My Movie Meme

I've left this blog postless for so long now I think I've gotten rusty. I do have a lot of things I want to share; I didn't just sit and do nothing during my 2-month absence here. But my fingers don't seem to be in the mood for typing. For now, I'll make post my version of the movie meme from my friend's blog as my comeback to my happy crappy blog.

Take the top 100 grossing movies: italicize the ones you've seen.

1. Titanic (1997) - $600,779,824
2. Star Wars (1977) - $460,935,665
3. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) - $434,949,459
4. Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999) - $431,065,444
5. Spider-Man (2002) - $403,706,375
6. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, The (2003) - $377,019,252
7. Passion of the Christ, The (2004) - $370,025,697
8. Jurassic Park (1993) - $356,784,000
9. Shrek 2 (2004) - $356,211,000
10. Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, The (2002) - $340,478,898
11. Finding Nemo (2003) - $339,714,367
12. Forrest Gump (1994) - $329,691,196
13. Lion King, The (1994) - $328,423,001
14. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001) - $317,557,891
15. Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001) - $313,837,577
16. Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002) - $310,675,583
17. Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) - $309,125,409
18. Independence Day (1996) - $306,124,059
19. Pirates of the Caribbean (2003) - $305,411,224
20. Sixth Sense, The (1999) - $293,501,675
21. Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) - $290,158,751
22. Home Alone (1990) - $285,761,243
23. Matrix Reloaded, The (2003) - $281,492,479
24. Shrek (2001) - $267,652,016
25. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002) - $261,970,615
26. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) - $260,031,035
27. Jaws (1975) - $260,000,000
28. Monsters, Inc. (2001) - $255,870,172
29. Batman (1989) - $251,188,924
30. Men in Black (1997) - $250,147,615
31. Toy Story 2 (1999) - $245,823,397
32. Bruce Almighty (2003) - $242,589,580
33. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) - $242,374,454
34. Twister (1996) - $241,700,000
35. My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002) - $241,437,427
36. Ghost Busters (1984) - $238,600,000
37. Beverly Hills Cop (1984) - $234,760,500
38. Cast Away (2000) - $233,630,478
39. Lost World: Jurassic Park, The (1997) - $229,074,524
40. Signs (2002) - $227,965,690
41. Rush Hour 2 (2001) - $226,138,454
42. Mrs. Doubtfire (1993) - $219,200,000
43. Ghost (1990) - $217,631,306
44. Aladdin (1992) - $217,350,219
45. Saving Private Ryan (1998) - $216,119,491
46. Mission: Impossible II (2000) - $215,397,30
47. X2 (2003) - $214,948,780
48. Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002) - $213,079,163
49. Back to the Future (1985) - $210,609,762
50. Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999) - $205,399,422
51. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) - $204,843,350
52. Exorcist, The (1973) - $204,565,000
53. Mummy Returns, The (2001) - $202,007,640
54. Armageddon (1998) - $201,573,391
55. Gone with the Wind (1939) - $198,655,278
56. Pearl Harbor (2001) - $198,539,855
57. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) - $197,171,806
58. Toy Story (1995) - $191,800,000
59. Men in Black II (2002) - $190,418,803
60. Gladiator (2000) - $187,670,866
61. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) - $184,925,485
62. Dances with Wolves (1990) - $184,208,848
63. Batman Forever (1995) - $184,031,112
64. Fugitive, The (1993) - $183,875,760
65. Ocean’s Eleven (2001) - $183,405,771
66. What Women Want (2000) - $182,805,123
67. Perfect Storm, The (2000) - $182,618,434
68. Liar Liar (1997) - $181,395,380
69. Grease (1978) - $181,360,000
70. Jurassic Park III (2001) - $181,166,115
71. Mission: Impossible (1996) - $180,965,237
72. Planet of the Apes (2001) - $180,011,740
73. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) - $179,870,271
74. Pretty Woman (1990) - $178,406,268
75. Tootsie (1982) - $177,200,000
76. Top Gun (1986) - $176,781,728
77. There’s Something About Mary (1998) - $176,483,808
78. Ice Age (2002) - $176,387,405
79. Crocodile Dundee (1986) - $174,635,000
80. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992) - $173,585,516
81. Elf (2003) - $173,381,405
82. Air Force One (1997) - $172,888,056
83. Rain Man (1988) - $172,825,435
84. Apollo 13 (1995) - $172,071,312
85. Matrix, The (1999) - $171,383,253
86. Beauty and the Beast (1991) - $171,301,428
87. Tarzan (1999) - $171,085,177
88. Beautiful Mind, A (2001) - $170,708,996
89. Chicago (2002) - $170,684,505
90. Three Men and a Baby (1987) - $167,780,960
91. Meet the Parents (2000) - $166,225,040
92. Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991) - $165,500,000
93. Hannibal (2001) - $165,091,464
94. Catch Me If You Can (2002) - $164,435,221
95. Big Daddy (1999) - $163,479,795
96. Sound of Music, The (1965) - $163,214,286
97. Batman Returns (1992) - $162,831,698
98. Bug’s Life, A (1998) - $162,792,677
99. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004) - $161,963,000
100. Waterboy, The (1998) - $161,487,252


I highlighted the movies I have yet to watch to completely ake this list all slanted!

