The Day the Earth Stood Still 2008

 Released Year: 2008

Directed by Scott Derrickson

Casted by:

Keanu Reeves as Klaatu

Jennifer Connelly as Helen Benson

Jaden Smith as Jacob Benson

John Cleese as Professor Karl Barnhardt

Jon Hamm as Dr. Michael Granier

Kathy Bates as Regina Jackson

 Story: 

In 1928, a solitary mountaineer encounters a glowing sphere. He loses consciousness and when he wakes, the sphere has gone and there is a scar on his hand where a sample of his DNA has been taken.

In the present day, a rapidly moving object is detected beyond Jupiter's orbit and forecast to impact Manhattan. The United States government hastily assembles a group of scientists, including Dr. Helen Benson, to formulate a survival plan. The object is measured to be moving at 30,000 kilometers per second - enough to destroy nearly all life on Earth - but as it nears the planet, the object slows down just before impact and is revealed to be a large spherical spaceship, which lands gently in Central Park. The sphere is quickly surrounded by police and a heavily armed, hostile, and rather chaotic US military force.

An alien emerges and Helen moves forward to greet it, but amidst the confusion, a soldier shoots the alien. A gigantic robot then appears that temporarily disables everything in the vicinity. The alien voices the command "Klaatu barada nikto" to shut down the robot's defensive response.

A military surgeon discovers that the alien body is actually a bioengineered space suit, composed of placenta-like material covering a human-like being. The being quickly ages into Klaatu, who looks like the mountaineer from the opening scene of the film. Klaatu informs Secretary of Defense Regina Jackson that he is a representative of a group of alien civilizations, sent to talk to the leaders of Earth at a United Nations conference in the city. Jackson instead orders that Klaatu be sent to a secure location for interrogation. Klaatu manages to escape and Helen and her stepson Jacob give him a ride out of the area. The trio are pursued and harassed by the authorities for the rest of the film.

The presence of the sphere, and others like it around the world, causes a widespread panic. The military launch a drone attack on the sphere, but are thwarted by the robot. They cautiously enclose the robot and transport it to Virginia.

Klaatu meets with another alien, Mr. Wu, who has lived on Earth for 70 years. Wu tells Klaatu that he has found the human race to be destructive and unwilling to change, which matches Klaatu's experience. Klaatu decides that the planet, with its rare ability to sustain complex life, must be cleansed of humans to ensure that it can survive. Klaatu orders smaller spheres to collect specimens of animal species, to preserve them off the planet. Helen quizzes Klaatu about his statement that he has come to save the Earth and discovers that he means to save the Earth from destruction by humankind.

Meanwhile, the robot, named "GORT" by the military, is being examined in an underground facility. The robot transforms into a swarm of winged, insect-like, nano-machines that self-replicate as they consume everything in their path. The swarm starts to erase all trace of the human race.

Hoping to persuade Klaatu to change his mind about humanity, Helen takes him to the home of Nobel Prize-winning Professor Barnhardt. They discuss how Klaatu's own race went through a drastic evolution to survive their own star's demise. Klaatu is impressed by the beauty of the music by Bach playing in the background. Klaatu finally realizes that he has misjudged humanity when he sees Helen comforting Jacob at his father's grave. They head for the sphere in Central Park to try to stop the swarm.

Klaatu warns that even if he manages to stop the swarm, there will be a price to the human way of life. The swarm arrives and Jacob and Helen become infected by the nano-machines. Helen tells Klaatu to save Jacob and Klaatu draws the nano machines into his body, reviving Jacob. Klaatu then walks through the swarm to the sphere, touching it moments before his body is consumed. The sphere deactivates the swarm, saving humanity, but at the expense of electrical activity on Earth which is apparently all shut down. The giant sphere leaves the Earth.

 L² Scored: 4.5/10

L² Comment: 

This is not the first time i watched this remake film of 1951 same name movie, but still it managed to bored me out and makes me almost fell asleep again... I did not watch the 1951 movie and of course not the fiction "Farewell to the Master" by Harry Bates; so i'm not in the place to comment how much it follows the original, all i know is, i need to drank coffee to finish this movie.

Technical wise definitely better than the previous movie i suppose, Reeves seems like a piece of wood to me, totally expressionless~ yawn. Connelly in the meanwhile not really outstanding too if compare to little Jaden Smith :) But overall the movie is very so so, guess most probably I won't watch it for the third time anymore...

