You Got Served: Beat the World (2011)

Genre: Drama, Dance

Tag Line: They Live To Dance, they Dance To Win

Running Time: 1 Hours 31 Minutes

Casts:  Tyrone Brown, Mishael Morgan, Nikki Grant, Chase Armitage, Kristy Flores

Directed by: Robert Adetuyi

Produced by: Amos Adetuyi, Deborah Calla, Ricardo Whately

Story:

Three dance crews prepare to do battle at the international Beat the World competition in Detroit. In the final showdown to become world champions lifelong hopes, dreams and even lives, are at stake.
Written by Official Site  

Review:  
You Got Served: Beat The World, it's not a sequel of the first You Got Served in 2004. It's a brand new drama about dance competition. The concept is the same with the first one. It's all about dances and hip hop. I like dances especially hip hop dance, and that's why i like to see this kind of movie. It always give some new moves I haven't seen before and it's just amazing to see how they can do it. They are always great. Let's peel it one by one. 
Like the other dance genre movie, it doesn't have much story in it. It must be all about love life, betrayal, competition, ect. It's cliche and you can guess it from the very first beginning of the scene. Is this one different? Doest it have a better story line to enjoy? Unfortunately, I have to say no. It's all the same and it's worse than others like Step Up if I can say. The story is boring. It's really not much to tell. Hot love at first, hate at the middle, and becoming one again at the end, it's you know, it's just like that. Boring, lame, and whatever. :D
All it can sell is its dance moves in the movie. Its style that you can enjoy it through the movie. Amazing competition and you can so many great talents there. This one did too. All you can see is just its great dance by the dancers, great moves, popping, locking, jumping, etc. They are really great. There is not much new styles or moves in this movie, but you still can enjoy it if you love dances especially hip hop. It's not as good as Step Up and even first You Got Served. The competition is a bit boring and I am not exciting as I saw Step Up 3D. So, I will call this movie Ok, just Ok for the dances, not everything. 
The acts are all the same, great as dancers but bad in acting. So I won't comment much about their acting. But I want to give my credit for few dancers here. The first one, Stephanie Nguyen as Nina, who also starred in Street Dance (2010), she is a beautiful dancer. She dance it really good, it can shows her personality when she dances it out. I like the roof top part, I think she is perfect there. The second one is Kristy Flores  who also starred in Fame (2009), she is sexy dancer in this movie. When she turns around, that shows its sexiness to the audiences. The last but not least is our great stunt in many Box Office movie, Chase Armitage, he is really a great stunt alive. His jumping is ultimately great. He is well known as a stunt man in Harry Potter and Prince of The Caribbean. I like to see him really act in this movie and show its talents to the audiences without being a stunt. 
The cinematography is not that bad, I like how it goes in the movie. How the angle took at some scenes were perfect and i enjoy it. Overall, It's another dance genre movie with lame story all over it. It's not new but you still can enjoy the dance. For you all, dancers out there, you have to watch this to give you more inspirations to your moves. I bet you can learn one or two important things here. Enjoy it and dance forever. :D

Good points: 
-   All the dance moves even it's not a new one but it's still amazing

Bad points:
-   The story is the same as always, boring, lame and steady.
-   They are dancers not actors/actresses.

Rating: 5.0/10.0 

Choose (2011)

 

 

Genre: Thriller 

Tag Line: He makes the rules. You make the choice.

Running Time: 1 Hours 40 Minutes

Casts:  Katheryn Winnick, Nicholas Tucci, Kevin Pollak, Richard Short

Directed by: Marcus Graves

Produced by: Allen Bain, Brandon Camp, Jesse Scolaro, Mike Thompson

Story:

Fiona Wagner is studying for a master's degree in journalism and still grieves for her mother Samantha who committed suicide at the Crescent Hotel three years ago. Her father, Detective Tom Wagner, is investigating the brutal death of lawyer Elliot Vincent, who was murdered by his teenager daughter. His daughter was forced to choose between killing him or having her mother, little brother and herself killed by a sadistic criminal that had broken in their house. 
When pianist Simon Campbell is forced to choose between losing his fingers or his hearing, Tom realizes that a deranged serial-killer is attacking people. Meanwhile, Fiona is contacted by the criminal through the codename ISO_17. Fiona recalls that her mother had mentioned something about choice in her suicide note and she decides to investigate the sadistic man further.
Written by Official Site  