Dragonball Evolution Was Crappy

I knew it when I first heard they were making it into a movie.
I knew it when they cast Justin Chatwin for the role.
I knew it when Emmy Rossum was cast as Bulma.
I knew it when I saw the poster and saw mostly women and no muscles.
I knew it when they made Piccolo the antagonist.
I knew it when I saw or heard no sign of Kririn and the other Dragon Ball heroes.
I knew it when Chi-Chi and Goku were portrayed as the geek-and-popular-girl love tandem.
I knew it when the plot just didn't make any sense at all!

I just knew that Dragonball Evolution would end up crappy.

In the first place, the very idea of adapting the Dragon Ball series into a live action movie never really appealed to me. Why? Because it was unimaginable to take it into live action. The Dragon Ball series is one of those animations that just wouldn't fit right into the live movies for the very reason that live action can't seem to give it justice.

Think about it. Hardcore muscle men, the Super Saiyan mode (not that this was included in the movie), Piccolo's appearance (James Marsters made me hate Piccolo when I really like Piccolo in the anime), the so-far-out-to-the-future technology by Bulma and her father, and even Shen Long the great dragon (who turns out puny in the movie)... I cannot imagine these things in live action.

Of all anime, why did they choose Dragon Ball anyway? The series isn't like Marvel or DC Comics where we human beings can really relate to the superheroes because they are human, too. The characters in the Dragon Ball series are made up of different species, and while we can connect with their emotions and storylines, it's a different thing altogether when the entire feel of the whole vast universe concept is part of the story's charm. Dragon Ball isn't just about good versus evil and the "who's stronger?" question. Part of what made the anime a beloved series is because of its universal concept and the unimaginable and unfathomable powers that can only occur in our wildest dreams.

After watching Dragonball Evolution, I felt skeptic over the other live action adaptations that'll be out in the future. The Last Airbender is in the works (with Dev Patel as my fave Zuko?) and I am hoping they won't trash the Avatar series like they did Dragon Ball.

Time Leap

Two of the movies I watched yesterday had time as an important concept. Time leap is where we get to take a short travel or a kind of jump into another time, whether in the past or in the future. The movies reiterated the importance that time can either heal or hurt us and those around us. It also emphasizes the notion that you've got do what you've got to do.. as soon as possible and as right a time as possible. In the words of Chiaki Mamiya in The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, "Time waits for no one!"

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time: This Japanese animated movie has been in my collection for weeks now, but I've only had the chance to watch it yesterday. It has a very flowing plot, and the story is very heartwarming. There were scenes that made me cringe, particularly the episodes where the main character, Konno Makoto, and her friends are supposed to be killed in an accident. But I guess it was part of the impact that the movie wanted to give to the audience. Time leaping, when used in an irresponsible and careless acts of selfishness, can cause hurt to others. Makoto was really hapy about being able to leap back into the past to correct her unlucky cicrumstances, but in every episode she changed there was always a person who gut hurt. And they get hurt harder than she was. A fellow classmate was constantly bullied, and her friends got killed. And before she knew it, she only had one more chance to leap through time and fix everything.

Frequency: There wasn't exactly a person leaping through time in this movie. But if you consider talking to a person from another time through a battered old radio as leaping through time (like I do), then let us consider time leap as one of the modes in the movie. John Sullivan gets a chance to talk to his father, Frank Sullivan, who died in his fireman duties when John was still a child, through a radio control system that his father owned when he was still alive. Through this, John was able to warn and save his father from getting killed in a fire accident. But while his father got to survive to see John grow into a cop, his mother was gone and murdered years ago instead. In a race through time to save his mother, both John and his father track the serial killer who killed his mother. I especially like the ending of the movie, where both father and son were assaulted by the killer in their own times.

It goes without saying that time leap can have disastrous consequences. There will always be a losing end to the bargain. But it also shows us how time can help and heal. In John's case, they were able to save his mother and keep their family intact. In Makoto's case came the knowledge that time still flows and balances equations even if you go back and make yourself an addition, thereby realizing that in every happiness there is pain. All we can do is learn how to cope with it and flow with time.

"Time waits for no one!"

Keanu Reeves As Spike Spiegel

My love for Keanu Reeves is still alive, and it has been burning brighter when I heard he would be playing Spike Spiegel in the live action movie of the popular anime Cowboy Bebop. As I think more about it, the more I'm in for him having the role. I really wouldn't have it any other way!

Keanu has been in a lot of fire with his acting skills because of his blank expressions. His latest movie, The Day the Earth Stood Still, gave him a rain of criticisms because of this. I won't argue with this because I know this to be true. But I don't think this will be the case with Cowboy Bebop.

For one, the movie has a futuristic setting, with space mobiles and lots of action. We've seen Keanu as Neo in the Matrix trilogies, didn't we? There's also the character of Spike Spiegel, arrogant, cocky, with the kind of laid-back attitude of a cool cowboy. Keanu as Constantine was cool, and Keanu in Speed and Street Kings was cocky and arrogant.

