The Mummy Should've Just Stayed in its Tomb

Like seriously.

The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor had "FAIL" written all over it throughout the entire movie, IMO. The story was shallow, the fight scenes mediocre. I mean, Jet Li and Michelle Yeoh were there so I was expecting some really awesome swordfight here and there. Plus, Brendan Fraser was "supposed" to be a funny guy, right? So why were the mummies funnier than he was? Then there's Maria Bello who replaced Rachel Weisz. No chemistry with Fraser, bad English accent...just plain bad at being Eve.

The effects were good though: the terra cotta warriors, the mummies burried under the Great Wall, and the Yeti were really cute (although far from what I thought a Yeti looked like). Plus when the battle was waging between the soldiers and the army of General Ming, the latter were both amusing and funny. Actually, the funniest moments of the film were in this part, IMO.

Fraser's jokes were dry, the antics were old. LIke mummies. I guess they finally ran out of quips that would fit the movie. Bello didn't help at all - I missed Weisz' way of brightening up the movie. The 10-minute narration by Yeoh at the beginning of the movie was okay as it explained how the whole thing started and all but how the O'Connells managed to raise the Emperor was kinda...bleh.

Well I guess that gives you more or less an idea about the Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor. The main reason I was looking forward to watching this so much is because Jet Li was playing the Dragon Emperor. I wouldn't recommend that you waste money for it though. Watch if you only if you really really want to regardless of the reviews and all that.

The Dark Knight

I'll be honest. I didn't really intend to watch The Dark Knight because 1) I'm not a fan of superheroes and 2) Batman Begins bored me to sleep. The movie ticket was a treat though, so why the hell not. Good news though, I didn't sleep a wink for the whole two and a half hours worth of Batman.

First things first: The cast. I loved Joker and Gordon the best in my books, Joker especially. I mean Heath Ledger was beyond awesome. It was the first time I ever saw Joker in that light. He was beyond creepy, actually. He made Joker look like some psycopath. Awesomely creepy.

The Dark Knight's special effects and action scenes were good too. A bit too loud at times, but it was good. Like how Batman would fly and beat up those bad guys. The sonar Batman ripped from Lucius Fox was really unethically cool. (Morgan Freeman is an awesome actor.)

The story? Well I found it to be a typical superhero story, only darker. I guess it's because of how Joker was? I mean, I think he affects all the characters there. The Dark Knight definitely surpasses all those other Batman movies I've seen, including the old series that goes "Kapow" ;)

Too bad Harvey Dent had so little part in the movie as Two-Face. I thought that the movie would end when Dent became the villain, but nooooo. It went on until Dent was no more. Well I'm kinda looking forward to see if there will be a next Batman movie of this sort. If it's anything like Batman Begins, count me out :)

"I'm sorry" Just Went Up a Notch

This is like one of the most amazing movies I've ever seen!

Okay, given that the story is pretty shallow... I mean, there's this "loser" who suddenly finds himself becoming a part of an elite group of assassins called the Fraternity. What's more, a sexy and beautiful woman becomes his partner. I think any guy would give anything to be in his shoes.

The plot, as I've said, is pretty shallow indeed, but the acting makes the movie worth the watch. Angelina Jolie, James McAvoy and Morgan Freeman really brought their roles to life. It made the movie amazing.

The special effects were cool too, with the curving bullets, adrenaline-induced visions, blood splatters and the like. Even the rat explosions were awesome. But...poor rats (even if they were CG).

Speaking of curving bullets, I've actually heard people wonder out loud if it were really possible to do that. Haha...my friend said he's waiting for a Mythbusters "Wanted" special soon: curving bullets, wax treatment and if rats preferred peanut butter over cheese.

My favorite part would be where Wesley (McAvoy) attacked the Fraternity's fortress and was faced with multitudes of men with guns. That action scene made me not blink and the blood splatters when he shot their heads were realistic.

Then there's the ironic ending where Sloan (Freeman) met his end in the hands (or should I say gun) of Wesley. Oh oh and the part where Fox (Jolie) curved her bullet and killed everyone!!! It is made of WIN!

This movie is definitely a "must-see"!

Jumper made me want to jump...

...out of my seat and get out of the movie house as quickly as possible.

