Public Enemies

Watched With: Mr & Mrs Porno @ The Cathay (28/07)
Snacks: Green Tea
Genre: Crime / Drama

"We're here for the bank's money, not yours."

The year is 1933 and it is the Great Depression.

The FBI was still known only as the BI and J. Edgar Hoover (Billy Crudup) wants expansion and progess for his agency.
So he enlists the services of his top agent Melvin Purvis (Christian Bale) to apprehend America's Public Enemy Number 1 - the bank robber John Dillinger (Johnny Depp)

Dillinger and his gang were only interested in robbing the money of the banks and not the people. Kind of like a Robin Hood if you will.
And everytime her got caught, somehow or rather Dillinger still managed to escape the long arm of the law.
He even has time to fall in love with beauty Billie Frechette (Marion Cotillard).

So who will win the battle of wits and tommy guns?

Much of this movie was based on historical fact and based on my research most of it is pretty accurate although some parts were exaggerated for the movie and some parts were even added in for dramatic effect.

And as usual, Michael Mann is a purist and will only tell the story as it is written just as seen in his previous movies like Heat, Collateral and Miami Vice.
But I guess that is where this movie fails somewhat.
Because like all other Michael Mann movies, once he sets the tone of the movie at the beginning then that's the way it's going to be for the whole show.
This means that the movie does tend to drag on a bit during certain parts even though the story is progressing and reaching its climax.

I know I love gangster movies and this is a gangster movie.
But I wish it could have been more Crime movie than Drama. But still a good insight nonetheless. I guess the actors save it in the end.

Final Verdict:

Crank: High Voltage

Watched With: Nobody @ Cathay Cineleisure (27/07)
Snacks: Boiled Chick Peas & Green Tea
Genre: Action / Comedy
Hidden Scene: During the closing credits

"Jesus H. Chelios! You've gotta be kidding me!"

Chev Chelios (Jason Statham) was thrown out of a helicopter in the first movie Crank. And guess what - he survived.
Now a Chinese triad boss wants Chelios' legendary heart when his own starts to fail so henchmen Johnny Vang (Art Hsu).

Chev escapes but by that time he's already had an artificial temporary heart implanted in his chest and needs the help of old friend Doc Miles (Dwight Yoakam) who advises him that he needs high voltages of electricity to run through his body to keep his artificial heart pumping.
And so the fun begins.

And on his way to get his real heart back, Chev runs into a few people.
His girlfriend Eve Lydon (Amy Smart) is now a stripper. Prostitute Ria (Bai Ling) thinks she owes Chev her life because he saved her. Venus (Efren Ramirez) who so happens to be the twin brother of Chev's buddy Kaylo from the first movie.
And somehow or rather the Spanish crime boss known as The Ferret (Clifton Collins Jr.) also wants Chev's ass for some reason.

So will Chev win the race to get his heart back?

I watched the first one and it was pretty good.
But this movie was just a horrible attempt to make more money out of the series (and i reckon there'll be more on the way).
It was just like one long running video game.
Yeah sure it was pretty funny and you have lots of nudity and crude shit going on all over the place but after awhile I felt like I couldn't wait for Chelios to either get his heart of just die.

But what WAS cool was the number of cameos by some pretty famous (or previously famous) faces.
See if you can spot the following list in the movie.
David Carradine / Corey Haim / Chester Benington / Geri Halliwell / Lexington Steele / Jenna Haze / Ron Jeremy / Ed Powers / Lauren Holly are those I managed to spot.

Maybe watch this if you watched the first movie.
But save it for the DVD is what I say.

Final Verdict:

Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince

Watched With: My Snooqums @ The Grand Cathay (18/07)
Snacks: Green Tea
Genre: Fantasy / Adventure

Makes me wanna go "Sectumsempra".

Another year at Hogwarts and dark things are coming.
The Ministry of Magic has resigned itself to accept the fact that the evil Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) has returned and that times are looking darker than ever.

Headmaster Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) must now guide Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) and his two companions Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) & Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) to prepare for evil to engulf not just the magic world but the muggle world as well.
Dumbledore believes that the secret to defeating lies within the past of young Tom Riddle aka Lord Voldemort and enlists the services of an old friend Professor Horace Slughorn (Jim Broadbent) to try and unlock the memories within.

In the meanwhile Harry and friends deal with problems of a different kind - growing up.
Ron has become a Quidditch hero and has a new adoring fan in Lavender Brown (Jessie Cave) must to the dismay of Hermione and Harry himself is coming to grips with his obvious feelings for Ron's sister Ginny (Bonnie Wright).