The only problem I see, and what I'm really itching to see, is the funny and quirky expressions by Spike Spiegel at times of humorous setbacks like having a female, a kid, and a dog on his ship. I'm not sure how he'll do, but I'm excited as to how Keanu will take this into the screen.

Hollywood Movie Promoted Through a Panel of Scientists?

It's definitely a unique kind of movie promotion, especially with a Hollywood movie and with an A-lister in attendance. Best surprise of all was that the A-lister was Keanu Reeves, and for him to be in a panel made up entirely of scientists (with movie director Scott Derrickson) piqued my interest.

It isn't because I thought Keanu Reeves isn't smart enough to hold himself together among intellectuals. It's just that Keanu usually doesn't talk that much, and here he is placed among people who talk quite extensively about the presence of extraterrestrial beings and other scientific what-ifs.

This took place at the California Institute of Technology, where director Derrickson and Reeves held the promotion of their movie, The Day the Earth Stood Still. As expected of an audience where science and fact is the medium of learning, the discussion focused more on the the relationship and differences of art and science rather than on the entertainment values of the movie.

I can easily understand how Keanu Reeves would be so awkward in this situation. But I applaud the fact that he really came to the event. He said so little, and some were said jokingly and saracstically. Can't blame him, really. There were strange questions aired, like "Are you human?," to which Reeves replied, "If you cut me, do I not bleed?"

The whole story:
The Day the Earth Stood Still: Perspectives on the Remake

I find this a very refreshing approach towards marketing a movie to the public. It's not star-studded and red-carpeted, but it still gained some attention. The promotion was also direct and, well, educational. I'm of a mind that other movies should do this, especially movies that touch on intriguing topics like extraterrestrial beings or the existence of God.

Very Short Movie Reviews

I was serious when I said that I was going to catch up to my siblings regarding movies. I've decided to watch at least one movie a day, and the routine has been going well so far (except for getting tired red eyes). For the past few days, I've set aside two hours to watch movies my brother and I downloaded. I've already seen some of them but I decided to watch them again.

In celebration of finding the will, the time, and the effort to reach my goal of being a movie buff, I'm giving some very very very short reviews of the films I've seen since Saturday.

Don't expect any award-winning movies here! Most of the films in the list are not well known, because, well, my brother and I like to see the lesser known and less popular movies. We're also branching out to the movies of the east (Korean, Thai, and Japanese). My brother mainly looks out for the horror films while I go for action and comedy.

Baby and I (Korean; 2008)
Directed by Kim Jin-yeong
Starring: Jang Geun-suk
---> I'll go with comedy before going to the horror and action films. Baby and I is a film that centers around a rebellious teenager who ends up caring for a baby dumped onto him while grocery shopping. The movie has its cute moments. It's a comedy so some unrealistic situations are excused. But, hey, if they were going to put some dubbing on the baby, they could've gone for a cute child's voice and not some old geezer's!

Alive (Japanese; 2002)
Directed by Ryuhei Kitamura
Starring: Hideo Sakaki, Tak Sakaguchi
---> I only liked the Matrix moment, where the protagonist killed off his enemies like Keanu Reeves did. Other than that, the movie was kind of boring. The dark setting added to the gloomy atmosphere and made the movie more glum and dragging. The concept of the movie was interesting, though; Two prisoners are being observed and one of them is chosen to be the host of an alien being called the "Isomer." The Isomer makes the host powerful (complete with martial arts chops and some sonic waves), using the host's urge to kill as an energy source or something.

Alone (Thai; 2007)
Directed by Banjong Pisanthanakun, Parkpoom Wongpoom
Starring: Marsha Wattanapanich
---> This is a horror film about once conjoined twins, one dead and one living. The dead one haunts the live one because of what happened in the past. Hmmm.. what do I say about this movie? This movie actually won awards, and the lead actress did a good job portraying both good and evil twins. The flow of the story was also well laid out. To me, though, it was just another typical Asian horror film.

An American Haunting (2006)
Directed by Courtney Solomon
Starring: Donald Sutherland, Sissy Spacek
---> I was greatly disappointed with the movie. It didn't scare me, and the narration was irritating. It was said to be based on a true story but somehow, after all the horror films I've seen, this movie was not convincing.

The Covenant (2006)
Directed by Renny Harlin
Starring: Steven Strait
---> I've already watched this movie before, and I still like it, mainly becuase of the story and the magic stuff. I didn't like the girl but the rest of the cast were good enough for me. I'd have to say, though, that it'll just be on the level of a teen movie.

White Noise: The Light (2007)
Directed by Patrick Lussier
Starring: Nathan Fillon
---> Now this is a great horror movie. It has the typical flow wherein the protagonist sees the ghostly visions and gets down to the bottom of the mystery at the end. It also involves "tria mera" and the Bible (I haven't been able to figure out how the word "tria mera" mathematically came to be yet).

