"THE FAULT in OUR STARS" (2014) FILM REVIEW.

As the Movie plays, my sub-conscious mind keeps on drifting back and forth from the lyrics of this song called “The Piano Man” and … shuck! … now I know why.

“THE FAULT in OUR STARS” (2014) MOVIE REVIEW

Love is a many-splendored thing. Really.

It embodies parental love, buddy love and boy-and-girl love. Life is meaningless without any form of love. Unless you will it, we are not destined to exist in this world alone.

If you love a good cry, then “THE FAULT IN OUR STARS” is nicely crafted for you. No worries, no one would dare to say you are pathetic. Because you are not by yourself nursing your grief.

The TRUTH is, someone in my neighborhood whom I am acquainted with is suffering from terminal cancer as I pen this Review. No name, as he’s not a buddy but his affliction has brought me a step closer to the man and his lot.

Should I say that this Article is kind-of-a-tribute to him?

“THE FAULT IN OUR STARS” depicts the doomed romance of two cancer victims GUS (ANSEL ELGORT)  and HAZEL (SHAILENE WOODLEY) who believe they are fated to meet, therefore they cling to each other for emotional support.

The film is set to tug at your heartstrings and stimulate your tear ducts.

It has been inspired by the 6th novel penned by author JOHN GREEN, which was published in January 2012.

In my own words I would rate this movie as “vivid, immediate, engaging and well worth seeing”.

It is directed by JOSH BOONE and he has helmed a beautiful production.

The tale is narrated by a 16 year old cancer patient named HAZEL  (SHAILENE WOODLEY) who’s been coaxed by her dutiful parents to attend a social support group to “get her out of her shell”.

The inevitable happens. She meets and falls in love with a 17 -year old AUGUSTUS WALTER (ANSEL ELGORT) , an ex-basketball player and amputee.

This is where the “heartwarming process” starts in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Because of her cancer, HAZEL uses a portable oxygen tank to breathe comfortably. She tugs this with her, wherever she goes.

In one of the support meetings she meets GUS, the leading actor.

He’s there to lend moral support for their mutual friend, ISAAC (NAT WOLFF).

Isaac has a tumor in one eye that has been surgically removed, and now he has to have his other eye taken out as well.

GUS happily tells HAZEL that she resembles Natalie Portman and invites HAZEL to his house to watch one of Portman’s movies.

HAZEL reveals that she has thyroid cancer that has spread to her lungs. GUS had osteosarcoma but is cured after he has his leg amputated.

The mood-and-tone is morbid, perhaps. But this is how the doomed romance blossoms.

“A heart-breaking flick, crisply written and made with brutal fascination. The acting is terrific.”

Both SHAILENE WOODLEY and ANSEL ELGORT share an affable onscreen chemistry and pitch in memorable performances.

To sum it all up, “THE FAULT IN OUR STARS” is powerful as much as it is unforgettable.

Don’t let the subject matter alarm you.

Loving someone deeply through severe sickness is always a task.

But no matter whatever the circumstances, screen leads GUS and HAZEL share a divine love for each other, often giving something of themselves in the process.

You will be reminded to take time to live life as you should and soak in the “moments”. Do not take people around us for granted.

Your loved ones cannot be around to root for you forever.

Like everything else, there’s no permanence to people and relationships.

And you gonna believe this.

RATING: 4 out of 5.

LOCAL DISTRIBUTOR: 20th CENTURY FOX MALAYSIA

"TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION" (2014) FILM REVIEW

“TRANSFORMERS: AGE of EXTINCTION” (2014) MOVIE REVIEW

This Reviewer cannot claim to be a loyal fan of the TRANSFORMERS franchise, but admittedly the special effects department of the current offering has technically, rendered a magnificent job.

The sizzling effects comes spectacularly alive …. thanks to director MICHAEL BAY, his scriptwriter EHREN KRUGER and his director-of-photography AMIR MOKRI who gloriously captured the robotic “fire-works” and deliver them to us in the realm of the IMAX 3D.

 Millions of  years ago, the Earth was traumatized by an extinction exercise by robots to do away with the human race.

A  superior robotic element was using their technology to turn living organisms into ‘Transformium.’

Fast forward to present day and research group KSI may have uncovered metal dinosaur fossils in the Arctic.

Humanity has learnt a lesson and is now sparing no chances and is taking drastic measures against bad robots.

After the battle of Chicago four years ago, the Transformers are now the most wanted deadly aliens on the planet.

The US government is briskly hunting whatever left of the Transformers that had survived the massive kill.

Director MICHAEL BAY who initially left the franchise graciously returns, promising an exciting new package, roping in MARK WAHLBERG to play Cade Yeagar, and as well as lining new Transformers for his trademark explosive live action spectaculars.

The CIA black ops teams are cutting a swathe through Autobots and Decepticons with the help of a mysterious robotic assassin determined on capturing Optimus Prime, but he’s nowhere to be found.

