2013 movie review Archives

[2013 Movie Review]- Police Story 2013

By delta December 29, 2013

Police Story 2013 is a 2013 Chinese-Hong Kong action crime film directed and written by Ding Sheng, and starring Jackie Chan in another reboot of the Police Story film series. Unlike the previous Police Story films where he portrayed as a Hong Kong cop, Jackie Chan portrays as a mainland Chinese officer in the new film.
Like the New Police Story which was released in 2004, Police Story 2013 is a stand-alone instalment with a darker tone than the previous instalments.

Our Review of Police Story 2013

The month of December has seen quite a number of new movies being released and with so many options to choose from, choosing a good movie to watch can be quite a struggle; especially when movie tickets are not that cheap here in Singapore.

What’s the verdict for Police Story 2013?

If you are looking forward to Jackie Chan’s humorous acting/comedy, you would be in for a disappointment as the Police Story 2013 pitches a rather deep and dark tone; which is unlike previous instalments of the Police Story Series. Despite the obvious reduction in the number of stunts being performed, the action scenes still pack a punch and the storyline unfolds itself slowly through the past recollections and flashbacks of the main characters.

Though Jacqueline felt that Police Story 2013 was not as good as its predecessors, I personally felt that the movie was worth catching and I would recommend it to those whom enjoy watching dramatic movies. As usual, don’t miss out on the movie bloopers that will be shown towards the credits.

Police Story 2013 Movie Synopsis

Night. Inside an enormous bar on a busy street, all the patrons are being held hostage. Among them are policeman Zhong Wen and his daughter Miao Miao, and several strangers who seem to have met before… The kidnapper is the bar owner Wu Jiang. His only demand is the release of a long-term prisoner. What motive is worth this risk? The prisoner is brought to the scene of the crime, but the police now face an even greater crisis, as a cold case is re-opened. Cold is the mind of the policeman, decisively using his wits to resolve the crisis; his mission is to find – the truth. Cold is the blood of the criminal, calmly carrying out his evil plan for – his revenge. Cold are the hearts of uncaring people, reacquainted only to pay the ultimate price for their selfishness – their lives. Cold are the facts that prove to the rebellious Miao Miao through her extreme ordeal with her father – their love. This is a death-match to avenge a lost love.

Police Story 2013 Movie Trailer

[Movie Review]- The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

By delta November 25, 2013

The movie, “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” is probably one of the highly anticipated movies for this year and we’re not just talking about Singapore alone but internationally!

During the first week of its opening, most of the sessions at the cinemas across Singapore were sold-out and the movie even topped the North American Friday Box Office with a historic sum of $70.5 million, one of the biggest opening-day grosses of all time!

So how does the movie fare and is it really a movie worth watching?

Our Review/Opinion of the Movie:

To be honest, we’re not really die-hard fans of The Hunger Games Trilogy but nevertheless, we’re captivated by the storyline and having caught The Hunger Games last year, we were really so into the movie that we were so excited to catch the movie, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, upon its release in Singapore last week.

While Jacqueline shares with me that The Hunger Games: Catching Fire wasn’t as good as its first movie, The Hunger Games; I personally had a different viewpoint as I felt that The Hunger Games: Catching Fire was more to the unfolding of events that takes place after The Hunger Games and not so much of how the Tributes try to outdo one another during the Quarter Quell.

However, we felt that towards the ending of the movie, especially during the part when Beetee suggests a plan to electrocute two other Tributes whom were not on their side, the scenes were a little fuzzy and left us with some confusion as to how and why Katniss had the idea to attach the remaining wire to an arrow, and shoot it at the force field to destroy the arena.

