Film Review: Unbroken (2015)

Title: Unbroken 

Rated: PG-13 

Language: English 

Directed by: Angelina Jolie 

Distributed by: Universal Pictures 

Genre: Drama 

Running time: 2 hr 17 min 

Ratings: 8.5/10 

Summary:

After a near-fatal plane crash in WWII, Olympian Louis Zamperini spends a harrowing 47 days in a raft with two fellow crewmen before he's caught by the Japanese navy and sent to a prisoner-of-war camp.

(Source: imdb.com) 

Review:

I have to say, this was, to me, a very good movie. I mean, some people are reluctant to find the beauty in it, but I can say with a straight face that I found this movie heart-warming, touching, and beautifully-presented. I think that Angelina Jolie, bless her kind heart and also she's not dead, has made a very good job placing this movie in the silver screen. 

Unbroken is a story about a man, who at first had a very hard start in life, manage to get himself in the Summer Olympics, beating the world's greatest; fought in battle; stranded in an ocean for 47 days; brought to a Japanese concentration camp and forced to work in labor as a coal miner; being personally abused by the commanding officer (which by the way looks too hot to be an officer anyways), and finally ended his misery after World War II ended. I mean, if I were in his shoes, I would have just shot myself when my airplane went mayday and would say 'shit, I can't do this anymore.' For someone who has been beaten up, got hurt, he is pretty optimistic while the most of us, would have given up on the first day. 

The cinematography, the way his story was depicted in a movie, was merely the first part of how good it was. To me, it could be concluded to be what a long-ass movie should be. I could have watched it again, I think, but it would ruin it. Was the movie very predictable? Yes. It is a story about a magnificent person that clearly has endured a lot, so yeah, probably it was predictable. But the nature of it, the nature of how a good film should be is unfairly judged upon. Good movies are good, People shouldn't judge a movie by who is directing it, but it should be judged by the way it is conducted as a whole, and I could say it's pretty excellent. 

So go watch Unbroken. I rarely see a good movie these days, and Unbroken, is one of them. 

Author's Note: I'm sorry if I'm not posting any book reviews in a while but books require days to read, and movies just require a couple or few hours so I briefly apologize for my lack of time. 

Author's Note (II): I'm reading an Indonesian book right now, so I'll prolly rant about it next week. 

Film Review: Kingsman: The Secret Service (2015)

Title: Kingsman: The Secret Service

Language: English 

Rated: R 

Genre: Mystery & Suspense, Action & Adventure 

Directed by: Matthew Vaughn 

Distributed by: 20th Century Fox

Runtime: 2 hr 8 min

Ratings: 8/10

Summary:

Based upon the acclaimed comic book and directed by Matthew Vaughn (Kick Ass, X-Men First Class), Kingsman: The Secret Service tells the story of a super-secret spy organization that recruits an unrefined but promising street kid into the agency's ultra-competitive training program just as a global threat emerges from a twisted tech genius.

Review:

I must say I kind of miss all these spy movies. People say they're extremely overrated but who cares, right? It's enjoyable, and kind of cool. We all imagined ourselves as spies when we were kids. Used to look at people in screens with envy. Wonder how we could be like James Bond, who've slept with like countless women. 

Okay, Kingsman is the generic kind of spy movie. Probably there is no anticipation at all, but since I saw the movie poster, I thought: that must be a very cool spy movie. And it was. It's about Eggsy, often in trouble but very loyal of friends went joy-riding in someone's car, and ended up being investigated by the police. And finally, a fellow 'tailor', a friend of his dad's, bailed him out. At the same time, an evil plan was starting to commemorate. You know, the same she-bang. 

I think it was predictable. Probably that's why it lost one point in rating. The second point was because of Eggsy's ridiculous English accent. It's the hillie-billie version of an English accent. Why couldn't he sound more like Idris Elba or something? Okay now we've got that through, I could just say that it was an enjoyable movie. Classy enough, and the jokes were highly appropriate (I may concur this one, probably I was not paying attention). But the nature of spy movies are loyalty, a bunch load of tests and how you react while facing danger. 