And while everyone is grappling with uses of both magic and love, the dark forces are hard at work.
Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton) has been spotted with Death Eaters Bellatrix Lestrange (Helena Bonham Carter) and Fenrir Greyback (Dave Legeno) among others and seems to be up to something ever since his father as convicted of being a Death Eater.

So what's next for the gang?
Will they be able to put aside all other matters in the face of evil?

Let's face it people.
Like most other fantasy series - you had to have watched the preceding installments if you intended to understand this movie in the least.
Or at least have read the books.

For fans who have waited months for its release I'm sure they are finally satisfied that the series is finally reaching its climax and the final installment will be released in 2-parts (Oh great. Way to keep up the waiting time).

And i guess since this was just a filler movie in place for the final parts, one should not have such high expectations as to compare it to the past films.
In fact there are a few important themes and key points in this movie but I guess people were expecting more of the action they saw in The Goblet of Fire or The Order of the Phoenix but this is definitely not the case.

Definitely one for the fans.
If not then I suggest watching the first 5 movies first.

Evanesco.

Final Verdict:

The Haunting In Connecticut

Watched With: My Snooqums @ The Cathay (12/07)
Snacks: None
Genre: Horror
Hidden Scene: Photos after initial closing credits.

Somethings cannot be explained. Like the poster.

Matt Campbell (Kyle Gallner) has cancer. But a new trial treatment programme at a hospital in Connecticut gives him a bit of hope.
The biggest problem? The long journey to the hospital which takes half a day to and from home and hospital.
So his mum Sara (Virginia Madsen) and dad Peter (Martin Donovan) decide that they should try and rent a house nearer to his treatment centre but they need to find one that is affordable enough.

So Sara chances upon a nice big house for rent. A little gloomy but very very cheap - because it used to be a funeral home.

So when Matt, Sara, Peter, cousin Wendy (Amanda Crew) and two little tykes Mary (Sophi Knight) and Billy (Ty Wood) move in, they think that things will get better. But obviously not - because Matt starts seeing and sensing things in the house.
Some investigation leads to information that the house was not just a funeral home. The former owner Doctor Aickman (John Bluethner) used to conduct spiritual seances with his aide Jonah (Erik Berg). Not bad enough? He used to steal and mutilate corpses to feed the spiritual energies of these seances.
So obviously there are going to be some pretty angry spirits in the house right?

Can Matt and his family survive?
Can old and sick Reverend Popescu (Elias Koteas) help them to exorcise the demons lurking within the house before it is too late?

Well this movie was based on a true story.
In fact the actual house was the subject of a documentary on the Discovery Channel.
And I guess it was pretty creep at times. A little predictable I guess but you might be able to get a jump or two.
Kinda weird casting choices though. Especially for Matt.

But hey catch it if you have the time. If not then it's no loss.

Final Verdict:

Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen

Watched With: My Dad & Mum, My Brother & Miss Yana & My Snooqums @ Cathay EHub (29/06)
Snacks: Seafood Basket, Potato Chips & Iced Lemon Tea
Genre: Action / Sci-Fi / Comedy

After the Autobots were successful in defeating the Decepticons in the first movie, surely that can't just mean everything's okay right?

So here we have Optimus Prime still leading the Autobots against the Decepticons and their leader Megatron whose aim is to restore his master - known as The Fallen - to the glory he once had on earth.

In the mean time, Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) is going to college which is a difficult transition for him and girlfriend Mikaela Banes (Megan Fox). Throw in his neurotic parents Ron (Kevin Dunn) & Judy (Julie White) plus a new conspiracy-loving roommate Leo Spitz (Ramon Rodriguez) and you pretty much should have enough on your hands.

So with the help of Major Lennox (Josh Duhamel), Master Sergeant Epps (Tyrese Gibson) and old buddy Agent Simmons (John Turturro), can Sam and the Autobots stop the Decepticons before it's too late?

Look here bub. You know it and i know it.
The Transformers were the shit back in the day. And the first movie was not half bad okay. But the question that was hanging on everyone's minds was - will they be able to top that?

And the answer is - NO.
This movie really sucked in comparison.
Michael Bay has relied on crappy humour and a weak storyline to milk more money out of the franchise. And it's very likely there'll be more to come.
Not only does the plot seem a bit too convenient, there are also too few actual action scenes in the movie. It's mostly talking and all other nonsense. And there are no more new cool robots either.
I guess it took so much time and money to render the graphics that they just got lazy for this movie and decided to just screw it.
So what if the movie is crappy? People will still pay good money to watch it right?

I'd rather watch the first movie on DVD again than to watch this sequel Because it was truly bad in my opinion.
I know my standards might seems little high. But yours should be too if you're a Transformers fan of old.

PS The only reason I'm giving more than a half rating is for the Constructicons.

Final Verdict: