The Cove

The Cove - Film Poster

“The Cove” is a very interesting documentary film about the massive slaughter of dolphins in the town of Taiji in Japan. The film follows the special operation team led by Louis Psihoyos, the director of the film himself, who was inspired by Richard O’Barry, a former dolphin trainer who was a part of the famous TV series “Flipper”. O’Barry blamed himself of starting the dolphin mania across the globe and creating the “dolphin” related business that led to the massacre of the dolphin in “the cove”.

The film is well edited with footage from various sources, but the most important footage is the one at the climax of the film that shows the successful result of the special operation. A film description at Sundance Film Festival 2009, where the film won the Audience Award, web page perfectly summarized the film:

“Part environmental documentary, part horror film, part spy thriller, The Cove is as suspenseful as it is enlightening. The final result is a heart-wrenching, but inspirational, story that shows the true power of film in the hands of people who aren’t afraid to risk everything for a vital cause.”

I highly recommend the film to everyone. Please help spreading the word to stop the killings of the dolphins.

5 stars out of 5 – It’s the truth that has to be told.

Related Links

• Official Website
• The Cove” href=”http://www.takepart.com/thecove/” target=”_blank”>Take action to help the dolphins
• The Cove at Sundance Film Festival 2009

The X-Files: I Want to Believe

Six years after the TV series ended and ten years after the first feature-length film was released, the X-Files came back to the big screen with a lot of hypes and anticipations from the loyal fans. There are a couple of reasons why the series have become a successful franchise; one is the intriguing story of aliens, paranormal activities a nd government conspiracy, the other is the contrast yet balancing characteristic of the main characters of the show, Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson). The film, using the title the words on the familiar poster of the UFO featured in the series, created a hope to the fans that the story might relate to the aliens and UFO. However, there is nothing related to aliens in the film. Still, the title “I Want to Believe” was used in a meaningful way. It’s the clash of faith and science, of believing and skepticism. The story in the film took the format as a long stand-alone TV series episode with a mysterious case to be solved.

For the X-Files fans, watching this film is like reuniting with a long-lost friend. Seeing Mulder and Scully and their relationship after all these years with the mysterious story as a background is satisfying enough. However, for general viewers, the film might look like a stranger – nothing special, just a typical cliche.

4 stars out of 5 – To find the truth, you must believe.

Related Links

• Official Website
• Internet Movie Database

12 Angry Men

I came across the name of 12 Angry Men several times from the list of “good” movies by various sources. However, I didn’t have a chance to watch the film until one of my professors mentioned and recommended this film during one of my graduate study class regarding communication and team-building. The film, as my professors made his point, reflected how the team dynamics would play and change in specific condition. After I watched the film, I apprecited the film’s message and understood why it was recommended by many sources. I couldn’t agree more. The film was a brilliant drama with clever script and sublime performances.

The film explores the jury system in the U.S. where 12 members of the jury have to reach unanimous verdict of a murder case. At the begining of the film, there is only one jury member who has a reasonably doubt and thinks that the defendant of the case is not guilty. During the course of the film, we see the arguments and the switch of the vote from guilty to not guilty of the rest of the jury members. The film takes place in the jury room with 12 members of the jury’s exchange of conversation and argument. It is a classic one-room and one-situation film with a fantastic message.

All in all, this 1957 black-and-white drama film is a wonderful movie. It shows that a good movie does not have to have a cool special effect or complicated plot as long as the script is carefully crafted and the performance is solid. This film is definitely one of my 5-star movies list.

Kung Fu Panda

Po is a Giant Panda who lives in an ancient Chinese town. He is the son of a noodle maker but always dreams to be a kung fu master. Chances lead him to be selected as the legendary Dragon Warrior without even knows how to fight. He has to prove himself as a true warrior and protect the town from the evil enemy who aims to take over the secret scroll entrusted only to the Dragon Warrior.

The plot of the film is cliché and sounds familiar to every Chinese martial art fans. However, the film is extremely hilarious and enjoyable. The computer animation makes the fast-pace fighting sequences even more exciting. Jack Black delivers a great voice of Po the Panda. The rest of the cast includes Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie and Jackie Chan. The film could be considered as a tribute to the Chinese martial art movies. All in all, it is a humorous film for the summer season.

