Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows: Exclusive Movie Review

Guy Ritchie's take on the super sleuth is one to be amazed at. Sure, its not what purists were expecting (Go for your BBC UK's Sherlock please. That's a WHOLE LOT MORE AWESOME), but it still delivered. So a sequel was greenlit, but sadly, it does not give the awe inspiring awesomeness seen in the first.

Sherlock is back again investigating a case, that does not seem slightly related. As he escorts Dr. Watson to his wedding, he finally gets to confront Professor James Moriarty, arch nemesis and also as brilliant as Sherlock. But what Sherlock has not discovered yet, is he is about to play a very dangerous game, that Moriarty has already seemed to have won. Will he crack the case?

Its not surprising how the actor's were doing, especially Jared Harris this time. RDJ and Jude Law were their usual selves, but the big inclusion is obviously Moriarty. Now, some may love Jared's rendition, but I have a hunch that some may hate, due to lack of clarity in his stance and motives. But I personally would say that Jared nailed Moriarty as an amoral character who's aim are a lot more devious than one would expect.

The setpieces and scenes were okay, but closer to ho hum. Even the mental prediction fights were actually tamed (SPOILER: Except for the final one of course) and the action a little less milder. Sure, it felt that Guy Ritchie was doing things bigger. But I'd say that it lacks the flare that was present in the first.

Dialogue and score delivers. But there's just nothing to be vowed from. Its purely just simple popcorn entertainment that you have free time to spare.

Should you watch? If you like the first, sure. But don't come expecting to be wowed like before. If you haven't watch it, the good news is that you don't need the first to watch it. You already know who Sherlock is and how he is as told by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

Kyo's Score: 7/10. MI 4 was more breath taking, even though I love Sherlock dearly.

Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol: IMAX Review

There is something wonderful in this poster. For most, they know its classic fuse being lighten up and is a tradition in Mission Impossible. For some, they'll notice its the Burj Khalifa, the tallest tower in the World currently. And I think it pays off. And it pays off well.

Ethan Hunt is back, on a mission that went totally haywire. Without giving too much away, after a mission that went wrong in the Kremlin, the US President initiated Ghost Protocol, with the IMF being disavowed. Without choice, the Secretary of Defense provides them with a potentially final mission to save the world again. With no back up, no extraction, no other support, they have no choice but to end some insane lunatic from ending the world.

Remember how it felt watching Rambo 2? By all accounts, everyone can agree its a fantastic Rambo movie. The making of an icon. Ethan Hunt is in the same league, although a little scrawnier. But of all the MI movies, this is what basically the Rambo 2 is to the whole series. Well, that is if God willing, there's another one coming up that can best this one.

The cast selection was good. You've got usual Tom Cruise. But the main stars now seem to be Simon Pegg and Jeremy Renner (Who I now have absolute faith he can pull off Hawkeye). Paula Patton provides eye candy, but sadly has so little powerful moments. Anil Kapoor is a huge waste and his character shouldn't have been so. He may be a playboy, but he really needs some suave. Michael Nyqvist is a good antagonist on my account. I can understand the motivation of his character (even though the world would say his development is unnecessary). Such few lines and I can understand what he meant.

But the real winner is actually Brad Bird's direction. Class, style and finesse is truly delivered in every shot and every scene. He knew MI was getting too serious (Philip Seymour Hoffman was a big serious problem), and then came Simon Pegg being goofy, with Jeremy Renner complimenting his funny side further (that's not saying Jeremy doesn't have his moments, because his worked as well). We're thrown into Russia, Dubai (Burj Khalifa scene being the best), and Mumbai in the end.

Each set piece is well executed. And enhanced even better in IMAX. There's no doubt this should be watched in IMAX. The sound, the scenes (FULL WIDESCREEN AWESOMENESS!!!), the feel really gets you jumping. I kept cursing Brad Bird because of the scenes he took in IMAX for the Kremlin, Burj Khalifa, and even in the last scene in Mumbai.

Script is a winning formula with Simon Pegg helping deliver the laughs. The score is classic and wonderful (I would've preferred the one used in the trailer, due to its slower nature). And I have nothing else to tell you except to GO AND WATCH THE DAMN FILM IN IMAX!!!!

Kyo's Score: 9.5/10. If only I saw The A-Team in IMAX. :p

The IMAX Hall at TGV Sunway: Special Review

Since I wrote a nice piece on this and Blogger decided to become a bitch, here's how I felt in Short.

Con (The only one)
Its the smallest IMAX theatre TGV could afford. You're not getting the 5 storey screen treatment, but its still IMAX in every way possible.

THE PROS!!!!
Screen
-You may be able to notice the cropping when its in 35mm and in IMAX. But since the hall was small, the adjustment was barely notable.

Sound System
-TRULY AMAZING. My heart is pounding at every single IMAX scene that MI4 had. The sound delivers!!!

The seating
-Comfy and very spacious in terms of leg room.

The price
-Not bad at RM 22. Was expecting it to be RM 25 to 30. But the price makes it feel affordable and worth it.

My verdict
-The hall is an affordable Gold Class at GSC, and much better too. You're getting good value still as the screen is really in your face.