But something I did like, about what they said in the movie. That people don't have the same opportunity as others. You can be smart, you can have every ability in the world, but there are things that just needs to be done. Nobody is granted with the same opportunity, like Eggsy, who grew out of love since his dad died and when his mother turned into, someone else. I think I liked that about the movie. That he was willing to change his prospects when the opportunity came. Take chances, etcetera etcetera. 

Okay as a conclusion, it's a good movie y'all. Most of the movies out now are pretty not-so-great but Kingsman was quite okay. Good to watch, something worth paying how much a stub costs. 

A/N: I haven't been writing because I have been lazy. You know there's one point in life in which you have work piled up and you choose to go to sleep. I have a lot of movies left to review, but I'll be selective, I think. 

And this seems to be the first review for 2015, and it's February. So I'd like to say, Happy New Year people. I might or might not post more than 2013, but who am I kidding. 
Oh I'm thinking of posting a book review later. Maybe. Probably. I think so. 

Film Review: Gone Girl (2014)

Title: Gone Girl 

Language: English 

Genre: Mystery & Suspense, Drama

Directed by: David Fincher

Runtime: 2 hr 25 min

Distributed by: 20th Century Fox
Ratings: 7/10

Summary:

Directed by David Fincher and based upon the global bestseller by Gillian Flynn - unearths the secrets at the heart of a modern marriage. On the occasion of his fifth wedding anniversary, Nick Dunne (Ben Affleck) reports that his beautiful wife, Amy (Rosamund Pike), has gone missing. Under pressure from the police and a growing media frenzy, Nick's portrait of a blissful union begins to crumble. Soon his lies, deceits and strange behavior have everyone asking the same dark question: Did Nick Dunne kill his wife?

Review:

I think it's one of the best book-based films I have ever watched. Gone Girl tells a story about a modern marriage that was crumbling, that has found to be out of love. Nick, an out of work writer and an owner of a bar ran with his sister. And Amy Dunne, too an out of work writer that has her life inspired by a children's book by her parents. It started with Amy, appearing to be taken by someone - or did she? 

Amy who appears to be the most perfect wife was actually a psycho that needed to get everything she wants. To be appeared as the attention, who wanted her husband to want her as much as she did. Unfolding a few secrets at a time and finally opening a story of Amy, who wasn't as she seems; a demeaning psychopath. 

Honest to god, I would watch this again and I am reading the book. Yeah, it was that good. It is somehow appears to be just another book-based film, but it is simply more than that. The plot came to be perfectly synchronized, the kind of film that you actually need to pay attention on. To me this film affected me in various reasoning. A. I am now afraid of getting married, that the risk of marrying a normal-looking psychopath is very high, B. that someone can manipulate and influence the perception of themselves. and C. it's a good fucking film. 

Probably I'm not a fan of Ben Affleck, and at first it was shown that he is the bad guy. But after falsifying the allegations, the proof wasn't actually the truth. I think this film is actually a bit more complicated for me to explain through a lengthwise review, but I can tell you that this film hits all the right places. Intelligent and mysterious, it would confuse the watchers from time to time, but it is worth watching the ending - another twist that is yet to be uncovered. So all credits to director David Fincher, who has proved to work a film into art. 

Film Review: The Hunger Games Mockingjay Part 1

Title; The Hunger Games Mockingjay Part 1 

Genre: Drama, Action & Adventure, Science Fiction & Fantasy 

Directed by; Francis Lawrence II, Francis Lawrence

Distributed by: Lionsgate Films

Running time: 2 hr. 5 min. 

Ratings: 7/10 

Summary:

The worldwide phenomenon of The Hunger Games continues to set the world on fire with The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1, which finds Katniss Everdeen  in District 13 after she literally shatters the games forever. Under the leadership of President Coin and the advice of her trusted friends, Katniss spreads her wings as she fights to save Peeta and a nation moved by her courage.

