Change Your Image
Jason-Kraken
Reviews
1999 (2009)
Great film for Tamil and Non-Tamil alike.
1999 is about Tamil gangs during the 90's. A lot of young Tamil males felt that it was important to their survival, and culture to join gangs. They felt at home with their gang and it was more like a family. In the 90's a peace treaty was formed among the gangs but at the beginning of this film, Jeevan (brother to Kumar head of one of the big gangs) kills the brother of the other big gang. Kumar learns of this and fears that the treaty will be broken, and there will be war on the streets.
Kumar is a nice guy (as nice as a gang leader can be) and doesn't really want to be this leader anymore. His posse tells him to frame someone for the killing so Jeevan wont go to jail.
********SPOILERS**************
Kumar, against his better judgement, frames his best friend Anpu.
The story is really about Anpu, and Akilan, two former best friends turned casual acquaintances because Anpu joined Kumar's gang, and Akilan is nice schoolboy. The story shows their lives in a parallel style of editing. We see them pass by each other and then we follow Anpu. Later, we see the same exact scene where they pass each other, only this time we follow Akilan.
The story is interesting and I liked the style. The music was killer too (both songs and score), and I really didn't know what would happen at the end. The "love story" is an interesting one because it only exists in the minds of Anpu and Akilan. They both love Geetha, but none of them have told her yet. Geetha (who is not shown in the film at all) doesn't know that they like her, and we don't see her choose. This is interesting in the sense that we (the audience) can make up our own dream girl Geetha and think about how we would approach her? That being said, the pacing was a bit slow at times, and at a 2 hour mark, I felt that some stuff could've been cut. But it never gets boring, the musical score really helps, and all in all I think a lot of non-Tamil people would like it.
Check it out.
9/10 J-Man
Watchmen (2009)
Watchmen is an excellent adaptation!
This is perhaps the best comic book movie I have ever seen. Rorschach is the second best character to be brought from comic to screen accurately, to the point where you cannot tell who came first. Only has Christopher Reeve been better as Superman.
This film is just as challenging as the novel, and in some ways better. Of course you cant capture everything in the novel and some things have changed to fit better in the film. But it was an amazing viewing experience.
If you haven't read the book, I think you'll enjoy this film a lot. But remember this is not your typical "superhero" film. It's much much better.
If you have read it, I think you'll love it even more. We comic fans have been waiting for this film for a long time and it was worth the wait. This film should unite comic fans, because we finally have a film adaptation that doesn't murder the source material. It honors it and brings it to life. A great film.
The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008)
Good movie. Solid story and a great looking Gort!
Normally remakes make me barf. I literally feel ill. But sometimes some remakes are OK. Like the Thing or Scarface. The movie has to be old enough that a new take on it is worth trying. I feel that in this case, a remake would be OK. Let me make myself clear
the original Day is better than this movie. It is better written and executed. But I must also say that I really enjoyed this movie. The point of Klaatu coming was changed a bit, from a message to a mission, but I feel that there was enough here to justify the remake. People are hating this movie for a few reasons, one of which being the question: why would an alien care if we destroy ourselves and this planet. Well they answer this, Klaatu says that there are very few worlds that can sustain intelligent and complex life, and we should not destroy the one we have. Other say this is an environmental message
we it is and it isn't. We can destroy the earth in several ways, not just pollution. So this is not a green peace movie. And yes, I know the movie has product placement etc. But I mean what movie doesn't. They had to pay for GORT some way, and oh man, they got their money's worth. This new Gort is one of the best robots I have seen in any film! I loved him. I wish there was more of him, but then again, I thought they would only show 1 second, so I'm glad I was wrong. I do wish it was Gort doing more of the destruction than Mistified-Gort
but what can you do. The message in the movie wasn't clear to audience or the people of earth, but I think the message was that we will change, but only when we are pushed to the extreme. We have to be on the brink, in order to really change who we are. And that was verbalized in the film, so there's your message. Klaatu will come back to finish the job if we don't. I feel that this movie deserves at least one view if not a few views. The old film did a great job of hammering in the message it wanted to state
this one is a bit more subtle. You have pay attention and take from it what you will. Some are comparing to the original, which is always the case with a remake, but I think this film can stand on it's own as a good sci-fi picture, without being bashed on by people who don't take the time to think after a movie and just say "it sucks".
Punisher: War Zone (2008)
Great Punisher movie, and a good action movie too.
