blued.

Yup, this was before the series fell apart with the next sequel. This was comic book movie gold back then. It's a real pity Bryan Singer has to leave to do Superman Returns and as a result, we got a fairly moderate Superman movie (I personally don't think it's bad but it's not good either) and two bad X-Men sequels. I think this one works so well because it really explores more on our favourite X-Men character, Wolverine. It's ashamed that Wolverine's back story was then crapped all over by X-Men Origins: Wolverine and the follow up story to X2 was crapped all over by X-Men 3. But I have to say, X2 may be the best in the X-Men franchise. But there's still hope in the series, especially after X-Men: First Class and The Wolverine. I'll give X2: X-Men United, a 10 out of 10 Iceman-cooled Dr Pepper's.

Click below to view the trailer

Where's the chess playing scene?

There must always be a chess playing scene when Charles and Eric is around.

Think there's nothing wrong with X2? Think again... click below:

 

X-Men (2000)

"The war is still coming, Charles, and I intend to fight it. By any means necessary."-Magneto
"And I will always be there, old friend."-Professor X

Directed by Bryan Singer who later directed the sequel X2, Superman Returns, Valkyrie and the most recently released Jack the Giant Slayer, comes this revolutionary Superheroes movie that put Superhero back in the history of cinema. X-Men tells the story of two mutants, Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) and Rogue (Anna Paquin) who cursed by their special mutation that gives them special abilities had to live off in social isolation until they meet Professor Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart), a telepathic mutant runs a school for mutants and who believes that mutants can live among the people in the world in peace. When the world becomes fearful of a rising population of mutants, he and his team of X-Men consisting of Jean Grey (Famke Janssen), Cyclops (James Marsden) and Storm (Halle Berry) have to go against Magneto (Ian McKellen) who seeks to bring a new threat to the human race, with his team of mutants consisting of Sabretooth (Tyler Mane), Toad (Ray Park), Mystique (Rebecca Romijin).

 Does this remind you of Iron Man 3 and the Hall of armor?

After watching the recently released The Wolverine, I decided to pick up on the X-Men series and watch it all over again. So, this is my review of the X-Men with looking through the lens of my mind that  has already been filled the background of all the previous X-Men film. This first in the series brought back a lot of nostalgia, especially reminded me of how simple and uncomplicated X-Men is, as well as what makes X-Men so loved by fans around the world. As a standalone movie, it's perfect. It essentially took out the essence of what we love about the comic book and the original animated series which I grew up with and turned it into a great comic book movie.

What does Storm do in the movie? I mean seriously. Jean Grey, Wolverine and Cyclops work a love triangle, Charles have a cause and fight against Magneto, Rogue has social isolation issue, a reflection of all mutants. Storm does what?

Although it's based on a team based comic book, it essentially follows and focuses on the character of Wolverine and Rogue. It's more character driven in the background and a setting of a bigger story, which then gives room for character development. Wolverine is introduced as a selfish bastard who doesn't give a shit about anybody and anything while being haunted with his loss memories of his past. That was the Wolverine that we've all been introduced and loved. He then developed a sense of humanity when Rogue comes into his life and in the end, became selfless and sacrifice himself in order to save Rogue, as well as being a father figure to her. Rogue on the other hand, started off as an isolated teenager trying to run away from people to finding a place in the world among people very much like her and accepting her for who she is. Professor X and Magneto played out the bigger story of which Wolverine and Rogue's story got caught up in. There's a coming war between the mutants with Professor X and Magneto taking the lead at each side respectively, one for good and the other for evil.

 Although entitled the X-Men, it really focuses on Wolverine and Rogue's story

Unlike the comic book, this movie explores a much larger theme, essentially that of persecution for being different. It's no surprise that Bryan Singer started the film in a Jewish concentration camp during World War Two. The hatred and persecution of the Jews in that era resembles the persecution and hatred of the mutants of this era in the film. It also established very quickly the reason and the background why Magneto take charge in not only being on the defensive side of the mutants but on the offensive as well. He just didn't want to see it happening all over again. Charles Xavier, on the other hand, is not only trying to prevent the war between mutants and normal people but also seeks to bring young isolated mutants, to not only give them a place of acceptance but to also develop and hon their abilities for the greater good. In some way, it does bring a relevant message to today's racism and superior/inferior complex in some country. Do you choose to be Magneto's cause in fighting back the offense hurl at you for being different or do you choose Charles Xavier's way to use your differences to not only pioneer something great into the world, but also to help others like you? Or like me, I rather be a Wolverine and be a bad ass.

