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