Higher Learning

Released Year: 1995

Directed by John Singleton

Casted by:

 Omar Epps as Malik Williams

Kristy Swanson as Kristen Connor

Michael Rapaport as Remy

Ice Cube as Fudge

Jennifer Connelly as Taryn

Tyra Banks as Deja

Regina King as Monet

Jason Wiles as Wayne

Cole Hauser as Scott Moss

Busta Rhymes as Dreads

Laurence Fishburne as Professor Maurice Phipps

Bradford English as Officer Bradley

Jay R. Ferguson as Billy

 Story: 

At Columbus University, a fictitious college in southern California, we first see Malik Williams, a black man, Kristen Connor, a white woman, and Remy, another white man, at the opening freshman pep rally and as they are decorating their rooms. Malik and Kristen meet in the elevator, with the nervous Kristen shielding her purse and Malik seeing this and resenting it. There is a montage of each putting up pictures and posters in their rooms. Track star Malik goes to his first practice unprepared, and is chastised severely by the coach.

Kristen meets her roommate, Monet, a black girl, and attends a fraternity rush party, where she meets two outgoing freshmen Nicole and Claudi. Monet and Malik attend a party with other black students, hosted by Fudge, an afrocentric and militant senior whom has been at the university for six years now. Remy, who is Fudge's roommate, is upset at the loud rap music being played late into the night. He calls security, who breaks up the party. Fudge is upset that they don't tell the room down the hall to stop their loud "hillbilly" music. Kristen, while walking home, meets Taryn, a junior lesbian student who warns Kristen about walking alone late at night and invites her to a student group. Malik's roommate, Wayne, is then introduced, with Malik angry about his filthy bed area and lack of hygiene.

The next day at the campus square, Fudge points out to Monet the self-segregation of the various ethnic groups on campus. We then see Malik's first class, with Professor Maurice Phipps, a conservative black man from the West Indies whom is teaching Political Science 101. In the class, Malik's and Kristen's names (among others) are called out for having financial problems, embarrassing them. They go to the financial aid office, where Kristen is told she needs a job since her parents are bankrupt, and Malik learns that his athletic scholarship is partial, not full. He talks to the coach, who agrees to help him out if he keeps his grades up and works extra hard on the field.

Fudge returns to his room with his friend Dreads, and plays his rap music loud, disrupting Remy's studying. When Remy complains, Fudge mocks and threatens him, causing Remy to move out. Later, Remy is beaten by Malik at a video game who further mocks him. Remey then rejects an offer of pool from Wayne and David Isaacs, Remy's new Jewish roommate.

Meanwhile, Kristen is shown getting drunk and leaving with frat boy Billy, retreating back to his frat room. Billy and Kristen prepare to have sex, but when Billy indicates that he does not have a condom, Kristen decides she doesn't want to have sex. Despite this, Billy ignores her refusal, and rapes her. She eventually fights him off, and flees.

Monet returns to their room and finds Kristen crying in her bed. When Billy calls, Monet refuses give the phone to Kristen, and Billy suddenly reacts violently and insults her racially. Angered, she turns to Fudge, who recruits his friends to confront him at the frat party. Monet forces Kristen to tag along with them where she willingly points out Billy to the black students. Fudge and Dreads pull Billy outside, threatening him and forcing him to apologize to Monet. The security guards arrive and the black students leave.

The next day, despite being ostracized by her friends, Kristen attends Taryn's student group on harmony between different groups.

Meanwhile, Malik borrows a copy of the autobiography of Frederick Douglass. After telling Fudge he only needs it for a class, Fudge kicks him out, telling him to read it for himself and not for school.

That evening, Remy is reading alone outside in the student quad when he is approached and asked out for a drink by Scott Moss, a white supremacist and neo-Nazi skinhead whom had been glimpsed in the background shadowing Remy for the past few days. Remy also meets Scott's skinhead friends: Erik, James, and the weight-lifting hulking Knocko.

A few days later, Professor Phipps challenges his class (including Kristen and Malik) to determine who they are for themselves and not let others categorize them.

Kristen talks about her rape with Taryn, with Taryn encouraging her to report it and attempting to console her.

Malik confronts Phipps about a paper he graded, arguing he should have a better grade. When Phipps shows him the various spelling and grammar errors, Malik calls him a sellout for the "white establishment". Phipps angrily responds that the world owes Malik nothing and he must work for his own good to make a difference in this world.