What if everything that happens in the X-Men is just a game of Chess
 being played by Prof X and Magneto and everyone else are just pawns?!

Special effects wise, they are a bit dated by now but I'm still amazed by their quality. I don't know about you but Wolverine claws looked a lot more realistic compare to the recent movies, especially that of Origins which has more CG claws than real ones. Some fight scenes do come off a bit silly now, you can tell there's wire work involved in some scene, especially when Sabretooth tries to throw Wolverine off the statue of Liberty and he suddenly his momentum slowed in the air, making him appear floating for a moment. But otherwise, it's good to see real police cars get thrown up and a real train gets ripped apart by Magneto, which by today's standard would have resorted to CGI. But when it comes to the CGI, Mystique's shape shifting abilities still look impressive and the Magneto using his powers to toy with the police still looks very believable.

Wolverine is perhaps the most marketable character in the X-Men franchise,

so much so that FOX had to put two of him in this one.

Action wise, it's enjoyable. The best fight scene among all the mutant fights in this film, is actually between Mystique and Wolverine. Mystique had a playful attitude towards Wolverine and I was caught surprised with the twist when Mystique is playing the impostor. Toad's fights were full of taunt and there's a moment when he throws Storm down the elevator shaft, he swung a metal beam much like Darth Maul's double bladed lightsaber. As for its humor side, there's a comic book reference about Wolverine's yellow spandex, although by now, I wish Hugh Jackman would put on the classic yellow spandex at least once... for the fans. And I cracked up when I see Wolverine give Cyclops The Claw. Another thing that I did like and I want to comment on is the soundtrack. It's scored by Michael Kamen who gave us the beautiful score to Band of Brothers TV miniseries. His X-Men theme is reminiscence to the classic X-men animated series which I grew up with and loved as a kid.

One of the most interesting fight scenes Wolverine is in to date,

way better off than fighting Deadpool or the Silver Samurai

Like I mentioned above, this film reminded me of a time when the story is not as complicated as in today's X-Men movies. We've now been introduced to so many uninteresting mutants, this film also made me miss the main team members that made us love the X-Men series, namely (apart from Wolverine) Storm, Cyclops, Rogue, Jean Grey, Professor X, Magneto and Mystique. By now we've also been treated with films that fleshed out this film's background and continues on the story of our characters in the future. There's still some jarring inconsistencies in the film's continuity when you watch it with the background of all the other stories in mind.

• Wolverine's flashbacks are so different from X-Men Origins: Wolverine. This is perhaps the most unforgivable part of the Origins to me. I really wish Fox or the filmmakers of Origin took time to watch X-Men and X2 before attempting to do a movie on Wolverine's background.
• Professor X claimed of not knowing how Magneto shield his mind, when in First Class it is established that Charles saw and knew Erik wearing Sebastian Shaw's helmet that could block Charles' telepathic powers.
• Professor X claimed that Magneto helped him build the Cerebro, when in First Class it is established that Dr Hank McCoy build the Cerebro.
• Also, Wolverine is a lot fiercer and has a don't-give-a-damn attitude in his introduction scene compare to the gentlemanly attitude he had in Origins and The Wolverine (although we can argue that he softens up during his time with the team.

I do wish FOX pays more careful attention to its details and continuity previously established in the other X-Men films. By now, there are so many inconsistencies in the film series that it becomes hard for fans to establish what actually takes place in-universe.

 If you didn't realize, Stan Lee does cameo for most of the Marvel movies

Click on Stan above to check out a Bad day for the X-Men

A wonderful, enjoyable, character driven comic book movie that reminds you what made the X-Men so special, especially that of Wolverine. This film brought out the nostalgia side of me and it makes me more excited for the next film: X-Men: Days of Future Past to be release next year. I'm tired of spin-offs, solo films and prequels, it's about time FOX get back the band together, continue on this series, and wash off the bad taste we got from X3 and X-Men Origins: Wolverine. I would give this one an 10 out of 10 "The Science of Physics" textbooks.

If you're wondering which book I'm referring to...

Click above for much nostalgia...

RED (2010)

 "Wow, this is just like Love Savage's Secret."- Sarah Ross

What's Spider-Pig doing there?

Directed by German director, Robert Schwentke, RED tells the story of Frank Moses (Bruce Willis), a retired black ops CIA agent, trying to lead a normal life when he and other ex-agent members are being targeted due to their ties to a secret mission in Guatemala. Sarah Ross (Mary-Louise Parker), a customer service agent who works for the GSA pension office in Kansas City, gets dragged along when Frank needs to find the other retired agents members involved in this mission; Joe Matheson (Morgan Freeman), Marvin Boggs (John Malkovich), Victoria Winters (Helen Mirren), while being pursued by CIA agent William Cooper (Karl Urban).

