REVIEW: Julie & Julia

Plot: Julie & Julia is a comedy-drama written and directed by Nora Ephron. The film depicts events in the life of chef Julia Child in the early years in her culinary career, contrasting her life with Julie Powell, who aspires to cook all 524 recipes from Child's cookbook during a single year.

Meryll Streep and Amy Adams do it again - this time in a less serious masterpiece. Previously this dynamic duo starred in Doubt, together with Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Viola Davis, forming one of the best casts of our time. Meryll Streep plays the role of the wonderfully lovable and delightfully eccentric Julia, while Amy Adams plays the very sincere and ambitious Julie. Both of them were made for this film. And once again, Alexandre Desplat, master musician, sprinkles his creative prowess all over with his 'signature sounds.' Julie & Julia is pleasurable and a delight to watch.

Rating: 4/5

REVIEW: Coco Before Chanel

Plot: She's both a seamstress for the performers and a singer, earning the nickname Coco from the song she sings nightly with her sister. A liaison with Baron Balsan gives her an entree into French society and a chance to develop her gift for designing increasingly popular hats. When she falls in love with English businessman Arthur Capel further opportunities open up, though life becomes ever more complicated.

This has to be at least nominated for an Oscar or two. This wonderful film brings you to France, during the time of fashion's revolution. It somehow shows how modern-day fashion first came about, from the roots of the creators. Special mentions: Anne Fontaine(brilliant directing), Audrey Tautou(who deserves an Oscar), the rest of the cast(for equally sterling performances) and Alexandre Desplat(who never fails to beautify an already beautiful work of art with his ingenious music). Coco Before Chanel is an underestimated French masterpiece that seems to me like the best film of the year so far. Oscar, take note.

Rating: 5/5

REVIEW: Up

Plot: By tying thousands of balloon to his home, 78-year-old Carl Fredricksen sets out to fulfill his lifelong dream to see the wilds of South America. Right after lifting off, however, he learns he isn't alone on his journey, since Russell, a wilderness explorer 70 years his junior, has inadvertently become a stowaway on the trip.

Bloody Beautiful. Up instantly became an all-time classic, complete with an out-of-this-world feeling attached. This is by far one of the most artistic animated features of our time, adding another medal to Pixar's extensive collection of gems. Up boasts a solid storyline, quirky and lovable characters, fancy visual effects that complemented the ingenious colour scheme and a memorable soundtrack.

Applause for visionary Pete Docter.

Rating: 4.5/5

REVIEW: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Plot: As Harry Potter begins his 6th year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, he discovers an old book marked mysteriously "This book is the property of the Half-Blood Prince" and begins to learn more about Lord Voldemort's dark past.

Breath-taking. For those of you who are not impressed because of the book to screen adaption, lighten up and think again. What more could they have done? Maybe they should have included that fight scene at the last part, but that's all. Any longer and it would have got messy. Watch it closely and you'll find that so much had gone into perfecting every scene, every character and every moment. A standing ovation for the crew - costume, directing, set design, visual effects, etc. - and the beautifully brilliant British cast. Stop frowning. This one's one of the best Potter films so far.

Rating: 4.5/5

REVIEW: Transformers Revenge of the Fallen

Plot: Decepticon forces return to Earth on a mission to take Sam Witwicky prisoner, after the young hero learns the truth about the ancient origins of the Transformers. Joining the mission to protect humankind is Optimus Prime, who forms an alliance with international armies for a second epic battle.

I didn't manage to watch the first one, but i heard it was so much better than this one. I was not impressed by this sequel, it is an example of how sequels can go wrong. I didn't like the way and pace that the story was told. Nevertheless, the marvelous visual effects will stun you. Thank goodness for Hollywood.

Rating: 2.5/5

REVIEW: Ice Age 3: Dawn of inosaurs

Plot: When Sid's attempt to adopt three dinosaur eggs gets him abducted by their real mother to an underground lost world, his friends attempt to rescue him.

Yet another fun-filled adventure set in the Ice Age, this one, also, is intelligent and humorous at a moderate and balanced rate. Better than I'd expected. But then again, there is a limit to how great such a film can be.

Rating: 4/5

REVIEW: Ghosts of Girlfriends Past

Plot: A bachelor is haunted by the ghosts of his past girlfriends at his younger brother's wedding.

Sigh... I'm not impressed. In fact, i'm disappointed to have wasted my time and money. The storyline is so boring and the cast is not impressive at all. So sorry.

Rating: 1.5/5

REVIEW: Terminator Salvation

Plot: After Skynet has destroyed much of humanity in a nuclear holocaust, a group of survivors led by John Connor struggles to keep the machines from finishing the job.

Kudos to the sound engineers and technicians who filled up the visuals and made it all work, with maximal impact. T4 is highly and aesthetically entertaining, and should be examplified by other film makers of this genre.

Rating: 4/5

REVIEW: Drag Me to Hell

Plot: A loan officer ordered to evict an old woman from her home finds herself the recipient of a supernatural curse, which turns her life into a living hell. Desperate, she turns to a seer to try and save her soul, while evil forces work to push her to a breaking point.

A very good laugh for me. If you were to narrate this whole story, it just sounds stupid. Some scary parts do not make sense and could be mistaken for a wacky... THE MASK-ish remake that failed. Honestly, it isn't a scary film.

Rating: 2.5/5

REVIEW: State of Play

This film is about how a few investigative journalists track down the crook behind a very mysterious murder of a congressman's mistress.

A very suspenseful and fast-paced political thriller, categorized under the either-you-like-it-or-you-don't section. Amazing performances by Russel Crowe and Helen Mirren. A good watch, but rather forgettable.

Rating: 4/5

REVIEW: Star Trek

Plot: Journey through space and time.

Star Trek was a fun watch, though I did get confused with the plot a little. Credits for superb visual and, especially, audio effects.

Rating: 4/5

REVIEW: X MEN Origins Wolverine

Plot: Hugh Jackman stars in the tracing of Wolverine from his earliest beginnings. X MEN Origins Wolverine explains some untold details found in the trilogy and how the mutants came to be.

This one's as good as the trilogy. It is highly entertaining, with great visual effects and an OK storyline. However, for some odd reason, it doesn't really leave a long-lasting impression on me, if you know what i mean. And i must add that transitions were quite bad - some were actually awkward... So i'm not sure about the editing crew.

Rating: 3.5/5

REVIEW: 17 Again

Plot: A middle-aged man magically transforms into his 17 year old body and decides to redo high school, while helping out his kids and maybe fixing his marital tie.

I find this irritatingly unoriginal. The whole idea wasn't tied up together with proper special effects. We've seen this before - Freaky Friday, and other insignificant ones that followed. It is also quite cheesy. Which i don't really enjoy. And i think Zac Efron is quite overrated. Sorry.

Rating: 2/5

REVIEW: Fast & Furious 4

Plot: When a crime brings them back to L.A., fugitive ex-con Dom (Diesel) reignites his feud with agent Brian O'Connor (Walker). But as they are forced to confront a shared enemy, Dom and Brian must give in to an uncertain new trust if they hope to outmaneuver him. And from convoy heists to precision tunnel crawls across international lines, two men find the best way to get revenge: push the limits of whats possible behind the wheel.

Listen - there's race, and there's chase. You would expect this one, of all four especially, to have good race sequences. Sad to say, it was a disappointment. I was at first blown away by the intensity and stunning graphics in the first scene. However, the standard plunged immediately into the next scene. This is not the best of the franchise. But maybe they deserve some credit for the visual effects.
Rating: 3/5

REVIEW: Gran Torino

Plot: Walt Kowolski, a war veteran, is an old, cantankerous man who lives alone. His Hmong neighbours are under threat by a neighbourhood gang, who originally tries to lure naive Thao(from nextdoor) to steal Walt's most prized posession, his 1972 Gran Torino, a stunning vintage car.

Clint Eastwood delivers again and this time he deserves a standing ovation. He takes on a very apt role as a conclusion to his long and successful career. 'Dirty Harry' proves that old guys can be cool and amazing. In this masterpiece, Eastwood skillfully takes on the roles of lead actor, director, composer and vocalist. He remains a legend and this one proves the point yet again.

Rating: 4/5

REVIEW: Departures

Plot: A cello player's dream is crushed when his orchestra is dissolved. looking for a job, he accidentally lands himself in a small company that deals with death ceremonies. He is reluctant at first, but soon gets the hang of it. He faces 3 separate problems; with his wife, his father and his mother.

Departures wonderfully depicts Japanese funeral processions, fitting in good humour at the same time. However, it does not deliver a dark tale, but rather a melancholic one, in a way that maintains respect to death. it shows that death is peaceful and earning a living off the dead is not such a bad thing. It got a bit draggy, but... its Japanese. the jokes are really good, and the script was well-developed. By the way, Departures is the Best Foreign Language Film at this year's Academy Awards, beating the Golden Globe winner, Waltz with Bashir(Israel).
Rating: 4.5

OSCAR TALK: Best Picture

Nominated:

• The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (5)
  
• Frost/Nixon (4)
  
• Milk
• The Reader
• Slumdog Millionaire (5)

Frost/Nixon was a great watch, but clearly the front-runners are Slumdog Millionaire and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. You might have heard that Slumdog has been winning the race to the Oscars throughout this award season, grabbing almost all of the Best Picture awards. Having watched both, however, I don't see why that is. In fact, Button left on me a greater impression than Slumdog. The filmmakers' skills are very comparable (and highly impressive) but i feel that Button has a better production design. I'd like to commend the following people who are artists by nature, having brought us these two jewels of film.

Slumdog Millionaire (10 Nominations)

• Danny Boyle (Director)
• Simon Beaufoy (Screenplay)

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button(13 Nominations)

• David Fincher (Director)
• Eric Roth (Screenplay)

Nevertheless, only one will come out tops, and I'm counting on either of these two films to win the top prize.

REVIEW: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Plot: A boy is born old and ages in reverse, seeing the upside of life, which is sometimes unfair. His life story is told straight from his diary, read out by his daughter to the love of his life, who happens to be dying.

One word - Beautiful. And in every aspect, it is and it lives up to its expectation. It is a very captivating look at the life of a normal person with a slight twist to life. It makes you want more. It also makes you look at life in a different perspective. It's like one of those few times when you visit a museum, and find a portrait that you want to keep looking at forever. Because it touches you so deeply. Yes, this film is greatly emotional. This film also boasts cinematography, art direction and production design at their best. If you have the final ten dollars of your life in your hand, watch this. Chances are, you won't regret it.
Rating: 5

REVIEW: Slumdog Millionaire

Plot: this is the life story of a boy called Jamal Malik, who was brought up in the slums of India. He takes part in the popular game show, Who Wants to be a Millionaire? and surprises everyone, but with a previously unknown motive.

This will probably take the cake at this year's Oscars as Best Picture.The first word i said when the credits rolled was 'wow' and it really did stun me for a while. This film embodies what the perfect film is as it is an all-rounder; it has been perfected in every aspect, including screenplay, acting, directing, visual effects and the entertainment factor. I take my hat off to Danny Boyle and Simon Beaufoy who have made this movie a masterpiece.

Rating: 5

REVIEW: Doubt

Plot: The principal of a Catholic high school in the Bronx accuses the Pastor of paedophilia, but with little evidence. However, she is very sure of it and goes out of her way to ensure justice prevails. Whether she succeeds or not, it depends how you look at the whole situation.

This was originally a play, which went on to win a Pulitzer Prize. So undoubtedly(pun not intended), then script is phenomenal and one of a kind. It may get boring for those who prefer mainstream action-thrillers (and it is the total opposite) but the stellar acting really makes up for it.Takes a listener to understand this one, and it really makes you think.
Rating: 4

REVIEW: Frost/Nixon

Plot: this story revolves around the series of intense interviews of former president Richard Nixon by celebrity journalist David Frost. Whilst attempting to uncover the truth behind the Watergate scandal, Frost finds himself in a two way battle.

This one's a real eye-opener. It is very intense and credit should be given to the writers. It is amazing to see how real and dramatic an interview can get. However, the main attraction here is Tony award winning Frank Langella, who masterfully pulls off the role of the former President. His acting is amazing and deserves an award or two.

Rating: 4

COMING SOON

DOUBT, SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE, THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON and a story i'm writing called CASH and the CONJURER

REVIEW: Changeling

Plot: this thriller/drama traces the life of Christine Collins whose son one day in 1926 is kidnapped. She faces a corrupted police force who tries to hide the fact that they are failures. A murder mystery follows and Christine is set free from asylum. the bloody truth is finally revealed.

Kudos to Clint Eastwood and Angelina Jolie who make this movie a success. the tale is very original, yet surprisingly, it is a true story. Great art direction. However, i think the same tune was used too often.

Rating: 4.5

REVIEW: Yes Man

plot: Carl attends a ground-breaking seminar which made him say yes to everything in life. things start to go his way but when he says yes to a few things unwillingly, he gets confused and things go awry.

this is not Jim Carey's best role. better ones were Fun with Dick and Jane and Bruce Almighty. It is full of laughs, however, and is really fun to watch. However, i found myself expecting more at the end of the show.

Rating: 3.5

REVIEW: Australia

plot: This love/adventure story depicts the voyage of an english lady who owns property in Australia. Her herd of cows is dispersed all over the place and other people are trying tom sabotage her. Together with her workers, they herd the cows to a place where they sell it for money. the issue of discrimination against aboriginals is explored.

This tale is beautiful and immersive. The cast did an amazing job, and so did the director in portraying olden day Australia.

Rating: 4

REVIEW: Transporter 3

Plot: i cant remember. there's a man who was forced to transport a lady to Hungary.

Clearly its not a good film. it is very forgettable and cliche. this kind of movies is dying out and they deserve to be seen once only. It is quite fun though, but it doesnt make the cut for me.

rating: 2.5

The Best of 2008

2008 saw very few great films as compared to previous years. However, there are 3 outstanding films which i feel take the cake. In third place is Body of Lies, starring Russel Crowe and Leo Dicaprio. It traces the story of a CIA worker in the face of terrorism today. It is very gripping and quite an eye-opener. Number 2 is WALL-E. It is the story of a little robot who, after cleaning the earth for centuries, changes the fate of human life. It is very original and the characters are so lovable. Taking the top spot is The Dark Knight, starring Christian Bale and the late Heath Ledger, who played the role of the Joker so well that the world was so moved by a single comicbooksuperhero movie. His performance was deliciously dark and made the Joker my all-time favourite villain. This film will not be forgotten in many years to come.