bijindesu2 Reviews

Cape No. 7 (2008)

mixed identity

[7/10 · 10 November 2008]

I can understand why this movie broke box office record in Taiwan, because it is truly a movie Taiwanese people can fully appreciate. But I doubt others can understand it and enjoy it as much.

As they say in Japan, the "common sense" in Japan is not the common sense in other countries. The characters in this movie seem to be doing things that are not thinkable or allowed in other countries. But in Taiwan, they are completely acceptable. Even though they are just subplots and do not affect the whole story, they may be confusing to non Taiwanese viewers. Especially there is a lose end to a very important part. If you can ignore these non essential parts, then you will enjoy the movie.

After the beginning mess, the movie stays focused. With every passing minute, draws you closer to the characters. In the end, the movie grows on you, after it's finished, you will want to see it again.

If the director gives it some editing, it can be a serious Oscar contender.

300 (2006)

The biggest waste of time of all

[1/10 · 6 April 2007]

I'd give it a minus 10 if I could. This movie is that bad. It just showed different ways of killing and dying. Normally when I see a movie with blood and gore, I'd cover my eyes, but I never took my eyes of the screen even when the killing was really gruesome. Not because it's not scary, but because it's just laughable. I know the film makers made this film based on a comic book, but even with lowered standard, no expectation for historical value, it still sucks big time. It is not as enjoyable as other comic book movies such as Spider Man or Sin City. There was no emotion, I felt nothing for the soldiers. They were just comic characters in a computer game.

I enjoy playing computers war games more than watching this movie. It's just a completely waste of my time and money. I should have stayed home.

Don't go see it.

Apocalypto (2006)

Disturbing and painful to watch

[1/10 · 10 December 2006]

I saw this movie 2/3 of the time with my eyes covered. A good director does not need to show all the gore and blood in order to instill fear in you. Mel tried to make us feel frightened as the main character, but I didn't feel for him at all.

The story line is ridiculously predictable, I feel like being cheated. I spent money expecting to be entertained, not disturbed. There is no higher meaning in this movie except survival. It's like watching "The running man" with endless purposeless bloody chasing.

Mel doesn't have any imagination in directing, he just basically dumped all the disgusting scenes in front of you so you'll feel disturbed. This is not a good movie at all.

I wanted to get out of the theater before it ends. Have never seen such a disgusting movie.

Babel (I) (2006)

Great film! Communication without understanding.

[9/10 · 21 November 2006]

I bet I was one of the few people that actually went to the four countries in this movie. And I speak Japanese, Spanish and understand some Arabic. And I can honestly say, the direct did a very good job in showing the different cultures of the four countries.

This movie is about how people get mistunderstood easily by those around them, because the lack of communications. We thought we knew those around us, but actually we don't. And eventually, the truth comes out and we are surprised. If we pay more attention to those around us, the situation would have been different.

But at the same time, the world is getting flatter than ever, one little incident happened in a small corner of the world, and all of a sudden, the whole knows about it. Some Americans may think that people living in primitive tribes may not know what's going on around the world, but that's dead wrong. Even the Masai people in the center of African wildness know what a GPS is. People are the same all over the world and we are only superficially different. Plug one person to another place, the basic human nature will come out.

This is a movie that will make you take a second look at your families, see what's really important. I really enjoyed it.

Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)

boring

[2/10 · 14 November 2003]

This movie was a complete let down for me. I don't know why critics can honestly call this movie entertaining.

It was not exciting enough to be an entertaining action movie, and not with enough drama to make it a memorable movie. The cinemagraphy could have been better considering the ship's been to one of the most beautiful islands in the world, the music score was not complimenting, and Russell Crowe didn't stretch in terms of acting. He just acted himself. The conversation was loaded with nautical terms and neither intelligent nor humorous. The Matrix dialog had more intelligent and Pirates of the Caribbean dialog was more witty.

It's full of cliche and predictable, some scenes seem stolen from "Pirates of the Caribbean".

I was greatly disappointed, should have gone to see Matrix revolution again. At least it's more exciting.

The Brave (1997)

it lingers

[10/10 · 29 October 2003]

I just saw this movie on DVD. As soon as I finished watching, I felt I had to see it again.

The thought of being killed for money may sound bizarre, but in this movie, it's very realistic.

The movie caught the mindset of a man about to be sacrified very well and you could feel the intensity. It neither condemned nor aprove his decision. But his actions all made sense, so we sympathize but not pity him.

Johnny Depp played the role so well, he was able to convince us that he was just doing his best to help his beloved family.