Dark Shadows (2012) Rating : 2.5 / 5 "A lot of empty hole"

A lot of missing part and half hearted plot but with a good character execution, great costumes and great settings. Dark Shadows has a lot of holes that needed to be filled. The story is too rush, the mystery is not intriguing enough, the plot is nothing but a plug in plug out plot to make the story seems longer. However, from all the bad side, what makes the movie good enough to compete in the movie market is the cast. Johnny Depp "Barnabas Collins" is good, so do Helena Bonham Carter "Dr. Julia" and Eva Green the antagonist "Angelique Bouchard". They do really perform the best portraying the weird characters. The setting is amazing, Tim Burton is good in bringing a classic tale to new adapted darker theme just like what he did in Alice in wonderland. The costume perfectly fit the 70s time as well as the old fashion imperial age Barnabas Collins costume. Really love the way each setting and costume is crafted with full passionate. Well the comedy is not as hilarious as I could imagine. Dark Shadows is a remake of 70s  horror comedy soap opera, perhaps that is why you will find a lot of empty mysteries left behind because you just simply cannot squished all the story into  113 minutes movie.

There is absolutely a lot of mysteries being left out just to rush it to the end. Starting from the Dr. Julia, to mysteriously behaving teenage girl "Carolyn  Stoddard" and sad lonely young boy "David Collins". They are all just a plug in plug out plot to make the story longer. The ghost in the mansion is just lame. Barely anything being told about it. The nanny doesn't even solved the mystery why the Barnabas loves ghost is talking to her. Firstly the attention is being brought to the nanny "Victoria Winters" in the first part of the movie, leaving the audience with a great expectation that Barnabas Collins will be mystery. Then, reaching the half of the movie, the main attention turns to Barnabas Collins leaving out the nanny as a supporting character. But for ever what reason, suddenly Victoria Winters fell in love with Barnabas Collins while the whole story is telling about how Barnabas Collins is going to restore the family wealth. Overall the plot and storyline is weak. 

On the other side, the collaboration of Helena Bonham Carter and Johnny Depp is great. Just like in Alice in Wonderland portraying a funny weird character, they also did it in Dark Shadows. Bonham as Dr. Julia and Johnny as the vampire "Barnabas Collins". They executed the character very well. Don't forget the antagonist Eva green, she does make Angelique as annoying and evil as it is but not neglecting the heart that the character is still in love with Barnabas Collins. The other characters are lacking of character development, perhaps not enough time to tell it. Or the writer just assume that everyone watching the movie has lived through 70s or at least have watched part of the Opera soap. Unfortunately, I haven't watched it and I feel a lot of empty plot being left out or just merely plugged in for a short amusement.

The setting is amazing, a lot of Tim Burton themed setting to please audience eyes. Barnabas Collins mansion is creepy magnificent huge and glamorous. The imperial design could still be felt in the mansion. In the town, the 70s atmosphere is surely convincing enough with the car, costume and architect. The forest is as dark as what you can find in Alice in wonderland. Tim Burton is the amazing in creating a new theme to fit the current taste of movie goers which is a little bit darker and serious. Quite amazed by the ghost scene that brings out the nanny from her room to the hall but disappointed heavily on the story line. Well directed movie as I can say. Well, here is the trailer for you to enjoy =>

Act of Valor (2012) Rating : 2 / 5 "An utter - - HOaaammmmmm"

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Act of Valor is a product of insulting the Battlefield and Call of Duty fans. Despite feeding us with tons of explosions, gun fighting and tremendous modern weapon, AoV is utterly a disappointment in terms of acting and characterization. So its kinda cool to jump from one location to another location just like COD Modern Warfare, apparently not without a good story-line.

"Have to admit it that the story-line is way out of the phase, putting me in boring face, yawning along the movie for God sake. "

The premise is simple and utterly specific, which is "Capturing the head of the terrorist to prevent another attack on American soil". It is so simple yet they failed to make it so intensely and excitingly complicated. Unlike Jack Bauer in 24 or Black Hawk Down or even Saving Private Ryan that gives you a dramatic conflict and sets you closer to the character which you feel some sort of connected with it at the end of the movie, Act of Valor is somewhat "Yes sir, yes sir, you are right sir, lets go with it sir" movie. It brings you straight to the end without any amazing twisting plot and dramatic conflict or even the emotional state of the lead character. They decided to put an actor with deep voice like the Terminator dude to impress us, unfortunately they make it even worse. It almost put me to sleep with the non-excitement, un-energetic voice that when you closed your eyes and heard it, you would think that the dude must be waking up for a Good-day Monday. 

The storyline is awkwardly told, Started with Voice Over telling us the courage, the honor, bravery and heroism and then suddenly bring you to Philippines and bring you back to the states for another voice over and bring you to all of the world with a very little intention to tell you what was really happening around there. Well, to be honest. The first scene sort of brought my expectation up that this movie was going to be great, but actually I was being lifted to enjoy a short throne and then being thrown to the river just to be brought by the current to the edge of waterfall and saved by a branch. 

Have to praise the action scenes, gun fight and explosion stuffs, surely it did make the movie a lot better. At least something is really entertaining. The power of the gun fight, car chasing, and close encounter did really give some hope for us that came to see the big things. The modern weapon and vehicle brought in and the satellite technology stuff that looks like COD:MW series. Fps fans have finally fulfill what they have been expecting ,at least part of it (Better something than nothing). 

Overall, the movie a good entertainment for youngster that value the action but not for hardcore moviegoers that more into story and character development. You know something is not that good if you saw people started to walk out minutes before the credit was shown.