Dominatio Per Malum

Since Cinematical decided to rewind with a best of 2006, i was reminded that i had yet to weight in on the best films of 2006. Thus you have the top 26 films of 2006 as rated by me. 26, because there were 26 movies deserving of mention. If you want to read my review of the films, you can always use the search function on the right.

1. V For Vendetta
2. Paprika
3. United 93
4. Volver
5. Letters from Iwo Jima
6. Hard Candy
7. The Queen
8. The Bridge
9. Stranger Than Fiction
10. After The Wedding
11. Babel
12. Little Children
13. Pan’s Labyrinth
14. The Painted Veil
15. The Lives of Others
16. Idiocracy
17. Isabella
18. The Last King Of Scotland
19. Road To Guantanamo
20. Little Miss Sunshine
21. Notes on a Scandal
22. Dreamgirls
23. Banquet
24. Exiled
25. The Departed
26. The Proposition

I only realised quite recently, that Lord Millett was spelt with 2 “t”s. I have been spelling it as “Millet” for the longest time. Another bit of trivia: Hoffmann is spelt with 2 “n”s, not one.

Let The Right One In (2008) 8/10

You know you’ve hit the big time when Hollywood wants to do a remake. Let the Right One In is a little swedish movie that could, a refreshing little gem that is one of the year’s best and a personal favourite of mine. Now, Let the Right One In is a vampire movie, but this is a tag that does not do true justice to the movie. Its like saying Blade Runner was just a sci-fi movie, or that The Dark Knight is just a comic book movie. I honestly can’t remember the last time i watched a good vampire movie. I remember distinctly just how much the Blade series sucked and i know that Twilight is like the next big pop vampire movie. But the one you should really watch is Let the Right One In. It is quite hard to describe it because while it contains all the classic genre requirements of a vampire movie, including the old school requirement that vampires can enter your house only if you invite them (hence the title), it is actually more a romantic coming of age love story- only in a somewhat creepy way. It is a film about children, and vampires, and coming of age love story. If that mixture sounds like a crazy concoction, you’re right. It is an original, refreshing and beautifully acted tale with some truly memorable scenes and moments of brilliance. The leads are fantastic, with young Kåre Hedebrant looking like he stepped out of Gus Van Sant’s Elephant (different actor but he reminds me of the Elephant lead) while the superb female lead Lina Leandersson deserves special praise. She manages to look innocent and bloodthirsty all at the same time. Reminiscent of The Devil’s Backbone or Pan’s Labyrinth, Let the Right One In continues in the tradition of using the supernatural genre as a canvas to tell compelling stories. Here, horror is not the objective, but is simply the medium in which to reflect life.

While there are missteps and rough edges, including not particularly strong subplots involving a woman who got bitten but was not killed and a supporting cast that is quite unremarkable, the film shines whenever it focuses on the 2 leads. The best thing about it is that it actually functions as a poignant love story with comedic flourishes. In fact this might actually be a fairly good date movie. As a genre blending excercise, this movie not only effortlessly combines different genres, it also breaks out of the genre cliche that ails the typical vampire movie. It will not only stand as a modern classic but definitely ranks as one of the best films of 2008. Let the Right One In is a little gem that deserves your attention, and it is probably going to be much better than Twilight anyway.

“Let the Right One In” is one of the essential horror films of the decade. It’s also one of the most enthralling romances and one of the best films about children.- Star Tribune

A Chinese Odyssey Part 1: Pandora’s Box (1995) 6/10

Director Jeffrey Lau’s epic, ambitious 2 part retelling of the classic Journey of the West tale features one of Stephen Chow’s best performances and is a heady mix of humor, utter nonsense, romance and even pathos. The first part, Pandora’s Box is effectively the set-up while Part 2 Cinderella is the payoff. The opening sequence is hilarious and Stephen Chow keeps up the frenetic and crazy pace through the film with his trademark witticism and nonsensical brand of humor, full of non sequiturs mixed with physical gags. The weakness of the film is that the movie plods alot in the middle which feels like a long extended setup for Part 2 where the real payoff is. Here, Chow is aided by his usual sidekick Ng Man Tat and they effortlessly play off each other’s energy. A romantic plot is supposed to develop between Stephen Chow and Karen Mok but it feels rushed and superficial because it is only really established towards the end with very little time to develop the relationship. The strength of this film only really starts to show in the last 30-40 minutes of the film when Chow’s character gets the Pandora’s Box and does some time travelling hijink. The scene is easily the highlight of the entire film and the ending provides a tantalising teaser for Part 2. If you only watch Part 1, you will probably feel unsatisfied because Part 1 does not really have as much laughs or content compared to Part 2. More importantly, Law Kar Ying, who singlehandedly steals the first scene as the ultra nagging Tripitaka, does not have any further scenes in Part 1 and all his best scenes are in Part 2.

A Chinese Odyssey Part 2: Cinderella (1995) 8/10

Which of course brings me to Part 2, which is undoubtedly the stronger movie of the two. Part 2 is my personal favorite Stephen Chow movie of all time and i believe that it should be a must watch for all HK film affectionados. 3 reasons can be given for this and they are: better script, Law Kar Ying and Athena Chu. Whereas you get the distinct feeling that Part 1 has alot of padding to justify its running time, Part 2 is more tightly crafted and way funnier, with a memorable homage/parody of Wong Kar Wai’s Chungking Express (Trust me that scene is 100x funnier if you get the WKW reference). Second, Law Kar Ying, whose annoyingly talky Tripitaka is one of my personal favourite characters of the movie. He gets much more screen time in Part 2 and his song routine midfilm is simply da bomb. Plus, this time Stephen Chow manages to actually develop believable chemistry with the ethereally beautiful Athena Chu and craft a poignant, almost depressingly affecting love story. It is only towards the end that you realise what had started out as slapstick comedy has morphed into compelling romance tinged with pathos. Granted, the ending is quite a downer but it counts and Stephen Chow’s best movie, and a highlight of Athena Chu’s chequered movie career. Plus, Stephen Chow actually has substantial screen time as Sun Wukong, unlike in Part 1 where Sun Wukong only appears in the opening scene. As a HK movie classic and a must watch for Stephen Chow fans, A Chinese Odyssey should be watched together as one complete film. One caveat though: if you do not understand cantonese/ mandarin and watch it using only the subtitles, you will probably miss alot of the laughs which do not translate well into subtitles. Plus, some of the scenes are references and parodies of other elements of HK pop culture circa 1995 (eg, Athena Chu plays the dual characters Zixia and Qingxia, the latter a reference to HK actress Lin Ching Hsia, as well as several WKW references), and you may miss some of the truly funny parts of the movie if you don’t get them.

As Cnet asia notes fallout 3 is only somewhat available in singapore.

Apparently, Fallout 3 (PC version) will only be out on Nov 13 in Singapore. The crappy versions (console) are already out, but seriously, why would you want to play F3 with a controller when you can use a mouse? Not that it matters to me because i absolutely cannot touch Fallout 3 until December. Fallout is a toxic substance that will make you fail exams, and i say that from personal experience.

Plus, those of F3 cold turkey can download the original F3 demo by Black Isle Studios here. You know, the ones who did F1 and F2.

Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea (2008) 8/10

Highly entertaining and whimsical animated film by Japanese master Hayao Miyazaki is a refreshing take on the classic Little Mermaid tale transposed into a beautifully hand-drawn vista. It shares a similar environmentally conscious message with Wall-E, the other major animated film of 2008. But beyond that, both films could not be more different. Ponyo is drawn in classic style without the CGI poweress of Wall-E, but is imbued with Miyazaki’s attention to detail and imaginative flair. The story is lightweight and relatively unimportant. What stands out from Ponyo, is the mood and feel of a fantastical, magical world crafted by Miyazaki. While Ponyo isn’t quite as good as the best Miyazaki works like Spirited Away, it is still a beautifully crafted fairy tale set in a world where nobody dies in a tsunami, and even nature at its most malevolent feels like an impish kid rather than a dark force. For a tale that is almost timeless, Ponyo shows that a good story can be told without needing to use the most expensive CGI possible. As much as i am a fan of Pixar’s successes, i have to say a part of me really likes the old school hand drawn animated style used by Miyazaki, which may not be as visually impressive, but contains alot of heart, love and imagination. Ponyo is one of the best films of 2008.