Review:  
Choose, like I said before in my past review, I really like thriller movies. The first time I saw this Choose poster, I felt that I have to watch this one. I know it may be a trash movie (because it always does for B class thriller movie), but still I want to watch it. Just I thought about this kind of movie, even it's not the worst thriller movie ever, but still it's one of the bad thriller I've ever seen. It's a thriller wanna be movie and it's decrease its thrill minute by minute. 
The story itself is not that bad actually if it can developed with a good script and plot. The concept is great. Why? Because the main idea of the concept is all about choices. It's a new idea how to kill and torture by forcing another people to choose between two important things in their life. It will be a dilemma for that person. With the significant time given like 60 seconds to choose will make it more thrilled.  But everything is ruined by its plain and lame script and plot. For me, every scenes should be thrilled but I doesn't feel it that way. 
The beginning of the movie should be great but I don't feel it that 'great'. The scene when the killer forced the daughter to choose who is going to die, her father or her mother should be the most thrilled part in this movie, but it isn't. It's just looked like low class budget movie that try to be great but failed. The killer is not scary at all. It doesn't make me chill when he did his killing. There are few murder scenes in this movie, but nothing that I can call great. The ending for a thriller should be revealed all the secret things but it's just so so. It doesn't have a twist at all that can make me wow with my mouth open wide. Everything is plain, lame and a bit boring.
The main act is pretty played by Katheryn Winnick, maybe you all had known him from Killers and Love & Other Drugs, she was not a main act in that two movies, but now she is. But she is not helping the movie to being good. She is kind of lame and boring, I think she should learn more from Neve Campbell, the scream queen and Jennifer Love Hewitt, the summer thriller queen, if she wants to play great in next thriller movie. The other acts are also the same, lame and boring. But I want to give my credit for Kevin Pollak as Sheriff Tom Wagner, I think he is good enough to  play that sheriff character, plain but funny, he can't describe the whole thing but he is the best of the night. 
The killing is not as scary as the other good thriller like Scream, Urban Legend, I Know What You Did Last Summer, etc. You don't have to close your eyes even if you are scared of this genre because it doesn't show how he is torturing his victim. All you can see is his forcing to the victim in 60 seconds and done, nothing more. 
Overall, All I can say is this is a B class movie with also B class acts. It stays where it should be. It's not a scary movie even it's a thriller. It's plain, lame and boring. So, I won't recommend this movie to you guys except you are true thriller fans. :D

Good points: 
-   The only good thing that not really good is Kevin Pollak, a bit funny just a lil bit. 

Bad points:
-   It's plain, lame and boring story all over the place
-   B class movie with also B class acts 

Rating: 4.0/10.0 

Detective Conan: Challenge to Kudo Shinichi (2011) - Season 1 Ep. 5

 

Genre: Drama, Live Action, Detective 

Tag Line: -

Running Time: 29 Minutes

Casts: Mizobata Junpei, Kutsuna Shiori, Otsuka Nene, Akimoto Sayaka

Produced by: Yoshinori Horiguchi, Shi Shirakawa, Koki Endo, Masako Kuraibu

Season 1 Episode 5
"Murder By Poison in Film Producer's Villa"

Story:

High school detective Shinichi Kudo and his friends Ran Mouri and Suzuki Sonok are invited to the villa, the film producer, Akihiro Nagat villa. Shinichi is asked to be an actor for one of his next movie along with Saori Kisaragi, the producers new artist also his new affair. Suddenly, his wife, Chisato Nagata come to the villa and caught them kissing so deeply, she is angry and slap Saori.  After that, Akihiro asks them for tea time party. He asked the villa keeper, Kana Ishihara to make some great flavors tea to the guests. After sipping the tea for the first time, Akihiro falls down dead. Ho can it happen in front of the guests? Who is the killer? What's her motive?Just watch it.

