WATCHING THE TITANS CLASH

If you really don't have a good enough reason to watch "Clash of the Titans", oh well, let me tell you this to persuade you - the hot Sam Worthington in skirts. Excited yet?

Okay that has nothing to do with the movie.

Haha.

Now I'm sure most of you have heard about this movie and might have plans to watch it. I mean, it did claim a spot at the top of the box office before being knocked off the throne by "Date Night" starring Steve Carrell and Tina Fey (have yet to watch this one though).

So how was "The Clash of the Titans" for me? 

Oh so that's the Medusa's head he's got there..

I didn't know that.

To be honest, it wasn't bad but it wasn't phenomenal. One would expect such an epic to be huge and big, making you gag with awe but I don't find "Clash of the Titans" as big as it was set out to be. 

I love ancient Greek mythology and has always been fascinated by the tales and legends of the Greek Gods and Goddesses. So the main reason I was so excited about this movie is the fact that it involves the Olympians.

Well, the movie was definitely not enough to quench my thirst for knowledge on Greek Mythology but I admit that it did try its best to stick to parts of the myths. And I expected it to be more about gregarious fight scenes and all (something like 300) but surprisingly, it wasn't. Well at least in my opinion, the fight scenes weren't "power" enough haha.

I'm pretty surprised that more emphasis were on the Grecian myth itself, so it was actually much to my pleasure. I thought the Grecian element is a sub-theme incorporated to a war movie but it is in some ways the other way round.

The movie discusses God-human relationship in a subtle way, presenting the idea where human had had enough of the unfairness and injustice of the Gods and so, fought against the Gods. 

We've been fed the belief that God is almighty and that their presence are intangible and so it is practically IMPOSSIBLE to actually go to war against the Gods.

But in Greek mythology, Gods sometimes visit Earth as humans, (which is a super cool idea by the way) and so they can actually conduct sexual relationships with normal humans and thus, the existence of Demi-Gods. Again super cool right? That's why I love Grecian legends and stories...they are just super mystical and just brilliant, just knowledge sake.

Okay what I'm saying is, in some ways, Greek Gods are more 'humanized' and so we can actually fight them to a certain extent. I actually love the idea that Gods are in some ways flawless, just like us. I think in some ways it is good because then, we will be able to relate to them better.

I don't see the movie as preaching Christianity, but perhaps indirectly it does. In Christianity, there is only one God but in this movie, we see polytheism.  I think what the movie challenge is the idea that God is fair and poses the questions - To what extend should we have faith in our Gods? To what extend do we say "it's enough"...I keep praying for things but only S%^# befalls. (But then again, praying is not about getting things...forgive me for being shallow, but I don't really understand the true definition of praying or prayers, but I treat it as a way of talking to God and just thanking God for the blessings).

One theme that keep circling the movie is "faith towards Gods". God created us (in the movie, Zeus = God) and so we need to be thankful though we are going through practically hell on Earth? We suffer and God still expects us to love Him, so to many, it ain't fair.

But like Zeus summarized in the end, the fear and hatred feeds Hades and make him powerful, making us human suffer more. To a certain extent, it is kinda true. I mean if you don't want to relate it to Gods, it's more like attracting the positive and when we are negative, more bad things seems to happen to us. Though at times, it's not easy at all to think positive.

After discussing the more subtle themes, I guess it's also good to look at the surface. 

There are many versions of Perseus and honestly, who knows which one is the right one. It is then again, a legend and a myth that could holds no truth...could be just stories told by ancient folks.

Perceus is famous for killing Medusa and rescuing Princess Andromeda  (who later became his wife) from a sea monster.

"The Clash of Titan" also see Perceus killing Medusa and rescuing Princess Andromeda.

In the movie, Perseus is the offspring of Zeus and a human lady, Danae - so that portrayal is also according to common legend.  However Danae according to Wikipedia is the daughter of King Acrisius, while in the movie, she is the wife of King Acrisius who was murdered by the King just so he can get rid of the Baby Perseus, who was of Zeus's blood.

What else contradicts legend?

The character, Io, who in the end, if I'm not mistaken, ended up with Perseus.

I mean, don't get me wrong, she is so darn mesmerizing in the movie but what the hell is her character doing in the movie? I have no idea. If I were the writer, I might just write off her character. If she is meant to be the storyteller, I'd rather use a boom-mega voice over - you know that sort of voice from heaven mighty male voice sorta V.O., ya, that. I thought using that would be cooler and make the whole movie more mystical like. Plus I'm sorry but I just don't feel the chemistry between Perseus and Io. Are they in-love are they not? Sorry not feeling it.

