[6.00/10] And Soon the Darkness (2010)

And Soon the Darkness (2010)

Set in Argentina, "And Soon the Darkness" tells the story of two girls on a bike-riding trip in a remote part of the country. When one of them goes missing, the other must find her before darkness falls and her worst fears are realized. In this remake of 1970 British thriller of the same name, a supposed-to-be fun and exotic vacation, turns into a surreal nightmare for Stephanie and Ellie, two beautiful best friends from America. The good news is, Marcos Efron's version of "And Soon the Darkness" is a fairly decent remake, shot with artistic flair and executed with precision. "And Soon the Darkness" is definitely a slow-burner, since almost nothing particularly interesting happens in the first half of the movie, as that part is used for developing the characters, and the 'nature' of Argentina. And although lacking in thrills and intensity, this first half of the film is never boring, thanks to the smooth pacing, sympathetic characters and some pretty nice visuals. The second half is a notch-better, as the story unfolds more dynamically, and this is where all the action takes place. The ending is tad predictable and not very original, but it feels appropriate for the realistic subject matter. The acting, though not this film's main strength, is passable for the most part. Amber Heard is particualrly impressive. Her physical similarity to Keira Knightley is visible, but this stunning beauty never works against her, as she delivers an above average and very believable performance as Stephanie - the sensible and good-looking girl, determined to find and save her best friend. Odette Yustman, on the other hand, gives a pretty mediocre performance as the spoiled and reckless Ellie, as she shows almost no acting skills, but only relies on her prettiness. Moreover, her character is so annoying most of the time, you hardly care if she will be saved or not. Karl Urban feels very appropriate for the role he's given, and he gives his best in portraying his character. César Vianco is downright creepy as the dubious local policeman, and Adriana Barraza is very convincing as the hotel hostess. "And Soon the Darkness" makes a pretty good impression, visually, due to the absolutely gorgeous scenery of Argentinian country side, the exotic locations and some stunning and pretty artsy shots by Marcos Efron, who put all his creativity into delivering a visually-captivating remake, that never fails to engage the audience with its beauty. Although "And Soon the Darkness" is rather slow-moving and genuinely thrill-free, it succeeds in delivering a believable story, accompanied with a couple of decent performances and some truly aesthetic visuals.

[2.00/10] Insane (2010)

Insane (2010)

After the amazing and super-successful "Let the Right One In", which set the bar for Scandinavian horror very very high, everyone is expecting from Sweden to deliver a good horror flicks to say the least. Unfortunately, it turned out that Swedish filmmakers are neither as good nor as creative as their Norwegian fellas, when speaking of horror. Norway provided some truly great films of this genre, like "Cold Prey" and its sequel, "Dead Snow" and the upcoming moc-doc phenomenon "Troll Hunter", to name a few, while Sweden brought only one great film, "Let the Right One In", and some other pretty poor horror flicks, including the atrocious "Insane" - an extremely dull, completely amateurish and terribly-crafted slasher, that fails to deliver thrills, suspense and tolerable story. A lonely hotel by a lonely road. Sarah is lost, looking for somewhere to sleep. She’s come to the wrong place. A lonely hotel by a lonely road. Sarah is lost, Jenny is looking for her. She’s come to the right place. The Bridgeburn Hotel. The synopsis above tries hard to sound creepy, but instead it ends up quite silly, just like the movie itself. No need to comment on the script, as it is, well, lacking, just like everything else. All the characters in "Insane" are flat and one-dimensional, badly-portrayed by a bunch of amateurish actors, who perform stiffly and perform stiffly and speak in self-consciously stagy accents. Therefore, none of them deserve to be mentioned. The mysterious killer is wearing a gas mask, which is supposed to be creepy, but it's just rather uninteresting and pretty unoriginal. Putting his looks aside, the killer is surprisingly dull and un-scary, as are the death scenes themselves. Yes, they're gory and everything, but they're done with such a lack of inventiveness, that they quickly become boring to watch. The way predictable and quite ridiculous twist in the end, adds to the overall awfulness of "Insane", to make it probably the worst Scandinavian horror ever created. In terms of visuals, "Insane" is also a lackluster. Yes, the motel in the middle of nowhere is nicely-designed in the style of the 60s, and rather creepy, but that's about it. Dumb, tedious and horribly-executed, this Swedish slasher flick is nothing, but "insanely" terrible.

[7.00/10] You Will Meet a Dark Tall Stranger (2010)

You Will Meet a Dark Tall Stranger (2010)

