Man in Black 3

It seems quite surreal to watch  MIB³ (Man in Black 3)after a 12 years break, and K has definitely aged since the MIIB (Man in Black II).

After the night patrol with K, J wakes up the next morning to find that K does not exist as he has passed away 40 years ago.   While at LunarMax, Boris the Animal escapes from prison and goes on a mission to kill K whom he met in 1969 and lost an arm during that fight.

Agent O, the new chief, suspected that J has encountered a fracture in the time-space continuum and advises J to look for Jeffery Price so that he can go back in time to change history.  J has only 24 hours to correct history and avoid invasion of earth.

It is quite interesting to see J acting the same way as a young 29 years old MIB agent.  The sad truth reveals towards the end of the movie to explain why K is so quiet towards J at times.  A touching moment...

Rating:  4.5 out of 5 fairy clouds.   The movie lacks the same thrill and excitement as compared to the previous 2 editions of MIB.   It always get a little draggy with long-drawn story telling in a couple of scenes throughout the movie.   For any MIB fans, this movie is still worth the dollars, cents and time.

Dark Shadows

After a long week of seriously hard work, I enjoyed having some peace and quiet by myself, watching a couple of movies within the same day, i.e. movie marathon.  The last marathon was back in February in 2011 after launching a public campaign.

I caught two movies, Dark Shadows and Man in Black III!.   I'm a fan of Tim Burton's movies and Johnny Depp, so I really can't miss Dark Shadows for the world.   :)

The Collins travels from Liverpool to Maine to set up a fishing business and eventually an empire of their own and setting their roots in Collinsport. Unfortunately Banarbas Collins, a playboy, breaks the heart of a witch and is thus cursed to be a vampire for eternity.   

Two centuries later, Barnabas returns to the Collins family after he was released from his iron coffin.  Vowing to rebuild the Collins' family business, he starts war with Angelic Bouchard, the witch who entrapped him.  

Rating:  4 out of 5 fairy clouds.  The story is rather predictable and seems at odd with Tim Burton's style.   There are a lot of cheesy moments which cheapen the movie.   It makes you feel like you are watching those Hong Kong movies produced in the 80s.   Overall, the movie is still entertaining but lacking in the dark austere and humour of a Burton production. 

The Avengers (3D)

The Avengers (3D) gathers the Marvel Heroes to save New York City (aka the entire Earth) from Loki and his extra-terrestrial Chitauri army.  Unwilling to accept defeat, the fallen Asgardian King seeks to gain power and control by taking over the human world. 

In response, Nick Fury re-initiated The Avengers plan by recruiting all the able men whom he has been tracking from the Black Widow (Agent Natasha Romanoff), Dr Bana aka Incredible Hulk, Iron Man (Tony Stark), Captain America (Steve Rogers) and even Thor himself.   It is an ensemble of good looking hunks and babe.   Woo... eye candies!  

The exciting battle begins after Loki opens up the portal, allowing the Chitauri fleet to invade the city.  Of course our superheroes save the day by defeating Loki and his army. 

Rating 5 out of 5 fairy clouds.   I love the movie!  There are some funny moments which tickle me pink like the Hulk whacking Thor out of the screen and Hulk commented that Loki is a puny god after he tossed him around a few rounds, leaving Loki in utter shocked, etc.   The 3D viewing didn't make this movie more enjoyable.  I could have save a few dollars watching the normal screening. 

One thing to remember, please stay till the end of the moment there you watch the heroes eating at the Shawarma restaurant as requested by Iron Man towards the end of battle.  

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close tells the story of a little boy, Oskar Schell, desperate attempt to reconnect with his departed father a year after the 9-11 tragic.  

He found a key hidden inside a vase in his closet and set out on a journey to contact everyone in New York City with the name Black.  One by one he visits each of them, checking if they do know his father while listening to their stories and recording them in his scrapbook.   


He eventually finds the owner of the lock but comes no closer to his father.  Slowly he lets go of the pain with the help of his grandfather and starts to open himself to his mother.   


Rating: 4.5 out of 5 fairy clouds.  The story slowly unravels with Oskar's journey.  It is very touching to learn that his mother visited everyone whom Oksar would visit and prepare them  of his visit.  
 

The Lady

I enjoy watching the recently series of biographical films that paid tribute to some of the reputable women who had fight fiercely for a cause which they deeply believed in.

The Lady shares the story of 1991 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her fight for democracy and peace for Burma. Her return to Rangoon (name of Burma then) in 1988 marks the turning point of her life as her filial piety duty morphs into a political career where she has been placed under house arrest for 15 out of those 21 years.

Today, the 65 years old Daw Suu is still continuing the relentless fight for democracy and human rights. I deeply salute Daw Suu for her staunch belief in helping her people.

Rating: 5 out of 5 fairy clouds. The movie is deeply mesmerizing and yet perturbing. While I believe Daw Suu is a compassionate, traditional and reserved woman, I also believe she is strong, visionary and persistent.

The Iron Lady

The Iron Lady shares the story of Lady Margaret Thatcher and how she made changes through the stifling social classes and male-dominated environment to come into power through determination and hard work to become the only female prime minister.

It skims through all the tough time where difficult decisions had to be made to create a better nation. At times when a political decision needs to be made, it is always about managing conflicts and compromises. Life is after all never straight forward or drawn with a define line between right and wrong.

Ratings: 3 out of 5 fairy clouds. The movie has overly simplified the challenge of overcoming the age-old stereotype that a woman should stay at home, to be specific, in the kitchen. For those who do not know much of Mrs Thatcher, the movie has painted a rather skewed memoir of the events.

Beginners

It is never easy being a beginner. The same is true for Oliver a 38 year old graphic artist and his deceased father Hal. Oliver grew up watching a distant yet cordial relationship between his free-spirited Jewish Mother and an indifference father.

Five years before his father's death, Hal reveals to Oliver that he is gay and wishes to come out of the closet. This is a secret which he has hidden since the age of fifteen. He pursues his happiness and starts a relationship with a younger man, Andy.

On the other hand, Oliver fears commitment and has never maintained any relationship for any prolong period of time. After Hal's death, he meets Anna, a French actress and slowly realizes how he can have a loving relationship; one that is different from his parents.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 fairy clouds. The storyline is quite interesting but unfortunately forgettable. It stirs your emotions superficially and then it is soon forgotten. It lacks impact and impressive for such a film genre.