P.S. I recall that a line from the script of this film was taken from the inspirational e-mail forwarded message I got from my friend years ago. I could not traceback to the original writer but I am certain that someone would recognize this line as I did…

Yesterday is history.
Tomorrow is a mystery.
Today is a gift. That’s why it’s called the present.

You may check the full text of the above quote at my googlepage web site.

Related Links

• Official Website
• Internet Movie Database

The X-Files: I Want to Believe – Preview

The new X-Files movie under the title “The X-Files: I Want to Believe” is scheduled to release in U.S.A. on July 25, 2008. The official website is online and the first trailer is set to release on Monday 11 May 2008 at midnight.

Welcome back Agent Molder and Agent Scully. I really want to believe…

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – 2 Movies for 1 Book

It has just been reported in the news today that the final Harry Potter film from the final book “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” would be splited into 2 movies. Part 1 of the final movie will be released in November 2010 and Part 2 will be released six months later in May 2011. The first Harry Potter film was released in November 2001, thus, if the film is released according to the plan, it would take almost 10 years for the series to be concluded on the big screen, which is approximately the same amount of time the series of 7 books completed. The sixth Harry Potter film, entitled “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” is scheduled to be released in the U.S. at the end of this year (21 November 2008.) We will see how the young stars aged and how they would be fitted for the role of a 17 year-old when their actual age is 22 years old. It’s a huge 5 years gap to reduce. That’s what to be seen. Who knows? May be at that time we might have a new technology to make the stars look younger… 

 

Related Links

• News from Reuters
• Harry Potter – The Official Site

Pid Term Yai Hua Jai Wawoon – Official Music Video

 

This is the music video of a Thai song called “Yang Noi” (literally translated as “At Least”) by Big Ass, a popular Thai rock band. The song is officially featured in the upcoming Thai teen-romantic-comedy flick “Pid Term Yai Hua Jai Wawoon.” An unconfirmed official international title of the movie is “Hormones,” which implies the unusually high chemical substances in teenagers that cause so many restless activities, especially the feeling of “love.” The film will be released in Thailand on March 20th, 2008. I wish I were in Thailand for the press preview of the film earlier next month. Unfortunately, it is not possible for me. I guess I will have to wait for the film to be released in DVD in the near future.

Even though there was a change in the front page of the official website of the film, there is no new content. I guess you have to keep checking back for more updates next month.

 

Related Links

• Official Posters
• Official Movie Trailer
• Official Website

The 80th Annual Academy Awards

 

After the settlement with the writer guild of America, Hollywood entertainment industry is up and running again. The first remarkable show benefited from the agreement was this year Oscar show at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood on February the 24th, 2008. The glamorous red carpet is what Hollywood needs to rekindle its spirit and it certainly did. Hosted by Jon Steward, the show emphasized on the 80th anniversary of the awards history with numerous clips from the previous years. There were a couple of hilarious moments and jokes, especially the puns regarding the heating presidential candidacy at this moment. All in all, it’s good to see the stars and their works recognized once a year. Here are the list of this year nominees and winners, according to the announcement order. (Winners are presented in red bold case.)

Achievement in Costume Design
Atonement
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Elizabeth: The Golden Age
Across the Universe
La Vie En Rose

Best Animated Feature Film
Surf’s Up
Persepolis
Ratatouille

Achievement in Makeup
Norbit
La Vie En Rose
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End

Best Visual Effects
The Golden Compass
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End
Transformers

Best Art Direction
Atonement
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
There Will Be Blood
American Gangster
The Golden Compass

Best Supporting Actor
Javier Bardem (No Country for Old Men)
Tom Wilkinson (Michael Clayton)
Philip Seymour Hoffman (Charlie Wilson’s War)
Hal Holbrook (Into the Wild)
Casey Affleck (The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford)

Best Live-Action Short Film
At Night
Il Supplente (The Substitute)
Le Mozart des Pickpockets (The Mozart of Pickpockets)
Tanghi Argentini
The Tonto Woman

Best Animated Short Film
I Met the Walrus
Madame Tutli-Putli
My Love (Moya Lyubov)
Peter & the Wolf
Meme Les Pigeons Vont au Paradis (Even Pigeons Go to Heaven)