Malik is then shown racing in a relay, losing ground to another runner. When his teammates confront him, he responds with Fudge's ideology. He walks away and flirts with fellow runner Deja (Tyra Banks).

Remy is seen in Scott's dorm room with James, Erik, and Knocko. The room is decorated with Swastikas and Nazi paraphernalia. Scott expresses his racist beliefs, and the troubled Remy is slowly being convinced that "the white man is endangered" and he is encouraged to shave his head to join Scott's underground neo-Nazi group.

In the campus library, Deja is shown helping Malik with his essay and his spelling errors. Nearby, Kristen is shown realizing her growing attraction to Taryn.

Phipps then criticizes Kristen's bland paper, telling her that only writing the facts is fine for journalism, but not for a political science course. Phipps tells her that her purpose at college is to think for herself. Phipps then talks with Malik about his much improved paper.

Remy is shown working in a class, surrounded by students of other races. He removes his hat, showing he has shaved his head and is wearing an Iron Cross necklace.

Wayne asks Kristen for a flier for their group, confronting her when she says the anti-sexism group is for women, flirting with her as well.

On Halloween night, Monet attends a costume party with Dreads while Malik also attends with Deja. Kristen attends a rape awareness rally with Taryn. Remy and the other neo-Nazis attack an interracial couple, by raping and assaulting them. After the rally, Kristen asks to spend the night with Taryn. Taryn rebuffs her, saying she wants Kristen to be sure about it.

While stretching on the track, Malik continues spouting Fudge's ideology to Deja, saying he hates feeling like a thoroughbred. Deja rebuffs him, saying he has opportunities that people would do anything for and he should take them. The stretching and running is then intercut in a montage with a love scene, showing they have started dating. Kristen is also seen going on a date with Wayne.

Scott shows Remy his gun collection and Remy talks about his abusive, survivalist father in his Idaho home town (which is the indirect result of Remy's troubled behavior and childhood).

Kristen is shown walking holding hands with Taryn in public across the campus. They have a run-in with Monet and another friend of hers who see them. A montage love sequence is shown with Kristen where she sleeps with Wayne, but fantasizes about Taryn. (In a deleted scene, Kristen goes to Taryn's room and indeed has sex with her as well).

One day, while Malik and Deja talk about Christopher Columbus and of the college, Remy approaches, condemning Malik's Black Panther shirt and calling him a racial slur. Malik, angered, goes to Remy's room and confronts him about being a racist and Nazi after finding him reading a copy of Adolph Hitler's book 'Mein Kampf' (My Struggle). Remy backs down from a fistfight, with Malik insulting him and leaving. Remy trashes the room, contemplating suicide. After David returns, he confronts Remy about the mess. Remy starts beating David and Malik intervenes. Remy pulls his Glock 9mm, threatening the two and leaving. Malik runs after him, only to be stopped by security guards asking for ID. Resisting, he is arrested, letting Remy escape. Malik then moves in with Fudge and the rest of his friends.

A day or two later, Malik and Fudge are relaxing on the student quad when they have a run-in with Professor Phipps and the three of them have a discussion on race, knowledge, and "the system". Phipps tells Malik that he must play the game of life to win, because no one wants to hear excuses. It is here that Fudge used to attend Phipps class when he was a freshman years ago and Malik is somewhat surprised when Phipps addresses Fudge by his real name, which happens to be 'Christopher White'. At the same time, Kristen begins organizing a peace festival with Monet to calm down the students after Remy's actions.

Meanwhile, Scott chastises Remy for dropping out of school, arguing that the white community needs more successful members and that he is betraying his race. After Knocko calls out a racial slur, Fudge, Malik, Dreads, and another black student start a gang fight with the white power skinheads, beating them. Later, Deja confronts Malik on his intentions of dropping out and fighting for no good reason. Malik is becoming more and more angry about racial issues. At the underground skinheads's doorm, Scott says that Remy's posturing means nothing, and only actions do. He then shows Remy a sniper rifle and challenges him to action. The alienated and warped Remy agrees to kill for the white race.

