Movies seen on the road
All were seen aboard Cathay Pacific, with the exception of Appaloosa, which I would have finished in flight were it not for a technical problem with the in-flight entertainment (which never recovered for the remainder of the flight… Funa if you’re reading, I’m not a happy CX customer).
What Just Happened? (2008)
Another Hollywood on Hollywood satire. Robert De Niro stars as a producer who has to wrestle with big studio executives and egomaniac stars (e.g. Bruce Willis as himself). The satire is mildly amusing and it’s always good to see stars who are not afraid to make fun of themselves (Sean Penn and Bruce Willis in this case, especially the latter who has a few scenes that could contend Tom Cruise’s outrageous self-mockery in Tropic Thunder).
6/10
Max Payne (2008)
The circle is complete, but it’s a vicious one. Max Payne, the video game franchise, started out heavily referencing Hollywood and Hong Kong genre films, and in turn its own blended style has always had good movie-adaptation potential. The movie version, though, utterly fails to live up to this potential.
My biggest gripe with the film is that it has all the potential ingredients (the stars and the visuals) except for an even remotely viable plot. Even a scene for scene remake of the video game plot would have been more interesting than the completely brainless plot.
1/10
Body of Lies (2008)
Compared to the previous film, Body of Lies is at least a decent example of a great studio production. Ridley Scott, Russel Crowe and Leonardo DiCaprio team up to make this entertaining (if disappointing in terms of message) contemporary espionage thriller. The film touches upon the subtle issues in geopolitics today, but does not delve deep enough to really provoke the audience to think. The protagonist (DiCaprio) appears surprisingly naive and conscientious for his role; Russel Crowe is effective as a total a**hole portraying a shrewd CIA director, but the film seems to forgive him and show him as a good guy towards the end.
7/10
The Nightmare before Christmas (1993)
Only two words necessary: Tim Burton.
A very enjoyable stop-motion animation. Danny Elfman shows his complete range of musical talent, composing the score and singing the songs.
8/10
Appaloosa (2008)
Ed Harris seems to be contending with Clint Eastwood in who’s the most diversified talent in Hollywood – since he’s directing, producing, writing, starring as well as writing and singing a song on the soundtrack in this western. The film gets off to a good start with a great opening sequence, and the surprising amount of humor in the first half makes the film a very involving viewing experience; however, the film meanders through the second half and the climax is decidedly anticlimactic. Nonetheless, a decent western about male friendship with an interesting character study of a female thrown in.
6/10