Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again

Amanda Seyfried, Lily James, Dominic Cooper,

Julie Waters, Christine Baranski, Hugh Skinner,

Josh Dylan, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Cher

Jeremy Irvine, Andy Garcia, Stellan Skarsgard

10 years later, the sequel to the popular musical movie Mamma Mia is back. This time, the story takes off 5 years later, when Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) is preparing for the grand reopening of the Hotel Bella Donna. The small B&B on the Greek isle first opened by her mother Donna (Meryl Street). 

We find out Donna is no longer in the picture but no details or any mention of how she passed away is revealed. Through seamless flashbacks, a young Donna (Lily James) who just graduated from Oxford, discovers herself on the small Greek isle. Her aspirations, her romantic life dating three guys (one of whom is Sophie's biological father), her pregnancy then her decision to start a bed and breakfast to support herself. All of these situations are naturally filled with Abba songs.

The same cast (but some of them older) is present in full force, singing their hearts out, belting Abba tunes - some of them familiar songs while others are songs I've never heard before. The story shifts effortlessly between the young Donna and the present day with Sophie trying her best to keep the memory of her mother alive through the Hotel Bella Donna.

The plot is believable and works well with the songs they chose to represent each situation. Lily James is a refreshing presence as the young Donna, she does well to carry the entire movie on her shoulders and dare I mention, she sings way better than Meryl Street. 10 years is a long time difference for a sequel to come out, but the plot is simple enough, you can easily piece together the story. 

A couple of flaws - the casting of the younger men in Donna's life. They all look alike and I couldn't tell them apart and who they grow up to be. Maybe I wasn't paying too much attention in the first film so I didn't know the names of the characters Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth and Stellan Skarsgard were portraying. I got a bit confused in the sequel. 

Now, Cher as Sophie's grandmother, What? Not credible at all, I don't how and where it is possible for Cher to be Meryl Streep's mother. Then Ruby (Cher) whole connection with the Andy Garcia character is just plain stupid. Probably just a silly excuse for Cher to sing "Fernando".  

I don't have an issue with characters bursting into song while acting. Clearly everyone knows this is a musical. I love most of the Abba songs and it was a good walk down memory lane hearing songs I grew up listening to during my childhood. It was also a good introduction to their songs which didn't fare well at the music charts.

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Daniella Pineda, 

Justice Smith, James Cromwell, Rafe Spall

"Life finds a Way"

This film continues three years after the closure of the theme park on Isla Nublar, located somewhere in Costa Rica. Naturally since the lab-developed dinosaurs ran amok and ate a lot of visitors which was elaborately explored in the remake of Jurassic Park trilogy named Jurassic World 2015.

Present day, Owen (Chris Pratt) and Claire (Bryce Dallas Howard) are 'reunited' and back on the abandoned island which is now threatened by the fury of an exploding volcano. They want to save and rescue as many dinosaurs as humanly and humanely possible. A deed made possible through the generosity of the Lockwood Estate which created a sanctuary where these animals can roam around freely without cages, with no tourists and no distractions. Even though the government itself decided it is best to leave them on the island - for the very reason that they should never have been 'created' in the first place.

But evil and green surfaces in the form of Ellis Mills (Rafe Spall) an underling working for the now aging and frail Benjamin Lockwood (James Cromwell). Mills thinks it is a great idea to auction off these dinosaurs to the highest bidders, who can use them for industrial, agricultural purposes but mainly turn them as 'weapons' of mass destruction. These species are transported to the Lockwood estate where representatives of several nations congregate for the auction. Both Owen and Claire were tricked into believing the dinosaurs will be airlifted to a safe haven. 

The main attraction at the auction is this humongous dinosaur that was bred using the DNA of  several really fierce dinosaurs so you can be utterly sure, the Indoraptor is as deadly as it comes. But surely, anywhere and anytime these massive creatures are present you can be sure, the situation will turn really ugly as they escape from their supposedly iron clad enclosures and eat any one that moves. Heh!

This really flimsy premise basically runs wild in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. Another dangerous mission for Owen and Claire - they being the good guys trying their best to contain the situation which has gone awry in the very worst possible way. Plus some entirely crazy and silly subplot involving Lockwood's 'granddaughter, thrown in to just add confusion to an already murky plot.

The cinematography though is quite vibrant - the scene with numerous dinosaurs running, rushing down the jungle and trumping their way towards the sea as hot molten lava pour down from the imposing volcano is excellently shot. The pressure to escape quite palpable as you can almost feel the ground shaking from the massive exodus. One, if not the only memorable scene in this film.

The second half grinds down to a slower pace during the auction part, then picks up a bit with chaotic scenes of people trying to flee from the escaping dinosaurs, which were being sold off to bidders. And rightly so, the conclusion does leave us with a sense that the third installment will entail dinosaurs in the city streets. Something we have to wait for it until 2021!

So while the film could use some depth to the story line, there is a valid message it wants to impart - there was a rational reason dinosaurs were extinct and wiped out eons ago - these are very dangerous creatures and tend to eat people.

Ocean's Eight

Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett,

Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonham Carter,

Mindy Kaling, Rhianna, Sarah Paulson

"Every con has its Pros"

So in this very PC environment, the age of the #MeToo movement, gender equality and feminism, the big studio honchos decided a remake of the Ocean's 11 franchise, but this time with an all female cast would be a good idea. 

You know, that heist movie with an ensemble cast led by George Clooney, which was itself a remake of the 1960 film with the same title which starred Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr among others. Back then, they were popularly known as the Rat Pack.

It (Clooney's 11) worked NOT because it had an all male cast but mostly due to the interesting story line, sleek cinematography, numerous twists and turns. Plus the premise that a bunch of misfits can pull off a heist in a Las Vegas casino and get away with it was an added bonus. 

Now back to Ocean's 8 - the ensemble cast composed of talented actresses in their own right failed to capture our attention as much as the original film did. The plot lacked a certain something for us to be fully invested in a group of women who decide to pull off a jewelry heist during the famous Met Ball. That annual fundraising fashion event held for the benefit of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume institute in New York City. 

The heist is led by Debbie (Sandra Bullock), the estranged sister of Danny Ocean who just came out of prison after serving her 5 years. It seems that jail did not reform the ex convict as she gathers a bunch of eccentrics to plan the stealing of a 150 Million US$ necklace. A piece of jewelry to be worn at the Met Gala by an floozy actress named Daphne Kluger (Anne Hathaway). 

The twists and turns were not riveting enough and also the motley crew characters were not engrossing personas. Too bad the great cast couldn't salvage this average heist movie. Perhaps next time, they should think twice, even thrice before they venture into a spin-off of an already well loved franchise. Such a pity to waste such talented actresses, really.

Memoirs of a Murderer

Eiga Sai 2018

Japanese Film Festival

Greenbelt 1, Cinema 2

So after I saw this film, I read online that it was based on a Korean movie with the same title. While watching this crime thriller, I had no idea about the original movie, so I went with fresh eyes, sitting in the dark theater, sometimes cringing from the violence on screen. Other times trying to wrap my mind over the manifestation of evil which can come in any form. 

The premise - it is 2017, a killer known as the Tokyo Strangler resurfaces in the public eye with a controversial memoir recounting his heinous crimes. The catch - these five murders occurred 22 years ago and the 15-year statute of limitations to apprehend any criminal has already lapsed. 

In this age of instant gratification, the curious public turn the memoir into a huge bestseller. Some of the younger generation even treat the killer as the newest social media star, which to me is sickening but it can and does happen in real life. Suddenly he and his book is constantly on the news cycle, TV media outlets milking him for their ratings. It turns into a big circus, flaunting the failure of the police force and one of its detectives (who has a personal connection) to capture him, 22 years ago.

The main questions - is he really the killer who committed those gruesome murders in 1995? Why is there someone else with a video showing a brutal strangulation claiming himself as the real killer? I am not providing any answers nor any spoilers.

The scenes jump from 1995 to present time, through seamless flashbacks with only the hair style of the lead detective indicating the period for the scenes. Yes there are violent scenes of the murders, so you have been warned. There are also several twists and turns, certain subplots which all add to the dramatic effect it was aiming for. 

There is enough intrigue to draw our short attention span in, masking several flaws in the presentation of the story. So for that, and only that, I am not giving this film, high marks. Just saying if you are into intrigue, mystery and criminals glorifying their dastardly acts in public, then give it a go. Otherwise, just carry on with rose-tinted glasses to shield you from the evil horrors of this world. Peace!

Survival Family

Eiga Sai 2018

Japanese Film Festival

Greenbelt 1, Cinema 2

A family of 4 - a couple + their teenage children embark on a journey of survival as Japan and later it seems the entire world experience a power outage, which also affected computerized and battery enabled products. 

In a highly industrial country like the land of the Rising Sun, power plays a major part in everything which affects the citizens' daily life. From cars, trains, airplanes to water supply, elevators in high rise buildings even the biometric machine to enter office buildings. Nothing is operational, turning lives upside down as they come to grips with a reality mired in darkness and chaos.

What started as a power interruption soon extends for days even months, thus the Suzuki family decide to travel to the countryside (to the hometown of the mother) on their bicycles with very bare essentials to tie them over. Hordes of people walking on expressways, most of them biking to distant places, anywhere but Tokyo which has been transformed into a ghost town. 

Yet I have to say, it is only in Japan that you will see people being so calm and accepting of such a bleak situation. No looting, no erupted violence - well it wasn't shown in this film, anyway.

The Suzuki family with an office worker dad, a housewife mom, a bratty daughter and an aloof son  - soon enough bond together during their 'road trip'. In a society where everyone have their noses down and busy with their smartphones, it was refreshing to see a family actually talking and doing activities together without any distractions.

It is mostly a light comedy which aims not to take the serious occurrence too seriously. The Suzuki family encounters well meaning strangers on the road, fleeting moments as they eventually part ways. They eventually settle in this gorgeous coastal town sans electricity but plenty of activities like weaving, gardening and actual conversations with each other to occupy their time.

 A good film that shows us how we tend to be too dependent on technology and its effects on modern society. Aloofness, lack of bonding moments, lost of face to face communication taking a toll on our lives. It could have been set in any country and we would all be able to relate to our dependence on technology, nowadays.

P.S.

The global power outage lasted for two and a half years and it was blamed on solar flares or an approaching comet.