X-Men: First Class (Genre: Action, Adventure) Rating : 4 / 5 "Listen carefully my friend, you should watch it"

Directed by Matthew Vaughn

Produced by Gregory Goodman

                      Simon Kinberg

Story by Sheldon Turner

               Bryan Singer

Starring James McAvoy

              Michael Fassbender

              Kevin Bacon

Studio Marvel Studios

            Dune Entertainment

            Bad Hat Harry Productions

                                                       Distributed by 20th Century Fox

                                                            Release date 1 June 2011

                                                              Running time 132 Minutes

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Quick Synopsis

Charles Xavier (Professor X "McAvoy") and Erik Lensherr (Magneto "Fassbender") was a good old folks who pursue different paths. Erik is in the a deep grief to avenge his mother death. Been through the pain of Nazi eras, Erik soon discover his dark personality. While, Charles Xavier lives alone in a big mansion since young and have a  idealistic view of the society between mutants and humans. Both Charles and Erik met in the middle of the fight with Shaw "Bacon" the dangerous mutant. Erik is blinded by his hunger for revenge and Charles tries to find Erik's inner peace. However as time goes by, both Erik and Charles are not destined for the same path.  

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Review

X-Men first class is refreshing the franchise that is going downward since the last Wolverine X-men origin. This whole new concept of the story did really bring up the franchise to a new level. The story is beautifully crafted and for those who followed all the series of X-men movies, this first class really explained all of it.

McAvoy executed the Charles Xavier greatly with the punch line that I would never forget "Listen carefully my friend, killing shaw will not bring you peace". The audiences are brought to better understanding of the Professor X and Magneto characteristics. This whole concept of rebuilding the atmosphere of mutants world by bringing the founders of X division "Charles Xavier" and mutant brotherhood "Erik Lansheer" and put it in a new perspective did surely revived the dying franchise. The character building which is the part that needed to be praised even though the special effects are a bit patchy as some says. 

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X-Men First Class

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Buzz!
Do you know that the opening scene of X-Men first class (2011) and X-Men 1 (2000) is similar? You should check it out!

Monsters (2010; Genre: Sci-fi, Mystery, Adventure) Rating : 2 / 5 "Flat"

Studio                       Vertigo Films

Distributed by          Vertigo Films

Directed by               Gareth Edwards

Release date             12 November 2010

Running time             94 Minutes

Starring                      Whitney Able

                                    Scoot McNairy

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Quick Synopsis

After a shuttle ship crashed in the middle of forest between US and Mexico, alien form started to spread across the forest. Few years later, a journalist "Andrew" (McNairy) is being told to get the employer's daughter "Samantha" (Able) back safely to US. Unfortunately, Samantha passport being stolen and left them with no choice beside to go through the forest which is inhabited by the alien.

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Review

This is new way in telling alien story. Unlike any other "alien genre" movie such as 'War of the World (Spielberg)", "District 9 (Jackson)", Monsters delivered it in elegant way. As a result, it is a slow phase movie which will eventually bring you to sleep without even you knowing it. Well, to be honest, there is barely a scene fighting the alien. The movie is absolutely a waste of time for action fans but for those who admire the cinematography and the art of story telling, this movie might pull it through.

Frankly, I do not like this film. Its flat and doesn't enhance my interest towards the film. Its just like watching a documentary film describing what it looks like inside the danger zone inhabited by the alien. Not much information can be derived beside a beautiful scenery and an alien with tentacle.  Overall, this movie is loved by critics but a disappointment for movie goers.

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Trailer

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010; Genre: Comedy, Adventure, Fantasy) Rating: 2 / 5 "Totally over-rated"

Studio                   Big Talk Films

                              Relativity Media

Distributed by      Universal Pictures

A film by               Edgar Wright

Based on              Scott Pilgrim by Bryan Lee O'Malley

Release date       13 August 2010

Running time       112 minutes

Starring                Michael Cera

                             Mary Elizabeth Winstead

                             Kieran Culkin

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Quick Synopsis

Scott Pilgrim (Cera), band member who dated a girl named Ramona (Winstead) and unintentionally bringing Scott the challenge of defeating his ex 7 Ramona boyfriend. Scott then has to go one by one defeating them before Ramona will date him. 