I just felt bad about paying for the movie so I decided to stay put and finish the movie. Why did I feel this way? One thing: Jumper was a shallow movie. The storyline was so simple, it made fairy tales look complicated.

Sure, the graphics were really cool, but most of them happened during the latter part of the movie already. Like with the fight between the two Jumpers - David (Christensen) and Griffin (Bell) - and when the fight was ensuing between them and the Palladin, headed by Roland (Jackson). It was a fast-paced, action movie that seemed to be trying hard to include a sci-fi touch to it. The drama wasn't so good either.

And what the heck's up with the tagline, "Anywhere. Anything. Instantly."? It sounds like something Visa or Mastercard would use!

No, I'm not bashing the movie. I've nothing against the cast nor the director of Jumper. I'm just stating my opinion on the movie, based on what I saw when I watched it. If you're looking for a good movie to watch, skip Jumper. If you're into special effects alone, then go ahead and watch it. (Hayden Christensen isn't even good-looking here, so don't watch if you're just after that.)

Beowulf

In just a few days, Beowulf will be shown in theaters. Is anybody looking forward to watch Beowulf? I know I am. The reasons? Well one, it is a movie about one of the best mythological stories ever and two, Angelina Jolie is there. Yep, I'm Angelina Jolie's fan and I can't wait to see her computerized nude scene. If you haven't heard or read anything about it yet, most of the movie is CG.

Anyway, Beowulf, if you're not aware, is the story of a warrior-hero named Beowulf who has slain the demon Grendel. With Grendel's death, the wrath of his deadly and seductive mother falls upon Beowulf. She wants revenge against the slayer of her son and she wants it bad.

Beowulf, I forgot to mention, is an Anglo-Saxon epic poem that probably came to existence at around 700 AD. Despite it being of Anglo-Saxon origins, the plot and characters heavily relies on Danish and Swedish influences.

Beowulf has a stellar cast lined up:

Ray Winstone - Beowulf
Anthony Hopkins - Hrothgar
John Malkovich - Unferth
Angelina Jolie - Grendel's mother
Brendan Gleeson - Wiglaf
Crispin Glover - Grendel
Robin Wright Penn - Wealthow
Alison Lohman - Ursula

So is anyone else looking forward to watching Beowulf? I think it'll be a really great movie!

New Hitman movie

Here are some stills for the new movie, Hitman, starring Timothy Olyphant. Hitman will hit the theaters on November 21. It's a movie based on a video game of the same title about a genetically-engineered assassin known only as Agent 47.

I don't think I'll be watching this one, so those of you who are anticipating this movie, tell me what you think of it!



Do note that the pictures are from JustJared.

300? Nope, 301.

300 -- That is, if you include King Leonidas of course. A lot of people have seen 300 and it's either they loved it, hated it or remained neutral when it came to their opinions about it. It's undeniable though that the action scenes are something that remains etched inside your head even after several months after watching the movie.

Yeah, the action scenes. Plus the really great CG created especially to fit the theme of the movie: dark and foreboding. It's something that can be fully appreciated on the big screen instead of watching it at home, unless you have one of those big screen TVs that only the filthy rich can afford.

Anyway, I've talked to some people who haven't seen 300. Bleh. You like missed half of your life.

Kidding aside, 300 is a movie adaptation of Frank Miller's graphic novel of the same title. It's about King Leonidas who goes to war with 300 of his best Spartan men against the Persian Army (who are said to be in the millions or something). The Persians' god-king, Xerxes, wanted to invade Sparta because of the latter's insubordination. The whole movie just centers around the brief preparation of war, the great extent of the actual war that lasted around 3 days, and the aftermath of the war.

A cool thing about 300 is that it's based on a real war between the Spartans and the Persians. What I'm talking about is that this war, King Leonidas and Xerxes did exist in real life. The Battle of Thermopylae is a battle between Leonidas with a few hundred of his men against hundreds of thousands of Persians led by Xerxes.

Enough about history. 300 is a movie for anyone above the age of 20. Lol. Above 13, maybe. It's pure violence and you wouldn't want your kid saying that you're just like Xerxes (because you order him around too much). Well, I'm sure anyone would enjoy it, even just for the action scenes.

Underworld: Rise of the Lycans

A new Underworld movie is on the way. Titled Rise of the Lycans, the third Underworld movie will focus on the werewolves this time.

