[6.75/10] I Spit on Your Grave (2010)

I Spit on Your Grave (2010)

Brief review: Director Steven R. Monroe, best known for making mediocre TV movies and low-budget crappy horror flicks ("It Waits" anyone?) brings this surprisingly well-crafted remake of the 1978 "cult classic" of the same name. While the disgustingly gruesome original was trashily-made, this 2010 version completely delivers in terms of execution. Not only "I Spit on Your Grave" is smoothly-paced and almost flawlessly-shot, but it's also quite striking, visually. A very important element in the movie is the choice of location, as the rich forest scenery of Louisiana is downright stunning, and beautifully-captured by Monroe's camera. The magnificent pale color palette used in the film's artful cinematography also adds to the quality of the visuals. Sarah Butler gives a confident and extremely convincing performance as the abused young writer, who seeks revenge and both Jeff Branson and Andrew Howard give truly disturbing performances. The unrated version includes a never-before-seen footage, that contains some seriously disturbing goriness, and even more grotesque images. Violence-wise, "I Spit on Your Grave" is absolutely uncompromising, and full of creative torture sequences that leave nothing to imagination.

Overall summary: Thanks to its precise direction, arresting visuals and sheer bone-chilling brutality, "I Spit on Your Grave" is, surprisingly, the second horror remake released in 2010, along with "Let Me In", that easily surpasses the original in terms of quality and execution.

[4.00/10] Faster (2010)

Faster (2010)

Brief review: George Tillman, Jr.'s latest film, "Faster" is about an ex-convict, Driver, who sets out to avenge his brother's death after they were double-crossed during a heist years ago. The most paradoxical thing about this revenge flick is, that its title doesn't match the subject matter, nor the pacing of the movie. Although it's only 95 minutes long, "Faster" feels like twice as much, due to Tillman's lazy direction and its outright dull pacing. In fact, "Faster" is so tedious and sluggish, it feels like the entire movie has been shot in slow motion. Plus, it's additionally ruined by its ridiculously stupid twist ending. Dwayne Johnson is the only good thing about this so-called action flick. He does his best with the material given, but his charisma and physical skills are completely wasted in a one-note role, and heavily undershadowed by Tillman's incompetent directing. Billy Bob Thornton gives an absolutely lifeless performance, and Oliver Jackson-Cohen' is as annoying as his snobbish accent. Also, "Faster" is kinda pretentious visuals-wise. The sepia-toned cinematography is somewhat depressing, as is the overall mood of the movie. Moreover, the action scenes are boringly-staged, and certainly not exciting enough to camouflage the film's many weaknesses.

Overall summary: With its tedious pacing, uneven narration, moody direction and rather unimpressive action sequences, Tillman's "Faster" doesn't live up to its promising title. At all.

[6.50/10] Burlesque (2010)

Burlesque (2010)

Brief review: Steve Antin's directional debut, "Burlesque", is about small-town girl, who moves to L. A. in order to fulfill her dream of becoming a singer and dancer. She quickly finds her place in a popular neo-burlesque club run by a former dancer, who changes her life. "Burlesque" feels contrived and rushed from the very beginning, and certainly does not have the most meaningful plot ever, but surprisingly, it ends up an incredibly refreshing musical, that delivers everything it promises in terms of fun and entertainment. The spectacular dance routines are unbelievably sexy and passionately-choreographed by Denise Faye, and the songs are wittily-written and stunningly-performed by Christina Aguilera and Cher, who both have an incredible, out-of-this-world vocal abilities. Add to this the beautiful sets, the lush staging, the lavish costumes, and the absolutely flawless lighting, and you get "Burlesque"! Acting-wise, it also succeeds. Christina Aguilera not only sings great, but she also delivers a surprisingly good performance as the talented and enthusiastic Ali. Cher owns the screen in every scene she appears, and Stanley Tucci gives a typically charismatic performance as the aging gay friend of Tess.

Overall summary: Forget about the superficial plot and the weak script, because "Burlesque" is all about the glitz, the glam, the dancing and the singing. And it's tons of fun!

