Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Bridget Jones' Baby (2016) Review

Bridget Jones' Baby review (in an unconventional way)
***Spoilers warnings***
My review can’t help including some very specific details of the movie so if you still want your heart to skip a beat, consider before reading this :)

Want it or not, recently, all of my talks somehow ended up in the topic of love.
Just so you know, my usual life revolves around food and toys but sometimes when I’m in the cheesy mood, I can literally be rolling in the deep of my own love philosophy.

Indeed I have come up with a whole bunch of such philosophy last night when I could barely sleep but I was almost brainwashed when I woke up this morning. All I can remember is that I should write a little note about what it means to be a true partner.

Several days ago, I went to see Bridget Jones’ Baby, the third installment in the first and only romcom trilogy in the new millennium so far. And of course, it’s my all-time favorite romcom.



Colin Firth, my first Hollywood crush (which is still going strong up to now) starred in this movie. I am conscious that Mark Darcy is just fictional and there may be no such a man in real life but I find it interesting to point out some characteristics of a good partner. He is not necessarily destined to be your husband but at least, love someone like him and you will never regret it.

1. Always respects his woman.
If platonic love is something far-fetched nowadays, then one of the few things we should hold on to is respect. No respect? Obviously, he is just playing with your heart and no matter how much honey he pours into your ears, all that will be left is a deeply wounded heart. (Need I to cite the name Daniel Cleaver here LOL)
In Bridget Jones’ Baby, Mark reunited with Bridget in an unexpected way after their break up presumably quite a few years ago. But guess what, he greeted her politely and simply commenced the conversation with the classic “Hello. How are you?”. No more questions into present personal life, no sign of bitterness and hatred often found in long separated couples. And do I have to go back to previous installments to mention how Mark respects Bridget despite the fact that she is a clumsy woman who always unintentionally brings shame to the person she accompanies.

2. Be responsible
Mark’s reaction to the news of the baby is one of the best things in this movie. He was lost for words for a minute then excused himself for another while just to come back and say how much grateful and honored he is to hear the news. Awwww, how sweet!!!!
Throughout the time Bridget is in labor, Mark is there, despite of course an emulator :))
He maybe cold in his expressions and not so good with words but in these moments, he is so gentle and patient and caring and lovely <3

3. Be by your side at the right time
It’s impossible (and honestly too troublesome) to be together 24/7. 
I guess one of the reasons that lead to the break up between the two is the fact that Mark is such a busy lawyer and a sensitive girl like Bridget feels like she’s left out sometimes. That’s why she always repeats: “Receive the call. It might be work”. But in the crucial moment where Bridget desperately needs someone to help her out of the miserable situation, Mark is there, willing to throw away all his work responsibilities (not to mention his phone too :)) just to be beside Bridget. And that’s also when my favorite line kicks in: “Well, I can always find time to save the world. And Bridget, you're my world”. *melting*

Now excuse me to end this review in such an abrupt manner but as I told you, I forgot what I intended to say just after a night sleep. Can’t help it, right? :)))


Hope you go watch this movie and may you be melted (or at least warmed) by the gentleness of Mr.Darcy :3

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Maleficent (2014) Review

Genre: Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Director: Robert Stromberg
Actors: Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning, Sharlto Copley


No need to mention how “hot” this movie has been these days. But it’s also important to remember that not every hit-supposed-to-be lives up to our expectation. Fortunately, this one does.

Personally, watching Maleficent is like watching “Once Upon A Time: The Movie” starring Angelina Jolie. That is to say, if you are an avid fan of OUAT, you’ll probably find Maleficent agreeable. To those who love fantasy type, what’s icing on the cake is the fact that the film is produced by Walt Disney. I’ve heard many comments saying that Maleficent is somewhat like Frozen in terms of plot. If you say it’s so cliché-ridden, think again. No two movies are identical and all the more not the case of Maleficent. You can verify this statement by yourself ;)

The portrayal of Maleficent (the character) is just amazing: high cheek bones, deep-set eyes, full red lips, enigmatic smile, somewhat charming, somewhat intimidating, an air of mystery. That role seems to be made for Angie only. She IS Maleficent. And the most remarkable part in building such a character is her outfit. The unique dress that Maleficent put on is very close to that of the original character in Sleeping Beauty and is truly impressive. As for characteristic, Maleficent is a typical example of two sides of a human. She is both evil and heroic. As the narrator concludes, such person turns out to be the one to unite two enemies.