Source : Filmofilia

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Review

Obviously, this movie is totally overrated by critics. Audiences are bombarded by complex editing which cause the story line to be extremely confusing, thus leaving the movie completely nonsense and frustrating. Although it does please the audience by bringing them back to the NINTENDO and SEGA age with the imaginative editing and visual effect, it fails to position itself to the current trend causing the movie to be a financial disappointment. "Second weekend and the movie dropped to bottom top ten" (Source Wikipedia).

What makes it worse is the leading actor "Cera" (Scott Pilgrim). Scott pilgrim character is poorly executed causing the character to flow flat and unable to express his emotion. Scott Pilgrim is really frustrating and annoying at the same time. Fortunately, the supporting role seems to be covering the lead character weakness.

On the other side, the scene was perfectly shot.The techniques used to elaborate the action sequences really lifted up the fight scene. However, the down side is the editing as stated above. The editing cause the story to jump from scene to scene and unable to maintain the coherency, leaving the audiences have to imagine themselves. 

Despite praised by majority of the critics, I would skip this movie and wait until the DVD released as it is not worth to spend the weekend just to come out feeling regret and annoyed.

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Trailer

The Last Air Bender (2010; Genre: adventure, family, fantasy) Rating : 1 / 5 "What the. . ."

Studio                       Nickelodeon Movies


Distributed by          Paramount Pictures


A film by                   M. Night Shyamalan


Release date            30 June 2010  


Running time            103 minutes


Language                  English


Starring                     Noah Ringer
                                  Nicola Peltz
                                                                                               Jackson Rathbone
                                                                                                  Dev Patel

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Quick Synopsis
Four nations "Air, Water, Fire and Earth" is living in peace until Fire nation started the war. It is the job of Avatar to keep the nations in balance and peace, however, when the Avatar is needed, he disappeared. 100 years later the Avatar "Aang" is found by Katara and his brother. Aang soon discovers that he has been trapped under water for a century. Realizing that it is he is responsible in keeping the world balance again, Aang has to learn how to bend the three other elements "Water, Fire and Earth".

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Review

It is sad just looking at the cast but it get even sadder watching the whole movie ruined by incompetent blunt action sequences with a big failure character execution and bad casting. For anime fans, this is the biggest disappointment of anime adaptation this year. Mr Night just getting worse since the master piece of Sixth Sense. Unbelievably, the cast just can't even pronounce the main character right. It should be "Aang" not "Oong". 

The special effects is okay but the action shooting technic is a big throw down for the movie. Moreover, the storyline is rushed thus neglecting the most important part of the anime which is the character building of Aang that is developing it from ordinary child to an avatar. Well, come on Mr. Night. This is what the fans is looking for, the great story of the Aang adventure, not the special effects. 

On the other side, the casting seems like a eeny, mini, miney, moo picking. From the picture at the left side, you can see what's wrong with it. Personally, I quite agree with the Aang casting but the rest of the character is just super dumb. Especially the fire bender cast, Prince Zuko should be tough with a deep voice character but turns out in the movie, Zuko just another teen with soft voice which like to nag around. Well, I guess its the story line fault "lacks of character building" which makes Zuko looks like a pampered prince. 

Here is the video of fans voicing their disappointment :

On the bright side, you have to give a praise for this Noah Ringer acting as Aang. Noah did a good job for his first acting career rather than the other casts. If I may say, its the lack of character building which makes Noah executed the Aang character badly. If Mr. Night just put a bit more attention on Aang character development, the movie might turns out to be a bit better. 

Overall, there is a little chance for the sequel of this movie. 

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Trailer

Predators (2010; Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi) Rating: 2 / 5 "Just another hunting story"

Predators? Hearing this word might remind you on Arnold Scwarnegger beating Alien. After the last seqeul of Predators 2. Predators come back again to hunt human being after lost in the space for 20 years.You might called it Predators 3 or Predators return as you like because the setting of the movie is long after the first movie Predators 1. Predators(2010) is a sequel to Predator (1987) and Predator 2 (1990).

Anyway, I would call it Predators Hunting Game. If you asked a gamer, they would say Predators: Expansion Pack. Why? The new Predators is neither boring nor interesting. The movie seems to be made only to entertain the Predators' fans that are hungry for more.

