Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023)

I enjoyed this! More than the last one, which I didn't really like but was entertained enough by.  

There's a grand scale of majesty and I'm fascinated enough by the story world below the sea. Very VFX apparent throughout. Very stretching of believe in terms of characters' strengths and prowess. 

I loved seeing Aquaman riding the seahorse. And I like Topo too! And my favourite bit is where we learn how rulers should be building bridges. 

Jason Momoa's performance made me imagine what a cinematic Lobo would be like, rather than the Aquaman from the comics I know (esp. the Peter David written stories).

Godzilla Minus One (2023)

I thought the movie was a bit too long because I didn't buy into the performances of the main actor. But the destruction scenes were impressive. Godzilla's eyes did not really come alive for me. And the baby in the film (small thing as it may be), I thought just was not rightly cast. Still, I suspect I'll remember this Godzilla film more fondly than the ones I've seen from Hollywood.    
 

The Boy and the Heron (2023)

An interesting watch. I think there are other Miyazaki flicks I was more entertained and engaged by. This is still a fascinating viewing experience, and it's a great example of visual storytelling. 
 

A Year of No Significance《大風吹》(2023)

Isn't too bad, but def for the art house crowd. IMHO, the theme and message is potent, but some details in the execution does come across as lacking. E.g. the performances of the child talents. Great acting from Peter Yu and Tan Tiow Im. Reminded me of that film with Michael Douglas, Falling Down.  

The Marvels (2023)

What I liked: Kamala Khan. Some of the switching fight sequences. The 2 credits sequences. 

What I didn't care for: The script is so bland and lazy. The whole movie feels bland. 

La Luna (2023)

Mainstream fluff that's entertaining and engaging with great performances all round, even from all the supporting characters.

Confinement《陪月》(2023)

Not a fan of this type of horror. 

But I did like the old school horror feel in which the scary lingers around the atmosphere (Yes, there are some jump scares too). I also had some logic questions which I gave up trying to answer. Great sound design, score, and competent performances. 

The Breaking Ice《燃冬》(2023)

Loved it. Love the way the score supported the narrative. Love the performances, especially by Zhou Dongyu and Qu Chuxiao.
 

Asteroid City (2023)

There's a line in the film that goes, "You can't wake up if you don't fall asleep". I think I was shut eye for maybe half the film. (I must have been tired and stressed from work despite watching on an off day)

Love the opening and ending establishments of Asteroid City. Love the three sisters (witches?).

Past Lives (2023)

Is nice.

I think I like the casting of both leads the best. But it's a slow moving pic. And major chunks of the characters' lives are omitted, which make me less invested in them. But the performances are arresting, and there are moments in the film that are just so compelling. The moment of silence between the characters at the end, felt so awkward and yet so painfully reflects their repressed feelings towards each other. IMHO, this is not for everyone. But it has lots I like (despite some bits I don't).
 

Blue Beetle (2023)

There's a scene in this that's like a comedy version of a horror flick. Like how the newly hatched alien would jump onto the nearest victim's face. Or Starro in the comics. But in this scene, it's played for laughs.  

I like that they acknowledged that this is the third Blue Beetle w/o going into the back story of who the first two were (comic fans will be delighted by the teases). I like that there are heavy chunks in which the characters speak Spanish cos' that's native to them. I love the appearance of the Bug!

The uncle character isn't too bad. It's cool that the costumes are very close to the comic versions. It's also nice to have the ties to the second Blue Beetle, but...

I didn't really dig the story, the bad guys (pretty generic) and some of the support cast (basically everyone except the uncle). 

Oppenheimer (2023)

Nice! Some poignant lines, like how when one drops a bomb, it drops on both the just and the unjust. Closes with a strong statement, IMHO.
 

Barbie (2023)

Enjoyed. Also made me cry a bit (some parts). Ending feels fluffy tho.
 

Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One (2023)

Not bad!
 

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023) - IMAX

My first Indy pic. For a popcorn blockbuster popcorn, I enjoyed it muchly. Great performances. Great action. 
 

Scala (2022)

Having been to the Scala, I wanted to like this.

It was mostly a loose video documentation of the Scala as it's being taken apart, with a loose voice over and some audio clips, and very little (or distant) feature of any individual(s).

At least now, I know a bit more about the staff and people who had worked at the Scala (or in the case of the director, grown up around the area), and what happens to a cinema that's being taken apart, where some of these parts are now, etc.

It's been an educational watch. I think that to get into this personal docu, the audience may need to make some effort to be engaged. 

The Woman King (2022)

Is all right.

I found the coming-of-age story of Nawi, the character who joined the Agojie actually more engrossing. The story may also have been slightly diminished in trying to tell her story as well as that of The Woman King herself within 135 minutes.

The battle scenes remind me of the Dora Milaje from the Black Panther and Avenger movies when they get into a massive battle. Except here, the violence is more brutal and the setting probably more disturbingly realistic.
 

Elemental (2023)

Nice! This is basically what Pixar does best in the storytelling department.
 

The Flash (2023)

Was all right. Michael Keaton has some nice bits. The final scene was good.
 

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)

Nice!
 

