5/6/2019 1 Comment silence of the lambs (1991)Director: Johnathan Demme
Silence of the Lambs is about a new detective Clarice was asked to question the serial killer, Hannibal who is captured. The police believe that he knows the truth about another serial killer. Silence of the Lambs is a brilliant movie. The scariest part is this man that is locked down in a cell. I generally love movies that is psychologically scary. And this movie is such a good thriller that I was entertained the entire movie. The bizarreness and intelligence of the killers make the movie aesthetically pleasing. The escape of Hannibal will forever be a classic (And I finally got the reference of the episode about CPR in The Office). I also very enjoyed the fact of the awareness of transgender and female oppression in some careers. They pointed it out without putting too much effort on them. The relationship between the psychopath serial killer and a caring and responsible detective is fascinating. I wanna see more stories after that but at the same time, I don't want them to be able to ruin the movie. Have the lambs stop screaming? Rating: 9/10
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4/29/2019 1 Comment stray dog (1949)Director: Akira Kurosawa
Stray Dog is about a homicide detective lost his gun, and he found out murderers were committed by the seven bullets in his gun. He is determined to find the gun. A more experienced detective helped him to find the criminal. Compare to Rashomon, Stray Dog had a quick intro. The story started within the first line. However, audiences can easily tell that the two movies are both directed by Akira Kurosawa. Kurosawa enjoys long shots of the same scenario. In Rashomon, he spent minutes just on the first witness walking in the woods and found the body.*Spoiler* In Stray Dog, he puts a lot of effort on chasing the woman who stood right next to him on the bus, and looking for the weapon seller. Kurosawa's visual aesthetic scenes are also shown in Stray Dog. When detective finally found the lady with her mom at her apartment, the triangular relationship and development between them intertwined with pleasant visual experience. Also, characters' internal struggle is emphasized. Audiences are affected by the kindness and the darkness of the detective. Rating: 7.5/10 4/15/2019 1 Comment shazam! (2019)Director: David Sandberg
Shazam! is about a powerful wizard who is dying is trying to find his successor. After years and years of trying, not much time is left for him. The bad guy has released the seven deadly sins. So he chooses a foster boy Billy. Billy has just moved into a new foster home and met his roommate Freddie. To be honest, I don't expect much from a hero movie. I don't ask for deep meanings or artsy visual effect in Marvel or DC movies. Shazam! is easy, funny and carries the message of the importance of family. In my opinion, Shazam! meets my expectation. It is rated as PG13. I don't find it scary, but I do think some scenes are a bit intense for kids. I have to say Shazam! is on the edge of being boring. When Freddie and Billy was trying to figure everything out, it was very amusing but at some points, I do find the jokes are getting old. However, it moved into main storyline soon after so everything goes back on track. It is probably the only movie I'm gonna see a superhero flossing. The first part of the movie is a bit boring when it's not funny, but overall I enjoyed it very much. It's easy and funny. Just what I need before Endgame (I'm just kidding DC, but am I). Rating: 7/10 4/8/2019 1 Comment the other boleyn girl (2008)Director: Justin Chadwick
The Other Boleyn Girl is an adaptation of King Henry's story with the two Boleyn sisters. The Boleyn family wants to send them and become King's lovers. When I first saw the cast, I was amazed by how impressive it is: Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johansson as the two Boleyn sisters, Eric Bana as King Henry Tudor, Benedict Cumberbatch, Eddie Raymond......But it's kind of a bad movie. I always enjoy royal family historical movies, such as the Dutches, the Favourite, Marie Antoinette, etc. Because you never know how messed up it can be. This movie is really messed up but because of its fast pace, it didn't sink in at all. I enjoy the emotional ups and downs in movies like this but it looks like a fast rundown of the event. There are no focal points where it lets audiences to think and feel. *Spoiler* For example, I think the contrast between how King Henry treated differently to Mary and Anne should be emphasized. The interaction between Anne and the King was barely there as well. There were a lot of foreshadowing but they didn't work as good as they thought they would be. the performance of the two sisters were outstanding and the story is intriguing. But it's a bad adaptation. Rating: 7.2/10 Director: Michel Gondry
