The Spirit

Directed by Frank Miller (Sin City), based on the graphic novel by Will Eisner. Starring Gabriel Macht, Eva Mendes, Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L. Jackson and Sara Paulson.

The Spirit of Central City devoted his life for it. And when his nemesis, the only one that can match him, Octopus had plans to take over the city (and the world, maybe) he tracked him down, planned to destroy him. His mission somehow reunited him with his childhood love and also gave him the answer to what he really was.

I didn't see Sin City, but yeah they have the same look. Awesome look. Totally their unique selling point. However, cool visuals aside, the movie was kinda meh. Well, maybe for people who like the graphic novels this would be awesome, but for me, it was.. okay? No, it was bad. It just wasn't my thing, I guess. It was kinda cool to see Gabriel Macht as the leading man, but does he have what it takes to be one? Hmm.. Anyway, I didn't dig the exaggerated stories and costumes and make-up. Nah. Not my cup of tea. I prefer Bruce Wayne.

5 / 10.

Bolt

A Walt Disney production featuring the voices of John Travolta and Miley Cyrus.

Bolt had spent his whole life on the set of a Hollywood TV series production, devoting all his super powers to protect his person, Penny. He was shipped to New York by accident and determined to go back and save Penny, who he thought was in grave danger, he embarked on a journey back to LA with his two new friends, a stray alleyl cat named Mittens and his number one fan, a hamster named Rhino.

Hilarious. Cute. Entertaining. I liked it a lot better than the recent animation films.. Go see it!

8.5 / 10.

3 Wishes 3 Loves (3 Doa 3 Cinta)

Written and directed by Nurman Hakim. Starring Dian Sastro, Nicholas Saputra, Yoga Pratama, Yoga Bagus Satatagama and cameos by Jajang C. Noer and Butet Kartaredjasa.

Set around 9/11, 3 Wishes 3 Loves told the stories of three friends who attended a pesantren, some sort of an Islamic boarding school. Huda wished to look for his mother, who took him to the pesantren six years before and then abandoned him. Rian wanted to run his own wedding video company and Syahid, affected by the teachings of an extremist, wanted to be a martyr. The film showed how three of them tried to realize their wishes and dreams.

First of all, the poster is misleading. Everyone is so excited about Dian and Nico's reunion and a poster featuring those two sure would sell. However, as the title suggests, the film is more about the three guys and not just about Huda (Nico) and Dona (Dian). I thought the film was quite okay, with good performances by Nicholas Saputra and Yoga Pratama, but probably not that great overall. It used a lot of still shots (which really worked for the Japanese film Nobody Knows, by the way) which could annoy some Indonesian viewers, but I personally was fine with it, I thought it suited the film's feel. I wouldn't say the film was great (I still don't buy Dian's acting), but the messages that it tried to pass on were quite honorable. Not bad.

7 / 10.

Happy-Go-Lucky

Written and directed by Mike Leigh (Vera Drake), starring Sally Hawkins, Alexis Zegerman and Eddie Marsan.

Poppy was a happy-go-lucky girl. The thirty year old woman lived with her flatmate and best friend Zoe, worked as a primary school teacher and was just a genuinely kind woman who tried to infect happiness into everyone around her with cheerfulness. The film took us along this optimistic woman's encounters with a troubled driving instructor, a social worker, a homeless man, an overly expressive flamenco teacher.. all happened with her still behaving like there's no worries in the world.

At first I thought, what an obnoxious woman, with the character Poppy always cracking jokes, smiling, laughing at just about anything. But as the film rolled on, we came to understand that this woman was real, genuine and not superficial at all. We were able to see how humane she was and how she just wanted to brighten up people's days. Sally Hawkins played Poppy really well, it sure couldn't have been easy to play an overly happy person without looking like a lunatic. Poppy's relationship with her driving instructor, Scott, gradually turned into something unexpected and it was just heartbreaking to see it unravel as time went by. Initially it seemed like the film was just about how happy Poppy was, but it went much deeper and by the time it ended, Poppy would be an unforgettable character.

8 / 10.

La Maison de Himiko

Directed by Isshin Inudou (whose newest film, Go-Go Datte Neko Dearu, starring the very talented actors Juri Ueno and Ryo Kase, is creating quite a buzz), written by Aya Watanabe (30 Lies or So). Starring Kou Shibasaki (Dororo) and Joe Odagiri (Shinobi).