I am particularly interested in talking about the characters in this movie. From my perspective, there are three principal relationships, all of which center around Maleficent.  
1)  Maleficent - Stefan
This best illustrates the sheer border between friend and foe. Two little friends used to have a beautiful friendship, which could have evolved into love, but time separated them, personal motives pushed them even farther and finally, betrayal turned into hatred and drove them crazy about vengeance. I don’t know why but I am so obsessed with fruitless love affair, so I noticed the sour face expression of Maleficent on hearing the news about King Stefan’s first-born child as well as the tears welling up in her eyes. It is also heartbreaking to see both people confess that they never believed in true love (or have they lost faith in such thing?)

2)  Maleficent - Aurora
We expect this relationship to be the hardest conflict. Everything proved so for the first 30 minutes of the movie, until the little princess was brought to the forest under the care of three clumsy quarrelsome Fairy-Godmothers. Seeing Aurora growing up, Maleficent was gradually moved by the girl’s innocence. Remembering the scene where Maleficent tried to break the curse that had been casted by herself on Aurora really warms my heart. I also enjoy the part when Beastie asked to move in with Maleficent. The peak of this unconditional love is the act of valor by Maleficent to come rescue Aurora from the deadly curse. In response, Aurora released the wings and helped Maleficent regain her full power amid the fight against Stefan.

3) Maleficent - Diaval
To my mind, Diaval is the most adorable character in this movie. He acts as a loyal servant, a great companion and wings as Maleficent said. He has been transformed completely into human rather than being a crow in human appearance because he has feelings and emotions, sympathy and understanding. This funny character reminds me of Sancho Panza, who, together with Don Quixote, make the most original company in classic literature.

I think the success of Maleficent, just like OUAT, is rewriting old fairy tale in a captivating way. It clings to the myths we have heard since childhood while adding subtle details to reveal each character’s inner side. So why not give your thumbs up for such a summer blockbuster, which integrates spectacular special effects, immaculate acting and humane message?

Sunday, February 2, 2014

About Time (2013) Review


ABOUT TIME
Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Romance
Director: Richard Curtis
Actors : Domhnall Gleeson, Rachel McAdams

Whoever has watched Four Weddings and A Funeral and Love Actually can hardly miss About Time, another sweet, tender yet full-of-surprises love story.  



Before watching it, I only expected a romantic, light hearted movie without so much as twists and turns. But as I let my mind drift along the storyline, I discover that it is not a simple tale of how two singles meet and fall in love but rather a story about life. It takes me from surprise to surprise, both sweet and bitter. It is a time voyage, literally and figuratively. There are certain points in your life you have to make important decisions: It’s about time you declared your love to a girl; it’s about time you proposed to her, it’s about time you became a parent, it’s about time you let go of someone you love, it’s about time you started living everyday as if you've “deliberately come back to this one day, to enjoy it, as if it was the full final day”…

Tim’s time travels are usually the funny moments when he tried (over and over again) to “make it right”. But these hilarious situations also point out that he cannot use his magical ability to fix everything. There are always unexpected problems coming up because life is made that way. To sum up this idea, it is best to cite this sentence: “The real troubles in your life will always be things that never crossed your worried mind”.

Out of many humorous scenes in this movie, I particularly enjoy the part when Mary is confused about what to wear to an important party at work. That somehow shows the comedic but true nature of women - indecisive, overanxious and incomprehensible.  
What I also like about this movie is some sweet surprising details, like the proposal at an unexpected moment or the wedding music secretly picked by Mary.

Everything in this movie is so real, natural and spontaneous as the way life is. The clever direction, the immaculate acting, the well-written script and the wonderful music all help make About Time an unforgettable work of cinema.