Movie Title: The Number 23
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (8/10)
Year: 2007
The Number 23 official site: http://www.number23movie.com/

So… Jim Carrey is back and this time a dead serious show. Something very much different than Fun with Dick and Jane. It has been quite some time since Jim Carrey has actually pick to act at some serious shows. And when he does pick to act in one, he excels at doing it. I personally think he did well in the Truman Show, even better in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

As much as how every one like his dumber and funnier side, I look at him in a total opposite direction. I think he was too annoying in comedies as I find him, most of the time over react and I don’t get it, I just felt like slapping him at his face each time I see his look.

I never did know or hear much about this movie. I think it wasn’t really promoted over here. I never did see any trailer showed before movies nor heard anyone talked about it beforehand. Well, like I always say, great movies always have it ways.

Before anything, I must really say… they have a SUPERB opening. I love how they do such stunning yet themed opening. It’s beautiful… it’s numbered, pure black, red and white which they manage to explain in the movie later on… not to mention the typewriter typeface. Wow… it was superb. The opening title montage itself scored a 4 points from me already.

Spoiler begins here.
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The movie started with a flashback to Walter Sparrow’s (Jim Carrey) life few days back. Walter is an animal control officer. Most of this time was spent sitting in the truck, waiting for calls to catch stray and dangerous animals. That very day was his birthday. Thinking he could get out of work in time as he receive no call, his fellow reception called him 1 minute before he gets of from work to catch a dog.
He sensed something funny with the dog and started preparing himself to capture the dog. In the process, he even tell story to the dog. When he successfully capture the dog, he tries to flip his dog tag to know who this dog belongs to. As he approaches to touch the dog tag, the dog attacked him and manage to escape. Walter then chase after the dog until he reaches to a nearby cemetery. The dog is seen sitting nearby a grave with the name Laura Tollins’ (Rhona Mitra) carved on it. Walter then took out his gun and wanted to put the dog to rest. As he gets ready to aim, the dog disappeared. Feeling shocked and strange, Walter left the place to pick up his wife Agatha Pink (Virginia Madsen).

Agatha owns a cake shop. On that day, she and Walter plans to celebrate birthday at Agatha’s friends house. Walter is suppose to pick her up, whereby he came late due to work. While waiting for Walter, Agatha walked in to the bookstore next door and started looking at books. One red book caught the attention of Agatha. She flip a few pages and started to read while waiting. When Walter arrive, Agatha decided that she would buy the book for Walter to read.

They then headed to Agatha’s friend, Dr. Isaac French (Danny Huston) home. Agatha is busy talking and catching with her friend. Feeling a little bored, Walter took out the book Agatha bought and started to read.

The book talks about how this young little boy wanted to be a detective will only be known as Fingerling (Jim Carrey) in the book. At young, Fingerling witness a death of a neighbour. Fingerling loves to read detective comics and believe that his neighbour didn’t commit suicide, instead.. she was murdered. As Walter continues to read, he felt he have many similarities with Fingerling.

In the book, as Fingerling grew up, he successfully became a detective. He was a famous detective and he manages to get the attention of Fabrizia (Virginia Madsen). Fabrizia is a hot and sexy woman whom is so sexually addicted to Fingerling. She is often seen in scenes teasing and seducing Fingerling.

One day, Fingerling accept this case whereby he would have to calm a girl who is in the midst of committing suicide. He tries to stop her from doing so.. only to know he couldn’t help her out. The girl was know as “Suicide Blonde” (Lynn Collins). As Suicide Blonde was talking to Fingerling, she tore the white paper covering all the four walls and reveals lots of scribbles. It seems that Suicide Blonde was cursed with the number 23. Her father commits suicide too as a result from the obsession of 23. His father thought they could end everything when he died.

However, after listening to the Suicide Blonde, she notices she was cursed as well. She then explains and show calculations on how everything about her is related to 23. From birthdate to favourite colour and names. Fingerling was speechless and think of this as only her obsession. He then walk out from the apartment thinking he successfully stop her from committing suicide. He was shocked when he saw the Suicide Blonde fall and died right in front of her.

Ever since the Suicide Blonde’s death, Fingerling starts to be obsessed with the number 23. He started his calculation only to notice that the number 23 curse has spread to him. He started doing massive calculation which scared and disturbs Fabrizia.

Back in reality, Walter too was obsessed with the calculations. He started calculating every which ironically tally to the number 23. He told his wife and his son about this. However Agatha thinks that Walter was simply too in to the book. His son, Robin (Logan Lerman) initially didn’t believe him. As he do more calculations, it started to convince him a little.

Agatha then asked Walter to visit Isaac for some help. When he arrive, he did asked and discuss the 23 theory with him. Isaac told Walter that there isn’t any scientific proves but many of what we know today is somehow related to the number. Walter then takes the book back to the bookstore to try locate the author. There, Walter found out that the book was written by someone known as Topsy Kretts and that this is a self published book and that the author did not produce any book before or after the Number 23 book.

According to the book, Fingerling was obsessed with the calculations which make him neglect lots of his work. As a result, he was suspended from work. Fabrizia soon lost interest with Fingerling as he no longer is a detective and started to see other men.

Back in real life, after reading the book, Walter suspects Agatha and Isaac was getting together behind him. He started to get suspicious and his weird behaviour comes to and extreme when he dreamt of himself killing Agatha. The dream was so real that he got scared and decided to stay out for the night. He left a message on the table telling Agatha that he needs to clear his mind and will be staying out for the night.

In the middle of the night, Walter stop by at King Edward’s Hotel and decided to just bunk there for the night. Thinking he was cursed, he was surprised that the owner didn’t offer him room number 23. Instead, they arrange him to stay in room number 25. Walter then asked the owner if he could have room number 23. The owner then told him that the room have some plumbing issues and could not be rented out for the night. Little does Walter know, people around him was looking at him weirdly when he make the request.

