Wednesday, 21 August 2013

Movie - Action/Crime/Thriller - Fast and Furious 6 (2013)

Fast & Furious 6 (2013) Poster


Since Dom (Vin Diesel) and Brian's (Paul Walker) Rio heist toppled a kingpin's empire and left their crew with $100 million, our heroes have scattered across the globe. But their inability to return home and living forever on the run have left their lives incomplete. Meanwhile, Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) has been tracking an organization of lethally skilled mercenary drivers across 12 countries, whose mastermind (Evans) is aided by a ruthless second-in-command revealed to be the love Dom thought was dead, Letty (Michelle Rodriguez). The only way to stop the criminal outfit is to outmatch them at street level, so Hobbs asks Dom to assemble his elite team in London. Payment? Full pardons for all of them so they can return home and make their families whole again.



Fans out there who loves cars, girls and racing, this sequel of the Fast and Furious franchise is a must see!!! It never gets old to see a 2012/13 Nissan GTR R35 up against a 2011 Dodge Challenger SRT8 doing it thing, plus this sequel is a great link up to The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006).

KEEP Sliding.....











Action Film - Ip Man 2 (2010)


Action Film - Ip Man 2


Well I'm sure that most of you audiences know about this movie or at least the first installment of the 'Ip Man' sequel which is just Ip Man but if you do not know or heard of this movie, trust me it is a movie worth watching and guarantee your time well spent. As simple as it sounds, this movie is the second installment where it picks off from the ending scene of the the first movie where Wing Chun Master Ip Man leaves Foshan (province in China) and travels to Hong Kong in 1950s to escape the invade from the Japanese army and hoping to seek a new life there. 

Ip Man desires to open a school to propagate his art, as well as make a living during the difficult times, but he has difficulty attracting students due to his lack of reputation in the city, until a young man named Wong Leung appears and challenges Ip to a fight but easily beats him. He returns with a bunch of friends and challenges Ip again but Ip beat them all without any effort. Impressed and amazed by his martial arts, Wong and his friends become Ip Man's first students while at the same time helping to get more disciples to help the school thrive. While doing this, Wong gets caught by another school's disciples, Hung Gar students and one of them challenged Wong who Wong beats after but due to being outnumbered, Wong got taken as hostage and demands a ransom from Ip Man. Later, Ip meets with the Hung Gar Leader who tells Ip that he has to attend a fighting ceremony where all other martial arts masters will compete with Ip to test his worth. 


Anyone looking for an awesome action movie ? Try the trailer link below and see whether you would be interested. 


















Tuesday, 20 August 2013

Comedy Film - National Lampoon's Van Wilder Freshman Year (2009)


Comedy Film - Van Wilder: Freshman Year


For the people who know this movie, pardon me for not using the original poster for the movie as the original may seem inappropriate to some audiences who are reviewing this. Anyways back to the film, Van Wilder: Freshman Year is the prequel to the first film of Van Wilder which is just titled National Lampoon's Van Wilder and this movie focuses on the main character, Van Wilder who graduates from high school and goes into Coolidge College since every Wilder has graduated from Coolidge and his time at Coolidge where he deals with Dean Reardon who is in charge of the college and running a military-based institution and who hates the senior Wilder(main character's dad) and wanting to make the younger Wilder's(main character) life miserable. 

One of my favourite quotes in the movie is the Wilder motto, "Banging, broke or blitzed... A Wilder never quits" and by following this pledge, Van Wilder overcame the harsh situation and the most awful moment that Reardon has put him into in the last part of the movie. Reardon also has two other favourable men, Lieutenant Dirk and Corporal Benedict who act as Reardon's right and left hand men and they would also try to sabotage and ruin Wilder's time at Coolidge. 

Although I do not want to spoil it, here's a short trailer for you. (WARNING: May contain inappropriate content)






Movie - Grown Ups (2010)

Grown Ups (2010) Poster

http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BMjA0ODYwNzU5Nl5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNTI1MTgxMw@@._V1_SX214_.jpg

Starring Adam Sandler (Lenny Feder), Kevin James (Eric Lamonsoff), Chris Rock (Kurt McKenzie), David Spade (Marcus Higgins) and Rob Shneider (Rob Hilliard). Grown Ups is another Adam Sandler feel good movie, and if you like these, then you'll definitely like this movie too.

