NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM (2006)

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Good-Hearted dreamer Larry Daley (Ben Stiller), despite being perpetually down on his luck, thinks he's destined for something big. But even he could never have imagined how "big" when he accepts what appears to be a menial job as a graveyard-shift security guard at a museum of natural history. During Larry's watch, extraordinary things begin to occur: Mayans, Roman Gladiators, and cowboys emerge from their diorama to wage epic battles; in his quest for fire, a Neanderthal burns down his own display; Attila the Hun pillages his neighboring exhibits, and a T-Rex reminds everyone why he's history's fiercest predator. Amidst the chaos, the only person Larry can turn to for advice is a wax figure of President Teddy Roosevelt (Robin Williams), who helps our hero harness the bedlam, stop a nefarious plot, and save the museum.

The original double-sided movie poster is for sale at US$15/-. Please email me if you need more details and hi-resolution photo of the poster.

Movie opens this Christmas 2006.

THE HOST (2006)

The original, double-sided movie poster of THE HOST is for sale at US$10/-. The poster is in near mint condition. Please email me if you need further clarification.

Click HERE to visit the official movie website

It has been quite a while since we last saw any monster movie produced by the Asian. It is for this reason that THE HOST stands out in its marketing campaign, drawing the curiosity of audience when its trailers shown an estimated 15-foot long creepy crawler on the loose in a busy park filled with panicky looking human being.

In a nutshell, the movie surrounds a family's desperate attempt to rescue its youngest member from the hands of this mutated creature. However, while hunting down the creature inside the complicated sewerage system along the Han River, the mutant is not the only threat the family has to face. Ironically and amusingly, the human military and medical personnel stubbornly believe that the family is infected with a deadly "virus" and they have to be immediately arrested and quarantined.

As in any monster movie, expect aplenty nerve-wrecking chasing sequences and gunfire. However, what could be lacking in this movie is the moral behind the whole issue. It touches on almost everything from environmental, politics, and family relations. Unfortunately, to squeeze so many complicated themes into a 2-hours movie could be daunting. As a result, the many appealing and possibly thoughts-provoking issues were merely scratched on the surface, leaving a finale that is not as touching as earlier expected.

Pardon for being sadistic here, but aren't any monster movie fans keen to see more blood-splatters and higher body count? Here, the death toll is considered, in monster movie standards, conservative. Finally, the fans may not be happy that the creature has been dispatch way too quickly and too "un-brainy" in the finale.

Nevertheless, the many plot holes and dissatisfaction could be well compensated by the filmmaker sincerity in giving audience the next best thing after Hollywood's Alien. The effect works by San Francisco based, The Orphanage was realistic enough to make your heart racing. Yes, it is not entirely flawless, and the creature looks like a larger version of that hellhound in the movie, Hellboy. But it is still refreshingly enjoyable and menacing enough to leave an impression.

Movie Rating: 4/5 Stars

SINGAPORE DREAMING (2006) MOVIE REVIEW

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Almost a decade after Jack Neo's "Money Not Enough", I am dumbfounded, or rather, disappointed that our local Filmmakers still stick to themes like "Toto Citizen", "Paper Chase", "5Cs", and "Chinese Funeral". Where our Government strives to be World No 1 in almost everything, they seem to have forgotten about doing the same for our film's industry. Or is it that we lack ideas, rather than "Money Not Enough"?

Singapore Dreaming, though may have earned the applause from local critics, does not impress me anymore. Just when I thought we have make a breakthrough with The Maid (Kudo to Kelvin Tong!), Singapore Dreaming is so typical, so predictable and again putting Singaporean to shame.

We urinate in our lifts. We tell our children that they would end up a road sweeper if they do not score 100 points in their tests. We are trying to act that we already "make it" by taking loan to purchase cars, and condos. We ill-treat the maid. Selling insurance is the worst occupation. Our language abilities are mixed bag!

The best (or rather worst!) part is that, we laugh at all these. The audience (mostly Singaporean) thought it is funny but don't we realise that over so many years, we are still not evolving into something different? I have de javu while watching it because it looks like those old days TCS drama, which my old mother faithfully follows every night. If there is anything to learn from the movie, it only tells me that our behaviour is not any different a decade ago, as a result, so are our movies.

Probably the only saving grace in this film is its casts, in particularly the veteran leads like Richard Low and Alice Lim. Their comic-timing are excellent and the most commendable aspect of the two is that they are equally capable pulling off moving scenes. Overall, I believe that our local actors and actresses could take on more sophisticated and challenging roles when called for. Unfortunately, the protagonists alone do not make a movie. Perhaps, it is time our Filmmakers wake up from their Singapore dreams and try something else.

Movie Rating: 2.5/5 Stars

HAPPY FEET (2006)

WARNING: May Cause Toe-Tapping

Visit the Official Website HERE

HAPPY FEET is a Comedy Adventure that was set deep in the heart of Antartica, where the majestic-looking Emperor Penguins roam. In this land of the Emperor Penguins, each needs a heart song to attract a soul mate. However, our Hero, Mumble, is born with zero singing talent. As it turns out that he is a brilliant tap dancer!

