X-Men: The Last Stand

Country USA 2006

Picture and details imdb

Seen 27 May 2006

Entertaining. This third instalment in the series sees Jean resurrected. Her role is bigger in the whole plot and we see quite a few mutants dead along the way. The special effects and tight script carries the film at a face pace. The slower paced moments occur when the story focuses on Charles and Momento’s ideas of the mutants’ role among ordinary humans. There was an even keel touch to the whole production with some scenes reaching a heightened momentum of sorts. As I said earlier, it is an entertaining watch but do not expect tug at your heartstrings story lines.

The Last Communist

Country Malaysia 2006

Picture and details lelakikomunis

Seen 20 May 2006

Glorifying communism not. The last communist, ('Lelaki komunis terakhir' in Malay), an apt title as the film highlights the remnants of the communist party members who are in their twilight years. The film is basically a road movie. The film traces the places with connections to Chin Peng, the Malayan Communist Party leader. His birth place, school, places where he had his first taste of the communist ideology as well as towns that played an important role when he was planning his strategies.
The film does not glorify communism per se, but is more of a tale of what has happened since those days of struggle against the British and independent Malaya.
The film may have an added dimension to it if the director had managed to get some footage of the Malay communists. But as the director had explained, the current unrest in southern Thailand has made that option unfeasible.
The narrative is superimposed on the screen throughout the duration of the film. This technique might turn off some people from watching as the wordings can be distracting.
Chin Peng does not appear at all in the film and none of his comrades mentioned his name. This might have been done on purpose by the director. Chin Peng's story is told through the narrative which most probably is taken from his autobiography.
That in itself may have prompted the film being banned in Malaysia even though the book itself is available to the public.
A documentary, roadie or semi musical. All of them and most of all, a look at ordinary Malaysians.

L'Enfant

Country Belgium/France 2005

Picture and details imdb

Seen 20 May 2006

The translation says The Child, more likely the infant as his first screen presence was when we see him with his mother just a few days after birth. Mother is Sonia while father is Bruno. Bruno is a petty thief just eking out a subsistence life. He tries to find ways to support the son and his girlfriend. A suggestion that giving away the baby for adoption starts his downward spiral. Sonia could not accept the fact that the baby has been sold and is hospitalised. Bruno gets back the baby and Sonia could not forgive him yet for his mistake. Bruno is also beaten up by the men who made the adoption deal as they lost their profit in the botched up plan. Bruno steals again but surrenders himself as his young accomplice is taken in by the police.
The last scene shows Bruno qnd Sonia crying and hugging each other in the prison meeting room. The events shown seem comical in part but in reality might be a true reflection of what is happening with a lot of young couples facing the same dilemma, raising a child without a steady income. This is a slow moving film, with each scene taking its time to tell the story. Bruno's dead pan expression seems to add phatos to the whole story. Happy moments can only be seen when Bruno and Sonia were together for a day ride.
Those who are used to fast paced action are advised to avoid seeing this film unless they are willing to make a paradigm shift.

Poseidon

Country USA 2006

Picture and details imdb

Seen 13 May 2006

This movie tells the story of a disaster at sea. The film itself is nearly a disaster if not for the special effects. There is nothing spectacular about the story line. There is a father and daughter relationship, jilted lovers, non-committal singles. I guess the audience can expect a morbid kind of happy ending with disaster movies, albeit with many victims sacrificed along the way. I could not see any difference with this version of a disaster. I was impressed by the instinct for survival of the main group. Most probably in real life there will be a few who will emerge winners despite any adversity thrown into their path. Enjoy the trauma, claustrophobia and adrenalin rush but do not expect a cerebral celebration.

Gubra

Malaysia 2006

Picture and details gubra

Seen 7 May 2006

One of the first few scenes which showed the Pak Bilal touching a three legged dog sets the tone for the film. As one cinema goer commented, she was hooked from that scene onwards. There were equally strong opposing view points from another quarter.

Each scene and dialogue can be construed as provocative to those who want to see it that way.

The director might have chosen to tell the story this way in order to show an alternative take of the Malaysian life. Of course not everyone will agree to her point of view, She manages to at least show a gentler side to Islam rather than the usual fire and brimstone version that is officially approved by the authorities. A wider interpretation of the religious tenets and how people react to each other helps to make the film a refreshing change from the usual Malaysian cinematic fare.

As usual, the crème de la crème of an ensemble helped a lot to move the story on an even pace. It will definitely provoke some quarters but in a way that is a good start. People will start talking and questioning the accepted facts that have been dished out to the masses. Hopefully any negative feedback would not dampen the director's future works or any director for that matter who wants to potray a different side to the Malaysian story.

Heaven's bookstore

Country Japan 2005

Picture and details sensasian

Seen 7 May 2006

A sister reading to her brother. A fireworks display. Those two scnes made me misty eyed. That sums up the whole film. A feel good film with poignant moments.

A frustrated pianist is sent to heaven temporarily to meet his destiny. He meets up with a lady pianist whom he admired when he was younger and together they try to finish a composition.

While on earth the lady pianist's niece met up with the aunt's boyfriend. He has to face his demons before he found the courage to continue his work as a fireworks expert. The director shows both parties struggling with their past to enable them to move forward. The inner conflict, guilt and despondency shows on their faces. It is only towards the end that they manage to resolve their quarrels with their loved ones and leave behind the excess emotional baggage.

Good ensemble cast and tight editing make this film a must see for die hard romantics.

Typhoon

Country Korea 2005

Picture and details Typhoon

Seen 30 April 2006

I’m in two minds about this film. There is a story line, the acting is commendable and the action sequences does its job adequately. But there is still a nagging feeling that an ingredient is missing. Most probably it has to do with the script and the way subtitles work. Nuances of a language inadvertently get lost in the translation process. But another reviewer’s Korean wife found the film lacking in the pull factor too. See this film at your own risk.