I mean, thank God though that the director didn't make it too lovey-dovey. It would be a pain to watch. I mean, I think the character of Princess Andromeda should be enhanced and developed further. If I were to write the story, I'd maintain most parts but I'll combine Andromeda and Io's character into one.

By the way, speaking about Io...she is supposed to be immortal, right? So how the hell did she die in the end? Correct me if I'm wrong, but if you are suffering for over a thousand years (or more) seeing your loved ones die, I'm sure you'd have tried various ways to kill yourself and failed. But then suddenly, it's just so easy to die? Seriously...not making any sense. Oh alright, you can argue that the Gods have finally want to take her away. But still her character is pretty stupid right?

There were many scenes that don't make any sense. I think the better way to put it is that the continuity of the movie is quite bad. There were many times in the movie in which certain characters just disappeared out of thin-air - meaning, they just ain't in the next scene and you don't know where they went. For example, (my friend JT also mentioned this in his blog) the spiders and those weird looking blue-eyed robot-like wig-sorcerers were suddenly all gone after one particular scene (I forgot which one), without any explanation. 

I mean I get it when some of the soldiers died off after getting killed or literally stoned by Medusa, but the spiders and the Blue-eyed robots?...am I missing some action here and there because I dozed off? Perhaps not. I remember being wide awake admiring Sam Worthington's hotness. 

Perhaps they actually shot what happened to these characters but since it's too friggin' long, the editor just had to chop off the parts, leaving us dazed in confusion. 

For such a huge production (I'm assuming it is, which all the major props and CGI), they really should take into account all these details to make it like almost flawless. I mean, at least be criticized for something with more substance and subjective like camera technique used or lighting etc., but the discontinuity aspect is really amateurish for such a huge box-office movie.

And talking about camera movements, one thing about Hollywood movies like these is their fight scenes. I don't know if you notice this but most of their fight scenes uses Close-up shots, or Medium shots and fast cuts to enhanced action but I find it super annoying because you don't get to see the fight scene as a whole, using full shots of the actors' whole body movement. 

I mean, the choreography of the fight movements in itself is an art but what happens is that our famous Hollywood directors love to play with camera movements to sort of create the emotions, but by doing so, sacrificed the artistic strokes that fight scenes bring to the screen. I believe that martial art scenes can be made as interesting using full-shots, especially if the actors are good with their fighting scenes and movements. I mean if the actors are not good then perhaps camera tricks are necessary, but if the actors are trained prior to the shoot, why not feature those swift fight scenes as a whole instead of just their upper torso and face?

I noticed the same camera movements in "The Clash of Titans" and so the actions were again, some what similar to what normal huge action flicks like these offer.

The resolution in which Perseus kills the huge monster is also a tad too, oh well, un-climatic. In some ways, it failed to create that climax for me. I just don't know if it's only me but I guess that sorta hero saving heroine scene from huge monsters is a bit too cliche and predictable for me.

As for the acting, most people think Ralph Fiennes did fabulous. Liam Neeson was also credited. If you ask me though, there were nothing really striking about the actings per se. I mean they were generally good, some really only so-so. Io for example, was a bit too wooden for me...hmm...I mean, I'm awed by her beauty but untouched by her acting. Princess Andromeda is a tad better but I could judge better if she had more scenes.

Generally, the movie is okay.

Nothing fantastic about but it wasn't a bore. Thanks to the mythical storyline that kinda draws me to it.

Watch it so that you are part of the pack but if you really dislike weak action movies then perhaps you can pass this one.

TC-My Rating:

With Lotsa Love,

TammyC

MY VISIT TO WONDERLAND

Alice in Wonderland rocks it no matter what some of you might say.

There were definitely some really high expectations for this movie. And after the movie's release, there were mixed reviews regarding the film. Some had said that the movie has been a disappointment, but there were also some who loved it.

Bagging these comments, I went in the cinema with low expectations and I actually think that it is not bad at all. 

I watched "Alice in Wonderland" almost 2 weeks back. I just didn't manage to find any time to blog about it and right now, I'm just hoping that my memory will serve me for this post.

The most amazing thing about the film is really not the storyline because the main structure of the Alice in Wonderland story has been used before.  But one can't deny the fact that we are also anticipating the scene where Alice shrink and then enlarged again. 

