Movie Title: The Grudge 2
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/10)
Year: 2006
The Grudge 2 official site: http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/thegrudge2/

I didn’t want to scare everyone else with the scary pale little kid with the bright red number 2 at the eyes as the main image of this review. Thus, I montage it with the scary house which is said to be cursed. Yes, although I find the poster sorta cliché and overly used, I must say it still freaks me out.

Before I went to the cinema to watch it, I remember one of my friend told me to not watch it. I of course ask them why, and it turns out.. the reason is “Don’t go see it lar, it’s the same as Ju On.” I was totally shocked :o. I replied, “Of course it is the same as Ju On. It’s an adaptation of Ju On. Just that it’s now in English”.

As many have known, horror just wasn’t my thing. People who goes watch horror with me know that. No, I don’t make noises. I dun go hugging the person next to me. I don’t scream. So yes, you may wonder what I do… I scratch the chair, I drink lots of water each time some scary scene is happening, I have lots of hand gesture.

Yes, back to such horror movie… I didn’t watch the first part of The Grudge (back then, I dun have kaki to watch horror movies with). It’s weird, I saw Ju On (Japanese version) part one… missed the sequel. I missed The Grudge but watched The Grudge 2. Yes, so now I have the best of both world.

Okay… the story spins of with three school girls Allison (Arielle Kebbel), Trish (Jennifer Beals) and Miyuki (Misako Uno) dared each other to go in to the cursed house. Allison was the not so popular girl in the school. She decided to go in because she wants to have friends in the school. Trish and Miyuki then tells story about the house to Allison. They then tricked Allison to walk in to this room with this door that links to the attic where the previous owner brutally killed his wife.

Everything went terribly wrong since then. Ever since then, the three girls starts to see weird things. Yes, they kept seeing Kayako (Takako Fuji) and Toshio (Ohga Tanaka). It’s not a good thing seeing them, cause they are ghost and yes, that means someone is going to die or vanish from the surface of earth.

To link to the previous movie, Karen Davis (Sarah Michelle Gellar) was locked up in the hospital for setting the house on fire. When the house is set on fire, her boyfriend was killed as well. Aubrey Davis (Amber Tamblyn) was sent over to Tokyo by her mother to bring Karen back. At the hospital, she met Eason (Edison Chen) who apparently was the reporter who pulled Karen out of the burning house.

Karen thought she could find the solution to stop every. But before she manages to do anything, she died. From naked eyes, she seems to have committed suicide, but actually… *skipped*. Aubrey is set to find out the truth together with Eason as Eason starts to feel uneasy.

He notices that he have been watched and all. On the other side of the story, Miyuki disappeared while Trish was going through hell. Allison return back to USA and guess what she has brought back~

Aubrey tries to find ways to stop Kayako. She is more determine when Eason was dead. She sets out alone to look for Kayako’s mother, only to lead her to death.

The movie is very much like the Japanese version one. I think it was sorta scary for me. The big eyes with thick black eyeliners does the job. Not to mention the pale and bluish skin tone. It’s true, at times… we really don’t need blood to do the scary job. But I couldn’t help laughing each time I saw the going in to the house. I must say, the Japanese version one is by far more scary. Ermm… yes I would say this have much more effect and all.. but I don’t know the original one nailed it more for me.

Each time they open the burnt house.. the door knobs. Pay serious attention to it… the door was so badly burnt. It was black like charcoal but the door knobs were so bright and looks so brand new. Not even a single dirt on it. It was amazing! It was funny.

Movie Title: World Trade Center
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/10)
Year: 2006
World Trade Center official site: http://www.wtcmovie.com/

It just didn’t do it for me… despite the hype of the event. Even my greatest respect for Nicholas Cage. No it just fails to nail it. Since Oliver Stone has disappoint me in Alexander… I was not a bit surprised he will disappoint me this time.

I understand the intention and the “happy ending” in this sorta movie to tell how much they have try to overcome the situation, how brave, courage and much love can be… but it totally shadows the intention and what is the core of the movie about. It’s about the World Trade Center. It’s about 11th September 2001. It’s suppose to be a tragedy. It’s suppose to be the worst day in all American’s life. It’s suppose to be a sad day where you felt the lights from heaven just didn’t shine at all.

