Rating:

The Pursuit of Happyness official site: http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/thepursuitofhappyness/

Many just kept wondering how come such a big movie with big stars in it have a trailer with spelling mistakes at it’s movie title. For me… it never cross my mind they make any mistake. Looking at the font play… one would be sure it is done in a purpose and the purpose… you gotta really see the movie to actually understand it.

“Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” is one of the famous phase in the United States Declaration of Independence and yes, the movie title is derived from this famous phrase. This movie is made based on a true story of Chris Gardner, a self-made millionaire who struggled with poverty, homelessness while raising his son during the early 80’s.

This movie is a self narrated drama movie. It started of showing how Chris Gardner (Will Smith) and his wife, Linda (Thandie Newton) struggles with their life trying to bring up Christopher (Jaden Smith). Back then, Chris is a struggling salesman who spend most of his days selling portable x-ray scanners. At first Linda and Chris thought this item would be a hit and they would get rich. They ordered the x-ray scanners in big bulks, taking up most of their saving. However this x-ray scanner is seen as unnecessary and expensive as the standard x-ray scanners at hospitals are sufficient enough.

Due to this, Chris struggle almost every single day to sell the machine. Linda on the other hand have to work 3 jobs a day. Pressure adds on when a letter came from the government claiming for tax and the owner is buzzing them for rents. Due to their financial condition, Chris could only afford to send Christopher to a nearby childcare operated by Mrs. Chu (Takayo Fischer) who just let the kids play with toys and watch television.

Chris make numerous complains that Christopher should not be watching tv and that Mrs. Chu should teach Christopher something instead. However he was quickly shut down when Mrs. Chu asked Chris to pay up for the fees he owes her. The best one and most related to the movie comment was when he asked one of the maintenance worker to repaint the wall and highlighted that happiness is not spelt as “happyness”.

Everything was working fine until one day Chris accidently ran in to a Walll Street brooker who informs him all one needs to do his job is be good with people and numbers. From then onwards, Chris is motivated to be one of them. He secretly went for an interview to join their internship programme. He then try to walk up to Jay Twistle (Brian Howe) but he was too busy to entertain him. Chris got Jay’s attention when he shared a taxi with Jay and manage to fix the “qube game”. Then onwards, Jay contacted Chris telling him he was shortlisted out of the 20 people and asked him to go for an interview.

On the other side of the story, Linda just couldn’t take it anymore. She decides to bring Christopher along and leave Chris. However, being a dedicated father, Chris insist that Christopher should stay with him. Just when things seems right, it went all wrong. Chris’ owner asked Chris to shift out immediately as he have to repaint the walls as someone else decides to rent the place. Chris promises to paint the house instead to buy some time. While painting, Chris was busted by the police when he fails to pay his parking tickets. To add to the excitement, he was jailed for the night as the police officers need to ensure the cheque is cleared before they could actually release him.

Upon his release, he ran and attended the interview without even changing or cleaning up the paint on his face. Despite his untidy and messy outlook, he got the offer as he was determined and went all out to get it. His happiness was quickly washed away when he was told that he is not getting paid during the internship. Which means he will have to support himself and his son without any promise of a paying job in the future.

Knowing this is his only best shot, he accepted the offer. He and Christopher then move to a nearby motel with cheap rates. Everyday, he would send Christopher to childcare then head of to work. In his internship, they are all given clients listing and they were required to call as much customers as possible to seal deals and takes a final test. Chris would call up people in the list without stop and doing it quicker than anyone else using his own techniques.

Chris still sells his x-ray scanners as a part time job. Life seems just a little better when he manage to sell a few scanners. Just when he felt at the top of the world, the government just took money from his bank account when he fails to pay the tax. He was pissed and lost when he found out about the issue. What is even worst is when he was thrown out from the motel and is now homeless.

