End..or is it?

Well that was 365 films with Seul, it was nice to see all of the movies. I had a great cinematic journey and I am thinking about continuing this blog for another round of 365 films.

I hope you have a happy new year and a wonderful life if you don't come back to this site.

Thanks for reading!
-Seul

p.s. heres the link to my new blog: http://seulcontinuedmoivejourney.blogspot.com/

Day 365 - Vegetarian (Korean)

 

"Young-Hye (Chae Min-Seo) suffers from nightmares and then becomes a vegetarian. Video artist Min-Ho (Kim Hyun-Sung) is married to Yeong-Hye's older sister Ji-Hye (Kim Yeo-Jin). These three figures try to overcome there violent realities through their own ways ... "

 

An interesting film but its a little bit weird in a good way. I like the non talking moments as they are the better parts of the film. I think that the characters had depth but it wasn't used all to well. Thus I think that the direction was poor at times. Chae Min-Seo was good in this role but it was kind of scary to see how skinny she got for this role. I enjoyed this movie a lot and I suggest you watch it if you like Korean movies.

 

3/5

Day 364 - Flash Point (Hong Kong)

"Set in pre-1997, before the return of Hong Kong to the People's Republic of China, the film opens with brothers Archer, Tony and Tiger discussing a drug deal with Sam, a rival gang leader. Ma Jun, a serious criminal investigations detective (who has been reprimanded for frequently inflicting injury on suspects), along with his team, raids the nightclub for investigation, and winds up fighting against his partner, Wilson, who has been planted as a mole."

Very nice I enjoyed Donnie Yen in this movie, he was able to use mixed martial arts well in this film. I think that he needs to still perfect his technique in mixing his two styles. I think Louis Koo did a good job but I wish his character had more depth. I kind of felt like the movie needed to be slightly longer. It was almost unnecessary for Fan Bing Bing to be in the movie, her character was slightly annoying since there was no real depth to her. By the way Donnie Yen also directed the action scenes which were well done. I think this is a great movie to watch!

3/5

Day 363 - Close Encounters of the Third Kind (American)

 

"It tells the story of Roy Neary, an everyday blue collar worker in Indiana, whose life changes after an encounter with an unidentified flying object (UFO)."-wiki

 

Such a boring film, probably one of the worst science fiction movies I have seen. Poor direction and script are the downfall to this film. It was so hard to get into this film and even harder to watch it to the end. I suggest you skip this film as well even if you are a fan of Steven Speilberg.

 

 

1/5

Day 362 - In the Bedroom (American)

"The film is set in the Mid-Coast town of Camden, Maine. Ruth Fowler (Sissy Spacek) and Matt Fowler (Tom Wilkinson) enjoy a happy marriage and a good relationship with their son Frank (Nick Stahl), a recent college graduate who has come home for the summer. Frank has fallen in love with an older woman with children, Natalie Strout (Marisa Tomei). Frank is also applying to graduate school for architecture, but is considering staying in town to work in the fishing industry and be near to Natalie. Natalie's ex-husband, Richard Strout (William Mapother), whose family owns a local fish-processing and delivery business, is violent and abusive. Richard tries to find a way into his ex-wife and son's lives, going to increasingly violent lengths to get his intentions across to Natalie. Ruth is openly concerned about Frank's relationship with Natalie, while Matt sees past his wife's worries."

 

Such a good concept but failed with its execution though I did like Tom Wilkinson's performance. I didn't like the supporting cast and the direction. The film felt so boring and so slow that its really not worth continuing to watch it. I suggest you skip this film even if you have nothing else to watch.

 

 

0/5

Day 361 - The Company You Keep (American)

 

"The story centers on recent widower and single father, Jim Grant, a former Weather Underground anti-Vietnam War militant wanted for a bank robbery and murder. Grant has hidden from the FBI for over 30 years, as an attorney in Albany, New York. He becomes a fugitive when his true identity is exposed by Ben Shepard, an aggressive young reporter. Grant must find his ex-lover, Mimi, the one person who can clear his name, before the FBI catches him. Otherwise, he will lose everything, including his 11-year-old daughter Isabel. While Ben struggles with ethical issues as a journalist, Jim and his old friends from the Weather Underground must live with the consequences of their radical past."

