The Cold Light of Day (2012) Rating: 2.5 / 5 "Not Bad"

To start with, The Cold Light of Day is not a great movie but as well not a bad movie. Just lack of emotional connection and uninteresting plot make it looks like straight to DVD movie or TV movie at least. Bruce Willis appearance just merely an accessories to make the movie seems to be interesting.  "A marketing strategy" perhaps. Unlike Catch 44 or Expendables, Bruce Willis did  not give any plus to Cold Light of Day. In fact, Bruce Willis character "Martin Shaw" is set to be forgotten in the first 30 minutes as it turns to saving family matter rather than discovering what Martin Shaw really is. A very conflict of intention from the writer isn't it? Sigourney Weaver "Carrack" as an antagonist is just ordinary. There is nothing special on the character Jean Carrack, in fact Jean Carrack is just like any other supporting character that you can find in agency themed movie like 24.

The plot of the story is okay, although some of the plot will tingle your sense of curiosity with several twisting, it fails to finish the execution. Hence, leaving the us either with half full glass of water. Just like eating a dinner but missing a closing sweet dessert. Yet, I have to praise the effort of it. At least it is acceptable but not extra-ordinary action thriller.  I think the story line is lacking of some crucial part which is Martin Shaw. If only the writer did push up the mystery element of Martin Shaw, The Cold Light of Day could have touched the high bar. Yet, in term of entertainment, the movie is a perfect choice for your weekend outing fun with your friends and family. However, if you expected it more like 24, Die Hard or Bourne, be prepared to be disappointed.

Bruce Willis as I said is just an accessories, perhaps without him, Cold light of Day would be straight to DVD action thriller. I don't know why Bruce have been in several movies with only short appearance lately or is not the main character. Age might have been restricting him to do more than he used to be. Reaching 57 years must be hard to perform his own stun and heavy action scene.  Well, expecting him to be back in hardcore action movie like Die Hard. Hope that the upcoming Kane & Lynch game adaptation movie (2013) won't let Bruce Willis fans down.


The action scene is intense enough, some of it might lift you up from the seat. Some it is perfectly shot and I like the anti-climax scene where the Shaw car was flipped over during the chase. The cinematography "rotating shot" is brilliant. As well as the main character falling from the roof scene.

Here is the trailer for you to enjoy =>

Vanishing on 7th Street (2010; Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thriller) Rating: 2.5 / 5 "Spooky "

Directed by Brad Anderson


Produced by Norton Herrick
                      Tove Christensen


Written by   Anthony Jaswinski


Starring  Hayden Christensen
                Thandie Newton
                John Leguizamo


Studio  Herrick Entertainment


Distributed by Magnolia Pictures


Release date 12 September 2010


Running time 90 Minutes

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Quick Synopsis

Several humans stuck in the middle of the darkness that is about to consume them. The way and the only solution is to stay near the lights. With the dark soul waiting in the darkness, they need to find a way to get out from the city.

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Review

Hayden Christensen (Luke) has gone through the pain of fighting the darkness in "Star Wars" and then come back just to find himself stuck with his own past darkness in "Jumper". Now, he is back again to be consumed by the darkness in "Vanishing on 7th Street". Performing along John Leguizamo (Paul) and Thandie Newton (Rosemary), this movie is great in character execution. You can exactly feel the fear depicted by the characters. The setting is fabulous with a little magic touch of the movie director, the audiences are surely being brought into movie especially with the strong scene of plane crashing in the middle of the city. The way it executes the beginning surely enhances the curiosity of the audiences. With the spooky setting surely everyone going to think that this is going to be hell out of a movie.

Well, unfortunately the lack of originality and half full story telling result in it as an average movie. Even with the good directing, the movie fail to lift itself to the next level. The lack of character building just left the audiences with never ending guessing. The lack of explanation just left the audiences with emptiness in the story. However, Vanishing on 7th Street is still acceptable movie to be enjoy by horror fans. For those who love horror mystery movie without some sort of creatures that jump out and haunt you in the mind for the rest of the night, this movie is worth a try. Overall, seeing "Vanishing on 7th street" is interesting, seeing it second time makes me angry for wasting time.

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Trailer

13 (2010; Genre: drama, thriller) Rating : " 0.5 / 5" A waste of time

Directed by Gela Babluani


Written by Gela Babluani


Starring Sam Riley
               Mickey Rourke
               Ray Winstone
               Jason Statham


Distributed by Paramount Vantage
                         Endeavor

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Premise

A naive young who stumbled into a complicated gambling game of Russian roulette. 