At work, Chris manages to call a big “potential” client. He was however late for ther appointment when his superior insisted that he help him park his car. Chris then manages to find out where the client stay and pretend he is visiting some friends nearby with Christopher. He then strike up a conversation, appologizing for not being punctual on the appointment. His client then invited him to a football match. It was really a great match. However his client told him he is not interested in his products. Chris was a little disappointed as he thought by closing the deal, this would secure him a paying job. However, his client did introduce him to a few other friends which initially did help him.

Out of work, after being thrown out from the motel.. Chris and his son would have to queue up in front of the house for homeless. The numbers they take in are limited and the line is only open at 5pm everyday. Hence, Chris would have to finish work earlier and faster than anyone else to ensure he doesn’t lose out.

There were a few times when he and Christopher could not get a place and they would have to stay at thei railway station. It was really pitiful. things turn a little brighter when Chris manages to fix one of his “lost and foung” x-ray scanner. With the money, he then rented a good room and stayed the night with Christopher.

The result of the internship is soon to be reviewed. Chris was being called to the office and was told that he succesfully secure a job as he did really well during his internship. Chris was in tears when he heard the news. He was really relieved as it really takes him a great effort and courage to come this far.

Yes, it’s a nothing much to tell tale. A true story of how someone struggle to get to the top. The plots are almost as similar to every other true story of how some millionaire struggle for success. We have probably seen it so many times. But what differ this movie from the rest is the emotional and bonding factor.

I somewhat think casting Jaden Smith (Will Smith’s actual son) to take up the role as Chris Garner’s toddler son was a great move. The father and son bond is just so natural on screen. It really moves people and bring out a lot of family ties. Not to even mention their act was so so so good. I really think Will Smith deserves his nominations and awards for his role.

Right, this is a movie with lots of talking which means lots of listening. The narrator practically tells a lot of things which was not shown to cover back everything that was not visually seen. I must say the colour of movie wasn’t really appealing to me but… thinking how it was set in the 1980s… okay.. I forgive them.

It was basically a great movie… probably a little boring for some… well, see it if you really need some boost to be motivated in striving for success in life.

Rating:

Sympathy for Lady Vengeance official site: http://www.geum-ja.co.kr/

Ah… I finally can sit back, take a deep breath and relax a little at home watching this show. Knowing this is the third installment to Park Chan Wook’s revenge trilogy. I am still in search for his first installment “Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance”. If someone practically have it, I hope you can tell me where to get it :). I watch Park’s second movie titled “Oldboy” and wow… trust me, it’s a MUST WATCH as it is a totally different type of plot and even storyline.

Knowing this movie is the third one of the trilogy (the movies are not connected with one another in any character or story development. They just share the same theme. The 3 movies focuses and resolves around the word revenge) I know I just have to watch it. What is even more encouraging, my friend highly recommend it.

Starting of the movie with a stunning opening title, I know nothing in the movie can go any wrong. It reminded me a lot of Nip Tuck’s opening except the fact that this was a little better. A little more mysterious yet elegant. No kidding… even if you have no interest in watching the movie.. just spare some time looking at it’s opening title.

Sympathy for Lady Vengeance started of focusing on it’s lead character, Lee Geum Ja (Lee Young Ae of Jewel in the Palace). The 23 year old Geum Ja was released after 13 years of imprisionment. Upon released, she was greeted by a Christian minister presenting her with a white tofu cake to symbolize a new beginning and purity. However, Geum Ja just push the cake from the minister’s hand, insults him and walked off putting on her trendy sunglasses.

The show then flashback on what happened 13 years ago. Geum Ja is a problematic student. Everything went worst when she found herself pregnant and no where to go. She then appears at the door of his teacher, Mr Baek (Choi Min Sik). Mr. Baek appears to be a kind man giving Geum Ja a place to say and food.

Later, Geum Ja was caught and prisioned for kidnapping and killing a 7 year old boy, Won Mo. The detective of the case kept forcing Geum Ja to give the details of how he killed the little boy. At one point, Geum Ja was brought back to the scene to recreate the scene of how she killed the boy. As it turns out, Mr. Baek is the one that should be arrested instead of Geum Ja. However, Mr. Baek threatens to kill Geum Ja’s newborn daughter if she refuses to take the blame. Her case got the biggest media coverage at that point of time as many was shocked looking at her beautiful and innocent appearance.

