The Reader

A young student (Michael) who has an affair with an elder woman (Hanna),

visits her apartment and reads to her literature books,

everytime before they have sex.


The Reader is a film adaptation based on the German novel of the same name.

It tells a story of a lawyer who had an affair with an older woman, Hanna (portrayed by Kate Winslet) when he was a teenager.

Years later, Hanna is accused for commited war crimes as she was one of the SS guards who responsible to the death march.


Michael feels guilty for loving a war criminal, but then he found that Hanna has a secret that she considers worse than her Nazi past.

she is illiterate!

~she got no education and she don't know how to read or write~

Because of inferiority, and to protect her secret, Hanna willing to accept full responsibility for the death of 300Jews in the death march!!!

Kate Winslet gives us a stunning performance to show her character's frustration, panic, shame and innocence.

It is so sad and heartbreaking when you see Hanna is being accused by the judge,jury and other defendants.

She cannot speak something to defend herself.


But ofcourse, in the trial scene, it makes me think and think again....

what does "illiterate" has to do with commiting a war crime???

Burning 300Jews doesnt require your reading skill right?

Back to the human morality issue, is "education" that important to teach us about what is right or wrong???


Hanna think that she was just fullfilled her duty as a SS guards,

she joined Nazi because the party offered her a job.

For an innocence woman like her, who are not educated about history,moral,politics and war....

She didnt realize that killing 300Jews is a wrong thing to do....

She did it, she is guilty, only she is not.

What do you think?


The Reader is a great movie,

the best Kate Winslet's movie I have ever watched....

She won Oscar and Golden Globe awards for this movie!!!


~don't miss it~

Valkyrie

Tom Cruise's fourth mission impossible, is to kill Adolf Hitler.

Based on the true story, "Valkyrie" is a terrific historical thriller.
Basically the story is about the failed attempt of assassination to Hitler.

Yes, you can predict the ending if you know the history and facts.
But still, the solid screenplay brings you a breathtaking roller-coaster ride!!!

The setting, colour, costume are all very convincing.
They success to create a dark, scary and thrilling atmosphere of Nazi era.

Bryan Singer makes a great come back after his huge dissapointment of "Superman Returns".
No more superheroes, no more science-fiction.
And this time, we can see a mature directing technique by him,
no more horrible dialogue and dumb villains.

Thanks to the music and score, it is really good.
Audiences will hold their breath everytime Hitler appear, he looks so evil.
Every single movement by Tom Cruise when he is doing his "mission impossible", makes the audiences sweat.

Despite the criticism and controversial issue, I found that Tom Cruise can really act.
Well, not as good as Tom Hanks and Russell Crowe, but....
Who says good-looking actor can't act???

Ofcourse, the controversial issue will always rise when your story touch about religion, race, politics, and war.
Some people do not like Tom Cruise to take the role.
Some people do not like the movie to worship this Nazi officer.

But, if you do not bring these topics into the movie,
I dare to make a fair comment,
Tom Cruise act well in the movie!

"Valkyrie" is a very pure and incredible story.
It did not touch too much on love and family.
Tom Cruise's wife only appear for two, or three scenes in the movie.

The movie is very focus on the plot!
Not much of unnecessary character development!!
Well-done!!!

赤壁决战天下 Red Cliff Part 2

赤壁之战，是三国演义里最重要,

规模最大，人才最集中的战事。

看了“赤壁- 决战天下”，我个人觉得下半部并不比上半部拍得更突出。

当然，除了亚洲国家，其余的地区所上映的“赤壁”是浓缩版的电影，
并没有分上半部或下半部。

所以，电影没有突破，乃是预料中事。

吴宇森的风格在“赤壁”里是模糊的，除了白鸽子，你很难捉摸到他的拍摄手法。

长话短说，

这电影值不值得看？

值得！

看电脑特技，看大场面，看武打戏，都值回票价了。

上半部好看，还是下半部好看？

下半部！

电影无须再介绍人物背景，一气呵成地把故事说得非常流畅。

我个人并不是很喜欢上半部，觉得剪接，transition 和一些摄影手法很奇怪。
很不干净，失去了美感。

上半部所交代的人物情节更是闷透了，
高潮只在“孔明智激周瑜”和“八卦阵”上。

但，下半部不再婆婆妈妈，
单刀直入，干净利落。
闷场并不是没有，
但总得来说拍得尚算有节奏有水准。

孔明草船借箭一幕拍得够震撼。
周瑜的离间计衬托得锦上添花。

这场戏是我最喜欢的。

但，整部电影实在有太多的战争场面了，让我看了目不暇给，
尤其是“七星坛孔明祭风”，“火烧连环船” 和 “火烧赤壁”的高潮戏，让我看得眼花缭乱。

电影似乎犯下了 “珍珠港” 的老毛病。
Budget太多，有时候弄巧反拙，便会失去了文戏的平衡。

梁朝伟和金城武把各自的角色都演的不错，
瑜亮两大奇才之间的化学效应更是电影的最大看头！

两人虽是盟友，但不忘来个公平挑战，斗智斗力。
不但愿意接受军法处置，也胆敢打赌人头。
很喜欢他们俩在城门口舌战的一幕，很精彩！

可惜的是，
吴宇森并没有善用到他们两人。
很失望！

不能怪他，毕竟他也是个动作片导演。

当然，“赤壁”仍然会是近年来的吴宇森代表作。
亚洲人想拍史诗战争片?

