What the Film » Reviews

Nae Caranfil – Philanthropy

what the film — Fri, 28 May 2010 09:29:54 +0000

Last night I was one of the lucky guests of Romanian Cinematheque at the Romanian Cultural Institute in Belgrave Square, London. Yesterday’s show was “Philanthropy”, directed by Nae Caranfil and starring Mircea Diaconu and Gheorghe Dinica. The film is a winner of Young European Jury Award at Mons Festival of Love Films 2002 and Public Prize at Paris Film Festival 2002.
The film is a predecessor of Slumdog Millionaire and even better than the Oscar-winning production. Ovidiu, a 35 year old teacher is living with his parents and belongs to Bucharest’s “beggars with a degree” class. His self-published book of fiction is barely earning him the equivalent of a tram ticket but everything will change after he meets the TV spokesmodel Diana.
The film is a nice bitter comedy but stripping off the comedy wrap it is also a sad story. The circumstances will always turn into Ovidiu’s favour. When you expect the truth to be revealed, there is also a comic twist which makes Ovidiu a winner and a hero, and his bruised eye will also contribute to that.

The Romanian Cinematheque will screen on the 15 of June 2010 the film “A Girl’s Tear” (1980) which is described by critics as “a provocative blend of ethnography and murder mystery”. On the 13th of July you can watch California Dreamin (Endless) which won top prize at Cannes’ Un Certain Regard.
There is a free entrance to the event but pre-booking is recommended.

Kathryn Bigelow: The Hurt Locker

what the film — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 10:10:33 +0000

Directed by Kathryn Bigelow, the movie is about a bomb disposal team who tries to deal with personal issues while saving lives and their own. The film focuses on Jeremy Renner as Sergeant First Class William James as he uses uncanny methods in approaching his life and his job.

At first glance, the movie can be billed as a war movie that tries to be preachy about the soldiers’ situation. But as the film unfolds, it tells a different type of story. Each character in the movie (Renner’s team mates played by Anthony Mackie and Brian Geraghty) has individual issues that are also related to the war but on a very personal level.

The movie could have easily fallen apart if it had focused on the characters but it is still a war movie which means there will be some action. You can breathe after each bomb disposal but there will always be another situation that you have to take a closer look at.

The movie doesn’t have a lot of twists but that’s part of the story’s beauty. It’s an amazing journey of the main character as it unfolds before the viewer’s eye.

The only concern is that viewers will be looking for more after the film has ended. The Hurt Locker is a must see movie for any film enthusiast.

Ruben Fleischer – Zombieland

what the film — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:24:57 +0000

Zombieland is a horror comedy flick that is sure to tickle your funny bone. The characters in this movie are doing the strangest things despite their situation. The situation is, they are just 4 of the very few survivors of the virus that turns humans into zombies.

The first characters in the movie are Columbus and Tallahassee. Columbus wanted to go back to Columbus, Ohio to find his parents and see if they are alive. On his way, he met Tallahassee who agreed to give him a ride while fighting off zombies. Then they met 2 girls named Wichita and Little Rock. The 2 girls took all their weapons and the car and drove off heading to Los Angeles. Eventually, the 2 guys found a Hummer and a bag with guns and headed to find the 2 girls to seek revenge. Eventually they found Bill Murray who also escaped the zombies by pretending to be one of them. They then mistakenly killed Bill Murray too and the 2 girls went out to find an amusement park.

The 2 girls enjoyed the rides there which got the attention of the zombies. If you watch this movie, you’d wonder why on Earth they would want to ride the amusement rides knowing there are zombies everywhere. The 2 guys acted like saviours and managed to save the 2 girls. But, this meant that Columbus would have to face his greatest fear: clowns! Columbus also makes a list of rules for surviving zombies with commandments such as: beware of bathrooms, wear seatbelts, Bounty paper towels or check the bacl seat.

Rob Zombie’s Halloween II

what the film — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 17:08:08 +0000

If you have watched the first Halloween then you already know what to expect from this second film – a lot of stabbing and blood. Even if you haven’t watched the first movie you would still be able to keep track with the story through Laurie’s recollection and flashbacks.

In this movie, Laurie’s brother Michael Myers was actually alive contrary to the first film where she thought she already killed him. Michael Myers was on a killing spree and killed several people in Haddonfield, Illinois. Laurie was taken to a hospital but wasn’t able to stay there for long because the living Michael came back and killed everyone in that hospital in search of his sister.

She survived the massacre but even after some years she still couldn’t get over the trauma. Still hoping that it was all over… But, it really wasn’t over and the bloodbath continues.

Michael Myers came back to Haddonfield just in time for the anniversary of his massacres and he had a plan. Of course, he planned to do more murdering and butchering again with the quest to get his sister all for himself. Halloween 2 had an overall approval of 20% from Rotten Tomatoes critics.

Stephen Sommers’ G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra

cinema review — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 21:14:05 +0000

A lot of old school cartoons have been popping up on the big screen for the past few years, much to the delight of those who used to love watching them back when they were little trouble makers.

This summer of 2009 one of the best animated action packed series has come alive and is ready to wow moviegoers. G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra is one of the most anticipated movies to come out this year and now that it has hit the theatres, people are flocking to see if it’s as exciting as it was way back them.

Minus Sgt. Slaughter, the whole gang of Joes are present in the film and of course the kick-ass villains who make the plot more exciting.

The story is set in the near future where nanotechnology based weapons have been perfected and are set to be used by James McMullen, a weapons expert with the help of Doctor, to strike terror into hearts of millions and re-arrange the way the world is run. General Hawk then recruits Duke and Ripcord and the other Joes to stop McMullen and Doctor.

