To sum up July; adjustment. It was almost full fasting month, so I was forced to be more involved in the kitchen to provide hopefully proper meals. I learned more, but the good news is I can catch up with new releases, though not all of them is pleasant. Before I go on, I’d like to say Happy Ied Mubarak and I’d like to apologize if I have written some words that might be offensive. Thank you sooo much for you who kept reading this ol’ blog!
I’d like to start the mini reviews with new releases. I’ve finally saw The Fault in Our Stars, thought the movie was gone from the cinemas but I found it in the big city. I can see all the fuss you’re talking about, but it seems that I need more to be impressed with (I’m apparently a tough crowd now). I was surprised to able to catch Diana on cable, but other not-so-new releases turned out to be not so bad. There’s one new movie that is so legendary that it is now in the IMDB Top 250, and I am happy that I managed to see it on bigger screen. Futhermore, just read all of them below :
New Releases :
Dawn of The Planet of The Apes (2014)
Life Itself (2014)
The Fault in Our Stars (2014)
Staring at cancer and death through a witty and sweet angle, from two love birds who found love from each other. Shailene Woodley as Hazel is sweet, smart and realistic teenager, narrated the movie too. Ansel Elgort as Gus is a boy with high dreams and positivity that steal Hazel’s heart. It reminded me of Restless (2011) though not as magical. Somehow this movie is between reality and fantasy, because a guy like Gus is one in a million and to be able to travel to Amsterdam to see Hazel’s inspiration is also a rare chance. I loved the first hour of the movie, but it got quite weepy (though at such situation require such state) and sentimental to digest. But every movie about someone dealing with cancer, especially the lead, will make us grateful to still have the rest of our life. Woodley is adorable, and Elgort is dreamy. I also enjoy the soundtrack. Score : 6,5
The Angriest Man in Brooklyn (2014)
It looked like a movie with big morale message, which is true but failed to deliver it. The first 15 minutes was great, but the further gets worst. I do understand the concept this movie tried to bring, to live your life to the fullest, but it wasn’t executed well. First, it felt like a rather long series of story for only 90 minutes (which is the prediction of how long the angriest man in Brooklyn live). Second, the script was too sentimental than it was needed, so it felt lame. Third, the shots seemed to use camera TV-angles (so not great for theater audience). The cast wasn’t bad. If you look at Robin Williams, the man have a series of legendary roles in the past, but he seemed desperate to re-live the days. Mila Kunis actually is one of the executive producers and the lead actress in this movie. She tried to take bigger and serious roles, but isn’t working in here. She got the depth at first, but somehow lost it in the back. Perhaps this movie is suffering bad directing too. Parts of it meant to be funny (it should be with Williams in it), but the only funny scene was when Williams wanted to buy a camera in a hurry to an old man with stutter. It looks promising, but actually is the opposite. Score : 3
The Other Woman (2014)
A pretty hilarious and sarcastic comedy for women, which is rare (the latest maybe The Heat or The Sweetest Thing). It is helped the most by Leslie Mann as the wife. It started pretty good but the end was quite generic and comical, also predictable. It would be better if there’s more depth on Kate’s disappointment as the wife, considering she has contributed a lot for her relationship with the cheating man. Score : 6
Noah (2014)
Excellent cast and performances, great visuals and at times very magical, successful for visualizing a living miracle at that time. It’s an A+ for a work of art. But considering it is a part of religion history, making some changes is just fatal, especially from Noah itself, which makes it a tad waste. Score : -
Other first time viewings :
Diana (2013)
A woman with such elegance is rare, but I think Naomi Watts only captured 80% of her nature. It showed how complicated the life of a Princess after her divorce, where every of her move printed on media and her power could make her spouse threatened. Watts also didn’t have the best chemistry with Naveen Andrews as Hasnat, the surgeon who have an affair with her. It did show Diana’s unwise and unstrategic move towards her actions in media, led her to more complicated situations. I have trouble seeing Diana as forward as Watts’ performance when she showed her attraction to Hasnat, I think it’s a failed portrayal of her. The story could use more from Diana’s failed marriage, so it could be a nice contrast to her single status. Ironically, I also saw W.E (2011) this month which partly tells a story about Queen Elizabeth’s ancestry, a King who gave up his throne for a woman ended up isolated and unhappy. Score : 6
Underground : The Julian Assange Story (2012)
The story of Julian Assange who founded Wikileaks. It showed how Assange is a man full of potential, smart and an independent thinker even from very young. Showed also how he was raised by an American protester mother and was once kidnapped and joined a cult. The love story is another seasoning from the movie. A pretty insightful movie. Score : 7
Fun With Dick and Jane (2005)
Tea Leoni and Jim Carrey makes a pretty fun husband and wife, and a team. It’s surely an entertaining comedy, though not showing a wise example when a family is economically challenged. They are pretty lucky to rob banks without being captured by police. Score : 7