When in prison, she is devote herself to Christianity and is being labeled as “Geum Ja the Kind Hearted”. Having and saintly and angelic face, Geum Ja befriends with her fellow cell mates. She donates kidney to one of her cell mates. She even take care of a Northern Korean spy who trust no one. In return of their friendship, the spy passes a book to Geum Ja containing a blueprint of a handgun. Besides that, she even helped kill a prison bully by feeding her bleach everyday. The prison bully even praised Geum Ja for being kind before knocking out which practically show how she hides her cruelty and revenge behind her saintly and angelic face.

The movie then brings us back to the moment where Geum Ja was released. With the help of her fellow cell mates, Geum Ja decides to put her 13 years of revenge plan to action. She visited them all trying and gaining help from them which includes building the handgun from the blueprint Geum Ja receive from the Northern Korean spy. Besides that, her other fellow mates gives her a place to stay, cloths and even a job at the bakery since Geum Ja is very talented in baking cakes.

One could really see her transition from being an angelic and pure person to a girl with a bright blue jacket and blood red eye shadow look. While putting her plans to action, Geum Ja visited the Won Mo’s parents. She chop of her last finger as an act of asking for forgiveness from them. They send her to the hospital in which she uses all her savings to sew her fingers back again.

Besides asking for forgiveness from the victim’s family, she also tries to look for her daughter. She is curious what would have happened to her daughter as she have not seen her before. Geum Ja then breaks in to a building trying to locate and gather details of her daughter. From the records, she finally get to know her daughter is named Jenny (Kwon Yae Young) and is currently staying with her foster family in Australia. Knowing that they do not speak korean, Geum Ja memorizes a few lines in English and the family. She even write down a letter to describe her presence.

The family is of course happy to see Geum Ja, however Jenny was a little upset as she didn’t understand why Geum Ja left her behind. Jenny did mention that Geum Ja would have to say sorry to her at least 4 times in order for her to forgive her. That night, Geum Ja decides to sleep with Jenny. Jenny then asked Geum Ja how to call “mum” in Korean whereby Geum Ja just replied “Miss Geum Ja”. The next morning, as Geum Ja was about to leave for Korea, Jenny decides to follow. However Geum Ja refuse to but quickly agreed when Jenny threatens to slit her throat.

When they return to Korea, Geum Ja plans to kidnap Mr. Baek with the help of his wife who went to prison together with Geum Ja. Mr. Baek’s wife actually drugged his dinner. Getting information from the minister, Mr. Baek attacks his wife first, beating and ties her to the chair after knowing she have been secretly meeting and talking to Geum Ja. While looking at his wife across the dining table, Mr. Baek fell unconcious after eating the drugged dinner.

On the other side, Mr. Baek hired some man to kill Geum Ja and her daugther as they were walking on a quiet street. The guys try to use chloroform on Jenny and Geum Ja. Jenny was unconcious, but Geum Ja manage to escape and shot the two guy with her handgun. Upon surviving the attack, Geum Ja heads to Mr. Baek’s house to find him unconcious and ties him to a chair and transports him to an abandoned school outside the city.

Mr. Baek starts to tremble when he saw Geum Ja looking at him. She then starts to strangle Mr. Baek like how she re-enacted suffocating Won Mo in her confession. At that point of time, Mr. Baek’s mobile phone rings. Geum Ja took his phone only to notice a few child toys were found decorating the phone, including Won Mo’s favourite marble. Geum Ja then notice by taking the blame for Mr. Baek has caused a few more children to fall victim to him. Being very angry, she shot his feet.

Geum Ja and Mr. Baek’s wife then look around the house for other evidence. They finally found some video tapes being taped under his table. The content of the tapes made Geum Ja even more determined to kill him. The tapes contain evidence of how Mr. Baek torture and kill the childrens. The detective that arrested Geum Ja finally know the truth and helped her find the other victim’s parents.