 

Wasn't the worst thriller but surely not one of the best. I think Robert Redford did an okay job with acting and a decent job with directing. I felt like the supporting cast could not keep up with him and thus the film suffered. The script was alright nothing too new about it and lacked depth sometimes. I suggest you skip this thriller.

 

1/5

Day 360 - How Hitler lost the war (Documentary)

 

"Through interviews with former World War II fighter aces, "How Hitler Lost the War" examines the theory that the German Armed Forces substantially won and then lost the war in Europe"

 

A very interesting 67 minute documentary about the man that could have ruled the world. The interviews were good and quite in depth at times. I enjoyed hearing the insider scoop from former Nazis who decided to tell the world why Hitler lost when he nearly won. I also like the aspect that historians play in the interviews as their opinions were correct at times.

 

3/5

Day 359 - Kundo: Age of Rampant (Korean)

"The year is 1862. The late Joseon dynasty was a period of social and economic unrest in Korea, and it was also a time of great tyranny. Due to continuous natural disasters and poor harvests, poverty, hunger and death are rampant. The aristocracy rule the country and, concerned only with their own wealth, they exploit and persecute the poor.
In these turbulent times, a band of fighters named Kundo rise against the authorities. They raid corrupt officials, then share their booty with the vulnerable and impoverished. While the king stands powerless against them, Kundo becomes a figure of fear to undeserving nobles, and a ray of hope in the lives of long-suffering citizens. The members of Kundo believe that their cause is more important than their own lives."

A decent action film ruined by the slight comical effect. I enjoyed the lead actors performance but felt like he needed to be a little more serious. The action was good when there was some but not a whole lot happens. The script needed a lot of work as did the depth of the supporting characters as some felt empty. It is a good action movie to watch if you are bored, there are a few good scenes but not a whole lot.


2/5

Day 358 - I, Frankstein (American)

 

"Throughout the centuries, Adam fends off the demons that pursue him. During a modern-day confrontation at a nightclub, a human police officer is killed. While Adam is summoned by the gargoyles once more, the demon Helek (Steve Mouzakis) reports that Adam is alive to his leader, the demon-prince Naberius (Bill Nighy), who is disguised as billionaire businessman Charles Wessex, and his right-hand man, Dekar (Kevin Grevioux). Wessex has employed scientist Terra Wade (Yvonne Strahovski) to conduct experiments with reanimated corpses, and sends a group of demons led by his most formidable warrior, Zuriel (Socratis Otto), to attack the gargoyles' cathedral and capture Adam so he can unlock the secret to giving life."-wiki

 

Horrible movie with a good concept but filled with so many bad elements. First off I think Aaron Eckhart did a good job but I don't think he was right for the role. His attempts to make his voice deeper were futile and sounded incredibly fake. Not a whole lot happens but everything feels rushed. The special effects were so bad it made everything feel so fabricated to the point its not worth watching. The only person I did like in the film was Bill Nighy who is always interesting to watch. I did like the world it takes place in but everything needed more work. I hated the fact that everyone was so easy to beat that there was really no struggle. Honestly skip this film if you can because its not worth your time.  

 

0/5

Day 357 - The Bullet Vanishes (Chinese/Hong Kong)

"The film pertains to a detective duo investigating a series of strange murders, in which the bullets used seemingly vanish (and hence the title), after the death of a factory girl accused as the perpetrator of the theft of a few bullets."

 

Very nice movie though it could have been a thousand times better. While interesting it was slow which is common for a mystery but there was a lot more potential. I did like the investigation as you had to think about who is the killer, why they are killing and how are they killing people. The sex scene was actually well done as it was simple and erotic which is hard to do. Great acting although I wish the ending could have been better but I still kind of liked it. I suggest this film to those that like mystery films.

 

3/5

DAy 356- American Muscle (American)

 

"John Falcon did 10 years of hard time in prison. Now he's got 24 hours to get revenge on every person who had a hand in sending him there."

 

Absolutely horrible film that seems like it rips off a lot of different grindhouse films. Poor acting especially from the main character who acts manly. The only thing good thing about this movie is the car. The sex scenes were bland and kind of useless. I suggest you skip this movie

 

0/5

Day 355 - The Legend of the Knight (Documentary)

"A documentary about the power of storytelling to create positive change in our lives and around the world, expressed through the lens of one of the most popular stories of our time - the Batman."