We then see Malik and Deja walking at the Peace Fest, with Malik saying he wouldn't drop out of college because he'd lose her. Kristen stands on the podum of the rally where she addresses the students while she sees both Wayne and Taryn standing separate among the students, leaving Kristen feeling uneasy to both of them whom she is dating without the others knowledge. Remy has moved to the rooftop of a nearby building with the sniper rifle and prepares to open fire on the students. Erik stands lookout while the other racist skinheads attack a gay couple to distract security. Remy is obviously having trouble with doing this, but acquiesces when pushed by Scott who tells him to "do it for the Aryan Nation". He opens fire on the Peace Fest, causing a riot. An unnamed student is killed, and Deja is shot in the stomach. She collapses in Malik's arms. After Phipps tries to help, Malik goes crazy and attacks Remy, meeting him on the stairs of the building and beating him severely and nearly choking him to death before racist security guards, led by the racist Officer Bradley (Bradford English) intervenes and beats him. Bradley and his men confront Remy as he tries to leave. Remy pulls out a pistol, resulting in a stand-off. Remy apologizes to the police for everything that he did and shoots himself in the head, killing himself. After the security guards let Malik go, he returns outside and finds that Deja has died, and he collapses into Phipps' arms, crying and wailing.

The racist skinheads are shown mourning Remy's death when they see a TV news report of the university shooting. Knocko, Erik, and James then begin celebrating his actions, chanting, "white power". Scott quietly sits back and for a brief moment seems to smile.

(It is strongly implied that Scott and his skinheads intentionally approached, brainwashed, and set Remy up as the patsy for their own actions, taking advantage of the troubled youth to make him do their murderous deeds and they will get away with it since there is nothing to connect Remy to either Scott or his skinheads.)

A few days later, Malik and Phipps discuss his future away from the university, with Phipps saying he trusts Malik's judgment whatever it will be. Malik walks out of the office, making it unclear if he is going to drop out of the university or stay on. Afterwords, Malik and Kristen are seen meeting for the first time at a memorial to Deja. Kristen feels guilty about the deaths because she started the festival. Malik assuages her guilt. And shortly after, they part. Malik goes to the campus track and runs around the racetrack alone... running for himself and not for the school.

In the final scene, a graduation ceremony is held where Fudge is seen finally graduating with the other students having long ago acquired all of the credits he needs, but refusing to wear a cap or smile for his graduation photo. As Professor Phipps leaves his office, the final shot shows the USA flag fluttering in the wind as the caption "unlearn" appears over it as the image fades to black

 L² Scored: 2.5/10

L² Comment:

The movie is kinda boring, i watched it because its Tyra Banks' first movie ever... for the first 1.5 hour of the movie, it is so boring that i need to keep myself awake by having some coffee. Or course this movie did touch on the racist issue which is quite a big concern 20 years back in the State and the college love life and sexuality issue. But when Ms Tyra die, the scene was so damn fake then i almost laugh out loud~ lol.... 

Hulk

 Released Year: 2003

Directed by 李安 Ang Lee

Casted by:

 Eric Bana as Dr. Bruce Banner / Hulk

Jennifer Connelly as Betty Ross

Sam Elliott as General Thunderbolt Ross

Nick Nolte as Dr. David "Dave" Banner

Josh Lucas as Major Glenn Talbot

 Story: 

Scientist David Banner introduces the idea of creating super soldiers by introducing modified DNA sequences extracted from various animals to strengthen the human cellular response, making them effectively impervious to any weaponized agent, but General Thaddeus Ross denies him permission to use human subjects. Banner subsequently conducts the experiments on himself. After the birth of his son Bruce, he finds that his son may have inherited the effects and seeks a cure, but is stopped in the process. Bruce remembers nothing of the incident after a traumatic event, and has been raised by the Krenslers. Years later, Bruce is a geneticist working with his ex-girlfriend Betty Ross, within the Berkeley Biotechnology Institute on nanomed research. The pair hope to achieve instantenous cell repair by using low level Gamma radiation exposure to activate the nanomeds once they are introduced into a living organism. During routine maintenance of their appropriated Gammaspectrometer, a circuit shorts and triggers the experiment's program sequence. Unable to prevent the machine from firing, Bruce throws himself in front of his colleague to shield him and is exposed to incredibly toxic levels of Gamma.

