The story is about how two groups of robots fought against each other on earth. One group wanted to take over earth while the other group were friends with the humans.
Preferred the first episode as it described the background story better. It also showed how Sam and Bumblebee developed their friendship. The humor in this episode didn't work very well and I found it hard to differentiate the two groups of robots. Thought the part where Sam and his girlfriend had to run a very long distance to Optimus Prime was a little bit too long winded.
Internet Movie Database Link
Friday, June 26, 2009
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
The Housemaid
Watched this online for free at the auteurs website! The story is about how a housemaid in Korea during the sixties gradually caused a family to break up after the husband had an affair with her.
A scary domestic thriller! It was interesting to see the reactions of both the housemaid and the wife to the rat in the cupboard! I was undecided whether to pity the housemaid or to fear her throughout the film. Her actions could be partly due to her social status but she was also psychotic at the same time. Nice social critique of Korean society at that time!
Internet Movie Database Link
Auteurs Online Movie Link
A scary domestic thriller! It was interesting to see the reactions of both the housemaid and the wife to the rat in the cupboard! I was undecided whether to pity the housemaid or to fear her throughout the film. Her actions could be partly due to her social status but she was also psychotic at the same time. Nice social critique of Korean society at that time!
Internet Movie Database Link
Auteurs Online Movie Link
Saturday, June 20, 2009
4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days
The story is about how a girl, Otilia, helped her room mate, Gabita, to get an abortion illegally in 1987 Romania. This film won the Palme D'Or in the 2007 Cannes Film Festival.
Interesting look at life in Romania during the Communist era under dictator Ceausescu's rule where there is little trust among people! Liked the negotiation scene with the abortionist and the dinner scene with Otilia's boyfriend's family as they explained the situation in Romania pretty well!
Internet Movie Database Link
Interesting look at life in Romania during the Communist era under dictator Ceausescu's rule where there is little trust among people! Liked the negotiation scene with the abortionist and the dinner scene with Otilia's boyfriend's family as they explained the situation in Romania pretty well!
Internet Movie Database Link
Haikara Girl
The story is about how a rich man's daughter fell in love with her driver whom they knew each other since young. The setting is in the Taisho era (early 18th century) when Japanese society is rapidly modernizing.
Liked how the film explained how the daughter and the driver bonded with each other! They spent time chatting under a giant tree and experimented with her father's latest gadgets together. Felt quite sad for the driver when he had to drive the daughter and her rich snobbish suitor around. Thought the scene where the three people confronted each other in the forbidden room was very nicely executed!
Link
Liked how the film explained how the daughter and the driver bonded with each other! They spent time chatting under a giant tree and experimented with her father's latest gadgets together. Felt quite sad for the driver when he had to drive the daughter and her rich snobbish suitor around. Thought the scene where the three people confronted each other in the forbidden room was very nicely executed!
Link
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Pigs and Battleships
Quite happy that Criterion is coming up with more and more Japanese titles! This DVD is the first part of the "Pigs, Pimps and Prostitutes" boxset by Shohei Imamura. The story is about a Japanese couple living near the port. The guy is a gangster who is in charged of raising pigs while American battleships were docked nearby.
Learnt about the structure of the yakuza and the living conditions in postwar Japan. A little bit confused with the many characters but I liked the interesting plot, the black and white cinematography and the fluid movement of the camera!
Internet Movie Database Link
Learnt about the structure of the yakuza and the living conditions in postwar Japan. A little bit confused with the many characters but I liked the interesting plot, the black and white cinematography and the fluid movement of the camera!
Internet Movie Database Link
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
Long Live the Wife
The story is about how a wife manages her relationship with her family. Her husband borrowed money from her dad to start a business and had an affair. Her brother fell in love with her sister-in-law and her mother-in-law likes to nag at the servant.
There were several funny moments and I was impressed by how capable the wife was! Didn't realize that the writer, Eileen Chang, got divorced the same year that she wrote the script for the film until much later. I think it helped to explain how she chose to end the film.
