Tag Archives: event cinemas

Movie Review: Clash of the Titans

Clash of the Titans starring Sam Worthington

Date: Saturday, 10th April 2010
Time: 7 PM
Location: Castle Towers Shopping Centre, Castle Hill MEGAPLEX, Gold Class Seating… in 3D

An ordinary man takes an epic journey of vengeance. Trapped between family feudal war and is the black sheep… the trump card… the saviour . Repetition ensues. Again. And again.

Yes, I went and watched Clash of the Titans in 3D with my sisters. Heading for Castle Hill, where we were very familiar with, we got our tickets and made our way to the Megaplex where Gold Class was waiting for us. Yes. You heard me. The complex with the large leather seats and the bar where they send your orders to you during the screening. Not in relation to the film, I was a little cheated from the bar… after all they got my order wrong. Instead of the smoothie, I was given a Frappacino. A little bit of mis-communication (most likely on my part if anything) and I was given chocolate instead of mango…

But that’s for another story…

BACK TO THE REVIEW, what to say about Clash of the Titans… it was a good action flick. I won’t doubt that. It satisfied to some extent. The highlights were the monster fights and the final blow to Medusa. By far, Medusa was the most interesting villain in the film in my opinion (thus my tribute as you can see to the left). The film was visually stimulating. It gauged the epic scale of the legend behind Perseus. But despite all of this, what really got to me was how the story was structured. I will say this now that I’ve never seen the original Clash of the Titans, much to my dismay, but I do understand the basic premise of it and the remake was nothing like it at all. The elements of the story were so construed and fleeting that so many concepts seemed to pass by with no remorse. I understand where the film was going, but the journey to get there with its quick introductions and lack of information for characters just didn’t quite cut it for me.

Truth be told, I was caught up in the hype before the release. It seemed to look like the type of film that I’d enjoy during the autumn season. The trailer was awesome. That alone was better plotted out than the film. Sam Worthington portrayed his best in the role of Perseus, but it lacked, and I blame the script. After all, how many times must he clarify about “doing things as a man” until it has pummeled into our heads? There wasn’t enough range for Sam Worthington to work with, and I’m confident he can do much more.

Still, watching the film in 3D with Gold Class seating did enhance the film to an extent. The battles were more epic and the effects added more weight. But I guess my opinion’s only valid until I actually watch this film in 2D. My opinion still stands though. The story lacked substance and spirit. It felt really plotted out. But I wouldn’t say I’d go empty-handed or less satisfied afterwards. Far from that.

Movie Review: Green Zone

Green Zone starring Matt Damon

Date: Monday, 29th March 2010
Time: 9.30 PM
Location: Parramatta Event Cinemas

A soldier goes against government protocol. Loses his comrades, turns renegade and uncovers a conspiracy. Bad-assery ensues thereafter.

After a long day, both Laurent Boiteux and I decided on catching a movie on a whim. With the production of action films taking over the cinema complexes nowadays, Green Zone didn’t disappoint. Filled with action, conspiracy, and highlighting the perspectives of war from left-wing, right-wing, and those stuck in the middle, the film brought to light what the war may have been like behind the camera lenses and the media.

With Matt Damon taking the role as a militant sticking his neck into things he shouldn’t (or should!), the film was no different from his reprisal of Bourne (thus the creator’s filmic choice). A soldier as part of a team in search for W.M.D’s (and many of you should know that acronym) gets his head in too deep after uncovering a conspiracy driving  behind their campaign. With governments, politicians, and the military in the mix, you know something bad is going to go down. The idea of visualising the war from the W.M.D. campaign was a new concept. Heck, it was kinda refreshing especially with the knowledge of how the W.M.D. fiasco just kept the situation and circumstances aflame with media and public curiosity and anxiety.

The film was your typical action film. Driven by the camera angle choices, such as the infamous shaking during high-tense moments, it created the feel for drama and panic throughout this war film. Although, I’ve gotten used to the format as opposed to when it first surprised me after watching The Bourne Identity. Luckily for me, I don’t suffer motion sickness. What I really loved about this film was the pacing of it and how it weaved and intersected different elements together in order to create this larger picture for the world to see. But it was the elements themselves that add to the story as well. You only begin to wonder how the corporate political world affects everything in the military administration. It’s almost the Master and the Dog complex, until the Dog actually bites the hand that feeds him.

Overall, Green Zone has my vote for making the W.M.D. campaign into an intellectual, if not action-packed, visual medium. Though I condone the idea that war is a good thing, the film plays on the psyche of each character and how they react within these tense situations, making this film memorable to say the least, with a few good twists.

Jackie Chan’s Little Big Soldier @ Event Cinemas [+ Review]

Little Big Soldier starring Jackie Chan & Lee-Hom Wang

Saturday, February 20, 2010
9:30PM, Macquarie Centre Event Cinemas

The Q4JC crew (Maria Tran, Andy Minh Trieu, Steve Ada, along with Shaun Chang) headed off to Macquarie Park to watch Jackie Chan’s feature “Little Big Soldier” at Event Cinemas, Macquarie Centre. Known as one of the few cinemas to screen Asian Cinema, Macquarie Centre’s Event Cinemas is one of the largest complexes in Sydney.

From Maria Tran:

“One is an old soldier who only wants to survive. The other is a young general who is aspiring to conquer. After a bloody battle, the two are the only ones alive.When the soldier finds the injured general, he decides to kidnap him and brings him on a long journey to collect a reward, thinking by doing so he will no longer need to fight a war.

The general, feeling insulted, attempts suicide but is saved by the soldier every time.Somewhere along the way, the soldier and the general find themselves becoming allies in a fight against the real villains.The story of “Little Big Soldier” is mapped out by Jackie Chan who had conceived it for 20 years.

Chan told Sohu.com in an interview that he has talked about the story with many people. But director Ding Sheng was the only one who has translated the colloquial story into a screenplay.

Ding Sheng also directs the comedic road film, starring Jackie Chan as the soldier and Lee-Hom Wang as the general. Jackie Chan, who supervises the production, says the film is about lives during wartime and is a strong message that peace is priceless.”

My thoughts on the film: I grew up watching Jackie Chan films, and this one didn’t disappoint. Famous for his action choreography mixed with comic relief, Jackie Chan delivered. The film was entertaining, but not stagnant that it would slow its pace. It wasn’t as punchy as his Hollywood counterparts, such as Rush Hour or Shanghai Noon, but it brought back the roots of Asian cinema again. It brought me back to the films I adored and loved as a kid. But what I really admired was the underlying message that was coming across through the entertainment. I agree that Jackie had successfully pulled it off and it came across so powerfully in the end.
Overall, what do I say about the film? It’s MARVELOUS!
In other news: For the Q4JC crew, we shot another Vox Pops at the event. It was rather amusing to watch us running amuck in the cinema complex with our shirts blazing with Jackie Chan pride. Will post the Vox Pops as soon as its available.