Nobody to Watch Over Me (誰も守ってくれない)

Even for someone like me, who is used to the eccentricity of Japanese movies. I still find this film quite painful to sit through.

The movie kicks off to a pretty exciting start portraying extremities of media pressure at its ugliest surrounding the family of a juvenile murderer case which in turn cause a chain of events but very soon flatlines after the first quarter.

Efforts of resusitation later in the movie was felt but insufficient to keep me awake.

The name of this film should seriously be changed to "Nobody Should Watch Me" instead...

Duplicity

This movie may be just about the only corporate espionage movie as far back as I could remember which reveals the cloak and daggers behind major multi-national-brands and how far they might have gone in order to outdo one another.

Not only does the film display much wit, humour, charm and romance. It has all those elements in spades. Being surprisingly easy to understand despite the fact that the time-line in the story skips back and forth would be a huge plus.
Although the subject matter may not have been meant to be all that serious. One cannot ignore the fact that it is indeed a very clever movie with an intelligently charming script to match.

If there be an Elizabeth Taylor or Audrey Hepburn of our generation. That title will undoubtedly go to Julia Roberts. The kind of class that she carries with her on-screen is truly unmatched.

It is funny how Clive Owen whom, with his oozing English charms caught his big break as a lead starring next to Julia Roberts a few years ago once again teams up with her. The chemistry between the two is simply incendiary.

If you are not someone who favours big guns and even bigger explosions. This is a movie you will not want to be missing.

The Brothers Bloom

This was the only other pick for the weekend next to the mad rush for perhaps one of the biggest robotic block-buster of this Summer. It played out kinda funny, kinda weird but all in a very colourful kinda way.

Films involving cons, scams and swindles have always been playing between the fine line of the grand scheme of the con and not getting emotionally involved. That which is real versus that which is not. This film is no different but yet unique in an indie kind of way.

The movie kicks off interestingly well and does a great job keeping its audiences entertained with the colourful characters constantly injecting humour of all kinds both in the fore and background. The tempo two-thirds into the film suffers a slight slowdown but continues to steamroll till the end. One other area where this movie scores points is in its costumes.

With a cast of Rachel Weisz, Adrien Brody, Mark Ruffalo and muted Rinko Kikuchi (yet again). What could go wrong?

The Taking of Pelham 123

If there be a hall of fame for action film makers. The Scott family would have scored two easy hits on its A-list.

Although the pull factor was not exactly felt in the trailer which may not always be a bad thing. The film manages to deliver the under-promised and more in full effects.

The story is your usual hostage-negotiator-ransom-deadline action. However, it draws plenty of references to the Heroes of everyday Life. In fact, it reminds us that there are no such thing as Heroes. Only normal people with the gallantry to take that step forward in order to preserve Lives of others in distress even if it means putting their own in harm's way.

The ride is packed with action at every turn and the thrill is really intense. Even the humour injected are pretty dark too.

I had no idea that this was a remake of an earlier film until after, but anything that bears Denzel Washington's mark is reason enough not to be missed. I have never been a big fan of John Travolta but that does not dispose the fact that he is still regarded as an on-screen heavy weight with sensational acting skill and even more amazing chemistry to match his title.

Ghosts of Girlfriends Past

Although I have had my fair share of chick flicks. I have all but given up as the plots are largely identical and gets pretty mundane after a while.
Needless to say, I was dragged into this one but what a hilarious surprise it turns out to be indeed.

Cocky-funny would sound just about right for this one. Although we all know how such flicks ends but the course it takes getting there is quite worth the trouble.
It would have a field day for your Girlfriends but at the same time has much to offer us guys too.

This may have been the funniest romantic comedy I have seen this year yet and would be the perfect date movie of this season.

State of Play

In view of all the clever conspiracy theory flicks that came and went. Few manages to do so with such wit and sacarsm. This one really is quite the gem. The plot gets pretty thick but worry not as the rabbit hole deepens at quite a comfortable pace.

The links to each of its subjects slowly establishes as the two journalists follow-up on a lead of a political scandal but ends up racing against time trying to uncover the dark truth behind all the lies and deceit.
The story starts out okay but quickly presents more and more pieces to the puzzle that weaves into the main which that digs into your curiosity evermore.

Action seekers but warned. This dialogue piece, although written with much wit offers very few bullet shells and even lesser bodycount.

Drag Me To Hell

My long yearning for a film that is able to make the hair at the back of my neck stand and my skin crawl made me walked into this horror flick which seems pretty promising.

The formula for most of Hollywood horror flicks have always seem come up short when invoking fear as compared to the likes of Japanese or Thai ones. This one is no different.
Yes, there are many jumpy scenes. And yes, there are the usual blood and gore to gross you out. Although the mysteries behind Gypsy curses are rather intriguing. The whole idea of the movie is not as scary as I had hoped (or wished) them to be. In fact, many of the scenes are downright hilarious.

This is honestly a fun B-grade horror comedy to watch and give your date a good scare but seriously nothing much beyond that.