"Crazy, Stupid, Love"... Another Rom-Com Worth Watching?

You know the drill. The Romantic-comedy genre has become so trite and played out as it can be, I'm surprised that they're still making them. Don't get me wrong, I'm a bit of a hopeless romantic myself. But this whole thing with the over-the-top love gestures, chasing-the-girl-through-the-airport type of thing will do nothing but awaken the cynical, sarcastic asshole in me.

If it's not that, then there's always that movie where the two protagonists start out not being able to stand each other, only to find out midway that the things they don't have in common is what binds them, and by the end of it one of them (usually the guy) will have like this prepared speech of how much they love each other.

Although this is only considered romantic since it's the guy who was all tied up...

Just to clarify, I don't hate romantic movies. Just that the ones I like are often the 'mature' ones like Adam's Rib [1949], Chasing Amy [1997], Just Like Heaven [2005] or perhaps more recently He's Just Not That Into You [2009].

First impressions say that this upcoming movie might become an addition to that list;

5 Good Actors Who Are Almost Impossible to Take Seriously

Oftentimes we base our decision whether to see a movie or not by looking at its cast. Maybe I'm just overgeneralising here, but we can almost judge one's character by the people they like to see, wouldn't you say? Fans of Adam Sandler or Seth Rogen tend to go for light-hearted movies and in the case of the latter, dick and stoner jokes.

To each his or her own. I enjoy light-hearted movies as much as the next guy, although I generally reserve my laughs for non-sequiturs, word plays and observational humour. So yeah, maybe I'm quite a serious person in comparison to the fans of Judd Apatow.

At the risk of sounding snobbish, I think I just have different standards as to what passes for a good movie. Note the complete absence of movies like Superbad [2007] in this blog. I don't know, there are just things that I wouldn't be able to take as it is when it's downright silly and mind-numbing. So that got me thinking, does the silliness of the movies extend to how I perceive the actors as well?

Not always, because I still think highly of James Franco and he's been in a couple of those movies. But only because he balances it all out really well by giving outstanding performances in every one of his movies.

I'm not sure if I can say the same about these other actors.

Dogma [1999]

Director: Kevin Smith
Cast: Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Linda Fiorentino, Alan Rickman, Chris Rock, Jason Lee, Salma Hayek
Genre: Fantasy/Comedy
Rating: Adult
Comment: "You can always count on Kevin Smith to fuck with your expectations..."

Synopsis

When two fallen angels, Bartleby (Ben Affleck) and Loki (Matt Damon) finds a loophole within the Catholic dogma that will enable them to go back to Heaven, the Voice of God (Alan Rickman) goes down to Earth to recruit the help of an abortion clinic worker (Linda Florentino) and two prophets (Jason Mewes and Kevin Smith) in an effort to stop it from happening, as allowing the fallen angels to return would mean the undoing of existence as we know it.

What to Expect

1. Comedic religious debate

2. Unpredictable

3. Some gross-out humour

4. Kevin Smith's clever writing

What NOT to expect

1. An anti-religion movie

"Bunraku" is Finally Here!!

Well, sort of.
This movie will not see release until late September. However, there's no news of it being screened here in Malaysia. It doesn't help that it has a 'Restricted' rating, which means our censorship board is going to have their hands full.

Still, I'm beyond excited and to understand that, you would have to be aware that I've been anticipating this movie since 2008. That was when I first heard that the No.1 guy I would go gay for has a major starring role in it. However everything else about the movie was shrouded in mystery until very recently. Yes ladies and gents, a theatrical trailer is finally out for the world to see!

I know, "Holy cow!" right? It looks great, definitely one that does Gackt justice. Oh yeah, there are some other stars in it too namely Josh Hartnett, Woody Harrelson, Ron Perlman and Demi Moore.

And if you're a fan of Gackt as well, here's a little something special for you;

Aaron Aziz to Star in a Sheikh Muszaphar Biopic

After a long long silence, Malaysia's first "astronaut", Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Al-Masrie came forward and announced that he had been approached by KRU Studios and they talked extensively about making a movie about his life.

"Initially I was hesitant about the idea because I've kinda gotten used to living in my newfound privacy. But then I compromised when they came to me a second time, and made some major changes to the script. Now it's a cool action movie, kind of like the story of my life meets Armageddon [1998]"

Favourites #13: Michelle Yeoh

Anyone else thinks that Michelle Yeoh doesn't get as much love here in Malaysia? People keep telling me that it's because she built much of her career abroad, but wouldn't that mean we'd have a hell of a lot more reason to be proud of her? I sure am, and I've been thinking highly of her since I first saw her in Police Story 3 [1992]. Of course, at the time I had no idea who she was, I just remember seeing a really lovely-lookin' lady kicking some ass.

Aaron Aziz and Adi Putra combined got nothing on this lady

How was a mediocre-singer-who-can't-do-anything-else *cough* Mawi *cough* ever got more coverage than her, I'd never know.

