Avatar Movie Stuns and Mocks

Just home from watching Avatar. What an awesome movie. There's no denying the quality of the CGI work rendered. Outstanding doesn't even come close. My friend said that there were moments when he couldn't tell CGI from the real thing. That's a statement in testimony to what everyone else is raving about. The storyline was good too. Man join mission to replace brother, man goes undercover to figure out the enemy, man gets 'Stockholm Syndrome' and defects to the enemy side. Well that's the simplified jist without giving too much away. Sort of like Tom Cruise's The Last Samurai. To think that this film took James Cameron 14 years to make because the technology to fulfill his vision wasn't around after the Titanic also lends weight to the quality of the visual experience one is treated to. The movie is set is 2153 where laptops and displays are way cooler, just as we imagined. Stunning lah, and in some cases, jaw dropping mind boggling.

The deeper, more interesting plot of a mission to mine an obscenely priced mineral in a faraway planet with the support of the US military simply aches for parallels drawn to what we see in the world today. Some phrases used in the film that echoed today's situation for the US military were "shock and awe" and "pre-emptive strike". I made a scoffing sound when these phrases were said out, and I am sure they struck a familiar nerve with some of the audience. The idea of oppressive colonialism for plunder is so 1800s and yet James Cameron chose to extend this theme to the next century. Perhaps he's thinking we'd never grow up as a human race and seek to replay our sins on another planetary civilization. And the US firepower to outgun and outrun simply reflects the world situation too. There was a scene with a flame thrower used in the lush forest that reminded me of movies made of the Vietnam war. The idea of corporate might and right backed up with killing machines just sickens me. But it's a good idea put on film to warn folks about the dangers to letting this madness for money get into our heads.

Good movie. People should think about what all those pretty scenes mean too.

Quickie Fun

If you're looking for a good time, check out Apple Trailer page. Just the top 10 trailers to tickle your fancy and keep you smiling. And planning your cinema outings for 2009.

I have always wondered why there wasn't a TV programme that just featured movie trailers. They are so much fun to watch. I always enjoyed being early for movies to check out the trailers. All the anticipation and excitement about a film wrapped in a minute of action, drama, klaboois and kahbooms, kisses and hugs etc etc.

There's Star Trek and Terminator Salvation coming out this year. I got goose pimples listening to the "tah-dum tah-dum tah-dum" in the Terminator trailer. Woof.

Zack And Miri Make A Porno

Need some insane humour in your life? Go watch Zack and Miri Make A Porno. It's a film about finding a way out of the deepest trench in loserville in the middle of the coldest winter faced with seemingly insormountable odds, and finding something unexpected. The laughs started from the get-go. And paying close attention to the small conversational details. Haha. And the F-word flies around like bees on a honey farm.





Need more? Visit zackandmiri.com. Oh yes, stay for the credits!

Burn After Reading

I managed to catch the much lauded Coen brothers film Burn After Reading on Saturday. It's got some real high profile actors who come together really well in a film that is essentially about pride and paranoia. Without giving too much away, the film goes through the paces of how one misplaced item can transform the lives of a small group of individuals in an interconnectedness that goes beyond humour and into alarm. The story is pretty single-minded but plays upon the unique traits and desires of each character. You get to understand how each person thinks and hence plays out his or her life.

Then it gets funny. The funny is sort of like adding a bucket of KFC to traditional, homecooked dinner. Both strange funny and haha funny. Some people are afraid, others jump in and some don't care. But everybody experience has been twisted, forever. Maybe that isn't a great analogy. But it made you think eh. And the smell of fried chicken rekindled in the nether reaches of your nostrils, didn't it? Gotcha.

Go watch it for yourself. It's a little slow in the beginning but soon you'll be giggling (and grimacing) along nicely. It's NC16 and when you suddenly get shown why, you might think it should have been R rated. Just rock it baby. Hahaha.

And listen to the song that plays over the credits appears. It's so funny.

Burn After Reading official site

Hitler And The ERP

CW8, whoeever he is, has done a fantastic job supplying the subtitles on the following video that takes a unique Deutschlandish perspective on Singapore's system for controlling traffic congestion. Bravo!



(If it's offensive in German, I'm sorry. Any Nazi references, if any, are purely for entertainment and are not condoned. Seriously.)

Can You Put Your Faith In Your Humanity?

At the best of times, it is easy. When the chips are down and odds seemingly insurmountable, can you count on conscience and heart to do the right thing? Maybe you can. But what happens in a situation of panic where people wrestle with the possibility of horrible death? Throw this option at two tribes, one with 'common men and women' and another, caught criminals. Both have the option of saving themselves by killing the other. Will those in nice clothes, coiffed hair and shiny shoes do the right thing? What is the right thing? Can we trust those who have done wrong before, have they been rehabilitated enough? Which flicks the switch, presses the button, sends the blade sliding down? And why doesn't the other? Do we share the same ideas of right and wrong?

These are the questions proffered in the new Batman film, The Dark Knight. Haha. What a set up you're thinking, and all this from a film. At the pivotal moment in the film, the answer was yes and fortunately, humanity prevails the right way in the film. I shan't (think that is first time I have used that word in the blog) spoil the ending or how the film unfolds but beyond all the action and brilliant acting, it is a thinker's film. Or maybe I thought too hard about it that it became a thinker's film.

There has been a lot of thought that has gone on into what Batman is, wants to be and what the people Gotham think he is or should be. It is apparent that this complexity feeds the criminal minds in the new instalment, who proceed to take advantage of perceived reality and manipulate the good guys. This perceived reality goes beyond "oh who is behind the mask" arguments to fundamental identity issues that eat away at Batman's character and values, and also at the values the common people of Gotham believe in. The first bit we saw that in Batman Begins and the struggle continues here in this new film too. The second bit is fresh, and we are treated to the two faces (haha!) of who we can be as 'civilised' people - all in a short 15mins.

Go watch the film. Bloody brilliant. Frightening, entertaining. (I don't know if Heath Ledger did enough to earn a win, now that all this talk about a potential nomination for Best Actor is wafting about, but he deserves a good pat on the back for his portrayal of the Joker. Loved the uniform and wig, haha!)