Dear John

Genre: Romance / Drama
Language: English

Director: Lasse Hallstrom (Hachiko: A Dog's Story)

Cast: Channing Tatum (G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra), Amanda Seyfried (Jennifer's Body), Richard Jenkins (Burn After Reading)
Run Time: 108 minutes

Plot:

Savannah Curtis was on spring break when she first met John Tyree while he was home on temporary leave. For the smitten soldier, it was practically love at first sight. Though the love letters that Savannah sent John were one of the only things that kept him going over the course of the next seven years, when each deployment seemed more treacherous than the last, those loving and heartfelt correspondences would ultimately yield consequences that neither the brave soldier nor his one true love could have ever foreseen.

Watched the movie on 27 Feb night @ Cathay Cineleisure with Sylvia.

ah-deng says: 2½ / 5 Who would expect the ending of such a movie to end that way? All I could conclude is that the cast were good but story wasn't, or could be better. Not sure about the original novel but the movie is definitely a poor adaptation example. The only reason the movie was able to knock Avatar off is probably all movie-goers had watched it!

From Paris With Love

Genre: Action

Language: English

Director: Pierre Morel (Taken)

Cast: John Travolta (The Taking of Pelham 123), Jonathan Rhys-Meyers (The Children of Huang Shi)

Runtime: 92 minutes

Plot:

A personal aide to the U.S. Ambassador in France, James Reese has an enviable life in Paris and a beautiful French girlfriend, but his real passion is his side job as a low-level operative for the CIA. All James wants is to become a bona fide agent and see some real action. So when he's offered his first senior-level assignment, he can't believe his good luck - until he meets his new partner, special agent Charlie Wax. A trigger-happy, wisecracking, loose cannon who's been sent to Paris to stop a terrorist attack, Wax leads James on a white-knuckle shooting spree through the Parisian underworld that has James praying for his desk job.

Watched the movie on 25 Feb night @ AMK hub with Sylvia.

ah-deng says: 3 / 5 The 1st impression was, is this a copy of 20 years ago Hong Kong Blockbuster, whereby Chow Yuen Fatt always carried countless pistols and can predict where to shoot baddies. I started to wonder if the Hollywood has run out of better ideas. Then I realised the director directed Taken, all the more I was disappointed because Taken was definitely better compared to this. The plus point of the movie is probably the amount of action / bombing, the twist of the ending and the hottest topic in News these days.

2010 BATFA

The 63rd British Academy Film Awards hosted by the British Academy of film and Television Arts, took place on 21 February 2010 and honored the best films of 2009. And the winners this year:

BEST FILM
THE HURT LOCKER - Karthryn Bigelow, Mark Boal, Nicolas Chartier, Greg Shapiro

DIRECTOR

THE HURT LOCKER - Karthryn Bigelow

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
THE HURT LOCKER - Mark Boal

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
UP IN THE AIR - Jason Reitman, Sheldon Turner

ANIMATED FILM
UP - Pete Docter

LEADING ACTOR

COLIN FIRTH - A Single Man

LEADING ACTRESS

CAREY MULLIGAN - An Education

SUPPORTING ACTOR
CHRISTOPH WALTZ - Inglourious Basterds

SUPPORTING ACTRESS
MO'NIQUE - Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire

The Hurt Locker

Genre: Action/Drama/ War
Language: English
Director: Kathryn Bigelow (K-19: The Widowmaker)
Cast: Jeremy Renner (The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford), Anthony Mackie (Eagle Eye), Brian Geraghty (The Guardian)
Runtime: 131minutes

Plot: THE HURT LOCKER is an intense portrayal of elite soldiers who have one of the most dangerous jobs in the world: disarming bombs in the heat of combat. When a new sergeant, James takes over a highly trained bomb disposal team amidst violent conflict, he surprises his two subordinates, Sanborn and Eldridge by recklessly plunging them into a deadly game of urban combat. James behaves as if he’s indifferent to death. As the men struggle to control their wild new leader, the city explodes into chaos, and James’ true character reveals itself in a way that will change each man forever.

Watched the movie on 19 Feb @ Cathay Cineleisure with Sylvia

ah-deng says: 4½ / 5 I missed the 1st run last year, was glad I managed to catch it again when it re-release again. Definitely a movie not to be missed by war movie lovers, as the movie took a different perspective of the modern war. And the fact that the movie is directed by a female director, I totally salute!

Little Big Soldier 大兵小将

Genre:Action/ Comedy
Language: Mandarin
Director: Ding Sheng
Cast: Jackie Chan (The Spy Next Door), Wang Leehom (Lust, Caution), Steve Yoo
Runtime: 95 Minutes

Plot:

The battalions of warring states Liang and Wei collided in a bloodbath that lasted from dawn until dusk. Only two men were left standing - a foot soldier from Liang and the rival General from Wei. The Soldier survived because he is an expert in playing dead, with a device strapped on his body which protruded like an arrowhead for added realism.

The Soldier captured the wounded General, hoping to use the enemy as his ticket to freedom - by handing the General to the Liang warlord, the Soldier could be honorably discharged and return home to his peaceful life. The young General, though taken captive, was condescending towards the Soldier. The two men were often at loggerheads during the long and winding journey.

Watched the movie on 14 Feb night @ GV Vivo with Sylvia.

ah-deng says: 3 / 5 Nothing fancy about it. Just 2 men - one captive whose life is worth a plot of land and rewards, while the other just wished for a simple life after redeeming his reward. However both men were loyal to their country and family ties. 挺好的。。。

Percy Jackson & the Lightning Thief

Genre: Action/ Adventure
Language: English

Director: Chris Columbus (I Love You, Beth Cooper)

Cast: Logan Lerman (My One and Only), Brandon T. Jackson (Tooth Fairy), Alexandra Daddario (Bereavement)

Runtime: 119 minutes

Plot:

It's the 21st century, but the gods of Mount Olympus and assorted monsters have walked out of the pages of high school student Percy Jackson's Greek mythology texts and into his life. And they're not happy: Zeus' lightning bolt has been stolen, and Percy is the prime suspect. Even more troubling is the sudden disappearance of Percy's mother. As Percy finds himself caught between angry and battling gods, he and his friends embark on a cross-country adventure to catch the true lightning thief, save Percy's mom, and unravel a mystery more powerful than the gods themselves.

Watched the movie on 13 Feb night @ GV Vivo with Sylvia

ah-deng says: 4 / 5 Yet another novel adaption adventurous story after Harry Potter, LOTR and Narnia. Viewers just don't get tired of such huge productions yet predictable stories. Of course, I like such fantasy because I'm a fan of Harry Potter, and also I like the incorporation of Greek mythology to the plot. There are plenty of strong supporting casts and the plot wasn't draggy. Looking forward to the sequel.

Valentine's Day

Genre: Comedy / Romance
Language: English
Director: Gary Marshall (Georgia Rule)
Cast: Julia Roberts (Duplicity), Jennifer Garner (Ghosts of Girlfriends Past), Ashton Kutcher (Spread), Anne Hathaway (Bride Wars)
Runtime: 125 minutes

Plot:

An all-star ensemble cast comes together in "Valentine's Day," which follows the intertwining storylines of a diverse group of Los Angelenos as they navigate their way through romance and... An all-star ensemble cast comes together in "Valentine's Day," which follows the intertwining storylines of a diverse group of Los Angelenos as they navigate their way through romance and heartbreak over the course of one Valentine's Day. Couples and singles experience the pinnacles and pitfalls of finding, keeping or ending relationships in a day in the life of love.

Watched the movie on 12 Feb night @ AMK Hub with Sylvia.

ah-deng says: 3 / 5 The movie follows the lives of several couples during this day. Their stories are told through the interconnections they have with each other. Some will find romance in their relationship, and others will feel the heartbreak of ending a relationship. So why Valentine's Day isn't a holiday here since everyone celebrates it? Luckily it was a Sunday and Public Holiday this year!

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

Genre: Fantasy/ Drama
Language: English

Director: Terry Gilliam (12 Monkeys)

Cast: Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight), Johnny Depp (Public Enemies), Jude Law (Sherlock Holmes)

Runtime: 122min

Plot: The story of Dr Parnassus and his extraordinary 'Imaginarium', a traveling show where members of the audience get an irresistible opportunity to choose between light and joy or darkness and gloom. Blessed with the extraordinary gift of guiding the imaginations of others, Dr Parnassus is cursed with a dark secret.

Watched the movie on 27 Feb night @ GV Vivo with Sylvia.

ah-deng says: 3½ / 5 I would never have expect to see a movie by Heath Ledger 2 years after his departure. The moment I saw him, I knew I would miss his talented acting skills ever after. The message that was brought across was very clear, there is a choice in everything, 2 paths to choose from. It is a matter of making the right choice. Nothing is permanent, not even death.