Change Your Image
johnnghome
Reviews
Midway (2019)
Telling history in a very entertaining way
I marvel at some of the comments posted here about overuse of CGI and looking like a video game. That is strange because how else can you present this 75 year-old history accurately in an entertaining way without resorting to CGI? Maybe get a couple of billions to build WW2 aircraft carriers and bomb it into the ocean? Or make the movie into a boring dialogue movie, say, with a love story thrown into it? The CGI is what makes this WW2 movie a success. At last, a WW2 dog-fight that looks real. Well, looks like a video game? It can't be help that if video games are so realistic. Are we saying that the dig-fights should then be less realistic? I have waited 50 years to see a WW2 movie like this since the first "Midway" movie in 1970s.
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017)
Good CGI but actor Dane is just so wrong a choice
The story is simple and prosaic but the CGI is fabulous. This movie would have been much better if they choose another person other than Dane DeHaan. He is just so wrong.
Snowpiercer (2013)
At last, a film that makes other Sci-Fi looks good
It is a wonder how any writer can come up with a plot so full of holes, an idea so inane that I wonder if it is a comedy gone wrong. I swear that some of the acting there is aimed to make you giggle.
Even if you want to give the storyteller lots of artistic license, it still totally lame. I wouldn't even bother to list the things wrong with the story because just about everything is illogical. Because just about every concept is wrong, I find it hard to think of to imagine the movie will ever trigger off any brain cells.
Beside being silly, it is not very interesting to watch. I only made it to the end just to be sure that there isn't any surprise punch line so that I can write this review.
Simply not worth watching!
Aquaman (2018)
All action but no brawn
For a movie that is so well promoted and with some big names, it doesn't have much to offer. The CGI is rather poor in comparison to CGI's of today. During the action sequences, the figures are made to race at ridiculously fast and physically impossible speed (I wonder why the movie makers didn't just synchronise it to a fast shark instead). Also, the thick soup of monsters is just laughably incredible. It also seems to me that, as the story drifts along, that there are just too many coincidences to patch up the glitches of the storyline. This is a movie all about action and no brawn.
Alita: Battle Angel (2019)
Where can I find her? I have become her fan!
I never knew of Alita until this movie. Unlike a lot of CGI movies, this one feels so real and its storyline is brilliantly arty and doesn't finish in the predictable happy ending. One of the reason for the realness is that Alita doesn't jump, run, or fly in speed too incredible to be believed (like say Aquaman), nor has to fight enemies in unrealistic incredible swarm (again like Aquaman). As a story, its beauty is its simplicity and single mindedness without resorting to "coincidences" to patch up glitches in its storyline. Most of all, the movie takes a beautiful actress and transforms her into a beautiful cyborg with eyes that is so manga. Can anyone tell me where I can find her?
Venom (2018)
Entertaining
This family film is indeed watchable and entertaining. The idea of merging two persons into one is somewhat novel. Other than this, don't expect anything profound but leaves you feeling good at the end. One bad thing, as in most superhero movies these days, is that the CGI figures move at too incredible a speed.
Mary and Max. (2009)
Funny, Poetical, Touching, Candid, Unique, Clever - All emotions rolled into this film
This must well be among the top 500 all-time films, and probably the best animated film. Few movies can sustain my interest after watching it once over, but for "Mary and Max", I was still spellbound during the second running a couple of days later. It must perhaps be the only animated film that can leave a tear in eyes.
All Is Lost (2013)
The Old Man and The Sea
Although unrelated in story, this movie reads like Hemmingway's "The Old Man and The Sea". Many of the negative review posts completely missed the point. This movie is NOT about "How to Sail", or the "Best Technique of Sailing", or "Exciting Sailing Action", or "What to do in a disaster". This film is about struggle and desperation slowly and quietly unfolding. It's a gripping tale that takes you through the pain and suffering of an old man. I think this is Redford at his best.
Sai de ke · ba lai: Tai yang qi (2011)
Great Movie from the Far East
I was skeptical when I first came across this Taiwanese movie. There are just too many movies from the Far East that are so Bollywoodish, so super exaggerated (such as ten thousand arrows being launched, or armies that seems like a million strong) that the directors should almost be billed for your wasted time.
This movie is none of that. It is captivating from start to finish, telling a historical story that not many would know or have seen before. It reminds me so much of the plight of the Sioux and other indigenous peoples. The CGI is good and convincing.
I look forward to seeing more talent from the Far East.
Baikonur (2011)
Quirky film but a real inner human desire
It may be a quirky film but it seems to show an inner human desire. This is a movie with a plot that is based on something really new and different; not like the millions of other movies out with pre-set money-spinning plot.
Imaging a gorgeous astronaut falling out of the sky who is visually so delightful as compared to the mundane looks of the people around in the Steppes. In a "finder's keeper" society, won't ithere be an urge to keep such a beautiful pet!
Xi you fu yao pian (2017)
A Pathetic Follow-Up to a Splendid First Part
It is just unbelievable how two parts of a movie can be so extreme. "Journey to the West Conquering the Demons 2013" is a very well made movie that leaves the viewer wanting more. I was really excited about this follow up "The Demons Strike Back (2017)" until I had a chance to watch it... and wasted my time.
The movie seems to be mostly CGI. The CGI is jumpy and almost feels like watching a movie in fast motion. The colour contrast is much too unpleasantly vibrant and sharp.
The storyline... well there is none really. It is more like watching a plotless cartoon of punches. Some parts of the movie even get a little embarrassing and irritating such as watching the emperor throw tantrums.
Overall, I would give this move minus two stars but zero star is the worst I could do.