MOVIE REVIEW UNDER THE RADAR - PART 4 2011

Hey folks, maintaining sites like the one you are reading are never easy, especially when there is only one author to do all the stuffs. Sometimes, certain movies when under the radar and it is a little shame that these movies did not made it into the one-article movie review. There are times, we did not get them a proper treatment. The facts are; sometimes these movies are watched after the theatrical run has ended in the local cinemas and sometimes we just too hectic to write one especially when there are tonnes of movies released in within a week.

On the part 3 of our reviews that we have kept under the radar, we have "Spy Kids: All The Time In The World" and "Conan The Barbarian". Read them after the jump.

SPY KIDS: ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD (PG13)

Genre: Action/Adventure/Family/Science Fiction/Mystery
Release Date: 18 August 2011
Running Time: 99 minutes
Distributor: The Weinstein Company; Golden Screen Cinemas in Malaysia
Director: Robert Rodriguez
Screenplay: Robert Rodriguez
Starring: Jessica Alba, Joel McHale, Alexa Vega, Daryl Sabara, Rowan Blanchard, Mason Cook, Ricky Gervais
Plot: On the surface, Marissa Cortez Wilson (Jessica Alba) has it all...married to a famous spy hunting television reporter, a new baby and intelligent twin step kids. But in reality, trying to mother Rebecca (Rowan Blanchard) and Cecil (Mason Cook), who clearly don't want her around, is her toughest challenge yet. Also, her husband, Wilbur (Joel McHale), wouldn't know a spy if he lived with one which is exactly the case - Marissa's a retired secret agent. Marissa's world is turned upside down when the maniacal Timekeeper (Jeremy Piven) threatens to take over the planet and she's called back into action by the head of OSS, home of the greatest spies and where the now-defunct Spy Kids division was created. With a little help from a couple of very familiar Spy Kids, Carmen (Alexa Vega) and Juni Cortez (Daryl Sabara), they just may be able to save the world and possibly bring their family together while they're at it.

Short Review: It's almost, almost and once again almost - the worst movie of the year. This is yet another movie that I felt forced to giggle throughout the movie for zero substance and almost zero entertainment value. The problem is pretty easy to pin point. Foremost, 'Spy Kids 4' is nothing more than a burdened and bloated standard plot that has similarly helped to shape the previous three installment into err...well a no-brainer spy movie for kids. The bigger problem for this movie is that it is filled with empty gimmick tools like the aromascope which enhances nothing, poor 3D execution and feels cheesy. Then comes other problems like unfunny lines that need to be chewed by the poor kids as well as some bad choice in toilet humor. Now why would I want to smell dog's fart or vomit diaper? Ouch, Robert Rodriguez takes insanity and unnecessary to whole new level while his usual stylish comically movie only pays a little tribune in 'Spy Kids 4'. Overall, the movie sounds and looks forceful, desperate and inattentive. Now it will ranks very low so do expect to see it in our top 10 worst reviewed movie for 2011!

THE RATING:
Story: 1.0
Casts: 2.0
Cinematography: 2.0
Effects: 2.0
GREEN-TEA-O-METER: 6.2/20.0
--------------------------------------------

CONAN THE BARBARIAN (18)

Genre: Action/Adventure/Fantasy
Release Date: 25 August 2011
Running Time: 112 minutes
Distributor: Lionsgate; Golden Screen Cinemas
Director: Marcus Nipel
Screenplay: Thomas Dean Donnelly, Joshua Oppenheimer and Sean Hood; based on Robert E. Howard's "Conan the Barbarian"
Starring: Jason Momoa, Rachel Nichols, Stephen Lang, Rose McGowan, Saïd Taghmaoui, Leo Howard, Bob Sapp, Ron Perlman
Plot: A quest that begins as a personal vendetta for the fierce Cimmerian warrior soon turns into an epic battle against hulking rivals, horrific monsters, and impossible odds, as Conan (Jason Momoa) realizes he is the only hope of saving the great nations of Hyboria from an encroaching reign of supernatural evil.

Short Review: Despite what others may have said, 'Conan the Barbarian' is not that bad after all. Yes, some of the good thing about this latest movie adaptation is that it stays focus at much of the time giving you that uneasy feel of bloody violence splashing across the screens that perhaps it would be a waste of missing out the dead body counts throughout the movie. In some departments like the swashbuckling scenes or gore, they do have their own signature forged with some amazing cinematographic displays. If there are some stuffs not so good about 'Conan the Barbarian' is that it fails to give a proper tribute to Robert E. Howard's character.  The plot is mediocre at best at times making itself too serious The other time, it feels gagging and suffocating with little expansion on the character and story dimension. He is less funny and too canny, while some elements of the story are different from the books. The 'new' Conan may not have the edge like the 1982 version but it is still an okay entertaining movie that has its own uniqueness and blood pool. If better plot, dialogue and acting are incorporated, 'Conan the Barbarian' would feels better! It's okay to give it a try if you love chopping limbs and physical brutality.

THE RATING:
Story: 2.5
Casts: 3.0
Cinematography: 3.5
Effects: 3.0
GREEN-TEA-O-METER: 11.3/20.0
--------------------------------------------

Post a Comment

Previous Post Next Post