Well, whether you’re a fan of The Hunger Games or not, we’re pretty sure you wouldn’t want to miss The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, especially if you have read the novel or watch The Hunger Games previously. But with that said, we highly recommend that you either re-read the novel or re-watch The Hunger Games before you catch The Hunger Games: Catching Fire so that you won’t feel out of touch.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Movie Synopsis

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire begins as Katniss Everdeen has returned home safe after winning the 74th Annual Hunger Games along with fellow tribute Peeta Mellark. Winning means that they must turn around and leave their family and close friends, embarking on a “Victor’s Tour” of the districts. Along the way Katniss senses that a rebellion is simmering, but the Capitol is still very much in control as President Snow prepares the 75th Annual Hunger Games [The Quarter Quell] – a competition that could change Panem forever.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Movie Trailer

Iron Man 3 [Movie Review]

By delta April 28, 2013

The Iron Man 3 Movie has been touted to be the Summer Movie Blockbuster for the year and it is rather evident especially with all the huge marketing and publicity efforts that has been going on in the recent weeks. If you have been keeping up with the news or you have recently been to Bugis Junction, you might have come across the “Become Iron Man” augmented reality event where you can assemble and test the new Mark 42 suit with an all-new motion sensor technology. Well, if you haven’t heard about this, don’t fret because “Become Iron Man” will be on till 5 May 2013 [next Sunday] at Bugis Junction and it runs from 12pm to 9pm daily.
[Image Credits to Marvel Singapore]

[Image Credits to Marvel Singapore]

Plot of Iron Man 3:
Marvel’s “Iron Man 3” pits brash-but-brilliant industrialist Tony Stark/Iron Man against an enemy whose reach knows no bounds. When Stark finds his personal world destroyed at his enemy’s hands, he embarks on a harrowing quest to find those responsible. This journey, at every turn, will test his mettle. With his back against the wall, Stark is left to survive by his own devices, relying on his ingenuity and instincts to protect those closest to him. As he fights his way back, Stark discovers the answer to the question that has secretly haunted him: does the man make the suit or does the suit make the man?

[Image Credits to Marvel Singapore]

Our Review of Iron Man 3:
Anyway, we caught the Iron Man 3 Movie yesterday and we really like it. The movie was full of explosive actions and a little bit of humour was also injected in certain scenes of the movie. The movie is rated PG and the duration of the movie is 2 hours and 11 minutes.

There were certain scenes in the movie that didn’t quite make sense and avid fans of Iron Man might be a little disappointed as the plot does not follow the original Iron Man Comics or Cartoons. However, if you’re into superheroes action movies, then Iron Man 3 might just be the right movie for you. Personally, I like the Iron Man 3 movie and my favourite character has got to be Colonel James Rhodes because he really trusts Tony Stark and is a patriotic leader whom really cherishes his friendship with Tony Stark. In fact, this is pretty evident in the movie if you have already watch it.

Movie Trailer for Iron Man 3:

For more details and updates about Iron Man 3 or Marvel’s The Avengers, do like Marvel Singapore’s Facebook Page and subscribe to Marvel’s Singapore Youtube Channel. 🙂

Oz The Great & Powerful [2013 Movie Review]

By delta April 4, 2013

Thanks to Disney Studios Singapore and Nuffnang, Baby and I were given a pair of tickets to catch Oz The Great & Powerful and we really enjoyed watching the movie even though we caught it a little too late than the norm.

Here’s the Movie Plot [as extracted from GV’s website]:

When Oscar Diggs (James Franco), a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics, is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz, he thinks he’s hit the jackpot–fame and fortune are his for the taking–that is until he meets three witches, Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams), who are not convinced he is the great wizard everyone’s been expecting. Reluctantly drawn into the epic problems facing the Land of Oz and its inhabitants, Oscar must find out who is good and who is evil before it is too late. Putting his magical arts to use through illusion, ingenuity–and even a bit of wizardry–Oscar transforms himself not only into the great and powerful Wizard of Oz but into a better man as well.

Our Review of the Movie:
We found Oz The Great & Powerful to be rather heartwarming and we really liked how the story unfolded. The casts acted really well and we really hope that there will be a sequel in the pipelines. The movie is suitable for children and we really like how the movie teaches values such as responsibility and accountability. Having said that, there could have been some improvements made because we found certain scenes lacking depth and elaboration. Anyways, the movie doesn’t follow exactly the way it is originally written by L. Frank Baum and it is 2 hours and 11 minutes long. If you’re looking for a fantasy-adventure sort of movie, this is one movie you got to catch!

Movie Trailer:

G.I. Joe: Retaliation [2013 Movie Review]

By delta March 31, 2013

Just recently, we went to catch the movie, “G.I. Joe: Retaliation” at Golden Village [Bishan] and it was super duper good. G.I. Joe: Retaliation was released on 28 March 2013 and the main stars are Channing Tatum, Bruce Willis, and Dwayne Johnson. The movie is 110 minutes long and it is rated PG-13.

