FROZEN (2010)
MyRating: YYY1/2Director: Adam Green
Cast: Kevin Zegers, Shawn Ashmore, Emma Bell
MPAA: Rated R for some disturbing images and language
US Gross: US$ 0.2 Million
A terrifying thriller about three young skiers, Dan Walker (Kevin Zegers) and girlfriend Parker O'Neil (Emma Bell), and his childhood buddy Joe Lynch (Shawn Ashmore), stranded on a ski chairlift and forgotten by the lift attendant when the ski resort has to close early due to the coming storm. When they realize that no one is coming for them and they could be stuck up there in the wild and open nature for all week, as the resort is closed on weekdays, they have to choose whether to stay on the chairlift but the cold will slowly kill them, or to leave the chair but don't know how.
This is an interesting original story about life and death decision to be made in an extreme situation. And stranded in height in a tiny chair, surrounding by open and freezing air, with night and storm coming by, added with the endangerments by frostbite and wolves, is something indeed interesting to see, but you would never wish it to be happened to you in real life. Some long chit-chat for character introduction, but once it comes to the tense moments, it will haunt you till the end, with some quite disturbing scenes. Overall, a good and scary thriller. (MJ)
LETTERS TO JULIET (2010)
MyRating: YYYYDirector: Gary Winick
Cast: Amanda Seyfried, Christopher Egan, Vanessa Redgrave, Gael Garcia Bernal, Franco Nero
MPAA: Rated PG for brief rude behavior, some language and incidental smoking
US Gross: US$ 53.0 Million
Worldwide Gross: US$ 79.2 Million
A sweet romantic comedy about an American girl, Sophie Hall (Amanda Seyfried), who goes on a vacation with her chef fiance, Victor (Gael Garcia Bernal) to Verona, Italy. Left alone and ignored most of the time by her workaholic fiance, the lonely Sophie accidentally discovers a 50-year old unanswered letter written by a woman named Claire. It is one of the thousands "Letters to Juliet" left at the lover's Verona courtyard, which are actually answered by the "Secretaries of Juliet". Touched by the story in the letter, Sophie decides to answer the letter as "Juliet", and she quickly finds out that what she wrote has moved the heart of the now elderly Claire (Vanessa Redgrave), that makes the woman to come to Verona with her handsome grandson Charlie (Christopher Egan). And soon Sophie goes on a quest with Claire and her grandson to find the woman's long lost love as referred in the letter, who is unknowned whether the man is still alive or already dead. But that quest also shakes Sophie's heart, as her growing friendship with Charlie has made her start to question herself, whether she is still in love with her fiance.
A delightful and funny romantic movie with an enjoyable story and charming performances by the actors. The cinematography was gorgeous and breathtaking, that explores the romantic side of Italy. Amanda Seyfried has never been so lovely and adorable, and looked so beautiful, as she was in this movie. She has that aura which confirmed to me again that she is a good young actress with a bright future. There were also great performances by the veteran actors, Vanessa Redgrave and Franco Nero. And Christopher Egan, with his British accent, also looked charming as the skeptic Charlie. Watching this movie is like eating a sweet cake that will stay lingering in your mouth. A light but a feeling good movie. Definitely my favorite romantic comedy of the year. (MJ)
KILLERS (2010)
MyRating: YYDirector: Robert Luketic
Cast: Katherine Heigl, Ashton Kutcher, Tom Sellect, Catherine O'Hara, Katheryn Winnick, Kevin Sussman, Lisa Ann Walter, Casey Wilson, Rob Riggle
MPAA: Rated PG-13 for violent action, sexual material and language
US Gross: US$ 47.1 Million
Worldwide Gross: US$ 92.6 Million
A half-baked action comedy about a young woman, Jen Kornfeldt (Katherine Heigl), who meets her ideal dream man, Spencer Aimes (Ashton Kutcher), in a vacation. They both quickly fall in love and get married. But their seems to be perfect marriage life is starting to get disturbed when they discover that their neighbors could be assassins, who are contracted to kill them. And another 'little' surprise for Jen is, her own husband is turned out to be a CIA assassin too.