It's a prequel, so I don't think we'll be getting any Kate Beckinsale this time around. However, the movie will give the fans a background and will enlighten them as to how the feud between the Lycans and the Vampires started.

The movie follows Lucian as he rises up to the top-most rank in the Lycans' clan. He arranges a revolt against their former masters, the Vampires, led by Viktor, the Lycans' enslaver. Together with his lover, Sonja, Lucian will battle against the very formidable bloodsucking armies of Viktor.

Sounds interesting? Sounds like a flop? Well after the second Underworld movie, Underworld Evolution, I kinda got turned off with the story. If I'm going to watch the third Underworld movie, I'll probably catch it when it's featured on TV and not waste my time and money watching it on the big screen.

But who knows right?

Is anyone looking forward to Underworld: Rise of the Lycans?

New Mummy 3 Fight Scene Image!!

Here you have it! A picture from the upcoming Mummy 3 movie, Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, with Jet Li playing the Chinese emperor.

I'm betting that this has really great fight scenes, considering the fact that Jet Li's in the movie. (Yes, I love Jet Li. Deal with it.)

Source

Some Legacies Must End

"His father taught him to hate. His friends taught him rage. His enemies gave him hope."

American History X -- This has got to be one of my favorite movies of all time. Maybe it's because of it's uniqueness as a movie, the plot, the dialogue...then again, it could just be Edward Norton. (He's a very good actor and you can't deny that.)

American History X is a movie about Neo-Nazism. It's a movie about racism. It's a movie about hatred. It's a movie about enlightenment. It's a movie about self-acceptance. It's a movie about reformation. American History X is a movie about all these aspects of a person's life that are interwoven into one intricate story about one family's life.

Meet Derek Vinyard. He's the leader of a Neo-Nazi group who are against everyone who aren't white Protestants. He goes to jail for manslaughter and gets released after serving only three years of his sentence. He's a changed man because of the multitude of experiences he had inside prison. Experiences that I probably wouldn't be able to handle if they happened to me.

Anyway, upon his return, he tries to renew his family's strained relationship and to fix every mistake that he's done before serving his jail-time. But then his younger brother, Danny, has become Derek's replacement within the Neo-Nazi group. Derek tries hard to change his brother and lead him away from the path of neo-Nazism before Danny ends his life tragically.

American History X explores the effects of Neo-Nazism through the lives of those involved in it, those who were involved with it, those who are close to them and to those who are terrorized by it. It's a scary ideology that looks down upon other people just because they belong to a race outside white Protestants. I love this movie because it explores something provoking in a way that people can relate to.

Derek's flashbacks help greatly in explaining the theme and the storyline. They are all essential in building up the story and in understanding the mentality of the people involved. Edward Norton really makes you feel Derek's character. When I watched American History X, I could really feel Derek's anger and pain, as well as reformation and his slow acceptance of the things that happened to him before he fully understood that what he did was wrong. Derek's life in prison was especially painful to watch -- and it's up to you to find out what was painful about it. Do note that I'm not only referring to his pains literally, but it's more on the figurative side.

I highly recommend American History X for those who want something new and thought-provoking. You won't regret watching it.

On the X-Men movies...

X-Men -- Just a quick poll, everyone! I think everyone already knows that a new X-Men movie (though I'm not really sure if it's the Wolverine one or not) is on it's way to our movie screens soon. I just want to find out how many of you liked...
- X-Men 1
- X-Men 2
- X-Men 3
- All three movies
- None of them

Well... It's possible to like all three and to not like any right? For me, the best one was...uhm... I LIKE ALL THREE. And I can't wait for the fourth one, for that matter. I've always been a big fan of the X-Men, especially Wolverine. Oh and I despise Cyclops.

So... I want your thoughts everyone! Which X-Men movie did you like and what are your thoughts on the upcoming X-Men movie??

Oh and tell everyone who your favorite X-Men character is!

Highlander: The Source

Highlander -- So has anyone seen the trailer for the new Highlander movie? Does anyone even know that there's a new Highlander movie? Well it's slated for release this year and it's the fifth Highlander movie to date.

I read somewhere that it was already shown in America, aired by the Sci-Fi Channel, but when I watched Resident Evil the other day, I saw the trailer for Highlander: The Source, so I'm guessing that it will be shown here in our local cinemas.

