THE DIVERGENT SERIES: INSURGENT

Part of a trilogy from "The Divergent Series", this second part "Insurgent" starring the same leads Shailene Woodley, Theo James and others such as Jai Courtney, Maggie Q, Naomi Watts and Kate Winslet.

The movie continued off from the last movie where Tris, Four, Caleb and Peter escaped from the Erudite faction leader Jeanine's clutches and were hiding in the Amity faction until Eric came along in search of a divergent who could be a perfect match to open up a mystery box, from the city's founders, that contained the symbols of all factions. 

Peter betrayed the others who fortunately managed to kill Eric and sought refuge in the Factionless territory instead. Jai Courtney played the ruthless Eric so convincingly that I would really miss his absence. There, Four was unhappily reunited with his mother Evelyn who was then the leader of the Factionless, and revealed his true name Tobias. Evelyn tried to persuade Tobias to accept her proposal to get both Dauntless and Factionless to combine forces to fight against Erudite.

Eventually, Tris was caught by Jeanine and on her own accord, managed to open up the box to reveal the secret behind the walls. The combined factions also managed to defeat Erudite and Jeanine was taken as prisoner, where she was shot in the head by Evelyn before the movie ended.

I didn't like Shailene and I still don't, but overall I do think this second part is better than the first.

Jeanine and Peter tested many divergents to open up the mystery box

Tris cut her hair

Eric had madness written all over his eyes

Eric confronting leader of the Amity faction

Tobias (Four), Peter and Tris

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY

I must admit I had negative expectations of this Marvel Comics movie before I watched it and hence was pleasantly surprised to enjoy it.

In fact, I read that this movie took the box office by surprise too. I attribute it to the charismatic and humorous Chris Pratt, who lit up the screen with his presence in every scene he was in. Everyone suddenly sat up and took notice of the versatile Chris Pratt, who by far didn't seem to be in the league of big boys. I read that in US the women made up the majority of movie-goers for this movie and swooned all over him. They must all be so jealous of his wife Anna Faris, another comedian whom I like. With this movie, I am sure a lot of meaty roles will come his way.

Interestingly, Vin Diesel was the voice for Groot while Bradley Cooper was the voice for Rocket the genetically engineered raccoon. Who could recognize them and Lee Pace, behind the face of Ronan the Accuser, whom was the Elven King Thranduill in 'The Hobbit" series as well as the nomadic vampire Garrett in 'Breaking Dawn - Part 2'?

The easter egg segment though was really meaningless.

Gamora, Peter Quill / Star Lord, Groot and Drax

Do we see Rocket or Bradley?

Guest star Glenn Close as Nova Prime Irani Rael

Lee Pace as Ronan the Accuser

THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2

I am really loving this Marvel Comics remake of the Spiderman movies although I must admit I didn't quite like it in the first movie. The chemistry between the leads Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone as Peter Parker aka spidey and Gwen Stacy really came through so genuinely that it made the movie believable. Every scene they were in were lit up with sparks and together they were so likable.

So the ending was really sad when the movie makers decided to kill Gwen off, as in the comics, due to a whiplash effect. Emma came a long way and I am starting to really like her since the first time I saw her in "The House Bunny" in 2008. It is almost as if Peter Parker is nothing without Gwen. I imagine her coming back as Mary Jane Watson with a different hairdo in the next movie but subsequently I read that Shailene Woodley took on the role of Mary Jane, to my great disappointment. Shailene may be good in "Divergent" but no way close is she going to replace Gwen. I am just glad that the producers did the right thing by not introducing Mary Jane's character in this movie soon after Gwen's passing, otherwise audiences like me would hate her since Emma set the bar so high for anyone else to reach. Mary Jane's character is best left to part 3 after everyone has calmed down.

Sally Field's character Aunt May looked almost in tears in every scene and I started to see her as just a sad and pitiful widow with nothing that could cheer her up since Ben Parker's death. The new Harry Osborn aka Green Goblin in this movie in the form of Dane DeHaan also couldn't replace the James Franco's portrayal in the previous remake. Jamie Foxx's character as Max Dillon aka Electro was kind of silly and shallow. The other characters Rhino and Norman Osborn were just plain boring and seemed like insignificant fillers to make the movie so long.