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Review

A complete waste of talent and time. Probably the next contender of the last air bender, but the only downside of this is the screenplay. Thirteen is lack of story and lack of character building. Bombarded with a major name  like Jason Statham and Mickey Rouke to star in it, surely nobody could think that this movie is going to be a big disappointment. However, Gela has successfully trick so many audiences, especially with those elegantly designed poster like above. Thirteen is just like throwing a flat story and make it looks like a blockbuster hit. Just can't believe that Jason Statham even considered signing in for the cast.  

What makes me want to see the movie at first is the cast and the poster which looks appealing. And now I want my whole 90 minutes back. The premise is interesting but the way it is being told is ridiculous. First 10 minutes really depicted how it is going down from there. There is lack of detail in the story. Barely a good explanation on how the winner is paid and how the players are being picked can be found in the movie. The main character is lacking of motive and it is executed poorly.

Well, some might find it interesting. But if you like thriller movie with a good story and greatly built character, this movie is worth a skip. 

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Trailer

The Experiment (2010; Genre: drama, Thriller) Rating : 2.5 / 5 "Experimented but. . . . "

Studio                       Inferno Distribution

                               Magnet Media Productions

                               Natural Selection

                               Tax Credit Finance

Distributed by                   Stage 6 Films

                               Warner Bros.

Directed by                     Paul Scheuring

Release date          21 September 2010

Running time                        96 minutes

Language                                   English

Starring                            Adrien Brody

                                                                                          Forest Whitaker

                                                                                          Fisher Steven

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Brief Synopsis

Several men enrolled in psychological experiment with a reward of $1000 per day for two weeks. The study conducted involve in prisoners and guards scenario. The purpose of experiment is to study human behavior that will relatively change in corresponding to the roles given. However, in order to receive the money, each participants are warned to obey the given rules or the experiment will be stopped and no one will receive the money.

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Review

Character execution is great yet the story seems to be not excited as the title of the movie. I expected more out of the movie. The character building is there, yet the drama element is not fully evolved. It just like serving you a spaghetti without seasoning.  The movie started good but then the plot remains flat along the way without the intention to emphasize  the word "Experiment". Well, "The Experiment" is just another experimental movie with a same premise, same plot and same purpose, or in another words "Nothing excited about it". However, if you are curious, this movie is not bad for you as it adapted from the real experiment in one of the university in US.

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Trailer

Salt (2010; Genre: Action, Mystery, Thriller) Rating: 3.5 / 5 "Need Mr. Pepper"

Studio Relativity Media

Distributed by Columbia Pictures

Directed by Philip Noyce

Release date 23 July 2010

Running time 98 minutes

Language English

Starring Angelina Jolie

Liev Schreiber

Chiwetel Ejiofor

Augus Diehl

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Brief Synopsis

CIA agent Evelyn Salt (Jolie) is interrogating Russian defector which then she recovers an assassination plot against Russian president on his visit to US that will bring destruction to the United States. Later, it reveals that Evelyn Salt is Russian spymaster mole planted on CIA to execute the most outrageous and well planned plot to bring US down to their knees. Peabody who is a CIA agent that is pursuing Salt then reveals that she is not what she is.

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Review

Salt is a spot on movie for your weekend entertainment. The movie has developed real good action element that will make you jump out of your seat excited. Surely, the action is spot on and it will pump up your adrenaline. Unbelievably, Angelina Jolie executed the character very well that you won't realize that she is the humble woman from the "Changeling (2008)".

The action element is perfectly developed with story line backing it up, hence, you are surely going to enjoy it. Yet, when everything seems to be perfect, Salt actually need a pepper indeed to spice all the things up. Audiences will feel that something is missing along the storyline, let me tell you that the chef have forgotten to put pepper on your meal.Salt is lacking in the development of the dark character of Salt. You must be asking why would she turns against her groups besides losing her partner? Well, seems like if the movie dragged a bit longer to 120 minutes that might be sufficient to add some element and spice up the story line which I am sure that it is going to lift Salt from amazing to extra ordinary.

psst: The first cast is actually Tom Cruise which is "Edwin A. Salt" which then Angelina Jolie stepped in and there you are "Evelyn Salt". No wonder I find that in several scene, Salt acted like a male character cause it is re-written for Angelina.