Woody Allen's latest film, "You Will Meet a Dark Tall Stranger" tells the story of two married couples find only trouble and heartache as their complicated lives unfold. After 40 years of marriage, Alfie leaves his wife to pursue what he thinks is happiness with a call girl. His wife, Helena, reeling from abandonment, decides to follow the advice of a psychic. Sally, the daughter of Alfie and Helena, is unhappy in her marriage and develops a crush on her boss, while her husband, Roy, falls for a woman engaged to be married. Woody Allen's films have always been about study of human relationships, and "You Will Meet a Dark Tall Stranger" is no exception. The most fasinating thing about this film, is Allen's effortless ability to turn an otherwise hackneyed material into something really gripping. Though quite predictable, this dialogue-driven black comedy shines with a clever script, witty humor, plenty of amusing situations and excellent narration by Zak Orth, whose captivating voice will submerge you into the story even deeper. The story unfolds smoothly throughout out, without losing any energy, thanks to its relatively tight pacing and brisk dialogues that will catch your attention for sure. "You Will Meet a Dark Tall Stranger" is, unsurprisingly, brilliantly-cast. Allen has gathered a whole bunch of extremely talented actors, who all do an amazing job with the material they're given. One of the most gifted actresses nowadays, Naomi Watts, turns in a great performance as one of the central characters, Sally - an intelligent and pretty, yet confused and rather neurotic middle-aged woman, unsatisfied with her family life, but dedicated to her career as an art connoisseur. She's incredible as usual, and quite convincing in conveying a wide range of human emotions. However, it's Gemma Jones that steals the show as Helena - the rich mother-in-law, completely obsessed with a phony fortune-teller, who tells her everything she wants to hear. Jones is very sympathetic as the deluded old woman, and certainly the most hilarious character in the movie, as she delivers most of the laughs. Antonio Banderas doesn't get to do much other than speaking with sexy accent and looking handsome, and he definitely does a great job at being the irresistable boss of Sally. Josh Brolin is fairly good as Roy, but he's outshined by Jones and Watts. Anthony Hopkins' performance is just okay, compared to his previous roles, and it think he may have lost some of his sparkle. "Slumdog Millionaire"'s own, Freida Pinto, is not only incredibly eye-candy, but also pretty solid as Roy's new love interest, Dia. "You Will Meet a Dark Tall Stranger" is also typically well-shot and visually-appealing. London has never looked so fresh, colorful, shiny and beautiful on screen, thanks to Jim Clay's excellent production design and Vilmos Zsigmond's bright, yellowish cinematography, that perfectly suit the fun and satirical spirit of the movie. Although, not nearly as good as Allen's late-period triumphs "Match Point" and "Vicky Cristina Barcelona", "You Will Meet a Dark Tall Stranger" stands on its own with an intriguing enough story, excellent perfomances and fantastic visuals.

[3.00/10] Wushu Warrior (2010)

Wushu Warrior (2010)

"Wushu Warrior" takes place in 19th Century China, where Lord Edward Lindsey is operating an opium running scheme. When he has one of his adversaries, Reverend Elders, killed, the reverend’s son Jonathan is taken to a small village on the outskirts of the big city. Upon learning his father has died, Jonathan is taken under the wing of village head Uncle Pei. When Jonathan sees two kids arguing, he learns that they are studying the martial art of wushu. When Jonathan asks Uncle Pei to teach him, Pei resorts to training him in secret. Truth to be told, this Canadian-Chinese co-production is probably the most poorly-executed and uninspired martial arts flick I've seen an my life, as it fails to deliver on every single level. It's a complete rip-off of many, many other and better films of this genre and it's shot and choreographed with zero imagination. The story is a standard fare, that pretty much contains every possible cliche known in history of martial arts movies. It shamelessly borrows an already tired ideas, without even changing them a bit, in order to avoid the plagiarism. The funniest thing about "Wushu Warrior" is the fact that every single Chinese actor in this film speaks English at all times, which makes it even less authentic and credible. Not a surprise though, since the director himself is a noneAsian. The writing is completely sub-par, as all the lines are laughably ridiculous and stiffly-delivered by the actors involved. In terms of acting, this flick also fails to make a good impression. All the English-speaking actors are wildly unknown, and lacking in both, acting and fighting skills. You won't believe for a minute that Tod Fennell is a warrior and a martial arts master. On a positive note, the Chinese actors are vastly better, as they play way more engagig characters. Although pretending to be a martial arts movie, "Wushu Warrior" is almst lacking in action, especially in its first half. And as soon as the action starts though, you find yourself even more bored than before, as the fight scenes are horribly-staged and amateurishly-choreographed, accompained with poor wire work and laughably cheesy special effects. Same could be said for the training sequnces, which are mostly boring, rather forced and ridden with cliches. The lack of budget is obvious, as "Wushu Warrior" looks and feels like a cheap made-for-TV movie with its low production values, extremely cheesy special effects and technical incompetence. Yes, the Chinese scenery is exotically gorgeous as always, but that's not enough to save this film from being visually poor and hardly engaging. With its lame and thoroughly predictable story, third-rate fight choreography, and dull and uninspired direction, "Wushu Warrior" should be considered as one of the worst martial arts movies ever created.