Something that stuck with me was the poignant valedictorian speech made by Gwen at her graduation ceremony:

"Hmm, I know that we all think we're immortal. We're supposed to feel that way, we're graduating. The future is and should be bright, but, like our brief four years in high school, what makes life valuable is that it doesn't last forever, what makes it precious is that it ends. I know that now more than ever. And I say it today of all days to remind us that time is luck. So don't waste it living someone else's life, make yours count for something. Fight for what matters to you, no matter what. Because even if you fall short, what better way is there to live?"

Strangely, the easter egg that followed after the movie was on X-Men's Mystique in an army camp, supposedly as a lead-up to the upcoming "X-Men: Days of Future Past" movie.

the chemistry is undeniable

can the real Sally Field stand up?

Peter and Harry Osborn with a sleek but flat hairdo

a hideous Green Goblin

Max's deluded behaviour is unconvincing as an electrical engineer

Max transformed into Electro after an industrial accident

Gwen at her last moments before she fell to her death

this is the comics version

THE MONKEY KING

I eagerly waited for this movie for a year and when I saw a poster of it in KL in Dec 13, my hopes were high when I knew it would be screened soon.

Starring the big threes of Hong Kong entertainment industry Chow Yun Fatt, Aaron Kwok, Donnie Yen and others such as Peter Ho, Gigi Leung, the movie was more CGI effects than anything else. There wasn't much real acting and many real actors. Everything was flying here and there in heaven and chaos was literally everywhere.

It was such a huge letdown that I won't even begin to list them here although I must grumble that the budget was undoubtedly big on special effects and the storyline was so, so weak. Like a friend said, they had no money left to hire more real actors after the extravagant expenditure on special effects. I must say that even though I found the earlier Stephen Chow takes "A Chinese Odyssey - Part One (Pandora's Box) and Part Two (Cinderella)" in 1995 starring Stephen Chow himself, Athena Chu, Ng Man-Tat, Law Kar-Ying, Karen Mok etc on the same subject lame, they were at least entertaining and memorable to this very day. This remake in comparison, was just a big time disappointment.

THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN

Today's weather - sunny

After much anticipation, I watched this new Marvel Comics superhero movie starring Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Martin Sheen, Sally Field and so on. I enjoyed the earlier spider-man movies that were first made a decade ago in 2002 with Tobey Maguire as the lead and had my reservations with this new version with a new lead whom I have never come across before.


In comparison, Andrew seemed like an unlikely hero with his scrawny body. But I guess one shouldn't be too judgmental and stereotype anything or anyone. This movie proved to me that I still have lots to learn everyday. I admit that Andrew Garfield is brilliant in this role and I can't think of anyone more suitable to play this well-known character.


This new take explored a deeper side into Peter Parker's life and personality and showed how this angsty and cynical youngster overcame his personal demons, insecurities and inadequacies to eventually become a vigilante who protected the innocent lives out there. The awakening journey he took wasn't an easy one with the loss of both his parents when he was just a child and the loss of his uncle Ben, which he was partially responsible for. I love the transformation he went through from a geeky boy-next-door who was constantly bullied at school to a geeky boy-turned-superhero who tested his new-found powers to a new superhero who learnt to take on this calling and responsibility to protect the innocent.


Oh, and did I mention I love the new spider logo with the long legs? Well, I certainly do. And Emma Stone as Peter's new girlfriend Gwen Stacy was definitely much more appealing than Kirsten Dunst's character Mary-Jane Watson.

FRINGE

I am watching season 2 of the american television series "Fringe" and I must say this is one of my favourite science fiction tv series in recent times.

Created by J.J. Abrams, it explores an existence beyond this universe with every week's bizzare events and often deadly occurrences. The show is fronted by the 3 main leads Olivia Dunham, Peter Bishop and Walter Bishop played by Anna Torv, Joshua Jackson and John Noble respectively.

This season is about the alternate universe but what makes the plots believable are the great acting by and chemistry between the 3 leads. It is about time the charismatic Olivia and Peter get together as a couple after they have been through so much. Above all, I think Walter's acting is superbly natural and fantastic. Each week's storyline puts me on the edge of the seat and pieces of the jigsaw are slowly coming together as the plot unravels gradually. I cannot wait to watch the rest of the episodes.