Walter continues to read the book only to end at Chapter 22 whereby Fabrizia was murdered by Fingerling when she decided to walk out of his life and be with his superior. After murdering Fabrizia, Fingerling is standing in front of a balcony hesitating if he should commit suicide to end the number 23 curse.

Just as Walter looks out the window, He saw the dog and tries to catch it again this time. Walter then followed the dog back to the cemetery. He then shot the dog and it rested to sleep. He then walk near it to see the tag which spelled NED. The cemetery care taker then asked what Walter is trying to do when he later explain. The care taker then explained that NED is watcher for this cemetery.

Next to Ned, Walter notice the grave of Laura Tollins where she died on her 23rd birthday. The care taker then tells more about how Laura was killed by his professor, similar to how Fabrizia was killed. He also mentioned that no one actually found the body of Laura.

Walter then comes to a conclusion that the book was a confession to a murder and it was written by the professor. Walter then went to visit the professor in the jail trying to find out what actually happen. He denied the fact that he killed Laura and told Walter that he actually loved her. Walter then ask him if he wrote the book. He denied it too stating if he would have published a book, he would never use names like Topsy Kretts (Top Secret). Walter then left the place feeling lost as he is out of clue to find out who is the actual Topsy Kretts.

While driving Agatha and Robin back, Robin mentioned that he knows where to find Topsy Kretts. While reading through the book, he found a secret page whereby a mailing address was listed in it. Trying to lure the author to reveal him/her self, they send 23 box filled with sponge to the mailbox. They then hide across the street to see who appear and receive the package. Noticing someone was there to receive the package, Walter walk in and confronted the guy. When he saw Walter, he panicked and stated that Walter should be dead and he would have to end all this and slit his own throat.

Agatha then ask Walter to leave the man and drive Robin home while shouting to the owner of the place to call the ambulance. As Walter left, Agatha tries to put his head near to the guy and listens to what he has to say. Agatha also found an I.D card from the man’s pocket indicating that he was Dr. Sirius Larey working in a mental institute. He told Agatha that she must go to the place and burn it down as it is where all evil begins.

Agatha never mention anything to Walter and went to the abandoned and found Dr. Sirius’ old office. There, she saw a small room filled with scribbles and calculations as well. Inside that room, she saw a box and Walter’s name was on the label.

Back at home, Walter and Robin kept looking through the book to find more clues. While they were reading through, they found out that every 23rd word on every 23rd page spells out a message. The message asked them to go to Casanova Park and dig under the steps of heaven. Robin thought Casanova Park was a person’s name but Walter quickly corrects him and brought Robin along to a nearby park named Casanova Park.

When arrive, they saw “The Steps of Heaven” whereby it has 23 steps. At the 23rd steps, they started digging and found a skull believed to be the remaining of Laura Torllins. They went to call the police from a nearby phone booth. When they return with the police, the skull was gone. The police was furious as they thought Walter and Robin was playing prank calls. Agatha then arrives to the scene with Dr. Isaac. This has made things more uneasy for Walter as he believes Agatha and Dr. Isaac have a secret love relationship.

Agatha then follow Walter and Robin home. On they way back, Walter saw Ned and tries to run over it as he believe he is the cause of everything. If it was not for him, he wouldn’t be late and Agatha would not have seen the book. Walter finally stops when Agatha hold him tight and ask him not to do it.

Once they arrive, Agatha rush in to wash her hands. Water notice the dirt in the hand and suspected that Agatha was the writer of the book and tries to save herself by removing the skull. He then search her bag to notice how she brings a knife along with her all the time. Robin rush in and was shocked to see how Walter was pointing the knife towards Agatha claiming her as a murderer.

Agatha have no choice but to tell out the truth that Walter is actually the killer and that he wrote the book. Much to his own disbelief, Agatha brought Walter to the institute and showed him the box containing the original manuscript with Walter’s name on it. Besides that, there were many detective comics, a saxophone and many other things.

Everything soon became clear and Walter rush out and went to the King Edward’s Hotel. He then make his way to room number 23 and tore down the wallpaper. Behind the wallpaper was the chapter 23, a continuation of the book. Walter was not brave enough to confess his mistakes in the book worrying he might be caught. Hence, he wrote it on the wall back then.

On the wall, it explains everything. What happen actually was true. When young, Walter’s father commit suicide when his mother died. Walter’s father left some suicide notes which doesn’t mean anything accept some numbers that adds up to 23. As Walter grew up and went to college, he gets to know Laura Torllins and fell in love with her. They both have an intimate relationship. Back then, Walter is already obsessed with the number 23.

Not long after that, Walter notices that Laura is not being faithful and is sleeping around with her professor. When Walter confronted Laura, she claimed that she never loved him and he was weird. Angry with what she said, Walter kills Laura. The professor was mistaken for the murder when he accidently holds the knife in the murder scene. Walter then buried Laura. He then heads to King Edward’s Hotel and started to write his confession.

After finishing his confession, he jump down the balcony trying to commit suicide. However he survived but lost his memory. He was then transferred to the mental institute where he undergo some intense therapy whereby Dr. Sirius is working. Dr. Sirius reads the manuscript that Walter wrote and decides to publish it under the name of Topsy Kretts. Little does he know, he himself was obsessed with the number 23 after reading the book.

When Walter finally recovered from his trauma, he was released from the institute where he first bump in to Agatha. Later, Walter tries to commit suicide once again after knowing the truth but fails to do so when Robin calls for him. He now knows that he have family of his own and death is not the way out.

