Manchui

I missed all the hype about this film, so I managed to go into the cinema without any false hopes or impressions of the film.

I was, however, expecting a better film. Especially after all the names flashed before me during the opening credits - Paul Newman, Jude Law, Tom Hanks, Sam Mendes, and most notably Conrad L. Hall. All of them disappointed me, except for Hall, whose cinematography was as excellent as it has been in his other films. Newman and Law were simply too flat - well, there was at least some development in Newman's character (unlike the two-dimensional-snuff-you-while-you're-sleeping-because-I'm-truly-evil Law). But I never felt anything for him, no anger or sympathy. Perhaps I wasn't meant to, but nothing in this film really gripped me.

I've read a few reviews about what an epic film this was. No, it was a lengthy film about Tom Hanks going on a killing spree, with long periods of non-epic slow-talking and short bursts of unnecessarily violent gun-battle, finished off with a dull, morose ending. The start of the film was too revealing, and didn't add to the film, as perhaps the start of American Beauty did.

If you're expecting an epic, go and watch Cinema Paradiso instead.

4/10.

What a disappointment.

I went to the cinema to see Minority Report but ended up going to Austin Powers 3, expecting an afternoon of laughs. How very wrong I was. Whereas in two prequels you needed someone by your side to stop you from laughing, this time you needed someone to jolt you into a stream of laughter.

Sure, there were a few good gags with more risque shadow antics and Mini-Me getting kicked around the room, but on the whole it was just lame. Goldmember was a potentially funny character who never brought a chuckle to my mouth, and the 'mole' gag(s) needed a whole bag of pre-emptive "SHH!".

I kept wondering when the movie would get going...and I still am. Bring back Austin 1 and 2 with a funny Dr Evil and the Austin puns that we all know and miss (like 'That's no way to get ahead in life').

4/10.

jake1st@yahoo.com asked: "Finally, can someone please tell me how he got that poster of Racquel Welch back on the wall after he climbed frontways into that tunnel?"

For someone who was apparently closely observing this film, you should have noticed how it was attached to the wall. It was hanging from above. Thus Andy Dufresne would only have to lift it up (like a flap) and it would flap back down behind him.

Watch it again if you don't believe me. I believe this is shown twice, if not more.