[BRIEFLY]: 2013 is another hectic year in the film industry. Like every year on the record book, there are a handful of award-winning features and there are also those which are served to entertain, nothing more. But there also a bunch of stink-movies which are unfortunately, been made to be trashed. Continuing the tradition of ushering into a brand new year in two days time, I have compiled several movie lists that will be featured over several blog posts.
THE DISAPPOINTED ONE...
Here are some of the most disappointed movies of the year according to the genre or subtext. Let me get this straight, been disappointed does not entirely mean it is bad. Let me first define “disappointed” to you and it is according to my own definitions:
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Alex Gibney’s documentary about the sensational Wikileaks’ founder is supposed to be another amazing and engaging documentary that resonances his previous works like “Client 9”, “Enron” and “Taxi to the Dark Side”. Yes it did. But the problems can be seen rolling miles away towards you by the beginning of the second half. In my verdict, I said “It is true that Gibney did present a well-balanced content but not without so much error that everything seems to matter”. Apparently, this documentary is being used to create propaganda and to feed some interested party to attack the man himself. The people they interviewed are basically disgruntled former employees and associates. I’m disappointed because it is all propaganda. Full review at: http://greenteamovie.blogspot.com/2013/06/movie-review-we-steal-secrets-story-of.html
The trailer really kicks ass, especially when they use “Ode of Joy” to go along with the action teases. But as much as it does kick-ass in the movie, it eventually turns out to be “an obnoxious action flick that will unlikely to win over those who are familiar with the franchise”. But no doubt that “even with recycled, convoluted plot and raw set pieces, it still save us with little fun to savour with.” The second sentence, when I think it back, is not at all a complement. Full review at: http://greenteamovie.blogspot.com/2013/02/movie-review-a-good-day-to-die-hard.html
I would have nominated “Dark Skies” but it is “The Purge” instead. It is ridiculously more stupid than the former and even the watchable Ethan Hawke in this movie is in fact unwatchable. The movie "ventures into a whole familiar zone of cheap and unrealistic home-invasion horror". To top that "with bad and illogical flaw on the plot elements to go along with a bad acting", this movie "is either an accidental joke or an unintended mess". Full review at: http://greenteamovie.blogspot.com/2013/09/movie-review-purge.html
Zack Snyder's version of "Man of Steel" may have won a lot of praise from comic book movie fans. I am a comic book movie but I find it disappointing not because it is bad, but because it fails to impress. Even with Christopher Nolan in it and their best attempt to recreate that "Batman Begins" moments, but it misfires with "overblown CGIs, out-of-control action sequences, moderate character-building, poor character study, useless supporting casts and a very weak story-line despite having an excellent flashback to explore the origin story".
Full review at: http://greenteamovie.blogspot.com/2013/06/movie-review-man-of-steel.html
In one side of this argument, "12 Years of Slave" is an impressive movie. But on the other side, I was disappointed because there aren't much more story to look forward for; besides experiencing plainly what Mr Solomon Northup had to endure in the period of 12 years. Again, it is impressively-made despite McQueen hardly brings any breakthrough or revolutionary to the subject matter. Also the fact that Steve McQueen infuses a lot of beautiful visual spectra is kind of a distraction to the story and pace. Full review unavailable because I'm damn busy recently.
The first movie was a joke but it is entertaining, hence I am expecting this sequel nothing more than that too. Oh, it turns out the sequel with Lady Gaga in it, is effectively awkward and "joker". As a quantitative comparison, "Machete Kills" is 20 times worse than "Machete". C'mon Robert Rodriguez! Full review unavailable because I just don't give it a damn!
This is another potential joke at first but at least it is baked quite well. Disappointed on how they mediocrely portrayed the founder of Apple and the absolute one person who reinvented and create the new world we are living in. Ashton Kutcher seems like a good choice and the physical resemblance is strikingly accurate. It is ambitious but it falls flat on its own pretentious and over-sensationalized the autobiography.
You have Sean Penn, you also have peoples like Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Josh Brolin and Anthony Mackie in it. What do you get? A cartoony movie about vigilante cops combating the entire empire of one gangster. Other than that, the characters are affectionate but gives empty chill to the movie.
I have high hopes for "Oblivion" but it ended up been mediocre. It is not a bad movie, but I keep on reminded how frustrated I was with that ending and the way they get the leeway on some of the creative and world-building aspect. Oblivion did not make any effort to "challenge some of the classic space odyssey or apocalyptic science fictions" and did not distinguished itself with a mind-benidng experience I first thought of. Only a good cinematography, scores and safely-written plot makes this cinematic experience been brilliant.
My initial reaction was quite positive until I decided to watch for the second time. On my second viewing, I discovered plenty of moments that I did not realized how ridiculous and bad it is. The political sentiment, violence and social injustice are heavy duty elements that are able to carry this film quite well but "the mediocre, familiar, rushed and derivative plot story" dumbs down this film. This is Neill Blomkamp, the man who created Academy Award-nominated "District 9". See where we are after a few years?
THE DISAPPOINTED ONE...
