Dominatio Per Malum

The Assembly (2007) 7/10

The Assembly was a film that was surprisingly good and enjoyable. After watching a slew of lacklustre chinese films, i was not entirely thrilled about yet another war film, only this time with no notable stars and featuring heavy chinese accent. However, it is directed by Feng Xiaogang, who does have a reputation of making reasonably good, highly entertaining crowd pleasing films. The Assembly will naturally be compared to Saving Private Ryan, with its impressive and memorable opening scene that is as brilliantly shot and edited. The first half of the film is a war movie, while the second half involves a dramatic shift in tone to become a more personal film about getting due recognition. Despite its comparisons to Saving Private Ryan, the film which i felt was closer in tone to The Assembly is actually Letters from Iwo Jima, which similarly depicted an ultimately futile resistance by the Japanese against a more powerful American force.

The Assembly’s strengths is in its good production values and its brilliant depiction of war and combat. For that reason, the film’s first half was entertaining and engaging. However, the second half of the film which depicts the main character’s quest to vindicate his comrade’s reputation feels like an over dramatic exercise in melodrama. There is a distinct nationalistic tone to the film which ultimately weakens the quality of the film because it robs it of any dramatic tension. There is no doubt where the film is heading and the predictable ending undoubtedly will be one that glorifies the Chinese army. This is a pity, because behind the rah-rah nationalism and the somewhat forced depiction of the second half, this is a film that actually had alot of potential and was very entertaining. As it is, instead of an insightful masterpiece like Saving Private Ryan, or a quietly poignant drama like Letters from Iwo Jima, The Assembly is merely a good, entertaining crowd pleaser.

Beautiful Sunday (2007) 4/10

I predicted the twist in the film about 30mins into the movie, so that certainly coloured my perception of this film. The film presents two contrasting personalities and seems to be telling two parallel tales until its final, utterly predictable reveal. I found it bland, unremarkable and most damningly, it was totally predictable. All of which is a recipe for mediocrity.

An Empress and the Warriors (2008) 4/10

Empress and the Warriors makes a critical mistake in casting Kelly Lin in the lead role. A bland, unremarkable actress, her performance in past films has often been unimpressive, often playing the obligatory flower vase role. Why the director chose to cast her as the main character in a role better suited to the likes of Zhang Ziyi or Zhou Xun eludes me. This flaw is magnified by a lacklustre script and absolutely no chemistry between the leads. Leon Lai and Donnie Yen fare better, but only slightly. Leon has made far better films and he seems to be slumming here, while Yen’s pugilistic skills is probably the only saving grace of the film. Overall, the film is a weak entry and even fans of Donnie Yen should stay away.

Persepolis (2007) 5/10

I think the only reason this was a critic’s darling was because it was a ’serious’ animated arthouse film. If it was filmed as a live action drama, it would not even have merited a mention. For some reason, this black and white animated film is 95% on RT, which makes me incredulous because i found the script mediocre and the film only occasionally interesting. The only thing going for it is the unique visual style but beyond that this film is utterly unremarkable.

For the past 3 weeks, i had one of the best classes ever, so i am kinda sad that classes are ending. It’s an almost forgotten feeling but i actually looked forward to attending classes. Despite being a 3hr15min session, surprisingly i was able to pay attention throughout the whole period. I have taken a number of classes with 3 hr time slots. For good classes, that is classes i enjoyed, my attention span would normally last 2hrs++ before getting spaced out in the last 30 to 40 mins. For bad classes, which was what happened last sem, i would space out within 1 hour or so. So if my attention span is a barometer of how good the class is, then this has got to be one of the best classes i took.

Cloverfield (2008) 6/10

Cloverfield takes a classic Godzilla “monster genre” and mixes it with the verite, docudrama style of the Blair Witch Project, and the result is a reasonably entertaining albeit schizophrenic film that doesn’t quite know whether to emphasis the guerilla filmmaking or the high tech spectacle.

