Buried, film review

BURIED

Film Review by

Joanna Marie Tan

Casts:

Ryan Reynolds as Paul Conroy               

Robert Paterson as Dan Brenner (voice)

José Luis García Pérez as Jabir (voice)

           

I cannot fathom how one puts at risk a life of an ordinary man for the reason that his family is starving and blaming it all to the Americans. Buried, starred by Ryan Reynolds as Paul Conroy, is based on a true-to-life story of a truck driver who was ambushed together with his co-workers by unknown Iraqis. Waking up inside a coffin, buried 6 feet down under, Paul only has a lighter, pen, a flash light and a cell phone with only 24 hours left before he runs out of air, and sand entering into his coffin. I remember when I first saw this film; I kept on crying especially on the middle part up to the end because I really wanted to save him. If only I could!

            The story of the movie, no doubt, is great! It shows a lot of lessons and it opens up our mind and awareness as to what is really going on in the Middle East. Lots of innocent people are suffering the consequences and I really feel pity for them. The story is perfect, but the way they did the movie, is not. There were a lot of flaws and those flaws are way too obvious. How could someone stay alive and still breathe for hours when in fact he should’ve choked to death or run out of air because he was always using fire? There were a lot of scenes in the movie wherein his cell phone was focused, and the status of his battery life was inconsistent. One thing I cannot really imagine, is on how can a snake enter and leave a coffin if that coffin is buried six feet under? Come to think about it, there’s also a great mind behind the makers of the film. In a lot of movies that I have watched, especially the thriller or suspense ones, a lot are getting problems with their phone’s signals, but in this movie, signal is definitely not a problem! (laughs)

            Even though there were a lot of flaws in the film, still, this is a good movie for all. It gives a lot of life related lessons and gives us awareness to the present situations happening. The movie is a roller coaster ride. It will bring you different emotions. For those who are claustrophobic, beware! Buried will give you a scare.

Silence of the Lambs, movie review

Jonathan Demme’s

SILENCE OF THE LAMBS

Film Review by

Joanna Marie Tan

Casts:

Jodie Foster as Clarice Starling

Scott Glenn as Jack Crawford

Anthony Hopkins as Dr. Hannibal Lecter

Ted Levine as Jame “Buffalo Bill” Gumb

           

Cannibalism already took place in this world for a long period of time. In the modern era, this is unaccepted for this is against human rights, but we cannot really expunge this doing because of cultural relativism. We cannot blame other people, especially primitive people if they do this act because what’s bad to us may be good for others and what’s good to us may be bad for them. Other causes for cannibalism are people suffering from famine or let’s take into consideration the victims of accidents who were still unsaved and do not have any choice but to eat the flesh of other victims who dies. There are a lot of cases wherein cannibalism could take place and cannibalism was widespread in the past among humans all over the world like South Pacific, Fiji, Congo, New Zealand, and many more. 

            Silence of the Lambs is an award winning movie directed by Jonathan Demme starred by best actress, Jodie Foster and best actor, Anthony Hopkins, and I must say, they deserved all the awards! Silence of the Lambs is one of the tautest, thrilling and surreal movies I have ever watched. The story of disturbing characterizations of mass murderers that kill or rather slaughter their victims put me into distress particularly the character of Lecter who was a psychiatrist turned psychopath cannibal. The movie is packed with mind boggling, mysterious events with twists on its end that would surely put you viewers stuck in your seats. Still, despite mystifying events, this movie is one of the best movies I have watched.

            This film definitely proves that filmmakers don’t need too much blood on their sets just to give viewers the thrill while watching. Anthony Hopkins gave an outstanding performance as well as Jodie Foster and no doubt they deserve to be in line on one of the most respected actors and actresses in Hollywood. This film should be and deserves to be in the history’s greatest suspense films in the history of cinema.

