Avatar

The Old King is back. 5 words to describe Avatar. You maybe (you must) remember the 1997 all-time highest-grossing film, Titanic. And you maybe think, where in the world did the director, James Cameron, goes? And now, his back with an epic. Also backed up by the high-budget, and the latest edge-cutting 3D stereoscopic technology combined with the CGI technology, deliver you the mind blowing sci-fi epic, Avatar.

Australian actor Sam Worthington, who plays as Marcus Wright, the human-hearted terminator in Terminator Salvation, gets his major role as Jake Sully, a paraplegic former marine on Pandora, a planet located in the Alpha Centauri star system. The story takes place entirely on Pandora, where the human comes there to mine Unobtainium, a rare ore that serves as a high-efficiency energy sources. The Pandora itself has it own indigenous people called Na'vi. This blue skinned, 9-feet tall humanoid live in harmony with the nature. The main problem is, their home, which is a huge tree, stands above a large quantity of Unobtainium depot. The human tries to relocate them, but they're getting resistance, not only from the Na'vi but also from the poisonous-for-human atmosphere of Pandora. While military waging the war, a group of scientists try to understand the Na'vi under the form of a genetically-altered Na'vi bodies called Avatar, which is controlled by the mentally-linked and DNA matched human operator. Jake Sully himself comes to replace his twin brother, an operator who is killed in a mugging. He then placed as the bodyguard of other scientists Dr. Grace Augustine (Sigourney Weaver) and Norm Spellman (Joel David Moore). He soon found himself fell in love with the local Na'vi named Neytiri (Zoe Saldana). Later on, he also pitted in the war between the human, his race; and the Na'vi, the race that gave him freedom to move in his avatar form.

There is a sensitive issues, if you think it is, in the movie. Well you see, a local nature-loving people with traditional tools fight with the outsider with advanced technology that want to exploit their natural resources. Sounds familiar? Maybe you'll think of the European Invasion of America, or more recently, American Invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq? Whether you agree with it or not, I can guarantee that at least you'll be amazed by the universe James Cameron has made. For your information, he already worked on this project since 1994, but because of the lack of technology that time, the movie finally made it to the theaters on 2009. He and his team already created the Na'vi language, the wildlife of Pandora, and all of the aspects to create a universe. By the CGI, you'll be given the amazing view of Pandora inhabitant, the beautiful yet deadly carnivorous plant Helicoradian, the hammerhead rhinoceros Titanothere and also with many places in Pandora. Looking at the wide fictional universe, we all can expect for another sequel to come, and maybe the start of a cult, just like when The Lords Of the Rings did.

And again, Avatar has proved the capabilities of James Cameron. Not long before I wrote this, I've read in the news that Avatar reign on top as the all-time highest-grossing film, beating Titanic. And for the record, Avatar and Titanic both are the works of James Cameron.

As for the upcoming 82nd Academy Awards, I'll be expecting to the reunion of James Cameron and his ex-wife Kathryn Bigelow. Because one of the main fight that may be occured is Avatar versus The Hurt Locker, not forget to mention Quentin Tarantino's Inglorious Basterds. But, the tradition told that usually the one that garnered a lot of money will get the award. But who knows? Let us just pray and sit waiting for the 82nd Academy Awards on March 2010.

Ninja Assassin

Fear not the weapon but the hand that wields it. Ninja Assassin,  a hollywood movie delivered by the Wachowski Brothers together with the Asian rising-star Rain as the main cast. Well, to remind you, Wachowski Brothers is the man behind The Matrix Trilogy and also Speed Racer. And yes, if you think that means this movie will have a lot of action. I mean it, A Lot Of Action.

The movie main story is quiet simple, a young ninja apprentice named Raizo (Rain) who has been trained under the surveillance of Lord Ozunu (Sho Kusanagi), the head of the Ozunu Clan. Later on, he developed a romantic relationship with Kiriko (Kylie Goldstein and Anna Sawai). She then try to escape only to be executed by her ninja brother Takeshi (Rick Yune). Raizo then grows a hatred toward his ninja clan, and betray them. And then the story goes straightforward, yes, a revenge.

