MOVIE REVIEW : THE RETURN (Russian)

Category : International Screens, Foreign, Drama/Family / Starring : Vladimir Garin, Ivan Dobronravov, Konstantin Lavronenko, Natalia Vdovina

The Return is a 2003 Russian film that tells a story of two tennage Russian boys, Ivan and Andrey, whose father returns home suddenly after a twelve year absense. Ivan and Andrey set out on a fishing trip to a remote island led by their father. The trip witnesses a journey of emotions for all three of them. Their taciturn father is constantly throwing his weight around, in his desperate efforts to show authority, and brutal efforts to make up for the missing twelve years he has left behind with his children. Andrey is ecstatic about the reunion and is constantly trying hard to please his father. Ivan is the more scpetical and unforgiving younger brother, unwilling to just accept the return without any explanation.

The Return_Konstantin Lavronenko

This movie is the winner of the Venice Film Festival, European Film Award and International Cinephile Society in 2003. Ivan Dobronravov is a treat to watch, displaying an array of anger and frustrations in his attempt to break free from the awkward fishing trip which he is forced to follow until the end. The story also boasts quite a set of beautiful sceneries in the background.

Th Return_ Ivan Dobronravov & Vladimir Garin

There is a slight mystery built into the plot, mainly on the actual reasons of the father's disappearance and return. We see a few scenes suggesting his intention of hiding the actual truth, and be prepared for an ending that will still need your own imagination and interpretation to weave your conclusions. To me the film worked mostly in depicting the compelling ties among the three during the trip.    

Rather than showing the movie's trailer, I'm going to show one of my favourite scenes from the movie, where Ivan breaks down in his frustration towards his father's dictatorial nature and his own unwillingness to forgive him:

Rating : B+

A movie recommendation from 2M1F

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MOVIE REVIEW & MOVIE RECOMMENDATION : KUNG FU PANDA (English)

Category : Animation, Martial Arts, Comedy / Voices By Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, Lucy Liu, Jackie Chan, David Cross, Seth Rogen, Randall Duk Kim & Ian McShane

For me, Jack Black is a comedian you sometimes love, and sometimes don't. His antics are not what I would classify as those in my favourites like Mike Myers, where you'd just love and laugh at everything he does. Jack Black, not really. But when I saw the trailer for Kung Fu Panda, I knew this was the role he would make everyone fall in love with. The overly fat, lazy but terribly funny panda is just totally Jack Black.

KungFu Panda_Jack Black Voices Po

The great Master Oogway (which by the way means tortoise in Cantonese) gets a premonition one day that the malific Tai Lung will be escaping from prison, bringing disaster to the peaceful village, and only one heroic Dragon Warrior will be destined to save the day. Shifu (Dustin Hoffman) is Oggway's descendant who has proudly trained five of the most prolific and herculean kung-fu warriors, namely Master Tigress (Angelina Jolie), Master Monkey (Jackie Chan), Master Viper (Lucy Liu), Master Crane & Master Mantis. But when Shifu is told to train the appointed Dragon Warrior to defeat Tai Lung, it becomes an almost impossible mission when the student happens to be a fat, lazy and clumsy panda, Bo (Jack Black).

KungFu Panda_Po & Shifu

What I firstly like about this movie is, the fact that it depicts many of the elements which were used in the good old days of Chinese Kung Fu movies. For example, the comical relationship between a great master and a clumsy student with evident lack of potential. We see that a lot in older Chinese Kung Fu movies for instance in Drunken Master, where the master was an old, tiny man but possesses great prowess in kung fu, who has to train a silly student (played by Jackie Chan) who appears to be a clown with no potential. Jack Black and Dustin Hoffman did a very good job in depicting this relationship. Besides that, the old Master Oogway also reminds us of the old but wise master who moves very slowly, speaking many words of wisdom and surprises us once a while with his sudden kung fu moves.

KungFu Panda_Tai Lung (Voiced By Ian McShane)

The next thing I like about this animation is that they did not use any of the usual jokes which in a way discriminate the Chinese. We're so used to witnessing such jokes which attack Chinese's shortcomings like having very small eyes, terrible English pronounciations and horrible accents. I was expecting that but this movie went on very well, being really funny without having to rely purely on such lame approach.  

KungFu Panda_Jack Black & Dustin Hoffman

KungFu Panda_Angelina Jolie & Lucy Liu

Definitely a must watch, it has become one of my favourite animated movies :-) Jack Black and Dustin Hoffman made the movie worked. I like watching the Oogway character as well. Lots of kung fu action, loads of comical antics especially by Bo the panda. You'll fall in love with him.

KungFu Panda_Jackie Chan & David Cross

KungFu Panda_Randall Duk Kim & Seth Rogen

Jackie Chan is almost forgettable in this movie. I wasn't even aware that it was him, as his character the Master Monkey barely speaks throughout the story. Hmm..just to borrow a big name to boost sales in Asian countries? Perhaps, but definitely not necessary, the movie is great with or without him.

