Jumper (2008) ***

Well, it's a bit odd to critique an action movie from an artistic perspective.
"Jumper," should be appreciated in a way that one expects to experience something new and exciting, like testing a new video game or something like that.

Indeed, "Jumper" did bring in some new ideas. Although jumping from one space to another instantly has been dreamed of by many ordinary people (myself included), "Jumper" has added extra flavor to this concept.

First, how can one "jump" to another desired spot?
In this movie, the protagonist demonstrated how he did using a psychological trick. He can make use of his childhood memory to help him move to the Empire State Building in no time.

Second, can one carry anything besides him/herself when moving to another spot?
It proves that the ultimate task (i.e., moving a house) has become the climax of the whole story. I am willing to give the filmmakers some credits since this really looks cool and touching at the end of the movie.

Yeah, "Jumper" did give us something fun although not too brainy to watch this year. At least, we can keep dreaming that we can take a vacation in Hawaii and stop by Rome in just a flash. That isn't too bad, is it?

The Orphanage (2007) ****1/2

The Orphanage (2007), directed by Juan Antonio Bayona and produced by Guillermo del Toro，is another amazing movie.

I am afraid this is the saddest thriller movie I have ever seen. A movie critic once said that critics usually hail tearjerkers since a power to touch one's heart usually make people wanna cry. When a tearjerker was not meant to be sentimental (especially when it was meant to scare you), it has great potential to achieve something extraordinary.

At the end of the movie a blind girl gently touched the mother's face while another boy cried out, "It's Laura. She is just getting older, just like Wendy." This moment immediately triggered my tears all over my face.

Since the producer is del Toro, I can't help associate "Pan's Labyrinth" with this film, and am glad to see the consistency of beauty mixed with melancholy in these two stories.

This is absolutely one of the best thriller films in the past decade!

21 (2008) ***

"21" is a clever story with reasonable twists and turns. I guess executing such a film project could be no brainer since the script was based on a true story.

Keven Spacey's performance was as sharp as a knife but not as electrifying as before. This could be forgivable since the focus should be on the MIT math genius, Ben Campbell (played by Jim Surgess).

I wonder whether we could criticize any cliche inherent to the plot, given that we are talking about a true story here. What surprised me most is the seemingly humble intention of the filmmakers, who only tried to tell a good story concisely. So, we may call it a fairly entertaining movie, no more and no less.

Lilja 4ever (2002) ***1/2

Lilja 4ever(Lilja 4ever, 2002) is a story about broken dreams, broken hearts, and finally broken bodies.



For a 16-year girl, life is supposed to be filled with Justin Timberlake's songs and puppy love. However, the 16-year-old Lilja did not have such kind of luck. I wonder whether it is crude to state that freedom usually comes at the price of poverty, and not to mention rotten human nature ensuing poverty and related social problems.

The director/writer Lukas Moodysson has done a decent job. Some may criticize that the story has exacerbated the ideology of good-evil dichotomy of the world. But, what if this dichotomy is simply the way it is in some places where we may be lucky enough to stay away from forever?

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JUNO (2007) ***1/2

JUNO is a canning story. I can't help comparing it with "Little Miss Sunshine", as many people did. However, their similar styles didn't put them in the same class of works. "Little Miss Sunshine" might set out to make you laugh on a series of mishaps, but you have to deal with your own afterthoughts; but, "JUNO" seemingly intended to make you feel good for "everything-is-gonna-be-alright" cliche, almost.

JUNO is a likable movie, but I wonder whether that is because of its tons of witty charms. Before you have a chance to ponder upon how their relationships were intertwined with each other and how the conflicts could be resolved, the happy ending is already in the corner.

Anyway, at least watching Ellen Page portray such a lovely while unlucky character is still a pleasant thing.

No Country for Old Men (2008) ***1/2

Hard to argue whether No Country for Old Men really deserved the Oscar's best picture award.

The reasons why some critics hailed this latest Coen brothers' work were mixed. But the commonality of all the praises is the well-crafted and non-stereotypic style of making a thriller. However, could we expect to get more from this movie, other than styles and skills?

This movie certainly reminds us a lot of Coens' movie Fargo, another thriller set in a remote small town covered by snow in Minnesota. This time, the cold-blood killing occurred in Texas, near the border of Mexico. The filmmakers seemed to show little interest in dissecting the psychological complexities of the villains. Killings were just so real in these two movies as no dramatic prelude or music was attached. After all, violence speaks louder when the surroundings are quieter.

Anything else? I am afraid not.

Away from Her (2007) ****

Away from Her (2007) is that kind of movie that hits you so hard that you start to wonder about love in a non-cynical way.

Basically, there are at least two kinds of people who have strong opinions about human bondings: those who think love is the most amazing grace on earth and those who trash the idea that ever-lasting love exists.

The story is centered on a old couple's love and struggle. Based on Alice Munro's short story "The Bear Came over the Mountain," the script was concisely written that it didn't add much drama to this movie. The actress-turned-director Sarah Polley successfully delivered what Alice Munro's stories should be like, "explore human complexities in a seemingly effortless style."