Also you can see the director of V for Vendetta, James McTeigue, who has worked in a lot of Wachowski Brothers' project, back into the director seat. The main point that the movie has is the wonderful martial art scene, that is shown in the Matrix style (I mean, slow motion).

Last but not least, for you who hate gore, violent, blood, and their friends, I'm not recommended this movie for you. As in the 99 min. of its running time, it'll be full of blood and slow-motion decapitation scene. But for you who enjoy adrenaline rush or maybe want to be a ninja, This movie is designed for you.

New Moon

The Twilight Saga continues with the second screenplay based on the novel sequel, New Moon. The movie and the book serve the same, a darker side of vampire-romance, which also focusing on a love triangle story. And we won't see Catherine Hardwicke back to direct the sequel, as Chris Weitz takes on the director seat.

The main story still revolve around the romance of the human, Isabella Swan (Kristen Stewart) and the vampire, Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson). It focus on Bella's concern about Edward's immortality, when she see herself in an elderly figure stood together with the ever young Edward in a dream. And when the Cullens family invite Bella to celebrate her 17th birthday, Bella cut her hand accidentally and thus awaken the vampire bloodlust sense of Jasper. Realising that this will be bad for Bella, Edward decides to leave Fork. In desperate situation, Bella found herself comfort spending time with Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner), a member of the Quileute tribe and also an old childhood friend of Bella. And soon the situation gets more complicated when the nomadic vampires return, soon as they know the Cullens gone and Bella left unprotected. Another part of the story starts when Bella, together with Alice Cullens (Ashley Greene), chase Edward to Italy, where the Volturi, an ancient vampire coven, rules.

While we all saw that romance is the main genre of Twilight, Chris Weitz add more of the action element to New Moon. Fortunately, he managed to makes the action part smoothly and also makes the romance not cheesy. And yes, it's proven that indeed New Moon is an awaited sequel, by seeing that New Moon successfully set domestic box office records as the biggest midnight screening with $26.3 million. And also it's followed by biggest single day domestic gross with $72.7 million.

Astro Boy

"Have a blast", is the tagline of the remake of Osamu Tezuka's masterpiece, Tetsuwan Atomu (Mighty Atom) or better known as Astro Boy. The anime itself first broadcast in Japan in 1963. And the remake was directed by David Bowers who also directed Flushed Away and also involved in the making of Chicken Run.

The movie's main plot focusing on the birth of Astro Boy (Freddie Highmore), who was created by Dr. Tenma (Nicholas Cage) to replace his son, Toby, who killed in an accident. Astro Boy itself is programmed with all the memories recorded in Toby's DNA and powered by the blue core, a positive energy from a dead star, given by Dr. Elefun (Bill Nighy). And here afterwards the plot quiet simple, where Astro have to battle with his own identity and then fight with the big bad guy, President Stone (Donald Sutherland).

There's is nothing to special about the movie, but it sure hits the main movie target demographic with it's visual effect. Of course many kids will enjoy and love the climatic scene when Astro has to battle a giant robot. But maybe for you who miss the old day watching Astro Boy in the 60's or 70's, this movie will remind you of your old memories.

And don't forget to mention there's a lot of star filled up the cast, such as Nicholas Cage, Charlize Theron (yeah, "Our Friends" Narrator is Charlize Theron) and also Samuel L. Jackson. Final words, it still a good choice for taking your kid to watch this.

Zombieland

"Nut up or shut up", a line that Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson) used to start his zombie slaughtering game in the zombie comedy film, Zombieland, which is directed by Ruben Fleischer. At the first glance we may see Zombieland is sort of Shaun of the Dead (2004) brother from the another-mother. But after we get deeper in the movie, we soon can find the differences between them. And still, this movie give another taste of zombie-apocalypse.

