A GOOD YEAR
starring Russell Crowe and Marion Contillard


Do you love the French cultures and accent and French babes? You love love stories?? If yes then maybe this is a movie for you.

Personally, I was fooled by the stars in this movie. I mean, RUSSELL CROWE AND MARION CONTILLARD! I kinda like both of them. Russell's movies are usually very good and Marion is just one gorgeous chick that I happen to like. So a combination of them is like Sushi and wasabi, but maybe not as delicious.

Anywayzzzzzzz, I can't say i like the movie at all. It was a total drag for me. Romantic but boring in some ways and I just don't get the whole point of the movie. There is a meaningful message in the movie but i just feel that it is not accentuated enough. I was left untouched at the end of it.

I believe that the movie is trying to convey that sometimes, winning is not everything. Money is also not everything. Sometimes, love and the simplicity of life is what truly matters. Yes, i get that but the delivery is not substantial enough. I find the whole movie a drag.

Basically the story tells of Russell Crowe who is a guy who is all about WINNING. He is good in his job and he use cunning tactics to make money. He is in the share market industry so erm...it's hard to explain...it's like he will make the prices go up by buying the shares and then suddenly sell everything. So the shares price will drop because other ppl will all panic and start selling all their shares at a lower rate. Then Russell will buy back the shares at a lower price. Something like what George Soros did, which caused the 1997 Economic Crisis. I'm not good at explaining how the share market works but my dad is darn good at it. So, contact him haha...

Okayz,,,anywayz my point is that this Russell in the movie is making big money for his company. Suddenly his uncle, who took care of him since he was young passed away. His uncle left him the vineyard and a beautiful mansion in France, in which Russell grew up in. Russell then has to fly to France to settle the legal procedures in order to officially own the house. He plans to sell the whole house and vineyard, and therefore selling away all his childhood memories he has of that place. Besides, causing his uncle's long-time and loyal worker his job at the vineyard.


The movie consists of flashbacks of his childhood with his uncle, flashbacks of some of the advices his uncle gave him. For example, Russell Crowe's character is all abt winning and making money. His uncle would say, there is more to be learned when you lose than when you win. But of course, don't repeat the same lost.

I must say, i like the advice. Reminds me of my dad's principle. When we get our marks for our test, my dad doesn't look at the marks, but whether or not we've learnt from the mistakes we make. He hates careless mistakes, but other justifiable mistakes, he loves. He always say, he loves the red colours on our test papers because it shows learning opportunities. That's why, everytime i get my test papers, i'm not worried about confronting the marks i get, but rather, did i make GOOD mistakes. But then again who am i lying, of course i also want high marks. WHO DOESNT? haha

So of course as the story develops, Russell, after spending one week in the mansion finally realizes what is truly important. Plus, he met a girl he love and that's where Marion Contillard comes in, no surprises there.

I guess Russell in the end realizes that making money is not as important as having a HOT girlfriend hehehe...

Watch this movie only if you are in for some romance. Even that, i don't think you'll be head over heels over the movie. Well, just my opinion. My bro thought "A GOOD YEAR was "A GOOD" Movie...well, i always thought he was 'gay' haha...


DISASTER MOVIE
starring Matt Latner and Vanessa Milano

DISASTER MOVIE is really a DISASTEROUS MOVIE!


Except the fact that Matt Latner is super duper extra bonanza galanza whatever HOTTTTTTTTT...the whole movie is RUBBISH! I repeat RUBBISH!!!!!

How stupid can one movie be?? Well watch DISASTER MOVIE...you'll know. I think the producers of the show already know it's a disaster and therefore named it DISASTER MOVIE.

Thank God I was drooling over Matt Latner.It sort of helped divert my anger and frusfration and also motivated me to actually finish watching the whole movie.

After watching 'DISASTEROUS' MOVIE, I became terrified of some of my most favourite characters, like Juno and the cute chipmunks...can you believe it? I dunno why but the way the movie portrayed these characters make me afraid of them. Now Alvin, Simon and THeodore are like scary chipmunks with rabbies that would bite you to death. Juno or Juney in DISASTEROUS Movie is like Juno, but with a whole lot of crap and no sense of humor. And Juney died tragically by the way...attacked by the chipmunks. See! They ruined my favourite characters in just one scene. RIDICULOUS....now everytime i see Ellen Page as Juno, i just can't get that chipmunk chomping of her backbone scene....ARGH!

If you are like me, you like Juno and the chipmunks...be prepared! The other characters like Jessica simpsons, Hancock, Amy Winehouse are also incorporated but not aptly. Sometimes, you don't even know what sense it made to actually have them there. Well, maybe lame spoofs like this is just not my kinda movie.

Okay now that i've got all the dreadful movies out of my lungs...let's positivize (a new word which i invented..one sec ago) ourselves with some movies which i like....or GREAT MOVIES hehehe...


THE LUCKY ONES
starring Rachel McAdams as Colee, Tim Robbins as Fred, Michael Pena as T.K.