Saori Yoshida had always hated her gay father, who abandoned her mother. Stuck with debts, Saori spent her days working in a small painting company, eyeing ads that were looking for sex phone operators. One day she was asked to be a part-timer at her father's house for the gay elderly by a very handsome young man who turned out to be her father's lover. Desperately in debts, Saori agreed to do the job. There she started to build relationships with the gay elderly, who disgusted her, yet will there be a change of heart?

A charming little film.. It was surprising and pleasant to see Kou de-glamorized and looking like an ordinary woman. Joe Odagiri was as charming and as sexy as ever, playing a young gay man who longed for desire, a thing that has gone from his life which he spent caring for Saori's sick father, Himiko. Min Tanaka, who played Himiko, had a strong presence. He suited the part really well and somehow, behind the feminine robes that he wore, we could see the masculine strength and character inside, written in the lines on his face. The other colorful residents of the nursing home were quite entertaining to see, yet it felt like everything was too extreme and stereotyped. That aside, this heartwarming film about death, forgiving and choices in life is worth your time and attention.

8 / 10.

City of Ember

Directed by Gil Kenan (Monster House), starring Bill Murray, Saoirse Ronan and Harry Treadaway. Based on the book by Jeanne Duprau.

The City of Ember, built underground, has hosted its citizens for more than 200 years. Alas, the powerful generator that had been keeping the city alive was failing and the city's food supply had also begun to run out. Two teenagers, Lina and Doon, tried to find their way out of the dying city in order to save the people.

Didn't feel much like a children's story, somehow felt like a fairy-tale action movie. ;p It was fast-paced, the characters weren't explored, the whole movie was just about the escape. Damn it, I was expecting a Narnia. So yeah, it wasn't really a Narnia, not an epic tale, it felt too dark (literally) for a children's story, but great visuals, man. The movie looked good. I was happy to see Saoirse Ronan.. I dig this girl. She'll be goin' places, man.. Surprisingly enough, the boy is also British. Hmm.. there aren't enough young, real and talented American actors..? Might be. ;p

7 / 10.

Drupadi

Directed by Riri Riza (2 Hari Untuk Selamanya, Gie, Laskar Pelangi), starring Dian Sastro, Nicholas Saputra, Butet Kertaradjasa and Ariyo Bayu. Short film (45 minutes).

The story of Princess Drupadi, who was put at stake by one of her husbands, Yudhistira, at a game between two clans, and lost. She was then treated maliciously, which caused her to swore for revenge.

Quite exquisite. We were all waiting for Dian and Nico's reunion and sure didn't expect this kind of reunion. It was well done (a visual treat!), performances were good, yet with the theme and the Javanese singing and all that, it's hard not to compare it with Opera Jawa. And to me, the latter still won. Opera Jawa was an epic. I don't know why, I can't take Dian's acting seriously. Maybe because of her voice? I don't know. I'm probably one of her biggest fans, but still, I don't buy her acting skills (then I shouldn't call myself a fan now, should I?). She did look painfully beautiful, though. That being said, I have to say this is probably her best performance to date. But the film itself, having only a 45 minute duration, felt like just an icing on a cake. Like it's just touching the surface. I know it's a short film, but still, it felt shallow. Anyway, we all know that Indonesia needs this kind of films to be made.. This is a gem, especially compared with all the cheap, one-note Indonesian movies that have been surfacing (more rapidly, to my horror) on cinemas for years. All in all, I can assure you that this original, pretty and artistic film is worth 45 minutes of your time. Kudos to everyone involved, quite a neat outcome.

7.5 / 10.

Elite Squad (Tropa de Elite)

Directed by José Padilha, with Bráulio Mantovani (City of God) as one of the writers, based on the book by sociologist Luiz Eduardo Soares and two BOPE officers, Major André Batista and Captain Rodrigo Pimentel. Won the Golden Berlin Bear award at the 2008 Berlin International Film Festival.