I've never read or watched "Alice in Wonderland" before but I generally know its story and I believe that Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland" is actually something super creative that rides on the original version of "Alice In Wonderland". He brings to life a more grown up Alice - he presents us a story whereby imagination comes to life. I thought the movie is brilliant because it is colourful and very imaginative. It brings you outta this world - another true Tim Burton masterpiece - fun & quirky with a mysterious touch.

One of my favourite Tim Burton movies is "Charlie and The Chocolate Factory". I love how Tim Burton paints with so many colours and creates lively atmospheres with sounds and music, making the book by Roald Dahl even livelier and, I must say, better. I love that Tim Burton had added some moral values towards the end of the movie, something the book doesn't carry. 

Tim Burton did the same for "Alice in Wonderland", creating vibrant and interesting characters that can alone keep you entertained. I found myself constantly wondering what will happen next in the movie; I guess you can say that it is ironic that such a predictable storyline ended up being so unpredictable, but Burton did so!

If you ask me what makes the film brilliant, it is the characters and the creativity of the concept and production design of the underworld. The whole setting of the movie is colourful and vibrant, and it attracts us to it. The story, though simple, has some sort of magical element that gets one glued and anticipating the adventures that awaits. Colours always help!

Every element in the movie comes as a surprise, but still in many ways faithful to the classic storyline. But I love how Burton had enhanced the story with more than just senseless jabberwocky (nonsense, meaningless and of no value), although, 'Jabberwocky' is part of the theme. Burton incorporated a few good values/messages in the film. 

"Believe in the impossible"

Alice never thought that it's possible to kill the Jabberwocky monster but then she remembers what her father told her that he thinks of 6 impossible things before breakfast. Sometimes, nothing is impossible.

"Do not let others decide who you are & just be yourself"

Alice is different from other girls because she has bigger dreams. Later we see her stepping up and taking over her father's business and continue on to believe in achieving what is claimed impossible.

After watching Alice In Wonderland, I am even more amazed with Tim Burton's creativity - how he brought in the Jabberwocky element into the story is brilliant!

On top of that, I think credits have definitely got to be given to Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter and Anne Hathaway for brilliantly portraying in their own ways those magnificent characters in the film. 

Johnny Depp is made for the role Mad Hatter, or rather, he made Mad Hatter his. Johnny Depp playing Mad Hatter is just another testament of his ability to take on different roles in films. He was amazing as this weird, almost lunatic character - somewhat like Willy Wonka but a tad more colourful, literally. He also perfectly delivered his last scene, persuading Alice to stay because that scene melted my heart. If I were Alice, I could have stayed because of that.

Helena Bonham Carter was also excellent as the Red Queen. The Red Queen is evil but she has her own insecurities, because of her big head. And in Alice in Wonderland, even the evil characters have to be to a certain extent endearing because it is a feel good story. I think Helena Bonham Carter managed to make the character lovable, despite evil. 

And Anne Hathaway was fantastic as the White Queen. I didn't know she was in the movie so it was a surprise seeing her. But I really love her portrayal as the White Queen - she's bouncy and elegant at the same time. She is cheeky in some ways - though a protagonist, she managed to slit in a bit of mischievous characteristic in her character. For example, she has that childishness in her where she still laughs about her sisters big head - so I find her super cute. I mean, one would imagine Queen as someone who is super serious and powerful but Anne made White Queen one that has a child-like character, but yet, has that quality of an elegant queen.

The new girl who plays Alice was a disappointment for me because I find her actually quite wooden in her acting. Hmmm...but I got some feedback saying that it is her character to be looking disturbed and weird like that, because she is Alice, a little girl who is different from the rest. Oh well, I can't really judge her from her first performance but I still find her acting not up to par. Perhaps she'll be able to convince me the next time in her next film, if she actually stars in any more films.

If you are a person into graphics and colours and art, you'll be amazed by the wonders of Alice in Wonderland. You'll be mesmerized by Red Queen's castle and all the heart shaped decorations that fill the place; you'll be awed by the glitters of the White Queen's residence; you'll be tickled by the cute rabbits and other worldly animals that are creatively engineered to look magically.

But if you dislike colours and happy magical tales that takes you outta this world, you might then really hate Alice in Wonderland. You cannot judge "Alice in Wonderland" in terms of storyline because it is a story that most of us are familiar with. When watching this movie, I think it's best to judge how creative Burton can be by bringing these characters into life and how he colours them with his own touch.