Internet Movie Database Link
There were several funny moments and I was impressed by how capable the wife was! Didn't realize that the writer, Eileen Chang, got divorced the same year that she wrote the script for the film until much later. I think it helped to explain how she chose to end the film.
Internet Movie Database Link
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Alice in the Cities
The story is about how a German journalist who is writing an article about American life traveled back from United States to Germany with a little girl to search for her grandmother.
Great performance by the little girl! I also liked the scenery and the interesting dialog during their road trip!
Internet Movie Database Link
Great performance by the little girl! I also liked the scenery and the interesting dialog during their road trip!
Internet Movie Database Link
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Young Cinema: Programme B
Watched the following short films as part of the Young Cinema Programme organised by the National Museum.
The Riddle in a Bottle
Liked the songs and the scenes with the wild animals!
Link
Arretes
Nicely drawn but not very well received by the audience that consisted mostly of little kids.
Link
Once Upon a Tide
The little girl looked quite cute! Nice story!
Link
The Riddle in a Bottle
Liked the songs and the scenes with the wild animals!
Link
Arretes
Nicely drawn but not very well received by the audience that consisted mostly of little kids.
Link
Once Upon a Tide
The little girl looked quite cute! Nice story!
Link
Young Cinema: Programme A
Watched the following short films as part of the Young Cinema Programme organised by the National Museum.
The Animal Save the Planet
Very nice stop motion film in the style of Wallace and Gromit! The ideas were well thought out!
Link
The Story of Stuff
Too wordy and need to concentrate to get the message! Saw most of the kids got restless for this segment. Maybe it would help if subtitles were displayed?
Link
Garbage Angels
Nice abstract piece about simulated wild animals made of garbage!
Link
Papiroflexia
Nice abstract piece about the beauty of nature and paper folding!
Link
Goldfish
Really funny film about the unexpected side effects of watching too much "Finding Nemo"!
Link
The Animal Save the Planet
Very nice stop motion film in the style of Wallace and Gromit! The ideas were well thought out!
Link
The Story of Stuff
Too wordy and need to concentrate to get the message! Saw most of the kids got restless for this segment. Maybe it would help if subtitles were displayed?
Link
Garbage Angels
Nice abstract piece about simulated wild animals made of garbage!
Link
Papiroflexia
Nice abstract piece about the beauty of nature and paper folding!
Link
Goldfish
Really funny film about the unexpected side effects of watching too much "Finding Nemo"!
Link
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Star Trek
The story is about how a group of cadets worked together on a space ship and saved Earth from being destroyed by aliens. It is based on the popular TV series of the same name.
Liked the chemistry among the characters and the catchy dialog! The dynamics between James and Spock is especially interesting!
Internet Movie Database Link
Liked the chemistry among the characters and the catchy dialog! The dynamics between James and Spock is especially interesting!
Internet Movie Database Link
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Kabei: Our Mother
The story is about the life of a Japanese mother narrated by her daughter. Her husband was thrown into jail for his left wing ideas during the early 1940s and she had to fend for her two daughters by herself.
The eldest daughter was quite cute with her two pony tails and the uncle was a lovable character in his own way! Great acting by the two daughters! Thought the director could have shortened the ending. A reasonably good film but I was a little disappointed as it didn't move me as much as "Twenty Four Eyes" and "Burmese Harp", both were Japanese anti-war films made in the 1950s.
Internet Movie Database Link
The eldest daughter was quite cute with her two pony tails and the uncle was a lovable character in his own way! Great acting by the two daughters! Thought the director could have shortened the ending. A reasonably good film but I was a little disappointed as it didn't move me as much as "Twenty Four Eyes" and "Burmese Harp", both were Japanese anti-war films made in the 1950s.
Internet Movie Database Link
Friday, May 01, 2009
Umberto D
The story is about an old man and his dog. The old man owes the landlady money and is gradually being kicked out of his apartment.
Nice story and the maid looked quite pretty! Was quite impressed by the tricks that the dog could do too but I felt a little depressed for the old man towards the end!
Internet Movie Database Link
Nice story and the maid looked quite pretty! Was quite impressed by the tricks that the dog could do too but I felt a little depressed for the old man towards the end!
