Larry Crowne

The closing night gala of ScreenSingapore 2011 on Saturday was the premiere of Larry Crowne, graced by the actor, writer and director, Tom Hanks himself. He certainly added much of the glitz and glam to the week-long celebration.

Larry Crowne, with an E, is a middle-age man who goes back to college after he loses his job as he is unable to advance in his career without a college degree. He signs up for a college education and rediscovers himself from his scoot gang. At the Communications 217 - Art of Communications, he meets Mercedes Tainot (Julia Robert), and they fall in love.

The movie brings you through the crisis of of a man losing his job but yet still finds hope and joy from the other simple things in his life. You realize the importance of being practical and coming to terms with some tough decisions which will help you to survive.

Rating: 4 out of 5 fairy clouds. While you see the struggle of a Larry (mid-life crisis) and how he positively manages it. What I find lacking is the onscreen chemistry between Hanks and Roberts. I saw some sparks but no firework. I wonder could it be that the story was edited or shortened as there latter part of the movie seems rather fast-forward.



A little extra (photos posted by Channel News Asia):
Tom Hanks at the red carpet of ScreenSingapore and taking the escalator to Shaw 1 at Isetan Scott, and the little actor from Jesus Henry Christ.

Jesus Henry Christ

Last evening premiere was Jesus Henry Christ.

This is a coming of age movie that shares the story of a little genius, Henry James Hermin. He is a test-tube baby, oops! I meant he is conceived in a petri-dish as his mother Patricia corrects. Patricia is the only girl in her family of 4 boys and has tragically lost her mother on her 10th birthday. In her growing years, she strongly advocates for change and finally conceives Henry as a single mother. As Henry approaches his 10th birthday, he questions who and where is his father and soon starts on journey to locate him. Along the way, he finds his biological father and half-sister.

The movie is great! There are many little things in life which we should always be grateful of, such as the love of family, the joy of children, the pain of growing up. The movie portrays a little bit of everything which we will in one way or another experience them. No matter how tough, we always look for that rainbow at the end of it.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 fairy clouds. The true joy of life is really letting go of whatever gripes you have in life, embrace it and grow with it. Life is short and full of the unexpected. Learn from Henry and her sister, Audrey.

Mr Popper's Penguins

The first of the gala movie premieres I attended on Wednesday evening was Mr Popper's Penguins. I had missed the second one, Super 8, due to an unfortunate event.

Mr Popper's Penguin movie is quite different from the storybook. In the movie, Tom is a successful and kniving property salesman who will do anything to close the deal. His personal life is however a flop; he is divorced with 2 kids. It is when he inherited some penguins sent by his late father, that he begins to understand what love is and opens his heart up to his children and ex-wife.

The storyline is simple and wholesome for the sole purpose of pure family entertainment. Quite unfortunately, I did not feel for the movie. I do admit that the penguins are cute and endearing. Beyond that, I saw no other saving grace for this movie.

Rating: 3 out of 4 fairy clouds. An overly simplistic plot which is crafted out of a typical movie template. Even if it is opened during Christmas, the magical touch is still seriously lacking. It should still be great for families with young preschoolers.

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (3D)

I was totally ogling Johnny throughout the movie! Aww....! Enough said, yes I'm a fan of Johnny Depp. :)

Captain Jack Sparrow is back with a vengeance! Oh no, that should be Captain Barbossa. Jack is still adamant to locate the Fountain of Youth after facing Davy Jones in the last movie. Without a boat, he is unable to progress much till he meets with his former lover, Angelica. Following Angelica and her father, the infamous pirate, Captain Blackbeard, they finally find the mysterious magical fountain where Jack is tested of his own fate.

Jack Sparrow antics seem rather different from the last 3 movies. Captain Barbossa too! I find it hard to believe that a pirate will ignore fortune and youth just for a simple revenge. There is also too much of a modern twists and mannerism of these pirates.

It is still worth a good laugh. Don't forget to stay till the end for the end credit scene. That should be a good hint on the next movie.

Rating: 4 out of 5 fairy clouds. Aye Aye Captain! Sail on!

Kung Fu Panda 2

It feels great to have a movie marathon. The first of the movies is Kungfu Panda 2.

Now that Po is living the life of THE Dragon Warrior, he has been busy protecting the villagers. But trouble brews at Gongmen City as Lord Shen plots to reclaim his city and take over China. Po and his comrades, the Furious Five, set out on the rescue mission. But the journey proves to be more than meet the eyes. Po discovers a hidden past about this childhood which has been haunting his dreams. As he learns accept his past, masters inner peace and triumphs over evil.

I still love the animation and the avant garde Chinese style adopted by this animation. Baby Po is so cute! I particularly love the story of Goose sharing how he adopted Po. I do feel a tinge of disappointment as the animation is a little too wholesome, like a typical Disney movie. Is Dreamworks trying to following Disney's formula just to garner mass appeal?

The writers are quite smart to make full use of the various characters to the maximum. On the whole, it is quite lighthearted, entertaining and timely punctuated with subplots and humors.

Rating: 4 out of 5 fairy clouds. Go watch this animation with young children. They would deeply adore Po and his friends.

Rango

This weekend, I spent a nice Saturday having a yummy breakfast with some friends and an afternoon movie treat for myself. Friends who know me well are definitely aware of my eternal war with the Lizzies. But I welcome Rango with an open arm. Ok, I admit not in the literal sense. He is still ugly looking.

Rango is a pet chameleon that had fallen out of his owner's car. Lost in the middle of the desert, he meets an armadillo who directs him to the nearest town, Dirt. In this little adventure, he lies about his true identity to impress the outlaws in the little deserted western town and accidentally becoming the new sheriff and hero to the townsfolk.

While the story is quite predictable, it is still entertaining to see how the eccentric and egoistic lizard learn humility and honesty. While the creatures are meant to look ugly and menacing, their sweetness shine through very strongly. I particularly love the minor details of how their pupils dilate and contract to express their emotions.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 fairy clouds. Go watch it for fun. I love the mariachi band and the Spirit of the West. Cute, real cute cartoon!

The Last Days of Emma Blank

What would you do if you know that you were dying soon? And how would you spend your last days?

Emma Blank is dying. Everyone in her family knows it. This particularly dying woman is one nasty mistress who is hard to please, demanding and maniac! She forces of husband to be the butler, daughter as maid, sister as cook, nephew as gardener and elder brother as a dog.

As the plot thickens, the comedy reveals an extremely dark and dysfunctional family. The servants eventually turn against Emma after discovering that there is no inheritance for them. They ignore her outrageous demands and plot to hasten her death.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 fairy clouds. Dark as it may be, the movie is definitely hilarious and mind-boggling. You can't help feeling sad for Emma Blank and yet rejoice at the triumph against such tyrant. A mind twister which is not suitable for the faint-hearted who cannot appreciate harsh humour.