Movie ~ The Grudge

*The Grudge* movie poster

"The Grudge" is the 2004 Hollywood version of Japan's 5-part horror series, Ju On. This is the remake of the third installment. It stars Sarah Michelle Gellar of Buffy, the Vampire Slayer fame.

Karen (Sarah Michelle Gellar) is an exchange student working part time as a caregiver in Japan. She is assigned to a home for the day when the usual girl did not turn up.

Sarah Michelle Gellar as Karen Davis

While in the house, Karen encounters horrific circumstances that led her uncovering the mysterious events leading to multiple deaths in the house three years ago.

Spirits are trapped in the house; trapped within a curse borne from someone who died in a powerful rage. Anyone who comes into contact with that curse will not be left alone until his life is claimed.

If you decide to watch this, you can find out for yourself why there were multiple deaths three years ago and the circumstances surrounding it.

The furious spirit

This movie, although creepy and goose bump raising, has a very predictable storyline. Also, the spirit fits exactly the image we have of Asian spirits with dishevelled long dark hair and pasty face, all thanks to Hong Kong horror flicks.

Because of it's predictability, all I was looking out for during the movie, was who dies when and how.

Toshio

When the movie ends, I couldn't help but to go through the whole movie in my mind, and think to myself, "OK, so during this scene, was Toshio a boy or a spirit?" Yes, it's a bit confusing when the movie goes on flashback mode.

Movie ~ Art School Confidential

*Art School Confidential* movie poster

"Art School Confidential" is about a mousy boy, Jerome, who is a bully's target in school but he doesn't care as he steadfastly work towards his dream to be a world renown artist like Pablo Picasso.

And he managed to go to art college in the city.

Jerome's muse, Audrey

In college, he fell in love with a girl who works part time as a nude model. She became his muse. Meanwhile, his friend introduced him to an artist, who spends his days in his apartment, drinking and painting.

Jerome and Audrey

Anyway, Jerome got implicated in a college murder case when all evidence point to him, and although his lawyer can help to get him out, he doesn't seem to want to get out as he continues to paint in jail.

Prof. Sandi and Jerome

To be honest, this is not a movie I'd recommend, unless you have no other movie to watch. Like I mentioned before, who says all Hollywood movies are good? If this is supposed to be a comedy, sorry, it didn't make me go, "HA HA HA!"

Jerome and pal

The direction of this movie is quite confusing. From one scene, it jumps to the next all of a sudden, and quite a few times too. Although it may not be a big deal to some people, I prefer to watch a movie that's smooth and seamless.

*Art School Confidential* collage

It's also quite illogical. How can a young man be arrested and detained for multiple murders and not feel any emotions at all? Granted, he is depressed due to Audrey's "rejection" of his love, but to be implicated in murder?

Yes, he told the real murderer that he wants to die, but to die straight away is one thing, and to suffer in jail is another. And where's his family?

A nude model in Prof. Sandi's class

Surprisingly, "Art School Confidential" received rave reviews. Maybe it's because of the nudity?

Korean Movies ~ "My Wife Is A Gangster" & "My Wife Is A Gangster 2"

*My Wife Is A Gangster* cover

"My Wife Is A Gangster", a 2001 Korean action-comedy movie, starts off with beautiful cinematography of Cha Eun-Jin, the protagonist, engaged in gang fight at night in the rain along with her henchmen.

Opening scene

Cha Eun-Jin, known by the codename Mantis of the Scissors Gang, is actually the right hand (wo)man of the big boss, who has gone on an overseas trip, and hence, the men and the territory are in her charge during his absence.

She is an orphan separated from her older sister when they were children and so roughed her way up to be No. 2 (Dr. Evil also has a No. 2).

The humour starts when she finally found her sister, who unfortunately is dying of cancer. Her sister had a favour to ask, and that is to be able to see Eun-Jin get married and settled down with a nice man.

Unsuspecting groom

And so, Eun-Jin gets her men to arrange blind dates in the hopes of getting a husband as soon as possible. She finally managed to find one unsuspecting man (Kang Su-il) to marry.

