Lust, Caution

Director:

Ang Lee

Starring:

Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Lee Hom Wang, Joan Chen, Tang Wei

Runtime:

148mins

Plot Outline:

An espionage thriller set in WWII-era Shanghai about a group of students trying to assassinate Mr Yee (Tony Leung), the intelligence chief of a Japanese-backed Chinese government. Wang Jiazhi (Tang Wei) takes up the role of Mrs Mak, gains Yees’ trust by befriending his wife and later draw Mr Yee into an affair, hoping to isolate him so for the resistance to kill him. However, as time passes, she starts to fall for Mr Yee.

Review:

Gordon:
I find this movie over-rated. The plot is rather simple and the ending is the worse one would expect. The ending makes the whole movie pointless. However I find the acting of the main actor and actress very good. Their eyes can really talk and the acting is about all that is worth watching.

3 stars.

Gerlynn:
I hated the ending. Why end a good romance story like this? I was expecting so much more to that. Also, the one I watched is the censored version, and I honestly do feel like I’ve missed an important part of the movie which gives us the key to understanding the lead actor and actress’ relationship with each other. I don’t get how Tony’s character is into S&M and the girl can still fall for him even as she’s complaining about how she’s being hurt and abused, and seeming like she’s making such a big sacrifice for the resistance. However, I do like the lead actors and actresses’ performance. It really makes you feel for their characters, and I think only good actors are able to do that.  

3.5 stars.

Brothers

Director:

Sung Kee Chiu

Starring:

Andy Lau, Michael Miu, YatWah Wong, Eason Chan, KaTung Lam

Runtime:

94mins

Plot Outline:

A story about a Hong Kong family running a triad business. The triad leader went to a fortune teller and is told that he will have good life for 20 years however his 2 sons will be the downfall of his business. After hearing this, he sends his younger son to America to study and the movie zooms forward 20 years. The elder son (Michael Miu) is now in charge of the whole business. His father is murdered one day by a traitor in the triad and the younger brother (Eason Chan) is called back to help out with the business. The elder brother starts training the younger brother by the hard way to take over the business as he is suffering from brain cancer.

Review:

Gordon:
The acting is above average but the plot is simple and there is no twist at all. I did not like the ending as well but I am not going to spoil the story for those who are going to watch it.

2.5 stars.

Gerlynn:
I did not like the ending at all. It makes the whole movie seem so pointless. I also did not like the acting, especially Michael Miu’s. He always looks stiff and emotionless. I just didn’t think he fit into his role very well. Furthermore, the plot is a total disappointment. I would’ve expected much more from a HongKong police/traid story as it seems to be their speciality. When asked why their uncle is a traitor, all they can say is,”he is an inborn bad guy.” So no other reasons? I wished it wasn’t that simple. Also, I wondered why Ghostie is so loyal to the Yee family. For a typical drama, you would’ve expected Ghostie to be the traitor since it was the Yee family who killed his dad. Hmm this movie is so unpredictable, but not in a good way. Quite a waste of time and money.

2 stars.

Mr Woodcock

Director:

Craig Gillespie

Starring:

Susan Sarandon, Billy Thornton, Kurt Fuller, Seann Scott, Amy Poehler

Runtime:

87mins

Soundbites:
Could I get a real bottle, please? I’m an alcoholic, not a Barbie doll.

Plot Outline:

John Farley, author of a best-selling self-help book about letting go of the past returns to his small hometown to receive the community’s highest honor, the Corn Cob Key. While there, John learns, to his horror, that his widowed mother, Beverly, is engaged to be married to none other than Mr. Woodcock, the high school gym teacher whose sadistic exploits were the bane of John’s youth. With the help of his nerdy old pal, Nedderman, John plots to break-up the relationship.

Review:

Gordon:
Have not watched a movie for quite a long time so this blog is not updated for quite a while. This is another comedy that provides a good laugh. The story is simple and the acting is average. Just sit back and laugh it out.

3.5 stars.

Gerlynn:
This movie is funny in its own way. The jokes are pretty lame and crude, and I wish there are more original jokes. Good plot but too many long pauses. It makes the movie rather slow paced, and a bit boring if not for the jokes. It’s not something I would want to watch again but overall a slightly above average comedy.  

3 stars.

I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry

Director:

Dennis Dugan

Starring:

Kevin James, Adam Sandler, Jessica Biel, Dan Aykroyd, Steve Buscemi

Runtime:

90mins

Soundbites:
Now place the ring on his hand. A ring is like a circle, it goes on forever. It’s not like a triangle, triangles have corners. It’s like a circle.

Plot Outline:

Good friends Chuck Levine and Larry Valentine are firefighters. In order to beat some procedural red tape, Larry begged Chuck to be his domestic partner just for show so that Chuck can claim Larry’s domestic partner benefits if anything happens to Larry and give it to his two children. Chuck agrees and the two goes to Niagara Falls to get married. Not long after, an official became suspicious, and the new couple’s plan goes from confidential to front-page news. Forced to put up a good show to prevent getting caught and thrown into prison, the two discover that sticking together in times of crisis is what truly makes a family.

Review:

Gordon:
This is just an average comedy with a simple plot and some funny bits. Nothing much to comment about but I particularly find the japanese priest very humourous. He just cannot stop talking about circles and triangles!

3 stars.

Gerlynn:
I love this movie. Ultra hilarious. Lots of original jokes. This movie will constantly keep you laughing!

3.5 stars.

No Reservations

Director:

Scott Hicks

Starring:

Aaron Eckhart, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Patricia Clarkson, Abigail Breslin, Jennifer Wade

Runtime:

105mins

Soundbites:
You bring in a sous chef from an Italian restaurant and I’m the one in therapy?

Plot Outline:

Kate is the master chef at a trendy Manhattan restaurant. She runs her kitchen and makes food to perfection on every dish. However she has a wierd habit. She hates to leave the kitchen when a customer wants to compliment her on one of her special dishes, but she will storm out of the kitchen when a customer insults her cooking. Due to this, her boss sends her to therapy. One day, Kate’s sister is killed in a car accident and her nine-year old daughter Zoe is forced to move in with her. Adding on to her problems, her boss hires a new chef to join the staff. Nick is a rising star and could be the head chef of another restaurant, however he wants to work under Kate. Kate begins to feel threatened by Nick, because he has a different style of running the kitchen. However, sparks start to fly when they start spending more time together.

Review:

Gordon:
I realise all of the movies I watched recently are kind of linked to one another. Rush hour 3 is mainly filmed in Paris and coincidentally Ratatouille also revolves in Paris. No Reservations is about cooking and Ratatouille is also about cooking! I wonder if my next movie will have any link to this one. The plot of this movie is rather straight forward and follows a moderate pace. Problems arise and are solved but at the end we all expect a happy ending. I think Aaron Eckhart (Nick), Catherine Zeta-Jones (Kate), Abigail Breslin (Zoe) acted very well in this movie. If you just want a light hearted romantic comedy, go catch this one!

3.5 stars.

Gerlynn:
I love this movie. It’s very sweet and touching in it’s own way, though its plot is only a very simple one. Very nice romantic comedy. Makes you hungry for more (food)!

3.5 stars.