Children will definitely enjoy this one because it is very magical and imaginative. If your life is all serious, I think you really should watch this one to release tension and you know, colour your life with imaginations. Because at the end of the day, the core message of the movie is to "belief in the impossible".

TC-My Rating:

With Lotsa Love,

TammyC

A LOVELY TALE ABOUT THE LOVELY BONES

There is something about "The Lovely Bones" that touches me deeply. I was crying in most parts of the movie and I just don't really get why. I guess it just unfolds and seeps in me a different kind of sadness, one that is beyond me. 

A few things about "The Lovely Bones" mesmerize me.

First of all, Saoirse (Seer-suh) Ronan. She is amazingly, breathtakingly beautiful. Her big blue eyes sort of captures your attention throughout the movie. It's like, you just can't take your eyes off her, and  this is coming from a girl who is known to love checking out hot dudes.

There is no doubt that Saoirse can act. She has been complimented for many of her roles previously and "The Lovely Bones" is just another testament of her talents. I believe in many ways, it is the connection with her purity, naivety and adolescence that makes me feel sad. Saoirse did a brilliant job with delivering her character, and making us feel the pain Susie Salmon is going through.

Stunning Saiorse. I hope she stays natural. 

I didn't like Saoirse Ronan's character in "Atonement" but after "The Lovely Bones", I fell in love with the actress...

In my opinion, Saoirse Ronan's performance in Atonement wasn't as mesmerizing if compared to "The Lovely Bones"; so for me, "The Lovely Bones" has catapulted this young starlet into the galaxy of star and she is shining brightly as we speak. Personally, I really hope to see more of her and not Lindsay Lohan or Miley Cyrus, thank you very much. 

Secondly, "The Lovely Bones" is presented in a very unique way. I love the way Susie Salmon narrates her life after her death. I think Saiorse did great with the voice over. It's not easy to convey emotions just through speech, but Saiorse did impress me there because I feel every word when she narrates. I feel her pain, her sorrow, her hatred...because if I were her, I'd be angry and sad too.

The storyline is really good. The story is about how 14-year-old Susie Salmon deals with the pain of realizing that she had been murdered and also, how she watched from above how her family dealt with the loss of her in the family. 

She was stuck in the 'in-between', a place where one is between heaven and Earth because one doesn't want to move on. She is held back by hatred, by her love for her family and her crush. 

She was angry with her murderer, who took everything away from her, and most of all, he took her life. She wanted revenge so badly, and she felt that he took away what she was before...in the 'in-between', she is so submerged in anger and hatred that she doesn't know who she is anymore. 

But she was also really sadden seeing her family crush after losing her in their life. She struggled as she slowly watch her family recover from the pain of losing her. She soon realizes that the most important thing for her is not vengeance, but rather, seeing her family, the people she loves heal from a tragedy. That too her, in the end is the ultimate happiness that she seeks and that is what helped her move on to heaven. 

I was exceptionally touched by Susie and her dad's relationship; I love the fact that he spent the time building those bottled ships (what do you call that??) with Suzie and the scene in which he smashes all those bottles after Suzie's death was THE MOST HEARTBREAKING scene for me. I also love how the director then brings in the scene in which we see large CGI ships crashing the stones by the shores - to fully give the impact of how the great the impact of losing a child is, or how painful it could be. 

"There was one thing my murderer didn't understand; he didn't understand how much a father could love his child." 

Mark Wahlberg did impressively as Susie's father. I never noticed Mark Wahlberg, though he is supposed to be famous in many ways. I wasn't at all captured by his acting until "The Lovely Bones". You know, he caught my full attention here. I think he portrayed a distraught dad very well but he also delivered as a loving husband and father at the beginning of the movie.

Rachel Weisz was a disappointment for me though. I think she could have been more striking but her portrayal as a mother was just so-so. Most of the time, I don't feel her presence in the movie - it doesn't create an impact, unlike Mark Wahlberg. But I believe it is so because the the story is more focused on a father-daughter perspective rather than a maternal one. So, it is understandable that Rachel Weisz doesn't get the moment the character needed.

The are many graphical elements in the movie that are very kind to the eyes. I believe that behind those graphics are metaphors waiting to be deciphered, but then I just couldn't get most of it. I was kinda lost at points in the movie but towards the end, I began to get what the whole message in the movie is. 