Written by Official Site  

Review: 
Actually, for me, this episode is as good as episode 3, even better. I like the concept the director bring to the ground in this short duration movie. The keynote is all about affair and cheating. It's usual love situation that happened in a movie or a real life. This affair may lead to the worst thing is murder and that what happens at this episode. The plot is simple but interesting. It's not too much like the other episode but still can entertain the audiences. This is the first time I have to rack one's brains to think about how can he murdered in front of the guests. And that's raise my Detective feeling to the top, I like it. It's not that predictable so you have to see it clearly if you want to guess who is the murder and how can he do it.
This episode is also the most similar episode to  its anime. The killer used Potassium Cyanide to kill Akihiro. It is used so many times at Conan's manga and anime and you can see it here in live action episode. It's great and I have been waiting for all this time, this live action will be at least look like its anime or manga. The weakest thing in this episode is the duration. Because of the short duration, everything is happening too fast. But that's still ok since it's interesting. The acts in this episode are also great especially Saori and Chisato. They do what they should do and it's perfect. But the main acts are just like the other episode, a bit lame. Overall, it's good and enjoy it. :D

Good points: 

-   The concept is good with good story to enjoy
-   This episode may boost up your Detective's will to solve it 

Bad points:
-   Everything is happening too fast because of short duration
-   Cheesy main acts

Rating: 6.5/10.0

Quarantine 2: Terminal

Genre: Horror, Mystery, Zombie

Tag Line: the Most Deadly Mutant Virus Just Went Airborne... And Escape is Not An Option

Running Time: 1 Hours 27 Minutes

Casts:  Mercedes Masöhn, Josh Cooke, Mattie Liptak, Ignacio Serricchio

Directed by: John Pogue

Produced by: Sergio Aguero, Marc Bienstock, Doug Davison

Story:

In the first film, an apartment building in Los Angeles was quarantined by the CDC, trapping the frightened residents inside as a deadly mutant virus turned the residents into rabid killers. Quarantine 2: Terminal picks up later that night at LAX, as passengers board a flight to Nashville. When a passenger becomes violently ill with a mysterious rabies-like virus, the plane makes an emergency landing at a large metropolitan airport. Now a group of survivors must band together to survive the quarantine.
Written by Official Site  

Review:  
Quarantine 2 takes place in a large airport/terminal. It is to be told that it's happened one day after the Quarantine 1. The differences between the one and two is its place, nothing changes beside of the place. The first one took place in an apartment building, the second one takes place in a large airport/terminal. I like this kind of movie because it always thrills me and chills me up. It can boosts up my adrenaline while watching it. Does it happen also to this second one? My answer is definitely 'YES'. Why? Let me peel it one by one. 
The story focuses on a group of passengers and flight attendant who fight for survive at the quarantine. The story begins with really good sense of thrilling. You know everything bad happens in a plane up high is scary, real deal. When a passenger, large one, got infected and acted crazy, it's really scary. Nothing changed about the appearance, red eyes, scary, and of course white things came out from his mouth. It's ridiculous. Can you imagine you are up there in a plane with this guy?  They successfully turned down the guy and the pilot did an emergency landing in a large airport near there. From that minute, they have to fight for their own life. 
Nothing is changed like I said before beside the place and the acts. The concept is still the same one like the first movie. The story is predictable but it's still a scary one. There are so many shocking scenes in this second movie of Quarantine. It's not one or two, it's just a lot. It really can raise your heart beat to the max. For me there are two scenes that really caught me in a thrill feel. The first one, it's really crazy to see someone inject her eyes some medicines with a syringe. Can you imagine that??? It looks like a SAW movie with its crazy ridiculous scene. I can really feel it with my eyes. What a movie. The second one is when they are trapped in a catering truck, and an officer did a suicide with a gun and suddenly a zombie comes out from above. It chills me to the max. 
Last 30 minutes of the movie really bites. It's scary and my heart can't decrease its beats. Actually, this kind of movie always has a predictable ending but I always can feel the fear inside. It has no twist, you absolutely can guess who will survive at the end. Nothing is new. Everything is the same, same old story in a new brand place. It's still a good one thought. 
The acts are good enough. Mercedes Masöhn who plays as Jenny, the flight attendant plays well but a bit plain. I don't get her feeling sometimes, it is kind of blank or something. The kid, George who is starred by Mattie Liptak is also good. He acts like a strong kid but still he is a young kid who is feared of darkness. I think this kid is doing good enough in his proportion. The greatest act for me is Ignacio Serricchio, he really suit his character as Ed, a baggage handler at the terminal. He shows what he should do in a movie like really a baggage handler. The others are just ok and a bit lame as always.
The director, John Pogue, is well known for his movie, Ghost Ship and The Skulls trilogy. This is the first movie he made after Ghost Ship in 2004. I think he directs this movie in a right way. It's good enough for this kind of movie. It can be a trash because it's sequel with no new things at all. But he changes it into something good to watch for zombie lovers of course. I bet all the zombie lovers like this one also. 
Overall, this movie is scary, thrill, chill but a bit plain and lame. It's good but it's not good enough to beat the first one. It's just similar to the first and like I said again and again, it's not new. It just a same concept that brought to the other place. All you have to do is enjoy it and get ready to scream and feel your heartbeat out. :D