He then turns himself in, therefore freeing the professor. Even when in jail, Walter is optimistic about his future with Agatha and Robin. The scene then zoom in to the clock showing 2.15 (literally 2 and 3 when see on a clock).

At the end of the movie, there was a quote from the bible which goes like “Be sure your sins will find you” 32:23.

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Spoiler ends here.

I really think it was a good movie. Something different from what every other movie have. Yes, I think it was pretty neat and new in terms of concept wise. I must say Jim Carrey gave a powerful performance. But little do I know why most critiques think it was bad and scored it way less than any stupid act Jim Carrey did. Then again, probably they were expecting some stupid and dumb show. To be honest, I think the critique’s review didn’t do this movie justice. I am serious… most of the readers review think it was good which includes me but.. wow… no one could actually imagine how it was badly rated by the critiques.

The movie was shot beautifully. It was colourful. The colour correction and treatment was perfect. Not to mention the directing and angles was just great. If there was a thing I could pick on, I would say the ending fails me. I personally think the ending reveals too much and would be better at the point where he went back to the abandoned institute to finds out the truth.

Yes, I know… I always hates movie that gives out too much. For me, I like subtle hints which makes you a little curious and left you think a little would be just nice. Nothing too much… nothing too little.

I would seriously recommend this show if you are looking for something different, something weird and if you love to see the serious side of Jim Carrey. Yes, welcome to the dark side.

Movie Title: Wild Hogs
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/10)
Year: 2007
Wild Hogs official site: http://wildhogs.movies.go.com/

Vroom vroom… let’s heat it up. Get ready and conquer the road. Of course that’s what for mid age guys with serious mid-life crisis think. Biking is one of the best things in life for them. Time to lay back, relax and enjoy life a little.

I can’t really imagine John Travolta in a comedy since almost 70% of the time I see him take up serious characters. So yes, this is what I am really looking forward to. Then again, with Martin Lawrence and Tim Allen… how bad could things be?

Really, what can really go wrong? For middle age guy on a road trip. Sounds seriously harmless and fun. But mama says.. never judge a book by it’s cover, so let’s see.

Spoiler begins here.
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Wild Hogs is a comedy which tell tales of 4 friends in their middle age suffering from their mid-life crisis. The only thing that keeps them alive is practically riding around with their Harley Davidson. The movie started of with a brief introduction of the four friends.

Woody Stevens (John Travolta) is a successful and rich businessman. Money is never an issue. His life is perfect and everyone is envy of him. No kidding.. having a supermodel as wife, loads of money. One word.. WOW! Everything ended soon when his supermodel wife file for a divorce and he noticed that he is down to bankruptcy.

Doug Madsen (Tim Allen) is a successful dentist. He practically never took leave from work ever since he was married. He have a great wife and son however his problem is he could not connect to his son. He tries hard bond with his son but at no vail. His health problem makes things worst when he will have to cut down on carbs and fatty food. One can really see how sad it is when he is eating only greens while his son is chewing down bacon, mash with lots of sauce and surely loads of meat. The point is, he misses his college days glory and the mad stuff he did back then which earn him the nick “The Golden Knight”.

Bobby Davis (Martin Lawrence) is a plumber that took a years off from work to complete his book. While he took a year off, his wife took over the control and bring back money to support the family. Hence, everyone in the family respects his wife more than they do to bobby. This includes his children and even his mother-in-law. He is often bossed around by his wife which makes most of his friends make fun of him.

Dudley Frank (William H. Macy) is a geeky computer programmer. He is constantly in search for his other half. At the earlier scenes where Dudley was in a café, he tries to impress a girl who seat nearby him in a café. He tries his newest invention to voice command his computer. Which of course didn’t really work well when the computer detects different words. Of course he ended up scaring the girl and everyone in the café and killing of his own laptop. Among the 4 of them, he is the worst biker and constant hit on something.

The only thing that holds this 4 guys together is biking every weekend. They each even have a leather jacket with their gang name “Wild Hogs” stitched to the back of it. One day, while stopping by at their regular joint, Woody suggested that they should do something fun instead of just looking forward to the bike parade. He suggested to the guys that they should do a road trip to seek for some fun and adventure.

Doug initially refuse to join as he is worried about his job. Matters didn’t help when his son refuse to play basketball with him, instead his son decides to play basketball with his friend’s father. Later during dinner, when his wife and son joke about him being middle age, he shows his temper and eat up stuffs that he is normally banned from which ended him in hospital. There, doctor advice him to take some day off. Which leads to him joining the road trip.

Dudley agrees to join if they would stop at places with Wi-Fi. Bobby is pretty much afraid of his wife hence he lied to his wife that he would be attending some toilet bowl seminar. The boys is then ready to set out for their road trip. Before leaving, The boys throw their phones away as they wanted a quiet trip without disturbance. Dudley is the last to throw his phone which ended up breaking a truck’s mirror. They would have to leave at once before the truck catches them and that mark the starting of their road trip.

There were loads of funny moments. After a whole day of biking, they found a place to camp over. The other boys share a camp while Bobby was busy blowing his bed. While chatting, Woody burns a marshmallow and tries to throw it away. Unfortunately, the marshmallow landed on their camp and their camp was on fire. Dudley tries to help set of the fire, however he took the wrong bottle. Instead of pouring water to put of the fire, he poured oil which instantly burn down the camp.

Dudley on the other hand refuses to pee and unload behind the trees. Instead he pack it all up in a plastic bag which disgust the other 3 guys. After being tired, they all crash on to Bobby’s bed. The next morning, they were spotted sleeping closely to each other with minimal clothing on by a local policeman (John C. McGinley). Bobby was sleeping on the land, which practically piss him off a little since he was busy blowing it up and yet he was pushed down to the land.

