Sunday, October 28, 2012

Taichi Zero and Pitch Perfect

Taichi 0
(2012, Stephen Fung)

A fun first part of a multi-part series this film features a cast of classic wuxia actors and some new faces from the world of wushu competition and taichi. This is billed as a steam-punk influenced epic but it really more of a fantasy in the tradition of Scott Pilgrim style game influenced editing. There are some wonderful performances and smart editing but there are also a lot of weak moments that distract from the forward movement of the plot. Hopefully part two is better. Definitely worth seeing with your favorite beverage and a bowl of popcorn.  Angelababy is capable as the love interest and wushu competitor and new comer Yuan Xiaochao does a great job. Tony Leung Fa Kai is one of China's great actors Wei Ai Xuan is awesome as a the little taichi master girl. (5/7)

Trailer


 Pitch Perfect
(2012, Jason Moore)

Uh, this Anna Kendrick collegiate acapella competition movie is fun. I liked it. Fat Amy (Rebel Wilson) is extra solid. All the singing is decent and some nice 80's Breakfast Club nods. Skylar Astin is suitably not annoying as the male lead. At times very funny and occasionally moving this movie did not suck. (6/7)

Trailer

Thursday, October 18, 2012

The Master

(Paul Thomas Anderson, 2012)

Hmmm. This film is well acted and well filmed. Joaquin Phoenix and Phillip Seymour Hoffman do very fine work in this story about a psychologically disturbed WWII veteran who meets an L. Ron Hubbard/ Werner Erhard/ James Edward Baker- type guru and becomes intimately involved in the development of his "movement."  I honestly didn't care at all about any of the characters. The period feel is fantastic and a few of the photographic tableau in the film are amazingly evocative of the war era but this film lacked a heart. Maybe I am in the minority but this meditative saunter through a disturbed man's mind never really grabbed me. I was more fascinated by the psychology of Lancaster Dodd (Hoffman) but the audience only gets glimpses into his mind as the story unfolds. Looks great and has really good performances but the story isn't one I really cared about at all. (6/7)

Here is a good book about the nutty LRH

Friday, October 12, 2012

Looper and Taken 2

 Looper
 (2012, Rian Johson)

Rian Johnson is still great at dialogue and visuals but this time travel story with Joseph Gordon Levitt and Bruce Willis is probably more about telekinetics than it is predestination paradoxes. Rumor has it Shane Carruth may have advised Rian Johnson on aspects of time travel mechanics for the film (see this). (6/7)

Trailer


Taken 2
(2012, Olivier Megaton)

Summing-- this Luc Besson/ Olivier Megaton sequel to the Liam Neeson actioner is really bland. There are some nice ideas about triangulation and close-quarter combat but otherwise it is pretty darn bad. (3/7)

Ugh

Thursday, October 11, 2012

The Raven, Ted, The Campaign

Ted
(2012, Seth MacFarlane)

This is a solid movie. MacFarlane, Mark Wahlberg and Mila Kunis are all great. A surprisingly tender and well thought out film about a teddy bear brought to life by a wish and some love.  (5/7)


The Raven
(2012, James McTeigue)

John Cusack as Poe. Could have been cool. Sadly was not. Luke Evans is a standout. Wonky ideas, some wonky editing and horrible credits music. (3/7)

The Campaign
(2012, Jay Roach)

Sometimes really funny and sometimes really not funny. Ferrell and Galifinakis are good but this story rambles. Karen Maruyama as Mrs. Yao is worth watching the movie for. Also Southerner Katherine LaNasa is very appealing as Rose Brady. (4/7)


Ted
The Raven
The Campaign

On DVD: The Clash ( Bẫy Rồng)

(2009, Le Thanh Son)

This movie was really fun. I was not sure what to expect from a Vietnamese action movie but I hoped it would be amazing. Southeast Asia is the hope for Neo-HK style action flicks and Johnny Tri Nguyen brought the sauce. Mr. Nguyen wrote, produced and starred along with his on-screen partner Ngo Thanh Van.  Ngo Thanh Van (Veronica Ngo) is super tough and hot and the fight choreography is top drawer. The plot/ story is a bit tired with no really new ground covered but for a lower budget action movie this is really good. Tri Nguyen is very charismatic and his martial arts are solid. Nice MMA/ Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai and  Vovinam  derived moves-- adding a modern and believable feel to the fights. We don't get to hear Tri Nguyen sing but he does dance. . . (5/7) Also Tri Nguyen is my age-- YAY! Double Punch!

Trailer