Recommendations
-BIGGER HALL PLEASE! And GSC, you know now what to do. So BRING IT!!!!

50/50: Movie Review

Besi Sebenar: Movie Reviews

Fun fun fun. If you're reminded of Rebecca Black, stop it. But if you want some real fun, Real Steel. Of course, its not a perfect movie, but it does the job of taking 127 minutes of your life for a fun filled ride.

Charlie Kenton (Hugh Jackman) is close a title shot in boxing. Too bad however, that the people felt boxing wasn't made for humans anymore. So they invented robot boxing. It left Charlie looking like a horrible gambler. Enter Max Kenton (Dakota Goyo), Charlie's illegitimate son that he has to take care after the mother passed away. A chance encounter Max's very own robot, Atom and these two begin a journey of not only cool hard cash, but cheesy fatherly hood bonding.

Lets get the weak out. We have a cheesy and corny script. We have an imbalance in pacing. And we have textbook rip offs of other movies like Rocky. And some of the actors are just not meant to be there.

The good part however, is pretty awesome. You're rewarded with good performances by Hugh and Dakota. The action is top notch, but ends at a sour note when the audience would've expected a more wonderful ending (This you must bear in mind, is coming from the Boxing Consultant, Sugar Ray Leonard). The soundtrack is blasting in your ears and fits. The script while cheesy, is intentionally done so. You can't look away but still laugh at what was being mentioned. Also, nice touches to the sets, the costumes, and even the robot animations too. This I give kudos to.

This is a movie where you can just lay down and have fun with. Nothing would spoil your mood out of it. And we love a good boxing match really. This serves well. 127 minutes of good fun that you can really enjoy.

Kyo's Score: 7/10. Some fun movies don't need high scores or mindbending scenes for it to be successful. It just has to be fun. :D

Warrior: Movie Review

In life, we're cast on simple facts of surviving. We go to work daily, try to eat balanced meals, and live for another day again and again. But there are some of us who resort to fighting the demons kept within ourselves and the demons that we face with. That is how Warrior sets itself. And the fights, literally and figuratively, is damn good to boot.

Warrior centers on 3 people, Paddy Conlon (Nick Nolte), Tommy Rheardon/Conlon (Tom Hardy) and Brandon Conlon (Joel Edgerton). They were all from a broken family with Paddy being drunk most of the time and never really the dad that Tommy and Brandon needed. Fast forward to the future, Brandon seems most successful when he had ran way from the broken family and made on his own as a Physics teacher. Tommy ran away with his mother and ended up as a Marines officer while Paddy sought to stop his drinking problems. But they all had something to fight for.

Brandon was quickly losing his house, Paddy repented and wanted his sons back, and Tommy's intentions of joining Sparta, a winner takes all fighting tournament remains a mystery (that is until closer to the middle of the story). As Brandon knew fighting was the only to keep things afloat, even he joined Sparta to end his debts. The question is, who emerges as the real winner?

The story is truly magnificent. I have never seen a fight movie so good since...Fearless. And that was damn good in its action setpiece (but weak in story telling). The story does not make you root for 1 character, because everyone has their good and bads, so you had to choose in a way or just let the wonders of the story unfold. The script benefits a whole lot and helps convey the emotion much more precise.

But the real winners were the actors. All 3 were spectacular and there was no doubt that they truly can move you. They may not win any Oscars, but damn this movie deserves a nomination for best picture.

Soundtrack does its job but sincerely you can't care much. There's quite a number of references to certain people in UFC and also the MMA circuits that they all do their jobs in striking fear.

You may think you're getting a typical ending, but I can say its perfect. Just enough and answers the questions you need and the loose ends wonderfully.

While this movie may only be available at Mid Valley and Sabah, please do not waste any moments and just watch it. You'll be thrilled, unless you hate long winded dramas like one guy I know who snored at theater. have fun!

X-Men: First Class: Movie Review

The world greeted a live action movie of the X-Men in the year 2000. Done by Bryan Singer, it was a great start to a franchise, which slowly diverted and became more Hollywood eccentric rather than Comic Lore eccentric (Wolverine having more spotlight than Cyclops. Cyclops is the leader dammit, not some deranged emo idiot). Then came news of the Origin series, and was to be about Wolverine and Magneto, much to fanboy's delight. The Wolverine part did well, although it was not rightly done. The Magneto one, never came to light, but it came in this one done beautifully by Matthew Vaughn of Kick-Ass fame. I choose this poster specifically because I wanted the cast in. Its definitely not all, but a lot of them.

And clearly, they and the movie do not disappoint.

First Class is basically the origins of Magneto and Professor X. In fact, to do these 2 justice, would be to call them Erik Lensherr and Charles Francis Xavier. Wonderfully done and executed by Michael Fassbender (His proficiency in language is FANTASTIC) and James McAvoy (Who knew this talented young chap of Wanted fame can pull of a super charming Xavier?), the two met under circumstances of knowing that a new evolution in human mutation has begun. One is capable of manipulation of magnetism while the other a telepath, began their friendship hunting for one common enemy, Sebastian Shaw (Its Kevin Bacon. KEVIN BACON), who intends to ignite World War III. And who knew that Raven Darkholme /Mystique was actually the adopted sister to Charles? Together, Erik and Charles recruit the earliest of mutants in the world and began a war that will be ensued between mutants, forever.

