The Broken Circle Breakdown (2012) Belgium

Old contents, but in a new and awesome look.

Drama | Music | Romance

Review:

     The 86th academy award is ruled by the European nominees in the foreign movie category. The movie took the advantage of nonlinear storytelling. From present to past to future. Frequently everything keeps delivering the surprises. If you arrange all the story together properly, you would find a typical thematic. I must say the editing was what made the movie a better product. I think the best one I have seen from the recent on the editing perspective. Sadly, it was snubbed, in that category for 2014 OSCAR. This cancer theme movie is well deserved a place in the shortlist for foreign the foreign movie category.

     What I found short in the movie was the emotions. They had sufficient, but did not convince me all along. I usually wet my eye for the cancer theme when a character dies of it. But in this movie I grieved along the other character, but could not find a drop. All I was interested in fascinating characters. It was over a 100 minute movie, but I felt the pace was in a hurry. The transformation of a scene to another had broad skip in the timeline. When you watch the kid being treated for her ill in the first phase, in the next scene you would find her in a critical stage. Like that, it was racing towards the next stage of story development.

     It was kind nice to see two different characters falling in love and have a baby without knowing the consequences. They face it only when it begins to happen. So the story being told in that context in many pieces of flashbacks. The country musics and songs were good. The performances were also very natural from both the leads. It was well made from the directional viewpoint because of the well known contents to make it believable. In one word, it is well adapted stage play into a full length feature.

Similar movies:

A Simple Life, The Place Beyond the Pines, The Hunt, Ways to Live Forever, Amour

Suitable for:

Tween, Teen, Adult, All

Final verdict:

Ignore, Bad, Average, Good, Excellent

• Tween: From age between 7 to 12
• Teen: From age between 13 to 19
• Adult: From age above 20
• Ignore: Not worth watching
• Bad: Not good but watchable
• Average: 50-50, choice is always yours
• Good: great certainly not masterpiece
• Excellent: A must see, Masterpiece

The Grandmaster (2013) Hong Kong | China

All the leftovers pieces based on Yip man became 'The Grandmaster'.

Action | Biography | Drama

Original title:

Yi Dai Zong Shi (Contonese)

Tagline:

"In martial arts there is no right or wrong, only the last man standing."

"Once upon a time in Kung Fu."

Review:

     I think Yip man role spared no one among Chinese and Hong Kong actors. For the past few years movie based on Yip man get released every year. Especially the directors and producers are very enthusiastic to make a movie about this man. They are trying to pick the story from what the earlier movies had failed or missed to tell. In such perception this is done. I am very much surprised to see this movie to get nominated for the upcoming OSCAR (2014) ceremony. Is this movie really worth for that honour, well that is why I am here to brief in this review.

     Truly, I am not understanding the motivation of director and writer what they wanted to tell about Yip man. It was not actually a complete Yip man story. A tale fairly balanced between a charcter called Gong Er and him with the backdrop of Sino-Japan war. Technically it was very stylish and rich, but storywise it is a vastly letdown. When movies are based on someone's real life, filmmakers can change a few things to suit cinematically. That means they should not bore the audience with unimpressive and uninspiring scenes. Yeah, I did not find one single portion of the movie that attracted me.

     They showed stories that happened between 1930 to 1972. Over 40 years of span in the movie what I saw was the pieces of stories without exciting ones. Honestly, I think Donnie Yen's 'Ip Man' movie series were the best so far. The American Academy Award people had failed to grab those golden opportunities and now they are holding this movie's tail. Without any doubt Danish drama 'The Hunt' going to win the OSCAR and soon everyone will forget this movie.

Similar movies:

Yip Man, The Legend is Born: Ip Man, Fearless, Ip Man: The Final Fight

Suitable for:

Tween, Teen, Adult, All

Final verdict:

Ignore, Bad, Average, Good, Excellent

• Tween: From age between 7 to 12
• Teen: From age between 13 to 19
• Adult: From age above 20
• Ignore: Not worth watching
• Bad: Not good but watchable
• Average: 50-50, choice is always yours
• Good: great certainly not masterpiece
• Excellent: A must see, Masterpiece

Short Term 12 (2013) Hollywood

It is a dream come true for a debuting director.

Drama

Review:

     This movie came with a surprise, keeping everything so simple. The director's first full length feature which is actually based on his short movie of the same name. This movie tells the story of a group of young foster-care home supervisors and teenagers who live under their observation.

     A realistic movie with well balanced between characters and its narration. It was very much original subject and also in a believable manner. The movie with not-so-popular actors had achieved something every beginner filmmaker wanted to prove their direction skills. From screenplay to performances, it was outstanding.

     It all begins with a character Grace, a staff at a foster house facility and her co-worker as well her boyfriend, Mason. When a new staff joins them, soon, an another new kid called Jayden brought into the house under the supervision. After some incident Grace and Jayden begin to merge in emotionally for having a similar kinda previous events. Grace gets disturbed and her life begins to trouble the present. With all this, how she gonna face the current situation is the movie to be told in the remains.