Fast X (2023)

Was going to give this a skip but decided to watch.

Action's not bad. Jason Mamoa's character is a fun and fierce opponent. Nice to see some characters return. Didn't care for the cheese.
 

Of an Age (2022)

The performances are what makes this one work, IMHO. Direction's also pretty much nifty.
 

Boy from Heaven (2022)

Very nice!

One of those films that show the world as a fucked up place. Great performances. Tight story telling. 

Baby Queen (2022)

Nice!
 

Happy Together《春光乍洩》(1997)

Nice! Watched the 4K restored version.

Many moons ago, I watched this on a poor quality VHS and couldn't relate to the film and found it dull.

This round, I actually liked the film muchly and could relate much better. Great visuals and great sound on the big screen. Didn't see this as a gay film, more like a film about human relationships.

Interesting to see a world that predates the domination of cell phones and internet across the globe.
 

Le bleu du caftan (2022)

Incredible!

Everything introduced throughout the film builds towards the end. The pace is measured and the scenes are subtle, but oh so poignant!

One of the strongest female characters I've seen in film.

Strong direction, performances, soundtrack, visuals and all.
 

Joyland (2022)

Somehow, I didn't enjoy this as much as I hoped I would. IMHO, the character of Mumtaz is the one I gravitated towards the most.
 

Sisu (2023)

What a visually arresting film with a glorious soundtrack! Evil Nazis spouting accented English. Our glorious hero going without a single dialogue for almost the whole film. The shot of the women with guns! Or the Nazis who dropped their weapons. I can imagine the main hero being like an older Bruce Wayne in a world without costumed heroes.
 

Return to Seoul (2022)

Erm... I did doze off a bit in the front just before the first period in Freddie's life ended (cos I think I was tired).  That said, I thought the storytelling was very deliberate. I wasn't sure if I liked it after I left the cinema, but it's definitely a film with substance, IMHO.

Great performance by Park Ji-Min. Direction was subtle and compelling, but this type of film may not be for everyone as it seems to be more focused on the emotional truth of a character than trying to make the character sympathetic.

One of the characters described Freddie as a very sad person. 

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)

Bad guys get dispatched without much considerations. In other words, if you think too much like I do now, which is to notice how accepting it is in modern pop culture for violence to happen to characters in films, as long as they are bad guys.

GOTG3 does have its entertaining bits. But I realized I didn't really care much for Star Lord in this one. I like Adam Warlock! But the characters, fun as some of them like Drax and Nebula are, didn't make me feel for them as much in this "plot is thin" adventure.   

Generally still liked it tho.


 

Riceboy Sleeps (2022)

"Feelings" driven drama about a mom and son, that also touched on family roots and issues that immigrants to a new country face.

It was okay, but the focus was a little soft.

Marry My Dead Body《關於我和鬼變成家人的那件事》(2023)

This "fairy tale" is pretty entertaining. Plot is thin but the characters endearing. Even some of the supporting, who only made few appearances, like the granny and the fat gay colleague.
 

The Man on the Other Side (2019)

I kind of saw the potential that this could be as a love story. Unfortunately, the romance aspect comes across as a wee bit weak, IMHO. That said, as a debut feature, and a drama thriller, it's actually not too bad. Dig the score. And Mari Bensel managed to command the screen as Sophie Zimmermann pretty nicely. 

Geylang《芽籠》(2022)

Mark Lee's performance is what I enjoyed most about this film. I thought the plot dragged the ending out a bit longer than it should. IMHO, it's nice to have a Singapore film like this that's targeted at the mainstream. Love some of the black humor.

Reminded me a bit of Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillip's Criminals graphic novel series as that one also focused on criminal characters. Also reminded me of Wild Things at times, when I felt certain plot decisions were made for the sake of creating drama without more in depth development. 

Bros (2022)

Luke MacFarlane provided the eye candy for me in this one. I generally enjoyed it though I though some scenes went on for a bit too long with too much yak yak. Love the appearance by Ts Madison. Good to see Symone too, tho she was mainly wallpaper and didn't do much.  

Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023)

I was mostly entertained. But why are figures from Greek mythology played by actresses who are of different ethnicity? And I didn't really buy how Diana would be all smiley at the end when she makes her entrance. It kind of diminishes the gravity of why she was there in the first place (though it was nice to see her). Love the end credits with links to the last film; and the JSA! And Skittles!
 

John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023)

Essentially an action choreography showcase. None to shabby. Enjoyed it but did dozed off a bit in the middle. 

The King of Musang King《猫山王中王》(2023)

A bit of a yawner, as I don't really connect with the story.  

The Menu (2022)

Very tightly crafted thriller with great performances. Loved it, despite some probable suspension of disbelief. 
 

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)

Nice! Liked it muchly.
 

Circle Line《生死环线》(2023)

Went in with low expectations but was entertained. Wished it was more organic in racial and language representation if the film is supposed to be set in Singapore. And there were some handheld shots which I felt did not benefit those scenes. Some good actors in this bunch but some of the lines come across as pretty scripted. Some things don't make sense, or lack consistency. I also wished the film ended at an earlier point than the one it went with. 4 out of 5 stars!