Despite how much I think it is a boring movie, sad storyline and all, I must say I liked the opening quite a lot where they tells details of police officers patrolling, the busy town, people walking here and there… the slow motion scenes showing the World Trade Center. The conditions of building and stuff around it. It was superb. The colour correction was perfect… it really does bring up the mood. (this is where they score a 2 star)
The moment I saw this plane shadow casted on the buildings… I was expecting something exciting to happen. Probably a little more detailed. To my disappointment… nothing much was shown. Everything else is plainly explained through conversations from walkie-talkie and the real footage that we see over and over again from the television box.

The next scene onwards till the end of the movie, the context of the movie just resolves around the Port Authority cops. In much detail… it actually only resolves around John McLoughlin (Nicholas Cage) and Will Jimeno (Michael Peña). Which I think was boring… and just wrong. It somehow makes this movie sorta like gone out of topic. It was so sadly done that it makes as if there were only 2 person in this whole wide tragic that deserves saving. No attention was paid to the other 9 survivors.

What is worst… this movie, in my opinion should be about the around 2000++ lost, probably about how the event happen… but no… it was the two men talking… talking… talking… and how much it affected their family.

At times… when it gets so boring… I wonder what sorta movie I am watching? Am I watching Armageddon here? Or am I watching Ladder49? Or what? I don’t know… it really does disappoint me a lot.

But I must say, I was sorta impressed with how they portray the thick dust, the scraps after the bomb and the scene when the building collapse on Nicholas Cage. That looks convincing and real. (yes, the other 1 and 1/2 star)

Conclusion, lack of intensity, out of focus, too much drama, just didn’t really understand what they were doing, lack of research and reference of the true event. Seriously, it’s a terrible and sad day, event and I would say a terrible history. Why must somehow end it like a lovey-dovey ending. It just makes me feel so uneasy.

Movie Title: Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (6/10)
Year: 2006
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby official site: http://www.rickybobby.com/

Being a movie crazy person, with fast cars, comedy all add in… who could give this movie a miss. Especially with Sacha Cohen (more known as Ali G) in it. After all, this movie does remind me of the animated CG movie “Cars”.

Telling a story of a legendary driver, Ricky Bobby (Will Ferrell) in the NASCAR. The Talladega Speedway, is the biggest and fastest racetrack in the NASCAR. Ricky Bobby is born in the backseat of a souped-up Chevelle. He always wants to go and drive fast. When he was young, he took over his mother’s car while she was buying groceries. He was then more motivated when his father, told him his golden phrase “If you ain’t first, you are last”.

Together, Ricky and his best friend Cal Naughton, Jr. (John C. Reilly) decided to be a fast car driver in future. they both started to work as a pit crew member for a team in the NASCAR. However the team was not motivated as they were always last. One day, Ricky got his opportunity to drive when one of the drivers were too slack eating burgers and all. Yes, what a chance!

Then onwards, he is known as one of those crazy drivers that could really go fast! Very fast. He then brought Cal in and make him his partner. Cal would always support and help Ricky out when he needed it most although he could win the race. He just gives everything up for Ricky.

Ricky on the other side starts to get proud. Yes, leading a perfect life having a beautiful and sexy wife, rich and family he started being rude to everyone else. Being so afraid to lose, he wouldn’t even give Cal a chance to win in the race. his luck ran out when his company decides to bring another driver in to boost up the team’s points and position.

Jean Girard (Sacha Cohen) was brought in to the scene, being a famous F1 racer who fancy Jazz music and sips espresso while driving. He is like devil sent to earth to just mess everything else for Ricky. Being a great driver but a gay one surely add a whole lot fun and laughter to the movie.. especially when he requested Ricky to give him a mouth-to-mouth kiss.

Ricky is now in desperate need to beat Jean. So desperate to win that he landed himself in to a major accident and from there onwards, he started having illusions that he is on fire and leads to him driving slower than a tortoise. Ever since then his life gone upside down.

His wife wanted a divorce and get together with Cal. Cal now takes over Ricky’s place. Everything just went so wrong. But one thing for sure in movies like these, we surely does know how the ending will turn out to be without the need of me telling.

Overall, it’s a very entertaining movie with loads of jokes and hilarious scripts. I would say it is a well balance of laughter and action at the same time which keeps the audience focus and not stray away. It’s one of those movie you should really sit down and see when you were troubled and feel down! A sure cure!