MOVIE REVIEW: "INTERSTELLAR" (2014)

“INTERSTELLAR” (2014) MOVIE REVIEW

After the inaugural press screening a couple of mornings ago, you could witness a flurry of interest by newshounds, all too eager to pounce.

Has it dawn upon anyone that this futuristic sci-fi film INTERSTELLAR is going to out-perform any box-office expectations in Asia and most parts of the world?

The name CHRISTOPHER NOLAN still sells, much to the chagrin of his competitors who have been waiting for an opportune moment to have him slide from the pedestal.

It appears that the wondrous special effects and thunderous rumblings on the IMAX screen have to do with the wailing roar. Maybe.

You will be amazed that, suddenly, everyone is a professional guru telling you how the film should be made.

The plot could be secondary. Or could it?

INTERSTELLAR is a wake-up call for those who never bothered about the ravages of time and piling up damage caused by global warming ,until it’s too late.

Taking everything for granted, what would really happen in the near future if the world is devoid of food. water. anything? Bleak, right?

This is the sedate life that we often take for granted.

The PLOT exemplifies Cooper the lead character (Matthew McConaughey) as a former NASA test pilot and engineer-turned-corn farmer. He now enjoys a simple rural life tending to his harvest.

The members of his happy family comprise of his 10-year-old daughter Murphy (Mackenzie Foy), 15-year-old son Tom (Timothee Chalamet) and father-in-law Donald (John Lithgow).

STORYLINE

“INTERSTELLAR” is an arresting film that is highly speculative, yet with a fair amount of reality jolt in regard to scientific accuracy.

It has been scientifically proven that, in the near future, the earth will no longer be able to sustain humanity at the rate it is going.

Dust storms will scour the land and mankind will be regressed to become an agrarian society.

 Four astronauts — former Air Force pilot played by Matthew McConaughey and scientists Anne Hathaway, Wes Bentley and David Gyasi — are selected to travel to a wormhole near Saturn.

The idea is to go through the wormhole and hopefully find another planet capable of sustaining human life.

NASA is a secret organization led by Michael Caine a “gravity expert”.

But the voyage may keep McConaughey away from Earth for untold years, which will break his daughter’s Murphy’s heart (she’s played as a child by Mackenzie Foy and as an adult by Jessica Chastain).

Murphy swears never to forgive her father for choosing mankind over her.

While in space, Cooper (Matthew McConaughey) the pilot and fellow astronauts, Dr. Amelia Brand (Anne Hathaway) and 2 other scientists realize that time is not on their side.

 One slip in space could mean collective years deducted back on Earth.

Their loved ones could die from either hunger, old age or breathing too much dust  into the lungs.

At all costs, these astronauts must ensure that mankind stays afloat.

But what’s in-store for everyone faced with in this precarious situation?

FOOTNOTES:

Mother Earth is fast running out of food resources, so a team of explorers (Captained by Matthew McConaughey ) ventures the unknown in human history.

They are taking the giant leap to infinity to discover whether mankind can provide a haven among the stars.

This is also a heart-breaking film where  you get to watch actor MATTHEW McCONAUGHEY crying buckets especially in moments when he interacts with his family from outer space to Earth.

MATTHEW McCONAUGHEY is destined for an OSCAR mention for not checking on his emotions and flows of tears.

Touching story, no doubt, with equally stunning visuals.

“INTERSTELLAR” in closing, is both haunting and heartbreaking, told with a tenderness that keeps the audience gripped to its finale.

RATING: 4 out of 5

Local Distributor: WARNER BROS PICTURES MALAYSIA.

“MAN OF STEEL” Movie Review. Will this NEW SUPERMAN fare any BETTER?

“MAN OF STEEL” PRESS PREVIEW

We are talking about a welcome blast from the past.

The latest MAN of STEEL alias SUPERMAN is portrayed by British actor HENRY CAVILL.

He is zooming back again, larger than life, into our hearts and minds, taking us through every detail the magical spendor of the gigantic 3D IMAX screen can ever capture.

For a fact, beefcake HENRY CAVILL is awesome.

But he ain’t any CHRISTOPHER REEVE.

REEVE is irreplaceable.