I can't wait for this one. If you've read my earlier post on the Highlander series, you'll get an idea of how much I like Highlander. Added to that, Adrian Paul, the original Duncan MacLeod, is the one starring in the movie. So that's double the "I can't wait for this one."

Oh yeah, the plot. It's basically just a quest to find the Holy Grail so that the immortals can unlock the secrets of "The Source". Ah but this time, as they race to find the secrets, the world of the near-future is on its path to destruction.

So, is anyone going to watch this? Do you think it will be a good one?

Doom for Doom

Doom -- Enter the Rock in this movie adaptation of the video game of the same title.

If you weren't able to catch Doom when it was shown last year, Doom is about a group of soldiers..well, space marines...who were sent to another planet to make sure that everything's going fine with a research facility.

Upon reaching the facility, they find out that the place isn't so fine after all. Almost all the scientists are missing, dragged into the darkness by some weird, unseen (not invisible) thing. They were briefed about the situation by a lady scientist who is probably the only scientist left there. Oh and a physically disabled guy is there to help too.

They receive their mission: get rid of the thing and leave.

Then you will see a series of action scenes and you also discover what the weird, unseen (not invisible) thing is. Of course, I wouldn't tell you the whole story here because I don't want to ruin anything for you, dear reader and unfortunate misser of the movie, Doom.

Okay, personally, I don't like the movie. It's an Alien rip-off. I haven't played the game but I've seen it and I wish there were scenes there that were actually taken from the game. Oh wait, there is! It's only scene that I liked in the whole movie:

You know those first-person shooter games like Time Crisis and well...Doom (durr)? There's this scene where the Rock goes around the lab, trying to find the weird, unseen (not invisible) thing and it's like you're playing the actual game itself. There! That's like cool, you know?

Well, that's me of course.

Try to watch it. If you don't like it, don't blame me. If you do, praise me for introducing Doom to you.

Another X-Men Movie?

X-Men -- So will there be another X-Men movie? It has been on the news that there are plans but no one knows exactly what the story will be. Some speculate that it will be a Wolverine spin-off, but that probably will be another movie.

Also, rumors has it that Gambit will be introduced in the fourth movie. It's about time too.

People were asking if the new movie will be a Cyclops spin-off, but it was denied. Definitely not a Cyclops movie, I'm sorry to say, Cyclops fans. (I personally don't like Cyclops at all.)

I'm hoping that they do a separate Wolverine movie and not make that the fourth installment to the X-Men series. Why? Because there were quite a few loose ends on the third movie that practically screams, "HEY! THERE'S A FOURTH MOVIE SO WATCH OUT FOR THAT, OKAY??"

So what do you guys think? Any speculations on what X-Men 4 will be about? Do tell me, I love hearing ideas :D

The Immortal Highlander

"Here we are, born to be kings we're the princes of the universe..."

Highlander -- Awesome, awesome show. I was so obsessed with Highlander when I was growing up. I enjoyed the fact that the characters are immortal and you can't kill them off unless you slice their heads clean off their necks. They can only be killed by fellow immortals, and at times, by accident, some mortals manage to do the job.

The Highlander series revolves around Duncan MacLeod, the protagonist of the story. Born on Scotland in 1592, he is, indeed, an immortal. I like his sword, a katana, given to him by some Japanese dude some 200 years ago (we're on the Highlander timeline here).

The fight scenes are really awesome and can get pretty long too. I never got bored though. The sword fights are usually from different disciplines so you get to see a bit of everything - from Asian to European, etc. Then when one of them successfully slices the head of his opponent off, the winner absorbs all of the loser's powers with a lightning bolt. It would be pretty lucky if you're an amateur immortal and you accidentally kill one of the veteran immortals hehe...

Oh and the opening song of Highlander, as quoted above, is a single entitled "Princes of the Universe" by Queen.

O castitatis lilium...

Elfen Lied -- This has definitely got to be one of the goriest, saddest and most twisted anime I've ever seen.