She brought a lot of class in this.

This is one of those movies where you just need to relax, don't do so much thinking and just enjoy the ride. With its tongue in cheek moments and action filled sequences, it's definitely an enjoyable film but as an audience, you begin to forget the peril and threat that these guys have to go through. I can only spot two scenes when there's some serious mood to it and felt that they're out of place in the whole film. The first being the part when one of the team member had to sacrifice himself in order for the rest to escape and the other one was when Cooper was on the phone with Frank and realized that his family is in danger. But those scene passed on and the consequences were dealt with very quickly, and we're back to more of the less serious moments and over the top action.

One of those cheesy over the top moments... Marvin facing a bazooka girl with only a revolver.

Guess the size of your gun doesn't matter.

As for its pacing, it's a lot slower in the beginning, taking time to build up the film and introduces Frank's character. It's perhaps I've watched this movie after watching the sequel, which was a lot more quicker in its pace. Also, unlike the second, the first half focuses on Frank and Sarah's story as the film then builds up to a more team focus movie, which makes up the second half. Bruce Willis' Frank Moses in this movie, feels a bit more serious compares to the second, there's less one liners during action sequences and he doesn't kid around very much. It's especially evident when he calls up Cooper and threatens to harm his family if the CIA ever does anything to Sarah. Not very John McClane in this one, but Bruce is still a great guy in his movies.

 Bruce has some solid Kung Fu moves for getting in and out of spinning cars.

As for the other cast members, they played their roles very well. John Malkovich's Marvin Boggs was really hilarious and goofy with his conspiracy paranoia character. Helen Mirren's Victoria Winters was really impressive, she carried herself in a very queenly manner and certainly stole the limelight when this lady gets behind a huge machine gun. Morgan Freeman's Joe Matheson doesn't have as much screen time as the rest and he doesn't do as much. But Morgan, as usual, has his charm and charisma and much of it would be from his voice. Apart from the background story being mention in his conversation with Frank, I find it hard to believe Joe is in the same league as the other team members. Morgan could possibly play as a retired jazz singer, but I find it less convincing that his character was once a superb CIA black ops agent. Now, maybe if you got him to fire a bazooka or a mini-gun...

Morgan Freeman is about to narrate this guy's torture.

Action wise, it's not bad. Some things were really over the top, especially the scene at the Mobile Terminal yard... Marvin got some crazy moves, but that's okay for this sort of film. I particularly like the fight between Cooper and Frank, both of them took plenty of beating from one another and it's good to see there's some blood on them after a nasty fight like that. There were also moments that was written really smart, the one that got me was how Frank got out of the CIA building by means of a fireman and how Sarah uses her wits after she clumsily dropped Frank's contact lens. I didn't see that one coming. As for the twist in the end, although I didn't expect it, there was no real shocker. For starters, I wasn't even concern over the mystery aspect of the plot. I just couldn't take that one seriously when so much of the action, lines and story was already light hearted and not taking itself seriously. So, the unveiling of the twist and who's the mastermind behind everything was just not as thrilling as expected.

Things get bloody between John McClane and Judge Dredd

What's to enjoy from this movie is really the action comedy of it, and to see our beloved actors and actresses on screen. The story is not compelling or engaging, but the action scenes are enjoyable and the characters were fun to watch. Compare to its sequel, I can't say which I like better. The slightly more serious Frank Moses came off a little better for this one, but I still love the tongue in cheek John McClane-y Frank Moses in the second one, and the second one has the action scenes and its comedy rammed up to the next level. But overall, both are enjoyable movies and the cast are a joy to watch. I would give this one a 7 out of 10 pink Pigs with grenade launchers in them.

Click below to watch the trailer

Guess the party's over now...

Imaginaerum (2012)

"I'll hope to hear the chords played again one day. Without them I'm lost in this nothingness."

A Finnish-Canadian film, directed and co-written by Storbe Harju as well as being developed and features the music band, Nightwish. Imaginaerum is a fantasy-musical film that tells the story of a 75 year old former musician, Thomas Whitman, who suffers from Dementia. After suffering a stroke and lying unconscious on the hospital bed, his estranged daughter begins to discover more about her father's life through series of written lyrics he kept in his safe. We also enter into Thomas' mind, a dream like fantasy world, as he tries to recall the events in his past as well as trying to recover memories most precious to him.