Review:

This is the only Hunger Games movie from the trilogy that does not feature any of the games. After Katniss literally pulls the games into pieces with lightning and a bow, Katniss was saved and shipped to District 13, that was believed to be replenished from the ground. Hiding underground, District 13, that was once a military base survived and has brought up silently without being noticed by the Capitol, stronger than ever. Lead by President Alma Coin, she urges Katniss on becoming the face of the rebellion in Panem, which Katniss is unfortunately reluctant of her stance as her whole family, Peeta and Gale can be in deep trouble if she does. 

I have read the three books, and honestly the book is, excellent. Probably the book is far more thorough. Despite the fact that there is no actual games in this movie, this movie is a success. Probably it lacks action, but the plot is actually very moving. I think this movie is pretty political, showing what defiance means. And honest to God, I can see the world becoming what Panem is. Corrupt and unfair, eventually undertaken by the people. I do not defy the idea of the uprising, nor am I encouraging it - but you can see a lot of wrong in this world. 

Before I get off topic, I think there are a lot of heart-touching moments in the movie. The moment where Katniss visited District 12, or on how she looked at the ruins of it. I think the book is depicted in a very good fashion, in which the characters in a book lives strongly in a film instead of our imagination. Overall, The Hunger Games Mockingjay Part 1 is excellent, trying to set aside the fact that the ending was a bit unsatisfying, but makes everyone urge for the second part to emerge. 

Film Review: Interstellar

Title: Interstellar

Language: English 

Genre: Action & Adventure, Science Fiction & Fantasy

Directed by: Christopher Nolan 

Distributed by: Paramount Pictures

Running time: 2hr 49 min

Ratings: 9/10

Summary:

With our time on Earth coming to an end, a team of explorers undertakes the most important mission in human history; traveling beyond this galaxy to discover whether mankind has a future among the stars.

Review:

I think this is one of the best sci-fi film I have watched this year. Probably there aren't a lot of terms in physics that I understand, but some I actually do. Researched and not completely bogus, it has served it's purpose as a science fiction as a whole. Starting the story of Cooper that revolves around his family and farm, it statures around the future and on how farming has been lacking, and it is provided that culture is the only way for the inhabitant of this planet to strive. With the remorse quality of air, making it almost impossible that every culture couldn't strive without proper clean air, food has been in-demand, and the government needs support to actually sustain life for the people. 

The plot becomes interesting is where Cooper, starred by Matthew McConaughey needs to find a new planet for the people to evacuate - to export the people out of the planet or to breed a new type of species. This is a story of lies, betrayal and hope - revolving at the same time. Family values are mashed up in all of it, making the story far more complete. The only value of love minuses romance out of the question. 

I could say the movie is quite too long for my taste, but the plot is amazingly good. It provides balance to the whole film and is perfectly in unison in my account. Hats off, quite frankly because I am not actually a big fan of science fiction, unrelatively because most of it is completely incoherently melancholy. Usually it doesn't provide any kind of excitement, but as someone has told me, you can never go wrong with Christopher Nolan. One of the best from him, honestly, even though I found it completely weird for Matthew McConaughey to be cast, but he did manage to pull the role off. I could say, highly recommended, even if I say that a lot. Many stars for Interstellar.

Book Review: Landline by Rainbow Rowell

Title: Landline 

Author: Rainbow Rowell 

Publisher: Orion Books 

Language: English 

Ratings: 8.5/10

Summary:

Georgie McCool knows her marriage is in trouble. That it's been in trouble for a very lng time. She still loves her husband, Neal, and he still loves her - but that almost seems besides the point now. 

Two days before they're supposed to visit Neal's family in Omaha for Chrismast, Georgie tells him that she can't go. She's a TV writer, and something's come up on her show; she has to stay in Los Angeles. She knows that Neal will be upset with her - he is always a little upset with her -  but she doesn't expect him to pack up the kids and go home without her. 