So if Tim Robbins ring a bell, that's because he is the star of "The Shawshank Redemption" and yes, "The Shawshank Redemption" is one of my fave movies....and i've talked about it before in previous post.

Okay so...when i saw the name Tim Robbins and Rachel McAdams (another one of my fave) i feel i have to watch this one even though after reading the synopsis, i wasn't that into the story.

So a brief synopsis...
3 soldiers
2 given a month's break due to injuries (Colee and T.K.)
1 finally finished his time with the army (Fred)

Each has a destination.
Fred - back home for good to his family and home made up of his beloved wife and son

T.K. - 1st to Vegas to get sex workers to try to heal the injury in his privates. Apparently his ahem...five letter word starting with a P, wouldn't work after he got shot at the area. That's y he got a break hehe...2nd...go visit his girlfriend, whom he can't let know about the 'private' injury
Colee - go to her dead boyfriend's family to return the guitar which her boyfriend claimed to be given to him by his father. she has no family to go back to since she has argued with her mum when she was younger. so she hopes that her boyfriend's family would accept her and let her stay with them

Their lives crossed each other's path on a plane and then embarked on a journey together when their next flight was delayed. Fred decided to rent a car in order to get home earlier to see his wife and the other two wanted to tag along so that they can take another flight from another airport. Fred agreed because then he would pay less for the car and gas.

Of course on the journey they got to know each other, get on each other's nerves...
Then when Fred got home, as expected, his wife wants a divorce. His wife is used to being independent and feels that she doesn't need Fred in her life anymore. He is already devastated by the news but suddenly his son, who still love him a lot told him that he made it to HArvard. with scholarship. GOOD NEWS! Yeah...but the scholarship only cover 50% of the tuition fees and that his father needs to come out with $20000 to register...if not the offer is gone.

Fred promised his son that he'll come out with the money. His two new buddies were worried that Fred might commit suicide in order to get insurance money so they decided to once again tag along with Fred, who decided to find his brother for help with the money. Of course they are a lot more stuff in the movie which i wished i could tell you but it doesn't make sense if i actually write the whole story out.

The movie has a lot of subtle comedic moments, or dry humor which did entertain me. In fact, it made me laugh quite a lot.

The storyline looks simple but the overall presentation of it is fresh. It is a story about self-discovery, friendship and life. Sometimes, you'll learn about yourself, life and others more in unlucky situations. And if you see it differently, to be there, to actually go through that experience, actually makes you THE LUCKY ONE. Thus, the title of the movie - The Lucky Ones.

I really really like this movie. It's simple yet quite entertaining. The ending is ...well, not like those happy-ever-after kinda ending. It leaves you thinking "well, life goes on no matter what".
Of course sometimes you get no satisfaction from a movie which ending is so normal. But that's life. It's surreal and I love it.

I'm not sure whether you guys agree with me on my take of the movie but i really think you should give this movie a chance. No action though. JUst a simple, laidback story but really sweet.



FRED CLAUS
starring Vince Vaughn as Fred Claus, Paul Giamatti as Nicholas (Santa) Claus and Rachel Weisz as Wanda


I totally can relate to this movie. Vince Vaughn portrays Fred Claus, who is always overshadowed by his little brother, Nick. His mother would always say to Fred, "Why can't you be more like your brother?"

Fred, who is upset because he doesn't get as much attention as his brother turned naughty in order to get his parents' attention and also to get on his bro's nerves. I do feel over-shadowed by my siblings most of the times and therefore I know how it feels to be Fred. It is true that sometimes we would purposely do rebellious things in order to get on the nerves of the people who makes you feel unappreciated. But Thank God i don't have it as bad as Fred.

Well, Nick grew up to be the kindest soul and became Santa Clauss while Fred...while is just Fred who hates Christmas and everything that reminds him of Santa. It is definitely tough for him because EVERYONE loves Santa and nobody cares about him.

As the story goes, Fred needs help from Nick in order to get $20000. So Nick, this time, instead of being soft-hearted had asked Nick to work for him in the North Pole and earn the money.

Later in the movie, i feel Fred taught Nick a very good lesson. Every year, i'm sure you guys know that Santa makes a "Naughty and Nice" list. Naughty kids do not get a present.

But Fred told Nick that there are no naughty kids. They are all good kids. Some kids are just misunderstood or unhappy. THey behave wildly maybe because of certain conditions in their life that we are not aware of. We just need to understand these kids a little more.

Overall, "Fred Claus" is definitely a heart-warming movie and definitely one that would make your Christmas. I did not watch it during the Christmas seasons but after watching it, i definitely feel the warmth of Christmas and also the warmth of having a family.


Well, this is where I leave you ...I have "So You Think You Can Dance 2" on the TV right now. Not really watching it but some parts of it are quite interesting....some dances are good.
Anywayz all the best people...and i have to prepare for the market tomorrow.

With love,
Tam-me the awesomist...;P