[5.50/10] The Next Three Days (2010)

The Next Three Days (2010)

In "The Next Three Days", life seems perfect for John Brennan until his wife, Lara, is arrested for a gruesome murder she says she didn't commit. Three years into her sentence, John is struggling to hold his family together, raising their son and teaching at college while he pursues every means available to prove her innocence. With the rejection of their final appeal, Lara becomes suicidal and John decides there is only one possible, bearable solution: to break his wife out of prison. Refusing to be deterred by impossible odds or his own inexperience, John devises an elaborate escape plot and plunges into a dangerous and unfamiliar world, ultimately risking everything for the woman he loves. Academy Award-winning film director Paul Haggis' latest thriller "The Next Three Days" disappoints with slow and uninvolving first half, genuine lack of intensity and surprisingly incoherent plot. However, after a dull and rather boring first half, "The Next Three Days" into a fairly gripping thriller, that while hardly plausible, succeeds to entertain its audience, as it moves along at much brisker pace and offers more action. Paul Haggis is not on the top of his game here, and it shows. He's direction is muddled, labored, unimaginative, and often confusing as he fails to bring the thrill and excitement - the obligatory elements of this genre. The action and chase scenes are very few and far between, but they're well-staged, nicely-shot and interesting to watch. Acting-wise, "The Next Three Days" is also a mixed bag. One of the most overrated actors in film history, Russell Crowe, turns in a rather flat performance as John Brennan, a frustrated, yet determined man who desperately tries the impossible to free his beloved wife. Crowe definitely possesses some charm and he has a strong presence, but yet, his trademark awkwardness, blank face and expressionless eyes, make him seem a bit stiff and uncomfortable on screen. I've always wondered why everybody finds him a great actor. Elizabeth Banks is a notch-better as John's possibly mis-accused wife, as she successfully conveys hope, anger and despair, but yet her performance is a bit too neurotic and over-the-top at times, and is therefore not completely satisfactory. "The Next Three Days" features a great cameo by Liam Neeson, who spends only 5 minutes on screen, and yet his appearance remains truly memorable. Moderately engrossing and fairly well-acted, yet incredibly uneven, unimaginatively-shot and mostly thrill-free, "The Next Three Days" is nothing more than just a hit-and-miss thriller, that has the ambition to deliver, but never fully manages to absorb the audience into the story.

[6.50/10] Rabbit Hole (2010)

Rabbit Hole (2010)

Adapted from David Lindsay-Abaire’s Pulitzer-Prize winning play, "Rabbit Hole" follows Howie and Becca Corbett, a happily married couple whose perfect world is forever changed when their young son is taken from them in a tragic car accident. As Becca redefines her place among friends and family, she finds solace in a mysterious relationship with the young driver of the car that killed her son. Although this is a story about grief, sadness, disbelief and alienation, "Rabbit Hole" is never over-dramatic or too depressing, thanks to its well-balanced and beautifully-written script, which is sure to be praised. "Rabbit Hole" is painfully slow moving, yet smoothly-paced and not that difficult to watch, due to its surprisingly short running time, and John Cameron Mitchell's competent, yet slightly conventional direction. Technically, this film is rather unimpressive, despite it has some nice production values and decent cinematography. "Rabbit Hole" mostly relies on the performances from the two leads, and this is the area where the film mostly succeeds. Both, Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhar deliver an award-worthy performances. Unsurprisingly, Kidman stands out the most as Becca - an intelligent and good-looking middle-aged woman, who has become a cold, distant and anisocial person due to her grief over the accidental death of her only son. Showing a great variety of emotions as she always does, Kidman creates a very believable character, and while her Becca is slightly unlikable at first, her strange behavior becomes more understandable as the film progresses. Aaron Eckhar is just as convincing and consistently good in his dignified depiction of a grieving father. This is arguably his best performance so far. Eckhar and Kidman's does an amazing job in creating a credible relationship between their characters, as their process of alienation is as believable as their love and devotion. Miles Teller give a 'mixed bag' performance as the driver of the car that killed their son. He's very appropriate for the role and fairly effective, yet quite unmemorable as Jason. All the other supporting performances are great overall, but special mention goes to Dianne Wiest, as gives an outstanding performance as Becca's mother, Nat. Aside from the nicely-written script and Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart's wonderful performances, there's actually nothing really special about "Rabbit Hole". It thinks its strength is its simplicity, but in fact, it's just not that effective.

[4.00/10] Dans Ton Sommeil a.k.a. In Their Sleep (2010)

Dans Ton Sommeil

a.k.a.
In Their Sleep (2010)

This "modern" French horror/thriller, titled "In Their Sleep", follows Sarah, whose life is in pieces, one year after her teenage son's death. Then late one night, her car accidentally hits Arthur, a young man the same age as her boy, who suddenly emerges out of the forest and onto the road. Wounded and frightened, he is running from a mysterious assailant, hunting him down after Arthur caught him red handed in the act of burglary. Sarah sympathizes with him, taking him in, only to be tracked down by the burglar whose murderous rage towards Arthur forces her to take action. Unbeknownst to Sarah though, things aren't quite the way they seem… "In Their Sleep" is Caroline du Potet's first feature film, co-directed with brother Eric, and it shows. The film is not just dull, lifeless and incompetently-directed, but it also completely lacks suspense and actual thrills. It desperately tries to give you this realistic feel, but it miserably fails, as "In Their Sleep" is so rushed and contrived, it never succeeds in delivering a believable and effective story, or compelling enough characters. Caroline and Eric du Potet use an intricate plot structure and tricky editing, in order to complicate purposely this otherwise muddled and inert thriller. Unfortunately, directors' attempt to compensate for the film's overly simplistic and unintriguing story, could be considered a failed effort, as "In Their Sleep"'s complex structure does nothing but confuse the audience. Both, Anne Parillaud and Arthur Dupont, do a fairly good job in portreying Sarah and Arthur, but the problem lies in the script, as neither their characters are not fully developed, nor their relationship feels even remotely credible. Although tentatively proclaimed as a horror movie, "In Their Sleep" has very little to offer in terms of thrills, scares and gore. Yes, there are some dead and cut-throat scenes, but those are very few and lacking in gore and gruesomeness. The conclusion is a bit unexpected, yet completely unsatisfying and rather stupid. With its weak script, uninspired plot and lack of credibility, "In Their Sleep" is yet another poor exercise in filmmaking.