When her husband and the kids leave for the airport, Georgie wanders if she's finally done it. If she's ruined everything. 

That night, Georgie discovers a way to communicate with Neal in the past. It's not time travel, not exactly, but she feels like she's been given an opportunity to fix her marriage before it starts...

Is that what she's supposed to do? Or would Georgie and Neal be better off if their marriage never happened?

Review:

It isn't the usual time-travel type of books, believe me I would know it. I think the scariest thing about the story is because it's either to take the chance, or to not. It starts with Georgie McCool, the most basic workaholic mother who does what she does best, and a trip to her own past is the most foretold in this book. It's all in the hands of Georgie, in which is she going to let his husband go, or to try again and make it work. In this story, she is given the opportunity that no one in the non-fiction world can have, something precious, and that is to convince his past-husband (not late) to rewrite a better or worse future. 

I read the book for a day, in a coffee shop in front of the hospital while sipping cold tea, and making this book impossibly-closed. She tries to contact with her husband that's in Omaha, to finally realize it's not really him who's talking to her, it's her 1998 husband, a few days before he was about to propose. It is a time of to make it, or break it for her. The display of what-if's arises and she is pinned up onto the wall, trying to write a better one for herself, that means letting go of her almost-ending marriage and two wonderful kids. 

Okay personally, I am glad of the ending. It's like as if the Universe gave her a chance that she's not willing to take, for the greater good. This book is almost depressing, knowing that she might have made a close-call, trying to let her present-self decide for her past-self, as she patterns up what is right or wrong. The whole concept is fascinating, you know, something that we are unsure ourselves, to test ourselves about how happy we are with someone or how devastating our own lives can be. The constant question of "what if it turned out better?" or "what if it turned out happier?" has always been it. But even the first and the latter could not set for the real question "What if it's not worth it?"

I think this book has an amazing plot, a beautiful ending. It reminds us of that the present is folded with a reason, that everything happens without a single choice made by our own, but by the people around us. Beautifully-written, giving a powerful insight of a character, that's almost impossible to be referred as fictional. The problems that are related to this book is real - sometimes too real to begin with. Horrific and daunting, it would give you goosebumps on the things that she needed to endure, even if it's fiction. I personally think on the other books I read from this author, this is simply the best, hands down. Highly recommended, and a great read - even if it's heavy as a rock. 

Film Review: John Wick (2014)

Title: John Wick 

Genre: Action & Adventure

Directed by: David Leitch , Chad Stahelski

Written by: Joel Zadak , Derek Kolstad

Running time; 1 hr 36 min

Language: English

Distributed by: LionsGate Entertainment

Ratings: 8/10 

Summary:

An ex-hitman comes out of retirement to track down the gangsters that took everything from him. With New York City as his bullet-riddled playground, John Wick (Keanu Reeves) is a fresh and stylized take on the "assassin genre"

Review:

The classic revenge-killing is probably the light of the modern-day action movies. This one, portrayed the magnificent Keanu Reeves, as always - fit the bill. Starts with a man, wounded and reminiscing memories from his late-wife, and stops by a little crime that holds too much meaning, is where the real plot begins. This shows the capabilities of a retired-hitman who would do anything for the ones he loves. It assess to modern-day in the city of New York, where the thugs live lavishly with opportunities and openings of their own.  

This films open a new dimension, a little bit insight of a fictional world (I hope) of the members of the mafia, that shows John Wick, an assassin in which even the Underground people are terrified with, including the Russian mob. This film shows the classic saying, mess with the bull, you get the horns. 

Brilliant cinematography and great plot, it serves its purpose. Just the basic revenge-killing as it appropriately sets in the beginning to the end. Full and dynamic, and with a very timid concept that pleases all action-junkies. Highly recommended. 

Author's note: I'm back.