Betty visits Bruce in the hospital and remarks that he should be dead, but Bruce feels great. A new janitor at the lab claims that he is Bruce's biological father, of whom Bruce has no recollection. When under extreme stress, Bruce transforms into the Hulk who destroys the laboratory, though he has no memory of the incident. General Ross suspects Bruce of collaborating with his father but then deduces Bruce has repressed memories. He orders Bruce to be put under house arrest. Through a phone call with his father, Bruce learns that the radiation unleashed something that was already in his DNA, and that David Banner plans to have Betty killed by his dogs, which now have similar powers to the Hulk (thanks to David mutating them with gamma radiation), and he is attacked by Major Glenn Talbot, leading to a transformation into the Hulk. The Hulk seriously injures Talbot before leaping to save Betty from the dogs. The Hulk kills David's dogs and changes back into Bruce before being captured by the military the next morning.

Kept at a secret desert base, Bruce is kept under observation while Talbot intends to weaponize the Hulk's powers. David Banner tries to recreate Bruce's failed experiment, but instead of turning into another Hulk he finds himself able to absorb any materials and energy he touches, and hands himself over to the military after telling Betty that he murdered his wife in front of the child Bruce. Bruce has a nightmare about the event which leads to a more powerful transformation of the Hulk. Talbot is killed in an explosion of his own making. The Hulk escapes the base and rampages his way across the desert to San Francisco, battling army forces sent after him. When Betty calms him into his human form, General Ross realizes that the Hulk cannot be controlled and that Bruce should be executed.

At their mutual execution, David Banner tries to taunt his son into transforming into Hulk, but fails. He then decides to "go first" and bites an electrical cable absorbing all the electricity in San Francisco. The electricity hits Bruce, triggering his own transformation. A brutal fight ensues between David and the Hulk, with David absorbing Hulk's energy during the fight. David finds that the Hulk's energy is too much for him to handle and he is killed by an army missile at the height of his weakness. One year later, though Bruce is presumed dead, General Ross mentions apparent Hulk sightings and Betty admits her love for Bruce. In a South American jungle, Bruce has become a doctor and is approached by rebel militants who want to take medical supplies from the poor. Bruce's eyes turn green and a scream of the Hulk is heard.

 L² Scored: 7/10 

L² Comment:

It was a bit boring in the first place, as the movie gets along, it become better... No doubt its kinda "Ang Lee" style of movie, but still acceptable. Hulk is not my fav superhero, but definitely don't hate him; just hope to see more Eric Bana in naked shot lol~  

He's Just Not That Into You

Released Year: 2009

Directed by Ken Kwapis

Casted by:

 Ben Affleck as Neil

Jennifer Aniston as Beth Murphy

Drew Barrymore as Mary Harris

Jennifer Connelly as Janine Gunders

Kevin Connolly as Conor Barry

Bradley Cooper as Ben Gunders

Ginnifer Goodwin as Gigi Phillips

Scarlett Johansson as Anna Marks

Justin Long as Alex

 Story: 

Nine people in Baltimore deal with their respective romantic problems, usually thwarted by the differing ideals and desires of their chosen partner. At the center of this is Gigi Phillips, a young woman who repeatedly misinterprets the behavior of her romantic partners.

Gigi and Alex

Gigi is a single woman who repeatedly misreads mundane actions and comments from her dates as indications that they are romantically interested in her. She then frets when the guy does not call.

In attempting to meet Conor Barry at a bar, she befriends the bar owner Alex who reveals the strategies men use to avoid a woman. He explains that if a man is interested in a woman, he will overcome any obstacles to ensure they date again, and that Gigi has been misinterpreting and obsessing over imagined "signs" that she receives from men. This friendship continues, and Gigi interprets his eagerness to always assist, such as taking Gigi's call while he is on a date, as a sign that he is interested in her. She eventually makes a move but Alex claims that he is not interested in her romantically and chastises her for ignoring his advice. She angrily replies that at least she has not let herself become cynical and bitter like him.

Gigi has moved on from Alex, no longer desperately trying to construct evidence that he is interested in her. However, in a role reversal, Alex began mooning over Gigi. After leaving several unanswered messages Alex arrives at Gigi's apartment to declare his love. Alex reveals that he cannot stop thinking about her and that he is turning into her. Gigi thinks that she is the rule but after Alex suddenly kisses her passionately, he says that she is his exception.