The policeman told the guys that their behaviour was unacceptable and not right. It turns out that the policeman is a gay and was just teasing them out of jealousy. The adventure continue as the ride on. In the process, they have loads of insects splatting at them worst when one of them have a big bird hit on them. They then found this little waterfall. They guys decided for a little swim.

Things was fine until Dudley jumps in and join them naked. Each and everyone was dared and soon all of them was naked. Out of a sudden, a family stop by for a picnic and decides to go for a little swimming. They dive in without warning and this make the guys uncomfortable. Trying hard to ask the family to swim the other side, they came out with various stories. They family found out that they were skinny dipping and ask leave the place.

The guys was relief when they saw the family left. However, they were shocked to see the policemen they they bump into before that jump in to the water naked. Feeling uncomfortable, they guys left while the policeman tries to play a little hide and seek in the water.

They then continue their journey and stop at a small biker bar where they stumble upon the Del Fuegos ( a motorcycle gang). The Del Fuegos’s leader Jack (Ray Liotta) was not happy with the 4 guys showing up thinking they were pretending to be real bikers. Jack was trying to scare the 4 guys away. However, he ended up tricking Dudley to trade his bike with a scrap metal. Being out numbered, they can’t do anything but leave the place without Dudley’s bike. The Del Fuegos then humiliate the Wild hogs saying they are nothing compared to the real bikers such as Damien Blade (Peter Fonda), the biker who establish the bar.

On the way back, Woody stop at the side of the road angry with himself as the other guys wants to go back and call this road trip off. Woody wanted the guys to continue to travel and told the guys he will be going back to take Dudley’s bike. Woody got back to the bar with courage and snap the fuel lines of all Del Fuegos’ gang member bike before leaving the place with Dudley’s bike. The guys were shocked to see Woody come back with Dudley’s bike. Woody then hides the truth and told them how he threaten the Del Fuegos with legal actions if they do not return the bike.

Woody then asked them to continue the road trip. They then drove by the Del Fuego bar to continue their journey. When they saw the Wild Hogs drive away with Dudley’s bike, they try to chase after them. Their bikes stop moving after a while and the angry Jack toss his cigarette which landed on the oil on the ground which triggers an explosion and the entire bar was burnt down. The Del Fuego then swear to revenge and hunt the Wild Hogs down.

Woody is worried the Del Fuego’s will be chasing after them hence He insist that they should only refill their bikes later. Not noticing that they have just pass by the last oil station until miles away. The guys then ran out of petrol and would have to push their bike in the desert. They started to get angry at each other. As they walk, they manage to pass by a small town, Madrid and stop by.

When they enter the restaurant, the grab any drink they could find and just gulp them down. Everyone in the restaurant was so afraid. Someone called up the Madrid’s Sheriff (Stephen Tobolowsky) as they worry the Wild Hogs would cause trouble in the town. Everyone in the restaurant was relieved when they know the Wild Hogs is being mistaken as member of the Del Fuego.

The people in town is being very friendly and asked the Wild hogs to stay back since the petrol station would only open tomorrow and that they have a Chili Festival later that day. Woody initially didn’t want to stay but was forced to since the petrol station will only open the next day. The Wild Hogs then set back, relax and enjoy the carnival.

They were pretty much enjoying themselves until Woody, Bobby and Doug is being challenge to pat the bull by the sheriff. Woody was the first to go. Surprisingly nothing happen when he pat the bull’s butt. Doug is next to do the stunt. While he is on his way, the sheriff told Woody and Bobby that no one have ever successfully do it 2 times in a row and now that they have awaken the bull.

Bobby and Woody is out to save Doug. They were running around trying to divert the bulls attention when they all manage to get out from the door. However the door that locks the bull isn’t shut properly and ended up hurting Bobby.

Dudley on the other had found his dream girl. At the Chili Festival, Doug bump in to Maggie (Marisa Tomei) who happens to be the owner of the restaurant as well. Dudley has fallen head over heals with Maggie and decided to ask her out for a little dance. Dudley then ask Woody for some help and dancing lessons. After the dance lessons, Dudley is all out to impress Maggie which he did very well in the first place. However he later on panicked and started his own moves. Maggie is impressed and followed Dudley’s steps.

At that festival, two of the Del Fuego’s spotted the Wild Hogs and contacted Jack. Jack ordered them to not touch any of them and leave it all to him. Thinking that he is untouchable due to Woody’s previous legal explanation, Bobby humiliates the del Fuego’s bikers by spraying ketchup and mustard on them. The Del Fuego’s member was angry and would kill Bobby if it wasn’t for Jack’s order. The town then praise the Wild Hogs thinking they are the saviour of the town.

That night, everyone is enjoying themselves while Dudley tells Maggie how he felt. Maggie felt the same way about Dudley and they both spends the night together. The next morning, the Del Fuego’s arrive at Madrid and looks for the Wild Hogs.

The Del Fuego started to tear down the restaurant and yell out loud and ask the Wild Hogs to come out. Woody had no choice but to reveal to the other members of the Wild Hogs that he didn’t actually scare them with his legal explanation. Instead he cut off their fuel line which causes the bar to explode. The guys was disappointed and hide at Maggie’s house opposite the restaurant.

Dudley then went out to look for the Del Fuego’s as he didn’t want Jack and the rest to wreck the place. Dudley fails terribly and was being hanged in the middle of the road towards the exit of the town. They try to come out with a plan to save Dudley but failed. The all was captured. Woody then suggested they fight as a man and do a one on one fight.

The Wild Hogs continue to take punches after punches from the Del Fuego’s. However they keep insisting that they continue the fight which very much amaze Jack. Although they were beaten up terribly, they refuse to step down to protect the restaurant. Later, the whole town came out with their household weapon, preparing to fight against the Del Fuego’s.