The story itself centered on two people that travel together in a post-apocalypse United States of America, which Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg) called Zombieland, who have unique relation because of their earth and heaven personality. The first guy, Columbus is a nerdy college guy that spend all of his time playing online games inside his room. The another guy is Tallahassee, a macho man who held a personal grudge against the zombie and also enjoy killing them. They also later joined by Wichita (Emma Stone) and her sister, Little Rock (Abigail Breslin) who have a unique way to survive the Zombieland. Across the movie we'll be served by some rules that appear in a comical way, rules that Columbus comes up with for surviving the zombie-invested world.

Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick as the screenplay writer did a great job on plotting the story. Although the plot is really straight forward and simple, but that is the point of a zombie comedy film. And we'll be surprised by the funny, yet spectacular cameo by Bill Murray (Ghostbusters, Caddyshack, Lost in Translation) who managed to make us all laugh so hard in his cameo.

In conclusion, as I said before, Zombieland add more fun in watching those brain-lover who can even outrun your brand-new Prius.

Inglorious Basterds

"Once upon a time in Nazi occupied France", served as the tagline of Quentin Tarantino's Inglorious Basterds, which premiered during the 62nd International Cannes Film Festival. Just as the other Tarantino's movies, Inglorious Basterds may startled someone because of it violence action. But still, Tarantino did amazing works in this movie. Every moments works like a charm and your feeling will ride up and down very fast just like a roller-coaster ride.

The scene open, with a part called Chapter 1, shows us the countryside of the Nazi-occupied France. A farmer, Perrier LaPadite (Denis Menochet), shown chopping woods when a German officer (Christopher Waltz) comes. They both come inside the house, and the German introduces himself fluently in French as Col. Hans Landa. After they had a few talks, Landa mention did LaPadite knows his nickname. "The Jew Hunter" he said. Shortly after, he calls his men and unload their magazines toward the wooden floor. A young girl survived the shootout and run. Just as Landa aims his gun he said, "Au Revoir Shosanna!" and let her go away.

From the scene, we get a glimpse of what nazi-officer personalities in Tarantino's way, which is a very much different than the other Nazi movies, and also the keen eyes of Tarantino who put Christopher Waltz at his best performance. Waltz himself fluent in English, French, and German. His powerful performance also gave him Best Actor Award at the Cannes Film Festival.

And just like the other Tarantino's creation. The plot are very much unpredictable and also in the same time enjoyable. You'll scream for the head-bashing, and you'll laugh seeing the bullet ridden body of Hitler. Closing word, it is a glorious end for the Basterds.

Rescue Dawn

Little Dieter Needs to Fly, a documentary by Werner Herzog tell us the life of Dieter Dengler a pilot of the U.S. Navy whose plane was shot down while carrying secret bombing mission over the Laos territory. The documentary itself then became the background of Rescue Dawn, also directed by Werner Herzog, and starring Christian Bale as Lt. Dieter Dengler.


The first minute of the movie show us, Dieter and his squadron of 4 men, take on mission to do a bombing run within Laos territory. Dieter's plane rolled in and quickly lost sight of others. After done the bombing his plane got hit by anti-aircraft gun. He was told to eject but he refused it. Soon he found himself deep within Laos territory with the rebels in pursuit. Not long after that, he got caught and taken to a Lao prison camp. He then met with fellow prisoner, Duane Martin (Steve Zahn), Eugene DeBruin (Jeremy Davies) together with Thai prisoners.


In the first hour of the movie, which run for 125 mins., the psychology of prisoner of war was greatly shown by Herzog. How they're starving, they're planning an escape plan, also how desperate the situation is. And it's not like the other U.S. anti-Vietkong proganda movie like Rambo and Missing In Action, Rescue Dawn shows the real deal. Christian Bale and Steve Zahn also managed to optimized their talent.


But then again it's not a perfect movie, because in some point this film add more things and also subtract some of it historical element. Like the Walkie-Talkie character which is not a real one, or the fact that the other prisoner already planned an escape before Dieter's arrival. But Herzog did exceptionally works here, and this film deserve praises.