Mirrors (2008)
Directed by Alexandre Aja
Starring: Kiefer Sutherland
---> I only had a problem with the latter part of the movie, where the spirit of the mirrors converged into the old nun and the nun became some sort of mutant. My sister and brother were wondering how that could be realistic, and I'm wondering the same thing. Ghosts and possessions are one thing, a mutant being with reptile-like abilities is another. But generally, it was a good movie.

Shoot 'Em Up (2007)
Directed by Michael Davis
Starring: Clive Owen, Paul Giamatti, Monica Bellucci
---> I enjoyed this movie a lot. I've also watched this before so I wasn't surprised at all the gore and brutality. Some of the scenes and stunts are surely unrealistic. Still, it gave me great entertainment.

Street Kings (2008)
Directed by David Ayer
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Forest Whitaker, Hugh Laurie
---> I've wanted to watch this ever since I saw its trailer because of Keanu Reeves and Hugh Laurie. Turns out that, although Hugh Laurie's role was pivotal, he doesn't appear that much. There's also a crappy moment here --- spoiler --- Chris Evans dies. Well, a lot of them die. It's a dirty cop movie, after all. All I can say is that if you don't like dirty cop movies, then don't watch. It'll just be a bore. I just continued to watch till the end to know who the real bad guy in the movie was.

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................................... and more movies to come! :D

The Wrong Love Pair-Ups!

Whenever I watch a movie or animation, or whenever I read a book or a story, I usually keep tabs on the love pair-ups. Must be the stifled romantic in me, but the love pair ups, or the love teams, in the stories can have an effect in me. If I love the pairing of the protagonist and his or her love interest, then I would only be too happy to read more quickly or watch the movie/animation more intently. If I hate the pair, though, I'd end up crunching my nose and sighing in frustration with as to why the two characters got together and not with some other person who I think would be more compatible for them.

I just read Brisingr, the third installment of the Inheritance Cycle series by Christopher Paolini. After reading it, I got even more frustrated with the state of Eragon's lovelife. I loved the book, there's no mistake. I love the series and I am eagerly waiting for the fourth and last book of the series. But Eragon's lovelife frustrates me. The third book has ended but he still pines for Arya, and his love still remains unrequited.

This brings to my mind the other love pair-ups that I wanted to end in a happily-ever-after story but are most usually not meant to be. Some of the love pair-ups I like would sometimes come true but towards the end of the story, it's either their relationship status is in trouble or has gone totally down the rocks. And that just irks me to the point that I want to bash the author's or creator's head for not making the pair-ups work.

To elaborate, here are some of my most wanted love pair-ups and how they are not together:

1. Eragon and Angela

Were you surprised that I voted for Angela to be Eragon's love interest? Well, it's because Iwant his love interest to be Angela, and not Arya. Arya just doesn't seem to be that interesting, aside form the fact that she's an elf and elves are elegant. I also don't feel the sparks between Eragon and Arya whenever they have a moment with each other in the story. Perhaps, Arya is just stiff by nature and just doesn't show her feelings that much. I tried to settle with an "opposites attract" theme with the Eragon-Arya pair-up but it still doesn't fit for me.

Now, Angela, on the other hand, is quite more interesting than Arya. She goes overboard sometimes but I like her and her way with people. I especially like how she interacts with Eragon, and I believe that at one time, in Eldest, there was a time when Eragon felt comfortable with Angela. He still does, I'm sure, as he knows Angela treats him as she would any other person, and that mattered to Eragon.

Sadly, the author doesn't seem to share my sentiments on the matter. He still goes on with Eragon pining after Arya. (I'll still read the fourth book, no matter who Eragon will be with.)

2. Harry Potter and Luna Lovegood

Now, I'm sure you're laughing. Hey, I'm giggling, too. I know. Loony Luna's a little.. err... loony.. for the famous Harry Potter. But I'd still take Luna over the irritable Cho Chang and the annoying Ginny Weasley. But then I guess the majority wins, and Harry and Luna are not meant to be. It rarely happens when a famous character like Harry Potter would fall for a weird girl like Luna.

I got over this not-meant-to-be pair-up when I grew frustrated over the Harry Potter series (I let it pass that Harry got together with Ginny, but it was the way the story had gone darker and the way Harry had become a little smug that made me lose my Harry Potter addiction).

3. Cagalli Yula Athha and Athrun Patrick Zala

I am a huge fan. They were actually paired up in the Gundam SEED series. But it was implied that they broke up towards the end of Gundam SEED Destiny, with Cagalli choosing to focus on ruling Orb and leaving Athrun in the hands of another girl. I can recall a blog stating their relationship status to be "on hiatus."

A lot of me would agree that they really go well together. Athrun's the calm and shy type, while Cagalli is outgoing and frank. I rejoiced when they got together in Gundam SEED, and I hated the SEED Destiny ending because it made it obvious that the two are no longer together in the end. The creators had better launch a movie or another season and have Cagalli and Athrun back together again. Just when is the proposed movie going to be finalized anyway?!

