Apocalypto

It took me months before I finally finished watching this. No, not because of the duration or the gore of the movie, but because the movie's first half was boring. It progressed too slow. I wonder if a snail is faster than this.

Entering the second half of the movie, the real thing began. Blood and gore at the pyramid and the chase scene. Watching the ritual at the pyramid may be too gruesome to some people (not me, though. I'm cool with that).

Heart, Anyone?

Still, the chase scene was rather too hard to believe. How on earth someone who got shot by an arrow could run across the dense jungle, jumped off a waterfall, got shot again, yet still alive?

Nevertheless, I must praise Mel Gibson's effort in visualizing the entire story. The entire dialogue were in Yucatec Mayan and that reminded me when I saw The Passion of Christ (which was shot in Hebrew, Aramaic and Latin).

Overall, after considering the effort to authenticate the entire movie, I'd give it a 7.0.

Hancock

I saw this movie last Friday. I must say that I were not impressed. Compared to Mary, Hancock is a wimp. Also, the whole premise about Hancock was rather pathetic. Alone, you're powerful, together, you're weak. I thought we were taught the opposite of that like, united we stand? Hancock alone is too powerful that I'd say it would be tempting to switch side to become a villain. Why not? He's been hated by the people, why not go all the way? With such power, why bother some pathetic PR thing? "You don't like me? That's your problem!" Of course, I haven't read the comic yet but, I'd still favor Superman than Hancock. FYI, I don't really a Superman's fan. Anyway, at the end of the movie, I still wondering what was that all about. An origin story is more like it. What about a sequel? Hell, I doubt that there's a worthy opponent for Hancock unless you tie him up with Mary and kick his ass. Prequel? Perhaps. However, that would be like imitating the Highlander storyline, right?

Compared to Mary, Hancock is a wimp

So, overall I'd give it a 6.0. And that's generous considering Charlize Theron's performance.

Ben-Hur

If you haven't seen this movie because you think that it's old, well that would be your loss. For a movie that was made in 1959, it's an amazing one. It deserved to received 11 Oscars for its quality. There's a subplot, no, a side-plot, about Jesus Christ. The story itself began in the year 0 with the birth of Jesus and actually ended with the death of Christ. Well, for one thing, you wouldn't be able to see Christ's face in the movie (He never looked towards the camera at a visible range).

Ye Olde Speed Racer

I've spent perhaps over 3 hours to watch this masterpiece. Exhausting, but it was well worth it. Charlton Heston was great, the rest of the cast were well, good. From Judea to the naval battle at the high seas, then to Rome and back to Judea where Ben-Hur raced against Messala in the chariot race, the impressive journey ended with the death of Jesus Christ.

Overall, the movie is still amazing even for today's standard. The fact that it was made in 1959 made it deserved at least 9.0 as a score.

The Bucket List

Nothing could be worse than being told that your days are numbered. Such thing could lead you to denial, anger, and then finally acceptance. This is the theme of the movie. An interesting one, more because of being greatly played by Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. Two men facing the same fate, but each with different background.

Actually, I prefer if it adds another character, a younger one facing the similar fate. It would've been more 'tragic' instead of giving you a somewhat "mildly good mood" at the end of the film.

"Hey Carter, do you think they sell Kopi Luwak in heaven?"

With both actors played their roles well, the plot was also good, but not that great. Perhaps this movie was not intended to be a heart-breaking movie after all.

Overall, it's an enjoyable movie. I'd give it a 7.5 for the score. That means between good and above average.

King of Zipangu

I've known Oda Nobunaga and the Sengoku Jidai ever since I played KOEI's Nobunaga Ambition around 20 years ago. I always hoped that there would be a movie about him. Finally, I've finished watching the entire 51 episodes of King of Zipangu and so far, it was awesome. It was equally great with Shinsengumi!, another Japanese taiga drama.

The series began with Nobunaga's childhood and ended with his death in 1582. It started rather slow, focussing on the characterization of Nobunaga and historical figures around him. The movie also accompanied by a subplot regarding the early development of Christianity in Japan. Actually, the series was narrated from the perspective of Luis Frois, a Portuguese Jesuit missionary, whom was also a friend of Oda Nobunaga.

A character considered ruthless, Oda Nobunaga actually almost managed to unify the entire 66 provinces in Japan. He was on his way to invade Mori when his life was cut short by the betrayal of Akechi Mitsuhide. His goal was only to unify Japan, whatever it takes.

Naoto Ogata as Oda Nobunaga

I'm not sure if some of the scenes were fictionalized, but if there were, Nobunaga's desire that the people worship him as a god was probably a fatal mistake. Nevertheless, we'd never know about that for sure.

Okay, the good side about the series was the acting. Watching it just made me feel like watching the real events. The same goes with Shinsengumi! series. The cast was also perfect. Battle scenes, however, could've been a lot better. Unlike battle scenes in the movies like Lord of the Rings, the depictions were too simple. I guess it could've posed a titanic cost to shoot the scenes like those of Lord of the Rings movies. Too much emphasis on the Nobunaga's private life was also perhaps, too much. Still, that's what the series trying to tell. Also, the subplot about Christian missionaries were also too much. It could be simpler, though. The final episode was also too shallow. It should've been concluded with the Battle of Yamazaki between Hashiba Hideyoshi and Akechi Mitsuhide.

Overall, this is a series worth watching. The overall score is 9.0.

Veronica Guerin

This movie is about the true story of an Irish journalist, assassinated because her writings pissed off an Irish drug lord.

Surely, the movie successfully portrayed Veronica's persistent efforts to unveil the drug trafficking despite repeated threats to her family and her own life. Perhaps only a few journalists would dare to defy similar death threats. Although it cost her her life, the efforts were not in vain. And I guess that's what really matters in the end: to create a positive, significant change(s) in the society, if not the world.

Look, even Colin Farrell seemed to be awed by Veronica

Cate Blanchett was great, but perhaps a bit too cute to play the part. The story was pretty well told, although with less suspense. But I can't complain about that, because it's a true story, right? Nevertheless, overall, the movie is good. I'd give it a 7.5 as the final score.

Vantage Point

One incident, multiple perspectives. Yeah, that should describe this movie perfectly.

The plot was great. Some twists and turns throughout the movie, as well as a good play by Forest Whitaker made this movie enjoyable from start to finish.

Wow! Nice cam, Sir!

Thomas Barnes, played by Dennis Quaid, was either a character designed too serious and/or too super, or that Dennis Quaid overdid it. Forest Whitaker's performance, however, was great. Still, if you are on a tour and there was a bomb exploding nearby, what would you do? Would you run like hell, or would you "daringly" try to record the entire event happening around you? I bet anyone sane enough would choose to simply running scared. That's my objection to Forest's character.

Simply said, the power of this movie is in the plot, but overall the acting was rather average, with despite Forest's impressive play.

Note that I won't try to divide my ratings anymore but instead, I would give only an overall score.

For Vantage Point, I give it a score of 8.00.