Captain Nascimento from BOPE, the most elite unit in the Military Police of the state of Rio de Janeiro, was aiming for retirement and in order to do that, he had to find his replacement. Since the Pope was coming to Rio and there was a special operation going on to secure the visit, Captain Nascimento had to find his replacement fast, and he had got to find the perfect one. During this, the fates of two childhood friends got intertwined. They were Neto and Matias, two idealistic rookies who joined the Military Police, hoping to do good, fight criminals, and uphold justice. Unfortunately, the corrupt system was far beyond what they were hoping for.

I just love it when a film starts with good shots and a loud music. It stands out, it sends a message, it keeps the spirit up. Since the verdict of whether the film sucks or not won't be known until later, it is good to prep up your audience, start with a bang. Tropa de Elite was dynamic, fast, brutal, smartly packaged. It's a well crafted blood-pumping experience. Even though it used the narration of Captain Nascimento, seen from his point of view, the character that grew the most and was most focused on was probably Matias. It is just unbelievable (and sometimes fascinating) to see the conditions of the slums of Rio. Do these things really happen over there? Is it that bad? I have no idea. The same theme was brought up in City of God, but these two films are on a different level. Both are packed, alive and thrilling, but City of God has more soul. However, this one is not just an action movie, I'm sure it is more than that. The main character, Captain Nascimento, might not be your typical hero. He sure was troubled. Quite a pain to see such a character, but that's the point: he delivered. Wagner Moura played the character well.. even though he reminded me too much of Gerard Way. He should be the inspiration for Gerard Way.. or is it vice versa? ;p Anyway, I thought this was a great film, packed with action, a dash of perfectly placed humor, yet still had that side of humanity. The loud music at the start lived up to the expectations.

8 / 10.

The Man Who Loved Yngve (Mannen som elsket Yngve)

Directed by Stian Kristiansen, based on the novel by Tore Renberg. Won Best Film at the main national film award in Norway, the Amanda Awards. A Norwegian production.

The year was 1989. Young Jarle Klepp seemed to have everything, a kick-ass girlfriend, a cool buddy and a new punk band that seemed promising. Then came Yngve, the new student, who was as conservative as it got. Jarle was helplessly drawn to Yngve and without control, his life seemed to be crumbling down because of it.

First things first, homophobics should stay out. Okay, this is a good film, I really liked it. It's a film about youth, coming out, relationships, growing up.. It actually was kinda different from the usual coming out storylines because it mainly focuses on how Jarle's life and his relationships with the people around him changed as he, unwillingly and unconsciously, came out. The homosexual theme was brought up and handled very carefully and elegantly, it was far from cheap. Although the whole theme of youth spirit, music and coming out reminded me of C.R.A.Z.Y and I gotta say that I love the latter more, this one is still a keeper. The performances were wonderful, the shots were great and all in all, it's a wonderful piece of work. This is how you should handle the theme of homosexuality, with subtlety and elegance. The ending (which actually still confuses me) was bittersweet and heartbreaking. So yeah, quite a wonderful piece of work. I really wish I hadn't watched it with a homophobic audience who laughed and made shameful comments during pivotal scenes.

8 / 10.

Nonna's Trip (El Viaje de la Nonna)

Directed by Sebastián Silva, who is primarily an AD, has worked in numerous films and among them were Babel, Before Night Falls and Titanic. A Mexican production.

After her husband passed away, all Nonna wanted to do was to visit Italy, to a little town where he was from. Since she was already very old and had started to forget things, her family thought there would be no point getting her to Italy and experience a trip that she would soon forget anyway. But eventually they decided to take their beloved grandmother and embark on a trip, with a video camera along the way.

Kinda unexpected, funny, quite charming.. I really liked the idea. It sure was able to bring some laughs and the story was rather touching. It's not that good for me because sometimes the jokes tired out and even though the theme is obviously family, somehow I didn't feel like it reached out. But it certainly was entertaining and made the audience laughed throughout the film. But anyway, it's pretty good. The idea really bought me.

7 / 10.

Welcome to the Sticks (Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis)

Directed by Danny Boon, starring Kad Merad and Boon himself. Holds the record for the highest first-week intake of a French movie in its home country and is allegedly the most successful French film in France.

Philippe Abrams tried to make his wife happy by requesting for a transfer to the Riviera. His request denied, he tried other ways to fool the inspector, whatever it took to earn him the transfer. Alas, his scam was uncovered and as opposed to the sunny Riviera, Abrams got transfered to the north, where everything seemed like hell. Leaving his wife and son behind, he moved to the north, eventually finding out that it was not hell after all.