[3.50/10] Gulliver's Travels (2010)

Gulliver's Travels (2010)

Brief review: Loosely based on Jonathan Swift's classic novel of the same name, "Gulliver's Travels" is the first live-action full-length movie by director Rob Letterman, who should have stick with what he does best (animations), as his version of Gulliver's Travels is a poorly-crafted and written fantasy comedy, that tries hard to make fun of other popular movies, but instead of being hilarious and enjoyable, it falls flat on its face. The usually funny Jack Black is completely wasted here, as he plays a rather unlikable and pretty annoying character, who instead of making the movie more entertaining and amusing, contributes to its mediocrity, or should I say dreadfulness. Emily Blunt are Jason Segel are both very talented, but it barely shows, due to their underwritten characters. "Gulliver's Travels" is just as unimpressive, visually. With the exception of the vortex sequence, and the Transformers-like robot scene, there's nothing remarkable or at least interesting about this movie, in terms of settings or special effects. Thankfully, I didn't pay a thing to see this garbage, and saw its 2D version, therefore I can't comment on the 3D effects, though I deeply doubt those would have been the film's saving grace.

Overall summary: Rushed, surprisingly unimaginative and horribly-executed, "Gulliver's Travels" is both, the dumbest movie of 2010, and Letterman's disastrous failure.

[5.00/10] The Resident (2011)

The Resident (2011)

Brief review: Finnish TV director Antti Jokinen's first full-length feature, "The Resident" (In Theaters Feb 17), is a so-so cat-and-mouse thriller about an attractive young doctor, who starts to suspects she's not alone in her new loft, after realizing her landlord has formed an obsession with her. Though pretty disturbing and moderately gripping, "The Resident" fails to deliver on many levels, mainly due to Jokinen's flawed direction and unsteady pacing, and the clumsy editing by Stuart Levy. Not only that the film starts tediously slow and lacks any thrills in its first half, but it reveals too much in its middle part, and as a result it becomes instantly uninteresting, less suspenseful, and sadly, even more predictable. One of the most talented Hollywood actresses, Hilary Swank, delivers a typically solid performance as the incredibly sympathetic, yet emotionally confused Juliet. Plus, she has never looked better - her body is stunning, and her sun-kissed skin is glowing. Jeffrey Dean Morgan, does a great job with the material given. He's as charismatic as he's disturbing in his role as Max - an antisocial, voyeurism-obsessed middle-aged man, haunted by his repressed past, and you can't help but like him, and being afraid of him at the same time.

Overall summary: Aside from its thrilling final act, and Swank and Morgan's more-than-adequate performances, "The Resident" is just a mildly tense, uneven, and rather predictable voyeuristic thriller, that never rises above mediocrity.

[6.75/10] Kung Fu Wing Chun (2010)

Kung Fu Wing Chun (2010)

Brief review: Directed by Joe Cheung, "Kung Fu Wing Chun" is a different take on the story of the origin and development of the Chinese martial arts style, Wing Chun. Though a bit cheesy compared to the Yuen Woo-Ping's 94 version, it's still a well-choreographed, entertaining and visually captivating 90's style kung fu flick, full of engaging characters and exciting action sequences, that instead of taking itself too seriously, brings the fun side of Wing Chun. As a martial arts flick, it features plenty of stirring, if unspectacular fight scenes, filled with excellent wire work. Visually, the movie impresses with its exotically-gorgeous production design, some vividly beautiful images (even though many of them being CG), and a vibrant yellowish cinematography, that exudes richness. Тhough the film has a relatively large cast of actors, the main focus is one Bai Jing, who absolutely steals the show as the title character. Jing is as quirky as she's sweet and likable in her role as the rebellious tomboy, Wing Chun, determined to develop her martial arts skills. Colin Chou, mainly known to the audience for his role as Seraph in "The Matrix" franchise does an excellent job as the villain, while Ye Shaoqun is just okay as Chun's love interest.

Overall summary: Although it often borders on silly, "Kung Fu Wing Chun" is an enjoyable, action-packed and nicely-crafted martial arts comedy, that successfully maintains the 'fun factor' throughout.