Good points: 
-   It's scary, thrill and so many shocking scenes 

Bad points:
-   It's a bit plain and lame at some scenes
-   The concept is old and nothing is new beside the place and the acts. 

Rating: 6.5/10.0 

Limitless (2011)

Genre: Sci-Fi, Thriller

Tag Line: What If A Pill Could Make You Rich and Powerful?

Running Time: 1 Hours 45 Minutes

Casts:  Bradley Cooper, Anna Friel, Abbie Cornish, Robert De Niro

Directed by: Neil Burger

Produced by: Leslie Dixon, Scott Kroopf, Ryan Kavanaugh

Story:

Aspiring author Eddie Morra is suffering from chronic writer's block, but his life changes instantly when an old friend introduces him to NZT, a revolutionary new pharmaceutical that allows him to tap his full potential. With every synapse crackling, Eddie can recall everything he has ever read, seen or heard, learn any language in a day, comprehend complex equations and beguile anyone he meets - as long as he keeps taking the untested drug. Soon Eddie takes Wall Street by storm, parlaying a small stake into millions. 
His accomplishments catch the eye of mega-mogul Carl Van Loon, who invites him to help broker the largest merger in corporate history. But they also bring Eddie to the attention of people willing to do anything to get their hands on his stash of NZT. With his life in jeopardy and the drug's brutal side effects taking their toll, Eddie dodges mysterious stalkers, a vicious gangster and an intense police investigation as he attempts to hang on to his dwindling supply long enough to outwit his enemies.
Written by Official Site  

Review:  
Limitless presents one new concept which is something beyond your imagination, to make a human limitless. It tells something that hasn't been told before. The keynote is a pill. A pill created by unknown pharmacy or company (maybe well known in the story) that can unlock human's brain power till its full potential 100%. That means a human can be a super smart human ever in this life it he/she takes this pill. The concept is simple but interesting. I really excited when I first saw the trailer. It turned out just ok after I watched it. 
The story tells us about Eddie Mora, an author, failed to be author, his life is miserable, and his wife had left him too. Everything changed when he accidentally met his brother in law who introduced him a pill called NZT. A pill that changed his life forever. After he took the pill, he become smart successful person like he became somebody else new. One pill last for 24 hours. And he should consume it everyday. But like a medicine, the pill also have a side effect, when he doesn't take it anymore or run out of it, he will become weaker than ever. He will feel sick and die slowly because of this. No cure is offered for this one beside you continue take the pill. Eddie find his way, whatever way to get the pill and defend his position to be smart people. He has to face the gangster, killing accusation, and a corporate leader. 
The story should be exciting if it is developed well with a good script, it also has a new exciting concept, bring something different to a movie which can create super human. It hasn't been told before about a pill who can change the world. Unfortunately, the story is just ok. The beginning is good, everything move in a good proportion, after few scenes, everything turns out really fast till the middle part. From here to the ending, everything is lame for me. It has so many boring part that doesn't developed perfectly. So for me, the story part is just ok.
Great acts save the movie. Bradley Cooper and Robert De Niro as we know are great actors. Robert is a legend and Bradley always perfect for this kind of movie. Their acting power really save this movie from its lame and boring part. Some of you may enjoy their acts and forget all the boring part. It's all because they can bring up the down part and keep it fun. Their lineament really show it. The other acts are ok too but usual.  
We must remember the director Neil Burger from his unforgettable masterpiece, The Illusionist. The movie I just said was a great movie in 2006 about a magician. He really did a great job there for sure. In this Limitless, he also did a good job for me beside the story part. The direct was good and the added effects were in line with the story. It not as great as limitless but still it will be something for you guys to remember his work.
This kind of movie mustn't be run away from its effects. The effects for this movie are great. The slow motion part after the act took the pill is really great and fun to see. Beside the acts, the effects save the movie too. Some of you who doesn't look at the story part may say this movie is great because of the amazing effects through the movie because it is. I enjoy all the effects in it.  