Janine, Ben, and Anna

Gigi's friend and co-worker Janine Gunders is having difficulties in her marriage to Ben. As Janine obsesses on their home renovations, Ben becomes attracted to Anna Marks, a yoga instructor and aspiring singer, and the feeling is mutual. Ben and Anna pursue a flirtatious friendship under the pretense of him helping her establish a singing career. Ben reveals to Anna that Janine gave him an ultimatum by threatening to leave if he did not propose. Ben then agrees to be friends with Anna and in order to flirt with him she strips off and jumps naked into a swimming pool and goes skinny dipping. She invites him to join her but he refuses to which she says, "That's ok you can just watch," and Ben replies, "You may be the best friend I ever had."

Fervently anti-smoking (due to her father's death from lung cancer), Janine pointedly asks Ben if he has been smoking and later is perturbed to find cigarette butts hidden in the back yard of the house. Ben insists that they are not his. Their contractor Javier, aggressively interrogated by Janine, says none of his workers smoke at the house. During a tense shopping trip to select flooring, Ben reveals to Janine that he has cheated on her. Janine is devastated but rationalizes Ben's behavior, blaming herself for being too cold in the relationship, and declares that she wants to save their marriage.

After a positive meeting about her singing career, Anna begins to have sex with Ben in his office. They are interrupted by Janine who, hoping to spice up their marriage, has arrived unexpectedly. Anna hides in a closet, and Ben attempts to send Janine away who then makes a heartfelt plea to save their marriage, and there are indications she succeeds in seducing him. After Janine leaves, Anna angrily departs vowing to cut ties with Ben. As Janine tidies up Ben's clothes back at their newly completed house, fully satisfied to make it a home, she discovers a fresh pack of cigarettes in a pocket. She explodes in anger. When Ben arrives home he finds his clothes neatly folded with a whole carton of cigarettes and a note attached from Janine asking for a divorce. Janine moves into a new apartment by herself to start a new life. Anna is later seen performing at an upscale nightclub. Ben is alone, purchasing the same beer at the same supermarket where he met Anna.

Conor, Anna, and Mary

Anna enjoys a close friendship with Alex's friend, real estate agent, Conor. He is romantically interested in her, while Anna is only interested in a casual relationship with Conor. Conor misinterprets her hugs and cute nicknames for potential romantic interest.

Anna's friend, Mary Harris, is in ad sales for a local newspaper. She helps Conor promote his real estate business in a series of print ads. Like Gigi, she meets many men (mostly online), but despite constantly monitoring emails, pager, phone, and Myspace messages, the "meetings" go nowhere.

While Conor attempts to cultivate a gay clientele, two gay men tell him how he is going wrong with Anna. Taking their advice, Conor decides to declare his love to Anna. Vulnerable after falling out with Ben, Anna agrees to start a serious relationship with him. When Conor proposes buying a house and moving in together, Anna admits that she does not want to, and they break up.

Mary later runs into Conor, recognizing him from his ad photo, and introduces herself, since they have only spoken over the phone. They hit it off, and start dating.

Beth and Neil

Gigi's other co-worker, Beth Murphy, is living with her boyfriend, Neil, who is also friends with Ben. After seven years together, Beth wants to get married, but Neil does not believe in marriage. With Gigi's newfound pragmatic stance on relationships after advice from Alex, she announces that she will no longer misinterpret vague gestures from men as more than they really are. This spurs Beth to confront Neil about their relationship. When he still does not want to get married, she breaks up with him.

Later, the fraught preparations for her younger sister Paige's wedding bring the issue into sharper focus to Beth after hearing many back-handed comments from various family members. During the reception, her father Rod suffers a heart attack. Beth looks after him as he recuperates while her sisters wallow, and their husbands remain glued to the television playing video games and watching football with constant takeout while the household falls into chaos. As Beth reaches the end of her patience looking after her siblings and in-laws as well as her recuperating father, Neil arrives with groceries and helps with cleaning the house and laundry. The two reconcile, with Beth saying that Neil is more of a husband to her than her sisters' spouses are to them, and she will not insist that they be married. Neil later proposes to her, and they marry in an intimate ceremony aboard his sailboat.

 L² Scored: 10/10

L² Comment:

Well well well, how do u not score this movie a 10/10 when the storyline is good, the crossover between characters are perfectly planned and all the big celebrities were in it? Actually Ginnifer Goodwin & Justin Long's part is the one i love the most in the movie, she's not the fav popular girl that everyone wants, but she never give up~ sweet ! 

