EmmaGoodEgg

X-Men: The Last Stand

Joblo, my sifu in movie reviews, gave X-Men 3 a 5/10 and I must concur.

The husband and I braved the masses and a rainy drive to The Empire Cinema to watch the 7.30 show this evening.  Actually, its nice to see a crowd at the cinema.  Hell, its nice to see a crowd anywhere in Brunei...But I digress. 

With sweet popcorn and kitkats we settled in the chairs of chilly cinema 3 and let ourselves be entertained.  And entertained we were, for the X-Men movies never fail to stun viewers with colourful fantasy characters that have powers us mere mortals would love to have.  Just give me Phoenix's powers and see me do some damage.  Not to mention the slick metal in buildings, the air and Wolverine.  Its a pity director Brett Ratner is just too damn lazy to put some meat into the characters and the storyline.  Hugh Jackman as Wolverine is mersmerising but I could do without the sappiness.  Famke Janssen as Jean Grey was confusing and as The Phoenix, damn scary.  Anna Paquin as Roque is annoying and could stand to lose a few pounds.  Kitty Pryde was played nicely by Ellen Page.  Halle Berry chanelling Storm has the gray hair of a soul patroller. 

But its Kelsey Grammer, who played a political republican beast called Beast, who was a complete surprise.  My favourite part of the film is when Kelsey is on and its like watching Dr Frasier Crane in an alternate universe where he is not a gentleman DJ Doctor but a hairy blue beast.  If you close your eyes you can just imagine Niles as Mr Slinky and not the best speller in America.  I loved it.  Now let me tell you, the husband is a Frasier fan, and in the middle of the film he turns to me and whispers, "The Beast sounds like Frasier Crane".  He didn't recognise Kelsey at all.  I wouldn't have either, if I hadn't read a story about it somewhere. 

Despite its shortcomings, we had a good night out.  The popcorn at the Empire Cinema is always good value and here are some pictures: 

Kelsey super and unrecognisable as The Beast.

X-Men and villains.

The Brotherhood.    

The Da Vinci Code

I read the book early last year, long after the hype of Dan Brown's conspiracy theories escalated to sizeable proportions.  By the time I got myself a copy from Heathrow airport (hoping the story would keep my mind off visions of my plane and me plummeting to earth waaaaay too fast) everyone I know had read it.  In between air pockets, I found that author Dan Brown never lets up the conspiracy vein, and I was glad for this for it whiled away the nerve-wracking time I always seem to have on planes.

However, I am picky about the way books are written.  And it is difficult even when I have plenty of time to wax bookish on this Tuesday afternoon that I am off sick to explain this weird measuring scale I have in my head about the written word. 

I can pick up a funny sexy book by Jennifer Crusie and marvel at the way she writes.  I love, too, Arundhati Roy, Michael Oondatje for their achingly lovely way of infusing history within a love story…and Bill Bryson, Salman Rushdie for their mischievious way of spinning a yarn.

Now Dan Brown is something else.  Yes you can’t put his books down, but there’s just something about the way he writes that makes me think all Mr Brown really wants in life is to attend an award show with Tom Hanks. The Da Vinci Code is home grown for Hollywood and next thing you’ll see is Dan on all the blogs clutching Starbucks.

Craig Brown (no relation to Dan, I hope) from the Telegraph online, listed 15 things one didn’t know about The Da Vinci Code.  My favourite is No. 14:

The mystic, sage and prophet Nostradamus - himself a direct descendant of Conan the Barbarian - predicted the phenomenon of The Da Vinci Code more than 500 years ago, in this spookily prescient quatrain: Millions hungry for nonsense will swim across rivers/ And venture through fire to read the code of Davi Nci/ But later, in those days that see the release of the movie/ The same millions will find cause to sense/ A turkey.

Too funny and you'll miss out if you don't read the rest here.

Less Than Zero

The husband and I decided to let the home entertainment system entertain us tonight, so we watched a DVD we bought at Chong Hock Music Store apres dinner yesterday. 

Less Than Zero is that 1987 movie, adapted from a Brett Easton book of the same name, starring Robert Downey Jr., Jamie Gertz and Andrew McCartney.... I remember watching this movie years and years ago and wanting to find a boy like Robert Downey Jr. to fix.  I remember the cocaine and Jamie's blood blood red lipstick, the sex and swimming pool.  I also remember thinking Andrew McCartney looked a bit wishy-washy and the evil James Spader.

And that dress with black stockings and black heels and black jacket Jamie wears during one party scene.  I wanted that dress for the prom.  Even though where I come from, proms are not part of our school culture.

I can't find that dress online so just go watch the film.  It's the quintessential 80s film and should not be missed if your hormones were up and running during those years.

Mr & Mrs Smith...

myumyum.  But I digress.  Here's my review:

Five thumbs up for simply being a good movie to enjoy.  Despite, or maybe, because, it is full of beautiful shots of these two very beautiful human beings...

Throughout the lips, biceps, bullets and Vince Vaughn (always a gem), two thoughts kept on going through my head: 

1. Would I do Brad or Angelina? ...and,

2. Oh Jen Aniston, you poor pet.

Emma.  Was at the Movies.

xx

p.s.  Both.  Alone or together.  I aint' choosy when it comes to Brad and Angelina.

Million Dollar Maggie

In an movie that is awesome.  And I think more for women than for men.  And you want to know why?

Maggie Fitz.

Its how a woman can do a "man's job" really well.  Give us half the chance and we'll make it happen.

Maggie Fitz. 

