The Uh-mazing Lookin' Spider-Man Movie

Movie Title: The Amazing Spider-man
Release Date: July 5th, 2012 (Malaysia)
Director: Marc Webb
Starring: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Denis Leary, Martin Sheen, Sally Field, Irrfan Khan, Chris Zylka

Wanna hear something potentially blasphemous? I have yet to see The Avengers. No, it's not because I don't want to go back on my words. It's not a matter of pride or ego. I don't know. I did go out several times this month, but every time I walk past a cinema, I didn't feel any sort of drive to give that movie a go. Besides, judging from the box-office intake of the movie, I'm guessing only Eskimos in the North Pole and I who haven't seen it.

Therefore I don't feel any sort of urgency at all.

5 Actresses Other People Are Crazy About But I Have No Feelings For

The title's a little long, ain't it? But then again, it seems like so long ago since I wrote an entry of this nature, this whole countdown thing. I'm afraid I have no defense this time, I've been slacking off. I tend to do that. It's just that part of my personality where I would take some time off when I feel like it has become too much of a routine. So no, Planet MamüVies is not dead. So what have I been doing all this while? Same old, same old. It's just this blog that took the backseat.

But enough about that. I felt like writing again, and the first thing I did is scour through the drafts for a topic I'd like to revisit, and this one piqued my interest. What can I say? I love women. I love men too, but I love women a whole lot more. If I remember correctly, this article was inspired by all those nonsensical "20 Hottest Actresses Under 25/Over 30/Over 35/Over 40... etc" Hollywood tabloid journalism likes to do.

I still don't get what's the big deal about this lady. Or that Megan Fox substitute in Transformers 3...

Which, by the way, is something I vowed to never incorporate into this blog. No, seriously. Even at my trashiest, I'd rather not take a page from the E! channel. So how is this article any different from anything they've ever done? Simple. Think of it as an Anti-Hottest Celebrities list. I'm gonna list down five actresses the TV and internet wouldn't shut up about, and say a thing or two about me not getting what the fuss is all about.

Of course, it goes without saying that none of them would date me either.

Honest Movie Trailers: Twilight

I toyed with the idea of doing something like this before, but I like this approach better!

World without Shadow, a Docu-drama by Khoo Eng Yow

My timeline is pretty messed up, but I think it was around this time last year when I had the opportunity to have an early look and help out engineer-turned-filmmaker Khoo Eng Yow with his eye-opening documentary, World without Shadow (also known as Wayang Rindukan Bayang). I was very happy to be on board to begin with, but what I walked away with was something I'd never forget, being a fan of all things artistic.

You see, it was pretty much a finished product when I came along, and all I had to do was help Eng Yow with the English translation of the subtitles. I shall not give away anything here, I'm just gonna say that World without Shadow is a must-see not just for fans of the art...

How Cool is Tom Cruise?

It's no secret that I look up to Tom Cruise as an actor and an action star, even though I don't deny that it's a little hard to take him seriously sometimes. As of right now, I'm unaware of what he has in store for the future, aside from that Glee-rock-musical which I'm not looking forward to at all. But then again, there's this saving grace of it having Tom Cruise portraying a rock star, and he looked gooooood.

Heck, don't take my word for it, check out the photos below. Chances are they've already been airbrushed, but still I have this nagging feeling that even at 49, he's in much better shape than I am.

Joffrey Slapped For Ten Minutes

Although I doubt that he will ever pull out a sword and kill anyone, scenes with Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage) are some of my favourites from the television series Game of Thrones. If you feel the same way, here's a little treat; Some wise guy made a video with nothing but Joffrey getting slapped, set to Led Zeppelin's Achilles Last Stand. Double the awesome!

Safe [2012]

Director: Boaz Yakin
Starring: Jason Statham, Catherine Chan, James Hong, Reggie Lee, Robert John Burke
Genre: Action
Rating: Teen
Excerpt: "It's easy to accuse Safe of playing it safe, but the movie exhibited some vulnerabilities that added to its charm..."

Synopsis

What seems like a gift that would promise her a bright future, Mei (Catherine Chan) is doomed for a life in the Triad when they discovered her exceptional skill with numbers. Meanwhile, a jaded cage fighter, Luke Wright (Jason Statham) gets in the ring with another fighter who has no business fighting. He wins the fight but at the expense of his opponent going into a coma, and Luke learns soon after that the match is rigged by the Russian Mafia. Condemned to spend a life under their brand of justice, Luke is ready to give up on life. But as fate would have it, he finds a reason to live when he crosses paths with Mei.