Two obvious main themes behind the film are "hatred versus love" and "seeking vengeance versus accepting the truth and moving on."

Throughout the movie, I hated the murderer for what he did. I despise him and I so wish that Suzie could do something to get back at him, destroy him or something. I put myself in Suzie's shoes; I feel her sorrow because I know, if I were her, I would not be able to bear the hurt of watching my family members crumble while the murderer lives his life. Plus, my life has just began. I'm only 14 but he took my years away from me. 

In the end, Susie had to choose between exposing her murderer's crime or getting her crush to kiss her. She chose her first kiss - love because at the end of the day, perhaps love is stronger that hate. Love prevails in the movie. If I were Suzie, I really don't know what I'd choose but most probably, I'll expose my murderer. Yes, I'm a b**** who's full of vengeance I guess. But the film enlightens me about the power of love. Though at first I chose to expose the murderer, I guess Suzie is right to choose her first kiss. It was the better decision...

Another special feeling the movie gave me was the thought that perhaps my grandpa was all the time watching us from above, just like Susie did, with her family. I try my best to hold back tears everytime I think of grandpa and the thought that he was watching over us is bittersweet. I wish he was here but then, maybe he has never left. I wish though that he is at a better place, just like Susie. The whole time I was watching the movie, I can't help but think of my grandfather. 

"The Lovely Bones" also opened up another dimension of my perspective. 

I'm used to watching "Criminal Minds", which focuses on the criminals and how they are punished at the end of the show by law.  What "Criminal Minds" doesn't highlight is the decease's point of view and "The Lovely Bones" presents just that. When "Criminal Minds" try to debate whether justice prevails, "The Lovely Bones" put forward the idea that perhaps at the end, love does prevail sometimes. 

The movie also suggests that sometimes, the best way to heal is to just move on.

For a film with such a deep meaning as foundation, the director or rather, the scriptwriter still manages to insert a few lines of humour. I guess the introduction of Susan Sarandon's grandmother character is to lighten up the tense situations a bit too. Generally, "The Lovely Bones" was indeed a lovely watch.

I just love closing line by Susie Salmon. 

"These were the lovely bones that had grown around my absence: the connections — sometimes tenuous, sometimes made at great cost, but often magnificent — that happened after I was gone. And I began to see things in a way that let me hold the world without me in it. The events my death brought were merely the bones of a body that would become whole at some unpredictable time in the future. The price of what I came to see as this miraculous lifeless body had been my life."

This paragraph has brilliantly captured and summarized the essence of the whole story...and enough to tear me up because it made me wonder that perhaps, people never really do leave.

So I think Peter Jackson did a fantastic job bringing the book into life...

I recommend this movie to everyone who just love one good inspiring movie. I can't wait to get my hands on the book!

TC-My Rating:




With Lotsa Love,
TammyC
I love the lovely bones around me...

BABEL-ING

Babel is an award winning film; It garnered multiple awards (including an Oscar) a couple years back. I've heard that it was a great movie but I just didn't have the time to really watch it. So yesterday, I've finally took some time to sit down and watch the 150-minute long film.

There are 3 different stories told in one. These 3 stories are in ways related, though the linds of linkages wasn't illustrated at the beginning. 

The stories are set in 3 different places, namely Morocco, Japan and Mexico (with a bit of U.S.).

It opens with the Moroccan background, in which a trading of a sniper was done. Two boys were super excited about the new 'toy' their dad bought, intended for scaring away birds. 

The next part of the story shows a Mexican lady taking care of two American children and the next we were transported to the lights and sounds of the Japan, where we see a teenage girl playing volleyball. Then we head back to Morocco where we see Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett almost arguing.

The thing about this film is that the its sequence is not in place. The time frame of the story is basically all over the place, so you kinda have to put the puzzle together yourself.

Most of the time, I feel like I'm watching 3 different movies. So it's not boring in that way.

The three stories encircles various themes - mainly discrimination, but it also touches on brotherhood, insecurities and of course love.

I'd argue that racism and discrimination is quite an obvious theme in the movie. We see how the Mexican lady was accused of kidnapping the American children, whom she has brought up. She was like a mother to those kids but just because she is Mexican, she is suspected of the act. It is fair to argue that it's good to take precautions and all but she was treated somewhat unfairly in my opinion.

Another clear indication of discrimination is the way Americans link Middle Eastern incidents to terrorism, without solid facts or proofs. When Cate Blanchett got shot in Morocco, speculations where made without facts. It was merely the act two naughty boys who went a bit too far with their dad's sniper. 