     It had a very good opening sequence. Later on it went little slow but I liked as it was described in such pace to bring quality in drama. The second half is what everyone is going to love the movie for carrying striking storyline. The sustainable pace and story with expansion in broad was the highlight of the last quarter of the movie narration.

     As I expected it was not a commercial product, but definitely it will be recognizable in film festival arenas. It is not your usual movie that you had seen in Hollywood. Honestly, one of the 2013's best movie drama. 'Short Term 12' is the movie will be a turning point for many in their career, especially for the actress and the director.

Similar movies:

It's Kind of a Funny Story, The Art of Getting By, Keith, Sunshine Cleaning

Suitable for:

Tween, Teen, Adult, All

Final verdict:

Ignore, Bad, Average, Good, Excellent

• Tween: From age between 7 to 12
• Teen: From age between 13 to 19
• Adult: From age above 20
• Ignore: Not worth watching
• Bad: Not good but watchable
• Average: 50-50, choice is always yours
• Good: great certainly not masterpiece
• Excellent: A must see, Masterpiece

The Past (2013) France

One of the Asghar Farhadi's great work.

Drama | Mystery

Original title:

Le Passé (French)

Review:

     Frankly, I was bored after first 10 minutes of the movie. I thought it would be another 'A Separation' which might deal about the usual domestic violence of belonging country. A story like this is very common to where I am from, so I was not tempted for it. When it comes to 'The Past', it began very slowly and slowly like a crawling baby with a topic where characters from the movie discuss about it. And then only moving forward with an amazing pace and gripping plot building further bigger which made me stun. Especially the end scene when one of the movie characters had a tear in her eyes, I went speechless. This is the movie from 2013 that no one must miss for any sake. I was fond of Mr. Asghar Farhadi's working style and never considered his fan till I this movie.

     The director was very clever to portray characters into different shades in different stage of the story telling. Like, I thought the role Samir is a pervert, but when story proceeded further everything looked different with changed atmosphere. That is because of the held back story in the initial portion. I was not aware of none other than a man visiting to meet his ex wife and give some advice to his daughter. When one after another begin to reveal, the development of characters widens so that made movie to have the power to entice the audience. For all this one man we must admire and it is none other than the writer and director, Asghar Farhadi. The actors as well posed a great performance to give a strong support to the director and his view.

     As, I think, this movie deserves much more praise and applaud from critic and audience than the director's previous flick. As you know I am a sentimental movie fan, so this movie acquired my complete attention and won my heart. The movie ended before resolving my doubts about the plot. Looks like it is understandable after seeing that particular end scene. According to my observation of ratings and reviews across movie sites and forums this movie yet to reach widely to the audience. Overall, it is a must-must see movie drama and highly recommended.

Similar movies:

An Unfinished Life, A Separation, The Hunt, Gran Torino, That Evening Sun

Suitable for:

Tween, Teen, Adult, All

Final verdict:

Ignore, Bad, Average, Good, Excellent

• Tween: From age between 7 to 12
• Teen: From age between 13 to 19
• Adult: From age above 20
• Ignore: Not worth watching
• Bad: Not good but watchable
• Average: 50-50, choice is always yours
• Good: great certainly not masterpiece
• Excellent: A must see, Masterpiece

Abducted: The Carlina White Story (2012) Hollywood

You can't hide truth forever.

Biography | Crime | Drama

Review:

     Based on the real incident that happened in the back 80s in New York city. The story of missing baby, Carlina White, who finally found her biological parents after 23 years later. Totally unbearable and heartbreaking story that no one ever wants to face in their life. Almost similar kinda story to 'October Baby' which was also based on the real. In that movie where a baby is forsaken by the birth parent. After many years later the grown up baby finds her real parents. But in this one, it was same, rather abandon it was abducted. Both the movies were emotionally delightful, just like what tearjerkers expecting.

     When Carlina White was a two week old baby she was abducted by a woman called Ann Pettway. Pettway who had three straight miscarriages is no longer can carry another baby. With a desperate to have a child she decides to kidnap Carlina and raises as her own by giving another name to her as Nejdra 'Netty' Nance. The real parents never stop searching for their missing child. The years pass, after two decades later they finally find her and the remaining briefs very clearly the rest.

     The story does not end after the reunification of parents and child. It takes a little further where the time come for Ann Pettway to suffer for her unlawful act. And also Carlina White, who find herself in a confusion state between two identities of her. In all her life she was known as Netty, to find herself surrounded by unknown people with a birth name puts life into stake. The story explains from all the movie character's perspective. From a mother and father who lost their child to the kidnapper's view as well the grown up baby's. A movie never wants to miss which was inspired by the remarkable true story.