Movie Plot [as extracted from GV’s Website]:

A follow-up to the 2009 release of G.I. JOE: RISE OF THE COBRA, which grossed over $300M worldwide, Paramount Pictures, MGM and Skydance Productions, in association with HASBRO, commenced the di Bonaventura production of G.I. JOE: RETALIATION.

In this sequel, the G.I. Joes are not only fighting their mortal enemy Cobra; they are forced to contend with threats from within the government that jeopardize their very existence. The film stars D.J. Cotrona, Byung-hun Lee, Adrianne Palicki, Ray Park, Jonathan Pryce, Ray Stevenson, Channing Tatum with Bruce Willis and Dwayne Johnson. Directed by Jon M. Chu, and produced by Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Brian Goldner, from a screenplay by Rhett Reese & Paul Wernick based on Hasbro’s G.I. Joe characters.

Our Review of the Movie:

Personally, we really like the movie and we will highly recommend you to watch it if you haven’t. The movie plot of G.I Joe: Retaliation is balanced and rather easy to follow. In fact, you don’t have to watch G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra in order to understand what G.I. Joe: Retaliation is all about. G.I. Joe: Retaliation is also full of explosive scenes and definitely action-packed. The actors in the movie really portrayed their roles really well. If you’re the sort of person whom enjoys action-packed movies, G.I. Joe: Retaliation is one movie you shouldn’t miss! Comparing G.I. Joe: Retaliation to G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra, G.I Joe: Retaliation is the better movie.

Movie Trailer:

Celebrated Valentine’s Day at LENAS Restaurant & Shaw Cinema @ [Serangoon NeX Mall]

By delta February 19, 2013

Last Thursday was Valentine’s Day and we celebrated the occasion with a fabulous dinner at LENAS Restaurant. We have previously blogged about LENAS Restaurant and we have dined there quite a couple of times. Since our previous Blog entry about LENAS Restaurant was quite sometime ago, we really would like to once again share about our excellent dining experience at LENAS Restaurant and at the same time, share our review of The Wedding Diary 2 movie that we caught at Shaw Cinema.
Here’s what we ordered while we were dining at LENAS Restaurant:

Salmon Sashimi & Hoegaarden Beer

From Valentine’s Day 2013

Our Review of the Dish:
The Salmon Sashimi was quite pricey but it was well worth it because of its thickness and freshness. Surprisingly, it complemented the Hoegaarden Beer pretty well.

Chawanmushi

From Valentine’s Day 2013

Our Review of the Dish:
Chawanmushi is nothing new and it tasted rather ordinary, very much like steamed eggs. The only disappointment was that the Chawanmushi was served cold.

Cheesy Chicken Cutlet with Waffles Fries and Coleslaw

From Valentine’s Day 2013

Our Review of the Dish:
Just by looking at the picture alone, you could see that the portion is really huge! Not only that, the chicken cutlet was of the right texture and was also very flavourful. The waffle fries and coleslaw that went along with the chicken cutlet was extremely satisfying for the stomach and it definitely whets up one’s appetite.

Spicy Chicken with Corn and Salad

From Valentine’s Day 2013

Our Review of the Dish:
Well, this dish fell slightly below our expectations. The presentation of the dish was fantastic but when it comes to the taste, it was slightly disappointing because the spiciness of the chicken weren’t spicy enough. In fact, the taste of the supposedly spicy sauce was more of sweet, sour, and spicy; unlike the sambal spiciness that we expected.

Matcha Ice-Cream with Red Bean, Dumplings & Mochi and a Glass of Iced-Tea

From Valentine’s Day 2013

Our Review of the Dish:
The Matcha Ice-Cream with the Red Bean and Dumplings were a very good way to end the satisfying dinner on a high note. However, we felt that the Mochi was a tad too sticky for our liking because we had quite a hard time removing the stuck Mochi in our teeth.