The Japanese story involves this young teenage girl who felt insecure of herself. She desperately wants attention and she feels not good enough. Thus, she is constantly trying to gain men's attention by offering to disclose some parts, oh well, every part of her body. I'm not sure why but I'm really disgusted with the Japanese story. I don't know why but sometimes, the 'openness' of the Japanese culture freaks me out. I mean, Japan used to have a historical culture, and when I think Japan, I think cherry blossom trees and beautiful pink sakura flowers. Now however, when I think Japan, I think of girls trying to be cute, wearing mini short skirts with no underwears, teens living a lose wild & high life...yeah and seriously, these movies don't help by portraying that part of Japan.

I am very touched by the Moroccan brother's story. Though they seemed to be at each other all the time, it was touching to see the sacrifice a brother would make for his other brother. 

I guess some people might deem the way the director interrelate three stories of three different cultures together as impressive. However, I feel that the links are pretty weak though it is not a weakness in the movie as the movie is not about how these different characters' relationships.  I guess it's just about the way the world connects as one. But I was pretty disappointed because I never knew why Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett were in Morocco in the first place. I also do not really get the resolution of the Japanese story - I believe it's because of my lack of artistic understanding of a film.


Babel is obviously inclined towards the artistic genre...though it is not as boring as most artistic films because it does have interesting moments. I do think it is culturally significant because the film highlights the different lifestyle and cultures of different people from different cities.


Overall, not a bad watch.


TC-My Rating:

With Lotsa Love,
TammyC
Ps: This review took me weeks to complete...I don't know why but I kinda lost the inspiration to pen this one.

I WISH I COULD LIVE UP IN THE AIR, LITERALLY THOUGH

Imagine home being up in the air, having no major responsibility on land.

That's basically the core idea of  the latest George Clooney movie, Up in the Air.

This piece took me 3 days to complete. I've been sitting down, trying to gather some writing mojo because seriously, I don't know how to put my thoughts about this movie into words. Perhaps there were too many to write or perhaps there really was nothing significant.

It wasn't really a bad movie but it is really not one that leaves a deep impression. Perhaps that's the problem about piecing this together.

This movie is about a traveling man, who knows everything about traveling on air. He knows the short cuts, the system and he practically glides through all the processes of checking-in and out. 

George Clooney plays Ryan Bingham who hates 'baggages' - literally and metaphorically. That I guess explains why he travels light. He has a philosophy to live life without any 'luggage'; that is, a life without any commitments. That is basically why he loves his job which allows him to travel. His job, by the way, involves firing people. Yes, just firing people from their job. So he travels around the globe, to different companies, in which the bosses have no guts to fire his employees. 

One day however, young and beautiful Natalie enters the company, introducing a new method of firing people, done through teleconferencing system (very much to Ryan's dismay). The new method is seen as more efficient as it cuts company's costs of having to send people around the globe to do the firing. The introduction of this system means that Ryan won't be able to travel anymore, disrupting his life routine that he enjoys. So, Ryan went all the way in explaining to his boss that the nature of his job needs him to be there for those people who are fired. He explained that Natalie is not experienced enough to know what the job requires. She don't know anything hands-on about firing people because she is new and thus, her system is only theoretically workable. 

Ryan's boss then asked him to train Natalie since he said that she's inexperience. Plus who better to train the girl than Ryan since he has all the experience and is one of the best at the job. 

Meanwhile, Ryan also met a lady, Alex, who travels a lot just like him. She seems like a decent lady, who enjoys his kinda lifestyle. She seems to love him a lot and doesn't mind not being his 'permanent' girl.

Natalie however feels that Ryan's being single and no commitment philosophy is total crap because she's a person who believes in finding a soul-mate and commitment. She also feels that Ryan is very unfair to Alex who seems to love him so much and he is not giving her any sense of commitment. 

Soon, after Natalie & Ryan's 'firing' adventures, their boss decided that it was time to implement the virtual firing system. Ryan was then place permanently in the office and that's when he suddenly realizes the truth in Natalie's words because he  felt that he actually really love Alex and he does want to settle down and live his life with her, perhaps think of things like buying a house, or staying commitment and starting a family. 

So was it a happy ending for Ryan and Alex? What about Natalie? 

I guess I'll leave it hanging there for you guys lar haha. I mean, if I let the cat out, there's really nothing left to watch.

