Movie Review: "Knowing" (2009)

Knowing... More like Know Nothing.

Another Nicolas Cage gone bad. I've decided not to see this movie the second that I've seen the trailer for it in the theater. The film deals with an MIT professor, John Koestler (Nicolas Cage) discovering a paper containing... umm... "codes", which indicates every single disaster that happened, is happening, and will happen.

The movie has a very cliche background setup: a widowed man who has lost his love in a tragic accident, and a precious little boy, Caleb (Chandler Canterbury), who has to live with his depressed father and has to hide his longing for his mother.

I understand that John is supposed to be depressed, but does he have to drink liquor every other minute? The bottles were shown so frequently throughout the movie, I thought I was watching a commercial. I just wanted to yell at the television, "You are a sad alcoholic! I understand!"

Honestly, I haven't paid attention to the movie at all because of its drooping flow and transitions that made the entire experience ever so dreadful. I see that the director was trying to set the mood of the scenes through the looooooooooooooong transitions and eerie music... but it just doesn't work if it happens each and every time when a change in shots happen.

The way John figures out the codes do not bring any excitement to the audience whatsoever either, since the audience already figured that out when they saw the trailer! The numbers on the papers aren't actually codes of some sort, but just a straightforward alignment of dates, deaths, and locations without slashes, commas, or dashes. Seriously, it does not take an MIT professor to figure that out.

Things that were mind crushingly hard to figure out was the god damn "whisper people" and their fucking pebbles (excuse my language). So, at the end of the movie they reveal who the whisper people are but the pebbles that the whisper people leave everywhere doesn't get any explanation at all, and it is enraging as hell considering the fact that these stupid rock things took at least 10 seconds of screening time each scene they appeared.

If there was one thing that was cool about this movie, it would be the CGI. There are couple of really great scenes that is definitely enjoyable... except that burning moose that runs out in slow motion...

I am just not sure how to make a proper review of this movie, on the fact that I wasn't able to pay my full attention due to many factors, and without too much spoiler (because there are so many details I hate about).

I'm giving this movie a one star rating.

Movie Review : "Jumper" (2008)

This movie just had my full attention since the novel it was based on! Yes, there is a novel called "The Jumper." Basically, it has brought the physics and universe from the book, but changed the story entirely.

The basic outline is this : A kid, DAVID, who didn't have a mother since he was a youngling, grew up in the hands of his abusive/authoritative father, and had the "LOSER" tagged on him all through highschool discovers his supernatural power, almost godlike almightiness; the ability to teleport.

He immediately runs away (more like teleport away) from home without anything... like a carpet-bagger, to New York.

The very first thing he does with his power was to rob a bank; dollars in millions. eight years later he found himself having the perfect life. No work, no obligations, no worries, just nothing bad. Then the "PALADINS" come in. They are the secret organization who search & exterminate Jumpers. They are religious fanatics who are either really jealous of the power or just has pure hatred and disdain for it. The leader of this group is a character named "ROLAND"(not sure of the spelling), which is acted out by Samuel L. Jackson. He finally traces down our hero of his bank robbery and attempts to eliminate him.

After being attacked, David feels homesick and find his hometown and his highschool crush "Meely"(Not sure of the spelling, again, never even heard of a name like this). David soon discovers that everyone he has come in contact with are now in grave danger.

The story gets somewhat predictable after once you are introduced to the basic thing. David attempts to fight off the Paladins to protect Meely, for the most part by teaming up with another Jumper named Griffin.

While screening, there were very natural comedic moments and dialogues that drew laughters from the audience, however, I was sort of disturbed by the cheesy romantic scenes of David and his girl. I'm sure it was necessary, and maybe it was suppose to appeal against the time of the year (spring, valentines), but it just kind of broke the pace and the moment of the movie for me.

The visual effects were amazing, a bit different from what I have thought it would be like while reading the book; and it was better than the book. The action scenes are must see! It is another sensation that differs in taste with the bloodiness of Rambo. The characters are very individualistic, in other words, interesting and likable, and my personal favorite character was Griffin. His outgoing personality, giving shit about nothing, perfectionism, thrive for revenge, and the accent makes his character rather spicy.

You have to go check this movie out, and I recommend that you read the book first, then it'll help you understand how the Jumpers' universe works; they don't get into details on the physics; you'll have to figure it out as they go, and it'll distract you from the film.

I'll give it three and a half stars, just because the story was not as appealing to me, but you won't be disappointed.

Movie Review for "RAMBO" (2008)

Sylvester Stalone and Lionsgate has decided to make another Rambo sequel.

In this movie filled with awesome graphic violence and thrilling actions, John Rambo, a soldier without a country is still haunted by the past memories of his warring days. The civil war in this remote Asian country, which tearing its country and its people apart is underminded by the governments and nations around the world; even by our hero. A missionary group from an American church visits the country to help out the innocent civilian victims who are in desperate need of medical help and hope. Unable to find a way to get up the river where their victims await them, they request the assistance of Rambo, who is now a worn out snake hunter who has a boat that could take them up the river. Reluctlant at first, but Rambo is moved by one of the missioners and takes them to their destination.

The missioners are captured by the menacing government army and is confined, tortured, harassed, and killed, and the church hires a team of mercenaries to extract them and Rambo, joins them.

This particular movie is directed by Sylvester himself, which I always find intriguing for a main character to direct his own movie, is astonishing. Over exaggerated but still mind blowing actions captures you attention throughout the entire screening. Probably the best graphic violence I have seen this year and last year, 2007.

One disappointing part of this film, which is not very important, is that the depth of the characters are very shallow except for Rambo. There is no time to get to know all of your characters well enough to feel sympathy or hate; then again, it's a kick-ass action thriller!

If you are blood thirsty, if you have the warrior's blood in you, and if you are a previous Rambo's fan, without a doubt you have to go see this.

I'll give it Three and a half stars.

*WARNING* : Do not take your children thinking it will be alright. They'll cry.