Best Supporting Actress
Cate Blanchett (I’m Not There)
Tilda Swinton (Michael Clayton)
Amy Ryan (Gone, Baby, Gone)
Saorise Ronan (Atonement)
Ruby Dee (American Gangster)

Best Adapted Screenplay
Atonement
Away From Her
No Country for Old Men
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
There Will Be Blood

Achievement in Sound Editing
There Will Be Blood
The Bourne Ultimatum
Ratatouille
No Country for Old Men
Transformers

Achievement in Sound Mixing
The Bourne Ultimatum
Ratatouille
3:10 to Yuma
No Country for Old Men
Transformers

Best Actress
Ellen Page (Juno)
Julie Christie (Away From Her)
Marion Cotillard (La Vie En Rose)
Cate Blanchett (Elizabeth: The Golden Age)
Laura Linney (The Savages)

Best Film Editing
The Bourne Ultimatum
No Country for Old Men
Into the Wild
There Will Be Blood
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

Best Foreign-Language Film
The Counterfeiters
Mongol
Beaufort
Katyn
12

Best Original Song
Falling Slowly (Once)
Raise It Up (August Rush)
Happy Working Song (Enchanted)
So Close (Enchanted)
That’s How You Know (Enchanted)

Achievement in Cinematography
Atonement
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
No Country for Old Men
There Will Be Blood
The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford

Best Original Score
Atonement
3:10 to Yuma
Michael Clayton
The Kite Runner
Ratatouille

Best Documentary Short
Freeheld
La Corona (The Crown)
Salim Baba
Sari’s Mother

Best Documentary Feature
Taxi to the Dark Side
Operation Homecoming: Writing the Wartime Experience
No End in Sight
Sicko
War/Dance

Best Original Screenplay
Juno
Michael Clayton
Ratatouille
Lars and the Real Girl
The Savages

Best Actor
George Clooney (Michael Clayton)
Daniel Day-Lewis (There Will Be Blood)
Johnny Depp (Sweeney Todd)
Viggo Mortensen (Eastern Promises)
Tommy Lee Jones (In The Valley of Elah)

Achievement in Directing
Joel & Ethan Coen (No Country for Old Men)
Paul Thomas Anderson (There Will Be Blood)
Tony Gilroy (Michael Clayton)
Jason Reitman (Juno)
Julian Schnabel (The Diving Bell and Butterfly)

Best Picture
Atonement
Juno
Michael Clayton
No Country for Old Men
There Will Be Blood

Pid Term Yai Hua Jai Wawoon – Official Website

The official website of the upcoming Thai film “Pid Term Yai Hua Jai Wawoon” is online. Now, only the first page is available with the official movie trailer. Check the website at <http://www.pidtermyai.com>

P.S. I still wonder what the official English title of the film would be. It would be difficult to convey the literal meaning of “Pid Term Yai” (summer school break) and “Hua Jai Wawoon” (restless hearts) in Thai cultural context to international audiences.

 

Related Links

• Official Posters
• Official Movie Trailer

Pid Term Yai Hua Jai Wawoon – trailer

This is a trailer for the latest movie from Songyos “Yong” Sugmakanan, one of the most promising young Thai directors whose previous movie “Dek hor” a.k.a. “Dorm” won him several international and national recognitions including the Crystal Bear from Berlin International Film Festival 2007. His new film “Pid Term Yai Hua Jai Wawoon” (translated litrally in English as “Restless Hearts of Summer Break”) seems to be a fine mixture of teenage romantic comedy and road movie as it tells 4 different love stories of different young and restless hearts which are unrelated except the fact that all “love stories” happen in the same time frame during summer school-break – the time when students have chance to explore the world outside of school. Now you could imagine the meaning of the title of the film.

The movie seems to be a reunion of stars from GMM Tai Hub (GTH) company including some new faces. Some cast members have previously worked with the director and starred together in previous successful films namely Charlie “Nak” Trairat and Focus Jirakul from “Fan chan” a.k.a. “My Girl,” and Nak and Sirachuch “Michael” Chienthaworn from “Dorm.”

The movie is scheduled for Thai cinema nation-wide on March 20, 2008.

 

Related Links

• Pid Term Yai Hua Jai Wawoon’s Official Website (in Thai)
• GTH Official Website