The problem was solved with the appearance of Damien Blade. Blade was angry that the Del Fuegos were chasing after this guys for burning down the bar that he has insured for. He told the Del Fuegos that they have been laying back too much and not know the true meaning of biking anymore. The Del Fuegos then leave the place in shame.

Later on Bobby and Doug’s wife arrive in the town. Bobby’s wife was furious that he lied to her. Bobby then took up the courage to tell his wife that he dislike being controlled by her and they end up with a mutual understanding. Doug manage to impress his son by telling him his adventures. Doug on the other hand told Maggie that he would be back soon to look for her.

The four later continues their journey and arrived at Pacific Coast. There, they saw many beautiful and sexy girls in bikini. This time around, Bobby, Doug and Woody crash themselves when they ran towards some guys carrying a surfboard while Dudley is safe.

During the ending credit, it is shown that the Del Fuegos got themselves a new bar thanks to the Extreme Makeover Home Edition… all thanks to the Wild Hogs. The member of the Del Fuegos was overjoyed and cried. There were also several personal interviews with the Del Fuegos member. Each tries hard to hold back their excitement and tears.

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Spoiler ends here.

Before watching, many tell me how funny this movie was and how it could relax me. Well… it wasn’t exactly that funny but well, I do it’s part to make me laugh at some parts.

I think John Travolta and Tim Allen didn’t really shine out in this show. Too common.. too professional until they lost the humour sense. I somewhat think William H. Macy and John C. McGinley was cool enough. They fitted the role perfectly and really carve some smile on my face.

I know and understand that this movie is suppose to be a comedy hence plot isn’t really important. I actually don’t really mind about the plot but I just hates it when things get a little jumble up and worst, I felt some of the scene were deleted.

I think the ending was a little rushed and bad. The movie started of fine but ended badly. The scene of Bobby and his wife… I seriously never get how their problem was solved. No idea what make Damien Blade to suddenly appear. According to my knowledge, it’s all thanks to the sheriff. but if the sheriff knows how to inform Damien Blade, the town shouldn’t have any problem with the Del Fuegos previously rite?

Well despite that.. one would really have to see how a guy sings the Pussycat Dolls song – Dontcha.

Movie Title: Hannibal Rising
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (6/10)
Year: 2007
Hannibal Rising official site: http://www.hannibalrising.com/

Ah… Hannibal, so much creativity and thought process put in to divert a name like this from cannibal. Well, let’s not say much about the name since it is.. after all a famous name after having 3 other movies before this one. Red Dragon, Hannibal and Silence of the Lambs and this movie is an adaptation from Thomas Harris’ novels.

Of course it would sounds funny that I have not watch any of the prequels… which means I get to know WHY and what turn him in to such a monster… before watching the rest of it. Sounds weird? I guess so too. Then again, I have nothing to compare with hence I could just give my 2 cents worth of opinion solely based on this movie itself.

One who have seen loads of my review would have known Gong Li is one of my favourite actress and no kidding she is one of the reason I pick to watch this movie, or else.. I would have given it a skip since I didn’t watch any of it’s prequels before.

Spoiler begins here.
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Hannibal Lecter, who is he? It is a constant question everyone would ask. Many would want to find out his origins. What happen to him, what turn him into a monster serial killer. Someone who have no compassion, love or feelings when it comes to killing. Who and what turns him in to what he is? The story unfolds at this very movie. The roots of all beginning… the origin… the truth.

Set in the 1940’s, Hannibal Lecter (Aaron Thomas)… a 8 year old boy was staying with his family in Lecter Castle in Lithuania. An opening scene show how young Hannibal was playing with her sister Mischa (Helena Lia Tachovska) by the lake. When they heard a sudden loud bomb, they ran home only to notice his parents were busy packing. They decide to escape to their family’s haunting lodge when Hitler’s invasion turns the Baltic region into the front line of World War II.

Hannibal then follow his mother (Ingeborga Dapkunaite) to her room to pick up other important stuff before leaving. She was about to reach out for some letters in the drawer. However, they have to leave almost immediately and would have to leave it behind. As they arrive at the family’s haunting lodge, they started to set up and clean the house. Hannibal saw and notice how his mother hide away her expensive jewellery.

Right after they left, the Waffen-SS reach and stopped at Lecter Castle. Six soldiers which include Vladis Grutas (Rhys Ifans), Enrikas Dortlich (Richard Brake), Bronys Grentz (Ivan Marevich), Petras Kolnas (Kevin McKidd), Zigmas Milko (Stephen Walters), and Paul Momund aka. Pot Watcher (Charles Maquignon) wanted to join the Waffen-SS. When the SS commander knows that Lecter’s cook was a Jewish, he ordered Grutas and his men to kill him to prove their loyalty and bravery, which of course they gladly kill the cook.

While preparing and cleaning up the house, a Soviet tank stop in front of Lecter’s lodge for water. They force everyone out of the house. Hannibal and Mischa is allowed to stay at the porch while the adults was asked to line up at the garden. Everything was going fine until a German bomber spots the tank and both the tank and bomber starts firing at one another. The tank manage to shoot down the bomber which ended up crashing on to the tank. That big explosion killed everyone except Mischa and Hannibal.

The SS soldiers were force to leave Lecter Castle as the Soviet army is advancing. While in the war, Grutas and gang saw their wounded SS commander. Instead of helping, he shot him and stole his badge. As the Soviet army advances, they were force to hide in the forest as they would be killed. They pass by Lecter’s lodge and took over the lodge. They then held Hannibal and Mischa hostage.