Noah 2014

 Released Year: 2014

Directed by Darren Aronofsky

Casted by:

Russell Crowe as Noah

Jennifer Connelly as Naameh

Ray Winstone as Tubal-cain

Douglas Booth as Shem

Emma Watson as Ila

Logan Lerman as Ham

Anthony Hopkins as Methuselah

 Story: 

As a young boy, Noah witnesses his father, Lamech, killed by Tubal-cain. Many years later, Noah is living with his wife Naameh and their sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth, but after seeing a flower grow instantly from the ground and haunted by vivid dreams of a great flood, Noah takes them to visit his grandfather, Methuselah.

On the way, they come upon a group of people recently killed, and adopt the lone survivor, a girl named Ila. Noah and his family are chased by Tubal-Cain's men, but seek refuge with the fallen angels known as the 'Watchers', confined on Earth as stone golems (nephilim) for helping humans banished from the Garden of Eden. Methuselah gives Noah a seed derived from Eden and tells Noah that he was chosen for a reason. Returning to his tent that night, Noah plants the seed into the ground. The Watchers arrive the next morning and angrily discuss how they shouldn't help Noah until they see water spouting up from spot that Noah planted the seed. An entire forest grows quickly and the Watchers state that they will help Noah do the Creator's bidding. These trees are cut by the Watchers to build Noah's Ark with the help of Noah's family.

After the arrival of birds to the Ark, Tubal-Cain arrives with his followers and confronts Noah about his purpose for building the Ark. Noah defies Tubal-Cain and remarks that there is no escape for the line of Cain. Tubal-Cain retreats and decides to build weapons to defeat the Watchers when the rain starts and the Ark must be taken. As the Ark nears completion, animals of various species enter the ark and are put to sleep by incense.

With Ila having become enamored of Shem, Noah goes to a nearby settlement to find wives for Ham and Japheth, but upon witnessing cannibalism by a starving mob, he abandons his effort. Thereafter Methuselah cures Ila of sterility. Ham, searching for a wife on his own behalf, acquires the refugee Na'el (Madison Davenport).

The rain starts falling and Tubal-Cain becomes angry that he wasn't chosen to be rescued. The followers of Tubal-Cain make a run for the Ark. In the meantime, Noah finds Ham in the forest and forces Ham to save himself and leave Na'el to die when she is caught in a metal trap set for an animal. All of Noah's family enter the Ark except Methuselah, who remains behind purposely in the forest awaiting the flood to deliver him from the Earth. As the deluge begins, the Watchers hold off Tubal-Cain and his followers as long as possible but in the end, sacrifice themselves to protect the Ark from the mob. Upon doing so, they ascend to Heaven after leaving their mortal stone form. As the flood drowns the remaining humans, an injured Tubal-Cain climbs onto the Ark and solicits Ham, playing on anger toward Noah for allowing Na'el to die. Ila becomes pregnant as rains stop, but Noah, against his wife's dissuasions, resolves that if the child is a girl, he will kill her to satisfy the Creator's wish to destroy humanity.

Months pass, and Ila and Shem build a small raft to escape Noah's resolve, but Noah burns it after discovering it. Afterwards, Ila gives birth to twin girls. Meanwhile, Tubal-Cain convinces Ham to help kill Noah, who is therefore attacked by Tubal-Cain, Ham, and Shem. As they fight, the Ark hits a mountain, and Ham kills Tubal-Cain. Noah seizes Ila's twins, but he spares them upon perceiving innocence. Upon exiting the ark, Noah goes into isolation in a nearby cave and starts to drink wine. Afterwards he is discovered by his sons, nude and drunk. Having reconciled, at the behest of Ila, with all but Ham (who departs alone), Noah blesses the family as the beginning of a new human race, and witness an immense rainbow.

 L² Scored: 7/10

L² Comment:

Noah's Ark is one of my favorite epic biblical genre kind of movie, its a bit long of this movie which involve the after of the whole incident which the ark has finally landed somewhere. Well, overall the story is ok for me, but i'm not sure about the part where Tubal-Cain went into the ark, anybody?

Little Children

Released Year: 2006
Directed by Todd Field

Casted by:
Kate Winslet as Sarah Pierce
Patrick Wilson as Brad Adamson
Jennifer Connelly as Kathy Adamson
Jackie Earle Haley as Ronald James McGorvey
Noah Emmerich as Larry Hedges
Story:

Sarah Pierce is a reluctant housewife and mother in an upper-middle class suburb of Boston. She is married to Richard Pierce, a successful yet distant husband, who is secretly obsessed with an internet porn star. Sarah refers to her daughter Lucy as an "unknowable little person" and feels out of place around the other mothers at a local playground.