Although there are a good many movies talking about the impact of Alzheimer disease on our lives, "Away from Her" might have explored a different level -- Is oblivion worse than betrayal or the other way around? The seemingly devoted husband was confused when he saw his beloved wife affected with Alzheimer disease developing strong affections towards another man, and so he started to speculate she might just be putting on an act to punish him. Our doubts usually stem from our fears that other people may commit the same crime as we did.

The story chose a kind-of-happy ending since the audience already learned that good days may not be as common as bad days in this sentimental story. But, I guess most of us can act like the husband who held his wife in his arms and braced himself for tomorrow's pains. Life goes on no matter what you want to believe.

The Mist (2007) ***1/2

"The Mist" is probably the best movie based on Steven King's novels since Shawshank Redemption (1994).

The eminent dangers and disasters are arguably the greatest fears of human beings. "The Mist" successfully keeps the audience on edge from the beginning to the end as it is exploiting such a fear. Of course, if this were the only thing this movie achieved, I wouldn't recommend anyone to spend $10 for the ticket unless you are a hardcore fan of horror movies.

"The Mist" is not like most other horror movies Hollywood releases on Halloweens. The film is well paced so that the viewer could spare some adrenalin to complete the journey and can still catch the breath. Overall, the acting is decent at least judged from the standards for this genre. The most surprising and the best part, is the "jaw-dropping" ending (not that kind of jaw-dropping effect due to the shock or fear), which almost wraps itself up in a Greek tragedian way.

I hope this is the kind of tragedy the filmmakers want to explore, so that I can still have lots of hopes in this genre during a wicked winter.

Sex and Lucia (2002) ***1/2

Honestly, I am not quite sure how I should describe my experience of watching this film. It is like a chameleon, showing different colors in disguise at different time points just to mystify your minds and then catch you off-guard.

It is fair to say that the movie started with some great shots. The suspense mingled with sadness perpetuated the first 15 minutes of this film. As the story unfolds, the sex scenes became a little bit sticky and salty, as the movie tried to associate the sex with food first and guilt later.

All the metaphores in this movie became less and less impressive near the end of the movie. Surprisingly, the ending has achieved some sort of reconciliation and salvation with peace. Maybe that is exactly the intention of the filmmakers.

Apocalypto (2006) ****

It's easy to regard this film as a lesson of history. Did the director Mel Gibson intend to deliver the message to the modern society, especially the Western ones? What could we learn from the pre-Columbian Maya civilization, a once-great civilization that was devoured by the Western civilization?

"History was written by those who hanged heroes." Today, history is also written by filmmakers. Movies based on historical events can easily spawn controversy since people tend to pick on accuracy and viewpoints. Nevertheless, without the technology of turning back time who can confidently speak the whole truth and nothing but the truth of the history?



Gibson's filming skills have already astonished us by "Braveheart (1994)" and "Passion of the Christ (2004)." But "Apocalypto" once again proves that Gibson is capable of shaking up the world. Just like the heroes he depicted in his movies, Gibson thrust into the pond of blood and muds and survived at a high cost. Some might criticize the massive graphic violence Gibson showed on the screen. However, the ultra-violence is just part of the reality in history.

"Apocalypto" didn't get the credits it deserved partly due to Gibson's racial slur against Jewish people during his arrest for DUI. This incident might have dented his credibility of making such a great flick. Additionally, it's probably hard for Hollywood to acknowledge a movie about non-Western heroes without any white companion. Nonetheless, I believe many Hollywood filmmakers can learn a thing or two from a movie like this: treating a non-Western hero with absolute respect and compassion.

Babel (2006) ***1/2

Novelty is probably the most crucial component inherent to the film "Babel." The filmmakers attempted to link four stories that occur at three different continents thousands of miles away from each other on earth. Such an attempt is admirable. However, it remains arguable whether these four stories are really associated with each other at a meaningful level. Linking four different stories certainly hinges on a commonality, which appears to be a lethal rifle. However, the Mexican adventure failed to exert any effect on this commonality except for the relationship between the children and the two American tourists (played by Brad Pitt and Kate Branch). Of course, the struggling to save the people you love may serve as a better theme for these four stories, but the Japanese girl's story did not quite fit this profile.

Overall, the directing, acting, and cinematography, etc. have made this movie a quality work. The script, unfortunately, may have left something to be desired.

300 (2006) ***

Frank Miller's graphic novels are nearly the storyboards for filmmakers. In other words, directors can easily know what the movies could look like before they start shooting any scene. The movie "300" is the highlight of the adaptation of Miller's works.

The question is: what else did the director Zach Snyder bring to the story except the adrenalin-pumping and action-packed moments? Some critics use "airless" to describe this movie, while I think such a comment would appear to be unfair to the actors. The reason why I enjoy watching "300" is primarily the performance of Gerry Butler who portrayed the legendary Leonidas. Butler has proved to the world his mesmerizing acting by the role of "phantom" in "Phantom of the Opera (2005)," the adaptation of the beloved Broadway show with the same title. His Leonidas is not only convincing but also commands the movie as Leonidas commanded his Spartan army.