Such an excellent documentary film that is inspiring and heartfelt. This really made me rethink a lot of things in my life as well as my beliefs. I enjoyed seeing how the character of BATMAN has inspired people in good ways to be a better person. This was an unexpected but special documentary that was meant to show that you are not alone in being inspired by a fictional character. The direction of this documentary was great, my only complaint is that I wish it was longer. Watch this documentary if you like Batman or even if you don't but you like another superhero than this is the documentary for you.

4/5

Day 354 - The Village (American)

 

"The film is about a village whose inhabitants live in fear of creatures inhabiting the woods beyond it. Like other Shyamalan films from the same time period, The Village has a twist ending."

 

Wonderful concept poor execution, this movie is a failure in many ways mainly due to its direction. I think Joaquin Phoenix did a great job as did Bryce Dallas Howard.  I really enjoyed seeing this world and all of its design. As the story carried on, I started to dislike the film more and more. Its really a waste to finish this movie despite the decent opening. I suggest you skip this movie if you are looking for a good horror movie but if you like psychological movies then this film is perfect for you.

 

2/5

Day 353 - Ai Weiwei: The Fake Case (Documentary)

 

"A documentary reflects on artist Ai Weiwei's battle against the lawsuit thrust upon him by the Chinese government in an effort to silence him."

 

Ai Weiwei is a very interesting man and this happens to be the second documentary about him that I have seen. This one could have been better as their was poor direction and editing. Felt like I was watching a freshman documentary. Ai Weiwei did his part, as you can feel the emotion from him but I feel like the cameraman and director couldn't capture it that well. If you are interested in Ai Weiwei I suggest you watch this film. Its not a lost cause meaning its still worth a watch.

 

2/5

Day 352 - Hellraiser: Inferno (American)

"Joseph Thorne is an intelligent yet corrupt Denver police detective who regularly indulges in drug use and infidelity during the course of duty. At the scene of what appears to be a ritual murder, Thorne discovers a strange puzzle box, which he takes home in order to indulge his fascination with puzzles"

 

Problay the best Hellraiser I've seen but still needs a lot of work to be something good. I didn't like the lack of depth present in the film. The direction was poor as was the plot but the message was great. The director was Scott Derrickson who directed the remake of The Day The Earth Stood Still, so you know this movie could have had a better director. Pinhead is such a good character but no director has been able to use him or the others right. I would suggest this movie only to horror fans.

 

 

 

1/5

Day 351 - I'll Do Anything (American)

"In 1980, on the night he fails to win an Emmy Award, Matt Hobbs proposes to his longtime girlfriend Beth. He says the only thing holding him back is his dedication to his career, one which may not always work out, and Beth says that's one of the things she loves most about him. Little more than a year later, with a baby crying and no job for Matt, Beth is overflowing with resentment. By 1993, the pair have been divorced for several years and are living on opposite coasts. Matt auditions for a role in pompous, self-absorbed, and clueless film producer Burke Adler's new project but fails to get the part. He does however agree to chauffeur Adler occasionally. Matt flies to Georgia to pick up his daughter Jeannie for what he believes is a brief visit and discovers Beth is facing a prison term and Jeannie will be living with him for the duration of her sentence. The two return to Hollywood and struggle with their new circumstances and building a relationship (Matt hasn't seen the six-year-old since she was four)"

I think it was a decent movie that had potential to be much more but do to a lack of depth and the feeling of it being rushed the movie isn't all it could have been. Nick Nolte was great in the film as it was a nice surprise to see him in a this kind of role. The supporting cast was good as well but I did not like  Joely Richardson she annoys me. The acting of the "six year old" Whittni Wright was actually not that bad. She had potential to develop into a wonderful actress, too bad she hasn't gone a lot. I recommend this movie if you are Nick Nolte fan or if you want to see a single father and daughter story.

3/5

Day 350 - A Rented Room In Heaven (South Korean-2007)

"Hwa-Sim is a prostitute who believes in love. Joon-Chi is a novelist. He wanders around aimlessly and eventually settles in with Hwa-Sim. Sunny, also a prostitute and someone that looks up to Hwa-Sim, appears in their relationship.

Not bad but it needed a lot of work to be something great. I enjoyed the sex scenes as they were well done and probably the best filmed scenes in the movie. Some of it is good plotwise but it needed some more work as it wasn't all that good.  Though there were a few good non-sexual scenes but not a whole lot.


1/5

Day 349 - The Omen (British/American)

"obert Thorn (Gregory Peck), an American diplomat stationed in Rome, learns his son died during birth. Unknown to his unconscious wife, Katherine (Lee Remick), Robert adopts an orphaned newborn at the suggestion of the hospital's Catholic priest, Father Spiletto (Martin Benson). Naming him Damien, Robert and Katherine raise the boy. Five years later, Robert is named Ambassador to the United Kingdom and settles in a large estate just outside London. However, a series of disturbing events begin with the suicide of the estate's nanny during the birthday party of Damien (Harvey Spencer Stephens)."

This film features some of the most iconic horror movie scenes that you may have seen newer horror movies or parodies. I didn't like the mother very much but i felt like everyone else was good and entertaining to watch. The story was good, quite clever if I say so. It would have been great to see this film when it first came out but I wasn't even alive then. The deaths start early but there is more in the later half of the film. Features some pretty nice kills with some nice shots, as well as good direction. They don't make horror movies like this one anymore.

3/5

Day 348 - The Lair of the snake woman (British)

"Angus Flint (Peter Capaldi), a Scottish archaeology student excavating the site of a convent at the Derbyshire bed and breakfast run by the Trent sisters, Mary (Sammi Davis) and Eve (Catherine Oxenberg), unearths an unusual skull which appears to be that of a large snake. He tries to find the local legend of the d'Ampton "worm", a mythical snake slain in Stonerich Cavern by John d'Ampton, the ancestor of current Lord of the Manor, James d'Ampton (Hugh Grant)."

Not the worst b rated horror movie I've seen but not one of the best either. Sammi Davis was so annoying in this film, I wanted her character to die the first moment we meet her. Speaking about the cast, the only one I think that did a good job was Amanda Donohoe as the villain of the story. Her acting and body movement really captured the moment, Hugh Grant did a  decent job, I have to say that this is the best role I've seen him done. This film feels long though its only 1 hour and 33 minutes long which causes the movie to have a few dull moments. 

1/5

Day 347 - Burke and Hare (British)

"The film then switches to William Burke and William Hare, two immigrants from Ireland, attempting to sell cheese mould which they state is growing moss. When they are found out, they flee back to an Inn owned by Hare's wife Lucky, who states that one of their lodgers has died. Burke and Hare decide to transport the corpse to Knox"

 

Not my favorite SImon Pegg film as it wasn't even funny. I enjoyed the concept a lot but I feel like it failed on many levels. I kind of hope Simon will do another movie with Nick Frost as those are his best movies. The film was poorly directed and kind of boring.

 

1/5

Day 346 - King of Chinatown (Documentary)

 

"

King of Chinatown takes an in-depth look at the culture of video games, an industry that has evolved into a worldwide, multi-billion dollar phenomenon. Filmmaker Calvin Theobald follows Justin Wong, a video-game prodigy sharpening his skills as he battles challengers in the cutthroat competitive world of Street Fighter IV. But as Justin fights his way through the ranks, he finds himself up against a formidable off-screen challenge -- his allegiance to The Empire, a video-gaming collective run by the charismatic and potentially destructive leader TriForce. Culminating in an epic battle at EVO, the largest video-gaming competition in the world, King of Chinatown shows us the entertaining on-the-ground trials of a Street Fighter IV sensation"

As a documentary goes this one is very boring and not well done. I felt like Justin Wong really didn't want to do the documentary and it was more about publicity. The footage used wasn't used that well and there wasn't a whole lot. Skip this documentary if you come upon it.


1/5

Day 345 - Reincarnation (Japanese)

 

"a hopeful actress who wins a role in a film that takes her, the cast and the crew to a hotel where the present soon collides with the past"

 

This film was directed by Takashi Shimizu but failed to be anything great. It was blandness with little horror and weak characters. It was more a supernatural thriller but it had the potential to be much more. But if you want to think about it mentally this movie can be interrupted in many ways like a lot of movies. I truly lost interest in this film in the first thirty minutes.