You DESERVE a "Best Role Award" under your belt.  Well done woman.  And I love the way how the men acted in this movie.  With such grace and sensitivity....just like a woman.  I don't know about winning "Best Picture".  However it must be said that I have not watched all the "Best Picture" nominees.  It just goes to show how good they were last year

To The Academy:  The Best Actor award is moot.  Its becoming to be ALL about the role.  Pick the right "Best Director" and get with the program.  Please.

Emma.  Over.

xx

Come watch a bit of Maggie.

Sideways

A perfect "road trip" movie for a lazy public holiday.

I like.  I like quite a lot.  Paul Giamatti is superbly morose, Paul H Church makes you wish for a buddy like him and Virgie Madsen made me wish I was an actor just so I could deliver the best lines in this movie:

"I started to appreciate the life of wine, that it's a living thing, that it connects you more to life. I like to think about what was going on the year the grapes were growing. I like the think about how the sun was shining that summer and what the weather was like. I think about all those people who tended and picked the grapes. And if it's an old wine, how many of them must be dead by now. I love how wine continues to evolve, how if I open a bottle the wine will taste different than if I had uncorked it on any other day, or at any other moment. A bottle of wine is like life itself - it grows up, evolves and gains complexity. Then it tastes so fucking good."

What a pity Sandra O ran away with the SAG award for Best Ensemble

Go watch it. [*Sneak peeks here]

xx

And The Nominees For the 77th Academy Awards Are!

ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE Don Cheadle - HOTEL RWANDA Johnny Depp - FINDING NEVERLAND Leonardo DiCaprio - THE AVIATOR Clint Eastwood - MILLION DOLLAR BABY Jamie Foxx - RAY ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE Alan Alda - THE AVIATOR Thomas Haden Church - SIDEWAYS Jamie Foxx - COLLATERAL Morgan Freeman - MILLION DOLLAR BABY Clive Owen - CLOSER ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE Annette Bening - BEING JULIA Catalina Sandino Moreno - MARIA FULL OF GRACE Imelda Staunton - VERA DRAKE Hilary Swank - MILLION DOLLAR BABY Kate Winslet - ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE Cate Blanchett - THE AVIATOR Laura Linney - KINSEY Virginia Madsen - SIDEWAYS Sophie Okonedo - HOTEL RWANDA Natalie Portman - CLOSER ANIMATED FEATURE FILM THE INCREDIBLES SHARK TALE SHREK 2 ART DIRECTION THE AVIATOR FINDING NEVERLAND LEMONY SNICKET'S A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA A VERY LONG ENGAGEMENT CINEMATOGRAPHY THE AVIATOR HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA A VERY LONG ENGAGEMENT COSTUME DESIGN THE AVIATOR FINDING NEVERLAND LEMONY SNICKET'S A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS RAY TROY DIRECTING THE AVIATOR MILLION DOLLAR BABY RAY SIDEWAYS VERA DRAKE DOCUMENTARY FEATURE BORN INTO BROTHELS THE STORY OF THE WEEPING CAMEL SUPER SIZE ME TUPAC: RESURRECTION TWIST OF FAITH DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT AUTISM IS A WORLD THE CHILDREN OF LENINGRADSKY HARDWOOD MIGHTY TIMES: THE CHILDREN'S MARCH SISTER ROSE'S PASSION FILM EDITING THE AVIATOR COLLATERAL FINDING NEVERLAND MILLION DOLLAR BABY RAY

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM AS IT IS IN HEAVEN THE CHORUS DOWNFALL THE SEA INSIDE YESTERDAY MAKEUP LEMONY SNICKET'S A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST THE SEA INSIDE MUSIC (SCORE) FINDING NEVERLAND HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN LEMONY SNICKET'S A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST THE VILLAGE MUSIC (SONG) "Accidentally In Love" - SHREK 2 "Al Otro Lado Del Río" - THE MOTORCYCLE DIARIES "Believe" - THE POLAR EXPRESS "Learn To Be Lonely" - THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA "Look To Your Path (Vois Sur Ton Chemin)" - THE CHORUS BEST PICTURE THE AVIATOR FINDING NEVERLAND MILLION DOLLAR BABY RAY SIDEWAYS SHORT FILM (ANIMATED) BIRTHDAY BOY GOPHER BROKE GUARD DOG LORENZO RYAN SHORT FILM (LIVE ACTION) EVERYTHING IN THIS COUNTRY MUST LITTLE TERRORIST 7:35 IN THE MORNING TWO CARS, ONE NIGHT WASP SOUND EDITING THE INCREDIBLES THE POLAR EXPRESS SPIDER-MAN 2 SOUND MIXING THE AVIATOR THE INCREDIBLES THE POLAR EXPRESS RAY SPIDER-MAN 2 VISUAL EFFECTS HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN I, ROBOT SPIDER-MAN 2 WRITING (ADAPTED SCREENPLAY) BEFORE SUNSET FINDING NEVERLAND MILLION DOLLAR BABY THE MOTORCYCLE DIARIES SIDEWAYS WRITING (ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY) THE AVIATOR ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND HOTEL RWANDA THE INCREDIBLES VERA DRAKE

(*thanks to www.oscar.com)

I think I'm gonna gather the troops to have an "Oscar BBQ" come February 27th...

Goodnight folks.

xx

Meet The Fockers

Rarely do I disagree with my sifu, but we enjoyed the Fockers.  Dustin Hoffman is such a physical actor that he outdid ol' Bob Deniro and warm your tootsies in one fell swoop.  Babs fared well as the most popular woman in Florida Keys and you'll see why ;)  The young ones paid due deference to the masters in this sequel.  And the little kid, he's not all that bad.

7 1/2 out of 10, sorry Jo.

xx

P.S.  My best line in the movie? "There's no more time for words Roz."   You had to be there