Watching "300" is no doubt a highly entertaining journey.

Pan's Labyrinth (2007) *****

"Pan's Labyrinth (Laberinto del fauno, El)" is the gem of the fantasy movies. In fact, it is not even a typical fantasy film. The wonderland found by many characters in fairy tales is absent in this story. Instead, the secret garden looks like a hell in "Pan's Labyrinth." The script is intelligently written yet it never loses the touch of humanity and compassion. The personalities of the main characters are multi-layered despite the theme is consistently melancholic. Brutality and beauty go hand in hand towards their dooms. Seldom has any filmmaker tried to seduce the audience with a mixture of reality and fantasy by such a dark and tragic ensemble of components. The director/writer Guillermo del Toro has no doubt achieved something unprecedentedly.

This could be the best movie of 2007.

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Ratatouille (2007) ****

Two words for "Ratatouille":

Simply irresistible!

Apparently, Pixar's success does not lie in its animation craftsmanship. The story, as always, is the soul of this fantasy adventure. The characters are so lovable that you can forgive any mistake the filmmakers made.

I wonder whether the filmmakers intend to send out a message about "trust."Can we have to trust a new friend to make a dream come true? The movies tells us that it is still those of our own kind who can really rescue us from any embarrassing trouble.

"Ratatouille"'s technical achievements have already reached a point where you almost forget that it's a bit silly to critique the performance of these fictionalized characters. Alas! I am thankful that we still get to see a movie like Ratatouille this summer.

Oldboy (2003) ****

Can a film be hypnotic, disturbing, powerful, ugly, and beautiful, at the same time?

Oldboy almost tops most shocking films I have ever seen. Based on a Japanese manga with the same title, the movie was thrillingly spectacular. The Korean director Park Chan-wook and the whole cast did deserve Palme d'Or of The 2004 Cannes Film Festival more than Fahrenheit 9/11 by Michael Moore (which snailed the top prize in 2004) did.



The plot could not bear with any spoiler. Briefly speaking, the story is about vengeance and one of the darkest fears and sins human beings can imagine. The reason why this movie could avoid the danger of becoming a mess of sexual and violent perverse is the attitudes of filmmakers. Their cameras served as both the indifferent bystanders and a sympathetic journalist. The breath-taking ending, therefore, can endure all the impact of the audience's intuitive sense of being repulsed by the theme of this film.

Honestly, I am not quite sure whether this is a truly great artistic achievement, but it is certainly a phenomenal cinematic tribute to Greek tragedies.

Letters from Iwo Jima (2006) ***

I felt a little bit depressed after seeing Clint Eastwood's "Letters from Iwo Jima (2006)." First, it did not live up to my expectations. Second, it's difficult for me to watch the "below-standard" work of the maestro.



Overall, the movie was scatteredly paced. The major roles were not fully developed in terms of their personalities and attitudes towards the war. The intention of the moviemakers was no doubt decent, but the good intention seemed to overshadow the story-telling scheme. It's easy to fall for the dichotomous enemy-friend complex in such a movie. Eastwood did not nail it, unfortunately.

However, it would be unfair to dismiss this movie out of hand. The story carries so much weight that it is not easy to choose a neutral tone when revisiting the history. Eastwood attempted to use "Flag of Fathers" and "Letters from Iwo Jima" to tell the two sides of a story. The war itself is a tragedy. After all, there is no real glory or hero when killings are not about survival or a greater cause.

Surf's Up (2007) ***1/2

Rarely have I seen the audience clapping their hands when an animation film ends in the theater. Surf's Up (2007) totally surprised me.

In the beginning, the pace of this film kind of annoyed me, because this was not what I expected. I guess I was expecting something closer to Finding Nemo or Madagascar in terms of storytelling style and visual effect. The filmmakers blended the documentary film and reality show in "Surf's Up," which might have risked forcing some impatient kids to leave the theater.

Fortunately, the movie was getting better and better as the story unfolded. Despite the attempts to get emotional, the filmmakers have tremendous patience to lead the audience to the glory and shame embedded in the story's theme step by step. I personally think this is the boldest story-telling method that has ever been implemented in the animation film history.

Don't be deceived by the cute and chubby penguins ... this movie was not made for kids who are looking for simple-minded fun in the theme park.

My Father, My Lord (2007) ****

One of the gems in the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival, "My Father, My Lord" appears to be a very simple story. The characters and drama are not meant to get complicated in this story, but the power this movie has yielded, partly through its music, is simply amazing.

Simplicity is just a word that may underrrate this movie. Behind simplicity lies rigid ancient religious traditions that leave no room for people to make their own interpretations. "My Father, My Lord" is like a short novel that you would feel heavily struck after reading it. Despite bitter and sad emotions, you may find yourself speechless sitting in the darkness when the movie is over.