That is until Cade Yeager (WAHLBERG), his daughter Tessa (NICOLA PELTZ) and Lucas (T.J. MILLER) discover an old husk of a mack truck that’s more than just a mere vehicle.

BAY enhances the action  especially in scenes where robots fighting against humans in the thick of the fray.

Debris flying, towering infernos and what-have-you rising above the boom crash mayhem  will keep the audience enraptured, clamoring for more.

On a gentle note: the bad robots can be exterminated by humans; they are not invincible.

Strategic scenes are shot in HONG KONG and CHINA to cash in on the colossal Chinese market.

CHINA with a populace of 1,390 billion people is a ready-to-be-tapped cash cow.

And naturally, dollars make the earth goes round.

Take note of the fun bits here:

In order to please the China market, you get weak appearances from celebrated China artistes like actress Li Bingbing (李冰冰) and singer/actor Han Geng (韓庚).

Why, you ask. These artistes look intimidated, milling around their white brothers.

Actress BING BING is merely a piece of disposable decorum uttering dumb lines.

Yes, she does appear in key scenes, holding her fort admirably.

She kicks ass and speeds precariously on a motorcycle to save her boss. Other than that, there’s nothing heroic out of the norm.

Actor HAN GENG gets to utter one silly exclamation.

And as for China boxing champion ZOU SHIMING (鄒市明), he gets to flex his boxing prowess for just a few minutes of glory.

Other Chinese actors, such as The Bund’s <上海灘> actor RAY LUI (呂良偉) are mere well-paid “extras” hoping for a Hollywood break.

The second half of the film reeks like one “long-winded product commercial.”

The audience is treated to a neatly arranged loop of advertisements showcasing product categories from egg white powder and mineral spring water to cars and jewels. Provided you exercise your power of vision carefully.

And the list rattles on ….

This is another MICHAEL BAY brand for his international  fans and for them, a MICHAEL BAY movie is a must-see, as the magic never fails to ignite, and the provision is always riveting and fiercely moving.

The film director continues to drum up ways to make robotic shape-shifting look realistic on 3D.

Shooting in Hong Kong and China provide a battlefield to cash in on the franchise’s second most lucrative market. A win-win situation, isn't it?

Smart move. Right.

Do check this one out.

RATING: 3.5 out of 5.

Local Distributor:  United International Pictures (UIP)

"THE ROVER" (2014) FILM REVIEW

“THE ROVER” (2014) MOVIE REVIEW

At the outset, the stills from”THE ROVER” appear to be a mash-up of brooding expressions on the leads. What gives?

You can see latent anger, feel the angst and observe these two actors (totally with contrasting personalities) blazing  the dare-devil track of a dangerous road trip in the sprawling outback of Australia.

You have to hand  to GUY PEARCE for being such a stirring actor.

He is spot-on for his portrayal of ERIC the loner. He has vengeful  intents on his mind and will stop at nothing to retrieve his prized possession, a vehicle who has been unceremoniously snatched from him under his very nose in a “daylight robbery”.

You can scream foul that the scorching sun is driving everybody nuts . While ERIC is all roar, he is still very much vulnerable.

ROBERT PATTINSON is excellent as he tackles on the challenging role of REY.

He totally sheds his pretty boy image to play a dim-witted survivor who’s being dragged into this dangerous game of cat-and-mouse.

His screen character requires him to display a multi-layered personae of helplessness in this emotionally charged and gritty feature.

 It’s “two thumbs up” for ROBERT PATTINSON.

He excels as REY proving that there’s indeed, a future for him, after his post-Twilight days.

Let’s roll out the film synopsis:

We are led to a desolate world, a pitiful and a futile patch of the Australian Outback 10 years after a Western economic collapse.

We see survivors roaming like post-apocalyptic zombies, scrambling over a broken society’s scraps and will kill for a teeny bit of these. It’s that bad.

Yeah, life is cheap.

And it is amid all this furore that an embittered loner Eric (PEARCE) travels the desolate towns of the outback for no apparent reasons.

When a gang of thieves steals his car they leave behind a wounded Rey (PATTINSON) in their wake.

Forcing Rey to help track the gang, Eric will go to any lengths to take back his only prized possession. The single-minded purpose of retrieving forms the crux of this jagged movie.

DAVID MICHOD wrote the film based on a plot he crafted with JOEY EDGERTON, a gifted actor in his own right.

MICHOD’s name may not ring a bell, but his debut film, “Animal Kingdom,” was one of 2010′s great successes.

This second venture, though very different, affirms him as an impressive filmmaker with a talent for creating distinctive worlds.

The film director demonstrates to us his own bleak world of darkness. The imagery is stunningly awesome.

We pay homage to all that’s doom and gloom.

It’s one cheerless disposition that grips you in a forsaken world of demented surprises.

The plot is tirelessly twisted and disturbing, so much that it gets under your skin.