Movie trailers:

Trailer 2 is one the my favourite scenes, awesome! A recommendation from 2M1F !

Rating : A

Pics courtesy of www.yahoo.com

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MOVIE RECOMMENDATION : 10,000 B.C. (English)

Category : Action, Adventure / Starring : Steven Straits, Camilla Belle, Marco Khanlian, Cliff Curtis

I was definitely looking forward for this movie and it was great that it did not disappoint me. The scale of the movie was grand, and I liked it. Underlying all the stunts, saber-tooth tigers, prehistoric predators, wolly mammoths, is a love story, of a young hunter D'Leh, who leads his tribe to track down the warlords who kidnapped his lover, Evolet.

10000BC_Steven Strait & Camilla Belle

10000BC_Scene1 With Saber-Tooth Tiger

10000BC_Scene2 With Steve Strait & Cliff Curtis

Steven Strait and Camilla Belle, what a beautiful couple to watch. Their chemistry in the movie was great, Camilla's blue eyes were captivating, and Steven definitely pulled it off being the courageous hero in this movie. Here's a clip of an interview done with both of them:-

Read more about this movie in my earlier post on Movie Anticipation.

To watch trailer CLICK HERE

Rating : A-

Pics courtesy of Yahoo! - Thank you

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MOVIE RECOMMENDATION : VANTAGE POINT (English)

Category : Drama, Thriller / Starring : Dennis Quaid, Matthew Fox, Forest Whitaker, William Hurt, Sigourney Weaver, Shelby Fenner, Edgar Ramirez

Vantage Point_Poster

I did not initially intend to watch this movie, thinking it was another cop-crook action movie. And I was dead wrong! Thanks to a friend who went for it and told this to me "It's different, it's a story told in 8 different perspectives, and the different stories all come to one at the end". When I heard that, I knew I had to watch it, and yes luckily I did not miss this movie.

And how can I sum up this movie, well what my friend said says it all. The plot seemed simple, US president gets assisinated while giving a speech in Spain, chaos ensues and different lives (of the main casts) collides. What entails is the stories told in each of their perspectives, each slowly peeling deeper into unveiling the killer's identity, and at the same revealing more twists which keep the viewers guessing.

Vantage Point_Forest Whitaker,Dennis Quaid & Matthew Fox

What I also like about this movie besides the impressive ensemble cast, is that its takes us into different journeys of the main casts, each making us feel for their emotions, their parts of the story, their reasons for their actions, and at the same time teasing us with some suspicion as to who is the actual killer. With a huge twist at the end, coupled with great action stunts, this movie is definitely worth watching. Don't miss it!

To watch trailer CLICK HERE

Rating : A

Pics courtesy of Yahoo! - Thank you

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MOVIE RECOMMENDATION - 2 DAYS IN PARIS (English, French)

Category : Foreign/Art, Comedy / Starring : Julie Delpy, Adam Goldberg, Albert Delpy & Marie Pillet

2 Days In Paris_Poster

Last week I discovered another what I would rank as one of my favourite movies ever. We planned to catch Vantage Point but ended up watching this Foreign/Art movie, and we didn't regret at all. 2 Days In Paris is very close at heart for actress JULIE DELPY, as she wrote & directed the movie, and starred alongside both her real-life parents! For fans of Julie's previous movies Before Sunrise and its sequel Before Sunset (stars Julie and Ethan Hawke) like myself, this is a definitely must see for you.  

Plot is simple (as with most Foreign/Art movies), revolves around this couple of French photographer Marion (Julie) and American hubby Jack (Adam) making a stop for 2 days at Marion's hometown in Paris, after their holidays at Venice. The 2 days witness many witty, comical and thought-provoking conversations between the couple, questioning relationship issues like sex, fidelity & cultural differences. The movie is also full of hillarious moments as we see neurotic Jack's awkward encounters with Marion's overbearing parents (who speak virtually no English) and her set of mysterious ex-boyfriends (who suspiciously still want to get under Marion's skirt). You'll get to see various sceneries in Paris as well. Their short stop at Paris ends up testing their relationship, questioning both of them whether they are the right soul-mate for each other. 

2 Days In Paris_Adam Goldberg & Julie Delpy

Love it! I was previously amazed with Before Sunrise, with similar approach, full of interesting conversations over a set of alluring sceneries at Vienna. JULIE DELPY definitely lived up to her reputation for yet another entertaining Foreign/Art movie this time.

It's a must see if:

• You simply loved Before Sunrise or its sequel Before Sunset
• You appreciate Foreign/Art movies with loads of provoking/witty conversations
• You like movies that explores relationship/marriage/fidelity issues

To watch the trailer CLICK HERE

Rating : A

Pics courtesy of Yahoo! - Thank you

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