The victim’s parents then gather together at the school and watched the tapes. After watching the tapes, the angry parents then start discussing on what to do to Mr. Baek. Geum Ja suggested beast like Mr. Baek should be tortured till death which to surprise, all the parents agreed to her idea. They then figured and think of how they should proceed with the idea. They all ended up wearing raincot and taking weapons like hammer, knifes and everything they could find and lined up. Each have a chance to go to the next room to have a piece of Mr. Baek. The last parent eventually killed Mr. Baek with a pair of scissors that belonged to his grandson whom was killed by Mr. Baek.

Each of the parents picture was then taken to ensure that none of them can betray the others and surrender themselves. They then burried the corpse outside with Geum Ja shooting Mr. Baek’s body. Before covering the corpse, she threw the handgun in and burried him.

After a busy day, Geum Ja invited the parents to the bakery shop where she work. She serves a cake to the parents. They all sang a birthday song and then eat the cake. When everyone is silently eating, one of the parents suddenly said that it is a sign that some angel has passed by. Then then finished the cake and goes separate ways.

Geum Ja then carries a cake and walk home. Jenny then runs toward her barefooted and hug her tightly. Geum Ja then open the box and revealed a white box cake… similar to the one the minister presented to her on the day she was released from prison. Geum Ja then tells Jenny to “live white”. Jenny then tasted the cake and tries to give Geum Ja a taste. However she just stay stun. Jenny then told Geum Ja that she should live even more purely. Jenny then dances around and tries to catch a snow with her tongue symbolic of the receiving of the consecrated bread in the Christian society. Geum Ja then starts crying. Instead of catching a snowflake she drops her face to the cake with the narrator saying “Farewell…” and Jenny hugging Geum Ja from behind calling her “Miss Geum Ja”.

I really love the cinematography was shot. This is totally different from the previous intallment in terms of plot and story wise even it resolves around the same revenge theme. Oldboy pretty much tell about the act and consequences while Sympathy for Lady Vengeance pretty much talks about the process and the after thought of revenge. Which practically completes the revenge theme in a whole.

The film was shot beautifully. The colour play the director used to express the different stages and changes was simply amazing… from a pure and angelic girl wearing white to her wearing a striking blue jacket with blood red eye shadow and a toned down to black leather jacket towards the end. Wow… I somewhat think without much narration itself, the colours and the cinematography itself explains everything in a subtle way.

Although it is not as good as Oldboy, I somewhat think Park is still the man. His ideas and concept for his movies are remarkable and undeniably talented. Times like this, I somehow just wish more directors could come out with more movies like this. Yes… with Sympathy for Lady Vengeance, it totally secured Park as one of my favourite Asian director.

Rating:

300 official site: http://www.300themovie.com/

The trailer was released months and months ago. I was attracted. The monotone coloured movie has struck my attention. I remember the last time I saw a movie similar like this was Sin City and Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow. I need not say how much I love them as I somehow felt the colours and treatment was perfect.

I manage to watch it a day after the opening day. When asked what I think of the movie, I can’t help but give it a two thumbs up and said “It’s like Gladiator + Sin City”. Which if you like both, I think you would agree with me it’s a great show and a not to be missed movie.

300 is an adaptation from Frank Miller’s (creator of Sin City) graphical novel with the same title. The movie and novel was inspired and loosely based on a famous historical event, “Battle of Thermopylae”. It is claimed to be 90% accurate to the true events by some critics. This remarks has somewhat make me feel more eager to watch the show. Don’t ask me why but I really love movies done based on true historical events.

300 is a narrated movie by a Spartan soldier, Dilios (David Wenham) about how King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) and his 300 men fight against the Persian King, Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro). 300 starts of by introducing Sparta as a military state in Greece where military fitness practically begins at birth. Shortly after birth, the baby was tested. The baby is then brought to the elders by the baby’s father. If the baby is found weak or defective, the baby will be left to die at the slope of Mount Taygetos.