CM: George Beremov's TOP 15 Best-Reviewed Creature Features of All Time

CineMarvellous! presents:

Nebular's TOP 15 Best-Reviewed

Creature Features of All Time!
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1. Alien / Aliens (9.50/10) / (10/10)

(1979, Ridley Scott / 1986, James Cameron)

"Pitch-perfect sci-fi creature flicks!"

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2. Pan's Labyrinth (10/10)

(2006, Guillermo del Toro)

"MUCH MORE than just a creature feature!"

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3. The Descent (9.75/10)

(2006, Neil Marshall)

"Claustrophobia + Monsters = FEAR!"

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4. Gremlins (9.75/10)

(1984, Joe Dante)

"Unique and wildly funny"

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5. Jaws (9.75/10)

(1979, Steven Spielberg)

"Unsurpassable!"

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6. King Kong (9.75/10)

(2005, Peter Jackson)

"Nothing short of spectacular!"

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7. The Thing (9.50/10)

(1982, John Carpenter)

"The best creature ever put on film!"

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8. The Fly (1986)

(1986, David Cronenberg)

"Gross, yet brilliant!"

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9. Cloverfield (9.00/10)

(2008, Matt Reeves)

"Terrifying and fantastically-crafted!"

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10. Predator (9.00/10)

(1987, John McTiernan)

"A cult classic!"

*********************************************


11. The Host (8.75/10)

(2006, Joon-ho Bong)

"Best creature feature from Asia!"

*********************************************


12. Mimic (8.75/10)

(1997, Guillermo del Toro)

"Incredibly engrossing!"

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13. Jurassic Park (8.50/10)

(1997, Steven Spielberg)

"Everybody's first reaction was: WOW!"

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14. Splice (8.50/10)

(2010, Vincenzo Natali)

"Nothing you have seen before!"

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15. Jeepers Creepers (8.00/10)

(2001, Victor Salva)

"Nightmarishly creepy!"

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Honorable mentions:

The Mist (2007, Frank Darabont)
Slither (2006, James Gunn)
Critters (1986, Stephen Herek)Tremors (1990, Ron Underwood)
Silent Hill (2006, Christophe Gans)
Species (1995, Roger Donaldson)
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CineMarvellous Preview: Five ultra-short, yet spectacular clips for Zack Snyder's "Sucker Punch"

5 (Amazing) Clips for

Zack Snyder's Sucker Punch

Warner Bros. recently released five super-short, yet absolutely spectacular clips for Zack Snyder’s upcoming (March 2011) eye candy fantasy action flick Sucker Punch. Check them below:

[9.00/10] Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole (2010)

Legend of the Guardians:
The Owls of Ga'Hoole (2010)

Based on the beloved series of children's books by Kathryn Lasky, Zack Snyder's "Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole", follows Soren, a young owl enthralled by his father's epic stories of the Guardians of Ga'Hoole - an army of winged warriors who once fought an epic battle to save all of owlkind from the evil Pure Ones. When he and his brother become the Pure Ones' captives, Soren makes a daring escape, and, with the help of other young owls, sets out to find the Guardians and bring them back to defend their people once again. First things first, "Legend of the Guardians" is completely and utterly underrated, as Zack Snyder's very first animated feature is a gorgeously-crafted children story for grown ups, that dazzles with its unique atmosphere, spectacular visuals and thoroughly compelling story. This film may not break any new grounds in terms of storytelling, but it's consistently gripping, flawlessly-paced, and high in entertainment value. Personally, I wasn't bored for a second and I'm not sure how anyone could have been. Sure, the plot feels a bit rushed, especially in the beginning, but this is one of the few weak spots in this otherwise excellent film. With "Legend of the Guardians", Zack Snyder proves yet again what an amazing director and incredible visual genius he is, as his first first-ever animated flick is a pure CGI extravaganza, created with love, thought and passion. He truly uses all his imagination and creativity to bring this story to life, offering one of the most striking visuals and CGI characters ever put on film. The owls themselves are gorgeously designed, beautifully-detailed and nothing short of adorable! The look so real, and their eyes are so expressive and warm, it's like you could feel their emotions. Despite their common origin, every owl has its own unique look and personality, that make them so distinctive and individualistic, you won't have any trouble recognizing the different characters. The film's dark tone and gloomy, yet sophisticated graphic style perfectly suit the changing mood of the narrative and the overall atmosphere of "Legend of the Guardians". The director uses muted colour scheme accented with amber and golden tones, in order to achieve a specific mood, that while a bit too dark and scary for small children, will certainly ravish and captivate the older audiences. Snyder's trademark slow-mo sequences are as amazingly-done and breathtaking as his high-energy action set-pieces, with 'flying through the rain drops' scene in particular being absolutely thrilling and jaw-droppingly beautiful! Unfortunately, I wasn't able to see the 3D version of "Legend of the Guardians", therefore I can't comment on the 3D effects, though I'm pretty convinced those are brilliantly-done. The voice acting is also quite admirable. The voice cast is enormous, bringing together huge talents such as Geoffrey Rush, Sam Neill, Hugo Weaving, Anthony LaPaglia, and Helen Mirren, along with some less-know actors, mainly from UK and Australia. They all do a phenomenal job in bringing their feathery characters to life! With its mindblowingly sumptuous graphics, enthralling and adventurous story, and extremely adorable characters, "Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole" ranks as one of the most imaginative animated features ever created, and it's certainly the most visually-stunning movie of 2010.