The blur husband

Soon after, Eun-Jin's sister has another request, that is for Eun-Jin to be a mother as soon as possible. In the following scenes, Eun-Jin, who has yet to consummate the marriage, suddenly becomes this sex-crazed nympho who couldn't take her hands off Su-il

One to one close combat

Meanwhile, her enemies try to muscle their way into her territory and she has to fend them off and not surprisingly, her dual role was discovered by Su-il soon enough.

Stylish cinematography

The movies goes on with Eun-Jin getting pregnant, her sister dies, Eun-Jin being involved in a fight and received such a trashing that she miscarried, of Su-il discovering about the dead baby, of Su-il taking revenge on behalf of his wife and accidentally sets fire to their enemies and Eun-Jin securing her territory, with Su-il joining the gang, in this order.

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*My Wife Is A Gangster 2* movie poster

"My Wife Is A Gangster 2: Return of the Legend" is the 2003 sequel to "My Wife Is A Gangster" which also starts off with an intense fight. Unfortunately, Eun-Jin takes a fall from a high building and subsequently suffers from amnesia.

Meanwhile, the good Samaritan who saved her that night, took her back to his town where he operates a Chinese restaurant, and Eun-Jin works as the delivery lady for him.

The first half of the movie focuses on Eun-Jin trying to recover her memory and to find true herself. Only later did someone discover her and contacted her men back in Seoul and they came to claim her back, but not before the Snake gang nearly laid their hands on her.

Naturally, there are more fight scenes near the end of the movie, but as a comparison, the sequel is so much milder than the original movie. Her husband, Su-il has no screen time at all. At least, I did not notice him.

Oh yes, how can I NOT mention that Zhang Ziyi has a cameo role in "My Wife Is A Gangster 2"?

Zhang Ziyi in red

Somehow, watching these movies, especially the fight scenes in the first movie, I get a sense of deja vu of watching Kill Bill. Maybe it's because of the choreography or the soundtrack, I'm not sure.

"My Wife Is A Gangster 3" stars the luscious Shu Qi.

Singaporean Movies ~ "I Not Stupid" & "I Not Stupid Too"

*I Not Stupid* movie poster

"I Not Stupid", a Singaporean family-themed social satire, will make many people look at their own family, children and lifestyle in a whole new perspective.

Terry Khoo, Liu Kok-Pin and Ang Boon-Hock

It is about three Primary Six boys who are in the bottom class of their school, their struggles in their studies, their dislike for Mandarin and Math. Because they are deemed "stupid", they are looked down upon by other students in the top classes and society in general, until one of them attempted suicide.

The bottom class

They are also pressured by their parents to get good grades. In Singapore, only academically high achievers will make good, and students like Terry Khoo and his friends Liu Kok-Pin and Ang Boon-Hock have no place in society.

The movie's underlying message is criticism over Singapore's rigid education system and the over-obedience of its citizens.

This movie is full of emotions, and it even made me cry because it's so touching.

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*I Not Stupid Too* movie poster

In "I Not Stupid Too" or "I Not Stupid 2", Jack Neo brings back the new and improved magic formula of "I Not Stupid". It is seemingly a sequel to "I Not Stupid" and shares the same cast but the characters are different, and so is the storyline.

Jerry made her pregnant, or so he thought

"I Not Stupid Too" focuses more on misunderstood teens, miscommunication between parents and their children and those of teachers and students.

It's about generation gap, of how fathers and mothers in Singapore keep climbing the corporate ladder until they have no time for their children. All they know how to do is to spend their hard earned money to buy material things for the children without knowing that what the children really need, and want, is their time.

It's about how, due to lack of quality time spent together, parents have no clue how to express their love for the children.

The school principal

Teacher - Student fight

In school, the teachers also have problems communicating with the students. This movie teaches us to look at a person's positive points, his strengths, his talents, rather than focusing on and criticising his weaknesses.

Cheng Cai, the oft misunderstood teen

All children are born the same. It is just how they are brought up that makes the difference.

Jerry, the leading man in his school concert

"I Not Stupid Too" is funny yet emotional. It will leave you laughing one minute, and crying the next.

These two movies are highly recommended by me! Who says only Hollywood movies are good?

Note: The dialogue of these movies is in English, Mandarin and Hokkien.

Movies ~ "Save the Last Dance" & "Save the Last Dance 2"

Since I watched "Save the Last Dance" and "Save the Last Dance 2" back-to-back, I'm going to attempt to review both in one post.

*Save the Last Dance* movie poster

Sara Johnson (Julia Stiles) is a 17-year-old ballerina who dreams of being a prima ballerina, and her first step to achieve that dream is to gain a place at the prestigious Juilliard School.

On the day of her audition, her mother got killed in an automobile accident on the way to give her moral support. Sara gives up her dream as she blames herself for her mother's death and moved from Wisconsin to a predominantly black Chicago neighbourhood to live with her estranged father.

Learning hip hop

Sara attends a new high school, where most of the students are black, and befriends a girl named Chenille. Soon, Chenille's brother Derek, one of the few intellectually inclined black young men, tries to help Sara to fit in, and teaches her hip hop dance and other black culture.

More coaching

Sara shows off her newly acquired hip hop dance steps at a local hip hop club

Ebony & Ivory

Spending so much time together, they fell for each other, and being in an inter-racial relationship brought them many obstacles, which they have to overcome if they wanted to be together.

Obstacles include an ex-girlfriend

A prep talk during the audition

The movie ends with Sara's successful audition to Juilliard, where she danced a beautiful piece of ballet that incorporated hip hop.

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*Save the Last Dance 2* movie poster

In "Save the Last Dance 2", Sara Johnson is acted by Izabella Miko. It's kinda weird to change actresses to carry out one character but it's understandable as these movies were released five years apart.

The movie continues from "Save the Last Dance", with Sara starting classes at Juilliard, while her boyfriend, Derek goes to Georgetown University to study pre-med, and they have decided to see other people. That means, they are officially single again.

At Juilliard, Sara got distracted and was placed in the bottom of her class, and had to struggle to hold on to her place before she gets kicked out. Distraction comes in the form of one Miles Sultana, a guest lecturer of her Hip Hop course.

Sara & Miles

Anyway, these two fall for each other (so what's new?) but being in New York City, an inter-racial relationship is not such a big deal.

Sara tries to find a balance for ballet, her first love, and hip hop, her passion.

Being challenged to hip hop

Sara finally achieves her dream of being the prima ballerina in Giselle.

I personally feel "Save the Last Dance 2" is a better movie and the dance moves better executed and have a smoother flow. Izabella Miko also carried out the role neatly and she has better chemistry with Columbus Short, than Julia Stiles with Sean Patrick Thomas. Perhaps, at 17, Julia, as Sara, wasn't allowed to really project her emotions too deeply.

But isn't it strange that in both movies, Sara's boyfriend is black? Maybe Sara has a thing for blacks? It would have been interesting to watch Sara with a white boyfriend in one movie, and a black in another hehehe

"Save the Last Dance" was quite teary eyed in some scenes while "Save the Last Dance 2" is a lighter movie. Both are quite entertaining if you are into hip hop, rap, clubbing and dancing, and black culture in general.

Lots of hip hop and ballet dances to watch that made me wish that I can dance too.

Korean Movie ~ Attack the Gas Station

*Attack the Gas Station* movie poster

"Attack the Gas Station" is classified as "Comedy" but seriously, there's nothing funny at all about four young men who hold grudges against society and have hang ups about some past in their life that they find it fun to wreck havoc in a gas station in Korea one night.

At first, these guys successful robbed a gas station, Oilbank, in Seoul.

Then while having ramen as supper, and being bored out of their minds, they decided to rob the same gas station just for the heck of it.

First group of hostages - the boss and three employees of Oilbank

However, after the first robbery, the boss no longer keep cash at the station. As the four youths wait for their loot, they held the boss and the employees as hostages.

To while away their time, they tortured the hostages

Played at their expanse

Playing "Link the Syllable Game"

Bulldozer - one of the youths

Subsequently, due to some misunderstanding, there was gang fighting.

Riot!

More fighting

Most of the film was shot in and around the gas station only and everything happened within one night. What a looooong night it was.

*Attack the Gas Station* Cover

I watched this movie with a sense of indifference. I dislike such nothing-better-to-do youngsters in real life, and there's nothing endearing about them in a movie either. Only watch this if you have nothing better to do, like the protagonists, and if you like random, senseless street fighting.

Finally leaving with their loot.