A great movie full of special effects and excitement that all family members will surely enjoy.

John Schultz – Aliens in the Attic

what the film — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 10:06:24 +0000

Another movie about funny aliens coming to Earth to destroy the world. Yes, it’s the funny alien invasion type that is entertaining for the entire family. Basically, the story is about the Pearsons’ kids who found out about the alien invaders that came from the attic and they are on the quest to fight them and save the Earth without making their parents learn about it.

The aliens came from the meteor shower from another galaxy where 4 glowing thingies are forced on a different route leading it to the planet Earth and they end up on a roof where the family of Stuart and Nina Pearson were staying for a short holiday break. The aliens are actually the small kinds led by Skip then there were Tazer, Razor and Sparks. The 4 of them were in the quest to conquer the Earth but the 5 Pearsons’ kids are out to stop them.

Eventually of course there were a battle between the kids and the little aliens and the aliens never stood a chance against the bright and loving siblings. It sure is a fun movie that is worth watching.

You’ll giggle and burst in laughter with their funny antics. It’s a fun-filled movie that is worth a trip to the cinema.

Jaume Collet – Sera’s Orphan

what the film — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 18:21:38 +0000

Are you prepared to get scared an to be served an unexpected ending for this movie?

There’s this couple who unfortunately lost their unborn child which left them both devastated especially the wife who started having all these nightmares about the past that she couldn’t get rid of. The two have then decided that perhaps it would be best if they would adopt a child since they lost a child. They went to a local orphanage and there they talked to the person in charge asking about how to adopt a child and everything they need to learn about adopting a grown child. They felt this intense attraction to this very sweet girl named Esther and they wanted to adopt her.

They welcomed her into their home and treated her as their own child just like any adoptive parent should do. But then when Esther arrived into their life suddenly things are starting to get really strange and things happen that would really freak you out.

Kate, the adoptive mother, then believed that Esther might have something kept from them and she felt like something is really wrong with her. She looks so angelic but she knows something’s up with her. She tried to warn her family, including her husband about Esther but all they see is the sweet face of this young girl. Find out what her secret is, you’d really be shocked. A film that will make you feel guilty because you hate a child. The final brings an unexpected revelation of Esther’s past via a phone call from a doctor in a former Soviet country. Police cars turn up after the final battle but you should go and see it for yourself.

Chris Nahon: Blood – The Last Vampire

what the film — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 07:00:34 +0000

This is a thriller, action and horror flick in one. The main character in the movie is Saya, a beautiful 16-year old Asian girl who is actually 400 years old. She was born by a vampire with a human father and she had been fighting vampires since she was young. She never grows old and for 400 years she continues to fight against the world of the vampires using her samurai. She kills vampires although she is one herself as she can’t survive without blood to replenish her life.

She is a member of a military organization that together fights against evil and she was deployed to an American base for the military in Tokyo, Japan where her quest is to find the head of evil vampires, Onigen who is also in disguise. Here she made friendship with a young girl who is also the daughter of the general.

The fight scenes in the movie are superb. It’s full of action and flexibility as she fights the other fighting vampires. It’s basically a samurai fighting movie that they just made into vampires. Don’t expect to get scared here as it is more of an action flick rather than horror.

Would another Asian actor seek Hollywood success with this movie? We just have to wait and see. But don’t expect too much from the movie. All in all, a B-.

Carlos Saldanha takes us to Ice Age 3

what the film — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 16:35:56 +0000

This is definitely the best Ice Age sequel ever and you’d surely laugh your hearts out from the beginning up to the very end as our wacky favorite characters such as Sid, Diego, Manfred and Ellie are out for another awesome adventure.

The movie begins with Manfred and Ellie expecting a baby and Diego felt that the two has a different priority now and their herd is no longer as special as it was before. He decided to leave the group and go solo even when he no longer can run after his prey as he gets exhausted quickly. The very innocent Sid, on the other hand, had discovered three huge eggs and thought of keeping them as he thought they were left by their mom. Manfred demanded that he returns the eggs as Sid is not their real mommy. It’s too late though as the 3 young dinosaurs had already hatched out of their eggs and thought that Sid is their real mommy.

The real mommy of the 3 dinosaurs had then looked for them and took Sid as a hostage which then led the other characters to discover a lost world of the Dinosaurs that was just underneath the ice. There they met Buck, a one-eyed weasel who helped them save Sid.

It’s one funny scene after another and it’s one great movie to watch with friends or family. All in all an A+!

Thor Freudenthal’s Hotel for Dogs

what the film — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 08:00:44 +0000

It’s a story about the siblings Andi and Bruce who live in a foster home. In their foster home, dogs are strictly not allowed and the two had no choice but to follow the rules. Then, one day, they met an adorable dog that they just can’t let him go so they thought of a way on how to take care of their new pet.

They found an old, abandoned hotel that would be just perfect for their new pet. Since Bruce is such a genius young boy, he transformed it whimsically into a high-class dog hotel. Their pet dog who they named as Friday soon was not the only guest in the hotel. Soon more dogs considered the hotel as their new home.

Bruce invented conveyor-like machines which could easily provide all dogs their meals and also transport their poop after the digestive process is over. He made several funny machines to make the lives of these dogs as happy as possible. Unfortunately, with that much dogs, it’s not easy to keep them a secret.

Their barks were heard around the neighborhood and also, the local pound were dumbfounded as to why, all of a sudden, there were no more running stray dogs on the streets. Of course to keep their furry secrets, they need all the help they can get from their fun friends and it just turns wild!