Cloverfield opens with an excellent exposition depicting a party as filmed through the lens of the cameraman. In fact, the early part of the film unfolds strongly, with the monster’s first attack on the city being one of the strongest scenes of the film. Having the head of the statue of liberty fly through the streets was a brilliant piece of symbolism. But the film rapidly descends to mediocrity after that, when the characters embark on a “Saving Private Ryan” kind of mission to save one of their own. The rescue mission is largely uninteresting because it is unrealistic and characters are stereotypically dumb. In fact, this review states exactly what is wrong with the plot:
“I may have said this before, but if there’s one thing that will get me to hate your movie, it’s giving your characters actions that make them seem like they’ve lived in a box all their lives. Never seen a horror film, never lived through a catastrophic world-changing disaster… So when none of his friends tell Rob that he’s an idiot or physically restrain him from this suicide mission and instead cheerfully volunteer to join his crusade like they’re going to the corner to get pizza, it’s not just bad writing, it’s an insult to what precious intelligence I have left.”

Another weakness is that it doesn’t really know whether it should be a big monster movie or a small arthouse flick. It gives hints of the monster but never shows it rampaging in its full glory and that creates a sort of anticlimax. The Blair witch style is not well served by meshing big budget Hollywood sensibilities with arthouse techniques with the result that the final product never reaches its full potential. Overall, its entertaining but never reaches its potential with a weak and lacklustre second half.

[Rec] (2007) 7/10

Like Cloverfield, Rec uses a jerky hand-held camera in the tradition of Blair Witch to document the film. But unlike Cloverfield, Rec is a fairly low-budget production centered in only one locale. But it effectively makes use of the claustrophobia, the unknown to craft a thrilling experience that keeps you at the edge of your seat. Here, the Blair Witch style is not just a gimmick, but it is central to the tale. It uses the device of the handheld camera to tell the tale, sometimes with the most horrific moments obscured by the camera. Indeed, it leaves the most horrifying to the imagination instead of explicitly depicting it as a more Hollywood orientated filmmaker would have. That is not to say that it is not gory, because it does have its scenes of terror and blood, but that it balances what needs to be shown and what should be left to the imagination.

What New Battlestar Galactica character are you? created with QuizFarm.com

You scored as Capt. Lee Adama (Apollo) You have spent your life trying to life up to and impress your Dad, shame he never seemed to notice. You are a stickler for the rules. But in matters of loyalty and honour you know when they have to be broken. Capt. Lee Adama (Apollo) 75% President Laura Roslin 69% Commander William Adama 69% Dr Gaius Baltar 56% Lt. Sharon Valerii (Boomer) 50% CPO Galen Tyrol 44% Number 6 44% Col. Saul Tigh 44% Lt. Kara Thrace (Starbuck) 38% Tom Zarek 31%

Quiz here

Forbidden Kingdom (2008) 4/10

Forbidden Kingdom might actually have been a good movie if (1) the dialog was in Mandarin and (2) they had a proper script. As it stands, the only reason to watch it is the vaunted pairing of Jackie Chan with Jet Li. Unfortunately, this pairing comes at least 10 years too late. If it had been a joust during the prime of their careers, it would have been a sight to behold. Unfortunately, they are no longer at the peak, and the centerpiece action is solid but nowhere near the best action sequences of either star.

The single most jarring part of the film is the decision to make the characters speak english. No doubt, it is an attempt to appeal to the western demographic, but this makes the film quite painful to watch because both Chan and Li are clearly uncomfortable in English (although i’ll grant that Chan’s english has improved greatly over the years). Having them narrate significant portions is simply grating. It doesn’t help that they have terrible, pseudo-zen dialog. It seems as if the dialog was written in chinese then translated to english which make them sound particularly corny. Dialog which might have sounded poetic in Chinese becomes very kitschy when directly translated, and the entire dialog of the film should have been reworked.

Another bone of contention is the ridiculous mishmash of plots which riffs amongst other things the Journey to the West storyline. But it has been so utterly jumbled that the plot becomes a campy and ridiculous affair. The end result is an uninteresting and largely campy film that has too much stilted dialog and not enough action.