 

1/5

Day 344- Fighter in the Wind (Korean)

 

"is based on the Japanese book Karate Baka Ichidai which is a fictionalized account of karate competitor Choi Yeung-Eui (최영의, 崔永宜) who went to Japan after World War II to become a fighter pilot but found a very different path instead. He changed his name to Masutatsu Oyama (大山倍達) and went across the country, defeating martial artists one after another. This film concentrates on the period when he is still young, and developing his famous karate style, Kyokushin.^"

 

 

^{This film was so bad there was no real value in it. Honestly I think the character was utterly pathetic, I know they were trying  to show him go from weak to strong. But the way they set it up mad it seem like he was so a weakling he dare not stand up for himself. There was a lot of Anti-American and Anti-Japanese feelings in this movie. I understand why they did this but I didn't like the way it was set up. I find fault in the plot and the main actor who wasn't as good as everyone says. The action scenes were horrible and uncharismatic to the point they were boring. The direction was poor and seemed rushed even though it is over two hours long. I suggest you skip this movie!}

 

 

^0/5

Day 343 - Tucker and Dale Vs. Evil (canadian)

"Allison, Chad, Chloe, Chuck, Jason, Naomi, Todd, Mitch and Mike are going camping in West Virginia. While at a gas station, they encounter Tucker and Dale, two well-meaning hillbillies who have just bought the vacation home of their dreams: a run-down lakefront cabin, deep in the woods. On Tucker's advice, Dale tries to talk to Allison, but because of his inferiority complex and appearance, he only scares her and her friends."

 

This was a hilarious movie with a wonderful concept and good leads. This movie was well done and entertaining. The direction could have been better but the shots were good. I enjoyed all the cause and effects in the film. This movie makes more sense than most of all of the modern day horror movies. I watch the film was a little more funnier since it seemed like they could have done more. If you like funny horror movies that are not corny then this is the movie for you.

 

3/5

Day 342 - Triad (Hong Kong)

"3 childhood friends join the Hong Kong Triads only to discover that fame and fortune will ultimately break them apart as only one can become the leader of the gang"

 

Its not bad but needs a lot of work to be something great. The whole thing is kind of predictable and gives off the impression that it is a complete mess. There wasn't a whole lot of depth from anything as we are left hanging by the holes in the plot. The film is not worth watching as the ending was horrible, the direction poor and overall it felt like someone's first film. Though I do think that some of the acting was good and seemed pure.

 

 

1/5

Day 341 - My Flesh My Blood (Polish)

"IGOR is a professional boxer whose world comes to a halt when he learns that his brain has been severely damaged from his many years of fighting. Refusing to undergo surgery, he knows that his days are numbered. Not having much left, his last desire is to leave a child behind as his legacy. A young Vietnamese immigrant, YEN HA, agrees to have his baby in return for Polish citizenship. Despite the nature of their agreement, they slowly fall in love, but then Igor's health deteriorates"

It was okay in the beginning and started to get good until the last half when Igor's health deteriorates. I enjoyed the pure acting from all the parties especially from the two leads. I loved the multiple cultures present in the film which really enlightened the movie. It was a bit rough to like Igor in the beginning but he goes through a character change after he realizes he is in love with Yen Ha. It was a decent film but I wish the ending was better as it was a bit predictable and very bittersweet.


1/5

Day 340 - The Attorney (South Korean)

"With only a high school diploma, legal attorney Song Woo-suk (Song Kang-ho) is somewhat of an outcast in Busan society ruled by university connections. Determined to become economically affluent, he accepts cases that colleagues shun, and with his business acumen and appetite for money, he soon builds a successful practice dealing with real estate and tax law. But Woo-suk becomes embroiled in a civil liberties case involving a group of young student activists detained by police, who are accused of being communist sympathizers. One of them is Park Jin-woo (Yim Si-wan), the son of Choi Soon-ae (Kim Young-ae), a restaurant owner that Woo-suk is indebted to. When Woo-suk sees that Jin-woo has been tortured by interrogators, he decides to take on the case"

It was a nice movie felt empty at times in the beginning but became something great towards the middle of the film . There was real meaning behind this film which I greatly appreciate. As a courtroom drama it really doesn't get heartfelt until the court scenes where Song Kang-ho's excellent charisma is displayed. The second half is quite good and is very inspiring. There are not a lot of films like this despite the need for them. It was Song Kang-ho's ability as an actor that really helped this movie to be a success. He was also backed by some very good supporting actors like Kim Young-ae.


3.8/5

Day 339 - The Stool Pigeon (Hong Kong/Chinese)

 

"Don Lee (Nick Cheung), a police detective in Kowloon whose reliance on informants leaves him struggling with a guilty conscience. Lee's previous stool pigeon's cover was blown and was attacked, leading him paranoid and driven from his wife and home. Lee begins to doubt his own methods. Lee recruits a street racer named Ghost (Nicholas Tse) as his latest stool pigeon who is assigned to infiltrate a gang led by the notorious armed robber Barbarian (Lu Yi). Ghost accepts Lee's offer so he can rescue his sister from a life of prostitution as well as help his father's one-million dollar debt"

 

This movie had  a lot of potential but sizzles out early on. It was Nice to see Nick Cheung play a good guy but I felt like his character was underdeveloped as most of the characters were. His situation with his wife also seemed quite rushed and at times seemed almost un-necessary until the very end. Nicholas Tse did a great job as well but there needed to be more depth. It was a surprise to see Gwen Lun-Mei in the movie but it was a nice surprise as she is a wonderful actress. I'm sad to say that I have seen a lot better movies from Dante Lam than this one. I suggest you only watch this is you like whose in it.

 

 

2/5

Day 338 - Nightbreed- The directors cut (AMerican-1990)

 

"Aaron Boone, an unstable mental patient led to believe by his doctor (David Cronenberg) that he is a serial killer. Tracked down by the police, his doctor, and his girlfriend Lori (Anne Bobby), Boone eventually finds refuge in an abandoned cemetery called Midian among a "tribe" of monsters and outcasts known as the "Nightbreed" that hide from humanity."

 

This film features a wonderful concept but poor direction and underdeveloped characters. Night Breed was an interesting movie to watch at times but the doctor was very boring as was Lori. The make up was good but some of the effects could have been better. The design of the characters and the world the characters are from was quite good. Poor marketing and poor cuts lead to this movies downfall.

 

 

2/5

Day 337 - Sabotage (American)

"John "Breacher" Wharton (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is the leader of an elite team of DEA agents from the Special Ops Division, which includes James "Monster" Murray (Sam Worthington) and his wife Lizzy Murray (Mireille Enos), Joe "Grinder" Philips (Joe Manganiello), Julius "Sugar" Edmonds (Terrence Howard), Eddie "Neck" Jordan (Josh Holloway), Tom "Pyro" Roberts (Max Martini), Bryce "Tripod" McNeely (Kevin Vance), and "Smoke" Jennings (Mark Schlegel)."

 

A very poorly done movie by David Ayer who appears to pick bad scripts. The whole movie has no real value as it is driven by endless violence that wasn't really interesting. The casting was nice expect for the girl on the team since she was very annoying. Arnold Schwarzenegger was the best part of the movie, he has gotten a lot better with acting and English. Even Sam Worthington was different from normal, I actually liked him in this movie. Skip this movie if you want  a better movie but if you want an action packed movie then this one is for you.

 

 

1/5

Day 336 - Monsters University (American)

"Monsters University tells the story of two monsters, Mike and Sulley, and their time studying at college, where they start off as rivals, but slowly become best friends"

 

It was interesting to learn the backstory of these two characters. The movie itself was funny sometimes interesting and sometimes dull. I watch the animation was better and more appealing. I do like the fact that most of the voice actors are the seem which helped a lot. There are a few holes but you expect that since its animation directed towards children.

 

 

2/5

Day 335 - Firestorm (Hong Kong)

 

"

A storm is heading to the city of Hong Kong, and with it comes another occurrence so destructive, it vows to bring down everything it touches.
A crew of seasoned criminals led by the notorious Cao Nam (Hu Jun), armed with high-powered weapons, pulls off another smooth and violent armored car heist in broad daylight in a crowded street. Whoever tries to get in their way, they will show no mercy. This puts the police force to shame and humiliation.
A hardboiled senior police inspector Lui Ming-chit (Andy Lau), hot on the trails of Nam and his tight crew, determines to put an end to this madness that causes the lives of innocent people"

The beginning half wasn't that bad but as it moved towards the end the quality of the story suffered. I did like Andy Lau's performance as it was exciting to see and I do like the character development. I didn't like some of the other character development as they seemed like they were dragging down the film at times. The action scenes were well done as they were exciting and at the same time served their purpose. Its a good movie to watch if you want to see an excellent action movie and Andy Lau.

