“MAYDAY 3DNA ” 五月天 Movie Review. LARGER than LIFE, in spectacular 3D.

 ”MAYDAY 3DNA” 五月天 PRESS PREVIEW

With an oddball movie title like MAYDAY 3DNA, you go figure.

It’s deliberately conjured to rhyme “3D” with “DNA”.

What gives?

Mayday is a Taiwanese all-male alternative rock band whose name has been up in the glittering lights since the late 1990s.

They have lasted for more than one decade, and is no mean feat that they are still going on strong.

Rivalry is forever keen in the vicious show business, with less-than-talented pretty boy bands mushrooming now and then to assail and eclipse any artiste’s existence.

The Chinese attributes that surviving in the entertainment arena is seemingly tough, as the saying goes, there’s always a “higher mountain” out there, threatening to topple you.

Mayday is known to be responsible for composing most of their own songs with soulful lyrics extolling young passion and its complexities, songs that holler the youth’s angst and pain.

Regarded as the next best rock band after Beyond, their songs are rendered mostly in Taiwanese and Mandarin.

Mayday oozes a wholesome, boy-next-door image, representing the zeitgeist of the Taiwanese youth.

In 2009, Mayday kicked off their World Tour using the word DNA as the theme.

DNA is meant as a metaphor for the code of human life used as a mark of respect to their loyal fans for their unwavering support, without which the band would not have lasted this long.

Hence the title of the movie “MAYDAY 3DNA” presented in true form of the 3D spectacle, a pioneer as far as the mandarin mandopop genre is concerned.

The band, stage and props are enhanced during post-production to look colossal and real, so much that you can feel you are being “drawn into” the cheering crowds as a spectator to enjoy the grandeur of the “live” performance.

In the movie, three separate short stories entwined to lend emotional support to “beef up” the story line, with veterans Rene Liu, Richie Ren and Lam Suet playing cameos.

First, a strict middle-aged curry noodle chef in Guangzhou disallows his primary school daughter from making a trip to Shanghai with her class mates to attend the MAYDAY DNA concert. The young daughter’s rebellious tantrums get him to change his mind.

Second story focuses on a lonely taxi driver in Taipei who fetches a forlorn woman who has just gotten dumped and that night, the taxi driver opens up his inner world to her, they become firm friends and she gladly accepts his invite to attend the MAYDAY concert in Shanghai.

The last tale takes us to a gregarious delivery boy in Shanghai who scrimps and saves to buy the expensive ticket for the same concert.  It is much later that we are shown that the ticket is actually meant to mark the memory of his younger sister (an avid fan of Mayday) who had recently passed on.

This movie is definitely skewed towards die-hard fans of the band and its brand of music.

If you relish sentimental ballads and oldies. then this may not be your cup of tea.

Still, for followers of the arts and music, this movie showcases the musical journey and accomplishments of a great band.

You decide on the fate of this gem.

“JOHNNY ENGLISH REBORN” Movie Review. Expect Less. Enjoy More.

“Here am I, bursting ONSCREEN with my AWESOME, LETHAL KUNG FU KICKS!”

“Hey, I am NOT here to preach the GREEN EARTH.  I arrive to save the FLAMING GLOBE!”

“TAKE THIS, YOU BUFFOON!”

“I let you into a little SECRET.  I have a FETISH for RED LIPSTICK ….”

“SORRY, I did the WRONG FLIP!”

“HECK, I am NAKED and BLUE.  Wrong TIMING ….”

“Here’s STARING at you, IMBECILE!”

“I may be SHORT, but I tell you I can OUTSMART you any time!”

“HIGHER up there ….. ahhh, yes …. Honey!”

“Can’t you see I am DEAF, idiot.”

“JOHNNY ENGLISH REBORN” PRESS PREVIEW

Without doubt, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery as evident in JOHNNY ENGLISH REBORN, a British action comedy parodying the likes of the infamous James Bond 007.

The title itself sounds preposterous.

We have here the sequel to the 2003 version with Rowan Atkinson reprising the wacky role written by him and directed by Oliver Parker.

It’s anybody guess that he will return in top form to milk more guffaws out of you.

He promises to get into more trouble big-time for your sake.

Our clumsy hero is seen as trying to save the earth, no – not from the green issue, but from the chaotic globe being brutally mutilated. See, we must rely on this buffoon.

Atkinson is of the ridiculous frame, silly wimpish eyes and a small mouth. He promises to deliver more of his absurd “laugh-out-loud” gags.

So with Johnny English hitting the screen this time round, the believable question is, will he screw up the world further?

You lessen your expectations and you’ll get to enjoy the movie a lot more.

This secret agent is hibernating in a Tibetan Buddhist Monastery for eight years, after a mission went wrong in Mozambique.  A head monk decides to train English so he can save the world once more.  MI-7 (a spoof on English secret service MI-6) seeks Johnny English after his training for a brand new mission.

Three Southeast Asian countries are developing nuclear arms as well as an assassination plot to kill the Chinese Premier.  So, Johnny English must save the Premier from being plundered, while making sure China collaborates with England and not with the rogue nations.

The plot is wafer-thin with lots of loopy holes in between.

But no matter.

This film is crafted for die-hard fans of Rowan Atkinson who would love to rib him silly. This apparent anti-hero teaches us to laugh at ourselves because tomorrow may never come. 

You don't go to the cinema to evacuate the story of Mr. Bean's spin-off.

Rather, you go to be tickled pink, to laugh at his daring and self-deprecating misdemeanor.

Rowan Atkinson, alias Mr. Bean, albeit Johnny English is all set to squeeze you into more contorted laughter this Summer.

Stay braced, folks.

“MY KINGDOM” 大武生 CHINESE MOVIE REVIEW. The INTRIGUE of BROTHERHOOD.

“MY KINGDOM”  大武生 PRESS PREVIEW

To begin with, this Reviewer has appraised some of the worst movies you can ever imagine this season.

Thankfully “MY KINGDOM”  does not disappoint.

It’s a welcome respite, just like a lark bursting into song on a lonesome evening.

Leading actor WU CHUN is handsome.  His sidekick HAN GENG is dashing. BARBIE HSU is alluring. Jolly good start.

Beautiful stars do not a film maketh,  but it surely helps to establish the box office.

With two pretty boys and one sweet damsel, the idol-drama formula is always safe and riverting, targeting primarily at the young and dating crowd.

Daddies, mummies and aunties who prefer Donnie Yen and Jet Li become a secondary audience.

Now, we just have to throw in the action.

“MY KINGDOM” directed by Gao XiaoSong is proudly positioned as a period martial arts drama set against a Peking Opera and Kung Fu backdrop.  Fine pacing, colorful sets and amiable eye candies.  These are the initial ingredients to spur us on.

The film opens on the final days of the 19th century.  The merciless Prince Regent of the Qing Dynasty wickedly orders the beheading of the entire Meng clan – men, women and children in public.

Whilst awaiting the  execution, a five-year-old Meng boy bursts into song. His name is Er Kui and he renders a beautiful aria dispelling the gloom in the desolate execution ground.

Deeply moved, opera star Master Yu Shengying (Yuan Biao) and his seven-year-old pupil Guan Yi-long rescue the boy from the gallows.

We are given the clue that there’s a lone survivor of the Meng clan here who will seek revenge in the years to come.

Yes, time rolls and soon the two orphans grew up to become as close as brothers. It will be your guess if you can detect if there’s any trace of a homoerotic bonding. Otherwise you can relegate this to the fact that all men are brothers.

Master Yu wins a coveted golden plaque from the Prince Regent but is challenged to a duel by a Shanghai arch-rival, Master Yue Jiangtian (Yu Rongguang).

Yu fights, loses and is forced to retire in disgrace.

He spends his days training the two boys as “wu sheng,” male warriors in the Peking opera which combines colourful, elaborate costumes, acrobatics, mime and singing.

As strapping young men, Yi-long (Wu Chun) and Er-kui (Han Geng) finally travels to  Shanghai to avenge Master Yu’s humiliation by challenging Master Yue to a spear fight on stage, a confrontation that involves the entire troupe. They won.

Yi-long turns into a vain, self-centered and arrogant opera star and Er-kui becomes an assassin killing all the Prince Regent’s sons as retribution for the execution of his family.

Now, a touch of romance to complete the story.

The love interest comes in the form of Xi Mulan (Barbie Hsu), Master Yue’s former lover and a famous opera actress who attracts the attention of both brothers. And what of her?

The Peking opera industry has a rule: male and female singers cannot fall in love, especially if they’re a shifu and disciple.

We have a tale of two sworn brothers and their quest to regain their master’s honor. This relentless quest leads them to further fame and love. Yet everything gained is everything lost as in eventuality the thirst of vengeance and the game of deceit see them spiraling down in their own woeful game.

“MY KINGDOM” takes on a different kind of action choreography.

Instead of traditional kung fu moves, the audience will be treated to kung fu-trained Peking opera singers honing their skills on and off the stage.

Sammo Hung the action director has created a new style of “graceful kung fu,” by combining traditional martial arts routines with Peking opera singers’ theatrical kung fu movements.

Bravo!

For those who are young and the uninhibited, here’s an unusual period drama set against the intriguing backdrop of the Peking Opera and Kung Fu.

Surely you will be enthralled.

“CONTAGION” Movie Review. A grim REMINDER that this CAN happen Anytime, Anywhere.

“CONTAGION” PRESS PREVIEW

At this present time and age, life on earth ain’t anything stupendous to crow about.

We are deluged with political wars, terrorism, man-induced disasters and mysterious ailments which are horrific issues to reckon with.

The future looks grim.  Everything is easier promised than done.

We may cringe at mistakes of the past, but it’s downright disturbing when we stop to think of similar disasters that may erupt again.

CONTAGION poses as this provocative reminder.

The film rips apart a desolate world that’s caught in gross panic as this deadly disease looms larger than life to claim its victims.

The virus is airborne, contagious and lethal – and seeks to mercilessly infect – and woe betides anyone who stands in its way, if you happen to be at the wrong place, the wrong time.

Death can strike within the next couple of days for the infected.

As the speedy epidemic spreads, the worldwide medical community is in dire straits. It’s a scary race against time to find a cure to control the pandemonium that’s spinning out of control and spreading faster than the virus itself.

In the mid of this psychological brace-to-die situation, hapless people are meanwhile dropping dead one by one.

CONTAGION is the latest film from director Steven Soderbergh and  is anchored by a posse of Oscar winners Matt Damon, Kate Winslet, Gwyneth Paltrow and Marion Cotillard.

Selling itself as a ensemble film, it is in part, an international espionage thriller, albeit a probing medical mystery.

The message it carries is gruesome.

The world we live in is stark and sick.

Despite modern science, many unknown diseases are emerging from the closet, most without cures.

Soon life will imitate art, thus creating the imminence of doomsday.

Director Steven Soderbergh opens the film not on Day 1 of the epidemic but on Day 2, leaving us to ponder about the virus’ origins and how Gwyneth Paltrow’s Beth Emhoff contacted the virus whilst on a business trip to Hong Kong.

Once home in Minneapolis, Beth develops the virus’ nasty symptoms before she’s rushed to a hospital and dies. Her husband Mitch (Matt Damon) has trouble accepting her death. But soon, as more and more people die, it becomes clear that a highly contagious virus is the culprit.

Soderbergh draws our attention to how innocently the virus can be spread: from a handshake, from picking up a credit card or a glass and from a cough.

The second part of the movie appears to preamble like a documentary and digs up questions about the fatality of  humankind should things go very wrong.

Intense, devastating performances from the leads keep us on edge.

For the film director, he succeeds in bringing forth a thought-provoking and definitive closing statement.

It is a grim reminder that this disease can happen and spread anytime, anywhere.

Be warned.