[4.00/10] Deserted House (2010)

Deserted House (2010)

Brief review: Another month, another 'found footage' haunted house horror flick, this time coming from Korea. It's about three haunted house club members and three camera crew, who decide to look into an infamous haunted house somewhere in Gyeonggi Province, known to be possessed by real ghosts, but they all disappear without a trace, and there's only a video they left behind. Unsurprisingly, "Deserted House" just can't overcome its cliched premise, and the end result is a quite ridiculous and hardly believable ghost story, that is neither neither funny, nor scary, nor involving enough to catch viewers' attention. Even worse, "Deserted House" lacks any technical qualities whatsoever. The editing of the 'found footage' is probably the film's biggest problem, as it's so terribly-done, it may not only confuse your brain, but also hurt your eyes. The poor choice of shooting location adds to the overall technical awfulness of the movie, as the deserted house itself is nothing more than an old filthy warehouse full of garbage, that is neither atmospheric, nor creepy enough to fit the supposed-to-be-spooky subject matter of the movie. It's just ugly. The largely unknown cast of young Korean actors also fail to deliver convincing performances.

Brief review: Dull, hardly scary, terribly-acted and amateurishly-executed, "Deserted House" is simply pit, a ghost story at its worst, and a poor entry in the 'found footage' sub-genre.

[4.25/10] Mean Girls 2 (2011)

Mean Girls 2 (2011)

Brief review: In this made-for-TV sequel to the 2004 hit teen comedy "Mean Girls", high school senior Jo Mitchell befriends outcast Abby Hanover, and follows the girls as they take on the school's mean girls, the Plastics. Story-wise, "Mean Girls 2" brings nothing new to the table, as it's a complete spin-off (or should I say a rip-off) to the original, and while the movie delivers a few clever lines and a couple of good laughs along the way, it suffers badly from a sub-par acting, poor execution and crappy visuals. Considering the fact that "Mean Girls 2" is a TV movie, its cheap look can be forgiven, but the lack of imagination and fresh ideas couldn't. Melanie Mayron's unbelievably uninspired direction totally ruins this otherwise potentially decent teen comedy, and so does the mediocre acting from the young cast involved. Meaghan Martin is a sweet-looking girl, but her acting skills are quite weak to say the least. Maiara Walsh is mediocre at best as the 'meanest girl', Mandi, while the other two 'plastics' are downright annoying. Jennifer Stone plays the only truly likable character in the movie, and she does a decent job in her role as the rich, yet rejected Abby. Though Bethany Annes character barely appears on screen, she's somewhat interesting.

Overall summary: Thanks to its mildly amusing script, "Mean Girls 2" is somewhat watchable, if quite unnecessary and poorly-crafted sequel, that has no real reason to exist.

[8.00/10] The King's Speech (2010)

The King's Speech (2010)

Brief review: British filmmaker Tom Hooper brings this simple, yet brilliantly-written and cleverly conceived story, about the unusual friendship between a future king and his speech therapist, which is not only historically accurate, but also hugely engrossing and truly heartfelt. The uneven, yet beautiful relationship between the two key characters is certainly the driving force of this film. Colin Firth delivers the performance of his career as the unconfident soon-to-be-king Albert, struggling to overcome a stammer, and yet, Geoffrey Rush is somewhat the more interesting and likable of the two. His performance is nothing short of fascinating, and although Firth gets all the credit for his difficult role as King George VI, Rush is equally as good, if not better, as the speech therapist, Lionel, who possess an incredibly uplifting spirit and a great charisma. Bonham Carter also gives a bravura performance as the supportive wife of "Bertie". From a technical standpoint, "The King's Speech" is no less impressive. Hooper's elegant camera work and smooth narrative are often mesmerizing, as is Danny Cohen's murky, yet splendid cinematography, and Eve Stewart's sophisticated production design captures the late 30's era to perfection.

Overall summary: Filmed with subtlety, care and utter smoothness, "The King's Speech" is a profoundly gripping, if slightly monotonous historical drama, driven by the exceptional, award-worthy performances of its superb cast, Geoffrey Rush in particular.