除了要过张艺谋这关，

也必须达到吴宇森在“赤壁”里所定下的新标准。

[●REC]

A TV reporter and her cameraman cover

their nightshift at a fire station for their late show.
Somethings happen in an apartment nearby, fire alert.

And so, they follow the firemen to enter the building.
But once they get in, military seal off the building.

Well, next movie I wana recommend, is a 2007 Spanish horror film called
~[●REC]~

This is the original movie that has been remade by Hollywood entitled "Quarantine".
and I say....
~Most frightening cinematic experience ever~

I don't really know how to write a review for the movie of these two genre....
~cartoon, horror~

The story is very simple and not fresh.
Basically it's all about virus infection and zombie.

But, one main thing that distinguish [●REC] with other zombie movies is the shaky camerawork.
Shaky cam is a cinematography technique that is used to create unbalance and unstable image.
The camera movement and zoom are purposely make like an amateur's work.
To make it simple, audience watch the movie from the camera point-of-view.

You can see this technique in Blair Witch Project and Cloverfield....
it used "fake docu handheld" style to shoot the movie.
But personally, I prefer [●REC]

What so interesting about [●REC], is the scenario and incidents that happen inside the building.
All those characters are well-planned....their personalities,their position, their destiny.....

There are some scenes that is absolutely scary and terrifying.
You will see, and you will know....

I like the scene where the reporter and cameraman are trapped inside the room.
All the zombie waits to attack them outside the room.

But there is another "semi-zombie" waiting to get "activated" inside the toilet of the room.
Their safe area is getting smaller and smaller, how brilliant is this!!!

Everything you can see, is all part of the plan.
Clever, very clever!!!

They success to create unpredictable scenario in a predictable story....
I assure you, you will like the atmosphere, the feeling.
You can really experience it!!!

Not much of editing, visual efffects and conversation.
No music used at all.

Screaming,chaos,running,shouting.
The main actress did a fantastic job to carry audiences emotion!

I think this movie is now showing on Malaysia cinema.
(I'm not sure what takes it so long to arrive our big screen)

"Quarantine" was shown on cinema last December if I'm not mistaken.
I did not watch it, and I don't know is it good or not.

But for [●REC],
I think it is the most scary and terrifying movie in recent years!!!

Ong Bak 2

Tony Jaa plays Tien, a man who was born as a prince.
But after his parents murdered, Tien need to fight and steal for the bandits to survive.


Ong Bak 2 is the prequel to Ong Bak (which is Tony Jaa's debut film for leading role)
I didnt see any linkage between these both movies.

Ong Bak 2 is a historical epic movie, which is fictional ofcourse.
The setting, the costume, and the make up are so fantastic.

Tony Jaa plays multiple role in this production,
which include director, producer, action choreographer, stunt person, and actor, based on his idea and story.

The fighting sequence is so violent and breathtaking.
You can see amazing kickboxing, wrestling, swords, knife....
and all those Thailand martial art that I bet you never see before.
(definitely harmful than silat or keris!!!)

First impressive scene, is the crocodile fighting scene in the swamp.
The movie hits audiences' emotion right before Tony Jaa appear!!!
To make it simple, the action scene is already good even before Tony Jaa comes to the screen.
So, what happen after Tony Jaa appear???

He make the elephants kneel down.
As we all know, elephant is a sacred animal in Thailand.
What is the message Tony Jaa trying to bring? I am not so sure.

But personally, I think this scene is just used to show Tien's nobility.
"Even the elephants shall kneel down to him!"
I call him Tien the Tarzan....

Another impressive scene is the drunken fist.
You saw Jackie Chan and Beggar Su did this before, and now you can see how Tony Jaa fight like a Drunken Master.
The way he fight, is like doing breaking in hiphop dance, only he is better.
I call him Tien the Grasshopper.

The story is like a misture of Narnia(sequel) and Gladiator.
Another great come back revenge movie!!!
I call him Tien the Prince Caspian, or Tien the Spaniard.

There are also some ugly creatures, that fight like a leopard and crows(I am not so sure which animals they tried to imitate)
And that, clearly shows us that this movie need not to be watch as a historical movie.
Because it is a fictional story, blends with myth and legend, and being shown as a historical epic movie.

Things that I don't like?
Well....

The score of the movie is not bad, the feeling and mood is there.
But in some parts of the movie, the music did not fit the image at all.
And personally, I think it spoiled the great fighting scene.
Watch it....and you will know what I mean.

There are also some scenes that are so draggy, and I hate it!
The enthronement of the new king (ceremony of crown) is so boring, and I nearly fall asleep.

Ong Bak 2 left an open ending for the direct-sequel, Ong Bak3.
The story has not end yet.

I don't like how Ong Bak2 conclude the movie.
It leaves a large question mark (I mean, it is too huge) for the audience.
I don't really know what is the ending mean,
but I guess it has something to do with karma, and Buddhism teaching.

I saw a negative review by a Flixter user, and I found that it is so funny and interesting.
She said,

"Shud call the movie "Tony Jaa: The
Million Ways to Kick Everybody's Butts
using Every Region's Martial Arts"
with exclusive footage of "How to Climb
on an Elephant the
Extreme Way".

Plotless. Mindless. Kickass
Annoyance but still fun to
watch. "

Anyway, Ong Bak2 is still highly recommend from me!!!
I don't know how my friends get the movie ticket for me today, I thought it is not showing yet.
But....
Yay!!! What a surprise!!!

For those people who did not watch it yet, don't wait!!!