It all started when five friends win their junior high basketball championship, their coach "Buzzer" (Blake Clark) encourages them to live their lives as how they played the game, "so when that final buzzer of light goes off, they have no regrets".

30 years later, after hearing their high school basketball coach passed away, these five good friends and former teammates return to New England with their families for the funeral and reunite for a Fourth of July holiday weekend.

This movie is great for a laugh!!! At time when you feel like watching something that doesn't require you to think too much or try to figure out what the movie is about, this is a movie worth filling in that gap.




Monday, 19 August 2013

Movie - Action/comedy - The Heat (2013)


THE HEAT

 

 
 
Conversation between good cop and mad cop:
 
Sarah Ashburn: "Stand down officer"
Shannon Mullins: "Fuck off officer"
 
 
The Heat brings together Hollywood star Sandra Bullock and comedian Melissa McCarthy in an American action filled comedy which features Bullock as a FBI special agent (Sarah Ashburn) and McCarthy as a police detective (Shannon Mullins) who are paired together to investigate a Boston drug lord under the name of Larkin.

Sandra Bullock returns to a role in the force and manages to deliver yet another outstanding performance. She is best known for her roles in successful films such as Demolition Man (1993), Miss Congeniality (2000), The Lake House (2006), The Blind Side (2009). She has also been nominated and won numerous awards and has also been listed in the 2012 edition of Guinness Book Of World Records as the high-paid actress, with $56 million. With Bullocks notable talents, she is joined with the outstanding film and television actress and comedian Melissa McCarthy who starred in sitcom Mike & Molly, and films such as Bridesmaids, The Identity Thief & The Hangover Part III.

Despite the initial disagreements between the two characters, they manage to look past their differences and work together as a team. I reckon that the profaneness of McCarthy's character, Shannon Mullins and the awkward quirkiness of Bullock's character, Sarah Ashburn is the glue to this peculiar duo as they seem to compliment each other and work together quite well. They find their common interest in the love of guns and their passion in their line of work.
 


So what is the heat? Melissa explains when they're about to move in on Tatiana's apartment that the action carried out by their duo is referred to as "the heat" as they are meant to interrogate and "scare the shit" out of the suspects.

If you want a good laugh, I'd definitely go for this gem ;)





 





Sunday, 18 August 2013

TV Series - Fantasy - True Blood


Faerie Blood

 

Warning: If you haven't been watching TB at all. You would not get this post.

 
Everything which has been leading up to the 6th season finale will reveal itself. A recap of season 6 so far: the war on vampires has been declared by the late governor of Louisiana, the reincarnation of Bill and Lilith provided Bill with new powers, attempts to synthesize faerie blood, along with the mysteries of Warlow have been revealed.
 
Apparently, there is also a possibility of faerie vampires! I thought that TB would have stopped with the weird at faeries, vampires, mediums, ghosts, shifters and werewolves. (Did I miss anything?) But no! I reckon this is it, the ultimate combo of faerie and vampire.
 
It has been seen in Bill's visions that most of the supporting actors in the series of True Blood would meet the sun in the white room. Just as I was watching Sarah limp to the rooftop, it hit me almost instantly, I was sitting there thinking "Noooo! Don't let her get to the lever! Ohhh noooo... Don't kill them noooooo" And then BAM the vampires are drinking from Bill and they instantly get immunity to sunlight. I totally did not expect that!
 
Throughout the seasons of TB, it has always been argued about who are the real victims in the series. Is it the humans whom the vampires are feeding off? Or is it the vampires themselves, where they are treated unfairly because they are considered to be non-ling beings? Should the living dead have equal rights? I really can't wait to see the next episode which would air on Tuesday (20/08/13), I wonder how the humans would retaliate!

Thursday, 15 August 2013

South Korean Variety Show - Running Man



ACTION VARIETY SHOW, RUNNING MAN (런닝맨)




Running Man is a South Korean action variety show classified as 'urban action variety' with a mix of comedy, a never-before-seen genre of variety shows. The purpose of the show is to attract a wide range of audiences from all over the world and the basic concept of it is the MCs(hosts) and the guests complete missions in a landmark to win the race. The most interesting part of this show is that every week the PDS(Producer) would come up with different themes for the race and what audiences always look forward to is the final race which consisted of ripping off nametags behind another person's back. 