[6.50/10] Love and Other Drugs (2010)

Love and Other Drugs (2010)

Brief review: "Blood Diamond" director, Edward Zwick, brings this refreshing, love story about a handsome, yet selfish salesman, who happens to fall for a beautiful young woman, who suffers from Parkinson's disease. Though Zwick hardly balances the drama with hilarious character-driven humour, the end result is a smart, funny and sexy, yet heartfelt rom-com, that will leave you satisfied. The films also delivers plenty of delicious nudity and delightful sex scenes to satisfy viewers' curiosity. The two wonderful leads are certainly driving force of this movie. Not only that they are extremely physically attractive, but they both possess some truly impressive acting skills. Gyllenhaal often steals the show as the ambitious and handsome Jamie, however Anne Hathaway's charisma is so strong, that it's hard to take your eyes off of her, when she's on screen. In terms of chemistry, Gyllenhaal and Hathaway are a match made in heaven! Their relationship feels sincere and believable, it makes you think they're meant for each other. However, Josh Gad really lets the film down as the annoying younger brother of Jamie. Unfortunately, Gad appears on the screen way more often than expected, and most of the time he's just barely standable.

Overall summary: Thanks to its extremely likable leads, and grippingly-enjoyable story, "Love and Other Drugs" is a bittersweet dramdey, that is every bit as engaging and amusing, as it's touchingly emotional.

[9.00/10] Under the Hawthorn Tree (2010)

Under the Hawthorn Tree (2010)

Brief review: After his sumptuous piece of eye candy, "Curse of the Golden Flower", Chinese master Zhang Yimou is back to being himself with this deeply-touching love story, that takes place during Cultural Revolution of the 1960s and '70s. Though quite simple, this romance between a young woman and a man from different economic backgrounds, is probably the purest love story ever put on film. From the enthralling beginning to the tearjerking finale, everything about this beautifully-told story feels real, authentic and sincere, and you may find yourself emotionally involved with the characters and their feelings. Even though, this is Dongyu Zhou's first time in front of the camera, her performance is nothing short of impressive. She acts extremely naturally as the tender and innocent Jing Qiu, who faces life's struggles with strong will, and you can't help but feel engaged with her delicate, yet lovely personality. Shawn Dou, who's also widely unknown, is absolutely captivating and very likable as Zhou's love interest, who's extremely loyal and dedicated to his feelings for Jing. Though not nearly as lush and lavish, as Yimou's previous masterpieces "Hero" and "House of Flying Daggers", "Under the Hawthorn Tree" is equally as stunning, visually. The Chinese countryside scenery is breathtaking, and beautifully-captured by Yimou's camera, almost to the point of distraction. The muted color palette, used by cinematographer is smooth, elegant and gentle as the film itself, and the art direction dazzles with its simplicity.

Overall summary: Remarkably genuine, profoundly moving and beautifully-filmed, "Under the Hawthorn Tree" is yet another gem in the crown of Zhang Yimou's amazingly impressive filmography.

[6.75/10] Bedevilled (2010)

Bedevilled (2010)

Brief review: Jang Cheol-so's debut feature, "Bedevilled" takes place on an uncivilized island near Seoul, and tells the unusual story of Bok-nam - a woman, long time harassed by her husband, who seeks revenge for the death of her daughter. Despite being slightly pretentious and suffering from slow development, this blood-soaked revenge flick is a consistently gripping and thoroughly effective shocker, that while lacking in suspense, is filled with scenes of extreme violence, disturbing images and buckets of blood. Acting-wise, "Bedevilled" truly succeeds. Ji Sung-won does a great job as the complicated and lonely Hae-won, however, she's completely outshined by Yeong-hie Seo, who delivers an incredibly convincing and truly disturbing performance as the rejected Bok-nam. The supporting performances are as good as they're intimidating. Koren director Jang Cheol-so has an eye for detail, and an incredible sense of visual style, and it certainly shos, since "Bedevilled" is one of the most beautifully-shot and visually-stunning slashers I've ever seen. The choice of location is his smartest move regarding this film, as the Geumodo Island's scenery is simply breathtaking, and a beautiful backdrop for this otherwise grim story.

Overall summary: As gritty and violently brutal, as it's visually striking, "Bedevilled" delivers plenty of shocks, chills and spills, despite its oddness and pretentiousness.