Vacancy (2007)
Yet another thriller movie about being locked murdered in a bedroom, this one is a motel room and videotaped for collection purposes I assume. Kate Beckinsale and Luke Wilson is the couple victim, started to get suspicious when they see a record of people getting murdered in the same room they rented. Compared to 1408 (2007), Vacancy provide good chills and screams but isn’t as thrilling. It’s still is an okay film to watch in a scary Friday night rent. Score : 6
W.E. (2011)
When I read the reviews back when it was just released, I assume the movie is horrible. But I thought it wasn’t bad, in fact it creates its own style. Perhaps Madonna was bad on directing her crew, but the output of the movie was okay. The story of the King who give up his throne for a woman he love is in fact romantic but at the same time tragic, and this movie could deliver that story well.Linked to the present where a doctor’s wife obsessed with that romantic story the same as her mother and grandmother, which she look up to them and hope for the same compatibility but failed at her own marriage. Her obsession to the classic story seem odd as they have different kind of relationship, so it feels like a missing link. The ending of the two women characters met to justify the morale of the movie also felt forced. Abbie Cornish performed well most of the time, but unfortunately not much depth in the end. But I didn’t hate the movie, I love the cold tone, the black monochrome look of the movie, the music and mysterious atmosphere. But most important I love the tragic story of the ex-King of England and the divorced American woman. Score : 7
Hope Springs (2012)
Rarely ever seen Tommy Lee Jones in such sweet flick, this time as a grumpy husband, Arnold, who is married for years with Kay (Meryl Streep). This might be one of movie people will forget, but it’s got an important message for husband and wife who have been married for years and lose their sparks. It could be a great push for couples who undermine this kind of problem. The rest probably is predictable, but still a good movie for rent in a slow Sunday afternoon. Score : 7
The Bachelor (1999)
The plot is readable from the start, but still quite entertaining. It emphasize how many women would go for simply get married and stability, their desperation. It also makes marriage feels just like a contract, but when feelings involved you wouldn’t feel like work. Chris O’Donnell at its peak and Renee Zellweger was adorable. Score : 6,5
Shall We Dance (1996) or Shall we dansu?
What drawn me to ever watch this film is the 2004 American remake with the same title. It’s a great reminder that you can find your passion even when you are not young and already settled. The original film is longer (2 hour 16 minutes) and has a lot more character involved. Too much detail and pauses that can be cut for efficiency, which made me like the movie less. It could be cut for 30 minutes at least. But the bottom line has more depth, on how a very serious man and husband suddenly find himself unhappy with the things he thought he’ll be happy with. Turns out there’s still something missing after working hard for his family. He is drawn to a dance class he always see through the train window, with a pretty girl glancing at the view from the window. With his serious will to learn and passion, he can master the dance within a year. Certainly, there’s more about dance to learn, particularly about partnership. Seeing the original, I agree that Richard Gere is the lead for the remake but Jennifer Lopez couldn’t exactly level Mai. Score : 7,5
She-Devil (1989)
A revenge plan from a betrayed wife that went a little too smooth. The plot was a little too explicit and comical. Though it is true that every hurtful thing we do for others we’ll get the karma, but I was hoping there’s a little lesson learned after all the revenge, but nothing more than that. Score : 6
Nights in Rodanthe (2008)
Very romantic and very Nicholas Sparks, but one romantic movie where I feel cheated in the end. I actually didn’t know it was based on Sparks novel, but I have guessed it’s Spark-ish. It’s a winner for the fans and the romance seekers but too dramatic ending for my taste. Must every romance ends with a sob story? Score : 6,5
The Woods (2006)
There aren’t a lot of thriller/horror for teenage girl, but if you are searching for one, you can see The Woods. I can only relate these types to horror teen novels like Goosebumps or Fear Street. Also like the novel series, The Woods speaks simple horror so it might be too bland for adults. I was entertained. Consider this as a horror ‘snack’. Score : 6
Loser (2000)
It may seem like another American Pie movie seen from the couple of same cast, and was entertaining but it has a pretty generic teenage movie story. Though I think Mena Suvari was too cute to be a gothic weird girl, while great being a naive one. Nothing quite new from this movie, looking like a fun story but actually predictable. Score : 5,5
Other posts you might’ve missed :
- Inspired By : Breakfast at Tiffany’s + Links
- Blind Spot ’14 : Castle in the Sky (1986)
- Memorable Movie Moments #10 : Long Walking
- Soundtrack Pick : Boyhood (2014)
But wait, which is the best movie from all?
Here they are :
Dawn of The Planet of The Apes have a chance to end up in my top movies of 2014, while it’s obvious I was amazed by Castle in The Sky. I could vote Noah as the next best movie in July, but the theme was too sensitive. So I put W.E as one of the best this month, though it isn’t perfect.
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Readers, any thoughts? What is your current best 2014 movies?