Overall, this movie is ok, a little disappointed for me, but the acts and effects save it all. It's all about the choice. All you can learn from this movie is how to make a good choice for your life. Whatever choice you take, it may has a risk whether it's big or small. So, consider it carefully before you take the choice. Enjoy it. :D

Good points: 
-   The acts are great, they actually save this movie
-   The effects are awesome, the slow motion part win this movie 

Bad points:
-   There are some boring and lame scenes through this movie

Rating: 7.0/10.0 

Source Code (2011)

Genre: Sci-Fi, Thriller

Tag Line: Make Every Second Count

Running Time: 1 Hours 33 Minutes

Casts:  Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Monaghan, Vera Farmiga, Jeffrey Wright

Directed by: Duncan Jones

Produced by: Howard Koch Jr., Jeb Brody, Fabrice Gianfermi

Story:

When decorated soldier Captain Colter Stevens wakes up in the body of an unknown man, he discovers he's part of a mission to find the bomber of a Chicago commuter train. In an assignment unlike any he's ever known, he learns he's part of a government experiment called the "Source Code," a program that enables him to cross over into another man's identity in the last 8 minutes of his life. With a second, much larger target threatening to kill millions in downtown Chicago, Colter re-lives the incident over and over again, gathering clues each time, until he can solve the mystery of who is behind the bombs and prevent the next attack.
Written by Official Site  

Review:  
Source Code is a smart movie. I have never watched a movie like this before which is not boring even it had a same scene for like 8-10 times. It will be boring if it doesn't have any development on its plot and story because of the same setting. But this one will really made you can't hardly wait for the next scene. It's not boring at all. Like a source code, it can be reprogram into something new with the same setting. Let's see it one by one.
The story is about a soldier Captain Colter Stevens who wakes up in a body of an unknown man and has a mission to find the bomber of Chicago commuter train that happened and killed many people. It is suspected that it is a terrorist attack. To prevent something worst happening, this soldier has to stop the bomber no matter what. The government has a program called "Source Code", a program that enables him to cross over into another man's identity in the last 8 minutes of his life, then turns Captain Colter Stevens to catch the bomber before the bomb explodes. 
This 8 minutes scene that happened like 8-10 time will be boring if it is not packed well with the plot and story. The concept is simple but great. You can't guess what will happened in the next scene. I bet the producers of this movie is taking risks while making this movie. It will be a mess and boring movie if it can't developed well at the same scene, but it will be a great success if everything turns out thrilling and chilling. And it is not vain at all. That same scene is developed really good and not boring at all. It can chill you to the bone while waiting for the exploding. It also looks like a detective movie, you can try to guess who is the bomber between the passengers in the train. Is it great rite? ;)
This movie also has a great twist at the ending that I believe it will make you a bit confusing and you should really watch it well.It's confuse but great when you have understood it.
Jake Gyllenhaal and Michelle Monaghan are really good at play their characters. They can really make the same scene fun and interesting. Jake is a great class actor, everybody should have known his great act in other movies like The Day After Tomorrow, Bubble Boy, Brothers, etc. Michelle is also a well known actress like we see her in Gone Baby Gone, Due Date, Eagle Eye, etc. The two well known acts are not denied that make this movie even better. They are a great deal. I will also give my credit to Vera Farmiga who is I think did a really great job to develop Colleen Goodwin character who is strict and static but still has a humanity inside of her. She makes me felt what Colleen felt at the same time, how to handle the situation. It must be hard. 
The Director, Duncan Jones, is not a well known director for me. He hasn't created something best but this one is really good. He proves that he can direct a so good movie with simple concept, same setting but different script, plot and story. This one maybe his early brilliant masterpiece. Just can't wait for his next movie. 
Since it's Sci-Fi movie, it should have many effects in it. But all the effects is good at a place. It's the same effect that happened few times but good in proportion. It is not really wow me all the time but it's still something you have to see. 