[5.00/10] Vanishing on 7th Street (2011)

Vanishing on 7th Street (2011)

Brief review: "The Machinist" director, Brad Anderson, brings this post-apocalyptic horror-thriller about a bunch of strangers who find themselves alone, after a mysterious power plunges the city of Detroit into total darkness. Despite its great premise, "Vanishing" fails to deliver on many levels, as it suffers from slow pacing, lazy direction and a somewhat muddled plot, that never lives up to its potential. Furthermore, it contains very few chilling moments, and it's neither scary, nor suspenseful enough to call itself a horror movie. Though hauntingly atmospheric, "Vanishing on 7th Street" offers nothing spectacular in terms of visuals. It's a rather boring affair, lacking in imagination and budget, with very limited variety of settings and special effects. The acting is pretty mediocre. from everybody involved in this. Hayden Christensen may be physically attractive, but he hardly possesses any talent or acting skills. He's typically stiff in his role as Luke, as he fails to convey any genuine feeling or depth of emotion. Thandie Newton gives a decent performance as Rosemary, though she often has a tendency to overact. John Leguizamo is just okay, and Jacob Latimore delivers in his role as the daring and likable James.

Overall summary: Though potentially good and somewhat intriguing, "Vanishing on 7th Street" ends up as a huge disappointment, as it's completely ruined by an unimaginative script and lackluster execution.

[6.00/10] Life as We Know It (2010)

Life as We Know It (2010)

Brief review: Greg Berlanti's second full-length feature, "Life as We Know It", doesn't stand out amongst other movies of its ilk, as it uses many tired rom-com cliches, but it still tells a decent story that has plenty of hilarious moments, as well as some emotional and dramatic ones. Actually, aside from the annoyingly hackneyed climax, "Life as We Know It" is a charming and very pleasant cinematic experience, that hardly fails to engage the attention of its audience. The movie works mainly due to the stellar chemistry between its two sympathetic leads. Katherine Heigl and Josh Duhamel, not only look great, but they both deliver pretty good performances as Holly and Messer - two characters that can't stand each other, but still have an amazing on-screen relationship and mutual feelings that seem believable and very sincere. In fact, they would make a great real life couple. "Life as We Know It" is also quite attractive, visually. Berlanti's direction is smooth and competent enough, and the production design is excellent for this type of movie, but the reddish tint of Andrew Dunn's cinematography is somewhat unappealing. The bakery scenes are delightful and and deserve a special mention.

Overall summary: With its decent story, nice visuals and utterly likable cast, "Life as We Know It" is an entertaining and thoroughly enjoyable, if extremely formulaic romantic dramedy.

Music Blogfest: Top 10 Countdown

Music Blogfest: Top 10 Countdown

My dear friend, Alex J. Cavanaugh, is hosting yet another blogfest, and this time, it's all about music! Over 100 bloggers participate in this fantastic music blogfest, and today, on Jan 24, 2011, they will all share their 10 all-time favorite tunes. Visit Alex's blog, and pump up the volume! :)

As a complete House Music Junkie, I've decided to post 10 of my most favorite club tracks ever (plus a special and kinda shocking bonus entry), so enjoy, get on the dance floor, and shake your booty :)

"Not Everyone Understands House Music...Its a Spiritual Thing, a Body Thing, a Soul Thing..."

Nebular's TOP 10 CLUB TRACKS

1. Martijn Ten Velden - Wish I Could

2. Eric Prydz - Pjanoo

3. Michael Gray - The Weekend

4. Freemasons feat. Amanda Wilson - Watchin'

5. Rui Da Silva - Touch Me

6. ATB - Justify

7. Unknown Artist & Title

8. Sebastian Leger feat. Gia - Hypnotized

9. Three Drives on a Vynil - Greece 2000

10. Seamus Haji & Emanuel - Take Me Away

+BONUS: Mariah Carey feat. Boyz II Men - One Sweet Day

(probably my favorite song of all time)

[6.75/10] The Green Hornet [3D] (2011)

The Green Hornet [3D] (2011)