An example of a 'theme' for the race would be episode 150's "Running Man Marvel: The Avengers" where the whole mission is about each individual given a superhero role, along with their 'abilities' depending on which hero they were set on and form strategic alliances to defeat the guests who played the villains by ripping nametags off their backs. However the 'abilities' may have a certain condition which may not allow another person to tear it off, so they would have to think of a different strategy to do so. 

Running Man members include: Yoo Jae Suk (South Korea's National MC), Kim Jong Kook(singer), HaHa(singer), Gary(rapper), Ji Suk Jin(comedian/broadcaster), Lee Kwang Soo(actor) and Song Ji Hyo(actress). 

If you want to check out more about this program, you can start by looking up reviews and episodes on various websites such as http://www.kshownow.net/ or http://runmanclub.net/running-man-english-subtitle or any other websites that you could find. Hope you would enjoy it as much as I did and... Don't walk.Run ! 

Video Running Man Ep 82: Spy Game:


Wednesday, 14 August 2013

TV Series - Cartoon - Adventure Time








Adventure Time







At first glance, this TV series may come off as a regular show for kids, but it actually contains much more complex content ;)
Adventure Time (originally titled Adventure Time with Finn & Jake) is an American animated television series created by Pendleton Ward for Cartoon Network. The series follows the adventures of Finn, a human boy, and his best friend and adoptive brother Jake, a dog with magical powers to change shape and grow and shrink at will. Finn and Jake live in the post-apocalyptic Land of Ooo. Along the way, they interact with the other main characters of the show: Princess Bubblegum the leader of the Candy Kingdom, The Ice King, and Marceline the Vampire Queen.
Haha i saw that, don't you roll your eyes at me :P Before you go all sceptical about this animation because it was created for Cartoon Network, hear me out :)
The writing in this animation isn't dumbed down and the authors never, NEVER forget their target audience. The weird unique characters piece together such an entertaining and funny show I always finish each episode with a huge smile on my face, but then hey, it might be only me.
I'm writing this article not mainly because I'm trying to force it into your liking, but rather I'd like to share something I've always enjoyed with you and also, I've noticed in various episodes of Adventure Time, the characters would sometimes pose questions towards universally sought after answers such as the meaning of life and they would even pose challenges towards the boundaries and limits within befriendment and relationships. I mean, even adults have to face problems daily in these varying aspects. It's something worth thinking about and dude, trust me, watch a couple of episodes, it'll change your mind about so-called "cartoons" which have been overly generalized nowadays.
Here's a video for you, learn the lyrics and sing along because it. is. awesome.


Tuesday, 13 August 2013

Movie - Total Recall (2012)

Just to let you readers know that I have not seen the first version of this movie, so I can not make comparisons.



The new verison features Colin Farrell, Kate Beckinsale, Bill Nighy and Bryan Cranston. This movie is ideal for geeks and technology developers. 

It in the distant future, where there are only really two inhabited areas on earth - Australia, known as the colony, which as one can predict is highly multicultural; and the United Federation of Britain (UFB), which is effectively the capital of the planet. One of the main features of the movie is an extremely fast mode of transportation which passes through the earth's core to travel from one civilisation to the other, known as 'The Fall'. It's an interesting idea but I'm sure many would argue if it's realistically possible, even with futuristic technology, to build it and maintain it - especially the parts near the earth's core.

Its start off with Douglas (Colin Farrell) having a dream about being an agent; and then waking to his same predicable life, low-paying job and generally feeling like something's missing. He discovers a place called 'Recall', where they can give you exciting new memories & make their customers feel fulfilled & alive. He decides he wants the memory of being a double agent to make himself to feel like he has a purpose.

Something goes wrong.  

His life suddenly turns upside down, and he is chased by the government who see him as a rebel fugitive. The movie follows him as he tries to make sense of everything, who he really is and following the trail of bread crumbs. Small fragments of memories start to give him clues, and the truth eventually unfolds.  

The question is, whether or not it was really all in his head?

This movie is action packed, easy to watch and not too complicated; I would recommend that any fans of sci-fi thrillers give it a go.

