"You wrote that the world doesn't need a savior, but I hear them crying for one everyday." (Superman)

Five years have passed since Superman went to his home planet. So what happened to the planet Earth? What has happened to the people he has left behind? What has happened to Lois Lane? In this sequel Superman returns back to planet Earth and Lex Luthor is out of jail. With world domination in mind Lex Luthor builds a lair that is almost untouchable for Superman.

Please be aware SPOILERS ahead!

Truth be told I was never fond of Superman movies or comics. I occasionally read the comics just because I was bored but I did recall watching Superman movies but have no idea what they were about but I was a kid back then and I thought it was really cool. Before I even watch the movie I have heard of some great reviews and different and mixed feelings towards the movie. But Bryan Singer can't be a wrong choice. I remember reading that Brett Ratner (who directed X-Men 3) was the first choice to direct Superman but in the end he backed out because of discrepancies around budgets, casts, etc. So screw him! So in the end Bryan Singer directed Superman and the latter the other one. *sigh* I don't know whether to rejoice or be depressed. So either way everyone's happy so I guess it's all good.


In this movie Superman returns to Earth and got back his old job as a journalist in Daily Planet and resume his part as the sheepish civillian slash reporter who-just-happen-to-have-the-same-built-as-superman Clark Kent. *phew* Apparently he got his job back because Norm Palmer died.

AND I read from Good Weekend (the magazine you get from Saturday Herald) that they had a bit of trouble with the name since the names Bryan wanted to use happen to be a crew's name. So he randomly picked a name and call it out to his assistant "alright we're gonna use Norm Palmer instead" "yes?" ... a total stranger replied. "Don't tell me your name is Norm Palmer?" *nod* "so do you mind if we use your name?" *shake* "do you understand the context where we are going to use your name?" *shake* "..."so there you go a little info on the side. (sorry I was getting a bit sidetracked)

So was it good? HELL YEAH~! I didn't know what happened to Superman before this movie but they explain it quickly and succintly and they give hints etc so you should get it. And I love how this movie really deals with the emotional side of Superman rather than the heroic stoicism of Superman. Of course the pièce de résistance have to be the SFX and CG in this movie. It was serious blockbuster actions. But I definitely love the heart and care that have been put into this movie. I'm pretty sure the movie spans for about 2 hours or so but I don't mind. The movie keeps you in pace with what is happening in the plot and everything is orderly. I don't really know how to describe this movie but I surely love it. And plus Brandon Routh is not half that bad as Superman (in looks I mean) but his acting OMG he's so fitting as Superman. He nails both personalities of Superman and Clark Kent. It was great that they have put him as the main cast rather than putting a well-known selection. Kevin Spacey is always great no matter what role he plays. And this movie is no exception to that. He nails the notorious Lex Luthor character so beautifully. But on the other hand Kate Bosworth lacks that 'something' as Lois Lane. So in the end everything went well. And I was surprised that the kid was actually Superman's kid hahaha (see obviously sidetracked again). And I seriously thought that Superman would die (that would be depressing but I kinda can see that coming) but yeah it was kinda an unexpected ending. Either way some reviews are a bit disappointed with the ending but otherwise I am fine with it.

Overall Rating: Four STARS (out of five)

Okies. Ja ne.

--edit-- why the heck is Ian Roberts in there? (he's a former Rugby League player I think...) (still... lucky bastard that was a pretty big role he had)

"Do you fear death? Do you fear that dark abyss? All your deeds lay bare, all your sins punished?" (Davy Jones)

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest is an action filled sequel to the successful blockbuster Curse of the Black Pearl. In this movie Captain Jack Sparrow is reminded of his vow to captain Davy Jones' ship and of course he refused. To be able to get out of his debt Jack Sparrow needs to find 100 souls as payment. On the other hand we have the other two protagonists Elizabeth Swann and Will Turner. Both of them are held captive by the government on charges relating on their involvement in the escape of Captain Jack Sparrow. Will Turner is set on an adventure to reunite himself with Jack in order to free Elizabeth.

