My opinion on Asian movies which are being made nowadays

kung fu moves by Stephen Chow

I have always had a very soft spot for movies even though at times the story or rather the plot is very predictable. I seriously do not know what is the reason behind this but movies are rather close my heart. In fact I have watched more English movies in the cinemas compared to other language films ( I watch a film for the story, not for the actor or actress therefore language is not a barrier for me even if there is no subtitles, as i try to understand the story in my own way).

Anyways I still believe that Asian movies have got a long way before an official entry comes along the way for the best foreign language film at the Academy Awards. Our movies mostly have a predictable ending or rather happy ending. Where are those movies which were directed by the late Satyajit Ray, Akira Kurusawa and so on. Well you might call me old school or a guy who does not have taste but trust me, I am not supporting the films because they are old or classics but merely due to the story.

So far the current cinema is improving from what it was in the 90's by giving such great movies. But the saddest part is that when you advice nowadays youngsters to watch it, they say the ending is just too sad therefore they are not going to watch this films. Our mentality is more towards all about masala based films which needs to have, family, intimate scenes, love, fight and most importantly an ending which is appreciated by everyone. This has now become a trademark for our films (especially Indian films)

Well ending is one thing, but we never looked at the story line and say that this film is good. In my opinion as person who loves film, I personally feel that we need to change our perception towards film in order for good films to be produced or rather made in the future. There are many good films which were made but never got the recognition it deserved. Due to our mentality, nobody is willing to take a risk in making good movies as they no it would never be a success among us.

Everyone wants to reap profit from cinema, therefore the same story which a bit of alteration here and there is being made, and we the cinema lovers are actually watching the same movie again and again and again if we realize that. Another important aspect of cinema is acting, well look at the talents that we have. This people are not here in the cinema to help promote cinema but rather here to make a name for them and reach superstar status.

All I can say is that do not compare our Asian cinema with any other cinema around the world, it is all about us. Our support and our willingness to receive a good story with open hands that counts at the end of the day. Watch good films and encourage them. Then one day we can proudly say that our Asian cinema is producing the best films in the world. So far from my knowledge, the only cinema which gives importance to the story is the cinema in Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese to be specific), Japanese, Thai and arguably the front runner currently in Asian cinema, the Iranian movies. I hope that other languages will be a part of this soon. May Asian cinema continue to prosper.

Movie Review: Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps

   classy commercial movie poster for 'Wall Street'

 “The one thing I learned in jail, money is not the prime asset in life, Time is.” 

Michael Douglas is Gordon Gekko in his Oscar-winning role as one of the screens most notorious villain in Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, The sequel of ‘Wall Street back’ in 1987. 

In Money Never Sleeps, the storyline mainly focus on the reformation of Gordon Gekko, after spending 8 years behind bars.

Besides having the opportunity to return back to the battlefield he once dominated, Gekko forms an alliance with his daughter’s fiancé Jacob (Shia Labeouf), to repair their damaged relationship.

In return, Gekko helps Jacob get revenge on Bretton James (Josh Brolin), the man Jacob blames for his father figure and mentor’s death Louis Zable (Frank Langella). 

Although it is a sequel of Wall Street, it can be watched as an individual movie.

However, the audience would find it more interesting if they have watched 1987’s Wall street.

Movie Review: Vampires Suck

comical display image of 'Vampires Suck', parody for Twilight,New moon,Saga

From the writer-directors of Date Movie, Epic Movie, and Disaster Movie, Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer finally gave the not so Twilight fans something to laugh about. But, they did it all for nothing.

The story is about a sulky yet hot tempered Becca Crane (Jenn Proske), who returns to Sporks, Washington, to live with her sheriff dad. At school, she meets extremely pale, Edward Sullen (Matt Lanter), part of the mysterious Sullen family of vampires. Also bitten by Becca's charm is Jacob White (Chris Riggi) an often shirtless Native-American werewolf.

 Becca's bloodsucker-lust soon attracts a dangerous clan of nomadic vampires who don't share the Sullens' ethical reservations about drinking human blood.

Friedberg & Seltzer basically rehash Twilight sequences and “attack” predictable and easy pop-culture targets such as the Jonas Brothers, Tiger Woods, the Jersey Shore cast and etc.


The real problems are that there are not enough comedic elements and if there was then it was too far between each of the scenes. For example, one of the Sullen’s goes crazy when Becca cuts herself and starts bleeding. The joke is that he’s so hungry, he imagines her head as a large burger. However, the scene is unfunny and generally illogical since he’s a vampire and doesn’t eat meat and so a burger supposedly wouldn’t be very appealing to him. Vampires don’t eat meat, they don’t like them. That’s what makes them vampires.

They even managed to make the funniest people like The Hangovers’ Ken Jeong unfunny, when he shows up late in the movie as a Volturi.

On the plus side, the lead roles were well casted. For example, Proske nails Kristen Stewart’s stutter delivery, gape-mouthed stares, and constant fidgeting with her hair. Matt Lanter deserves some respect for doing a good job for brooding his way to a passable Edward.

Documentary Review: Remembering Natrah

Maria Hertogh and Che Aminah binte Mohamed, circa 1950.

