It's great that IMDB is putting out original content in the format of small web series. Unlike longer form content, these smaller formats for cross-promotional stuff but just fun overall to watch.
Reviews
8 Reviews
Crazy Rich Asians
(2018)
Massive box-office hit for a reason! It's delightful!
7 September 2018
Ignore all these low reviews given by people who sign up an account here just to write a spiteful review this film. Majority of these reviewers are butt-hurt current generation Singaporeans who enjoy complaining and whining (who know enough to think they are smart in their tiny little insular world).
This is the same backlash from "locals" that happened when Slumdog Millionaire was released and loved by audiences all around the world except in India. Again, same issue. Locals being annoyed that only one aspect of their country was featured in the story, and other aspects were not included.
Does anyone else understand the basic principles of storytelling? There is no way to cramp all of the complexities of life into a movie or book. It's impossible. It cannot be done. And it should not be done. A story is meant to focus on a few specific characters while all the rest are peripheral in the margins. That's the essential construct of a story. That's the unspoken agreement between the storyteller and the audience. That's why even in movie storytelling, you've got main actor and supporting actor(s). Because that's how stories are constructed, since the beginning of time when we told stories around the fire. Cramming every conceivable character for the sake of fully representing real life no longer makes it a story; it makes it a CCTV footage. If you want that, go to one of those websites that feature just raw CCTV footage of people in specific locations. This movie, like every novel or every movie, functions within a story construct. That's why even the word "genre" is used as a way to classify the type of story it purports to tell to audience. Art and Story are perspectives, and within their construct, there is inherently a focus. And focus implies there will be things that are peripheral and not included. This is the nature of art and storytelling.
Most of these imbecilic reviewers here don't seem to understand this salient point. Reacting like a bunch of self-appointed "correctors" of perspective of their tiny island, they've only just shown themselves to be truly the uncultured and ignorant. Knowing one's country but not knowing the fundamental construct of storytelling-is stupid and ignorant.
Faulting a story for being a story just shows an utter lack of understanding, and also shows the current generation is highly schooled but severely lacking in contextual thinking. God help these bunch of morons.
This is the same backlash from "locals" that happened when Slumdog Millionaire was released and loved by audiences all around the world except in India. Again, same issue. Locals being annoyed that only one aspect of their country was featured in the story, and other aspects were not included.
Does anyone else understand the basic principles of storytelling? There is no way to cramp all of the complexities of life into a movie or book. It's impossible. It cannot be done. And it should not be done. A story is meant to focus on a few specific characters while all the rest are peripheral in the margins. That's the essential construct of a story. That's the unspoken agreement between the storyteller and the audience. That's why even in movie storytelling, you've got main actor and supporting actor(s). Because that's how stories are constructed, since the beginning of time when we told stories around the fire. Cramming every conceivable character for the sake of fully representing real life no longer makes it a story; it makes it a CCTV footage. If you want that, go to one of those websites that feature just raw CCTV footage of people in specific locations. This movie, like every novel or every movie, functions within a story construct. That's why even the word "genre" is used as a way to classify the type of story it purports to tell to audience. Art and Story are perspectives, and within their construct, there is inherently a focus. And focus implies there will be things that are peripheral and not included. This is the nature of art and storytelling.
Most of these imbecilic reviewers here don't seem to understand this salient point. Reacting like a bunch of self-appointed "correctors" of perspective of their tiny island, they've only just shown themselves to be truly the uncultured and ignorant. Knowing one's country but not knowing the fundamental construct of storytelling-is stupid and ignorant.
Faulting a story for being a story just shows an utter lack of understanding, and also shows the current generation is highly schooled but severely lacking in contextual thinking. God help these bunch of morons.
Crazy Rich Asians
(2018)
Feel-good summer movie of 2018
6 September 2018
There's no cure for stupidity and that's what you realize when you read most of the comments here who are written by Singaporeans who have gone out of their way to spite the movie because it doesn't fully represent them-the same bunch of morons who watch other Hollywood movies set in other countries and yet don't speak up about how different those countries are. Anyone with a basic understanding of storytelling will know that nothing can be fully represented-not even a documentary. We all see from various perspectives. Asia covers such a huge continent, but it can't all fit into one story. Only stupid morons will argue for that to happen. This movie obviously features one perspective of life in Singapore just as The Devil Wears Prada features one perspective of life in New York. We don't see New Yorkers complaining about how not all of New York is like that movie. Right? Because most people from bigger countries understand that.