Similar movies:

Rebirth, October Baby, What Maisie Knew, Gardens of the Night, Julia

Suitable for:

Tween, Teen, Adult, All

Final verdict:

Ignore, Bad, Average, Good, Excellent

• Tween: From age between 7 to 12
• Teen: From age between 13 to 19
• Adult: From age above 20
• Ignore: Not worth watching
• Bad: Not good but watchable
• Average: 50-50, choice is always yours
• Good: great certainly not masterpiece
• Excellent: A must see, Masterpiece

Mr. Go (2013) South Korea

A tale of Wei Wei and Ling Ling.

Comedy | Drama | Sport

Original title:

Mi-seu-teo Go (Korean)

Tagline:

"World's first gorilla pinch hitter and his 15 year old trainer begin on their miraculous run in the Korean Baseball League"

Review:

     Hong Kong, Chinese, Taiwanese and now Jiao Xu, the 'CJ7' fame kid forayed into the Korean film industry. She was quite impressive in all her movies, we can call her a Disney girl from east. Her performance and flawless CGI character(s) are the movie's advantage. Frankly, I never expected such a clean graphical character like western's big production house do.

     Last time I heard was these eastern countries fought for the rights of Senkaku islands. But now it is good to see they are together for this wonderful movie. It won't be your favourite flick, but will be a cool movie to watch with children. For the moment I even thought did they hired Andy Serkis to do motion capture for the Gorilla. Because it was that perfect and Serkis is the only known who is a master in giving such performance.

     After losing their elders in an earthquake, a young circus ringmaster, Wei Wei and other children struggle to rebuild the business. When load shark threatens to take the kids and sell animals to cover the debt, Wei Wei comes up with a plan. To make a big buck that she must leave China for South Korea with her beloved pet, a gorilla called Ling Ling to take participate in the baseball series. Soon their popularity reaches far east, where many Japanese baseball franchises stand in the queue to sign Ling Ling in their team. When everything was going fine, the problem arises after money lender follows her there with another plan.

      It is a Korean's answer to Hollywood in the field of live shot movie with merge of an animated character. We must appreciate the filmmakers for their contribution to this movie from impossible theme to making possible. The plot is not believable, a gorilla to play baseball? Humans are no match with a gorilla's strength, then how can they allow to participate the tournament. It was a comedy flick so there you go that mean it is nothing more than an entertainment. In the perspective of family audience and kids, it is worth giving a shot.

Similar movies:

Sophie and Sheba, Mighty Joe Young Life of Pi, King Kong, Duma

Suitable for:

Tween, Teen, Adult, All

Final verdict:

Ignore, Bad, Average, Good, Excellent

• Tween: From age between 7 to 12
• Teen: From age between 13 to 19
• Adult: From age above 20
• Ignore: Not worth watching
• Bad: Not good but watchable
• Average: 50-50, choice is always yours
• Good: great certainly not masterpiece
• Excellent: A must see, Masterpiece

Lost in Thailand (2012) China

'Due Date' Meets 'Rat Race'

Adventure | Comedy

Original title:

Ren Zai Jiong Tu: Tai Jiong (Madarin)

Review:

     Fun filled travel based comedy from China. This road movie was similar to 'Due Date' and 'Planes, Trains & Automobile'. Like those two titles, our protagonist from this movie must team up with a crazy man to accomplish the unexpected hurdles in his trip. Actually, in another perspective, it was like 'Rat Race' and 'Its a Mad Mad Mad Mad World' where characters from the movie must reach their destination before one another. So they are ready to take any kinda risk to achieve their goal. Those wild journeys are what we are going to enjoy in this movie. Excellent pace and non stop engaging plot keeps you alive throughout.

     Two scientists invented a formula to increase the volume of any kinda liquid. So these Chinese scientists begin the quest to find their biggest shareholder who is in Thailand. But they got different agenda, one to get a funding contract to study further and another to sell it to a French company. In the race they encounter each other's trap which drag them a simple expedition to long lasting.

     This has been the highest gross movie ever in China and breaking all the previous records, including James Cameron's 'Avatar'. I have seen many similar movies from Hollywood and Europe, but not that many from Asia so I found it a nice one. The lead actor himself directed it for the first time and did a wonderful job. The movie had captured lots of beautiful places from interior Thailand. If entertainment is your top priority then it will fulfill your wish. If you are expecting good story, still it will convince but depends on the way you take it. Chinese and Hong Kong movies are famous for presenting martial art in it. That is how many from west know about movies from these places so if you wanna try other than that it will do a justice.

Similar movies:

Planes Trains & Automobiles, Identity Thief, Due Date, Harold and Kumar, The Guilt Trip

Suitable for:

Tween, Teen, Adult, All

Final verdict:

Ignore, Bad, Average, Good, Excellent

• Tween: From age between 7 to 12
• Teen: From age between 13 to 19
• Adult: From age above 20
• Ignore: Not worth watching
• Bad: Not good but watchable
• Average: 50-50, choice is always yours
• Good: great certainly not masterpiece
• Excellent: A must see, Masterpiece