As for the action, the highlight is a single combat sequence between Li and Chan which is fairly well crafted, although it is nowhere near their personal bests. The other action sequences however, are too often CGI enhanced and are mediocre at best. The supporting cast is largely forgettable, although Liu Yifei makes for great eye candy and Colin Chan looks ridiculous with way too much eyeshadow. Overall, the film might please Western audiences unfamiliar with the best works of Li or Chan but longtime fans will undoubtedly be disappointed by this campy, lacklustre effort.

Run Fat Boy Run(2007) 7/10

I’ll admit to a certain bias to Simon Pegg, whom i think is drop dead hilarious. Although the film follows a predictable template, Pegg’s earnest performance makes this an entertaining albeit lightweight comedy.

The Trials of Darryl Hunt(2007) 7/10

A powerful documentary about a man who was wrongly convicted and spent many years behind bars for a crime he did not commit. It is a tale about sheer police incompetence, about a justice system that has utterly failed and of one man’s determination to be exonerated. Justice has been a long time coming for Darryl Hunt whose true story will inspire anger and incredulity at the miscarriage of justice that has taken place.

Rambo (2008) 5/10

Unlike Rocky Balboa, Stallone should probably not have revisited the Rambo franchise. Stallone still looks incredibly fit and definitely looks like he could single-handedly take on a whole platoon himself. However, the largely dumb script, stock character and easily caricatured ‘villians’ makes this a tepid movie experience. Having said that, there is a certain ‘nostalgia’ factor that makes this film watchable for me.

Enchanted (2007) 6/10

I don’t get why this is so highly rated by so many critics. I do agree that it is a fairly enjoyable flick as far as Disney movies go, but hardly worthy of its universal acclaim. Overall, Enchanted was only above average, and i was rather annoyed by the musical sequences.

I’m Not There (2007) 6/10

A film about Bob Dylan. Dylan is portrayed by several actors, amongst them Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Cate Blanchett and Richard Gere. This is obviously a gimmicky move and the film plays out like a schizophrenic biopic. At least it isn’t a conventional biopic like Walk the Line or Ray, because i’m totally over biopics after the deluge of biopics in recent years. Two performances stand out: Heath Ledger, in one of his last performances gives a great performance that becomes all the more poignant following his death. And yes, Cate Blanchett deserves a mention for her performance which has rightly garnered alot of critical acclaim. Having said that, the film as a whole did not work for me. I was bored for long stretches of the film and felt the entire Richard Gere sequence alienating.

The Mist (2007) 6/10

The story, by Stephen King is definitely better than the film adaptation. I was certainly disappointed because The Mist was one of my favorite Stephen King short stories. Still there are bright spark’s in Darabont’s adaptation of King’s tale, including how he plays up religious hysteria in the tale. However, the verve of King’s tale is not well translated to screen and the final product is a decent but underwhelming adaptation. Plus, i felt that they should have stuck with the original ending instead of using a different ending for the film version.

The Boondock Saints (1999) 4/10

Straight out bad. William Dafoe overacts embarrassingly and the entire plot is a joke.

CJ7 (2008) 7/10

Harmless, entertaining family flick. Stephen Chow stars and directs but he gets surprisingly little screen time. Instead it is the CGI animated pet and the young child star that steals the show. Despite being totally derivative and giving viewers deja vu about ET, CJ7 is a entertaining, watch-and-forget film for all ages.

Quiet City(2007) 6/10

Quiet City is a low budget, indie talkfest. Basically, put two characters together and have them talk for the most of the film’s running time. Quiet City is certainly no Before Sunrise / Before Sunset, mainly because the main characters lack the immediate chemistry of Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy. However, there is a certain rawness to the casting of largely unknowns. The entire film, in terms of script, acting and direction is a notch down but it is precisely because of this lack of polish that makes it all the more realistic. A word of caution here: those who dislike the stereotypical artsy, dialog intensive indie films will be bored to tears. But those who enjoyed Linklater’s excellent Before Sunrise and Before Sunset might discover an unpolished gem.