In the cold winter, they were lack of food. None of them dare to go out worrying they might be caught. Trapped in the lodge without food, they soon set their eyes on Hannibal and Mischa. They decided to cannibalize them. Grutas then check Hannibal and Mischa out. Knowing Mischa won’t live long, they decided to target on her. Mischa is then dragged out from the house, screaming for Hannibal’s name. Hannibal fainted when he was beaten with a log as he hear Mischa shouting his name.

Half blur, he saw the men tasting the soup, feeding themselves to Mischa’s broth. When the lodge was bombed, it starts to fall apart, the men left Hannibal. As they ran, they left behind their dog tags. It was later shown that Hannibal was seen wandering around by a Soviet tank and soldiers. He was then taken in to Lecter Castle, which happens to be the current Soviet orphanage.

A bully is seen always picking on Hannibal. One day, while at the main hall, the bully disturbs Hannibal as he have been rendered mute from his previous shocking experiences and wasn’t singing the orphanage anthem. When the bully tries to attack his head, Hannibal blocks his attack with a fork. Later that night while asleep, Hannibal have flashbacks about Mischa and how she was killed. He then starts to scream which angers the bully. The bully then lock him in the dungeon as an act of revenge.

Since Hannibal grew up at that place, he manage to find a secret pathway out of the place. He then sneaks to his mother’s room and tries to get the letters that was being left behind before they escape to the lodge. He then saw the letters his uncle wrote to the family and decides to look for them. The next morning, the bully came looking for Hannibal in the dungeon. Saw that he escape through a secret passage, he is eager to chase after him. He wasn’t aware that Hannibal has set a bear trap on the floor. As the bully got trapped, he scream at the top of his lungs while the camera quickly glance through the the word “SING” that Hannibal left on the floor.

As Hannibal left the orphanage, he travels a long way and finally reach Paris to look for his uncle. He was peeking at the window and saw a beautiful Japanese lady which he find it familiar. The house butler then notices Hannibal and shoo him away. Before he did, Hannibal showed him his uncle’s wedding picture and letters.

His aunt, Lady Murasaki (Gong Li) took him in. Apparently his uncle passed away a year ago. Together with Murasaki, Hannibal lead a good life. There he learn to say his first word. Lady Murasaki even thought him stuffs like flower arrangement, martial arts and worshipping ancestors.

Lady Murasaki told Hannibal a lot about her past. The armour of her ancestors, the sacred katana, the mask and everything else. Hannibal took interest in everything Lady Murasaki has taught him. One day, Lady Murasaki brought Hannibal along to the local market. There, the butcher made crude remarks to Lady Murasaki. Angry with what the butcher commented, He started a fight with the butcher.

The scene was then focus on the butcher fishing by the lake. Upon hearing someone’s motor stop by, the butcher went back to shore only to notice Hannibal was sitting there waiting for him. Hannibal insisted for an apology which of course the butcher refuse to do and continue making crude remarks about Lady Murasaki. Hannibal then slit open the butcher’s stomach. He then starts to make cuts on the butchers body and ended up chopping of his head.

Later when Hannibal arrive at home, he brought along the fish that the butcher had caught before he was murdered home. The butler then told Hannibal that it was a good fish and the best part of the fish is the cheek meat. The meat is so precious and rare that on occasions, one side of the cheek meat will be served to the guess of honour and the other one for the lady. Lady Murasaki then notice the butcher’s head was being offered to the ancestors by Hannibal.

He was suspected for the butcher’s murder. Inspector Pascal Popil (Dominic West) then ask Hannibal to give testimony. He started to suspect Hannibal was the murderer but have no evidence. Hannibal was released when Lady Murasaki diverted the police attention by placing the butcher’s head along the road while Hannibal was in the police station being questioned.

Later on, Hannibal was accepted in a medical school. He was the youngest person ever accepted to the medical school in France. He receives a scholarship and a part time work at a hospital in Paris. Lady Murasaki move together with Hannibal. One day while waiting to collect body of a criminal for his research work, he saw how Inspector Popil force an ex war criminal to remember his previous war crimes by injecting drugs to them. As he confessed, the war criminal was then sentence to death.

Hannibal stole the drugs and took it back home to try it on himself. He wants to find out who killed his sister. He then starts to have lots of flashback. This time a clearer version of the flashbacks. He then recall the names they call each other and the dog tags that were left behind, under the ruins of the lodge.

Hannibal then went back to search for his sister’s remains. Little does he know, he was spotted by Dortlich as he cross the border of the Soviet. Dortlich followed Hannibal back to the lodge. Hannibal was looking around the lodge, manages to find the jewellery his mother keep aside in a boar’s mouth, found Mischa’s remainings and the dog tags that was being left behind.

Dortlich tries to kill Hannibal but was being counter attacked instead. As Dortlich regain his conscious, he saw Hannibal buried Mischa’s remaining. He then tortures Dortlich to reveal the whereabouts of the rest which he did. Hannibal tied Dortlich to a horse pulled pulley and this caused Dortlich’s blood to splatter on Hannibal’s face. Later when the Soviet army arrive on the scene, they found Dortlich was beheaded and his cheeks were carved out.

As he returns, he visited Lady Murasaki to note her about his findings and he is all set about revenging for his sister’s death. They then went to Klonas’ restaurant. He notices it was a very nice restaurant and there was this special bird cage in the middle of the restaurant with the birds chirping happily. While dining, Hannibal finally notice Klonas arriving at the restaurant with his daughter. His daughter was running around and stopped at Hannibal’s table as he offer her a cherry. There, he notices Mischa’s bangle on her hand. He then slip Klonas’ dog tag to her pocket and left. Klonas notices the dog tag and contacted Grutas.