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is about a couple, Clementine and Joel's journey after they broke up. Clementine, an impulsive girlfriend, decided to erase her memory about Joel completely. After knowing the truth, Joel decided to do the same--erase her from his memory. After watching a fair amount of movies, I figured I generally don't enjoy movies that are out of the time order. This movie is completely out of the time line, but I didn't mind it at all. Even with the knowledge of what's gonna happen, the first twenty minuted was very trippy and confusing which made me impatience. But it's worth the wait and actually it escalated pretty quickly. It took me a while to get used to it because the beginning was so realistic. Yes, that's it. The beginning of the movie looks like an ordinary rom com of a boring guy and the most outgoing girl, but it turned into an almost sci-fi movie (I can see a Black Mirror episode of this lol). The development between the two characters was also intriguing. Clementine complains Joel never tells her about himself when they were dating. And in Joel's brain, he was almost forced to share all his memories, the most hidden ones, the most embarrassing ones. The combo formed a very strong contract which makes it really interesting to watch. Clementine is an outgoing, bright, emotional girl and Joel is this boring guy who thinks himself is boring too. I enjoyed this movie very much. I think it's just a good movie for everyone. "Meet me in Montauk." Rating: 9/10 3/4/2019 1 Comment rain man (1988)Director: Barry Levinson
Rain Man is about Charlie's reunion with his half brother, Raymond, who is mentally challenged. His father passed away and left all the inheritance to Raymond. Charlie went on a road trip with him and tried to get some money. It is a very interesting duo of a rather successful but angry young man and a mentally challenged brother who needs to be taken care of all the time. The two actors performance are outstanding. And man, Tom Cruise does have a perfect face. The personal development and their relationship are well developed in the film. Raymond was claimed to be unable to make connection with others, and Charlie was hatred towards his father's decisions and his mentally challenged brother. But during the road trip, they are able to connect with each other. Rain Man is not my favorite movie, it is incredibly long and the most part of it I find it not entertaining. There are several scenes particularly interesting such as the high way scene and the toothpick scene, but overall I didn't have the patience to see them yelling at each other. However, when Charlie took him to the gambling place and count cards, from that point on, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Rating: 7.7/10 2/19/2019 1 Comment bohemian Rhapsody (2018)Director: Bryan Singer
Bohemian Rhapsody is about Freddie Mercury's life from an airport worker to Queen's, one of the best rock bands in history, lead singer. I finally watched this movie! I've been so curious about this movie, because all of the people around me who watched it loved it, but the critics online hate it. I liked this movie, and I totally agree it can be better. I think this movie lacks deeper thoughts on the development on Freddie Mercury both as a singer and as a person. There are parts I wished it could slow down and let the emotion sink in, but it just flashed by. For example, when Freddie turned on his lamp and hoping to see Mary turns on hers, instead, there was no response. It rushes by. After Freddie Mercury started solo, Paul threw tons of parties at his house, and Freddie walked upstairs alone. Nobody cared and no one noticed. That scene lasted like one second. However, personally speaking, I didn't live through the Queen era, so I had very little knowledge and emotion towards them. I think Bohemian Rhapsody gives me enough information and understanding of this rock band. But I'd think for Queen fans or people know a little bit more about the Queen, would ask more from this movie. I saw a review describing this movie as "basically a run down of wikipedia". It all depends on what we expect from this movie I guess. If we have a look at what type of movie Bryan Singer make, I had a basic idea of what I'm expecting from Bohemian Rhapsody (no shading). I had goosebumps every time Queen's music starts in the movie! And please let Rami get the Best Actor. He's awesome. Rating: 8.2/10 2/11/2019 1 Comment punch-drunk love (2002)Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
Punch-drunk love is about a guy who has seven sisters named Barry met a girl and fell in love with her. He is struggling with his repressed anger and privacy with his sisters and a sex phone worker(?) until he falls for the girl, Lena. I watch a lot of weird movies and yet this is probably one of the most bizarre movie. It has so many random items and events, a harmonium and tons of pudding…I was so confused for the first five minutes where Barry witnessed a serious car accident and some people dropped a harmonium on the road. I have so many questions but Anderson has no intention to explain any of that, which all of these surprisingly worked together. Maybe it’s because everything is weird in this movie, Barry, his sisters, the mattress boss are all weird, so they all worked. The cinematograph is INCREDIBLE. I loved all the light, shadow, silhouettes. My mood during the movie: “Am I supposed to laugh at this?” “OMG, lol” It’s probably because of the fact that Adam Sandler in a Paul Thomas Anderson’s movie. It’s nothing like anything I’ve watched and I loved it. Rating: 9/10 2/4/2019 1 Comment *spoiler*roma (2018)Director: Alfonso Cauron
Roma is about a maid named Cleo who works for a wealthy family's life in the early 1970s in Mexico. It also talks about the family she works for, how she and the house lady are treated during the period. Roma is a fairly serious and slow movie. Each shot is stretched and has a very slow pace. It starts off with some uncomfortably long scenes. It shows how Cleo was cleaning the house for solid five minutes. The whole movie is also in black and white, which I always think that black and white are better at expressing atmosphere by enhancing light and shadow. The cinematography is incredible. Every scene is very pretty. *Spoiler* Despite the slow paced scenes, there are a lot of scenes that have a strong and intense emotional impact on audiences. When Sofia hugged her husband closely from behind when he was leaving, she probably knows that he is leaving for good. But in front of the kids, all she did was hugged him, and says "We are all here, waiting for you." She still has hope in this family. However, when Sofia drove home drunk and looked over to Cleo, she said " we are all alone." She was hurt and desperate. Both her and Cleo were hurt by the people who are supposed to be responsible to their relationship, but they left. Cleo went to find the guy who made her pregnant, but he threatened her and yelled "You servant" at her. *Spoiler* The last part when Cleo has lost her kid and Sofia finally filed the divorce, they went on a vocation to the beach. The scene where Cleo saved the children and cried. She didn't cry when she found out that man has ditched her when she told him she's pregnant with his child. She didn't cry when she traveled all the way to find the guy and she was yelled at and threatened to stay away. She didn't cry when her water was broke and the guy pointed the gun at her. She cried when she lost her baby and when she finally tells someone how she felt, how she didn't want the baby. It was such a raw emotion that at first I didn't how to handle it. But I was deeply happy and relieved when she said so. Surprisingly I didn't enjoy this movie when I just finished watching it. But as I was ready to write this review, I'm liking this movie a lot more then I was. I guess I needed time to let this movie sit a bit. Rating: 9.2/10 1/28/2019 1 Comment pulp fiction (1994)Director: Quentin Tarantino
Pulp Fiction is about two hitmen, Jules and Vincent, of a gangster Marsellus Wallace and their philosophy discussions. Their story is interwoven with a boxer Butch and Marsellus's wife, Mia. I have a mix feelings about Tarantino's movies. He often has a very loose storylines with several strands intertwined which I don't like the most. But weirdly he is able to put them into a cohesive story and keep them interesting. The first thing I noticed at the beginning of the movie is all those long lines the characters are throwing out. And their conversation is almost the polar opposite of Wes Anderson's characters, where they are as casual as possible. Tarantino puts all kinds of random topics into characters' conversation, and somehow makes them reappear again and they work well, such as the Royale with cheese. And the interaction between Vincent and Mia is really interesting. *Spoiler*When audiences are expecting something happens between them, Mia ODed. Vincent saved her. And I expected something more happen between them but no, Vincent died. Speaking of Vincent's death, Butch is one of the most frustrating characters I've ever seen in the movie. *Spoiler*When he had to go back to his apartment and find his dad's watch, he was being so careful at first. After he found the watch, HE DECIDED TO EAT BREAKFAST IN HIS APARTMENT. And he saw a gun on the counter. HE DECIDED TO PLAY WITH THE GUN. I don't understand how everything turned out okay for him. Maybe I had too much expectation from this movie. It was good, but I personally prefer Tarantino's Kill Bill. Rating: 8.7/10 |
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