Cape No. 7 (2008) 6/10

Cape No. 7 (海角七號) is Taiwan’s breakthrough hit of the year. Already the second highest grossing film of all time in Taiwan (after Titanic), this is crowd-pleasing film has already been submitted as Taiwan’s entry for best foreign film Oscar and has won a number of Golden Horse Nominations. The question is whether this film truly deserves all its hype. The answer is no. As a film, it is certainly a crowd pleaser and its mix of quirky characters, rustic scenery and catchy songs which makes this a fairly entertaining effort. The film uses a mix of Taiwanese dialect, Mandarin and a smattering of English and Japanese, underscoring the cultural background of the film. It also boasts of beautiful scenery and reasonably entertaining story. All of which makes it an above average movie that audiences can enjoy. But judged as a film, the predictable plotline, and cliched romance is a decidedly uneven effort. The biggest and most glaring flaw is the insertion of a WW2 romance plotline which is jarring and woefully unnecessary. Titanic could afford to add in a short modern day epilogue, but Taiwanese director Wei Te-Sheng is no James Cameron. Nor, for that matter is he in the league of famous Taiwanese directors like Hou Hsiao Hsien or Ang Lee. The film feels rough and the acting for most parts is adequate but unspectacular. With a fairly large cast, many of the smaller characters are only given a cursory introduction and the main leads lack chemistry with an abruptly put together romance.

As a piece of entertainment, Cape No. 7 will likely please the masses. As a film, it is merely above average and retreads the random group of misfits creating a band genre without adding anything new. If you liked this film, then you should check out far superior versions, like LINDA LINDA LINDA (2005), Les Choristes (2004) or School of Rock (2003)

Obama Elected President as Racial Barrier Falls - NYTimes.com

Barack Hussein Obama was elected the 44th president of the United States on Tuesday, sweeping away the last racial barrier in American politics with ease as the country chose him as its first black chief executive.

The election of Mr. Obama amounted to a national catharsis — a repudiation of a historically unpopular Republican president and his economic and foreign policies, and an embrace of Mr. Obama’s call for a change in the direction and the tone of the country.

Well done! So happy! And now, i leave you with The Scorpions’ Wind of Change, which is the song i have been listening on loop for the past few days. Yes We Can!

In Search of a Midnight Kiss (2008) 8/10

It seems that every year, there is a little indie gem that comes out of nowhere and charms the hell out of everyone. Little Miss Sunshine, Juno, Once etc. In Search Of A Midnight Kiss is this year’s breakout indie movie. With a largely unknown cast, shoestring budget and hardly any hype except for an impressive 86% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, this beautiful film blends the talky charm of Linklater’s Before Sunrise with a dash of adult humor and sizzling chemistry between the leads. Director Alex Holdridge manages a film that takes a lot from similar films like Before Sunrise while creating something wholly original and refreshingly real. It is the most beautifully shot and heartfelt romantic film of the year. There is refreshing chemistry between leads Scoot McNairy and Sara Simmonds who play two disenchanted souls desperately seeking connection on New Year’s Eve. As they meet, argue, flirt and fall in love within the space of a day, the audience gets drawn into their lovely banter and connects with them. So much so that when the movie ends, you feel like it has ended too fast. Lensed in beautiful black and white, Los Angeles provides a scenic backdrop for this whimsical and beautifully crafted little film. Proof that you don’t need obscene amounts of money to make a good film, In Search of A Midnight Kiss is one of the best movies of 2008. This is a film about two lonely souls desperately seeking a connection on New Year’s Eve, and you the audience will certainly be drawn into this modern day tale of misanthrope seeking misanthrope.

“It’s about the heady intersection in the lives of two lonely people who may never again see each other but, in the instance, there’s nowhere else they would rather be and no one else they would rather be there with. In Search of a Midnight Kiss is wonderfully romantic and romantically bittersweet. It’s not about forever; it’s about now. “- James Berardinelli

“Beautifully shot, brilliantly written and superbly acted relationship drama that single-handedly restores your faith in indie movies.”- Matthew Turner

Season 1 was good. Season 2 nearly jumped the shark. Season 3 is getting back its mojo, but it also starts to annoy me because of several flaws. Heroes is still highly entertaining but i feel it is quickly spiraling out of control. The main reason for this is 1) NOBODY EVER DIES. Even if they do die, they get clones (nikki) or get resurrected from magical blood. This really robs it of any dramatic tension. 2) The cast is expanding and expanding. Every season they add more and more characters. This is related to point 1. Unless they kill off the weaker characters, the series is just bursting with too many characters and subplots, not all of which is compelling. 3) Characters who conveniently change sides. Seriously, Sylar was a badass in season 1. Now you have made him a wimpy goody two shoes. 4) Time Travel. There is more than enough for you to handle in the present timeline. You do not need to do all the time travelling gimmicks. Time travel should be used sparingly. Having Characters go back and forth in time every few episodes is too gimmicky.