Please be aware that after this line there would be heaps of SPOILERS ahead and it is probably wise to not read through it when you haven't seen the movie ^^

So were the bad reviews about this movie really just? I think that it was not. I really think Gore Vebrinsky the director really did this movie justice. The movie was engulfed in darkness and open sea most of the times but this will not be a movie about pirates if it wasn't so. And also about the approximate viewing time it may be a bit too much for some but I can handle 2 and a half hours of Jack Sparrow just fine.

So what was so great about this movie? I LOVE IT! It is definitely witty and quirky and dark and there are a lot of emotions revolving this whole movie. Greed, trust, disloyalty, friendship. It is certainly different than the prequel which really revolves around the actions and blockbuster appeals. But this sequel is cleverly written and adequately plotted. You might get sidetracked a little by the amount of different plots from the movie but otherwise it has a lively finesse.

Should you watch it? YES

Complaints? A lot actually. The jokes and witty remarks may get a bit cliched but most of them are said by Jack and on fitting situations too. So I can let that go *smile*. Actually when I read the review most of them complains on how animated or cg-ed Bill Nighy was as Davy Jones and personally I don't know who he is or what he has done but I can assure you his work as Davy Jones is very well done. Also OMG Kiera Knightley kissed Johnny Depp argh lucky gal... hahaha but that probably comes at the end so don't matter. But then Will saw them kissing ~dang but then he can't be jealous coz Elizabeth just did it because Jack was really looking or went back because of the Black Pearl and then he was swallowed by Cracken (the effin huge giant octopus). I wanna see the sequel now. O yeah my couz complained that the movie ends very ambiguously and I must say it did but only because they will release the third instalment later on (not as long as this sequel) so it should be ok because they will do what they did to Matrix 2 and 3 where they release the third sequel almost as soon as the second one ends. And also people complained that the 2 and a half hours are a bit unbearable, but I am going to be honest and say that some parts are a bit unbearable but you just can't miss them because you might miss the important part of the plot (confusing isn't it?). O at the end (I didn't notice this until I actually checked again and SURPRISED BY IT!) Barbossa is going to be back! (Geoffrey Rush's character) If you don't remember him check him out he was the captain of the original Black Pearl (I think... I gotta rewatch the movie again it's been such a long time) and also I know this got no relation whatsoever but I thought I might just mention it for the Chinese movie fanatics etc. Chow Yun Fat (or however you wanna call him) is actually playing in the sequel as well! Ach alas how weird. I realised they need to find Captain Jack Sparrow once more...


Final verdict? 4 stars (out of five)

Yosh~! that's all from me.

--edit-- I don't particularly agree with an editorial written by smh but I think it's worth a look because I actually do agree on some parts such as where the first POC is better than this one. But either way take a look it did not influence me but it did point out some of the things that I dislike from the sequel that I wasn't able to describe well ---> [link]

"if you ain't outta control. you ain't in control..."

O..o err... nice tagline. If you don't know it's the tagline for The Fast and The Furious: Tokyo Drift. So you might be wondering why I watched this movie in the first place? It was Tuesday and I would like some movie that requires less brainwork and luckily enough most that comes out nowadays are just that (ok I'm being a meanie now... gome~)

So... moving along now. The story is about a troublesome boy, Sean Boswell, who got sent to Japan to be disciplined by his dad, who lives there because he's in the navy. So basically his mother thinks that if Sean gets sent to Japan he might relief his obsession with cars but that was wrong when he encounters a now-grown-up Bow Wow who is also in the school and discovers drag racing all over again. There's really no story in this except a bunch of yakuza, shiny looking cars, girls in god-knows-how short their skirts and mid-driffs are and techno music.

I can't say that it is indeed appalling coz I kinda like the enactment of the car racing and as such. It was cool and it became even cooler when they stated in the end that the whole thing was actual stunts with camera positioned well around the circuits and as such. The race were pretty intense some of the times but after all this movie has no storyline that really captures it. And Lucas Black is also not bad looking except that he looks old for a high school guy (they always are) but he looks good in the Japanese school uniform XD kawaii ne~ he's like a foreigh bishounen hahahaha ehrm... yes...

Anyways that's all that I can say about this movie. Overall I think I might be nice and give it TWO STARS 8D

I might not be nice the next time