3/5

Day 334 - Snowpiecer(South Korean)

"Set in a future where a failed climate-change experiment kills all life on the planet except for a lucky few who boarded the Snowpiercer, a train that travels around the globe, where a class system emerges."

 

An excellent movie that should leave you feeling excited. This film proved to me that Chris Evans is not just a face but he can actually act. This was the directors debut with English which is quite impressive because it is such a strong movie. I like the story and the script it delivered so much that it kept the simple plot quite entertaining. I love the choice of the South Korean actors because I have seen them act in other movies and they were great. Even some of the supporting cast was simply excellent despite my preset to dislike them due to their body of work. I love the multiculturalism in the film because they were unbiased and made it feel quite natural. There were Americans,  South Koreans, Japanese, Russians, etc. This is the kind of movie that needs to be made, the cinematography was simply beautiful at times. It's no wonder I left this movie feeling so excited and I could proudly say that this is the best movie I've seen in quite a while.  

 

4.8/5

Day 333 - The Woodmans (Documentary)

 

"The story of a family that suffers a tragedy, but perseveres and finds redemption through each other and their work - making art."

It was interesting but it felt like it lacked in emotion at times. Several interviewees did choke up when they talked about Francesca but I do like the realistic emotion behind this documentary. The whole focus of the documentary seemed to be mostly about Francesca despite what the synopsis says. Robert the son of the family was rarely talked about which made the documentary lose its feeling a bit. There wasn't a whole lot in the documentary either, it felt empty in a way but it still shows us an interesting artist.

 

 

2/5

Day 332 - Elysium (American)

 

" film takes place on both a ravaged Earth, and a luxurious space habitat called Elysium.^[5] It explores political and sociological themes such as immigration, overpopulation, health care, exploitation, the justice system, and class issues.^[6]"

 

Basically an Ex-con exposed to radiation tries his best in order to reach Elysium where he can be cured. The design of the world wasn't that bad but I think the general pace of the film caused this film to be less successful. Matt Damon did an okay job but he could have been a thousand times better. As I watched this film I wondered how Eminem would have looked if he had accepted the role. The back up characters were very weak depth wise and at times really annoying. In the beginning the film was at a normal pace but it took  a much faster approach towards the time. Not a whole lot happens in the film it would have been better to see the characters struggle more. There were a few good moments in the film but there was room for a lot of improvement. Also I watched this film I learned it was directed by the guy who did District 9 and it was obvious to why this movie was flawed.

 

 

2/5

Day 331 - Jiro Dreams of Sushi (Documentary)

 

"The film follows Jiro Ono (小野 二郎, Ono Jirō^?), an 85-year-old sushi master and owner of Sukiyabashi Jiro, a Michelin three-star restaurant, on his continuing quest to perfect the art of sushi. The film also profiles Jiro's two sons, both of whom are also sushi chefs. The younger son, Takashi (隆士), left Sukiyabashi Jiro to open a mirror image of his father's restaurant in Roppongi Hills. The 50-year-old elder son, Yoshikazu (禎一), obligated to succeed his father, still works for Jiro and is faced with the prospect of one day taking over the flagship restaurant."_wiki

 

An almost elegant documentary filmed about a perfectionist. Not only is the documentary about sushi and it is also about life. I found Mr. Ono to be quite knowledge and hardworking man who is still active in what he wants to do. The director David Gelb did a great job with everything, this documentary is the best one I've seen in quite a while. This kind of documentary will keep your focus for many reasons.

 

3.9/5

 

Day 330 - 14 Blades (Hong Kong)

"A kung fu thriller set during the Ming Dynasty and centered on a secret service agent (Donnie Yen) in the emperor's court who is betrayed and then hunted by his colleagues"

 

An excellent wuxia film from Daniel Lee and Donnie Yen. I enjoyed the story as well as the fighting and character development. First off Donnie Yen is very badass in this film, with blades and with his fists. He uses a slightly different fighting style in this film than his other movies. Zhao Wei was quite subtle in this film which made her kind of the perfect maiden for Donnie Yen's character. There is a quite blunt reference to pirates of the Caribbean with "Judge" whose clothes are very similar to Jack Sparrow. This is a wonderful film to watch on a thanksgiving day or simply a slow day. It could have been better but for what it has its great and I overall enjoyed the movie. (especially Tuo Tuo)

 

3/5

 

 

Day 329 - H.H. Holmes: AMerica's First Serial Killer (Documentary)

 

"Torture chambers, acid vats, greased chutes and gassing rooms were just some of the devices of death designed by the Torture Doctor, H.H. Holmes in his castle of horrors. Follows Holmes' entire life as a criminal mastermind."