Follow the white rabbit?

This is perhaps the most interesting film I've seen. It's a rather unique film that blends art and music. It feels very much like a piece of an artwork or a poetry that's meant to bring out the aesthetic side of you and spur emotions and brings out a message to the audience. It has a theme reminiscence of the Christmas Carol and Alice in Wonderland, but it also conveys a message on life and death and holding on to what's most precious in life. There's also inspiration from Tim Burton's work, especially that of the design of the snowman, which is very similar to Jack Skellington from Nightmare before Christmas. The cinematography is brilliant, the scene works out like an artist canvas with the artist using the variety of colours to bring meaning to the art he's painting. Full of symbolism and imagery, that I don't think I'll ever get to fully understand what's going on at times. But I must say, it's a beautiful piece of artwork that gives you something to contemplate on.

There's a lot of symbolism and imagery with hidden meaning throughout the film.

Even the colours used has a meaning behind them.

 Sometimes, it feels like the film plays out like a really long music video. It showcased the music from the symphonic metal band, Nightwish. The music is just as important as the cinematography. There's a lot of meaning behind the lyrics which brings depth to what's portraying on scene. I bet a musician or a Nightwish fan or even a film student can appreciate and understand the meaning behind all of it. But I for one is left very intrigue of its meaning but not really up to analyzing everything. However, I really enjoyed the music. It's not only beautiful, but emotional and really brings out a lot of character to the scene.

This film is dedicated solely for Nightwish fans

 As far as the acting goes, it's just sub-par. But it's not very bad that it's a distraction, it works just enough to tell the story. There were scenes that features the band singing and playing. And if you're a Nightwish fan, you'll be happy to see Tuomas Holopainen had a significant role in the film. However, he doesn't do much acting in it. He also co-written the story and I'm curious if the story of Thomas had borrow elements from Tuomas' life story. As for the visual effects, I'm impressed by it. It's not as elaborate as Tim Burton's world, and like the acting, it's good enough to carry out the story without being a distraction.

There's a lot more going on in this film. You have to watch it several times to get a better understanding.

This one is quite cool. It shows how something in Thomas' past affects the events later in his life...

Inception Style

Overall, it feels to me like a very interesting artwork that blends cinematography, art and music. It would really appeals the aesthetic side of some people. There's just so much more to it with its music, lyrics, imagery and story, that if you take the time to watch several times, listen to the music, you'll be able to appreciate the beauty of the film to the fullest. But on face value, I find this film confusing at times and but very much intrigue, but it's not something I would watch if I want to be entertain or relax after a difficult day. But this film reminded me of a time when movies were all about art and not just a means for a money making in the film industry. I would give this an 3 out of 10 princess Arabesque snowglobe.

When I heard this dude speak, I thought Steve Martin's Inspector Jacques Clouseau is behind the mask.

The Wolverine (2013)

"Eternity can be a curse. The losses you have had to suffer...

A man can run out of things to care for, lose his purpose."

Not when you're Wolverine...

Directed by James Mangold who previously directed Walk the Line, 3:10 To Yuma and Knight and Day, The Wolverine takes place after the events of X-Men: The Last Stand and continues the story of  Logan (Hugh Jackman), famously known as Wolverine, the mutant with Adamantium claws and healing abilites, rendering him immortal. Trying to move on from his past and living in the wild, a Japanese girl named Yukio (Rila Fukushima) was sent to bring him back to Japan at the orders of an old friend, Yashida (Haruhiko Yamanouchi) whom Logan save during his time in Japan back in World War II. Now, the head of a multinational technology corporation but old and closing on to death, Yashida gives Logan a chance to reverse his healing abilities and become mortal. When his friend Yashida finally dies, his corporation and his daughter, Mariko (Tao Okamoto) and including Logan's life comes under threat from the Yakuza clan and even from within the corporation.

 I know she's a Japanese and all, but she still look a lot out of place in Japan as well.

Too often a comic book movie requires the hero to stop worldwide calamity, the smaller scope and the personal story works really well with this film. There's certainly a good story to tell when he's not only being an outsider as a mutant, but as a stranger in a very different world. What's more, he is made vulnerable when he loses his healing abilities and may actually have the potential to meet death. The story is conveyed rather well but not to its fullest potential. When the news of the next Wolverine sequel will take place in Japan and talks about him having to fight Samurai and ninjas, especially as showcased in the trailers that he will lose his healing abilities. I was thinking we could actually have a Wolverine movie that will truly unleashed him, but sad to say he still tamed and very much emotionally attach to his women and still very much a gentleman as in Origins: Wolverine. But compare to Origins, this is a much better movie and a story to tell. When I mentioned of not hitting to the fullest potential, I was referring to the character development of Logan, there's really not much there. I guess that's fine for Wolverine since he had lived for a long time and I think his character should be fully formed by now. But then again, don't you think there's something for him to learn or think about after being for the first time, vulnerable. Well, bub... apparently not.