4. Uzumaki Naruto and Hyuuga Hinata

I'm sure I'm not the only one vying for this pair-up to come true. You can't hate Naruto, and you can't hate Hinata. Naruto is just so whacked in the head he's hopeless, but Hinata still likes him. Naruto can get himself humiliated a million times, and Hinata would still be on the side admiring him. Well, it's a little annoying that Hinata is extremely shy. But wouldn't that just match Naruto's thick face and loud mouth?

The anime and manga is gearing towards Naruto and Sakura, but I'm still betting on Naruto and Hinata. And I'm not the only one so the creator better think before he settles on Naruto's love interest.

5. Kusosaki Ichigo and Inoue Orihime

All the Bleach fans know how Inoue is so much in love with Ichigo, while Ichigo jsut values friendship so much he knows nothing of the "rabu-rabu" feelings. Despite his ignorance on the subject, though, it's something that I grew to like about him. Right now, I can't see him as the romantic type.

This pair-up might go well as the series goes on. But there is the presence of Rukia to think about. I do not hate Rukia; I like her, too, as a matter of fact. I'm not sure about how she feels about Ichigo, but Ichigo certainly listens to Rukia and values her opinions. There have been many times wherein Ichigo is so influenced by Rukia. When it comes to Inoue, it's just pure friendship. I do not detect anything from Ichigo, but I hope that he would Inoue.


These are just some of the pair-ups I have in mind right now. What are the chances these pair-ups will come to be, do you think?

Gotta Love the Monk

I'm going through Jason Statham's movies right now, and one of his movies that I really love is the Mean Machine. Not that it's his movie; he just made a sort of special appearance as the most feared convict in prison. Legend has it among the cons that Monk (Jason Statham) killed 23 men with his bare hands... and that was before he learned karate. He was placed in a separate cell from the other inmates, and he is closely guarded because of his insane desire to crack bones in a person's body.

Mean Machine is a movie that pitches inmates versus the prison guards in a game of football. Monk is the goalie... who likes to be a sweeper now and then and do flying kicks at the opponent when the ref isn't looking. He's insane, but you just gotta love him here.

What Was Wrong With The Mummy 3?

A lot was wrong with the movie. In its production and promotional stages, I did have a feeling that The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor wasn't going to be entertaining and thrilling. The trailer wasn't very catchy, and the public details about the film itself raised some eyebrows of The Mummy fans.

1. No Rachel Weisz

I was disappointed in hearing that Rachel Weisz wasn't going to reprise her role as Evie. She and Brendan Fraser were so compatible with their roles. She knew how to act ditzy and intelligent at the same time, and she knew how to exude humor in her role.

I have never heard of Maria Bello before this film. She has talent, but I would not have traded Rachel Weisz for her. She managed to almost sound like Rachel Weisz, but I noticed something stiff in her tone. It almost felt forced, whereas Rachel was so natural.

2. No Oded Fehr

This was a given when news came out that the setting for the new movie was ancient China. Didn't the film makers know that Oded Fehr brought a lot of charm to the previous The Mummy movies? Casting him out was a loss on their part.

3. China and Chinese mummies

When I hear the word "mummy", I immediately think of Egypt. China would be so far out from my mind. India would've been closer, perhaps. But China?

The Chinese emperor, or the Dragon Emperor (Jet Li), didn't even become a real mummy. The emperor and his army just happened to become terracotta figures. Their insides weren't taken out and they didn't undergo mummification. They were more like sand warriors to me (and even as sand warriors they are way down below the dog warriors of Anubis in The Mummy Returns).

4. Alex O'Connell looks like his just his father's age

Just who did the casting for this film?

I do not doubt that Luke Ford would have clinched the role of an adventurer. But to be the 18-year-old adventurer son of Brendan Fraser and Maria Bello was not a good role for him. For starters, he doesn't look 18. There would've been no problem if he looked 18 even though he is in reality 27 years old. But he looks like Brendan Fraser's buddy instead of his son.

There should've been no shortage of younger actors fit for the role. What were the casting directors thinking?!

5. Jet Li and Michelle Yeoh

I love them. They're great martial artists and great performers. But I didn't like their performance in The Mummy 3. They were both stiff. Maybe it was because of their roles (Chinese nobility and honor and all that), but I would have liked to see some more spirit in their actions.

It was said that they choreographed their sword fight scene. After I saw it, I wished Jackie Chan was a part of the movie. He could'v helped with the action choreography because that one-on-one was lame.

6. Jet Li's No Dragon

Leave the dragon to the Lee and not the Li. Jet Li does not exude the menace of a dragon, much less a three-headed one.

7. Bad 3D effects

The dragon was bad, and the skeleton army was more than messy. The yeti were cute and I would love to cuddle up with them. But to rate the special effects in its totality, I'd give it 2 out of 5 stars. The dragon transforming back into Jet Li had a lot to do with my rating.

8. Lame Humor

The third film just didn't get into the level of previous The Mummy movies when it comes to humor. In The Mummy 3, it felt like the humor and the punch lines were injected forcefully. Even Brendan Fraser's facial expressions and intonations couldn't make me snicker even a little.