This is my first George Clooney movie (can you believe it??) ...hmm...oh well, if you disregard Batman and Robin. I actually understand why people say that he's the sexiest man on Earth because he really is attractive in a way. Okay, he's not like super duper handsome but there is something about him that gets you hooked. In some ways, he is pretty good in the movie. He plays his character with the right amount of sensuality with a mix of sweet gentlemanliness. Okay...total bull-crap! Haha but he is not bad here really.

The movie also stars Vera Farmiga (remember her? She was in the thriller "Orphan") as Alex. And there is also Anna Kendrick who stars as Natalie. If you watch "Twilight" and "New Moon", she is Jessica, Bella's blonde friend who has big boobs. She's kinda the bimbo in the movie but in this movie, she is smart, intelligent and very organized. I kinda really like her after watching this movie. I guess most of the funny parts can be credited to her. Though her character in this movie is the kinda person I know I would die living with (too organized and meticulous for my liking but I wouldn't mind getting her as a PA haha), I really think Anna did a great job playing the character.

I guess the movie highlights the theme of commitment vs. complete freedom. There's no right or wrong when it comes to what you want to do with your life - whether you're the kind who plans to have a family or a person who just want no commitments and enjoy life traveling and just living life. 

So I wish all of you the best when it comes to your life decisions.

Cheers

TC-My Ratings:

With Lotsa Love,

TammyC

ps: Shutter Island's release has been postponed to April =(

Excuse me if this review is super bad. I really have no mo-jo for this lolx =P

TAMMY & OSCAR

Gotta keep this quiet but I was in the office yesterday morning while the Oscars were on. I can’t help but secretly check online the big winners of this year’s huge award show. Besides, once done with the important tasks that I was supposed to do, I really have some extra time to spare.

I got live feeds from Twitter; basically every Tom, Dick and Harry I follow on Twitter are twitting about the Oscars. Some about the fashions, while others on the winners etc. It’s really hard to keep this huge news a surprise. I mean, try this…try to not find out about anything Oscar-winners until its repeat show at 9.30PM this Wednesday. It’s definitely going to be a challenge because of this thing called the MEDIA. Oscar news will be out tonight, if not right now and before you know it, you don’t even have to watch it Wednesday. That’s the power of media.

I really didn’t know which blog to post this entry to (the movie one or the rattling one), but I guess in the end I settled here because, oh well, the Oscars is indeed about celebrating films and actors/actresses.

So anyway, I understand that “The Hurt Locker” was the biggest winner of the night. To be fair, I haven’t watched “The Hurt Locker” yet so I really can’t compare it to the major blockbuster “Avatar”. But looking at it in general, I think I’d enjoy “Avatar” more, though that doesn’t mean that the Oscar should go to “Avatar”. I really have to watch “The Hurt Locker” first, to see if I understand why the movie is given the honour of Best Picture, among the other awards that they got. Further elaborations on “The Hurt Locker” would have to wait til after I watch it but it’ll be on my movie blog.

Here is a list of the Top Winners:

Best Picture: The Hurt Locker

 (Everyone is speculating that this is a battle between the Navis and the soldiers of Earth – Avatar and Hurt Locker. And towards the end, are you surprised that The Hurt Locker won? I guess judging from the fact that it is a low-budget film with such excellent presentation, perhaps it is the rightful winner.)

Best Director: Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker

Best Actor: Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart

Best Actress: Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side

(I tried to watch “The Blind Side” but the first 5-minutes of the movie that goes on about football failed to capture me…but…but…but…I’ll be giving it another chance because I know it is a good movie. Plus Sandra Bullock is in it! Though she also received a Razzie award for being the worst actress (I don’t know how she ended there), I think that Sandy is far from worst man! I still don’t get how Sandy can end up in the same category as Paris Hilton in terms of acting (Paris Hilton won the Razzie award for her performance in “House of Wax” last time), but I’m telling you this, Sandra Bullock is definitely one of the best Hollywood actresses around.)

Best Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds

(This really come in as no surprise because everyone sorta knows Christoph is the clear winner. His awesome acting in Inglourious Basterds definitely deserves credits and what better compliments can one get than an Oscar award, right?)

Best Supporting Actress: Mo’Nique, Precious: Based On The Novel ‘Push’ By Sapphire

Best Animated Feature: Up (Yes!!! It’s my favourite too!!)