Featuring a list of stellar voice talents like Robin William, Hugh Jackman, Elijah Wood, Nicole Kidman, Brittany Murphy, and Hugo Weaving, HAPPY FEET looks set to be a highly anticipated animation in 2006. Looking at its teasers and trailers already makes one goes "Awww... sooo cute!"

Coming to local theatres this Nov 2006!

CURSE OF THE GOLDEN FLOWER ACTION TEASER

CURSE OF THE GOLDEN FLOWER (2006) ACTION TEASER

Visit the Official Website HERE

The story centered on an ill-fated romance between an imperial bodyguard and a prince takes the lovers on a dangerous journey where royal family secrets are revealed.

The Film Director, Zhang YiMou (Hero, House of the Flying Daggers) have openly voice his determination to bag the Oscar's Best Foreign Picture with Curse of the Golden Flower. In addition, he had also announced that this shall be his final KungFu movie.

Frankly, I am quite disappointed with his last martial art film, House of the Flying Daggers. Hopefully, Zhang would pull off a great show this time.

The movie starring Chow Yun-Fatt (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon), Gong Li (Memoirs of a Geisha), and Jay Chow (Initial D). The action sequences are directed by Tony Chin Siu-Tong of the Hero fame.

The movie is scheduled to open in local cinema this Christmas (2006).

THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA (2006) MOVIE REVIEW

This movie had reinforced my opinion about the reality contest "The Next America Top Model": It is a tough (really tough) World in the fashion industry. Beneath the facade of glam and fame were the untold stories that involved hypocrisy, sacrifices, and betrayal.

This sounds like I am going to share with you a highly charged, corporate political movie now? Not exactly, for Director David Frankel (Entourage, Sex and the City) is always capable of conveying complicated and often harsh real-life issues into cool pace lighthearted drama.

This time, David brings us Andrea Sachs (Anne Hathaway), a young journalism graduates who just started out her first job in a premier fashion magazine, Runway, only to suffer under the command of a vicious and absolutely sarcastic Editor-in-Chief, Marinda Priestly. While Andrea struggles to impress Marinda that she is capable of meeting any impossible demands, she soon realise that she had lost what really matters in her life. Fortunately for our Andrea, she walks away from the quicksand before sinking too deep, and ultimately obtained very valuable lessons.

I know, the moral of the story is way too typical. But this movie stands out with its careful detailing of characters and of course the flow of story telling, making the 1 hour and 50 minutes runtime so enjoyable.

In this every girl's dream job of associating with the rich and famous, and indulging in ultra-expensive fashion and high-class glitters, would we (girls) walk away that easily?

Although the movie production budget looks modest in Hollywood's standards, it is surely a hard-to-find gem in 2006.

Movie Rating: 4/5 Stars
Commendable: Without Veteran star Meryl Streep, the movie may not have look so good.

SNAKES ON A PLANE (2006)

The Original double sided movie poster of Snakes on a Plane is for sale at US$8. The poster is in Average condition. Please email me if you need further clarification.

Anacondas in the Air

How the snakes got lose on board a plane? That is an intriguing question on my mind before I glance at the synopsis. I thought it must be some irresponsible zoologist who may have forgotten to shut the cage. Whatever, since this movie is by Samuel L Jackson, one of the finest actors of our time, I thought I should give it a try.

It turns out that the movie is totally different from what I perceived. Believe it or not, this got nothing to do with Madagascar. It is a cop-versus-criminal thriller. Jackson plays an FBI Agent on a mission to escort a witness on a flight from Hawaii to Los Angeles. You got it. Things are not so easy for our Supercop. The Mobster Boss planted hundred of snakes on the airplane, in an attempt to eliminate the said witness.

Creative plot? I don't think so.

First, how does the hundred over species of snakes, which includes a few enormous Anacondas look-alike, managed to escape the tight airline securities and remain dormant for hours in the luggage cabin before the attack? I don't need to be any snake's expert to realise that something must be very wrong with these highly vicious species for their abilities to stay harmonize within a large box for hours.

Secondly, with over 50 surviving passengers, including a muscular, brave looking kick boxer, standing together to fight the snakes, it doesn't make any sense to me that they simply leave the surviving co-pilot, who was supposedly the most important man on the plane, in the flight control alone. You got it. Soon, the smart snakes killed the man and the plane prepare for a finale crash landing. Besides leaving the pilot alone, there was one scene where they allow Jackson to nervously crawl through some electrical duct, alone, to restart the air-circulation? Doesn't anyone know the meaning of "all round security" anymore?

Finally, to bring down a plane and kill anyone within, I don't think you need to employ such complicated "snakes attack", which sure left many clues and traces behind. The movie could have ended in 3 minutes if the mobster boss is sincere in bringing down the plane.

In conclusion, if you just want some excuse brain entertainment, this is the right movie for you.

Movie Rating: 2/5 Stars (brain intact)
3/5 Stars (hypnotise your brain prior to watching the movie)

P.S. Oh, the snakes look so fake. Surely they could come out with something more convincing with their multi-million dollars production budget!