 

An interesting documentary about a man who is rumored to have killed more than 200 people. John Borowski did a great job at gathering information and telling a wonderful tale through short reenactments and real pictures. This film is the people that like to learn about serial killers, one thing that is incorrect is that before Holmes there was another serial killer in America who some believe to be Jack the Ripper before the murders in England. Anyway this is one interesting documentary into the mind of a monster...

 

3/5

Day 328 - Island Etude (Taiwanese)

"A film about an aurally handicapped college student who grabs his bike, backpack, and guitar and goes on a 7-day, 6-night round-the-island tour. On the way he discovers the natural and cultural beauty of Taiwan and during his encounters with different people he is exposed to local arts, folk customs, approaches to environmental protection, traditional family values, and a host of other cultural enlightenments"

 

A visually beautifully film with limited talking from the main character and a natural supporting cast. Most of the people in the film are not actually actors but they made the movie even better with the natural feeling they gave off. It may not be the best movie but it makes it quite enjoyable when you have all these natural things present in the film. The dialogue is realistic which makes the talking scenes even better. This is the type of film someone who have never seen Taiwan would love because you get to the wonderful scenery present in the country.

 

3/5

Day 327 - Detective Dee: Rise of the Sea Dragon (Chinese)

" the South China Sea a Chinese fleet is attacked by a mysterious sea creature, destroying many ships and leaving the remaining severely damaged. Shortly after, the young Dee Renjie (Mark Chao) arrives in the Imperial Capital Luoyang, after receiving a recommendation to join the Ministry of Justice. In an attempt to appease the sea creature, the city officials have selected the beautiful courtesan Yin Ruiji (Angelababy) to be given to the monster. Empress Wu (Carina Lau), currently serving as the regent for the current emperor, charges Yuchi (Feng Shaofeng), a member of the Ministry of Justice, to investigate the sea monster attacks, threatening execution if he does not succeed in ten days"

 

A complete let down from the sequel with Andy Lau. The action scenes were so fast that you barely had time to register what was happening. It was a good idea in order to hide the horrible special effects but it managed to make me lose interest in the movie. Angelababy was beautiful as ever, even more beautiful in traditional Chinese clothing. She had the best acting in the film besides Carina Lau because everyone else was so mediocre. Mark Chao had a difficult job starring as Detective Dee when the legendary actor Andy Lau played the character before. Mark Chao lacked the charisma and overall charm that Andy Lau brought to the character. Mark was crushed badly by this role which lead to a semi boring movie.

Overall the film lacked in many persons and wasn't all too entertaining. I wonder what was Tsui Hark thinking when he made a prequel.

 

1/5

Day 326 - No Tears for the Dead (Korean)

"A love story between a professional hitman and his next target."

 

Despite what the synopsis says it is no where close to being a love story unless you are a fool. The story itself wasn't all that bad but could have been written better. Jang Dong-gun did an okay job but I felt like he was trying too hard. His English was better than it was in The Warriors Way which I appreciated. I enjoyed the multiple languages present in the film as characters spoke English, Korean, and Spanish. It felt like Kim Min-Hee grew as an actress but was held back a bit for whatever reason. The action scenes were alright but felt a little shaky in their organization. I don't think I would have make Jang Dong-gun as the lead but I appreciate that his English was above average from other Korean actors who tried to act in the language.  The ending had a great twist that I quite enjoyed so it was a total loss but its a nice movie to watch when your in the mood for a thought provoking action film. I expected a little more from the director of Man from Nowhere.

 

 

2.9/5

Day 325 - Serial Killer Culture (American-Documentary)

 

"Serial Killer Culture examines the reasons why artists and collectors are fascinated by serial killers"

 

A very interesting documentary that could have been directed better but was still worth the watch. If you are interested in dark art and serial killer inspired art then this might be the documentary for you.

 

2/5