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Trailer

The Ghost Writer (2010; Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller) Rating : 4.5 / 5 "Another Polanski masterpiece"

Studio France 2 Cinema

France Televisions

Canal+

Distributed by Summit Entertainment

Optimum Releasing

Pathe

Directed by Roman Polanski

Release date 16 April 2010 (UK)

Running time 128 minutes

Language English

Starring Ewan McGregor

Pierce Brosnan

Kim Cattrall

Olivia Williams

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Brief Synopsis

A ghost writer (Ewan McGregor) has been assigned to continue his predecessor work on British Prime Minister Adam Lang memoirs (Pierce Brosnan). A big pay and the ghost writer can't resist it. However, the ghost writer later finds out that the task has never been so easy which soon he finds out that his predecessor is murdered instead of suicide or accident.

Adam Lang who is currently being investigate for criminal wars cause the ghost writer to dig deeper inside it. As many said that the truth should have never been revealed, the ghost writer is bringing himself a danger when he starts revealing the truth. After all, he manages to finish the memoirs which later his curiosity bring him to the end of his journey.

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Review

You might have read the above brief synopsis that I specifically mentioned a ghost writer term over and over. Interestingly, the whole 200 minutes and I can't even find a single clue about the main character name on the movie. Well, no matter how silly it is that a main character without a name, you won't even notice it because the movie is excitingly intriguing and interesting that you won't even dare to get up from your seat. Polanski has really put very much effort bringing this novel story into a motion cinematic art of story telling. Thanks to him, politic movie has never been so interesting like ever before especially with the controversy element that he added to satisfy the audience hunger for more.

Ewan in the centre role of the movie executed the character brilliantly as well Pierce Brosnan supporting role really lift up the characters. Both acted really good, but I have to praise brilliant work of Pierce which I find he is really different from the usual James Bond.

Well, from all the good side, there must be something bad about it. Besides, a main character without a name, the movie has a really simple elegant but a bit disappointing ending. I wish that the ending could have been edited by getting rid of couple seconds of the movie exactly before ***SPOILER***** to feed the needs of audiences curiosity.

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Movie Trailer

Repo Men (2010; Genre: Sci-fi, Thriller, Drama, Action) Rating : 1.5 / 5 "Tricked by the cover of the movie"

Studio Relativity Media

Stuber Pictures

Distributed by Universal Pictures

Release date(s) March 19, 2010

Running time 111 min

Main actor Jude Law

Forest Whitaker

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Repo Men is a failure of great cinematography. Seems like the art of unknown has really been forgotten in the process of making this movie as it is filled with unnecessary disgusting scene of killing and ripping someone flesh.

Brief Synopsis

2025, where human health has been deteriorating and the demand of organ transplant has incredibly jump up. Therefore, here comes the union as usual acting as an organisation that is slowly consuming either innocents or sinners just to gain great sales of artificial organ transplant.

Due to the cost of the AI organ, repo-men is needed to collect the organ from people who can't afford to meet the monthly payment. No matter what is the reason, repo-men is a human without feeling will just ripped off the AI organ from anyone even though they are still alive.

Remy (Jude Law), is one of the best repo-men that the union have. One day, his best friend Jake (Forest Whitaker) is devastated with Remy plan to quit the repo-men position. Hence, Jake then set-up Remy to become one of the AI organ user itself.

Since then, Remy finally realizes what has he done and now living a live being hunted by the repo-men.

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Review

Remy is a well executed character but not fully developed yet as it seems to be lacking of dark element inside this character. However, Jude Law seems to has done his best bringing this character alive if I may see. So do, Forest Whitaker, as usual always end up in a character that either good or bad.

The biggest disappointment is the movie is filled with unnecessary scene of violence that will put you down to know more about it. The movie will make you sick and finally for some will say "enough is enough" and turn of the TV or maybe walked out from the cinema.

Its too bad and sad to see a great actor in a badly directed movie. The movie would have been okay if they just omitted the bloody killing scene and especially the ending climax scene which I can't believe that the director really go through it.

However, in term of the story line, the movie has a similar plot with the movie "NEXT" starring Nicolas Cage, only repo-men has a different premise and storyline. Well, I might say the drama is not well developed as the audience is only left with only a bit story about his conflicts with his family and rather more focus on the Repo-men activity.

Overall, I would just say that the movie is disappointing as it is.

Inception (2010; Genre: Action, Drama, Thriller, Mystery, Sci-Fi) Rating: 5 / 5 "Stay on it, don't miss any scene and this movie will be amazing"

This latest Nolan works is incredibly exceptional from any other Sci-fi, Mystery movie that you have ever watched. This movie is not for casual movie lovers, it is for hardcore movie goers as it is amazingly complicated and interesting at once. If I may say, this is the best movie for this month and perhaps this year.

Starring Leonardo DiCaprio (Shutter Island) as Cobb and many other famous stars like Ellen Page (Juno). This movie is surely going to be good in term of character execution.

On the other side, Nolan is bringing audience into a higher level of story telling. This movie requires an extra focus, once a scene is missed, you surely going to regret it and even your spider sense will not help you understand this hardcore story. If you are casual movie goers, than be prepared for the surprise, the twist, the plot of various scene, or even more complicated story concept that you can't even believe that you are watching it right now.

I would like to write some part of the synopsis, but I guess it will be too complicated to read it rather than watch it. Well, all I can say is "good luck with it"

Casual movie goers might love to hate "Inception" while hardcore movie goers will love it and will never change their minds about it.

******SPOILER ALERT***********

Well, reaching the end of my review, I would like to explain the ending which I find very open ended. Beware for those who haven't watch it to ignore this part, otherwise, the movie won't be as good as it is.

Ending Scene Explanation

Cobb is still in the dream or in the "Limbo State". It was all Saito that make Cobb believe that he has come out from the dream.

What about the totem?

Remember that Saito did see what Cobb totem is? (The toilet scene, where Cobb dropped his totem and Saito was behind him?) Saito did an amazingly detailed dream for Cobb.

What about his son and daughter?

They are wearing the same clothes and they have grown older. Remember the phone that Cobb made where his daughter voice seems to be an adult voice?

From Paris With Love (2010; Genre: Action Comedy) Rating : 4 / 5

From Paris with love is fast phased action movie. Starring John Travolta and Jonathan Rhys Meyers, both collaborate perfectly in this movie.

Begins with peace introduction of James Reese character (Meyers) and the action begins non-stop till the end after Charlie Wax (John Travolta) appears. The need of achievement by James Reese resulting him joining Charlie Wax adventure in stopping terrorism in Paris land from bottom to the top and it is called "WAX ON, WAX OFF way". The story is fast and for action lovers, you won't regret it. Viewers are brought to a roller coaster ride and as I said it is fast phased movie, every seconds is a continuous scene of another action scene. Don't be fooled by the break of conversation between the action scene. The movie is not over untill Charlie Wax say so. If you are looking for a serious action movie like slow introduction and fully developed story. Then, this is not your choice, but I can say this movie is exciting, fun and worth spending a dime in cinema.

Received 6.1 in imdb.com. I am sure you will regret missing this movie.

Here is the trailer enjoy!

Law Abiding Citizen (2009; Genre :Drama Thiller) Rating : 3.5 / 5

Law Abiding Citizen is enjoyable despite lots of bad critics.

Starring Jamie Foxx as Nick Rice and Gerald Butler as Clyde Shelton, both of them make a good collaboration.

The story of "Law Abiding Citizen" begins after a home invasions which leaves Clyde's wife and daughter murdered. The grieving father is devastated by the news from Nick saying that only one of the suspects will receive a dead penalty while the other only light penalty. Afterwards, it takes viewers to the next ten years where the beginning of the revenge begins. The objective of Clyde's is to bring the fail justice systems and take anyone who has connections to his case down.

Instead of developing the Clyde characters, viewers are shown with the finished product of grieving Clyde that is ready to start his killing sprees. Unlike the Saw movie, The law abiding Citizen still keeps the art of unknown by leaving out the scene of torturing and slowly killing. Therefore, viewers can still eats their popcorn without feeling disgusted like the Horror saw movie. The movie is mainly about Clyde playing a revenge game with Nick. The clever plot of how Clyde plans to destroy Nick and the justice systems is interesting and making you want to know more about the next plans. However, the messages of the writer isn't getting through with the unclear ending "the scene where Nick reunites with the family" which is totally unrelated to the premise. Wish the movie could dragged a bit longer showing the effects of the whole incident to Nick.

In my opinion, the movie is still enjoyable to watch despite lots of negative criticisms.Well, every one has different unique tastes.