Our Overall Dining Experience:
Well, we had quite a bit of mixed feelings when it comes to the food because there were some dishes that were above our expectations while there were some that didn’t. The service was as usual, tip-top, and we have always enjoyed dining at LENAS Restaurant. The price was rather reasonable and we will definitely recommend LENAS Restaurant if you’re looking for a good place to chill-out and have a great meal with a bunch of friends. We will definitely return to LENAS Restaurant to tryout some of their other dishes!
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Wedding Diary 2 [2013 Movie Review]

The Wedding Diary 2 was released exactly during Valentine’s Day and I treated Baby to the movie right after our fabulous dinner at LENAS Restaurant [just as you have read above].

Movie Plot [as extracted from Shaw’s Website]:
Soon after marriage, Weijie and Zhixin face pressure to conceive. When it finally happens, amidst preparations for the Full-month celebration of the new family member, Zhixin’s dad Colin’s business meets with investment failures and he suffers a stroke as a result. Zhixin has to step up to take over Colin’s business.

Between ensuring that her mum Alison does not have a mental breakdown and tending to her young family, Zhixin has to run the company and deal with insubordination from the veterans. It pains Weijie to see Zhixin under such stress and he quits his job to be a stay-home dad.

Over in Penang, Weijie’s dad Ah Sai heeds Colin’s advice and expands his humble salted-fish business. As his workload increases and he shuttles between Singapore and Penang, the harmonious family starts to disintegrate.

Meanwhile, Alison is taken aback by the sudden appearance of Reese, who claims to be Colin’s illegitimate daughter. Zhixin cannot come to terms with having a half-sister and even suspects Reese of seducing Weijie. At the same time, Weijie faces much pressure being a stay-home dad taking care of Tou Tou. There is talk that he is living off his wife and the couple ends up in a big quarrel.

Amidst all these problems, one day, both Reese and baby Tou Tou disappear! Has Reese anything to do with baby Tou Tou’s disappearance? Will the couple overcome their differences?

Our Review of the Movie:
Personally, we found the movie quite humourous but at the same time, we also felt that it lacked the element of surprise. The plot was rather predictable and we probably had quite high an expectation of the movie that we probably felt that it didn’t match up to The Wedding Diary 1. Nevertheless, the movie touched on a topic that is rather close to our hearts and it is worth catching if you have the spare cash and time.

Here’s a photo of Aniu and Elanne Kwong when we saw them doing their movie promotion at KSL City Square, Johor Bahru.

From Valentine’s Day 2013

Movie Trailer:

Stay tuned to more updates from us!

God bless!

A Good Day to Die Hard [2013 Movie Review]

By delta February 17, 2013

Thanks to MoovieSpy, we were given a pair of complimentary tickets to the Gala Premiere of “A Good Day to Die Hard” starring Bruce Willis and Jai Courtney at Golden Village [VivoCity]. We caught the Dolby Atmos version of the movie and we have to say, the movie sounded pretty the norm and because of the Parental Guidance [PG] Rating, the audio was heavily censored; resulting in the poor audio.

From A Good Day To Die Hard 2013

Here’s the Movie Plot [as extracted from GV’s Website]:
Iconoclastic, take-no-prisoners cop John McClane, for the first time, finds himself on foreign soil after traveling to Moscow to help his wayward son Jack–unaware that Jack is really a highly-trained CIA operative out to stop a nuclear weapons heist. With the Russian underworld in pursuit, and battling a countdown to war, the two McClanes discover that their opposing methods make them unstoppable heroes.

Our Review of the Movie:
To be really honest, we didn’t quite enjoyed the movie because sitting beside us was a rather cheap horny couple that were getting overly-intimate with one another. Since any form of recording devices weren’t allowed in the cinema, we didn’t have the chance to snap a photo of what they were doing but seriously, although the Gala Premiere was free, they shouldn’t use it as an opportunity to make love right? We certainly do not need a free R-21 show.

Anyhows, the movie is full of action and explosive scenes. Despite being heavily censored, the plot was nevertheless quite a surprise at the end. With that being said, we still feel that the PG Rating really spoilt the entire movie and the experience wasn’t that fabulous. Well, if you have caught all other movies except this one, you might want to consider catching A Good Day to Die Hard; otherwise, you might want to consider saving that money for other movies that will be premiering soon.

Here’s the Movie Trailer:

Stay tuned to more updates from us!

God bless!