So I made my points clear, James McAvoy, Erik Lensherr, Kevin Bacon, the cast are all good and wonderfully done, except for January Jones. Then again, I can live with her since she's mainly there for eye candy. The script is brilliantly written and you'll know its Matthew Vaughn's writing when you get to the scenes (he loves to make you question yourself, A WHOLE LOT). The shots were even nicely done. Amazed that its not Bill Pope doing it (my fave Director of Photography). The score is wonderfully matched. Perhaps the only minor gripe I have in seeking this movie's perfection is that it should have ended with the X-men cartoon theme song. haha.

But the most surprising part, was actually the story itself. We all know where this is going. We all knew what would happen and we all knew what would be the start of the first X-Men story. And still its good. It is still wonderfully told. But perhaps the real highlight is how fun it is to see Charles and Erik come together as friends. And they are truly friends who stood by each other's side. But as we all know, the choice that both of them made, will be bitter to each other. In fact, it is actually to place pain in one another. Both were in actuality seeking to unite the mutant faction, and to be capable of living in peace, Neandarthals (The only reason I'm calling us humans this is only because we are incapable of accepting Mutants living among us) and humans. But Magneto realizes that humans will never be capable of accepting mutants alike, thus a new war is waged.

Perhaps what we have loved so much is to see our beloved X-men come into action, but the morality questions eludes us. Magneto doesn't want this war. He just wants to be accepted as another person, even if he's a mutant, while Xavier has always sought for mutants to accept humanity, a mistake which he could not teach Magneto soon enough.

The real weakest point I believe, in this whole movie, is that it will be made into sequels, whether or not Matt Vaughn will be apart of it. How I see it, it should just stay as it is. But I may be proven wrong, as how The Dark Knight was made.

You'll laugh, and maybe cry, but truly you would be leaving the cinema smiling. Having Hugh and Rebecca even gives an extra edge to the whole movie. Truly, this was a delight.

Kyo's Score: 9.5/10.

Rango: Movie Review

This is one awesome little lizard. When wanting to die he cheated death. When trying to be an actor, he ends up being something bigger and larger than life. That's the story of the lizard who calls himself... Rango...

Rango is a pet lizard who, sadly, after a car had ran over a tenggiling (i can't remember the english name. :P) was cast out in the dessert which the location I shall not name. After the tenggiling asked it to go to Dirt, a town for animals. Ok correction, a Western town, he ends up being the local sheriff, not knowing any clue whatsoever to be one. He is however, an actor, and believes he can be anything. But there is a conspiracy going on, and our hero is about to get more than he just bargained for.

Being voiced by Johnny Depp, Rango hits the right places everywhere. Not too cocky and not too shabby either, Depp does wonders for Rango. Sadly though, there are just moments when I think Depp isn't doing enough. The rest cast however did just ok though.

But the real charm is not the VAs. Rather, its the direction and the story that was beautifully told. Perhaps at some points its cliched and the movie was meant for kids (It came from Nicklodeon). But all that Gore Verbinski did was none of that. It felt quite matured even. The values and the morals to be taught to all of us, and not just kids. Kids wouldn't get bored because of its fast pace and people would be thrilled and cheering for Rango.

So from a passable script to a wonderful direction, don't give this a miss. The score plays out well and you would feel satisfied of the story. But it might be a shame if the movie wants to have a sequel later, since it is done just fine.

Kyo's Score: 8.5/10. A surprising fun time. It really was.

True Grit: Movie Review

I like the gunshot on the poster. It somehow looks cool and fitting to the poster. Its more like a throwback to the old days where Western posters would just be something so simple. And wanted posters are even worst. But regardless of the posters you see, True Grit is something you must see. Especially with its breathtaking shots.

The story begins with Mattie Ross (An amazing Hailee Steinfeld) handling the funeral of his father. Knowing the murderer, she goes to Marshall Rooster Cogburn (A well done Jeff Bridges) in search of Tom Chaney (Totally underutilized Josh Brolin). Along the way, they were met with a Texas Ranger of Lebouf (Matt Damon) and the three set to find a little girl's revenge.

Does the story sound basic to you? Cliche? Well, it could be since its a remake of the original True Grit also of the same story. But is it satisfying? Thanks to the Jeff and Hailee, hell yes. Hailee steals every scene available and you will marvel at her with the fact that she's so young and so matured for her role (She's 14 when she shot the movie).

The script and the shots were even something that I couldn't expect to be such a miracle either. Witty and beautiful, great combo. Score wasn't that mesmerizing or memorable sadly.

But the lowest point is seeing how Matt Damon came out as average and Josh Brolin was totally underutilized for his role. Its like he could have done something else better instead though.

I think I would have said as much as I need already. Stop my reading and go!

Kyo's Score: 9/10. Good old Westerns always excite me. :D