Internet Movie Database Link
Sell Out!
The story is about the lives of the employees of "FONY", a fictitious Malaysian company whose focus is on making money at all costs. The main characters are an Arts show host intent on climbing the social ladder and an idealistic product manager.
Liked the songs and the black humor! I also liked the scenes where they showed the ordinary people in the streets!
Internet Movie Database Link
Liked the songs and the black humor! I also liked the scenes where they showed the ordinary people in the streets!
Internet Movie Database Link
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Milk
The story is about a milkman who stays with his mother and aspires to be a poet.
Very interesting opening sequence that showed how a snake crawled out of a woman's mouth who was hung upside down with a mysterious boiling pot of potion below! Don't quite understand what it all means though. Thought the scene where the son caught the fish and her mother plucking feathers off a bird was beautifully shot too!
Internet Movie Database Link
Very interesting opening sequence that showed how a snake crawled out of a woman's mouth who was hung upside down with a mysterious boiling pot of potion below! Don't quite understand what it all means though. Thought the scene where the son caught the fish and her mother plucking feathers off a bird was beautifully shot too!
Internet Movie Database Link
Sex is No Laughing Matter
The story is about the love between a teacher, Yuri, and her student, Mirume. Mirume had two close friends, En-Chan and Domoto. En-Chan liked Mirume secretly while Domoto liked En-Chan secretly.
Interesting exploration on how feelings between teacher and student could develop and their consequences! Both leading actresses looked quite pretty!
Internet Movie Database Link
Interesting exploration on how feelings between teacher and student could develop and their consequences! Both leading actresses looked quite pretty!
Internet Movie Database Link
Still Walking
The story is about a Japanese family reunion. The son and daughter of the family brought their spouses and children to pay their parents a visit and to mourn for their brother who died in an accident.
Liked the warm family spirit evoked through the interactions among the individual family members! The daughter-in-law looked quite pretty too!
Internet Movie Database Link
Liked the warm family spirit evoked through the interactions among the individual family members! The daughter-in-law looked quite pretty too!
Internet Movie Database Link
US$9.99
The story is about the lives of a group of people staying in a Sydney apartment. The title refers to the price of the "Meaning of Life" book that a young unemployed guy bought.
Liked the subplot about the small boy and his piggy bank as well as the old man and the angel the best! Thought the love between the re-possessor and the super model was quite scary. The telemarketer sounded quite sweet!
Internet Movie Database Link
Liked the subplot about the small boy and his piggy bank as well as the old man and the angel the best! Thought the love between the re-possessor and the super model was quite scary. The telemarketer sounded quite sweet!
Internet Movie Database Link
Friday, April 24, 2009
Wendy and Lucy
The story is about how Wendy, a woman with very little money, spent a few days in a small town on the way to Alaska when she found that her dog, Lucy, was missing.
Great acting by the lead actress and I liked the well written script! Her encounters with the many ordinary people during her stay were interesting! These include a kind hearted security guard, an overzealous supermarket employee and a technically savvy car mechanic among others.
Internet Movie Database Link
Great acting by the lead actress and I liked the well written script! Her encounters with the many ordinary people during her stay were interesting! These include a kind hearted security guard, an overzealous supermarket employee and a technically savvy car mechanic among others.
Internet Movie Database Link
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Fish Eyes
The story is about life in a small town during the China Olympics period.
Liked the nice desert scenery and the simple life that the father led! Thought the three-way relationship of the father, the son and the mysterious girl was quite interesting!
Internet Movie Database Link
Liked the nice desert scenery and the simple life that the father led! Thought the three-way relationship of the father, the son and the mysterious girl was quite interesting!
Internet Movie Database Link
Monday, April 20, 2009
A Big Road
The story is about the lives of three women in Shanghai.
Liked the jumbled up fragmented shots that required the audience to piece the story together themselves! Thought the daughter who was treated like a servant by her step mother looked the prettiest!
Internet Movie Database Link
Liked the jumbled up fragmented shots that required the audience to piece the story together themselves! Thought the daughter who was treated like a servant by her step mother looked the prettiest!
Internet Movie Database Link
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