Overall, this movie is great enough, with its unusual same scene and the twist at the end, it is really worth it to watch this movie. It's recommended to all of the action and science fiction lovers. It's really tense movie and it's not disappointed at all. For Information Technology graduated, it must be something good to learn about the "Source Code". Enjoy it. :D

Good points: 
-   It's a good movie with simple concept
-   The same scene develops really good so it's not boring at all 
-   The twist is good but you have to understand it

Bad points:
-   A bit confusing at the end

Rating: 8.0/10.0 

True Blood Season 4 Ep. 6 (2011)

Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller

Tag Line: It Hurts So Good

Running Time: 60 Minutes

Casts:  Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer, Sam Trammell, Ryan Kwanten  
Directed by: Jeremy Podeswa

Produced by: Allan Ball

Season 4 Episode 6
"I Wish I Was the Moon"

Story:

Eric and Sookie enter Sookie's house to have sex when Bill barges in and attacks Eric. Eric is about to kill Bill but Sookie says that Bill is his King and, shocked, Eric bows down to him and allows himself to be arrested. Arlene and Terry's house catches on fire while they are sleeping. Arlene panics when she can't find Mikey, but he is already outside the house, playing with the mysterious doll. He is able to see a mysterious African-American woman who waves at him from a distance. Meanwhile, Sookie goes out looking for Jason on the night of the full moon and Jessica, sensing his fear, goes to comfort him. They share a special moment, and Jason discovers that he isn't turning into a werepanther. 
In Mexico, Jesus' grandfather tells Jesus and Lafayette that they must find him a sacrifice. They find a rattlesnake, and Jesus' grandfather makes the snake bite Jesus; Lafayette heals him, however, when the spirit of "Tio Luca" enters his body. Tara's girlfriend, Naomi, shows up in Bon Temps and they rekindle their relationship. Pam shows up at Merlottes and attacks Tara and Naomi in a fit of rage. Bill tells Eric that he will experience the true death for treason, but Eric is released when he appeals to Bill's love for Sookie. Meanwhile, Tommy shapeshifts into Sam, fires Sookie, and has sex with Luna. He then tries to kill himself by overdosing. Sookie, while out in the woods looking for Jason, runs into Eric. Eric says that he was set free by Bill; they make love outside by the light of the moon. Meanwhile, Marnie is possessed by Antonia while imprisoned, revealing herself to be a powerful witch. 

Written by Official Site  

Review: 
Last week I said that episode 5 was the best episode of the season so far, but this week, this episode really get me into it. It beats last week episode and take the crown to be the best episode of the season so far. It's really amazing. The story increases its thrill and chill. It involves many creatures around and all of that has their own interest part. 
First, that shifter brother, Tommy, who can turns into human body by now because he had killed his own parents. This part is interesting by now. I think Sam Trammel who plays also character with the same name, Sam is really good at acting. When Tommy turns into his body, he surely can act like Tommy's. He is amazing. 
Second, the Jason Stackhouse part. He is the fun guy ever in the movie. When the story goes too serious, he will be someone who saves it. He will make fun of it, and sure he can do it. Ryan Kwanten plays it great. This episode tells his love line with Jessica, his best friend, Hoyt's girlfriend. I can't wait for this part to develop because it must be cool to see more about this.
Third, Antonia who finally successfully possesses Marnie make the story more intense. The Shaman part, who is Jesus' Grandpa also scary and thrill. I have got a sense that maybe there will be a fight between a shaman and a witch. It must be interesting. Let's hope it's true. I just can't wait for it.
The last part who is also interesting is not Bill side, it's that cursed Eric who becomes so romantic and kind, and finally have a relationship with Sookie. I hope it develops more and I bet Bill can't stay silent about this and something interesting will soon happen. Tara and Naomi, great lesbian couple on screen, they have a small part in this episode but still good to see about heir relationship. Alcide and Debbie, who rejoin a kind of community, it hasn't been told much yet but it gets more interesting. 
Overall, it's great episode, I love the whole part and I will reannounce that this one is the best episode of the season so far. Love it. :D

Good points: 

-   The scenes are all great from Shifter to Vampire, Shaman to Witch, Werewolf to Werephanter, everything is great
-   The story develops so well in this episode. Great development.  

Bad points:
-   Nothing is bad in this episode

Rating: 8.7/10.0