Brad Adamson is a former college football player who's married to Kathy, a documentary filmmaker, with a young son named Aaron. Brad is depressed and frustrated, as his wife is the breadwinner and he is a stay-at-home father who has failed the bar exam twice. Each day he leaves home with the pretense of going to the library to study, but spends the time watching skateboarders at the nearby park. He joins a policeman's touch football team at the urging of a friend, Larry Hedges, a disgraced former police officer.

Sarah and Brad meet on the school playground, where Sarah suggests they hug to shock the watching mothers nearby. Brad kisses her, and it quickly becomes apparent that the two are attracted to each other. Over the course of several visits to the local pool, Sarah and Brad get to know each other while their children also bond, which soon leads to an affair.

Meanwhile, Ronald "Ronnie" James McGorvey, who has served a prison sentence for indecent exposure to a minor, has moved back into the neighborhood to live with his mother. Larry launches a hate campaign against Ronnie, handing out posters, vandalizing his house, harassing and almost assaulting the man and his mother. Ronnie's mother tries to help by setting him up on a date, which ends badly with him masturbating in his date's car outside a children's playground.

Brad and Sarah finally see each other at a football game, where he asks her to run away with him; the two agree to meet up at a local park the next night. After the game a drunken Larry goes to McGorvey's house and further harasses him, using a megaphone to wake the entire neighborhood. When Mrs. McGorvey tries to stop him, Larry pushes her down. She has a heart attack and later dies in the hospital. Ronnie is devastated at losing the one person who loved him.

That evening Sarah packs a bag and takes Lucy to the playground to wait for Brad. On the way to the playground, Brad is again transfixed by the young skateboarders, who dare him to try one jump on a short stair rail. Brad can't resist and ends up injuring himself. Sarah is unexpectedly met at the playground by Ronnie instead and tries to comfort him, leaving Lucy to wander off by herself. This frightens Sarah into realizing that leaving Richard would be a terrible mistake. Once she finds Lucy, Sarah tearfully embraces her daughter and goes home. Brad is taken to the hospital and asks the police officer on the scene to call his wife.

Larry comes to the park to find Ronnie and apologize for harassing him. Noticing blood dripping off Ronnie, he is horrified to discover that Ronnie has castrated himself. Panicked, Larry picks Ronnie up and takes him to the hospital. They arrive just as Kathy meets Brad's ambulance at the emergency room doors. The film ends with an image of a remorseful Sarah sleeping alongside Lucy in their home.

L² Scored: 8/10

L² Comment:

From the novel of Tom Perrotta, director Todd Field simply created a marvelous film. Love the simpleness of this movie, the romance, the chemistry between a married man and a married woman. Both of them unable to get enough satisfaction from each partner, therefore, they are getting it from each of them they meet.

The film spice up by adding in a pedophile scenes/story acted by Jackie Earle Haley. And the final "self- castrate" part is definitely not a scene that you will enjoy. But overall this is a good film and Kate Winslet was nominated in a lots of awards for the best actress category :)

House of Sand and Fog

Released Year: 2003
Directed by Vadim Perelman

Casted by:
Ben Kingsley as Colonel Massoud Amir Behrani
Jennifer Connelly as Kathy Nicolo
Shohreh Aghdashloo as Nadareh "Nadi" Behrani
Ron Eldard as Lester Burdon
Jonathan Ahdout as Esmail Behrani
Story:

Kathy's husband left her 8 months ago, she was so depressed and live in a messy life. She has been ignoring a number of letter which warned her that she has not paying the business tax which is a mistake and need to settle in court. Kathy only realize it when police came to her house and sealed up her house for auction. Deputy Lester who incharge of this advice Kathy to look for lawyer's advice.

In the meanwhile, Massoud and his family were originated from Iran. They live in a grand house in order for their daughter to marry a richman. But after that, Massoud has to move his family into a cheaper house which he found Kathys house from the auction. Lawyer informed Massoud about the mistake of the auction, but Massoud has no intention to return back the house with the purchase price but ask for a higher price instead. Kathy was helpless and can't do anything to take back the house which her father left for her. Deputy Lester started to pity Kathy and fall in love with her and dumping his own family.

Kathy try a few times to get back the house but failed. