Lady in the Water

 Released Year: 2006

Directed by M. Night Shyamalan

Casted by:

Paul Giamatti as Cleveland Heep

Bryce Dallas Howard as Story

Bob Balaban as Harry Farber

Jeffrey Wright as Mr. Dury

Sarita Choudhury as Anna Ran

Cindy Cheung as Young-Soon Choi

M. Night Shyamalan as Vick Ran

 Story: 

One evening, Cleveland Heep, who became a handyman at a Philadelphia apartment complex after his family was murdered, discovers Story, a naiad-like character (called a Narf) from the Blue World, in his building's pool, immediately rescuing her from an attack by a "Scrunt", a grass-covered lupine that lies preternaturally flat.

Story is here to find a specific writer whose book will better humanity's future. After questioning residents Farber, Bell, Dury, and five nameless smokers, Heep discovers the author, Vick Ran, who is writing The Cookbook, containing views and ideas so significant they will inspire a future President, a great Midwestern orator, to greatly change the world for the better. Ran meeting Story eliminates his fear and sharpens his inner voice, but he learns he will be assassinated because of the controversial nature of his ideas.

The Tartutic, an invincible simian trio that serve as the Blue World's peacekeepers, have forbidden that Story be attacked while returning home. The Scrunt nonetheless does just that, as Story is destined to be a great leader as well. To return safely, she will now need the help of a Symbolist, Guardian, Guild, and Healer. Story believes Heep to be her Guardian; Heep asks Farber, a West Coast émigré turned film critic, to help him figure out the others' identities. Working off movie tropes, Farber misadvises Heep, leading him to a flawed conclusion that a logophile named Dury is the Symbolist, a group of misfit "tokers" are the Guild, and a woman who cares for stray animals named Bell is the Healer.

Heep asks Story how to "practice" for the confrontation but nearly dies in the process, convincing him he's not the Guardian. The next night, Farber's bad advice leads to their plan's immediate failure. In the confusion, Farber is killed and Story is mortally wounded by the Scrunt. Dury suddenly realizes his son Joey is the Symbolist. Interpreting the information on cereal boxes, Joey deduces the true Guild is composed of seven sisters, that two new men must be present, and that the Healer is male, soon revealed to be Heep. He goes about healing Story by "bringing forth [his] energy" (his repressed grief). Story's departure starts again, but the Scrunt attacks; it is stopped by the gaze of Reggie, a lopsidedly muscled tenant who is the true Guardian. Reggie's gaze, capable of compelling the Scrunt to slowly retreat, is distracted by the cry of the Great Eatlon, a giant eagle who will ferry Story home. When Reggie breaks eye contact, the Scrunt leaps, but the Tartutic arrive and drag it away. Heep thanks Story for saving his life as she hugs him goodbye. The Great Eatlon lands, enfolds Story in one of its wings, and takes flight. Each tenant watches as she is ferried into the storm.

 L² Scored: 9/10

L² Comment:

Though this movie is not that scary for the chinese ghost month, but its under the thriller genre, so just wanna share it during this time. All these while I love M.Night Shyamalan's movie a lot, i think he got talents, and his movie is special and always have some kind of meaning inside it. 

Well, overall the movie is not bad, love the storyline... Even though it did not give me too much excitement compare to the first time i watch this movie, but i still love it. 

Jurassic World

 Released Year: 2015

Directed by Colin Trevorrow

Casted by:

Chris Pratt as Owen Grady

Bryce Dallas Howard as Claire Dearing

Nick Robinson as Zach Mitchell

Ty Simpkins as Gray Mitchell

Vincent D'Onofrio as Vic Hoskins

Irrfan Khan as Simon Masran

 Story: 

Twenty-two years after the events of Jurassic Park, InGen has opened a fully functional replacement called "Jurassic World" on Isla Nublar. Brothers Zach and Gray Mitchell are sent to visit their aunt, Claire Dearing, the park's operations manager. Claire's assistant Zara is their guide, as Claire is too busy recruiting more corporate sponsors with bigger dinosaur attractions to maintain the park's attendance. To that purpose, InGen's geneticists have created a new genetically-modified dinosaur called Indominus rex made from DNA of several predatory dinosaurs, as well as modern-day animals like cuttlefish and tree frogs. Dr. Henry Wu, the park's chief geneticist, keeps the exact combination a secret. Simon Masrani, the park's owner, wants Velociraptor trainer and researcher, Owen Grady, to review the Indominus‍ '​ enclosure before the exhibit opens to the public. Owen and Claire, who dated one time but clashed over Claire's controlling nature and Owen's irreverent personality, inspect the exhibit together. Owen warns Claire that the Indominus is extremely dangerous because it has never been socialized to other dinosaurs.

Vic Hoskins, head of InGen security, believes the park's four velociraptors can be trained for military use, but Owen argues that his being the raptors' alpha does not mean they are tamed or controllable. At the Indominus enclosure, Owen and Claire discover that the Indominus has seemingly scaled the wall and escaped. Owen and two other staff enter the enclosure, but the Indominus ambushes them, having faked its escape. It kills both staff before escaping into the jungle, though Owen survives.

Masrani sends armed security to capture the Indominus, but after it kills most of the team, Claire orders an evacuation. Meanwhile, Gray and Zach, having sneaked away to explore on their own, ignore the evacuation order and wander into a forested area in a gyrosphere. The Indominus attacks and destroys the vehicle, but the boys survive. Traveling on foot, they find the ruins of the original Jurassic Park Visitor Center. After repairing an old Jeep, they drive back to the main park. Owen and Claire, searching for them, trail the boys back to the park after barely surviving the Indominus themselves. The Indominus continues its rampage, killing several Apatosaurus and smashing into the park's pterosaur aviary. Masrani and two soldiers hunt the Indominus in a helicopter, but escaped pterosaurs attack it, resulting in it crashing, killing everyone aboard. Gray and Zach arrive at the main park as the pterosaurs begin attacking the visitors, killing Zara in the mayhem. Owen and Claire find Gray and Zach, while armed troops subdue the pterosaurs.

Hoskins assumes command and decides to use the velociraptors to track and kill the Indominus; Owen reluctantly agrees with the plan. The velociraptors follow the Indominus‍ '​ scent into the jungle, and Owen and several InGen soldiers launch an attack. However, because Indominus has raptor DNA, it can communicate with the velociraptors, and turns them against the soldiers. Owen rekindles his bond with one, but soldiers kill it. Meanwhile, Hoskins has Dr. Wu helicoptered off the island with dinosaur embryos, protecting his research. Owen, Claire, Zach, and Gray find Hoskins in the lab packing up the remaining dinosaur embryos. As Hoskins reveals he had intended all along to create genetically-modified dinosaurian super-weapons, he is killed by a raptor.

Owen leads Claire, Zach, and Gray outside, where the other raptors confront them. Owen reestablishes his bond with them before the Indominus appears. The raptors align with Owen and attack the Indominus, resulting in them being killed. Knowing they are outmatched, Claire lures the park's veteran Tyrannosaurus rex into a fight with the Indominus. The T. rex is overpowered until the reappearance of the lone surviving raptor, "Blue". The two dinosaurs force the overwhelmed Indominus towards the lagoon, where the resident Mosasaurus drags it underwater. The T. rex departs, with Blue following. The next day, the survivors are evacuated to Costa Rica. Zach and Gray are reunited with their parents while Owen and Claire decide to stay together.

 L² Scored: 8.5/10

L² Comment:

After 14 years, finally Jurassic is back on blockbuster! The first 2 movies were directed by Stephen Spielberg which has mark the standard so high and cause the 3rd movie to slight down when it was directed by Joe Johnston during 2001. As for Colin Trevorrow, I'm not sure about his work, but he makes a quite impressive on this film.

This time, the scientist came out a new species of dinosaur which is so powerful that the brain is so much better than the rest. Of course, the worst part would be what has been discussed wildly on the internet now, is the high heel that Bryce Dallas Howard wore to run in the whole movie~ Another funny thing is during the end, when the "original species" of dino joint venture to attack the indominus rex and how the main actor can control the raptors as well~

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse

Released Year: 2010
Directed by David Slade

Casted by:
Kristen Stewart as Bella Swan
Robert Pattinson as Edward Cullen
Taylor Lautner as Jacob Black
Bryce Dallas Howard as Victoria
Xavier Samuel as Riley Biers
Jackson Rathbone as Jasper Hale
Story:

Riley Biers is attacked and bitten by Victoria, in order to begin creating an army of newborns set to destroy Bella Swan. Back in Forks, Edward Cullen and Bella discuss the complications of becoming an immortal vampire. At 18 years old, one year older than the age Edward was when he became a vampire, Bella expresses her aversion to the idea of marrying so young, though Edward refuses to turn her until they are married and she's had various human experiences she would otherwise miss. While Charlie Swan investigates the disappearance of Riley Biers, Edward suspects his disappearance was caused by the newborn vampires. Furthering his suspicions is the intrusion of Riley into Bella's room.

Although Edward fears for her safety, Bella insists that Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner) and the rest of the werewolf pack would never harm her, but Edward is still not convinced. Bella goes to La Push to see Jacob, and returns home unharmed. During one of her visits, Jacob confesses that he is in love with Bella, and forcefully kisses her. Mad, she punches him and breaks her hand, and Edward later threatens to break Jacob's jaw. Bella even revokes the invitations of Jacob and his pack members to her graduation party, but when Jacob apologizes for his behavior, she forgives him.

Meanwhile, Alice sees a vision that the newborn army is attacking Forks led by Riley Biers. Jacob, accompanied by Quil and Embry overhear this, which leads to an alliance between the Cullens and Wolf pack. Later, the Cullens and the wolves agree to a meeting place and time to train and discuss strategy. During the training Jasper explains to Bella that he was created by a vampire named Maria to control a newborn army. He hated his original existence and upon meeting Alice, joined the Cullens with her. Bella sees the true bond between a mated vampire pair and begins to understand Jasper better. Despite her reluctance to marry, Bella realizes that spending eternity with Edward is more important to her than anything else and agrees to marry him. Edward and Bella camp up in the mountains to hide Bella from the bloodthirsty newborns. During the night, Bella overhears a conversation between Edward and Jacob, in which they temporarily put aside their hatred towards each other. In the morning, Jacob overhears Edward and Bella discussing their engagement and becomes very upset. Before he can run off to get himself killed in the fight with the newborns, Bella desperately asks him to kiss her, and she realizes that she has fallen in love with him. Edward finds out about the kiss but is not angry, as Bella says she loves him more than Jacob.

Victoria eventually finds Bella's hiding spot, and Edward kills her while Seth kills Riley. The Cullens and the Quileute wolves, meanwhile, destroy her "army", though Jacob is injured saving Leah Clearwater from a newborn. Several members of the Volturi arrive to deal with the newborn army. They also see that the Cullens are guarding the newborn, Bree Tanner, who had refused to fight and surrendered to Carlisle. Jane tortures Bree to get information, then instructs Felix to kill her, despite the Cullens' efforts to spare her. When Jane notes that Caius will find it interesting that Bella is still human, Bella informs her that the date for her transformation has been set. Bella visits the injured Jacob to tell him that even though she is in love with him, she has chosen to be with Edward. Saddened by her choice, Jacob reluctantly agrees to stop trying to come between her and Edward.

Bella and Edward go to their meadow, where she tells him she has decided to do things his way: get married, make love, then be transformed into a vampire. She also explains that she never has been normal and never will be; she's felt out of place her entire life, but when she is in Edward's world she feels stronger and complete. At the end of the story they decide they need to tell Charlie about their engagement.

L² Scored: 5/10

L² Comment:

Well well, what do we have here? This 3rd movie is worse than the first 2 twilight movie. I know i should have watch it in the cinema as how i promised u guys in 2010, but i didn't coz i really not attracted to Kristen Stewart. For me, her acting is still suck in this movie, expresionless and helpless...

I thought that Dakota Fanning is gonna appear more in this movie, but she did not :( The only exciting part was when the 3 vampires fighting on the snowhill, the rest~ yawn!!!

The Village

Released Year: 2004
Directed by M. Night Shyamalan

Casted by:
Bryce Dallas Howard as Ivy Elizabeth Walker
Joaquin Phoenix as Lucius Hunt
Adrien Brody as Noah Percy
William Hurt as Edward Walker
Sigourney Weaver as Alice HuntStory:

The movie starts out at a funeral of a child in a small village. The death date on the tombstone establishes the date as 1897. As the story progresses, it is revealed the villagers live in fear of nameless creatures in the woods that surround the village. They have built a barrier of oil lanterns and watch towers that are constantly manned to keep watch for "Those We Don't Speak Of", who are spoken of numerous times early in the film. It is explained that the villagers have a long-standing truce with the monsters; the villagers do not go into their woods, and the creatures do not enter their village. Even so, dead, skinned bodies of small animals are starting to appear around the village.

After the funeral, Lucius Hunt asks the village elders for permission to pass through the woods to get medical supplies from "the towns." His request is denied and, later, he is admonished by his mother, Alice, for wanting to go to the towns, which the villagers describe as "wicked places where wicked people live." It is revealed in that scene that the Elders seem to keep dark secrets of their own in the form of black boxes, the contents of which they keep hidden from their own offspring. After Lucius makes a short venture into the woods, the creatures leave warnings around the village in the form of splashes of red paint (referred by the villagers only as "the bad color") on all the villagers' doors.

Meanwhile, Ivy Elizabeth Walker, the blind daughter of the chief Elder, Edward Walker, informs Lucius that she has strong feelings for him, and he returns her affections. They arrange to be married, but things go horribly wrong when Noah Percy, a young man with apparent developmental problems who is in love with Ivy, stabs Lucius with a knife that he kept hidden away in his pocket.

Edward goes against the wishes of the other Elders, agreeing to allow Ivy to pass through the forest and seek out medicine for Lucius. Before she leaves, the first plot twist is revealed when Edward explains the secret of the creatures – they are fabrications created by the Elders in an attempt to keep any of their children from leaving the village. He does mention, however, that he had heard rumors of "real creatures" living in the woods at one time.

While Ivy is traveling through the forest, one of the beasts suddenly attacks her. She tricks it into falling into a deep hole to its death. It is then that the second plot twist is revealed — the creature is actually Noah in a costume that he had found under the floor of the room where he was kept locked from others. It is implied in that scene that it was Noah who had been skinning the animals all along.

Ivy eventually finds her way to the edge of the woods, where she encounters a large wall. After she climbs over the wall the final plot twist is revealed: the film is set in the present day (a newspaper in one scene shows July 30, 2004, the date of the film's release). A park ranger driving a Land Rover with the words "Walker Wildlife Preserve" on the side spots Ivy and is shocked to hear that she has come out of the woods. He then learns that Ivy's last name is "Walker."

It is revealed that the village was actually founded some time in the late 1970s, when Edward Walker, professor of American History at the University of Pennsylvania, approached other people he met at a grief counseling clinic after his father had been murdered. He asked them if they wished to join him in "an idea" he had. From this apparently grew "the village," a secluded town in the middle of a wildlife preserve purchased with Edward's family fortune, a place where they would be protected from any aspect of the outside world. The head ranger named "Jay" in the ranger station seen reflected in a glass door, fills in several plot points; the Walker estate pays to maintain the ranger corps, the rangers make sure no one goes into the wildlife preserve to "disturb the animal(s)", the Walker estate "paid off" the government to keep the entire wildlife preserve a "no-fly zone". Once the village was created, it appears the original "Elders" rolled the clock back to the late 19th century to what they thought was a simpler, more peaceful time.

The ranger retrieves medicine from a ranger station and Ivy returns to the village. This sequence is intercut with brief segments showing the Elders opening their black boxes, which are revealed to contain mementos from their lives in the actual outside world, including one or more items related to their past traumas. The film ends with a scene in a cabin where all the Elders are sitting around Lucius' bed. In that scene Edward points out that Noah's death will allow them to continue deceiving the rest of the villagers that there are "creatures" in the woods and all the Elders take a vote to continue living in the village. The film ends with Ivy arriving and saying "I'm back, Lucius."

L² Scored: 7.5/10

L² Comment:

Well, this is definitely a good movie which i'm really interested on. Written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan himself is a movie which u shouldn't miss. I remember when i watched it in the cinema, i was so gan zheong during the whole movie and was shocked on the twist of the story at the end...

But this is definitely not a movie for rewatch, guess knowing the ending has spoiled the mood of watching it again.