This documentary basically describes a life of a 12 year old Dutch girl named Huberdina Maria Hertogh or her Muslim name Natrah Maarof who was adopted by Che Aminah a Malay woman and was taken back to the Netherlands by her biological parents against her will in the 1950s.

Remembering Natrah reminds today’s society of two important issues that has failed to be practised especially here in Malaysia. The first lesson is a about religious tolerance and respecting human rights. Secondly, is how ignorance would result in one leading a lifetime of misery.

The director has outlined a few important things that we should take into account at this time such as how we regardless of the media or society’s perception should correct people’s view of Islam being a religion of extremist. In addition, respecting the religion of others is the most important element in creating a harmonious environment within a society.

The documentary outlines how provocation towards a religion does not bring any benefit. A good example would be the case of Natrah. When the Malay party lost in court for the second time to keep Natrah in Malaya with her adoptive mother, they accepted the decision quite well although they were very disappointed with the courts’ decision. However, to add salt to the wound a provocation was made by an international newspaper showing Natrah kneeling in front of the Virgin Mary’s statue and  had made the Malays felt that their dignity was being lowered by another religion.

Remembering Natrah has made us think of how important it is for people to respect each other regardless of religion and that all religions should be treated with the equal amount of respect and courtesy.

Book Review: Where Rainbows End

Flowery & Feminine book cover for 'Where rainbows end'

Where Rainbows End was written by Cecelia Ahern and a Harper Collins publication.

The book “Where Rainbows End” is about casual friendship transforming to a love story.

Were Rainbows End is basically about Rosie Dunes and Alex Stewart whom were both child hood friends. The two characters (Rosie and Alex) were used to each other for ages but Alex had to move from Ireland to a new location (Boston).

Rosie was left alone in Ireland dough they communicated with Alex through mails. Luckily she got an offer to move to Boston but she couldn’t make it due to some problems.

The book has achieved its goal because it was successful in making people understand the story although the author chose to tell it in a complicated way. Readers may find it hard to understand what the story is about at the beginning but soon they will get used to it. 

Other than that, Ahern had convinced the readers on the possibilities of long distance relationship, Compared to other books, Where Rainbows End manages to give a new look on how some people still conducting their relationship in an “old fashion” way, which is through writing, rather than phone calls.

Finally, this book is a must to read if you like childhood friendship or if you are in or has been in a long distance relationship. You can get courage and motivations to carry on with your relationship.

Movie Review: The Descent Part 2

Spine-chilling & horrifying poster for 'The descent part2'

The continuation is arguably not that superior as The Descent back in 2005. In The Descent Part 2, the only survivor from The Descent, Sarah was forced into the Appalachian cave by the authorities to help locate her five missing friends.

In this movie, there is not anything above and beyond being more violent than the previous series. That's why it's rated R in the U.S. for 'strong bloody horror violence, grisly images, terror and language'.

The plot is very flat, the movie takes place after the ending of the previous series but it doesn’t offer any interesting elements or excitement. However, the little plot twist enlightens the movie ending.

By and large, it is a sort of a  movie which can be a attractive feature of  attracting  horror fans.

Book Review: He’s Just Not Into You

Attention grabbing, straight forward illustration of 'He is just not into you'

This is a review of “He’s Just Not That Into You” by Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo.

In this book, the writer focused on “warning” women in our millennium about these mixed signals they often get while dating men. The sad part was that, most women do not realize or tend to avoid these signals no matter how much the men are rejecting them. The book itself is like a “guide book” for women because whenever they sense these signals, they can just flip through the pages to look for ways to solve them.

Note that Behrendt and Tuccillo began with an introduction saying that women out there are dating the “same guy”. A guy who is not ready for a new relationship because he has just been through an awful breakup, a guy who is afraid of commitment after his parents’ divorce and the typical one which is guy who “forgot” to call you right after you slept with him. Later on, Benrendt started to give the readers a list of mix signals that women should be aware of. 

Examples:-
1.He’s Just Not That Into You If He’s Not Asking You Out
2.He’s Just Not That Into You If He’s Not Calling You
3.He’s Just Not That Into You If He’s Not Dating You
4.He’s Just Not That Into You If He’s Not Having Sex With You
5.He’s Just Not That Into You If He’s Having Sex With Someone Else
6.He’s Just Not That Into You If He only Wants To See You When He’s Drunk
7.He’s Just Not That Into You If He Doesn’t Want To Marry You
8.He’s Just Not That Into You If He’s Breaking Up With You

The book has achieved the goal because it had answered all the possibilities that were questioned by women. All the crazy and manipulative excuses that were given by the men they were dating are finally answerable. In addition to that, the book had given very convincing evidences towards all the excuses because women who had experienced the worst in their dating life shared their experiences in the book. The authors, Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo, both of them are the consultant and the executive story editor of HBO’s Emmy-winning Sex and the City respectively. Given those kinds of jobs had qualify them to write this book since they are dealing in writing story for women who are 35 years old and above and active in meeting new people.

Finally, this book is a perfect ending for women outthere that are ready for a fresh start in their dating life. By reading this book, women are ready in advance to any kinds of possibilities they are going to face in the dating world.