First off, let me say that I am a huge punisher fan. I own the comics (including #1 missile launcher in window) and I collected every series of the comics, even the one where he was an angel or something. And I actually enjoyed the dolph film. I was really disappointed with the Thomas jane punisher. It was very weak.
When the order to kill his family was given, I whispered to my buddy "oh man, he's gonna destroy these bastards." Then nothing happened. He sets up fake fire hydrants and fights the Russian while the neighbors are making pasta and dancing. I was stunned at how bad it was. In fact a lot of people on this site seem to be saying they are fans of punisher max and of the garth enis style of punisher etc. well that ain't the real punisher. Sorry guys. Batman comics were cheesy during the silver age (and during the adam west batman, which was somewhat accurate for the comics of that time) that doesn't mean, it's the real batman. Punisher shouldn't talk too much. He should punish. He has nothing left but vengeance. And he destroys criminals, not frame them for affairs while planting evidence and using fake fire hydrants.
This movie was violent and dirty. Like punisher should be. He punishes the criminals, in the ways we want to see them punished. If someone killed your family you would either want them in jail, or want them to die, depending on your belief system. But for Frank Castle, he wanted them all dead. He is willing to pay the price for his actions (as he says to the priest in the movie). You either agree with his methods, or try to understand them. I think the movie makes it point. Plus the action is wicked, and we see the punisher punish. What else are you looking for? I just don't get some of these fans that don't really know what they are talking about. They just say it's bad or good depending on what others say. I must admit though, that there are a lot of people on this site that are understanding this movie, which is a good sign. If you want punisher to talk his way through stuff, then don't see this movie. If you wanna see a bunch of no good S.O.B.s get what's coming to them, then go see this movie now!
Bangkok Dangerous (2008)
Great movie with great acting and characters.
I haven't seen the original film, but I plan to buy it. If remakes are usually worse than the originals, then the first Bangkok Dangerous, must be an amazing film. This updated version with Nic Cage playing an assassin who breaks his own rules and befriends a couple of people, is a great character study, with a wicked soundtrack, great scenery, good performances by all, and some pretty cool action scenes. First off, this is mostly a dramatic picture, not a "Hard Boiled" styled action flick. So if you are expecting some John Woo stuff, forget it.
However, I think the story was good enough that it didn't need a lot of action. And when it came, it was pretty gruesome! This film focuses on themes and how human interaction can change people. Cage's character must remain a loner, he cannot care about the human race, which he sees as a different species, if he does, he will start to feel remorse, and this is not a good thing for an assassin. Of course this is a movie, so he will break this rule, but it's not that he breaks it out of want, he was forced to.
It's strange how this movie takes plot twists, that are usually predictable, but not always, and makes it seem as if there is no other choice. Once the plot twist happens, you knew it would, but somehow it's still shocking.
*****SPOILER***** While out with is mute girlfriend Cage is attacked by muggers. His girl doesn't see them and cant hear them, so she is oblivious as to what is happening, and it would've stayed that way except that when Cage is forced to defend himself, he does what comes naturally, he executes them. He had them down, but couldn't help finishing them off. In doing so, his mute girlfriend gets blood sprayed on her back and when she feels the spray, she looks and sees that there is blood on her. She sees Cage, and takes off running. Her and Cage never get back together. Had he left the muggers knocked out, he could say that he was defending himself, but instead he appears like a cold blooded killer, which he is.
This is only one example of how the plot twists are used to show character, not just for the sake of shock value, which is typical in movies.
All in all, I thought it was great and I would recommend seeing it. Ill be getting it on DVD for sure! 8/10 (I am giving 10/10 on IMDb, because I think the movie needs to go up a bit)
Wanted (2008)
Interesting movie, but not the comic.
This is a difficult movie to review. It's based on a comic of the same name. If you liked the comic, then you can forget the movie. The movie shares almost nothing in common with the book. Only the title, The Fraternity, Fox, Wesley and the initial opening of the comic are in tact. Oh, and even though the names are there, the characters are nothing like the comic book counterparts. It's like making "Spiderman" only he wears no costume and doesn't have spider powers. Fox in the comic (AJ's character) looks pretty cool and wears an orange costume similar to Catwoman, but she is African-American with short hair. Now AJ in my opinion is a good actress and I think she's pretty attractive. But she looks nothing like the comic book Fox.