What to Expect
1. Top notch fight scenes
2. A "tough-guy" movie with a little bit of heart
3. Interesting premise
4. Some missed opportunities

What NOT to Expect
1. Much depth
2. Absence of cliches

If you're undecided on what to see, opting for this wouldn't be a bad idea

First Rule of Fight Club...

I don't know who made this, but it gave me a good laugh.

Mickey Mouse in Runaway Brain [1995]

Hey, look at what I found! I can't remember precisely when I first saw this, but it was one of my favourite Disney shorts ever. I think it's because it was pretty action-oriented, and uncharacteristically Mickey Mouse-like. One thing, though. I remember it being longer back then. Or at least it felt longer. Or maybe it was just so long ago.

Chow Kit [2012]

Director: Rosihan Zain & Brando Lee
Starring: Muhamad Izzam Izzudin, Muhamad Izzam Syafiq, Muzhaffar Shah Shahrul Asran, Nur Nadzirah Rosi, Mers Sia, Beto Kusyairy, Dira Abu Zahar, Lana Nordin, Yasmin Hani, Namron
Genre: Drama
Rating: 18+
Excerpt: "The further away you live from 'the streets', the less believable it becomes..."

Synopsis

Two loosely-connected stories in one movie, the first half tells the tale of a group of children living on the streets of Chow Kit. Brought up by prostitutes and drug addicts, these children do what they can to make sense of their lives. But when a sexual predator threatens the dynamics of their friendship, they must cast aside their personal hardship and band together to protect what little they have. Meanwhile, an ex-convict looking to start anew gets roped into doing one last errand for his former gang, in exchange for his savings. But he's about to learn that getting out of gangster's paradise is easier said than done.

What to Expect
1. Questionable motives (but then again I'm not from the streets)
2. A bit of a culture shock
3. Some memorable quotes
4. Limitations that come from working with child actors
5. Hauntingly beautiful soundtrack

What NOT to Expect
1. Comfortable to watch
2. The Kisah Benar route
3. As tightly-written as the likes of Songlap [2011]

It has its drawbacks, but still one of the best local movies you'll see this year

FIXI #11: Sitora Harimau Jadian

This is so effin' cool.

I don't have the gall to call myself a true P. Ramlee fan, because it wasn't until a couple of years back when I gained a whole new appreciation for his works, and his life in general. It was something that happened during drama class. It occurred to me that P. Ramlee is such a big name, yet so much about him is unknown to me. Why is it that I know more about the career and the life of Akira Kurosawa, but all I know about P. Ramlee can only be summed up to "he made awesome movies and died"?

Time Travelling Hitman

Movie Title: Looper
Release Date: September 28th, 2012 (Malaysia)
Director: Rian Johnson
Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Bruce Willis, Emily Blunt, Jeff Daniels, Paul Dano

I don't say it often enough (mentioned only in passing in this entry), but I am an avid fan of Joseph Gordon-Levitt. There was a time when I was not. I didn't immediately warm up to him, and I dismissed him as nothing more than a pretty boy actor, just like I did with Leonardo DiCaprio though to a much lesser extent. The other difference, I can't recall what movie was it that made me a fan. All I can say, his performances have been consistent in terms of quality.

Expect nothing less from this upcoming thriller where he'll be playing the younger version of Bruce Willis' character (or Bruce Willis playing the older version of the character, depending on your point of view) and I must say, it's pretty impressive judging by the trailer alone. I'm not really talking about the story, I'm more intrigued by how he nailed that Bruce Willis persona. It's all very subtle, which is why it worked. Here, see for yourself (try not to blink at around 0:32, or you'll miss it).

Berani Punya Budak [2012]

Director: Afdlin Shauki
Starring: Afdlin Shauki, Mike B., Supaksorn Chaimongkol, Adlin Aman Ramlie, Johan Raja Lawak, Awie, Nabil Ahmad (cameo)
Genre: Action/Comedy
Rating: General
Excerpt: "It made less sense than Kung Pow: Enter the Fist [2002], but just as funny, if not funnier..."

Synopsis

In an effort to start a new life, Tong (Afdlin Shauki) crosses the border from Thailand to Malaysia. But upon stepping off the plane, he gets arrested by the Interpol due to their suspicion of his involvement in criminal activities back in his homeland. Eager to put it all behind him, Tong opens up about the life he shares with his brother in law, B (Mike B.) and all the madness they've been going through.

What to Expect
1. An improv-comedy feel to the movie
2. Exhilarating fight scenes
3. Hilarity
4. Afdlin Shauki doing what he does best

What NOT to Expect
1. Coherence

Very very entertaining