 HENRY CAVILL now adorns the famous trademark suit and cape of the perennial super hero.

In a nutshell, you are treated to a prolonged “cat-and-mouse dance” from Earth to Outer Space, to witness all forms unspeakable destruction.

Non-stop action, fallen buildings and dead bodies are a dime a dozen, from start to end, but the movie storyline remains cliche and predictable.

Even the leading protagonists are struggling for depth of character, no thanks to an insipid script.

Superman is an established folk lore that everyone knows, people from all ages and walks of life.

We know, that as an infant, he was sent hurling through space from the dying planet Krypton heading for Earth in order to survive and save mankind in the near future.  The baby was found bawling in a Kansas cornfield by Jonathan and Martha Kent who raised him as their very own, in the fictional town of Smallville.

 In this latest version, the arch-enemy General Zod (MICHAEL SHANNON) pursues him to earth to try to regain the mysterious Codex, which Kal-El (the baby) has carried from Krypton. The Codex contains the key to power.

This is where our story begins (or ends).

“MAN OF STEEL” film director is ZACK SNYDER who glorifies us with his Spartan all-men line-up epic 300.

In the Producer’s chair is CHRISTOPER NOLAN, the man responsible for the Batman mythology as in the Dark Knight trilogy.

“MAN OF STEEL” takes us through a vivid retelling of an apocalyptic clash between the super beings fighting for the future of a fragile Earth.

It’s absolute hell and mayhem throughout.

In any case, our new Super Hero and his love interest Lois Lane played by AMY ADAMS do not seem to project any ounce of chemistry. The sparkless casting seemed mismatched.

If you can sieve through all the din and clutter and still utter “Holy Moses!”, then this one’s for you.

Naturally “MAN OF STEEL” is a commendably good film.

But it could have fared a lot better with a focused direction.

Enjoy, dear friend.

“THE DARK KNIGHT RISES” Movie Review. Behold the Dark Forces in this Terse, Tense and Chilly Thriller.

“THE DARK KNIGHT RISES” PRESS PREVIEW

Stretching for almost 3 hours long, there must be a helluva lot going for the DARK KNIGHT.

For sure.

There’s every reason for its succint long-windedness.

With this long-awaited actioner from ace director CHRISTOPHER NOLAN, our helmsman draws the drapes to let the light in, to assure us that there are no holds barred, no shortage of surprises, dark secrets are strewn like red herrings to lure us straight into the plot.

With him you’d have to trust his creation, see it, feel it.

So hop in!

“THE DARK KNIGHT” has finally arrived in grand fanfare, a resounding gong to peel the layers  of mounting suspense off the Pandora’s box.

It’s saving the best for last, so be braced to expect the unexpected.

Here’s a triumphant cinematic experience for your eyes, ears and heart that will capture audiences of all sizes.

Charming and chilling, this top-notch thriller boasts strong performances from an awesome all star cast, notably CHRISTIAN BALE, MICHAEL CAINE, TOM HARDY, JOSEPH GORDON-LEVITT, ANNE HATHAWAY and MARION COTILLARD.

No one likes spoilers, so here’s a quick tread on the plot line:

Eight years have rolled by since the disappearance of superhero BATMAN.

He is now BRUCE WAYNE, living as a recluse, hobbling  around in his mansion, mourning for a lost love.

Gone forever, is his fearless hero persona.

BRUCE has taken the blame for the death of district attorney HARVEY DENT.

Meanwhile, everything is going wrong in Gotham City.

It is crushing under the weight of the anti-crime Dent act.

In time, a crafty female cat burglar appears, with a mysterious agenda.

Far more dangerous is the emergence of a dangerous rogue called BANE, a masked terrorist.

BRUCE is therefore forced to return as BATMAN to save the masses.

But given the hapless physical state he is now, can he ever be a sparring match for BANE?

 Behold action galore via kidnappings, colossal explosions, shootings, death and mass destruction. The film’s villain, Bane, is monstrously muscled, is ghastly sadistic, adorning a grotesque mask that is enough to send shivers down one’s spine.

The cinematography, visual effects and production design are way over the top.

Let’s pay homage to this third and final installment of the Batman saga.

At curtain call, take a bow.

Lights out, the legend ends.

And the act is over.