So if you read any reviews on IMDb that say this movie sucks because it's not like the source material, then you can believe them. However, for this reviewer, having read the comic, I am glad for that reason. The comic book was about scumbags who rape, murder, kill and swear as if it was a day job. The ending of the book goes so far as to insult the reader and thus serving no purpose in the story other than to say that guys like the people who post on this site, are stupid and meaningless. Now the point of the comic may be to get us off our butts and do something with our lives, and that is a good point to make! I am a writer and make my own movies. I'm sure a lot of you guys are too, and like you all, I try to make what I can, and maybe something will happen in the future. I don't think my day job (just as crappy as the one in the movie) should judge who I am as a person. Now that I got that off my chest, on to the movie.
If you accept the movie on it's own terms, you will enjoy it. Bending bullets, jumping off buildings etc, are all fine. I like fake action movies, they are entertaining and serve their purpose. The main complaint about this movie is the how the targets are chosen. But it doesn't really matter because how do you judge who lives and who dies? The fact is, is that Fox believes in their theory of fate choosing and believes in it so much that she makes a powerful decision in the end of the film.
If that ending didn't occur, you could throw out the entire film, because the characters didn't buy it, so why should I? But because AJ makes the choice, she proves she does believe her version of "fate", so the audience has to at least understand why she did what she did. Saying things like, I don't believe this could happen, etc etc, is just foolish.
It's a movie. Movies are fake, but the should serve one of two purposes. 1 to entertain us from our crappy jobs, where we cant tell the boss to F-off cause we have to support our families, or 2 to make us think about our lives, religion, society, history, our place in the universe etc. Wanted entertained me and for a few moments I did think about my crappy job and thought, maybe I could do something better and still support my family.
Since Wesley is the protagonist, we identify with him and want him to succeed. Some say the movie is predictable. Well name me one action movie that's not? Now, don't email me telling which movies are not (I own 1900 dvds, original ones, not burned) and I know every action movie out there. But to say it's predictable is to say that I knew Batman would win in the end. Like come on, that's what genre pictures do. The deliver a formula which is sure to please and the better ones (like this movie) throw a bit of thought and excitement in too. Give it a chance.
Speed Racer (2008)
Great exciting film with heart!
I am not sure why this is getting negative reviews, or why it's doing poorly at the box office. I know Iron man was good, but come on, there must be some more people out there.
You know a lot of this generation of film goers/makers, have this attitude that everything must be darker and more realistic. Yeah, cause realism entertains us! I want to have a good time at movies and be entertained and possibly have a good story or two.
I am a film maker and watcher and fan. I collect dvds and love ALL kinds of movies. B&W, Asian, Indian, and Hollywood. I love all genres too! Others of my age (25-30) don't like B&W movies cause they are "boring" and are all just gray color, nothing to entertain, no effects.
Well this movie is fast, effects filled and colorful beyond all belief. I mean Wizard of Oz is getting a run for its money by Speed Racer. But people hate it cause it looks cheesy or whatever.
Well this movie is based off an anime based on a manga. I WANT COLOR! If this movie was the dark xmen, or superman returns (with his ridiculous dark blue outfit) I wouldn't have seen it. I mean xmen could've been B&W anyway, cause there was no color.
This movie had heart and excitement. I wouldn't give 10/10 unless it was the total package. The story was fun and I liked the message. I liked when speed learns of the corruption and was forced to learn about the real world, and to step out of his fantasy.
The anime was brought to life on the screen. Whenever I think of superhero comic movies I like to close my eyes, imagine the show I loved and then open them. If I don't see a live action version of what I was imagining, then it sucks. Look at the upcoming GIJOE, destro has no mask???? The Joes are in black suits like xmen.
And all these people love it. They love it because they are too scared to admit they love superheroes they way they are! So when these dark movies come out and they characters look "cool" then all of a sudden the comic geeks come out of hiding and say "we love it!" We love the matrix suited xmen, we love dark blue superman with burgundy cape, we love joker with his "crow" makeup, we love all that.
Well how come the comics remain true to form and still sell every month? If no one wanted color and excitement, the comic industry would fall. Superman is still bright red and blue and sells just as well as he always did.
Speed Racer was the first actual comic book movie, and of course everyone hates it, so they wont make a part 2. Oh, and Hulk was OK too, but of course everyone hated that, so now we have a brown swamp thing fighting hulk, and they call him "abomination" the abomination is the audience that abandoned all wonder.