Grutas, now a sex trafficker then sends Milko to finish Hannibal up. Milko tries to kill Hannibal by sneaking in to the hospital and tries to attack Hannibal in his working lab. Hannibal noticed Milko’s existence and attacked him from behind with an injection. Lecter then throws Milko in to a pool of formaldehyde together with other dead bodies forcing him to reveal Grutas hideout. When he did, he them lock him down and drowned him. Just as he lock him down, Inspector Popil walk in to question Hannibal about Dortlich’s death. Of course he was unable to prove Hannibal is behind the murder and instead advice Hannibal to stop hunting down the gang and leave that task to the police.

He went and visit Lady Murasaki. Things was going on fine and they were kissing each other until Lady Murasaki request Hannibal to stop his revenge and leave with her. However, Hannibal rejected Lady Murasaki’s request stating he had made a promise to Mischa earlier on that he shall seek revenge for her. Hannibal then tries to kill Grutas at his home while he was showering. However his plan failed when one of his maid alert his body guard which manage to capture him. When Grutas was about to kill Hannibal, a self made bomb which Hannibal created blasted and he manages to escape.

Angry with what Hannibal has done, he captured Lady Murasaki and use her as bait to lure Hannibal. Grutas then called Hannibal asking him to meet up, Lady Murasaki then drop hints of her whereabout when she knock on the bird cage at Klonas’ restaurant. Hannibal recognizes the sound and went to Klonas’ restaurant. There he played with Klonas’ emotions by threatening him with his children. Klonas have no choice but to give our Grutas’ boat house whereabouts. Hannibal then ask Klonas to call home to check out on his kids, which he did and was angry to find out that he tricked him. Hannibal then left the gun on the stove and wanted to leave Klonas and his family alone. As Klonas reach for the gun on the hot stove, Hannibal stab his hand with a knife.

Hannibal then hides the knife on his back and leave to locate Lady Murasaki. As he got there, he tries to look for Lady Murasaki. When he finally does, he tries to untie her. He was then shot by Grutas on his back. Thinking he his his backbone and he is paralyze, he proceed and tries to rape Lady Murasaki. Hannibal then reaches to his broken knife and cuts of Grutas’ tendons. Grutas was found crippling and tries to reach for the gun.

When he fails, Grutas confronts Hannibal stating that his revenge was selfish as all he ever worry about is people finding out he too had consume Mischa’s broth. Angered by what Grutas has mentioned, Hannibal carved the letter M on Grutas body stating “M for Mischa” (a line which one would head in the beginning of the movie). Lady Murasaki was very much disturbed by his behaviour and decides to leave him even when he tells her he love her.

Lady Murasaki knows nothing in this world could stop Hannibal’s hatred. Not even her love. As she left, Hannibal was seen on the background chewing of Grutas’ cheeks. When Lady Murasaki was on the bridge nearby, Inspector Popil and other police arrive only to witness the boat house explode and on fire assuming Hannibal and the others were dead.

However, the ending scene shows Hannibal hunting down Grentz, the last member in Canada.

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Spoiler ends here.

It isn’t exactly a horror movie. Yes, I totally agree humans at times are more horrifying than ghost itself. One can never really know what the others were thinking and their behaviour is totally out of what we can ever imagine.

Gong Li was good but not that great. I think she is so used to characters like this since the Memoirs of Geisha. Playing a Japanese lady role is like a piece of cake for her. I could she even with just 20% effort she could still make it through. What more she is glamorously flourish with FENDI’s clothing design. I somehow think she didn’t put in her 100% in this movie but well, it was enough to pull her through as her other partners was not as good.

Gaspard Ulliel had the look but well… I am not sure, something about him wasn’t really there to portray his madness and cannibal acts. I somehow think he is lack of something.. probably the charisma. I am not sure… something about the way he talk just makes me lose interest in him. I was pretty disappointed how he never chew Klonas’ cheeks out… and not to mention the final kill.

Not sure what to say but there weren’t exactly any thrill or suspense to any of his killing. I was rather a blend movie. Not much surprise, shock or tension. Really… besides a little disturb with the fact that he chew on human… nothing actually thrill me. I wonder if this is the feeling I would have if I watch the other 3 movies. Hmm…

Movie Title: Shooter
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (6/10)
Year: 2007
Shooter official site: http://www.shootermovie.com/

Mmmm… what can one say about the perfect combination of hot hunky sniper, guns, bullets and more government’s dark secret. Not much explanation or expectations needed as… seriously, it wasn’t any new plot or storyline.

If one is pretty much familiar with Mark Wahlberg’s characters in other movies… he is pretty much an easy to cheat person which when he knew about it, it was too late, hence the revenge thing going on.

Don’t get me wrong, he is good at what he is doing, just I felt it was a little boring seeing the same expressions and the same thing over and over again. It needs a little spark and change.

Spoiler begins here.
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This 2007 action movie started it’s show whereby Bob Lee Swagger (Mark Wahlberg) one the world best snipers was sent to do a job in the name of a peaceful attempt to save the an Ethiopian village. Bob and his partner didn’t actually know what they got themselves in to. What Bob didn’t know was the secret mission work is operated by a black-ops government organization that do what they think America really needs.

When the mission went terribly wrong, Bob and his partner was left there to die as the mission was suppose to be a top secret mission. Bob survived the disastrous mission while his best buddy died right in front of him. Ever since then, Bob retired and stay in a little house by the forest far away as believe he was betrayed by his country.

One day, while enjoying his relaxed life… Colonel Isaac Johnson (Danny Glover) came knocking at his door asking for his help. Being one of the few people who could snipe from a mile away, Bob was told that his country needs his special ability and expert skills to stop an assassination attempt on the President. Bob really didn’t want to work with them but his patriotic feeling made him agree to help out.

Colonel Isaac ensure that Bob only needs to tell him any possible way someone could assassin the President from far while he is giving his speech. He would then check out the surrounding to ensure none of these things would or could happen. Little does Bob know, the Colonel was one of the black-ops government organization that left him and his partner to die back then.

The day has come, Bob sense something is not right. After giving out so many pointers to Colonel Isaac and the FBI agents, they leave out so many hints and flaws like flags (which give the assassins the direction of the wind). Just as he was about to notify Colonel Isaac, he was shot down by a local policeman which was one of Colonel Isaac’s man. After being shot and falling off a 2 storey high building, Bob ran off and bump into FBI agent, Nick Memphis (Michael Pena).

Bob manages to take Nick down and cuff him to a pole and drove of with Nick’s car. The injured Bob manages to escape realizing he have been framed. Nick on the other hand was blamed for Bob’s escape. Everyone was laughing at him saying he was a disgrace to the FBI team. However Nick sense something was wrong as Bob keep telling him he was innocent before he escape with his car.

Thinking he was framed for killing the President, Bob kept telling everyone he did not assassinate the President. Little does he know, the target was not the President. All along, their target was the Ethiopian archbishop, who is also scheduled to speak after the President. The archbishop was assassinated while standing next to the President, in order to make it seem as if the President were the target. Being trained, Bob knows exactly how to keep himself alive.

Knowing he have no where to go, Bob stops right in front the house of his late buddy’s widow, Sarah Fenn’s (Kate Mara) house. Bob have never visited Sarah but he did send flowers to her every year. Bob remember his partner mentioned that Sarah is studying in a nursing school. He thought she could help open him up and take out the bullets. To his surprise, Sarah never actually study in nursing school as she is afraid of blood. She intend to study nursing because Bob’s late buddy likes her to be a nurse (which she didn’t continue after his death).

Sarah have no choice but to save Bob. She manages to take out the bullets and sew him back. Bob was actually impressed with the fact that she can sew that well. Bob then convince Sarah that he was framed. he then asked Sarah to help him get to Nick as Nick is his only hope. Nick then try to check on the details Sarah provided to him. In order to check the details, it requires a special password. Nick manages to slip in and track the records.

The FBI agents notice their security has been violated by Nick and they caught him. They torture him to confess his relations with Bob. When he says he knows nothing, the decided to kill him by faking his suicide. Bob came in the nick of time to save his life. From then onwards, Nick and Bob work together to uncover the truth.

Bob then went to find the “mighty know it all” and ask for guidance and advise. He finally knew there were this great sniper legend in the black-ops organization. Bob is set to look for him. He then get ready for battle and teach Nick a few tricks as he needs his help to be his spotter. Colonel Isaac knows Bob is going after the sniper and throw him out as bait to lure and kill Bob.

The meeting of the two great snipers were scheduled at a small lodge by the farm. There Bob and Nick look out for each other. When Bob manages to get in and talk to the legendary sniper, he told Bob the whole story knowing none of them would survive the day. Bob did came prepared. He and Nick manages to survive the day even when Colonel commands a large troop to surround and kill everyone at that area.

Knowing Bob and Nick is still on the loose, Colonel Isaac ordered someone to take Sarah as hostage. He then talked to Bob over the phone and ask him to turn himself in or he would harm Sarah. However, Bob gave the colonel a surprise when he played the conversation between him and the legendary sniper. They then arrange for a meeting at an icy mountain.

Colonel Isaac arrive at the mountain together with the Senator (the man behind the organization) and Sarah. Just as they saw a figure that resembles Bob, the snipers Colonel arrange to assassinate Bob. It turns out it was Nick and Bob is around somewhere spotting and getting rid of all the hidden snipers. Bob then reveals himself and speak to the Colonel and the Senator.

Upon saving Sarah, Nick and Bob surrender to the FBI where Nick pass their coordinates to them earlier on. Later on, Bob and Nick appears in a closed meeting with the head of FBI, the United States Attorney General and Colonel Isaac present. Bob manages to clear his name by loading a round into his rifle, which was an evidence used in the assassination. He then aims the rifle at the Colonel and pulls the trigger, much to everyone’s shocked, the shot isn’t released. Bob then explains that every time he leaves his house, he swaps the firing pins on his rifles, this unable the rifles to fire until he swaps them back.

Nick then presented the case about the Ethiopian village and told then what Colonel and the Senator did but the head of FBI could not do anything as they have no power to interfere or judge them. All he can do is just set Bob free.

Upon released from his charges, he then seek revenge. While the Colonel and the Senator was relaxing and having a drink at the Senator’s holiday house. Bob then killed the Colonel, Senator and their bodyguards in the house. He then plan the weapon on the Colonel’s hand before blowing up the whole house. Bob then escapes and got into Sarah’s car and they drove away together.

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Spoiler ends here.

Right, while the guys would think it was a seriously cool show, I think otherwise. I don’t blame them. Most guys plan and dream of being a sniper. It’s probably a cool dream. But well, I think the plots are pretty predictable and towards the middle, it was a little boring for me.

There isn’t really a climax to look out for. Seriously… I feel I can just glide pass it without any obstacles. Not to mention the continuity of the show is seriously lacking. I could clearly remember the scene whereby Mark Wahlberg is injured and cut a hole at the back seat to reach to the back. It seems there were loads of stuff there. As Mark drove the car and aims for the sea, the back of the car open up and it was empty.

I probably miss out a few lines as the couple sitting next to me was talking loudly among themselves, but I still wonder why Mark Wahlberg burn the tape record. I wonder why the Colonel’s sniper only hit Michael Pena’s chest and not head. Since one can have bulletproof vest and not head proof stuff. I don’t know, probably I am not a sniper or anyone professional to say this. But if I am a killer and can aim for good. I will go for the head. Yes… headshot! I love it!