Sunday, 11 August 2013

Movie - Freeway (1996)

If you are a fan of music by Danny Elfman this a movie to see.


Posted Image

Reese Witherspoon, Brittany Murphy, Brooke Shields and Kiefer Sutherland feature in this twisted take on Little Red Riding Hood. This movie is not for the light hearted; it is violent, full of sexual abuse, dirty handedness and is riddled with extremely disturbing situations.

...It's Brilliant!!!

Vanessa (Red Riding/ Reese Witherspoon) is from a family of drug users and prostitutes. After both her mum and step father get put in jail (again), she decides to drive to her grandmother's and takes the freeway. The car breaks down and a stranger (who introduces himself as a psychologist) offers to give her a lift. It turns out that this character plays the part of Big Bad Wolf... and his name is Mr Bob Wolverton (played by Kiefer Sutherland)...clever.

After a while she finds out that he is a high-profile serial killer - who constantly appears in the press - and he tries to kill her. I love the Vanessa character; she is a girl that doesn't take shit from anyone. Vanessa turns the table on him and fights back - hard, with a bullet in his neck and three in his back. She then takes his money, leaves him for dead and goes on her merry way - like what just happened was the most normal thing in the world.

He survives!!!

She gets caught by the police and is going to get charged/trailed as an adult - she is only 16 years old. Since she has a record from having a dysfunctional family and a rough up- bringing, she gets the blame and people think that she is lying about the whole event. He gets away with it, or so he thinks.

The rest of the movie follows her as she escapes jail, evades the law and finally gets to her grandmothers. After an intense final showdown it freeze frames on her face, with a bloodied joker's grin & an evil giggle as it fades out to the credits.

Watch this movie; its bloody, gory and has lots of dark humour.

Movie - Once Bitten (1985)



This is such an 80's movie with the music, the fashion, the style and of course the dance off in the middle of the movie.


This movie features a very young Jim Carrey, and you can see where he starts to develop his style which would later become iconic in the Mask and Ace Ventura. 

Its about a 400 year old Countess who needs to feed on virgin blood three times a year before Halloween. One of her most memorable lines of the movie "Do you know how hard it is to find a virgin in the 20th Century?", makes you think how difficult life would be for her in the 21st century. 

The story revolves around the main character, Mark Kendal (Jim Carrey), a high school jock, who is trying to lose his virginity to his girlfriend of 4 years - but the girl wants to wait. His best mates finally decide they would take him to Hollywood to 'get lucky' with the ladies. Mark meets the Countess and falls under her spell and she lures him back to her home in order to 'harvest him', and make a vampire of him as well. 

The rest of the movie follows Mark as he evades the Countess' advances whilst slowly becoming a vampire and discovers the complications it incurs on his life and relationships.

I do like this movie because it is easy to watch, makes you laugh and doesn't take itself seriously. I would definitely recommend to fans of vampire movies and comedy. 

Thursday, 8 August 2013

Animated Film - Howl's Moving Castle


Howl's Moving Castle Film




Having watched so many different genres of movies, I would say that Howl's Moving Castle would be in my top 10 favorite movies of all time although it was released back in 2004. So what is this movie about which makes it so great that I would put in my top 10 ? Well the answer lies in the the title itself, 'Howl's Moving Castle', and of course the whole concept of it is cartoon which makes it fictional but what fascinates me is the plot of the story and the choice of characters being chosen in this film. 

Well the plot tells a story about a girl named Sophie who is cursed by the Witch of the Waste, turns into an old woman, and is unable to tell anyone of her plight. She then seeks for a cure for the curse until she meets a living scarecrow which brought her into Howl's Castle. Sophie befriends Calcifer, the fire demon who powers the castle and who is bound to Howl by a contract, the terms of which Calcifer cannot reveal. They promise to help each other with their problems. Like Calcifer, Howl can also see through the Witch's spell, and he and Sophie fall in love. Sophie helps Howl confront his former teacher, Madam Suliman, and the Witch of the Waste.

Below here is a trailer for the movie, Howl's Moving Castle. Hope you enjoy ! 








Wednesday, 7 August 2013

Introduction

This blog for our ISYS100 assignment we will be posting about films/ tv series/ or anything we have seen youtube and give them our reviews. 

You may agree or disagree, the choice is yours.