"The Amazing Spider-man" Theatrical Trailer

Alright, after months of viral marketing, they finally released the theatrical trailer for the Spider-man reboot, simply entitled The Amazing Spider-man [2012]. So far my first impressions are right, it does look to be darker and potentially grittier than the ones directed by Sam Raimi. I know, all these reboots are giving me a headache as well. But if they have a unique Spider-man experience to give us, I say why not?

Plus I never thought Emma Stone would look so cute in her natural hair colour. Yes, ladies and gents, she's not actually a redhead.

Also, something tells me that that Spidey-cam thingy at the end will actually be in the movie. So if you're going to see it in 3D, make sure you bring a bucket or a paperbag for you to throw up in.

Why Jason Momoa Will Be The Most Badass Conan Ever

I have secretly been looking forward to the latest incarnation of Conan the Barbarian, slated for release on August 25th, 2011 (Malaysia). Like I said in that same entry, the reason for that is because I think I could use some male machismo that has been missing in cinemas since 300 [2007]. I suppose you could say The Expendables [2010] was very manly, but there's something about a movie starring aging action heroes that appeals more towards the nostalgia than a genuine thrill ride.

That's where people like Dwayne Johnson comes in, although he has since faded away since the demand for action stars had changed since the 80s. Bulging muscles and a distinctive accent isn't going to cut it anymore. No, nowadays we want our action heroes to not be so one-dimensional which is why the aforementioned 300 was such a hit. Instead of telling a bodybuilder to act, they made a bodybuilder out of an actor.

In the wrong hands, "THIS IS... SPARTA!!" would have been more hilarious than badass

"The Dark Knight Rises" Teaser Trailer

For a second I thought this was just another one of those really high-quality fan-made trailers, God knows there are plenty of them out there. But as it turns out it is for real, and it's good enough to tide me over until a theatrical trailer comes along.

For other The Dark Knight Rises related entries;
(May 21st, 2011) Official Photo of Tom Hardy as Bane
(February 22nd, 2011) The Dark Knight Rises in 2012

The "Game of Thrones" is a Dangerous Game to Play

I don't know if I've said it before, but those in my circle of friends have some idea that I am a sucker for many things like Science fiction, good action flicks, ancient mythologies and cute girls. Another thing I don't mention as often would probably be my love for all things medieval, or should I say Medieval fantasy because well... What kind of sadist would I be if I think the Black Death is oh-so-romantic.

Would you agree if I say that The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King [2003] left quite a bit of a void when it comes to this particular genre? Sure, there were some pretty decent ones since, perhaps Outlander [2008]? You could even make a case for 300 [2007], but if you ask me, that movie falls in a different sub-genre. No sir, what has been missing is the good 'ol stories about chivalry, courtly love and medieval badassery.

Ladies and gents, feast your eyes on Game of Thrones [2011-?], an all-new television series by HBO.

"The Hobbit" First Look (Production Video and Publicity Stills)

Has anyone here read J.R.R Tolkien's The Hobbit? I'm sure I'm not the only one, but the reason I ask is because I was just curious if you like that book better than The Lord of the Rings novels. I don't know about you, but for some reason I like The Hobbit better because... Well, it didn't blabber on too much.

So yeah, now that they're making a movie out of it, I'm pretty excited. No trailer has been released as of yet, but the production crew have been rather generous in providing updates on how it's going to turn out. So for the time being, feast your eyes on this production video courtesy of director Peter Jackson himself, as well as some stills.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part Two [2011]

Director: David Yates
Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Ralph Fiennes, Alan Rickman, Michael Gambon, Maggie Smith
Genre: Fantasy/Thriller
Rating: Teen
Comment: "It's huge, it's epic, it's Harry Potter like you've never seen it before..."

Synopsis

Picking up right where Part One left off, the trio continues their search for the rest of the Horcruxes, this time around their search leads them back to the compounds of Hogwarts and it is there where they will make their last stand against Voldemort and the Death Eaters. Meanwhile, Harry's spiritual journey also comes to a complete circle when he learns the truth about Professor Severus Snape.

What to Expect

1. Epic wizardry warfare

2. Strong sentimental value

3. Very, very operatic

4. To shed a tear for Snape (well, I did)

What NOT to Expect

1. To be disappointed

2. Overly-fast paced like its predecessors

Hilariously Violent Kung fu Movie

I think this is the first time I've ever strung the words "hilarious" and "violent" together. But hell, there's really no other way to put it. I think I might have struck gold this time. Just watch the videos first, and I'll tell you about the movie (yeap, singular) afterward. Please be advised though, you might need a strong stomach.

#1 If you're happy and you know it... What do you do?
Let's start with the most tame of them all, but more importantly this clip will hint you on what to expect from this movie. If you're already sickened by this, it's probably best if you don't watch any further.

"Tintin" Theatrical Trailer

Sometime in May 2011, renowned director Steven Spielberg announced that he's making a new adventure flick along with other big name film-makers like Peter Jackson of The Lord of the Rings fame as well as Edgar Wright, another favourite of mine. Also if you remember, the teaser trailer that they released made almost no sense whatsoever.

"Hey Snowy, where the hell is Spielberg taking us?"