9. The Pace

It was so obvious that the director for the third film was not the director of The Mummy and The Mummy Returns. Stephen Sommers can make you enjoy the ride of the movies. Rob Cohen, on the other hand, shifts from one scene to another like he was trying to squeeze the movie in two hours. Hey, we can handle more than two hours of screen time (just look at the box-office hits of The Dark Knight and Spiderman).

Really.
If ever I want to watch mummy movies, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor won't be on the list.

12 Gifts Leading to The Ultimate Gift

The Ultimate Gift is a feel-good movie based on the bestselling novel by Jim Stovall. I had the chance to watch the movie last week. Before that I did some research on the movie and found that it had low ratings from critics and reviews. This was surprising, because judging from the plot of the story, the movie was hardly anything but good.

What's more is that the critics and reviewers gave low ratings because the movie was too sweet for their tastes! Ha! So does this mean that Disney movies get low ratings too?! I think I can say that the Disney movies are sweeter than The Ultimate Gift.

The movie centers on the relationship of a business tycoon and his gone-wild grandson, who is shown to have harbored angry feelings for his grandfather. Red Stevens (James Garner), though, only has love for his grandson. Wanting to reach out to him, he concocts a plan for Jason Stevens (Drew Fuller from Charmed) to go through a "journey of gifts" which will ultimately lead him to the ultimate gift that his grandfather left for him:

• The Gift of Work
• The Gift of Problems
• The Gift of Friends
• The Gift of Giving
• The Gift of Gratitude
• The Gift of Family
• The Gift of Learning
• The Gift of Money
• The Gift of Laughter
• The Gift of a Day
• The Gift of Dreams
• The Gift of Love

I think we can all guess what the ultimate gift is. These twelve gifts make up that one gift that made a big difference to Jason Stevens: a life of happiness, appreciation, and love. Red Stevens also left $100 million to his grandson, giving Jason the biggest portion of the tycoon's wealth (which is great because his relatives are all stuck-ups).

Worst Line Before the Kiss

I was watching the first Dungeons and Dragons film (2000) last weekend, and the kissing scene was still as I thought it was when I first saw the movie years ago --- totally lame. What made the moment unromantic and eyebrow-raising for me was the character line before the kiss.

Lead protagonists Ridley Freeborn (Justin Whalin) and Marina Pretensa (Zoe McLellan) were both distraught and frustrated in this scene. It was just after the death of Ridley's best friend Snails (played by Marlon Wayans) and Ridley was angry and blaming the whole mage community while Marina was trying to comfort and set his head straight. It was kind of a lover's quarrel. Then after some heated exchange, both calm down a little. Ridley looks at Marina and...

Ridley to Marina: You know, for a mage, you're pretty smart.

... and then the kiss.

I didn't think it was suitable to have the kiss in this scene but the director seemed to think it was okay. A hug would've been enough. They should've saved the kiss for later, especially if they couldn't think of a better line than this. It was a really crappy moment there.

Stupid Entry From Wikipedia

I've gotten great information from Wikipedia whenever I needed it, but this entry just made it clear to me why Wikipedia isn't so trusted.

Wikipedia: The Power Within (1995)

I wanted to get more information on The Power Within and the karate star who portrayed the lead role in the movie, Ted Jan Roberts (who was Dex in Masked Rider). Instead I get this crap of a summary. I mean, why include this:

One day, at lunch, Stan and his friend notice the top jock at school asking his girlfriend why they broke up. Stan and his friend overhear the conversation and Stan's friend says something along the lines of, "...it'd be nice if someone would shove his jock strap in his face..." Stan counters this by saying, "I think I can do better than that." Stan then gets up and asks the top jock's girlfriend out. The top jock becomes furious and tries to punch Stan, but Stan grabs his fist in defence. A fight breaks out, and Stan ends up defeating 12 jocks in the process.

... and end the plot like this?

Stan discovers his powers were in him the whole time and defeats Vonn, gets the girl and is happy.

Such crap.

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian Review

As a fan of epic fantasies and magical worlds, I wasn't about to pass up the opportunity of watching The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian. I was impressed with how the movie crew revived The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe and was excited how they would do with Prince Caspian.

It was intriguing for me when it was released that Ben Barnes would play the role of Prince Caspian. The original story was about a child prince, after all. I believe that C.S. Lewis' goal was to portray the hero as innocent and pure, thus the character of a child.

But Ben Barnes is no child (quite obviously). One reason I can think of why the child prince was transformed into a grown-up Prince Caspian was to market the movie a little more. I think everybody can relate to the pull of an actor's presence in a movie. My sister definitely felt it with Ben Barnes cast as Prince Caspian. I doubt if she would've been as excited as she was if Prince Caspian remained a child in the new movie.

Having a grown-up Prince Caspian also modifies the audience market of the movie. Maybe the crew wanted to have more adult movie-goers to like the film. The Chronicles of Narnia is meant for children but with a grown-up hero featured in the stories, the audience market becomes broader.

Not that I am complaining that Ben Barnes was given Prince Caspian's role. He still pulled off an innocent childlike charm onscreen. It also made the story more believable for me. I mean, even when reading the book, one would be skeptic to think that a child would win in battle against his uncle and an army. It did say in the book that he was near that to Peter Pevensie's age, so they sought out somebody who could match up to William Moseley in terms of looks and charm.