It's only a tiny island population of dimwits who think they are intellectually smart (but seriously lacking in understanding) who will complain and go all out to make obviously disgruntled posts (as if their voice meant anything) since they are such a castrated population who feel powerless about their local government so all they do is go online and vent on any and every issue. Great thing that the movie has done so well in the States and around the world that the sequels are bound to be made into films and will go on to do well in the box office.
Two points to note if you're reading my review: first of all, this is truly the feel-good movie of summer of 2018. It's better on 2nd and 3rd viewing. The subtleties and nuances really come to light upon repeated viewings. The movie isn't about rich vs poor. It's about stewardship of generational wealth vs individual pursuit of ideals. It's not which is better. It's simply a glimpse into the two different ideas that come from being raised in different cultures. And not every culture is reflected so don't expect that either. It's a certain type, which do exist but very rarely seen by most average Singaporeans. But it certainly exists. I happen to know a few people who came from this kind of background. They tend to be from the older and more historic schools in Singapore. The movie actually does a good job of condensing the book, which is actually quite a good read too. I picked it up after watching the movie and found that it made my 2nd and 3rd viewing more insightful.
Other point is that to understand most of the negativity on here is from disgruntled Singaporeans who are famous for their complaining and whining. Singaporeans are known for being vocal and complaining (having the good fortune of being schooled in English and thus being able to read and write but severely lacking in social sciences, history, sociology, anthropology and psychology, and thus quite a clueless lot of insular highly schooled people with little understanding of how the world around works).
So, if you're wondering if you should watch this movie, ... yes, watch it for the feel-good vibe. It's no surprise it's already such a big hit and continues to do well at the box-office. Audiences around the world are responding to it. So, ignore the hateful dimwits here who take it personally that this movie doesn't represent their perspective of Singapore-these stupid morons who also go watch other movies set in Hong Kong and China and the USA, and don't complain about misrepresentation. No movie nor story book can give full representation of life. Nor is it worth doing so. That's the fundamentals of storytelling which these morons don't understand. Spiteful Singaporeans are worse than menstrual cramps.
Two points to note if you're reading my review: first of all, this is truly the feel-good movie of summer of 2018. It's better on 2nd and 3rd viewing. The subtleties and nuances really come to light upon repeated viewings. The movie isn't about rich vs poor. It's about stewardship of generational wealth vs individual pursuit of ideals. It's not which is better. It's simply a glimpse into the two different ideas that come from being raised in different cultures. And not every culture is reflected so don't expect that either. It's a certain type, which do exist but very rarely seen by most average Singaporeans. But it certainly exists. I happen to know a few people who came from this kind of background. They tend to be from the older and more historic schools in Singapore. The movie actually does a good job of condensing the book, which is actually quite a good read too. I picked it up after watching the movie and found that it made my 2nd and 3rd viewing more insightful.
Other point is that to understand most of the negativity on here is from disgruntled Singaporeans who are famous for their complaining and whining. Singaporeans are known for being vocal and complaining (having the good fortune of being schooled in English and thus being able to read and write but severely lacking in social sciences, history, sociology, anthropology and psychology, and thus quite a clueless lot of insular highly schooled people with little understanding of how the world around works).
So, if you're wondering if you should watch this movie, ... yes, watch it for the feel-good vibe. It's no surprise it's already such a big hit and continues to do well at the box-office. Audiences around the world are responding to it. So, ignore the hateful dimwits here who take it personally that this movie doesn't represent their perspective of Singapore-these stupid morons who also go watch other movies set in Hong Kong and China and the USA, and don't complain about misrepresentation. No movie nor story book can give full representation of life. Nor is it worth doing so. That's the fundamentals of storytelling which these morons don't understand. Spiteful Singaporeans are worse than menstrual cramps.
Eraser
(1996)
A solid and fun 90s action movie!
8 August 2018
Before things got serious after 2001, the 90s produced tons of fun action movies that had you laughing along with the good guys as they served up gun-blazing justice to bad guys. This was one of those movies where Arnold was already famous and he got to really have fun with his character. If you're in the mood for some decent action thrills, this one is worth watching. One of my favorites of that 90s era!