Begins with a free fall of our great actor Adrien Bdrody as Royce and followed by several human beings and some sort of creature thrown in the forest. They later finds out that they are in the Predators Hunting Game. More, what a coincidence or on purpose they are also hunters, "a cruel human hunter with violence history", hence, they are able to use their hunter instinct to hunt back the Predators that is why I would say that the plot is simple, "Hunters VS Hunters".

The movie fail to develop the dark characteristic of each character with a very disappointing twisting character plot at the end that did surprise audience but fail to make the movie so special that it deserve a hand clap. The action element is great and well developed but the drama element just another useless part that is being added to make the movie longer to achieve the length of standard cinema movie. This is largely due to the writer doesn't developed it further hence unable to bring audience to a higher level of the movie. Thus, the movie can be said just another expansion pack of a famous movie.

Overall, the movie is just to pampering the predator fans only. You might leaving the cinema excited about it or regretted it that you have spent a few bucks for that movie.

Prince of Persia: The Sand Time (2010; Genre: Fantasy, Adventure) Rating: 4.5 / 5 "A must watch"

Jerry Bruckheimer production has always been exciting and interesting. Many of his production has been successful such as the TV show "Amazing Race", Blockbuster Movie "Top Gun" "Black Hawk Down" "Bad Boys" "Pirates of Caribbean". Now here come his latest production which is the game adaptation "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time".

Having been only playing the third series of the game "Prince of Persia: the two thrones", the movie is just as excited as the game.

Perhaps if I may say, the movie adaption will not disappointed fellow gamers. Unlike many other game adaptation, Prince of Persia still keeps and embraces the original element of the story which makes the movie truly lovable and enjoyable to watch.

Begins with the story of how prince Dastan (Jake Gyllenhaal) is adopted and then continue to the capturing of sacred land that he finds out that he is set up on his father death. Unable to convince the other brothers, Dastan runs with the princess help. Soon, Dastan will finds out the secret dagger he took from one of the princess guard. Afterwards, the story behind it is revealed, therefore, Dastan realises that the dagger must not fall in the wrong hand.

Seeing the costume, the scene and the action, it just like watching the game comes to life. However, I wish that the story line could have been stretched a bit longer which then the character of Dastan could be fully developed as well the romantic element in the story.

Despite many of negative critics by many non gamers reviewers. I would say that they are wrong, the movie is exciting for "Prince of Persia" enthusiast gamers and just like many other Disney movie, Prince of Persia is a fun and enjoyable movie to many viewers young and adult, gamers or non.

For gamers, you don't want to miss this movie. Yet, for those who are looking for a more serious darker and more violence movie, you are in the wrong place as this movie is for family entertainment.

Compare to this year fantasy movie released "The Clash of Titans", Prince of Persia is far better than the Clash of Titans. If you may know, Prince of Persia is selling a franchise while Clash of Titans only selling the actor and the visual effects. Then you guess, which one is much better?

Alice in Wonderland (2010; Genre: Adventure, Fantasy) Rating: 4.5/5 "A MUST WATCH"

Tim Burton is magnificent in changing the classical Disney fairytale to fit with today taste and trends. Alice in Wonderland is no longer Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Mo cartoon but instead, a terrific adorable enjoyable family movie that must not be missed.

Starring, Mia Wasikowska (Alice); Johnny Depp (Mad Hatter); Helena Bonham Carter (Red Queen); Anne Hathaway (White Queen). The movie begins with a teenager Alice that is going to be engaged soon and then finds herself following a tick-tock rabbit to the tree hole and falls into the underland. There the adventure begins in restoring the wonderland that is under the rule of the red queen. Alice is belief to be the one who is going to slay the jabawocckey (The dragon) and save the underland.

Johnny Depp acted weirdly good as a Mad Hatter. Mad Hatter is magnificently unique from the whole character in there. As well, the Red Queen (Helena Bonham Carter) which I finds that she perfected the Red Queen bad characteristic. Without, her, the red queen is no longer a red queen. Various character is introduced enhance the imaginative of the young and old such as the cherious cat which mysteriously interesting. However, I am quite disappointed in how Anne Hathaway executed her characters that I find bit awkward. Nevertheless, "Alice in Wonderland" is a spot on family entertainment that adult will enjoy it as much as the young.