I had one problem with Ben Barnes' performance, though: his accent. I don't see why he needed that accent in the role. Being British would be enough. I don't think that there was anything in the book, too, about Telmarines having an accent like that. It was distracting. I find it amusing that he modeled the accent after Mandy Patinkin's Inigo Montoya because I'm a fan of Inigo Montoya. But, really, I didn't like it on Ben Barnes' Prince Caspian.

The Pevensie cast was impressive. They're not that accomplished as actors and actresses yet, but they definitely have the goods. All four certainly improved since The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Prince Caspian zooms into the development of the Pevensie children, especially that of Peter's and Susan's. Well, the two elder Pevensies won't be coming back for The Voyage of the Dawn Treader so I guess it was only fair for them to have the spotlight in this movie.


I do not blame the arrogant turn that Peter's character had taken. I think it was only fitting that it was inserted in the movie because it made the characters more alive. William Moseley definitely carried the role pretty well. You can see by the look on his face in the fistfight scene how he's grown up from someone who used to be the High King. Anne Popplewell's Susan Pevensie is being emphasized as a strong modern woman. She's present and fighting in the battle scenes and also has this romance with Prince Caspian.

The romantic turn of the story was predictable. Of course. This love story really would never work. But it made the movie more moving and sensitive. What would an adventure movie be without love somewhere in between two characters that can look right for each other?

Georgie Henley reprised her role as the youngest Pevensie. She is still the Lucy we know, full of faith and understanding. Skandar Keynes as Edmund Pevensie had the least exposure in the movie among the Pevensie cast. His role, though, perfectly brought out what was meant to be brought out in the film: his older brother's immaturity and arrogance. In Prince Caspian, Edmund has become mature and steady, as opposed to his traitorous role back in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.


The direction and storyline of the film needed more flow. I've thought of this many times over movies, but movies based on books should still be given more substance even if it is already a given that the audience knows how the story goes because of the books. I mean just because everybody already knows the story doesn't mean the film should be done in a somewhat pinched manner. The movie is already above two hours, I know, but I am willing to sit for more than that if it would have taken more for the movie to flow fully. I'm not saying that the movie was incomplete story-wise; just that there were times when I thought they just jumped to the next scene without a little transition.

Overall, though, I enjoyed the movie. The scenery and settings were impressive and beautiful. I expected nothing less from the special effects and I wasn't disappointed. It's not as brilliant as The Lord of the Rings trilogy, but it is still one of the must-see movies of the year!

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Review

I really had my doubts. It may be the Indiana Jones franchise, it may be Steven Spielberg, it may be Harrison Ford and Shia Labeouf. But there was still that chance that the movie would turn out to be a petty imitation of the past Indiana Jones movies.

Well, I was wrong. But I wasn't entirely wrong.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull still delivers humor, wit, action, and adventure like the old installments. While each scene had its glorious moments, it is undeniable that the glory felt would end as the scene ends. It was like the audience really wanted this movie to be really good that each negative point of a scene is set aside to highlight the good ones.

I'm not saying the scenes were full of negative points. They were actually fun and enjoyable. I especially liked the scene at the restaurant where Shia LaBeouf sparked a battle between greasers/bikers and jockeys/students. I only had a problem with how hurried each scene seemed. It was like they were trying to squeeze the scenes in limited amount of time.

I had no problems with the actors because they did a great job. Harrison Ford did seem a little rusty but then he's not young anymore, on and off the screen. Shia LaBeouf was Mutt, and when I say this I mean he was great. I had a problem with Cate Blanchett's accent; it was thick that it was obvious she wasn't Russian.

But the real problem I had with the movie was the... spoiler alert... aliens. They came from another dimension and another time, though, and not from outer space. Still, they're aliens to me.

Just think about it. Indiana Jones with all his archaeological adventures dealing with aliens? This was certainly a surprise, because I thought the whole setting of the movie franchise would be all about the mysterious history of mankind with some ancient trinkets involved.

I'm sure if it wasn't for the aliens, and for the squeezed-in feeling, I would have really enjoyed Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull without complaints.

Kristin Kreuk Is Chun Li

I must really have been out of the movie updates addiction for some time because this is the first I've heard of Kristin Kreuk as ChunLi of the Street Fighters. The film started filming on March and it is set in Thailand. The movie will be about Chun Li seeking vengeance for the murder of her father. The murderer is, of course, M. Bison.

Kristin Kreuk has Chinese blood in her, and as a former gymnast, i think she'll be able to pull off some action kicks and stuff. I just have some trouble picturing her as a street fighter. But I've seen a picture of her with mud on her face and with unclean clothes on (a shot out of the movie, maybe) so I can't make any serious judgment on her taking on the role at this moment.

The movie Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun Li focuses on Chun Li's journey in avenging her father's death. Another interesting news is that Kristin Kreuk won't be sporting the white buns, stockings, and brown suit that we are used to seeing Chun Li in. The creators of the movie obviously want things more realistic. The movie is set to be out next year.