Einstein Letter on God Sells for $404,000 - New York Times

A letter the physicist wrote in 1954 to the philosopher Eric Gutkind, in which he described the Bible as “pretty childish” and scoffed at the notion that the Jews could be a “chosen people,” sold for $404,000 at an auction in London. That was 25 times the presale estimate.

Einstein consistently characterized the idea of a personal God who answers prayers as naive, and life after death as wishful thinking. But his continual references to God — as a metaphor for physical law; in his famous rebuke to quantum mechanics, “God doesn’t play dice”; and in lines like the endlessly repeated, “ Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind” — has led some wishful thinkers to try to put him in the camp of some kind of believer or even, not long ago, to paint him as an advocate of intelligent design.

Video games turn kids into killers? Not so, says new book - Video Game Feature - Yahoo! Video Games

While their digital pastime is often credited with eroding the state of contemporary literature, gamers have found an unlikely ally within the pages of a new book.

In other words, playing a few hours of GTA IV will not result in your kid stealing a car, careening through traffic and gunning down civilians.

Ok, so you don’t want to download Battlestar Galactica, and you don’t watch to catch it on a free to air channel. A last-ditch method is to catch a streaming version, which by the way is perfectly legit. Its not a recommended method because the quality is Youtube level, but if all else fails, you owe it to yourself to catch the entire series of Battlestar Galactica online. Its the Best Show available and well worth your time. Start With the Miniseries (note the miniseries is divided into pt 1 and pt 2), before proceeding on to Season 1. Don’t watch any of the special episodes until after Season 3. So now you really have no excuse not to watch BSG.

Deliver Us from Evil (2006) 7/10

I love the poster for the movie, which was nominated for a Best Documentary Oscar. It is a powerful and searing indictment of the Catholic Church on the problem of clergy abuse of young children. This excellent documentary ( which is at 100% on RT) follows the story of a priest named Oliver O’Grady, a pedophile who molested and raped many children during his time as a priest. This documentary is different because it actually got to interview O’Grady himself, which is very rare because most perpetrators would not agree to be featured in a movie. Perhaps rather surprisingly, O’Grady doesn’t quite look the part of a leery sex offender. Instead, he looks the part of an unassuming man who speaks in pleasant tones and it is easy to see how he could have played the role of a pious priest to the hilt. But behind this avuncular demeanor hides a very dark heart.

What is more shocking and horrifying however, is the actions of the men at the top and how top church officials have consistently been in denial. As early as the 1970s, there were allegations against O’Grady, but the church’s response has been denial and coverup. Instead of dismissing the priest, the church chose to move the disgraced priest to another area where he could again continue his crimes. The victims tell an emotional tale of how the church has systematically betrayed their trust, and of the deep scarring that continues to this day. More than anything, it is telling of the deep, endemic flaws of the church system and how the patriarchal hierarchy remains resolutely in denial. It is criminal negligence of the highest order. This is a film that demands to to watched and a cautionary tale of how an institution of faith can become an institution of oppression.

“Watching Amy Berg’s powerful documentary “Deliver Us from Evil” is a wrenching experience; her subjects reveal to the camera almost unbearable levels of anguish, and its audience walks away feeling both numbness and rage.”- Seattle Times

“In “Deliver Us From Evil,” a literally stunning documentary by Amy Berg, a former priest and convicted pedophile, Oliver O’Grady, faces the camera and confesses his sins in bland, lilting tones that betray a continued befuddlement with his wayward self. Confession may have been good for his soul, but for no one else’s.”- Wall Street Journal

Vatican: It’s OK to believe in aliens - Yahoo! News

Believing that the universe may contain alien life does not contradict a faith in God, the Vatican’s chief astronomer said in an interview published Tuesday.

The Bible “is not a science book,” Funes said, adding that he believes the Big Bang theory is the most “reasonable” explanation for the creation of the universe. The theory says the universe began billions of years ago in the explosion of a single, super-dense point that contained all matter.