As a little boy, they were trained to be a Spartan soldier. They were brought up to fight and never retreat. Having a shield of their own is basically a dream or a goal which they all are looking forward to achieve. After going through hardship of training, the boys are sent to the countryside with nothing and forced to survive with only their skills. Young Leonidas survived the test when he manage to trap a wolf like animal and killed it.

The movie then focused on Leonidas when he is an adult. Leonidas is now the King of Sparta. The excitement of the movie soon begins when a Persian messenger (Peter Mensah) arrives at Sparta with message from the Persian King Xerxes. Xerxes send his messengers offering blandishments if Sparta would submit to Persia, and asking for “earth and water” from Sparta as a token of their submission. The messenger was kicked down a well by Leonidas when the messenger asked them to give in to Persian, insulted Leonidas’ wife Gorgo (Lena Headey) and threaten Sparta by bringing head of Kings from other cities that refuses to submit to Persia.

Being a selfish politician who cares nothing but his own interest, Theron (Dominic West) is totally against Leonidas as he was bribed by the Persians. Before going to war with the Persians, Leonidas went to visit the Ephors to ask for permission while explaining his plans and offering gold as it is one of the Sparta’s law and even the King is not above the law. Only the most beautiful girls from Sparta is selected to be the Oracle which partly the reason is to comunicate message from god to the King and to quench the sex thirst of the ugly Ephors. The Ephors which was bribed by Xerxes interpreted the Oracle’s (Kelly Craig) message whereby it forbids Sparta to go on a war against Persia as to not interfear with the Carneian Festival.

As the King of the military state and as a Spartan King, Leonidas can never break the rules and abandon the law. Gorgo then advice Leonidas to think as a free man and what a free man would do instead of putting himself in the King’s position. Enlighted by his wife’s advice, Leonidas gather 300 of his best soldiers (knowing to a certain extend that he is going through a certain death and his forces is not enough for a victory, Leonidas only selected men who have sired sons who are old enough to take over the family’s responsiblity).

When Theron and the other elders were trying to stop Leonidas from going to the war stating that he could not disobey the Oracle, Leonidas said he was simply going for a walk and the 300 men is his personal bodyguard. With that, Leonidas and his 300 men sets of to the Hot Gates (Thermopylae). Before Leonidas leave, Gorgo asked Leonidas to return with his shield in glory. For many, this line probably would bring the meaning of Gorgo giving blessing to Leonidas. However, based on true Spartan customs, if a soldier were to return to Sparta alive without his shield, it is assumed that they threw the heavy shield to run away from enemy and that retreat act is punishable by death or banishment.

As Leonidas and his men starts to march to the Hot Gates, they met up with a group or Arcadians. The leader of the Arcadians was shocked and think that the Spartans was not serious enough to protect thair own city. The Arcadians make remarks that they brought more men to war compared to the Spartans. Leonidas then step up and asked some of the Arcadian mens their occupation. It manage to put some laughter to many people when some answer they were blacksmith, potter, sculptor and even a baker. Leonidas then turn around and ask his men what are their occupation. They together tell the Arcadians their occupation is a soldier. Leonidas then laugh and told the Arcadians that he actually brought more soldiers than they do although the number of people was way less.

Upon arriving at the Hot Gates, it started to rain and Leonidas manage to see many of the Persian ship sank due to the bad weather. Thinking not much Persian army left to fight after the bad weather, the Spartan soldiers was in shock when they saw the amount of camps and army at the shore. Leonidas then ordered his men to build a fort out of dead Persian soldiers. The Persian messenger sent by Xerxes asking Leonidas to give in was furious when he saw the fort. His cocky statements triggered Stelios (Michael Fassbender) to chop of his hand.

While the others were busy preparing for the battle, a hunchback Spartan, Ephialtes (Andrew Tiernan) who secretly followed Leonidas step up and tries to offer his valuable help to the Spartans. Ephialtes is actually a Spartan whose parents has fled to save him from being left to die at the mountain. He warned Leonidas about the secret goat path that the Persians could use to surround them. Ephialtes request to join the army to redeem his father’s name in the battle but was quickly turned down by Leonidas when he fails to lift up the shield. Leonidas then explain to Ephialtes the shield not only protected the individual soldier but in the tightly packed Spartan Phalanx was also instrumental in protecting the soldier to his left from harm.