Skyscraper
(2018)
Terrible, absolute waste of time and talent...
31 July 2018
I regret even accepting the free ticket promo for this movie and going for it. Saw it on opening day. And it was so terrible that I had to write this review. There is no defense for movies that are terrible because it means that other better movies don't get funded and don't get made because shit movies like this gets made by hack writers and hack directors, just like this Marshall Thurber. At least Central Intelligence had humor and a somewhat original plot. This terrible rip-off of Die Hard has none of the suspense and tension that made Die Hard such a thrilling movie.
It's ridiculous to write a character with a leg handicap in this movie and yet never factor this important thing into the actual story in a realistic way. There are absolutely no real stakes in this movie. You never doubt that the Rock or his family will survive this whole ordeal. There is never a doubt and therefore never a feeling of suspense. It's one gigantic orgy of computer generated CGI-effects for 80% of the movie. It feels fake because it IS fake.
There is never a sense of danger, a sense of threat, a sense of suspense, a sense of tension. NO, it's just a bloody waste of time just watching Johnson's character go from point to point, doing CGI stunt to stunt, never actually risking life or limb. In the movie, his character climbs the crane that is next to the skyscraper and we are to believe that it is the tallest tower in the world... just think about that! A character with a leg handicap climbs a crane that is so tall in less than 15 minutes! WTF?!?! Like, seriously... WTF?!!
As charming as Dwayne Johnson is as a person and actor, he is no Tom Cruise. If you watch any of the Mission Impossible films, you know it's Tom Cruise risking his life. Watch Mission Impossible 4, and you know that Tom Cruise is hanging off from the highest building in Dubai. Now, that's a real life skyscraper that was used, and Tom Cruise was hanging off of that. That scene had more tension than this whole entire movie!
You are better off watching that film or the original Die Hard, both of which had better plot-twists and strong characters where the action is felt because it involved real characters with real-world stakes. This trash is so fake that it doesn't even raise the pulse when you are watching whatever happen on screen because mentally you know it's completely computer graphics imagery (CGI).
I have decided I will only watch Dwayne Johnson in movies where he is a supporting character, meaning that he has a team or he is paired with someone else. Watching him as the main character is a waste of time because you never feel the threat to his character. If it's a comedy film, it's fine. But for an action movie, this becomes tedious and boring to sit through because it's no different than watching Transformers or Pacific Rim where it's all CGI action. Yawn.
Jumanji was great because there were other characters, besides the Rock, and the same goes for the Fast and Furious franchise. When the Rock is with other characters, then it's fun. When he is the main solo character, it gets boring very quickly because he is basically indestructible. There was a reason why the 80s Action Films stayed in the 80s and they died off then. There is a reason why action films transitioned into the 90s and 00s very differently. There is a reason why Casino Royale rebooted James Bond in a very different and gritty way where there were stakes involved where the character could hurt, and bleed, and lose. Never happens here. Not for a second. Thus, Skyscraper becomes no different than 2 hours of watching someone play a video game.
I am so glad this film is doing terrible at the box office. It goes to show that audiences don't resonate with this in cinemas either. Don't get me wrong, I like Dwayne Johnson in certain movies but this was such a completely ridiculous premise that the film just goes on auto-pilot and you know how it's all going to turn out. There is never the suspense and thrill that you get from a better script and better director. Defending this sort of garbage as a popcorn flick is not even possible because it is shit. Even Rampage was better than this. Do yourself a favour and save your money. Rewatch the original Die Hard or ANY of the Mission Impossible films (3, 4, 5) and the upcoming 6. They all have real stunts, better stories and characters, etc. Money should be spent to support better quality, than on junk that has no redeeming value or quality.
It's ridiculous to write a character with a leg handicap in this movie and yet never factor this important thing into the actual story in a realistic way. There are absolutely no real stakes in this movie. You never doubt that the Rock or his family will survive this whole ordeal. There is never a doubt and therefore never a feeling of suspense. It's one gigantic orgy of computer generated CGI-effects for 80% of the movie. It feels fake because it IS fake.
There is never a sense of danger, a sense of threat, a sense of suspense, a sense of tension. NO, it's just a bloody waste of time just watching Johnson's character go from point to point, doing CGI stunt to stunt, never actually risking life or limb. In the movie, his character climbs the crane that is next to the skyscraper and we are to believe that it is the tallest tower in the world... just think about that! A character with a leg handicap climbs a crane that is so tall in less than 15 minutes! WTF?!?! Like, seriously... WTF?!!
As charming as Dwayne Johnson is as a person and actor, he is no Tom Cruise. If you watch any of the Mission Impossible films, you know it's Tom Cruise risking his life. Watch Mission Impossible 4, and you know that Tom Cruise is hanging off from the highest building in Dubai. Now, that's a real life skyscraper that was used, and Tom Cruise was hanging off of that. That scene had more tension than this whole entire movie!
You are better off watching that film or the original Die Hard, both of which had better plot-twists and strong characters where the action is felt because it involved real characters with real-world stakes. This trash is so fake that it doesn't even raise the pulse when you are watching whatever happen on screen because mentally you know it's completely computer graphics imagery (CGI).
I have decided I will only watch Dwayne Johnson in movies where he is a supporting character, meaning that he has a team or he is paired with someone else. Watching him as the main character is a waste of time because you never feel the threat to his character. If it's a comedy film, it's fine. But for an action movie, this becomes tedious and boring to sit through because it's no different than watching Transformers or Pacific Rim where it's all CGI action. Yawn.
Jumanji was great because there were other characters, besides the Rock, and the same goes for the Fast and Furious franchise. When the Rock is with other characters, then it's fun. When he is the main solo character, it gets boring very quickly because he is basically indestructible. There was a reason why the 80s Action Films stayed in the 80s and they died off then. There is a reason why action films transitioned into the 90s and 00s very differently. There is a reason why Casino Royale rebooted James Bond in a very different and gritty way where there were stakes involved where the character could hurt, and bleed, and lose. Never happens here. Not for a second. Thus, Skyscraper becomes no different than 2 hours of watching someone play a video game.
I am so glad this film is doing terrible at the box office. It goes to show that audiences don't resonate with this in cinemas either. Don't get me wrong, I like Dwayne Johnson in certain movies but this was such a completely ridiculous premise that the film just goes on auto-pilot and you know how it's all going to turn out. There is never the suspense and thrill that you get from a better script and better director. Defending this sort of garbage as a popcorn flick is not even possible because it is shit. Even Rampage was better than this. Do yourself a favour and save your money. Rewatch the original Die Hard or ANY of the Mission Impossible films (3, 4, 5) and the upcoming 6. They all have real stunts, better stories and characters, etc. Money should be spent to support better quality, than on junk that has no redeeming value or quality.
Pulls off the Impossible by being better than all the rest that came before it!
12 July 2018
Christopher Macquarie has written and directed the most tightly-plotted and incredible in this successful franchise. It's no surprise that he is the only director that has been invited back to script and direct the next one as well.
Mission Impossible pits Ethan Hunt against an enemy that is cold, calculative and brilliant. And to watch the cat and mouse game played out between the two makes for a tense and thrilling time at the movies. The ending is better than the previous installments because it is not over-the-top, but rather it comes down to a clever examination of what makes Ethan Hunt fundamentally different from his enemy at the core of their values. What is perceived as Ethan's weakness (of caring too much about his team) actually becomes the master-stroke in how he manages to defeat his most cunning enemy. Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation gives us one of the best villains in the spy thriller genre, not to mention one of the best female characters who is complex and keeps us guessing to the end. Highly recommended!
Mission Impossible pits Ethan Hunt against an enemy that is cold, calculative and brilliant. And to watch the cat and mouse game played out between the two makes for a tense and thrilling time at the movies. The ending is better than the previous installments because it is not over-the-top, but rather it comes down to a clever examination of what makes Ethan Hunt fundamentally different from his enemy at the core of their values. What is perceived as Ethan's weakness (of caring too much about his team) actually becomes the master-stroke in how he manages to defeat his most cunning enemy. Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation gives us one of the best villains in the spy thriller genre, not to mention one of the best female characters who is complex and keeps us guessing to the end. Highly recommended!
Debbe Dunning's Dude Ranch Roundup
(2017–2021)
Breathlessly Beautiful! Definitely my next vacation spot!
10 July 2018
This series does a good job of making the audience want to take their next vacation in the beautiful ranches that it features in each episode! It's almost like a well-kept secret from city folks--the great outdoors but hosted perfectly by some of these amazing ranches!
Absolutely breathtaking! Referring to both the host of this series and the places where these ranches are located! ;). (Yes, c'mon! Who didn't have a crush on Debbe Dunning as Heidi in Home Improvement?). This series is an undiscovered gem! I wish this series would eventually be available on a streaming platform!
Absolutely breathtaking! Referring to both the host of this series and the places where these ranches are located! ;). (Yes, c'mon! Who didn't have a crush on Debbe Dunning as Heidi in Home Improvement?). This series is an undiscovered gem! I wish this series would eventually be available on a streaming platform!
Hollywood Adventures
(2015)
Surprisingly Fun and Funny!
9 July 2015
This might be the model of things to come, where co-productions between China and the USA become more common in the years ahead. With no signs of slowing down, the China movie market is becoming a gold mine with investments soaring and talents merging.
As someone who speaks both English and Mandarin, I am surprised how tightly scripted the film was. The movie focused on the three leads and their banter is mostly in Mandarin but their interactions with people in LA were realistically done in doses of Mandarin and English. The plot is reasonable enough, and the subtle aspects of the three characters' lives do come into play with the plot as the film progresses. It is believable enough if one pays attention to what is revealed about the characters. For example, it's not hard to believe a car salesman can handle a car pretty well. The characters are revealed bit by bit as the plot progresses and though some parts are tongue-in-cheek, overall it still makes sense. Justin Lin's plot and pacing sensibilities are evident here, which is no surprise considering how he managed to take the Fast and Furious franchise into blockbuster status.
This film is just plain fun. Even if you don't speak Mandarin, just by glancing at the subtitles and watching the characters, it is easy to relate to their predicament. The film is light-hearted, and yet carries an emotional underpinning because the lead character's reason for his journey to the USA is to win back his girlfriend. There are numerous moments of movie references and it has bits of meta-humour, where the the characters in this film are referring to other characters as characters from other movies. Those bits are funny and not overdone. I won't spoil any of it here; you'd have to watch it to find out and it's really kinda funny.
This film really has action, comedy and romance combined. I don't agree with any critics who say the film doesn't blend those elements well together. Taken as a whole, the elements are accentuated in various points throughout the plot, but overall held together nicely because we recognize the sensibilities of what a movie is. And thus, in the ending narration, the line between film and real life seem to cheekily blur with some heartfelt emotion.
Highly recommended, especially if you get the chance to watch it. Currently no word on distribution in the USA. It was #1 at the box-office when it opened in China. With Justin Lin as producer and an all-American crew supporting the 3 famous Chinese actors, this film comes across with polish and panache.
As someone who speaks both English and Mandarin, I am surprised how tightly scripted the film was. The movie focused on the three leads and their banter is mostly in Mandarin but their interactions with people in LA were realistically done in doses of Mandarin and English. The plot is reasonable enough, and the subtle aspects of the three characters' lives do come into play with the plot as the film progresses. It is believable enough if one pays attention to what is revealed about the characters. For example, it's not hard to believe a car salesman can handle a car pretty well. The characters are revealed bit by bit as the plot progresses and though some parts are tongue-in-cheek, overall it still makes sense. Justin Lin's plot and pacing sensibilities are evident here, which is no surprise considering how he managed to take the Fast and Furious franchise into blockbuster status.
This film is just plain fun. Even if you don't speak Mandarin, just by glancing at the subtitles and watching the characters, it is easy to relate to their predicament. The film is light-hearted, and yet carries an emotional underpinning because the lead character's reason for his journey to the USA is to win back his girlfriend. There are numerous moments of movie references and it has bits of meta-humour, where the the characters in this film are referring to other characters as characters from other movies. Those bits are funny and not overdone. I won't spoil any of it here; you'd have to watch it to find out and it's really kinda funny.
This film really has action, comedy and romance combined. I don't agree with any critics who say the film doesn't blend those elements well together. Taken as a whole, the elements are accentuated in various points throughout the plot, but overall held together nicely because we recognize the sensibilities of what a movie is. And thus, in the ending narration, the line between film and real life seem to cheekily blur with some heartfelt emotion.
Highly recommended, especially if you get the chance to watch it. Currently no word on distribution in the USA. It was #1 at the box-office when it opened in China. With Justin Lin as producer and an all-American crew supporting the 3 famous Chinese actors, this film comes across with polish and panache.
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