[5.00/10] Skyline (2010)

Skyline (2010)

"Skyline" takes place in a Los Angeles high-rise where a small group of survivors brave a mysterious attack of otherworldly origins. Donald Faison is playing an entrepreneur who lures his longtime friend to the West Coast. After a night of partying, both wake to find a strange force is swallowing humanity off the face of the earth. Strause brothers' sci-fi thriller is a perfect example of style over substance, as the film desperately tries to compensate for its cliche-ridden, uninspired plot, by offering a first-rate, flawlessly-executed special effects. And while it succeeds visually, its 'alien invasion' scenario is tired and painfully familiar. "Skyline" could be described as "Independence Day" meets "District 9" meets "War of the Worlds", as it shamelessly borrows ideas from all these films and some other better and worse sci-fi flick. As a result it feelss like a mish-mash of stolen ideas, dull script and superficial, hardly likable characters. Even worse, "Skyline" is joyous, almost humorless and it takes itself way too seriously. Having said that, "Skyline" truly delivers in terms of visuals. The special effects team behind "Skyline" and the upcoming "Battle: Los Angeles" has done an amazing job, as the CGIs in this film are nothing short of mindblowing. The aliens and their spaceships look impressively realistic, incredibly detailed, and crafted to perfection. The action scenes are quite intense, well-shot and very exciting, yet unfortunately, those are very few and far between. The last ten minutes of this film are a true visual feast, and yet the ending itself is ridiculous and completely unsatisfying. Sadly, "Skyline" is quite weak in the acting department. French actor Eric Balfour, who's more famous for his nude scenes, than for his acting talent, gives an utterly soulless and unconvincing performance as Jarrod. Scottie Thompson is a notch better in her role as Elaine, yet she often overacts. The supporting performances from Brittany Daniel, Crystal Reed, Donald Faison and Neil Hopkins never extend beyond an amateurish level, with the exception of David Zayas as Oliver, who truly stands among the rest. Flashy special effects aside, "Skyline" is a pretty lifeless, lackluster effort, that has the feel of a high-budget made-for-TV movie.

[4.50/10] Takers (2010)

Takers (2010)

John Luessenhop's heist thriller, "Takers", revolves around a notorious group of criminals, who continue to baffle police by pulling off perfectly executed bank robberies. They are in and out like clockwork, leaving no evidence behind and laying low in between heists. But when they attempt to pull off one last job with more money at stake than ever before, the crew may find their plans interrupted by a hardened detective, who is hell-bent on solving the case. Truth to be told, John Luessenhop's second feature film is a chaotic mess, that has very little to offer, as it suffers from derivative and unoriginal plot, and a complete lack of focus and cohesion. At first you might think that there's too much going on in "Takers", but soon you realize that nothing interesting really happens. In fact, Chris Brown's 'runaway' sequence is the only truly gripping, intense and exciting part in this cinematic misfire, but one great scene is not enough to save this movie from being painfully boring. "Takers" features a well-known ensemble cast, that includes Hayden Christensen, Matt Dillon, Jay Hernandez, Zoe Saldana, Paul Walker, Michael Ealy, and last but not lest, the two ultra-popular rappers Chris Brown and T.I. With a cast like this, it's almost natural to expect at least decent performances from all the actors involved, but in fact, very few of them deliver. Matt Dillon gives the strongest performance of the bunch - he is utterly enthralling when he is onscreen, and carries the role with complete believability and passion. Both Chris Brown and T.I. deliver an above average performances, which is a nice surprise, since they have very little acting experience. Jay Hernandez is an undeniable charmer, but his performance is just okay. None of the other actors particularly memorable, as their characters are terribly underwritten. Although John Luessenhop's direction is okay, as he provides a decent variety of camera angles and a couple of well-staged action scenes, technically, "Takers" also fails to impress. The film suffers poor quick cut editing and uneven pacing that often cause confusion. Plus, the yellowish tint, hazy filters and low-key lighting, employed by the cinematographer, make the film less visually attractive. Unbelievably dull, utterly chaotic and terribly-structured, "Takers" is probably the most uninspired 'heist' movie I've seen in a while, and one of this year's biggest disappointments.