The battle soon begins. Using the Phalanx formation, the Spartans gain an easy win against the Persians. Felt angry, Xerxes sents his elite Imperial Guards, the Immortal to the fight the Spartans. Stepping right in to the trap, the Spartans and this time the Arcadian swept out the Immortals. The Spartans even manage to hold on to their position with minimal lost against weird and big animals that they probably haven’t seen in their lives. The Spartans manage to kill the giagantic rhino andthe big and clumsy elephants and force some Persian army down the cliff.

Xerxes was angry with his constant defeats. However, he was impressed with Leonidas and approach Leonidas personally asking him to surrender, promising Leonidas and Sparta wealth and power whereby Leonidas would kneel to no one but only to Xerxes, the self-proclaim God King. Leonidas declined Xerxes’ request and promise to make the God King bleed.

The angry Xerxes then lures Ephialtes with beautiful woman to spill out secrets on how to defeat Leonidas. Felt secured and wanted, Ephialtes told Xerxes about the secret goat path in exchange for a powerful position in the Persian empire (which includes a nice uniform).

At one fight, Astinos’ (Tom Wisdom) head was beind chopped off. Father or Astinos, Captain Artemis (Vincent Regan) went crazy and out of formation. Sadden by his son’s death and the news that Ephialtes betrayed them, the Spartans swore that they will fight till the end. The Arcadians decides to retreat. All Spartans are ready to fight the Persians, however Leonidas sends Dilios back to Sparta and use his gifts to tell the story of the brave 300 men to the Spartan people, ensuring that they be remembered.

Back in Sparta, Queen Gorgo is doing everything she could to save her husband. Following her trusted council man’s advice, she tries to get Theron to support her at the council meeting since Theron is a respected and honorable politician. Theron agrees to help Gorgo only if she agrees to sleep with him. Feeling helpless and knowing Theron is the only person who could her her persuade the council to send reinforcements to Leonidas, she have no choice but to agree to Theron’s wants.

When Queen Gorgo appear in front of the council, she pleaded them to send reinforcements to help Leonidas. Theron not only did not help her, instead he accused her for adultry and seducing him. The angry and felt betrayed Gorgo grab a sword from a nearby soldier and stab Theron. When Theron fall down to the ground, Persian gold coins fall from Theron’s money bag as well.

At the Hot Gates, Leonidas and his men was surrounded by the Persian soldiers. Xerxes’ men asked Leonidas to surrender whereby he could still keep his title as king and become the warlord of Greece, answering only to the God King, Xerxes. Ephialtes even joins in and tries to persuade Leonidas to surrender. Leonidas threw away his shield, sword and kneel down. Just when all the Persian soldiers think Leonidas is about to surrender, Leonidas throws his spear at Xerxes and cut his cheek which delivers his promise to make the God King bleed. Xerxes then signals for his men to war.

The sky is seen to be covered with arrows whereby the remaining Spartan soldier was killed and Leonidas dying. It was then shown where Dilios return to Sparta and tells the tale of what happened to Leonidas and 300 men. The movie then ended with Dilios concluded how the Persians army have such difficulties defeating 300 Spartans must now be terrified to face thousands of Spartan army. Dilios then signals the beginning of a new war, Battle of Plataea.

Like I say, I totally love the colour correction and monotone feel despite how many think it was flat and unappealing. I somewhat felt it gives the movie a greater depth. Not to mention the colours really manage to cover everything else and make you focus on the story and character itself.

The post production team really did a great job. And if there is one thing i would complain, that would be the bloods splashing out like nobody’s business yet the men are dead clean. Without a single blood sticking to their body, face, armour or sword.

Yes, I somewhat think their choice for casting is appropriate. Someone known yet not too famous that steals the limelight of the movie. This makes one focus more on the character in the movie itself instead of comparing it to real life personalities itself.

Overall, I think it is one of the best movie I have seen so far this year. LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT.