Movie Ramblings: 5 Reviews

On one random note: it's my 200th blogpost!

Anyway, let's talk about the movies that I've caught in Taiwan so far. Although I'm far away from home, nothing's stopping me from watching films!

Managed to catch five movies here (to date), and here they are, from the earliest to the latest ones I've watched.

1) THE KING'S SPEECH

Director: Tom Hooper

Starring: Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush

This year's Best Picture winner is a beautifully filmed and acted piece that is both humorous and dramatic, a safe kind of flick that the Academy usually goes for (although, quite unlike last year's The Hurt Locker).

Even though my personal pick would have been The Social Network for the Oscar, King's impresses with a very dedicated performance by Colin Firth (impeccable down to the last stuttering syllable), while its cinematography of bluish hues and warm colours helps to highlight the quietly-powerful screenplay of a King battling with both internal and external fears.

FYI: "The Colours of The King's Speech" photo spread

Current Tomatometer: 95%
My rating: 4.0/5
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2) GOODBYE MAY 走出五月
Director: 朱峰
Starring: 柯有倫，房思瑜


This little Taiwanese film intertwines two generations of lovers together into one story line, resulting in a fair share of hits and misses. The bittersweet tale of the older couple (勾峰 & 沈海蓉) tugs at heartstrings as it stretches from the past in China to present Taiwan, their presentation of undying love and anguish etched out movingly on their every action and expression.


But the younger couple's uneven plots sags the picture, although their youthfulness and energy somehow made their characters believable. The saving grace: the director's attention to set detail and the cinematographer's lyrical camera work improves the film experience.

FYI: 走出五月 movie trailer

Current Tomatometer: N.A.
My rating: 3.0/5
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3) THOR
Director: Kenneth Branagh
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman


Although not the first avenger (that's Captain America), it is the first avenger movie to be released this summer. After the insane success of Iron Man, sure-footed Marvel unleashes the mighty hammer-god, Thor, with its charismatic lead Chris Hemsworth - coming off suave and firm - earning the credit for carrying the bulk of the movie on his massive shoulders.


A deft blend of fantasy and mortal world, Thor brims with the right amount of humour (listen closely to Avengers references!), heavyweight action sequences and sweet chemistry between its leads, with the rarely-go-wrong Portman as love interest. A thumbs-up for the filmmakers for framing most of Earth's establishing shots in the Dutch-tilt, adding interesting cinematic depth to an already above-average superhero offering.

FYI: The 'Dutch-tilt' camera angle

Current Tomatometer: 77%
My rating: 3.5/5
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4) PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES
Director: Robert Marshall
Starring: Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz


The fourth installment of the mega Disney franchise does not bring anything fresh to its plate, unless you count a school of killer mermaids - they were rather creepy, though - as something original.


That said, Depp's Jack Sparrow is as amusing as ever, enlivening the movie's dull plot of a Fountain of Youth quest, and his crackling banter with fiesty new character, Angelica (played with predictability by Cruz), adds much needed sexual tension to improve the film.

Audiences will lap it all up, though, as it is still an entertaining adventure to sit through, filled with the physical Sparrow humour of Dead Man's Chest, and the high-seas swash-buckling of At World's End.

FYI: On Stranger Tides main characters' trailer

Current Tomatometer: 33%
My rating: 3.0/5
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5) FAST FIVE
Director: Justin Lin
Starring: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker


You know how we sometimes laugh at those guys who only have braun and no brains? That's exactly what Fast Five is, but wait - that's not exactly a bad thing in this case.


With insane high-octane car chase sequences that gleefully defy the laws of physics (jumping out of a falling car off a cliff, anyone?), this movie is like Charlie's Angels 2 by McG, minus all the fluff and pump in all the muscle, multiplied by a hundred. Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson joins the cast and rounds up the 'beefcake' showcase (but don't worry, dudes, the babes are not too bad, either).

Generic heist + @#$%^ car chases + Sleek production = Not a dull moment

FYI: "The 21 Hot Cars of Fast Five"

Current Tomatometer: 79%
My Rating: 3.5/5
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That's all folks! Watch out for my next post on the highly-anticipated movies I wanna catch this summer (of which some I might have to watch in Taiwan).

Take care, people!