Despite an intentionally arty plot, strong performances from the leads pave the way from start to end.

Well worth a see.

RATING: 4 out of 5.

Local Distributor: GSC MOVIES.

ONLY THE LONELY

WHAT WOULD YOU DO WHEN LOVE DIES?

TRYING to BLEND into this FORLORN WORLD when PEOPLE continue to DISAPPOINT …

WHY do YOU have to be this LONELY?

“I LOVE YOU, I really don’t care if you need to stay up all night bellowing like the wind.  All I wanna say is that I’ll always be there for you.”

“The MOST terrible POVERTY is LONELINESS.”

I wrote this Article 3 years ago, on a bleak day in November 2009.

It has always been one of my firm favorites for its easy spread of poetic indulgence.

Today, I am bringing the essay back, completely unabridged, with its warts, bruises, everything.

I am trudging memory lane, so pray, help me.

“This storm is breathing, brewing, bellowing …..

Outside of the window, you watch the rain pelting down heavily -

coupled with the howling of wind,

Frenzied passerbys with umbrellas are busy scurrying pass,

The overall mood is depressingly cheerless,

Awww … isn’t the desolate sky reeking in a thousand gloom?

ARE YOU LONELY, my friend?

Yes, LONELINESS can come calling and crawling like ants all over you,

When love dies,

WHEN LOVE FINALLY DIES ….

We make mistakes, big and small, comic and tragic.

We pledge commitment, in all sincerity, to another person, only to realise later that our love and passion for the person isn’t as deep as we once thought and believed.

From there follows the broken promise, the bitterness and heartache and the guilt of having misled someone despite our best intentions.

Rainer Maria Rilke [1875-1926], her poem ‘Loneliness’ is full of angst and anguish.” …

“Being apart and lonely is like rain.

It climbs towards evening from the ocean plains;

from flat places, rolling and remote, it climbs

to heaven, which is its old abode.

And only when leaving heaven drops upon the city.

It rains down on us in those twittering

hours when the streets turn their faces to the dawn,

and when two bodies who have found nothing,

disappointed and depressed, roll over;

and when two people who despise each other

have to sleep together in one bed-

that is when loneliness receives the rivers… “

"LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON" JAPANESE FILM REVIEW

 TWO FAMILIES AND THEIR TWO YOUNG SONS WHO WERE SWITCHED AT BIRTH SIX YEARS AGO.

Now, who’s to blame? The Nurse or the Hospital’s careless management?

“LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON” (2014)

JAPANESE MOVIE REVIEW

Touch my soul, maverick director KORE-EDA HIROKAZU implores us.

Here he is, with his new family-themed award-winning tour de force that will certainly make you sit up, take notice and reach for your hankie, provided you have a tender heart. Do you?

We all have one if we use it right. (metaphor)

“LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON” is a gem with emotional depth. It’s rare these days to get a chance to appraise a good Japanese film in the cinema.

Why?

Since the deluge of the Korean films some 10+ years ago which was an unexpected craze that seized Asia by storm, audiences worldwide these days are “hooked” to the mesmerizing Korean  dramas.

As a result, they have unceremoniously dumped their Japanese cousins.

And “LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON” is here to prove that the Japanese films are still very much around and have not lost their shine.

In 2013 awards keep piling in:

It was nominated for the Palme d’Or at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival where it won the Jury Prize.

It also bagged (Winner) for Best Film at the Asia Pacific Film Festival.

As well as being awarded the Audience Awards at the Vancouver International Film Festival.

The list doesn’t stop there.

 Here’s the plot:

Ryota is an arrogant architect  living in Tokyo. He is successful, hardworking and is pursuing the perfect life. But whatever bliss he is currently enjoying is just a lull before the storm.

One fateful night he and his wife,Midori, get an unexpected phone call from the hospital.

The shocking news: their young son, Keita, is not their own flesh and blood- the hospital had given them the wrong baby six years ago.

Masaharu Fukuyama plays Ryota the ambitious professional who’s married to Midori (Machiko Ono), with a perfect house and a six-year-old son.

His world is turned upside down by the shocking revelation that the hospital had accidentally switched the babies six years ago: his biological boy is now being brought up by Yudai (Franky Lily), a happy-go-lucky shopkeeper whilst Ryo has Yudai’s son.

“LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON” has a powerful theme with an admirable cast of Japanese veterans.

 Ryota is portrayed as cold and aloof whilst Yudai is the likable good guy who enjoys frolicking with his kids.

Ryota is now in a dilemma to choose between his true blood son or the one whom he has been nurturing all these years.

“LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON” is a family movie made for everyone.

It is packaged with love, angst, frustration and the eventual stage of redemption.

It is poignant and tender, especially in scenes where the two mothers share problems regarding raising their sons.

A definite winner!

RATING: 4 out of 5

Local Distributor: GSC MOVIES