But fret not, a freshly-baked trailer is now available on the internet and it looks pretty damn good. Kinda reminds you of Spielberg when he used to make exciting movies like Indiana Jones. Yeap, I'm counting Kingdom of the Crystal Skull [2008] in as well. Seriously, I don't think it was as bad as they say it was. Laughable, maybe. But still made for good entertainment.

Anyway, here's that new Tintin trailer I was telling you about.

Favourites #12: MILFs

As promised, here's another list of people that drive my hormones crazy, only this time around they're of the XX chromosome. But hell, I thought I'd make it more interesting by cranking up the age, my way of telling the ladies out there that being older is not a death sentence. In fact, older women are in many ways a lot sexier. But then again, I'm saying this from the perspective of a guy and let's face it, guys are simple creatures; Big or small, old or young, if we feel like tapping it, anything goes.

A little oversimplified, but that's the general idea...

But in all seriousness, I am genuinely attracted to these ladies here to the point where I am unaware just how old they are. They carry themselves with such grace (and possibly caked with make-up), take really good care of themselves, and it proves that you don't have to be born overly-beautiful as long as you have the confidence to make up for it.

Now it might sound hypocritical for me to say that, considering that these ladies are nothing short of beautiful. But I have also been asked "you like plain girls, huh?". I don't know about that, but I am a sucker for that girl-next-door thing. So here's my list of favourite MILFs and let me know what you think.

5 Guys I Would Go Gay For

Sometimes I think my life would be a lot easier if I'm homosexual. Because, you know... I'll get to say this sort of thing without people giving me strange looks. But I'm straight, and more importantly, secure with my sexuality so I really don't need to make anyone feel unattractive just so I can be at peace with my ego.

eww...

But hey, that's life right? There will always be people shoving down rules down your throat, whether or not you're willing to adhere to them. Don't get me wrong, though. I'm not saying homosexuality is natural, I'm just saying who are we to judge? So yeah, while you won't find me marching down in any gay pride parade, you're not gonna hear me scream "Gay is not the way!" either.

*ahem* I got a little carried away there.

I'm only going to list down five, although I have actually more than five man-crushes. But I'll be damned if I'm gonna list them all, so here's the least I could do.

Honourable Mentions;

"The Dark Knight" Interrogation Scene... With a Laugh Track

I laughed hysterically all the way and I have no idea why.

Quick Question!

I don't know about other bloggers, but I don't publish everything I've written. Some of them simply because I don't quite like how they turn out, but for the most part it's because they're a bit risque. Now, this blog was rather low-profile and I've kept it that way for as long as I could, but it received extra attention since I published that article rebutting all those complaints about Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa [2011], and also that little analysis on Sucker Punch [2011]. Not by much, but I am a rather shy person so it is kind of a big deal.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I feel like I gotta be more careful about what I put out. But then I figured, "screw it". It's not like people don't know I'm just playing a character when I blog, right? Plus this blog averages at only about six thousand page views per month (since March, 2011) which is relatively low. So who gives a rat's ass, wouldn't you say?

If you're family, I apologise in advance...

So quick question!

Which one of these unpublished articles you think is okay for me to post?

#1 Guys I Would Go Gay For

#2 Favourite MILFs

#3 Favourite Love Scenes

Let's just leave it at that for now.

The "3D" Musketeers, or Will It Fall Flat?

Release Date: October 13th, 2011 (Malaysia)
Director: Paul W.S. Anderson
Cast: Logan Lerman, Matthew Macfadyen, Luke Evans, Ray Stevenson, Orlando Bloom, Milla Jovovich

Okay, this I'm not too sure about. My first impression is simply that this is going to be one of those big-budget "filler" movies. I don't know if it's a universal term, but when I dub a movie as a "filler", it means it's gonna be a movie you see because there's nothing else worth watching at the time. Furthermore this movie is directed by Paul W.S. Anderson, a poor man's Michael Bay. Please note that I had long disowned Anderson since he murdered the Predator franchise.

If there's anything that will make it worth watching, I'd say it would be the impressive star-studded cast.

Funny Cartoons by See Mike Draw

You can read a whole lot more on his Wordpress at SeeMikeDraw. I just chose the ones that has to do with movies.

Second "Immortals" Trailer

I've never heard of director Tarsem Singh until rather recently, but after seeing the only two movies he has made thus far, I was instantly a fan and I can't wait to see his third movie called Immortals [2011]. The first trailer did a lot to reduce me into the male equivalent of an obsessive Twilight fan, and almost unbelievably, the second trailer managed to top even that, making me go "OMG OMG OMG!!"

I know at first glance it seems like many other swords-and-sandals movies before it, but hell, have you ever seen any of them being as remotely as hard-hitting as this? For once they managed not to play down to the audience and turn this one into another one of those CGI wankfest. For once, the CGI are used to aid the storytelling rather than the other way around.

No, this is a Tarsem Singh movie. Which means it will be like an art film without the pretentiousness.

Another thing worthy of note is the absence of the usually-colourful Tarsem Singh movie (although the costume remain elaborate). But I think it suited the tone and mood of the movie rather perfectly. No, I don't think it's a 300 [2007] rip-off. I just think they represented the bleak and dark world the characters are living in, where the gods are more preoccupied with their wars.