I've always wanted Hugh Jackman to put on the yellow/brown and black spandex.

I thought this is a good opportunity to put him in a Samurai armor of brown and black.

But I'm guessing him going topless is not only cheap but marketable.

I'm actually glad they showcased Japan culture rather well, especially the mention of the ill-mannered act of Logan stabbing his chopsticks into his rice bowl. Japan is so full of culture and honour that having an uncultured and disrespectful person like Wolverine there, you expect more than blades to clash. It comes of a little humourous at times, especially seeing him being violated by the bath maids or him struggling with manners at a funeral. Despite showcasing the Japan culture, I think it's a little over the top when they start bringing in ninjas into the picture, especially when you bring them in overwhelming numbers and do unnecessary flips now and then. But having Wolverine come face to face with the warriors in black was really cool especially when they had to overkill him in order to bring him down.

I love it when they showcased Japanese culture properly.

I think the last time they did something like this was in The Last Samurai starring Tom Cruise.

Hugh Jackman once again, played his version of Wolverine excellently. I don't think I can carry on life if they ever recast Wolverine with another actor. As for the other cast, they played their roles well, including Rika Fukushima as Yokio. Although a little over the top, but I'm impressed that she gets all teary eyed when foretelling Logan of his doom. I must say the Japanese cast did a superb job in their roles, even their delivery of their English lines didn't come off too bad either. Not perfect, but not bad. I'm glad James Mangold retained the Japanese language in the film and uses English subtitles for the audience. It brought not only authenticity to the scenes but I can clearly tell the Japanese cast were so much more natural in their performance using their mother tongue. Now, I'm surprise at the significant role and screen time of the deceased Jean Grey had to be in, played by returning cast member, Famke Janssen. I thought she's going to be in one or two flashbacks, but apparently she's haunting Logan much like the way Mal intercepts Cobb's dream in Inception. But ultimately, I'm very well pleased with a former X-Men star returning to their roles on screen... I'm especially excited that at the end of the film, she's not the only one reprising her role...

As of now, I can't think of anyone who can play Wolverine other than Hugh Jackman.

Like Robert Downey Jr to Iron Man, he certainly owns this role.

As for the action scenes, the spotlight goes to the fight on top of the bullet train going 300mph. That was really exciting and humorous at one point when Wolverine had to use his wits to dispatch his enemy. As for his duel with Shingen Yashida in his Samurai armor, the Samurai blade and Wolverine's claws clashing were really impressive to watch but failed to engage me as an audience, primarily because Wolverine is no longer facing a threat. But as for the final fight with the Silver Samurai, he is clearly facing a threat, that for once his Adamantium steel is no match. The scene was really cool to watch but then again came off a little short and a little cliche. The final reveal of who is behind the Silver Samurai mask was actually predictable, especially since when Yukio mentioned a certain foresight that didn't come true. I was half-expecting the "predictability" would not come true when I saw the Samurai's head lobed off and I almost thought it was a robot, but it's good to know that the size of the armor is way bigger for a man to be in. If that didn't come true, I would end up scratching my head over the initially mysterious and confusing plot. The first two third of the movie does feel really unique on its own, but when Logan is brought into the lab it begins to feel a lot more like a generic comic book movie. It almost reminded me of the lab in the final scene of Origins, including the unleashing of the Silver Samurai is somewhat mirrors the unleashing of Deadpool as a final boss fight.

At least it ain't Deadpool

If you're into the comic book movies, you should know by now to STAY BACK for the POST-CREDIT scene. This is perhaps the best Post-credit scene I have ever seen, and should be modeled after by other comic book movies. It teased the upcoming movie, X-Men: Days of Future's Past. We've got enough of Wolverine's solo outings and it's about time he got back into the original team. I would give this an 8.5 out of 10 Adamantium Claws.

Click below to view the trailer.

Hugh Jackman as Jesus in the near future, maybe?