Speed of Light Colors With Speed Racer

I didn't have any great expectations from Speed Racer when my sister and I decided to watch it last Monday. Speed Racer received a low rating from Rotten Tomatoes, and the story isn't actually all that original for me. Still, I liked the movie, more so than I would have imagined. Despite the negative reviews it got, I stand by my opinion that it is one of the most unique and enjoyable movies I've seen recently (though it will never ever reach up to Iron Man's level).

Speed Racer stars Emile Hirsch as Speed Racer (to those unaware, this is really his name in the movie), a genius race car driver who is caught up in a battle upholding his love for driving against a corrupt organization's stance that racing is all about money. I wasn't impressed with Emile Hirsch's acting, but it was okay enough. John Goodman is surprisingly a protagonist in the story (after portraying many villain roles like in Evan Almighty). He plays Pops Racer, Speed's father, who is the brain behind the family's Mach 5 race car. Other notable stars int he film are Susan Sarandon who plays Mom Racer, and Christina Ricci who plays Speed's supportive girlfriend Trixie.

And who would miss Matthew Fox, who plays the enigmatic Racer X? His role as an agent with a mysterious past (and a form-fitting suit) really stirred up the movie... in a good way, of course. The role of Racer X is pivotal. Keanu Reeves was the first choice to play the part. I would've loved to see Keanu play it but Matthew Fox did a good job that I have no complaints.


Korean singer Rain also made his Hollywood acting debut here in Speed Racer. I should never have expected that his English would be impressive, because it wasn't. Language aside, though, he gave nice acting chops in his role.

The storyline and direction was impressive for me. Got to hand it to the Wachowski brothers. They really have an eye for unique flows and great effects. Some people may consider the film to have too much color. But I think that that was part of the idea --- bright colors to accentuate the effects. I mean we're dealing with a family movie which centers on cars moving at the speed of light (figuratively, of course). Colors would evidently play an important part when you want a movie that kids would appreciate while not ignoring the cinematic details in speed racing.

The flow from past to present was also done in unique and genius manner. The flashbacks were clearly imprinted on the present scenes attached to it, which leave no ground for any argument on the personal developments of the characters.

Overall, I think Speed Racer is worth watching. It doesn't disappoint, no matter what the critics say.

DragonballZ Update: First Look at Goku!

I don't really see much of a difference. To me, it is still Justin Chatwin, and I can't see anything close to Goku except for the hair (and even that is not that obvious to make viewers think that he is Son Goku). Maybe I was expecting it to appear closer to the animation. Right now I'm still not impressed enough to go "woah" on this picture:

Brad Pitt as Thor of the Avengers?

It's not final yet. Brad Pitt has yet to receive an offer, actually. It is still a rumor that Brad Pitt will be given the role in the Avengers movie. Given how Brad Pitt made a fantastic portrayal of the Greek hero Achilles in the movie Troy, I don't think it's any wonder that he would be the top choice as the blonde Norse god Thor.

There's also the massive success of Iron Man to account for Brad Pitt's nomination for the role. Robert Downey, Jr. put on a high level of performance as Iron Man. It has only added pressure that the cast for the other Avengers should also be excellent in acting. Now Brad Pitt may have never won an Oscar, but there's no denying that he's one fo Hollywood's A-list stars because of his proficient acting.

Just think: Robert Downey, Jr. and Brad Pitt in one movie!

Hmmm.. I'm still trying to imagine Brad Pitt as Thor. I think he can pull it off just RDJ did Iron Man. But this is still too good to be true for now.

Oh well, this is stil just a rumor. No final word out yet.

Iron Man Sequel: Nick Fury's Cameo After the Credits

This should be a big YES! Considering the huge success of the film Iron Man, many would hope for a movie sequel. There is that constant fear that sequels might be disappointments (e.g. X-Men movies), but we never know.

The movie was so cool. I expected it to be just like the other comic book movies wherein the conversations and dialogues would be a little cliche and all that. But everything was smart and witty! Robert Downey, Jr. and Gwyneth Paltrow (though I think a little more energy would've boosted up Paltrow's Pepper Potts) had quite interesting scenes together, all smart and suave. The movie also made great balance in both showing some action and focusing on Tony Stark's character development.

The movie also had its hilarious moments, like when RDJ as Tony Stark hit the wall hard on his firs attempt in flying... my sister and I had a hard time keeping our giggles to ourselves. The story really had humor. Combining this with witty intellectual conversations and explosive action, Iron Man definitely is one of the best comic book movies ever.

There was also that teaser scene after the movie credits with Samuel L. Jackson as Colonel Nick Fury approached Tony Stark. Good thing we didn't leave immediately! ^_^ Samuel L. Jackson made a cameo appearance as the SHIELD agent and was recruiting Iron Man to be part of the Avengers. Well... we comic book lovers know that Iron Man's going to join.

The question lingering on everone's minds right now would be if the Iron Man sequel is really a final thing or not. Hey, I don't think Samuel L. Jackson would make that cameo appearance for nothing!

The Dark Knight Posters part 2