Best Art Direction: Avatar 

(There’s no doubt what-so-ever that when it comes to art direction – the visual effects, colours and artistic styles that conveys the mood, Avatar should win hands down! I mean, if you actually did watch this movie, I’m sure you were awe-struck by the beauty of Pandora.)

Best film editing: The Hurt Locker

Best costume design: The Young Victoria

Best sound editing: The Hurt Locker

Best sound mixing: The Hurt Locker

Best cinematography: Avatar

 (No doubt because the landscape of Pandora is too mesmerizing.)

To wrap it up, this year most predictions were spot on. Many were rooting for Sandra Bullock and also Christoph Waltz and both of them went home with something golden. Not bad at all. Now I hope I have the patience to watch the repeat of the Oscar this week =P

With Lotsa Love,

TammyC

ps: Can't believe it has been one year since Slumdog Millionaire...

NOT QUITE ONE SUMMER OF LOVE

I remember about 3 months back, my ex-colleague and I were talking about this movie and how we anticipated it. I don't know why but "500 Days of Summer" seems like one good movie though the title in itself basically tells you that it is a love story. Again, I kinda dread love stories but this one seemed decent. Besides, it stars Zooey Deschanel and co-stars my favourite Matthew Gray Gubler. And the lead actor, Joseph Gordon-Levitt is not bad looking either.

But it was not until now that I really have the mood to sit through this 90-minute love fest. Haha. To be honest, the movie has its plus points though the whole movie, in my own personal opinion, is really not one that is especially engaging and nice though the general reviews for this movie were good.

Okay, the posters are kinda cool!

I'll tell you what I love, like REALLY LOVE about this movie. It is the way it makes some of its scene transitions. You see very different techniques incorporated into the movie too. There is one particular scene in which we see the lead, Tom actually running down the staircase, and then into the roads when he realized that Summer has been engaged to another man. The roads and building then all fades into this drawing (kinda like Tom's art because he loves to draw) and the drawing gives a sad, lonely impression, kinda indicative of how Tom is feeling at that time. 

Another cool video technique used in the movie is when they used split screens to present the reality and expectations, instead of the traditional blur screen to show imaginations, this is like a new technique to present the idea of the character imagining things.

The storyline is, well, you can't say that it's a typical love story but then again, it's really just another story. It's about how this guy, who has always believed in destiny and fate thought he has found the one in Summer (Zooey Deschanel). However, Summer isn't the kinda girl who really believe in love; she was one girl who has been scarred by her parents' divorce and so she never really wanted a serious relationship. 

However, they began dating some time soon. While Tom continues to fall madly in love with Summer, Summer on the other hand did not. When she call off the relationship, Tom was of course devastated and had to learn how to get his life back together again. At the end of the movie, both characters learned a lesson from each other. The boy who once believed in love and destiny just doesn't believe in miracles anymore whereas the girl who doesn't believe in love realized that everything is destined and fated. The end sees how two people's perspectives change due to different things that happened in their lives. In the end, Summer married another guy, whom she felt she was fated to meet and she found love in that relationship although previously, she never believed in it. Tom on the other hand opened his mind above love; that sometimes, there are people out there who are meant for him that he simply didn't see because he was too obsessed with that single person that he refuses to see other things that is going on in life for him. 

I'm also not sure if I like the technique used to carry out the timeline. The movie scenes are basically scattered all over the place, within the 500 days. It is creative but I can't help but feel that it was messily carried out. But there were one or two really sweet scenes in the movie, like how they played couple when they were at IKEA. I thought that was super cool and sweet haha.

Overall, the movie is about love though the narrator had said that it is not a love story. Oh well, it is not a love story between the two leads, but it is definitely a movie on love. Though Matthew Gray Gubler's character Paul doesn't get much screen time, he had presented one of the best quotes in the movie. 

Paul was describing the girl of his dreams and then he said this"

"Robin is better than the girl of my dreams. She's real."

That's so sweet. I guess it's true that we all have in mind what we want our ideal partner to be but in the end, the person that we truly love is someone that is there for us, that special someone that makes use feel happy, someone real. 

This movie has won a string of awards although I'm not exactly a fan of it. I'm sure some of you seek a different standpoint and disagree with me. It's actually under the comedy category; I wouldn't say that it doesn't contain any funny elements but then again, it really wasn't that funny to be honest. Perhaps I've lost my sense of humour? No?...

Well watch it just to see if you actually like it okay? 

TC-My Rating:

Cheers~

With Lotsa Love,

TammyC