Lake House, film review

Alejandro Agresti’s

LAKE HOUSE

Film Review by

Joanna Marie Tan

Casts:

Sandra Bullock as Kate Forster

Keanu Reeves as Alex Wyler

Christopher Plummer as Simon Wyler

Dr. Kate Forster (Bullock), is a lovely and lonely single woman who left a message for the next tenant of the lake house she’d just vacated asking him to forward her mail. When architect Alex Wyler (Reeves) moves in and reads the note, he believes the woman is a fool because of the fact that he was the first one to live in the house near the lake. They began to write each other mails through the realization that they were two years apart and the only thing that connects them to the real world is a little mail box located outside of the lake house. Here starts the story of two people who found love at a different time and finds hope if love can ever find a way for them to meet.

The team up of Reeves and Bullock in the story also gives a whole lot of excitement because of the fact that they’ve been on a movie together (Speed), twelve years before they came up with the movie Lake House. It excites me to watch them again together on the big screen. The last movie I’ve watched that they were together on a film, and compared to their new one, all I can say is, they still got it!

            This is an interesting movie for all ages. It’s a movie full of exciting scenes which will take you to a higher level of eagerness on what will happen to the characters in the story. It’s like a roller coaster ride full of emotions to feel while watching the whole movie. It never shows any malicious acts or discriminations on all people said in the story. For sure people will love it the same way I did while watching the movie. Two thumbs up. It will sure give the audience even a single drop of tear to carry on.

Legally Blonde, film review

Robert Luketic’s

LEGALLY BLONDE

Film Review by

Joanna Marie Tan

Casts:

Reese Witherspoon as Elle Woods

Luke Wilson as Emmett

Selma Blair as Vivian

Matthew Davis as Warner

Victor Garber as Professor Callahan

           

Stylish. Sexy. Fashionable.

Legally Blonde (2001) directed by Robert Luketic, is another hit film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios. Starred by famous Hollywood stars such as Reese Witherspoon, Luke Wilson, Selma Blair and Matthew Davis, this movie will move you laughing on your seats. Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon) is a socialite who is perceived by the people as prominent only in the world of fashion and beauties, and totally not in brains. This will challenged her to prove to the people that she has the brains as well, especially when she got dumped by her long time boyfriend Warner (Matthew Davis) just to marry a rich, ugly (as stated in the movie) woman, a lawyer who recently graduated from Harvard University. She later on enrolls herself in the prestigious school to become a lawyer and win the love of her life back.

Reese Witherspoon was so funny in the movie. She really looked so fabulous and stunning especially on her choices of wardrobe. She managed to look stunning and at the same time intelligent. Her co-actors and actresses all teamed up that made the film so vibrant. It seemed like they weren’t even acting at all. Everything looks and seems so natural.

This is definitely a must-see film! I even bought a cd just to have a lifetime copy of it. It won’t leave you unsatisfied. This film is for all ages because for sure, every level of maturity will relate to it. It’s a comedic and somehow dramatic film as well. It’s not just about being smart, or being pretty alone, but it’s about being beautiful inside and out with your minds and ideas outshining everyone. This summer.. Let’s Go Blonde!

Hear Me (taiwanese film), movie review

HEAR ME

Film Review by

Joanna Marie Tan

Casts:

Ivy Chen as Yang Yang

Eddie Peng as Tian Kuo

Michelle Chen as Xiao Peng

            A debut film for the first time director, Fen-fen Cheng, Hear Me (2009) is a story of a meal box delivery boy, Tian Kuo, who falls In love with hearing impaired girl named Yang Yang. Without difficulty, both of them could communicate well through the use of sign language. The story also revolves on Yang Yang’s sister, Xiao Peng, who is deaf and hearing impaired as well. This film will surely make you laugh and cry even at the same time. Even Tian Kuo’s parents role in the movie are additional spices and entertainments on the film. Love will be on the air as you watch this film.

            Even without directly spoken lines, and eyes are really needed, I was amazed on how the actors and actresses gave dazzling performances. Their scenes wherein some of it was just purely sign languages, their eyes, emotions and their actions were so powerful that I really felt their character. The connection between each and every one of them was fantastic. There were a lot of melancholic and hilarious scenes on the film but they blended very well.

            This movie is for all ages. It teaches us that we should not look down with people who has disabilities but rather accept them for who they are. Disabilities are not a hindrance for us to love a person. This movie tells us that we should appreciate the hard work that one is doing especially when they do it for others. Every single cent of your money is worth it if you watch this film! Unquestionably, you will hear the heartbeat of love.

Taken, film review

Pierre Morel’s

TAKEN

Film Review by

Joanna Marie Tan

 Casts:

Liam Neeson as Bryan Mills   

Maggie Grace as Kim Mills

Katie Cassidy as Amanda

Famke Janssen as Lenore

 Bessons EuropaCorp Group together with Pierre Model comes a heart racing, life moving international film that will surely bring you into the real world of abused women. Kim (Maggie Grace) is Bryan Mill’s (Liam Neeson) daughter and his life. Being a spy at Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) cost him his family, later on making him decide to resign in order to move closer to his daughter. Without having any choice, Bryan was forced to allow Kim to go to Paris with her friend Amanda. On their arrival at Paris, they were kidnapped by a group of sex offenders and Kim barely had a time to tell her father what had just happened to her. With only a little amount of information on his hands, Bryan is determined to make his way to save his daughter.

            Liam Neeson’s character moved me. His performance was sensational. The worry and sadness in his eyes on his way to his daughter was priceless, it was as if he was really into that situation. Honestly, all throughout the movie, Liam was really the one being focused to, so I cannot really tell whether his co-actors and actresses did outstanding. They did well, but I feel like they could give so much more.

            Taken, is a must-see film! Trust me with this one, it’s worth watching for! Though, I do not advise kids to watch this film because there are a lot of scenes that are not appropriate for their age. In this film you will see what’s happening in the world of the sex offenders and the ones being offended. We have to accept the fact that sometimes, even the law makers break their own laws. Taken is surely a one great hit!

The Notebook, movie review

Nick Cassavete’s

THE NOTEBOOK

Film Review by

Joanna Marie Tan

Casts:

Rachel McAdams and Gena Rowlands

as Allie Hamilton/Calhoun

Ryan Gosling as Noah Calhoun

Joan Allen as Anne Hamilton

James Marsden as Lon Hammond

The Notebook is one of the most excellent novels Nicholas Sparks have ever written! I was so happy when I saw it on the big screen and as expected, left me with a crying eye. This is about a couple who were put to a test through time. Noah Calhoun (Ryan Gosling) met Allie Hamilton (Rachel McAdams) when they were young teens. They fell in love but had difficulties with Allie’s parents because they did not like Noah for her for he was from a poor family. Allie was forced to move to a different place and thought that Noah forgot about her, not knowing that Noah wrote her 365 letters a year but Allie’s mother kept it from her. They fought for their love and finally got married after long years of waiting. The hardest part was that Allie had Alzheimer’s. Though she forgot everything about her life, Noah did everything for Allie to remember her. He wrote their love story in a little notebook and read that story every single day.

The performance of each and every character on the film was excellent. All of them did well and they were really fit for their roles. All praise for the acting performance of Gena Rowlands as the old Allie, I think she was the best of the best. The way she showed her emotions as a woman who had Alzheimer’s was heartbreaking. I tried to find out who portrayed the role of the old Noah, but unfortunately I didn’t. Whoever he was, he did great! I felt so pity for him seeing his eyes get too depressed because no matter how hard he tried, still Allie can’t remember him. Also, the happiness in his eyes when for a while, Allie did. I love how the cinematpgrapher of the film balances the colors and lights that were used in the film. There were lots of orange scale colors for the flashbacks and you can really see the contrast of colors between flashbacks and present day scenes. I’m not into vintages but I love the choice of materials used on the film, as well as the locations. The dresses wore by the characters were lovely even though those dressed were classic. The house that Noah rebuilt in the film was much more dramatic because of its location: near the lake. Oopps! And the greatest location? The lake scene where Noah brought Allie, and they were surrounded by swans. (I guess those were swans, laughs!)

All praise for the people behind this film. They never failed to put tears in my eyes every time I watch it. It was a tear jerker but it won’t break your hearts till the end. It will show you that no matter how hard life gets, as long as you see love as the most powerful thing on Earth, you will surpass every trial that comes with it!