UPDATE: You know how I've always wanted Hugh Jackman to don the classic yellow/brown and black suit before he retires from this role. Well, there was a scene that completely cut which actually shows Yokio giving Logan a suit case with the iconic suit inside. Why would they cut this out?! Why?! Click below to view the alternate closing scene.

Turbo (2013)

 "Everybody’s got that one thing that makes them happy. For me, it’s terrifying blazing speed."- Theo

There's more to life than these, right?

From DreamWorks Animation studio that brought you Shrek, Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda and How To Train Your Dragon, comes a story about an ordinary garden snail named Theo (Ryan Reynolds), who had an extraordinary dream of becoming the fastest snail in the world. He had his dream finally comes true when a freak accident occur after he gets sucked into a racing car engine that uses Nitric Oxide. Now, super-powered with an amazing speed and renaming himself, Turbo, he tries to enter into the IndianaPolis 500 Racing tournament despite his brother Chet (Paul Giamatti) warning Theo that he could be killed. He finally finds help from a Taco truck driver, Tito (Michael Pena) and his friends at a run down strip mall, which includes a group of racing snails led by Whiplash (Samuel L Jackson), to enter him into the race which allows Turbo a chance to compete with his idol, Guy Gagne (Bill Harder).

I feel the need... the need for SPEED!

This movie uses the same premise as Pixar's Ratatouille where we have a certain theme going; in Ratatouille, it's all about cooking, and in Turbo, it's about racing, and we have our main character be in a completely disadvantage and unlikely to be in; Ratatouille: a rat, the disease carrying creature you wouldn't want to be preparing your food, and Turbo: a snail, the slowest animal on the planet that you wouldn't expect to be racing Formula one style. I mean, you even got Ratatouille's Remy and Turbo's Theo getting inspiration from their TV idols. The tables are then turned when events around our main character gives them a chance to fulfill their unlikely dream. There's also an element of the development in the relationship between the brother Theo and Chet which reminded me of the two gay shrimps from Happy Feet 2, where you got both of them going against each other and then have them dragged on into an adventure which later convinces the partner to realize there's more to their mundane and boring species' life, be it snails or shrimps.

Going all hyper-drive and warp speed

It's a no brainer that the snails stole the limelight. The snail characters were really hilarious and fun to watch. They even seem to know what they're doing compared to the humans and felt more like a SWAT team at times. Particularly, Samuel L Jackson's snail, Whiplash the leader of the crew. I loved his line about pretending not to hear what he just heard. It reminded me a lot of Sam's popular line from Pulp Fiction, "Say what again.. I dare you! I double dare you!"  The voice acting ain't that bad either. Ryan Reynolds did a brilliant job. His character had some charm to him. I really felt for Theo with his job at rotten tomatoes and his dream to race. Ryan nailed the snail perfectly. Design wise, the snails are really cute with their somewhat simplistic design and their big googly eyes and cute little whirly curly shells. I particularly like the cute snail animation, their snail movement through contracting and expanding their slimy muscular body and using their eyes like hands, banging on stuff, is quite cute and humorous. The design on the snail's racing shells were not that bad either. I quite like when they finally got the bill paid and they got higher ends parts and goes all transformers.

Don't you think it's a little racist to have Samuel L Jackson's snail all black? He's still cool by the way.

However, I can't say the same to the human characters. They weren't given as much attention as the snails. Not only their design were boring and less developed, with the exception for Guy Gagne, he did look like a caricature of stereotype Formula One racer. Many of the human characters do come off as somewhat annoying, especially Tito. Even the kid who recorded Turbo's race on the track was really annoying with his footage being repeated played and then autotuned. Not sure if the studio is expecting it to be a viral video by doing that, but it's downright annoying and nowhere close to being a double rainbow or Bed intruder. At the end of the film, the success of our human characters having the strip mall become a major attraction and had major success in their business was somewhat predictable and cliche. I was much happier with Theo achieving his dream than for our human characters having successful business.

Wait.. there's humans in this film?

The story was somewhat predictable. Apart from the racing scenes which felt a little bit more exciting, I was actually a little bored in the first 3/4 of the movie. I think this is because the concept had been used before as explained above. I just knew he was going to use his new superspeed powers to win the race and get his dream to come true. So, I wasn't really engage to the whole story until he loses his powers in the race. That's when you really begin to root for him when he's vulnerable and back to his snail limitation. Overall, this predictable plot has good character development and had some heart to it. I think this film would appeal more for children than adults, particularly boys. I would give this movie a 6 out of 10 Big Reds!

Click below to go TURBO drive into the trailer!

 Don't you think that energy drink has some salt content that could kill him?