Transformers (2007)
Terrible movie ******* spoilers**********
This is for those old school Transformer "Fans" who actually liked Bay's horrid film version.
Before that, read the Premise of the 80's cartoon.
The Transformers are a race of intelligent machines from a war-torn planet that has had its resources depleted by war. The Autobots seek out a planet that is rich in energy sources so they can replenish Cybertron. The Decepticons follow them. Both factions crash land on Earth, which is rich in natural resources that can be converted into Energeon Cubes that are consumable by Transformers. So, the Autobots unwittingly led the Decepticons to a new planet of innocent life (humans) and have unknowingly carried their war to Earth. Optimus feels guilty but realizes that the Autobots must defeat the Decepticons lest Megatron uses Earth's rich energy to rule Earth, Cybertron and beyond.
Now, that was the premise of the cartoon, made for a bunch of 6-year-olds. What's the plot of the movie? Everyone has to get a mystical cube that can make Transformers, because somehow making Transformers is the key to ruling the Universe. In order to get the cube, the Transformers must track down a pair of glasses with a map to the cube imprinted on the lenses. This is one of the most MISSED OPPORTUNITIES in movie making! Wouldn't the original cartoon idea be more relevant today anyway? A war in another land for energy. Gee, where have I seen that before? How the hell is a kids cartoon richer & deeper than a live-action Hollywood motion picture?
I want you to ask yourself these questions below.
DO YOU THINK IT'S GOOD THAT
Cybertron is destroyed? This destroys the entire concept of TF. Plus this gave the excuse to introduce more characters!
Megatron doesn't do anything until the end? He is not threatening in any way, cause he's not around until the last 20 min of a 2.5 hr movie! He is frozen that entire time!
Starscream doesn't show up until 2 hours in to the movie? Why couldn't SS destroy the base at the beginning of the movie. Or something to give him more of a role. Instead they use throwaway guys or guys they made up.
The Prime / Megatron fight takes place primarily off screen? We wait 2.5 hours to see them to fight, then we get quick edits of multiple fights that we cant make out?
Prime is defeated by Megatron off screen and then Sam defeats Megatron? We cut back to the fight and Prime is down and Megatron is about to win? How did MT get the upper hand? Prime doesn't even save the day in HIS OWN MOVIE!
Prime says his immortal movie quote "One shall stand, one shall fall." Off screen!!!!!
Bumble bee cannot speak? He is one of the fave characters and the liaison between Sam and the TF's but cannot speak? Ratchet repairs his legs & speech at the end in 1 sec but couldn't fix his speech for 100yrs or whatever it was?
Megatron and Starscream look the same? People say if you look closely you can tell. Well how many times am I gonna see this movie before I can tell who is who? I didn't have to watch closely in any other movies to tell characters apart?
Soundwave is not in the movie?
Sam is not called Spike? Why didn't they make Sam's ebay name spike101 instead of ladiesman?
Bumble bee pees on someone?
We didn't see Bumble bee and Barricade fight? They are chasing each other and then camera pans away to Sam & Girl fighting a crappy looking robotic gremlin called "Frenzy". The camera cuts back to BB and he is standing in a pose over barricade? We don't know how BB defeated him?
Prime is clumsy and says "my bad"? Prime is the leader of the autobots, he shouldn't be clumsy and stupid. They hide around the corner at Sam's house instead of just going on the street and transforming to cars. They were studying humanity they said, for x years and don't get that? Prime should be awe inspiring, not the puppet of a script that molds his personality to whatever the individual scene demands (he makes a rousing speech about humanity here, he clumsily steps on a fountain there, etc.). Heck, for that matter, no character should be written like that. That's not how you write scripts!
The TF's have no personalities? They are not characters, they are big robots that fight. Even the Ninja turtles are different characters.
A mountain dew machine becomes a TF? Bay didn't like the original TF because he said it was a toy commercial, but they are doing a commercial for Ford, Mountain Dew and Nokia phones. Not to mention TOYS which are all over every toy department in every store.
Devastator is not a combiner? He's just a big stupid vehicle that gets destroyed in 1 sec. I don't even remember how he died.
There are much more problems with the movie than that, but I mean these are some big basic ones. I don't think I'm nit picking here, these are legitimate questions to ask yourself.
Even if you DON'T compare it to the original TF (not sure why you wouldn't compare it, since the movie is called TF, but whatever) the movie still sucks. You cant see the action, the final fight is a let down, and there's too much comedy. They don't take anything seriously anymore.