wtf dude r u some kind of a loser
A Nutshell Review: The Strangers
So when Underworld co-star Kate Beckinsale got to make a horror/thriller with Vacancy while waiting for the green light on a possible Underworld pre/sequel, Scott Speedman too had to do something equivalent, and so got himself signed up with The Strangers, written and directed by Bryan Bertino, which takes a fictional look at what it purports to be based on true events with regards to the senseless acts of violence committed against James Hoyt (Speedman) and Kristen McKay (Liv Tyler).
Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2008/07/strangers.html
A Nutshell Review: Hancock
I'll stick my neck out and state this: Should anyone tell you Hancock is not a good superhero movie, then that somebody probably isn't a superhero comic book fan to begin with. Or perhaps prefers the heroes as morally upright boy scouts with unexplainable fetish for lycra tights. And for those who reckon that the Hancock trailer had shown its hand, for once I thought that a trailer barely, and I mean barely, scratched the surface of what surprisingly was a thoroughly enjoyable story, which will take its stand proudly amongst this year's line up of comic book/super hero movies.
Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2008/07/hancock.html
A Nutshell Review: Deception
The big joke making its rounds here about this movie was in its promotional poster for this part of the world. Perhaps to the West, Maggie Q would be just the chick from MI:3 and didn't warrant top billing, or a photograph in its poster. Here, we have a badly pasted "extra" face of hers plastered on the poster, supposedly banking on her popularity with Asians. Only that as it turned out, she only has 5 minutes worth of screentime, appearing in black lacy lingerie, and doing nothing. If that's the case, then Natasha Henstridge should also be included in the poster, since she's famous for showing off her body in the Species movies, and continues to do so here to remind everyone she hasn't really lost it yet.
Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2008/07/deception.html
A Nutshell Review: It's a Boy Girl Thing
I know what you're saying. There are countless of movies out there involving body switches, either parental-kid (like Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis in Freaky Friday), and cross-gender, be it deliberate (like Amanda Bynes in She's The Man) or through inexplicable supernatural occurence (like Jack Neo's Just Follow Law, or The Hot Chick starring Rob Schneider and Rachel McAdams). Whatever the case is, it seems that such stories still can find a market and a demand, otherwise they wouldn't be made, will they? And comedies which arise from such situations almost always seem to recycle some jokes, removing plenty of lustre from what could have been funny, but not so, because of familiarity with the subject matter.
Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2008/07/its-boy-girl-thing.html
A Nutshell Review: 10 Promises To My Dog
You probably cannot count just how many doggie movies are out there, with its fair share coming out of Japan. Neither can I, and ever since Hachiko I thought none could stand up to the loyalty of that dog, but I guess I was wrong. You think you know the usual drill when it comes to stories about man's best friend, but I guess one can always count on the Japanese to weave a story based on much melodrama that somehow works, no matter if it at first glance might seem to be familiar.
Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2008/07/10-promises-to-my-dog-inu-to-watashi-no.html
A Nutshell Review: The Bank Job
If I remember it rightly, the very first time I saw Jason Statham star in a movie, it was in Guy Ritchie's Snatch, and since then he's had his fair share of crime capers ranging from the remake of The Italian Job where he starred as Handsome Rob, to mindless, high octane action movies like The Transporter series where he's the star vehicle (pardon the pun). While these movies can't possible earn him any action awards, you can't deny the fact that this guy's pretty charismatic in his own right, and I've no qualms about watching him play characters on either side of the fence, taking on his opponents in Crank or War, holding his own opposite Jet Li.
Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2008/07/bank-job.html
A Nutshell Review: Hellboy II: The Golden Army
Created by Mike Mignola, Hellboy is the devil from Hell who in a parallel universe, was summoned by the Nazis in a bid to save the Third Reich from crumbling. With the successful intervention of Allied soldiers and scientists, this kid devil was prevented from doing its intended deed, and being raised by the US in a secret lab, he gets conscripted to the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense to apply the lid on some X-Files worthy creatures who from time to time require a physical application of Hellboy's Right Hand of Doom to send them back to where they came from.
Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2008/07/hellboy-ii-golden-army.html
A Nutshell Review: Red Cliff
Red Cliff marks John Woo's return to his Asian filmmaking roots following his stint in Hollywood, and with a budget of US$80 million, many have touted this as a blockbuster epic that Asians would be proud of, especially one coming from Woo. A dream project of his, Red Cliff undoubtedly garnered plenty of buzz since Day One, and its casting has been nothing short of a musical chairs game, with actors revolving in and out of the door, especially when Chow Yun-Fat and Tony Leung Chiu-Wai had announced their departure from the project, only for the latter to return to fill in Chow's shoes, and Takeshi Kaneshiro to take over the void left by Leung.
Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2008/07/red-cliff-chi-bi.html
A Nutshell Review: Help Me Eros
I've got to admit that while I find it difficult to enjoy the works of Tsai Ming-liang and his protege Lee Kang-sheng, there's still something about it that still draws me to their movies, perhaps in a determined attempt to try and cut through the usual droning of themes like alienation and loneliness, to discover if there's anything else that I could connect to and hang on for the duration of the movie. I thought I'd find something here, but unfortunately it degenerated into something quite messy midway, before some redemption in the finale afforded some relief.
Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2008/07/help-me-eros-bang-bang-wo-ai-shen.html
A Nutshell Review: Live!
As reality television become staple programming, we have contestants playing games around the world, or just doing so on an island. We have those that propel some into instant fame upon winning a singing competition, and audience participation is key if ratings are to rocket through the sky. Live! allows the audience a little of behind the scenes action in a mockumentary that takes a look at how such programmes get conceived with always an eye looking at the ratings, and the other eye looking at potential revenue stream in the form of selling air time to advertisers.
Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2008/07/live.html
A Nutshell Review: Children of Glory
Nobody likes to be cheated against in sports, especially so when participating in national level events, and worse, having a supposedly neutral referee awarding dubious decisions that work against your favour, even if it's clear cut they're either receiving some kickbacks, or are genuinely blind. To the Hungarian water-polo team playing against their occupiers the Soviet Union in the 1950s, it meant bowing to rough tactics and having no respite at all.
Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2008/07/children-of-glory-szabadsg-szerelem.html
A Nutshell Review: The Dark Knight
Before you continue, as a Bat-fan I can't help it but to celebrate The Dark Knight because Christopher Nolan hit the nail squarely on the head again, giving us possibly THE definitive version of a Batman movie involving The Joker, wait, make that THE definitive Batman movie to date after Batman Begins, unless he tops The Dark Knight with a follow up (Warner Brothers would be mad to hand over the mantle to somebody else at this point). So if you're looking for a standard review of the movie, go somewhere else. Otherwise, allow this fan to indulge in plenty of fawning over what went EXACTLY RIGHT, and with my SPOILER WARNING, do not proceed any further until you've seen the movie, and want to discuss it a bit. Here we go!
Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2008/07/dark-knight.html
A Nutshell Review: Art of the Devil 3 / Long Khong 2
I suppose Thai horror movies are still popular and continue to enjoy theatrical releases in Singapore, and black magic still intrigues and provide numerous amount of material from which movies draw upon to conjure another round of scary movies. Black Magic's the dark arts in some parts of cultures of the east, and I still remember vividly some of the Hong Kong movies which elevated the Thai black arts as something horrific and truly scary, for a kid anyway.
Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2008/07/art-of-devil-3-long-khong-2.html
A Nutshell Review: Wedding Daze
It seems that the success of the American Pie trilogy which starred Jason Biggs and spawned a franchise of spin off movies bearing the American Pie branding, had somewhat slapped an unfortunate tag on actor Biggs. Of all the movies to date that I recall him in, they inevitably revolve around teenagers, sex, or romantic comedies. He can't shake off this tag, and I will be curious to see him take a big leap out of this unwarranted comfort zone, unless of course these are roles that appeal to him, and pays his bills anyway. What makes it ideal for him in roles as these, is his average everyday man looks and attitude.
Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2008/07/wedding-daze-pleasure-of-your-company.html
A Nutshell Review: The X-Files: I Want To Believe
It's not hard to imagine how time flies, when you realize that one of your best loved television series of all time had already ended its run, and you reminisce the times back when one of your weekend nights revolved around sitting in a bunk with your army mates, all glued to what Chris Carter had conjured as adventures for the two best known goggle box FBI agents, Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson). While we always needed to crank up the volume to try and make sense of the murmurs involving shadow governments and secret conspiracies, our favourite episodes almost unanimously were those one-off ones, so called the "monster" episodes.
Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2008/07/x-files-i-want-to-believe.html
A Nutshell Review: The Spirit Compendium
Going by the synopsis, stills and posters, one would have expected a supernatural thriller at the very least. But you know what they say about expectations, and this being the first feature film of writer-director Foo Fung Koon, I have had friends who have given me that wry look and stifled laughter when I told them that I am prepared to be scared. And the usual trappings of a first film, with its raw delivery and unpolished feel, comes an accidental, unintentional comedy.
Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2008/07/spirit-compendium.html
A Nutshell Review: The Book of Revelation
You'd be forgiven if you thought that this movie was nothing more than the final chapter of the biblical text. Although itself based on a novel, this is a far cry from doomsday, though for the lead character, his life has been made a living hell for the sheer psychological and physical torture he goes through even after his unfortunate ordeal. And it does provoke some thought into the issues it put on screen, though it doesn't provide any answers, which I suppose in a real world equivalent, it's likely to remain under wraps too, for the shame.
Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2008/07/book-of-revelation.html
A Nutshell Review: Strange Wilderness
One of the reasons why I decided to watch this, is because I needed a comedy to laugh at, if it's not possible to laugh together with it. The DVD is already available at the shops, but I don't think I'm ready to fork out a Code 1 DVD price for what's essentially a short comedic film which is based from a Saturday Night Life comedy skit. Written by the same creative team of Peter Gaulke and Fred Wolf with the latter taking on directorial duties as well, Strange Wilderness delivered some genuine laughs, but only if you're tolerant of being insensitive to the kind of subject the film makes fun of.
Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2008/07/strange-wilderness.html
A Nutshell Review: Under the Same Moon
It's been a while since I experienced in the movies, a mother's love for her young child, and vice versa, being the primary focus of the film, especially with one that dealt with distance and longing. The last one that truly moved me was the Japanese film Be With You, and no prizes for guessing that this Mexican number Under the Same Moon will join its ranks.
Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2008/07/under-same-moon-la-misma-luna.html
A Nutshell Review: Money No Enough 2
I am quite unsure why Jack Neo had decided to call this "Money No Enough" 2, because frankly it's a departure from the crux of the original movie, and the characters too are totally different, despite starring the same main trio of himself, Mark Lee and Henry Thia. Perhaps it's to bank on the resounding box office success of its predecessor some 10 years ago in getting the crowds back into the halls, in an attempt to repeat that miracle.
Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2008/07/money-no-enough-2-2.html
A Nutshell Review: A Month of Hungry Ghosts
Today marks the exact date to the start of the month long Lunar 7th Month, where the Chinese believe the gates of Hell are supposedly opened, and the “good brothers” (aka spirits both of the malevolent and the benevolent kind) roam the Earth as their vacation destination not by choice. They get to feast on the food offerings, and get pocket money from the Hell currency that humans provide, with entertainment either in the form of the more traditional Opera and puppet shows, or the glitz and glamour from Getai (“song-stage”) shows where singers belt out evergreens and the latest contemporary songs.
Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2008/08/month-of-hungry-ghosts.html
A Nutshell Review: The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
A friend was curious why I wanted to give this show a chance. The answer is simple, and I will not deny that I sort of enjoyed the free-wheeling, breezy summer action-adventure-comedy with a generous dose of special effects thrown in, which the Mummy and The Mummy Returns offered, together with the great chemistry between Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz and John Hannah. But this installment of Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, came hot on the heels of the Hollywood bandwagon of raiding their own franchises in order to rake in millions around the world, and therefore fell short on many counts.
Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2008/08/mummy-tomb-of-dragon-emperor.html
A Nutshell Review: Mad About English
By the time you read this, the Beijing Olympics 2008 is already in full swing, and the news leading up to it have been the concerns about the pollution levels affecting athletes' performances, as well as how the authorities have taken measures to ensure that all visitors get to enjoy an experience they'll never forget. Local documentarians have found the run up to the Olympic event monumental enough to craft documentaries around it, and earlier this year we have seen Tan Siok Siok's Boomtown Beijing, which provided some insights into how the Games had impacted and inpsired the ordinary folks. Lian Pek's Mad About English too get set during this period of preparation in Beijing.
Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2008/08/mad-about-english.html
A Nutshell Review: Pathology
From the West with the latest Saw installment or the indie Unrest, to the Asian counterpart in Body #19, dead bodies/cadavers continue to be milked for cinematic horror, not that you'd expect them to turn into zombies and start craving for human flesh, but for the amount of gore that an autopsy can provide when it's shown in your face, with skin and fat pulled back using tools of the trade, coupled with internal organs on display to challenge your stomach.
Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2008/08/pathology.html