If there is a movie trailer that ruins the movie itself, then this is the one. I've watched the trailer of this movie so many times before I watched the movie myself, and thanks to the trailer, it spoiled the whole movie! The trailer has shown all the best parts, it actually told everything, from the movie plot, the most exciting actions, the surprised enemies, up to the right moments to laugh, that once you saw the trailer, you don't have to see the movie anymore. The story also was not that good, the jokes was not that funny, and the ending was disappointing. And the best parts of the actions, again, have been ruined by the trailer. There is no chemistry between Kutcher and Heigl. I am find with Ashton Kutcher, but I don't like Katherine Heigl. She has that aura that I dislike as an actress, which I can't really explain (sorry to Heigl's fans!). I think she is only a mediocre actress, who tends to be overacting. Carrying almost the same theme about killers that was released almost at the same time, Knight and Day of Tom Cruise & Cameron Diaz was much-much better and more fun movie to watch. (MJ)
CHARLIE ST. CLOUD (2010)
MyRating: YYYDirector: Burr Steers
Cast: Zac Efron, Charlie Tahan, Amanda Crew, Augustus Prew, Donal Logue, Kim Basinger, Ray Liotta
MPAA: Rated PG-13 for language including some sexual references, an intense accident scene and some sensuality
US Gross: US$ 31.2 Million
Worldwide Gross: US$ 45.9 Million
A romantic drama based on Ben Sherwood's best-selling novel, The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud, about a young sailor named Charlie St. Cloud (Zac Efron), who can't let go of his grief and guilt towards the death of his younger brother, Sam (Charlie Tahan). He becomes a caretaker of the cemetary where his brother is buried, lets go of his future, and stays stuck in his town. And as he has made a promise to Sam before his brother died, Charlie meets up with his dead brother every night to play baseball catch and talk. This is a special gift and bonding for Charlie, as only he that can see Sam, as if his brother is still alive. When Charlie meets with Tess Carroll (Amanda Crew), a sailor who has a dream to sail around the world one day, he feels his heart falling in love with the girl. But Charlie is torn between a promise to Sam that he has to keep and to chase the girl that he loves, and let go of his past.
A pretty decent drama by Zac Efron, who gave a good performance in this movie as Charlie St. Cloud, trapped between the past that he won't let go and his future. It was a touching story about the bonding between two brothers that never dies. A bit predictable and flat at some points of time, but the story was enjoyable. If many people hate Efron just because he was the alumnus of the Disney's hit High School Musical, I actually has a different opinion about this young actor. I think he has a complete package to become a bigger star than he is right now, who people still see him more as a teen heartthrob. But by involving into more serious movies like this, and also more selective in chosing his roles, it will surely polish his acting to become a better actor. And I see him as one of the young actor that will have a very promising career in the future. But only time will tell. Kim Basinger, as Charlie's mother, and Ray Liotta have little screen times here. I recommend this movie. First reason, it was a beautiful film. Second, this movie may be the beginning of the metamorphosis of the star, Zac Efron. (MJ)
VAMPIRES SUCK (2010)
MyRating: BOO...Director: Jason Friedberg & Aaron Seltzer
Cast: Jenn Proske, Matt Lanter, Diedrich Bader, Chris Riggi, Ken Jeong, Anneliese van der Pol
MPAA: Rated PG-13 for crude sexual content, comic violence, language and teen partying
US Gross: US$ 26.7 Million
Worldwide Gross: US$ 78.3 Million
An extremely stupid and silly spoof movie that was a ripped off from the original Twilight series. The story itself was based on the first two movies in the series, Twilight and New Moon, that told a triangle love story between the human girl Becca Crane (Jenn Proske), the vampire Edward Sullen (Matt Lanter) and the werewolf Jacob White (Chris Riggi). And the rest, you know best.
This movie was really-really bad, pointless, and totally a waste of time. I don't think it was funny at all, as I don't remember really laughed at any single scene. Some of the scenes were disgustingly moron, and I even feel ashamed myself to watch some of the idiotic scenes. The key to laugh more in a spoof movie is, you have to watch the original movie that is being spoofed first. I have watched all the movies of the Twilight series, but still Vampires Suck was a total bored and no laugh inducer. Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer, both as the writer and the director of this movie, took almost scene by scene from the original movies, with similar settings, and poured them all in one movie with all the stuffs that they thought were funny. But again, they ain't funny. Even though both Friedberg and Seltzer have made so many spoof movies, but I don't think they are creative or inspiring. I'm sorry to say that they are actually bad writers and directors for spoof movie genre. This movie was definitely the worst movie I've watched this year. It was a total disaster and deserved to win the first prize of Razzie Award next year. I really hope it will. Even though I am not a fan of the original Twilight series, especially New Moon, but watching the original series was a thousand times better than watching Vampires Suck. No, no! It was actually a million times better. This movie sucks, big time. (MJ)
MYMOVIE CRITIC - REVIEWING MOVIES FROM THE AUDIENCE'S STANDPOINT
