Wednesday 23 March 2016

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice ... Faster than a sleeping pill

I WAS bored watching director Zack Snyder's Man of Steel (2013), and things haven't changed watching his sequel Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. This is because the film doesn't allow viewers time to empathise with either superhero. Just when you think you can get behind one cardboard superhero, Snyder whips you to another scene involving another superhero.
   Another big letdown is the purported battle between the two white superheroes. It's a misunderstanding that could have been resolved with both of them having a tete a tete. After all, I'm sure Superman didn't mean to wreak havoc of untold billions of dollars when he fought the evil General Zod at the end Man of Steel.

Friday 18 March 2016

13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi ... Baying for blood

A WAR film with tonnes of action is a perfect match for director Michael Bay's shaky camera and
non-stop editing style. Astute viewers know that Bay's editing is akin to someone having chilli flakes in his underwear; he just can't sit still.
   American war films (for example, Black Hawk Down and Lone Survivor) put outnumbered but brave and heavily-armed American troops in foreign conflicts and show that the soldiers, who have sweet families waiting for them at home, can beat the hell out of baying Muslim rebels.

Wednesday 16 March 2016

The Divergent Series: Allegiant (Part 1) ... Leading the way

THE drones in The Divergent Series: Allegiant (Part 1) are the most intriguing and interesting
parts in the film. Heck, if they were characters, I'd root for them. This is because they do most of the heavy lifting in this film about personalties.
  A person has three drones. With a swish of his hand, the drones pop out from behind his jacket and circle the air, hunting for prey to be destroyed or providing a bullet-proof shield.

Monday 7 March 2016

Zoolander No. 2 ... Unfashionable

I DIDN'T see Zoolander (2001), in which a clueless fashion model (Ben Stiller) is brainwashed into
killing the Malaysian prime minister. The film, naturally, was never shown in Malaysia.
   Now comes Zoolander No. 2, directed by Stiller, which tries so hard to be funny to spoof the fashion industry that it falls flat on its face. For instance, viewers are supposed to rejoice seeing Stiller's character get hit in the face three consecutive times with items thrown at him.

Wednesday 2 March 2016

London Has Fallen ... A new Rambo

THIS is the second Gerard Butler film that I've seen in less than a week, and I'm sorry to say the neither one struck a chord with me. Gods of Egypt has Butler at his bombastic best, while director Babak Najafi's London Has Fallen has Butler doing his best Rambo impersonation, as no amount of bullets and explosions can bring him down.
  I used to wonder how Rambo (Sylvester Stallone) went through his escapades untouched, and I'm wondering again how Secret Service agent Mike Banning (Butler) is practically invincible as he attempts to save the life of US President Benjamin Asher (Aaron Eckhart) in London.

Tuesday 1 March 2016

2016 Oscar results

  
Director Tom McCarthy and Josh Singer won
Best Original Screenplay for 'Spotlight'.