[5.75/10] Dream Home (2010)

Wai dor lei ah yut ho

a.k.a.

Dream Home (2010)

"Dream Home" follows a thirty-something Cheng Lai-Sheung, the daughter of a dying builder who sells home loans by phone during the day and works as a sales assistant in ladies’ fashion stores in the evenings, in the hope of one day being able to buy her dream home in Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour. But when she finally has enough money for the deposit the owners decide to raise the price, something delicate finally snaps in Cheng. Armed with only household DIY equipment and construction tools, and with ever more imaginative usage of them, she sets about ensuring that she acquires the property, come what may. "Dream Home" is a bizarre gore-fest about an 'ordinary' woman who tires to achieve her long time dream of having the perfect home at all costs. And saying 'at all costs', I mean she brutally murders everyone who (she reckons) stands on her way of fulfilling her dream. Killing innocent people just to get a good apartment is a rather silly and quite ridiculous motive, hence, the whole story feels a bit forced and hard-to-believe, despite the palpable satirical twist on it. Other than that, "Dream Home" is quite refreshing and well-crafted gruesome tale that offers brutal deaths, tons of gore, wicked sense of humor and some nice visuals. The most horrific thing about "Dream Home" is the fact that this movie is based on real events, which automatically means that Cheng Lai-Sheung is a nonfictional character. And she's truly disturbing! Josie Ho's innocent face successfully misleads the viewer, as you could never guess what a ruthless, cold-blooded monster her character is. She kills with ease and cut throats with no mercy, obsessed with her fix idea of getting her "dream home", and led by disbelief and hopelessness. Ho portrays this monstrous character very convincingly, and she certainly deserves a credit for that. The other actors also deliver decent performances, but at the end of the day, it's all about Josie Ho. Ho-Cheung Pang does an impressive job directing this twisted horror flick. His camera provides countless breathtaking shots of one of the most exotically beautiful cities in the entire world, Hong Kong - a megapolis that dazzles with its ultra-modern futuristic buildings and high-rise blocks, as well as its stunningly exquisite nature. He perfectly captures the essence of the city, as well as the shocking violence, and the brutality of the murders. The death scenes themeselves are incredibly well-staged, very explicit and extremely gruesome. In terms of gore and violence, "Dream Home" is an honest splatter, that will satisfy every horror geek. The so-called twist in the end, however, may leave you disappointed, as it's neither as smart nor as effective as it thinks it is. Nicely-crafted and well-acted, yet hardly believable and quite ridiculous, "Dream Home" is a slightly chilling satire, that I loved as much as I hated.

[8.25/10] Despicable Me (2010)

Despicable Me (2010)

In a happy suburban neighborhood surrounded by white picket fences with flowering rose bushes, sits a black house with a dead lawn. Unbeknownst to the neighbors, hidden beneath this home is a vast secret hideout. Surrounded by a small army of minions, we discover Gru, planning the biggest heist in the history of the world. He is going to steal the moon. Gru delights in all things wicked. Armed with his arsenal of shrink rays, freeze rays, and battle-ready vehicles for land and air, he vanquishes all who stand in his way. Until the day he encounters the immense will of three little orphaned girls who look at him and see something that no one else has ever seen: a potential Dad. The world’s greatest villain has just met his greatest challenge: three little girls named Margo, Edith and Agnes. With Dreamworks' "How to Train Your Dragon", Pixar's "Toy Story 3" and Disney's "Tangled", 2010 has proven itself an exceptionally strong year for animation, and "Despicable Me" is no exception. Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud's first full-length animated feature is yet another jewel in the crown of animated filmmaking. "Despicable Me" is an adorable, hilarious, truly imaginative and beautifully-animated feature, that never fails to entertain the audience with its gripping story and witty homorous script, and to blow their minds with its dazzling CGI visuals. In terms of storytelling, this flick doesn't break any new grounds, but it's hugely entertaining nontheless, as it's filled with hilarious situations, amusing characters and plenty of action and clever jokes that work very well. "Despicable Me" is never boring or inert, as it moves briskly from one great scene to another at a very dynamic pace. The characters are "Despicable Me"'s main strength. Steve Carell's Gru is a terrific a villain - he seems tough and vicious on the outside, but he's soft as a cotton on the inside and quite emotional, without being too sappy. The three little girls - Margo, Edith, Agnes are smart, sweet and delightfully engaging, with Agnes in particular being my absolute favorite. Vector is wicked, yet somewhat sympathetic and geniously clever. Miss Hattie's not a very likable character, but she's hilarious to watch nonetheless. Animation-wise, "Despicable Me" is a true visual treat. The animation is richly textured, very detailed, and wonderfully-inventive. The CGI backgrounds are beautifully-crafted, and the graphics are vivid, colorful and eye catching. All the character are also very well-drawn, especially the endlessly adorable yellow minions, who are so sweet and likable, they bring an absolute joy everytime they appear on screen. Unfortunately, I didn't get the chance to see it in 3D, but the film looks stunning enough in 2D as well. The voice acting from everyone involved is just excellent. Russell Brand in particular does an incredible job in breathing life into his character, Dr. Nefario. Steve Carell and Elsie Fisher also shine as Gru and Agnes. Although it doesn't shine with an enormous originality, with its consistently funny and gripping story, quirky yet multi-layered characters, and breathtakingly colorful animation, "Despicable Me" is an absolute winner!