What is Elfen Lied?
Elfen Lied is an anime/manga created by Okamoto Rin. The story revolves around a Diclonius named Lucy who was stranded in an island inn where she washed up after being hit on the head by a sniper's bullet. The hit caused her to have split personality disorder, her other "self" was called Nyu by Kouta and Yuka - the people who found her. Nyu's appearance causes Kouta to remember events from his past that seemed to be buried so deep that he forgot about them while the lab where Lucy escaped from ordered a man-hunt for her.

What is a "Diclonius"?
A Diclonius is a mutated human. You can tell them apart from other humans because they have horns on their heads that resemble cat ears. A diclonius possesses telekinetic powers that they can use through their "vectors".

What are "Vectors"?
Vectors represent a diclonius' power. They are like invisible hands surrounding the diclonius. They seem invisible because they move at speeds that the eyes cannot keep track of.

How does this post's title relate to Elfen Lied?
The title is taken from Elfen Lied's opening song, "Lilium". It's a Latin song, btw.

Elfen Lied is not recommended for those who are under 18 and those who have weak hearts and stomach. That's because a lot of killings happen and they are represented quite graphically. Nude and torture scenes are present too. I did like Elfen Lied though. Putting the violence aside, it's a sad story, especially Nana (another diclonius) who wanted to be accepted by the man she calls her father. It's tragic too...

Which is why if you're over 18, has a strong heart and tummy, watch Elfen Lied.

Kung Pow - Enter the Fist: Steve Oedekerk (2002)

"I-It's bad.. It's..It's wrong.. It's...badong!"

Kung Pow -- I'm not really sure about the popularity of this movie because most of the people I ask about this aren't even aware of it.

Anyway, Kung Pow is one of the best martial art-parody movies ever! The movie stars Steve Oedekerk (yeah, try saying that 10 times as fast as you can). He's also Kung Pow's director and writer.

Kung Pow was taken from a 1977 Hong Kong action movie called Tiger and Crane Fist. It was dubbed to become a comedy and Oedekerk was inserted over the main character.

For the plot (don't worry, I won't reveal that much.. I'm too lazy to write the whole plot. Oh and I don't want to spoil your fun ^^): Oedekerk's character is known as "The Chosen One" - he is the Chosen One because of the face on his tongue (refer to picture). The Evil Empire wanted to get rid of Chosen One so they send a guy named Master Pain (and several henchmen) to kill Chosen and his family. As expected, Chosen survives.

So Chosen grows up and looks for the dojo of Master Tang. He finally finds it and takes refuge there. He meets Wimp Lo who swears to beat Chosen and Ling, a female resident of the dojo who fancies Chosen. Then Master Pain comes to town to visit the mayor and he shows off his strength. Oh and he also announces that he will change his name from Master Pain to Master Betty. He fails to recognize Chosen, but of course, as the story develops, they will face each other and encounter many, many, many deaths (and tons upon tons of laughter).

Okay.. That's my version of Kung Pow's summary. Overall, I'm giving Kung Pow a 10/10 rating. Why? Well, watch it and you'll see why (and you'll also see how knocked up my brain is). The bad dubbing, obvious CG, intended puns, hazy picture and weirdness all around contribute to the beauty of Kung Pow.

MacGyver

MacGyver -- MacGyver was aired back in 1985 until 1992 so a lot of kids today probably don't remember the show. Heck, I think a lot of people born in the 80s only have a vague idea about MacGyver because 1) it's not a cartoon show and 2) it's something Daddy would watch.

Who is this guy? (He's the one with the mullet, btw.) MacGuyver - also the title of the show - is a hero. Hero in the sense that he rescues people, towns, etc. Yeah, he's a typical "hero"...or so you think. MacGuyver can do all his heroic stunts with the least amount of weapons. No, he doesn't do martial arts. Give him a lightbulb and he can go through any door using that as a lock pick. That's the kind of "hero" he is. MacGyver can turn any ordinary object into a weapon or a tool that can help him save himself and others from critical danger.

Did I mention he's afraid of heights?

If you're looking for some clean and action-packed adventure series, then you're looking for MacGyver. You won't be left asking for more, plus, it's a great Do-It-Yourself (DIY) guide show. So when you watch MacGyver, be sure to get your pen and paper ready to take down notes so you'll know what to do to save yourself the next time you get stuck at the bottom of a 1000-ft. well with a bomb that's about to go off in 20 seconds and all you have with you is a pair of toothpicks, 3 pieces of marshmallow and dog poo.