Realized that Danny Boon was in Mon Meilleur Ami, a film that I liked verrrry much. I don't know about the whole most successful film thing, but for sure, I enjoyed it immensely. It's funny, it's entertaining, it's heart-warming. A feel-good movie that you can watch with family and friends. Been reading negative reviews about it, but trust me, if you're looking for a relaxing, feel-good movie, this is it. Don't mind the negative reviews.

7.5 / 10.

Twilight

Directed by Catherine Hardwicke (Thirteen), based on the novel by Stephenie Meyer. Starring Robert Pattinson (Harry Potter's Cedric Diggory) and Kristen Stewart (Panic Room, Into the Wild).

A love story between a teenage girl and a vampire. She fell in love with him, would do anything for him, even risk her life. The vampire boy was also in love with her and was constantly restraining himself from bleeding the girl dry. Enough said.

First of all the movie looked cheap. The young actors (aside from Stewart and Pattinson) looked kinda amateur-ish. It's just bad. The first few scenes were ridiculously cheap, complimented with music that didn't do the scenes any good. Aargh, just frustratingly cheap. Okay, cheapness aside, I think both lead actors did really well delivering some corny lines and were available to make them sound not too corny. The story was okay.. It felt like everything went too fast, but I can't exactly see another way than that, so that's okay too. It will definitely appeal to its market (fourteen year-old girls.. Twilight moms..) and it sure is a guilty pleasure for moviegoers. I personally think it's not explained enough why Edward was so in love with Bella. He just kept saying how much he wanted to bite Bella. WTF? However, Kristen and Pattinson's chemistry is just electric and such a pleasure to see. They were both the perfect actors for the roles, I really can't see other actors replacing them. They were just perfect for each other. Even though at first the movie felt really cheap, later it picked itself up and you'll be able to enjoy it. Well, overall.. it's a guilty pleasure. But the whole thing is worth watching because of the lead actors. Perfect match. If you're craving for some teenage romance with a twist, this sure is it.

Different set of cast (some), more subdued make up and less corny lines would probably be better. I think. Oh, and I am so grateful that Pattinson sings. Awesomeness. His "Never Think" and "Let Me Sign" are just.. awesome.

6.5 / 10.

I Just Didn't Do It (それでもボクはやってない)

Written and directed by Masayuki Suo (the man who brought us Shall We Dance?, the original one, of course. Not the bad, cheap, remade-by-Hollywood one) after his 11-year absence. Starring Ryo Kase (Letters from Iwo Jima), Koji Yakusho (Shall We Dance?, Babel), Asaka Seto and Fumiyo Kohinata (HERO). Japan's Official Submission to the Best Foreign Language Film Category of the 80th Annual Academy Awards (2008).

Twenty six year old Teppei Kaneko was falsely accused of molesting a high school girl on a train. He pleaded not guilty, which lead him to endless hearings on court. Was his innocence enough for vindication? Or would the invincible power of the state overrule everything?

Saw it because I loved Kase's performance in Letters from Iwo Jima and I really enjoyed Suo's 1994 Shall We Dance. The film was poignant, powerful, engaging, you really can't help but feel for Kaneko. You can feel his desperation, his anger, his disappointment.. Kase is a fine actor, he was able to carry the film by himself. Like most Japanese films, this one is slow-paced, with very minimum plot. That's why the lead actor's performance can be the key, and Kase nailed it. For two and a half hours, the scenes didn't run very far from court sessions, but we can really feel the character. He meant every word that came out of his mouth, and we're able to feel it. His facial expressions, everything. And the whole theme itself, about Japan's legal system, rings very true to me. I'm sure that this kind of thing doesn't only happen in Japan, but to many other countries as well. How the unchecked state power seems to be untouchable, invincible, thus fails to uphold justice. It's scary, it's unjust, but it's happening. I really loved the text shown before the film began that stated that it is better to let ten criminals free than to punish one innocent man.

It's kinda hard to translate languages and even though the English title is basically right, the Japanese title actually emphasizes a bit more on the "just" part. The emphasized use of "Soredemo" might be easier to understand when you actually see the film and pay attention to the line when Kaneko said it.

8.5 / 10.