Brief review: Though it suffers from uneven pacing and unsteady direction, Michel Gondry's 'new wave' anti-superhero flick delivers exactly what it promises: great visuals, exciting car chases, cool gadgets and and plenty of martial arts action. Sadly, Seth Rogen plays the least likable character in this movie, as the Green Hornet himself is an egocentric idiot, who's more like а drone, rather than a hornet. The Taiwanese charmer, Jay Chou, is the true star of the film - not only that he's charismatic and engaging as an actor, but he also possesses an incredible martial arts skills, that will blow you away. Christoph Waltz steals the show, yet again, as the weird, yet delightfully sympathetic villain, Chudnofsky. Diaz is just okay in her role, and James Franco's cameo is rather disappointing. "The Green Hornet" may not have the most substantial plot ever, but it certainly delivers visually. The CGIs are truly impressive, especially those during the slow-mo Matrix-like fight sequences. The action itself is clearly the highlight of this flick, as it's exciting, well-shot and creatively-choreographed. Though the 3D adds little to the experience, it isn't exactly bad or unnecessary.

Overall summary: Quite brainless and often clumsy, yet spectacularly-entertaining, "The Green Hornet" is an inventive blend of flashy visuals and exciting action scenes, fleshed out with lots of enjoyable silliness.

[9.00/10] 127 Hours (2010)

127 Hours (2010)

Brief review: Based on the real-life story of the mountain climber Aron Ralston, who became trapped by a boulder in Robbers Roost, Utah, for more than five days in 2003, "127 Hours" is an emotional story of fate, hope and despair, that is sure to stay with you long after the credits roll. Despite its predictable climax, it's still a unique experience and unforgettable piece of filmmaking, that is as adventurous and entertaining, as it's claustrophobic and terrifying. Acting-wise, "127 Hours" is basically a one-man-show, but, oh boy, what a show! James Franco turns in an outstanding performance as the adrenaline-junkie climber, Ralston, who's not only physically trapped by a rock, between the canyon's walls, but also mentally "stuck" between harsh reality and dreamy illusions, in his fight for survival. Thanks to his magnetic charm and strong on-screen charisma, he carries the entire movie all by himself. Technically, "127 Hours" is nothing short of impressive! Danny Boyle's imaginative shooting style and vigorous camerawork are to be admired, as uses a very wide range of camera angles, and provide us with some breathtaking panoramic shots, as well as some impressive and intimate close-ups. The 'dream' sequence in particular is wonderfully-executed, and deserves a special mention. Moab's red rock canyon scenery is as stunning, as it's glorious, and it's beautifully-complemented by Chediak and Dod Mantle's sumptuously-saturated cinematography. The amazing music score fits perfectly with the absolutely arresting visuals of this real gem of a film.

Overall summary: A visual and technical tour-de-force, accompanied by James Franco's irresistible performance, "127 Hours" is one of Boyle's most remarkable achievements, and one of 2010's best films.

[7.25/10] Robot a.k.a. Endhiran (2010)

Robot

a.k.a.

Endhiran (2010)

Brief review: With its $ 42 million budget, Shankar' robo comedy, "Endhiran" is not only the most expensive Tamil film to date, but also one of the highest-grossing Bollywood films of all time, earning more than $85 million worldwide. Although the story of a gifted scientist, who invents a super-powered robot, gets more and more ridiculous as the movie progresses, is hugely entertaining nonetheless, as it's filled with tons of hilarious situations, explosive action sequences, delightfully cartoonish special effects and plenty of quirky, yet likable characters. Oddly enough, the film even features 4 or 5 music videos, that are as funny and glamorously-looking, just as the actual movie itself. Pretty much everything about "Robot" is completely over-the-top. The stunts, coordinated by martial arts expert, Yuen Woo-Ping, are typically spectacular, as is the animeesque action choreography. The CGIs, while a bit cheesy and quite overdone, are fun to watch. The acting is also hilarious. Tamil "superstar" Rajinikanth is great as the super-cool robot, Chitti, and Aishwarya Rai, one of the most stunningly-gorgeous women in the entire world, overacts delightfully in her role as Sana.

Overall summary: Outrageously silly and ridiculously over-the-top, yet uniquely-executed and thoroughly enjoyable, "Endhiran" is the perfect Bollywood sci-fi blockbuster.