[4.75/10] Hatchet II (2010)

Hatchet II (2010)

This sequel to 2006 horror hit "Hatchet" follows Marybeth as she escapes from the clutches of Victor Crowley, learns the truth about his curse, and heads back into the haunted New Orleans swamp to seek revenge for her family and kill Victor Crowley once and for all. Just like its mediocre predecessor, "Hatchet II" is amateurishly-executed and completely plot-less, and it relies mostly on its gruesome death scenes and creepy dark wood scenery. "Hatchet II" is labeled as 'Uncut and Unrated', and there's certainly a reason for that, since it offers extremely gory and often creative death sequences, with plenty of guts, blood splatter, body parts and ripped flesh. Unfortunately, the deaths are the only fun part in the entire movie, as the film has a huge problem - its script completely lacks wit and humor, which is sad, 'cause otherwise it could have been a very decent slasher. The acting, as expected, is quite poor overall. Danielle Harris gives it her all, but instead being believable, her performance as Marybeth feels a bit forced and bordered on over-acting. Tony Todd is definitely the one that stands out the most, as he delivers a pretty decent performance as the Voodoo geek, Rev. Zombie, and although he plays a good character here, he looks almost as creepy as in "Candyman". The backstory told by him has to be the highlight of "Hatchet II", as it's very, very gripping. Kane Hodder looks terrifying as the merciless killer, Victor Crowley, plus, his make-up is pretty well done, and it helps him look even scarier. All the other characters are completely one-dimensional and uninteresting, and are there just to be ripped in parts. Overall, Adam Green does an okay job directing this sequel. It's pretty obvious he's trying to replicate the look of 80's slasher flicks, using appropriate filters, low-key lighting and muddled cinematography. And he definitely succeeds in creating the right atmosphere, as with its filthy, grainy visuals, "Hatchet II" looks and feels exactly like an 80's slasher. Nasty and graphic, yet cliched and quite trashy, this sequel has nothing to offer, other than gore, gore and more gore. Simply put, Adam Green's "Hatchet II" is more of the same.

[3.75/10] My Soul to Take (2010)

My Soul to Take (2010)

Written and directed by horror veteran Wes Craven, "My Soul to Take" follows the small town of Riverton, Massachusetts, where a legend tells of a notorious serial killer who placed a curse on a town before he died. He vowed he would return to kill all those who were born on the same night when he died. Seven children were born on that night and now, 16 years later those children start to disappear without a trace. Is it possible that the serial killer have cheated death on that dreadful night when people thought he was killed, or he has been reincarnated as of the seven children he vowed to kill? Well, only one of those kids knows the answer to the question. "My Soul to Take" is the first movie since 1994 "New Nightmare", that Wes Craven both wrote and directed, yet unfortunately, this fact doesn't save the film from being a complete and utter failure. Obviously Craven has completely run out of idea, as his latest teen slasher is painfully unoriginal and formulaic, and it suffers from confusing narrative, lack of focus and terrible pacing. Worst of all, it's boring as hell, as it delivers very few thrills and even less chills. The death scenes are few and far between, and while pretty gory, are extremely unsatisfying and devoid of any imagination whatsoever. Moreover, "My Soul to Take" is overstuffed with superficial characters who act stupidly and illogically, and filled with ridiculous dialogues that add to its overall silliness. Acting-wise, this crappy slasher also fails to impress. Max Thieriot's performance as Bug is, stylistically, all over the place. It ranges from over-the-top to completely bland and unconvincing. All of the supporting performances are sub-par, without a any real standouts. Craven's decision to convert this snoozefest in 3D is as ridiculous, as the movie itself. In this case, the 3D conversion is totally unnecessary, simply because "My Soul to Take" has nothing to offer in terms of special effects, action and violence. Add to this a stupid, supposed-to-be-shocking twist ending in the style of "Scream", and you get "My Soul to Take". On a positive note, the film is well-produced and it has nice cinematography, but sadly, these are the only areas where it succeeds. Dull, tedious, poorly-executed and completely thrill-free, "My Soul to Take" ranks among the worst and weakest horror movies of the year, and it's certainly the lowest point in Craven's career.

[9.50/10] Tangled [3D] (2010)

Tangled [3D] (2010)

Walt Disney Animation Studios put a cool and modern twist on Brothers Grimm's popular fairy tale, "Rapunzel", to bring their 50th animated feature - "Tangled" - a lavish, vivid and thoroughly delightful 3D animation, that's not only wildly imaginative and visually-spectacular, but also super-engaging, hugely engrossing and laugh-out-loud hilarious! While the story is in some ways familiar, "Tangled" never fails to entertain and wow the audience with its creativity. It follows Flynn Rider, a rouge who chooses an isolated tower for his latest hideout, having no idea, that the tower is already occupied by a princess, named Rapunzel, who was kidnapped as an infant. Rapunzel, who can use her magical hair to heal, sees the devil-may-care bandit as her escape from the tower and a chance at a life of adventure – one that may reunite her with her long-lost parents and restore her royal heritage. There are not enough superlatives to express how magnificently enjoyable this 3D animated feature is. "Tangled" has everything and even more - it's joyous, exciting, action-packed and consistently entertaining, as its story moves along at a nicely brisk pace, without a single dull moment. It's full of wit, clever jokes and great tongue-in-cheek humor. In fact, "Tangled" is so funny and enjoyable, it will make you laugh every five minutes. Furthermore, "Tangled" is filled with likable and engaging characters. Rapunzel's is sympathetically naive, yet she has a true fighting spirit and great sense of humor. Plus, she's adventurous, funny and as sweet as a lollipop. Oh, and her hair's shiny, sparkly and breathtakingly beautiful! Flynn Ryder is no less interesting or likable, and he's overloaded with charm, energy and joy. However, it's Pascal, the chameleon, and Maximus, the horse, that absolutely steal the show! Pascal has to be the cutest and most adorable animated character ever, while Maximus is so hysterically funny, you can't help but laugh hard every time he's on screen. Mother Gothel is the villain, and she's narcissistic and selfish, yet delightfully evilicious. The voice acting by Mandy Moore, Zachary Levi and all the other actors involved is incredible and completely satisfying. Visuals-wise, this Disney flick is nothing short of mind-blowing, as the animation is slickly-crafted, rich in detail and stunningly colorful. "Tangled" is filled with bright and striking imagery, and its CGI scenery, in particular, is so lush and jaw-droppingly gorgeous, you won't believe your eyes. The 'flying lanterns' sequence deserves a special mention, as it's very impressive and truly eye-candy. "Tangled"'s brilliant and flawlessly-executed 3D effects make for an even more atmospheric and magical experience. Also, the songs are meaningful, emotional, moving and beautifully-performed, bringing back memories of Disney classics like "The Little Mermaid" and "Aladdin". Filled with smart and witty dialogues, hilarious characters, eye-popping visuals and stunning 3D effects, "Tangled" is, arguably, the best non-Pixar Disney film, since their 1991 masterpiece, "Beauty and the Beast", and, hands down, the funniest animated flick I've seen in my life. Absolutely glorious!

[8.50/10] I Saw the Devil (2010)

Akmareul Boattda

a.k.a.

I Saw the Devil (2010)

Ji-woon Kim's sure-to-become-a-classic thriller "I Saw the Devil" follows Kyung-chul, a maniacal serial killer who drives a yellow school bus and preys on young women. He captures and kills his victims, but their deaths are not the end of his madness. While the police have been aware of his actions for some time, they have never been able to put a name or face to his crimes. When the corpse of a retired police chief’s pregnant daughter surfaces, things change gears and the hunter quickly becomes the hunted. Yet it is not the girl’s father who swears vengeance, but rather her secret agent fiancé, Joo-yeon, who decides to track down the perpetrator himself. Anyone with even the remotest information on the killer’s whereabouts is in for a bloody beating. But when his mission starts to come together, Joo-yeon morphs into quite a disturbing monster himself. The critically acclaimed Korean director of horror phenomenon, "A Tale of Two Sisters", delivers this violently brutal, yet mesmerizingly beautiful story of justice and revenge, that will linger deep in your mind long after the credits roll. The story, while slightly predictable, is wonderfully-executed, thrillingly suspenseful and enormously gripping, and it keeps you one the edge of your seat to the very end. "I Saw the Devil" is also hyper-violent, as it's filled with ruthless, gory and extremely graphic, yet thoroughly realistic scenes of violence that leave almost nothing to imagination. All this, combined with film's consistent intensity gives "I Saw the Devil" extra toughness and grit. With its pitch-perfect editing, smooth and silky editing, and Ji-woon Kim's skilfull direction, "I Saw the Devil" is near-flawless, technically. Ji-woon Kim's versatility as a director is noticeable, as he uses a wide range of camera angles and provides lots of great shots throughout the film. The opening sequence is hauntingly beautiful and it deserves a special mention. Furthermore, Lee Mo-Gae's grim, yet stunningly effective cinematography and low-key lightning add to the dark and unsettling tone of movie, and as a result, "I Saw the Devil" is not only compelling, but also a visually-atmospheric thriller, that succeeds on all levels. Acting-wise, "I Saw the Devil" is no less remarkable. Byung-hun Lee, best known to western audiences for his role as Storm Shadow in Stephen Sommers' 2009 blockbuster "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra", plays Soo-hyun - a top secret agent and one of the victim's fiancé. Lee delivers a solid and very credible performance as Soo-hyun, who led by his fierce longing for revenge, stands against the brutal murderer all by himself. However, it's Min-sik Choi's performance that makes the biggest impression. Yes, he was incredible in "OldBoy", but here, he simply outdoes himself, as he portrays the madness and cruelty of his character so believably, it's astounding. He's so intimidating, disturbing and downright terrifying as Kyung-chul , that everytime he appears on screen, you find yourself feeling like one of his victims. He's that good. Harsh, uncompromising, brilliantly-crafted and thoroughly compelling, "I Saw the Devil" is a truly riveting experience, you won't soon forget.