Here are some of the most disappointed movies of the year according to the genre or subtext. Let me get this straight, been disappointed does not entirely mean it is bad. Let me first define “disappointed” to you and it is according to my own definitions:
- Movie that has great talents in the production but ended up not as good as it should be/mediocre/bad/garbage
- Movie that is notoriously been warned is going to be bad but ended up worse
- Movie that has badass trailer and having a 50/50 chance of being bad but ended up worse
PROPAGANDA DOCUMENTARY
"WE STEAL SECRETS: THE STORY OF WIKILEAKS"
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Alex Gibney’s documentary about the sensational Wikileaks’ founder is supposed to be another amazing and engaging documentary that resonances his previous works like “Client 9”, “Enron” and “Taxi to the Dark Side”. Yes it did. But the problems can be seen rolling miles away towards you by the beginning of the second half. In my verdict, I said “It is true that Gibney did present a well-balanced content but not without so much error that everything seems to matter”. Apparently, this documentary is being used to create propaganda and to feed some interested party to attack the man himself. The people they interviewed are basically disgruntled former employees and associates. I’m disappointed because it is all propaganda. Full review at: http://greenteamovie.blogspot.com/2013/06/movie-review-we-steal-secrets-story-of.html
THOSE BRUCE WILLIS’ MOVIE
"A GOOD DAY TO DIE HARD"
The trailer really kicks ass, especially when they use “Ode of Joy” to go along with the action teases. But as much as it does kick-ass in the movie, it eventually turns out to be “an obnoxious action flick that will unlikely to win over those who are familiar with the franchise”. But no doubt that “even with recycled, convoluted plot and raw set pieces, it still save us with little fun to savour with.” The second sentence, when I think it back, is not at all a complement. Full review at: http://greenteamovie.blogspot.com/2013/02/movie-review-a-good-day-to-die-hard.html
ONE OF JASON BLUM’S MOVIE
"THE PURGE"
I would have nominated “Dark Skies” but it is “The Purge” instead. It is ridiculously more stupid than the former and even the watchable Ethan Hawke in this movie is in fact unwatchable. The movie "ventures into a whole familiar zone of cheap and unrealistic home-invasion horror". To top that "with bad and illogical flaw on the plot elements to go along with a bad acting", this movie "is either an accidental joke or an unintended mess". Full review at: http://greenteamovie.blogspot.com/2013/09/movie-review-purge.html
THE SUPERHERO
"MAN OF STEEL"
Zack Snyder's version of "Man of Steel" may have won a lot of praise from comic book movie fans. I am a comic book movie but I find it disappointing not because it is bad, but because it fails to impress. Even with Christopher Nolan in it and their best attempt to recreate that "Batman Begins" moments, but it misfires with "overblown CGIs, out-of-control action sequences, moderate character-building, poor character study, useless supporting casts and a very weak story-line despite having an excellent flashback to explore the origin story".
Full review at: http://greenteamovie.blogspot.com/2013/06/movie-review-man-of-steel.html
MOVIES AIMING FOR THE OSCAR (NOT THAT BAD)
"12 YEARS OF SLAVE"
In one side of this argument, "12 Years of Slave" is an impressive movie. But on the other side, I was disappointed because there aren't much more story to look forward for; besides experiencing plainly what Mr Solomon Northup had to endure in the period of 12 years. Again, it is impressively-made despite McQueen hardly brings any breakthrough or revolutionary to the subject matter. Also the fact that Steve McQueen infuses a lot of beautiful visual spectra is kind of a distraction to the story and pace. Full review unavailable because I'm damn busy recently.
SOMETHING FROM B-RATED DIRECTORS
"MACHETE KILLS"
The first movie was a joke but it is entertaining, hence I am expecting this sequel nothing more than that too. Oh, it turns out the sequel with Lady Gaga in it, is effectively awkward and "joker". As a quantitative comparison, "Machete Kills" is 20 times worse than "Machete". C'mon Robert Rodriguez! Full review unavailable because I just don't give it a damn!
INSPIRED FROM SOMEBODY REAL
"jOBS"
This is another potential joke at first but at least it is baked quite well. Disappointed on how they mediocrely portrayed the founder of Apple and the absolute one person who reinvented and create the new world we are living in. Ashton Kutcher seems like a good choice and the physical resemblance is strikingly accurate. It is ambitious but it falls flat on its own pretentious and over-sensationalized the autobiography.
BIG STARS, BIG CRUSHED
"GANGSTER SQUAD"
You have Sean Penn, you also have peoples like Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Josh Brolin and Anthony Mackie in it. What do you get? A cartoony movie about vigilante cops combating the entire empire of one gangster. Other than that, the characters are affectionate but gives empty chill to the movie.
BIG SCIENCE FICTION FLOPS (1)
"OBLIVION"
I have high hopes for "Oblivion" but it ended up been mediocre. It is not a bad movie, but I keep on reminded how frustrated I was with that ending and the way they get the leeway on some of the creative and world-building aspect. Oblivion did not make any effort to "challenge some of the classic space odyssey or apocalyptic science fictions" and did not distinguished itself with a mind-benidng experience I first thought of. Only a good cinematography, scores and safely-written plot makes this cinematic experience been brilliant.
BIG SCIENCE FICTION FLOPS (2)
"ELYSIUM"
My initial reaction was quite positive until I decided to watch for the second time. On my second viewing, I discovered plenty of moments that I did not realized how ridiculous and bad it is. The political sentiment, violence and social injustice are heavy duty elements that are able to carry this film quite well but "the mediocre, familiar, rushed and derivative plot story" dumbs down this film. This is Neill Blomkamp, the man who created Academy Award-nominated "District 9". See where we are after a few years?
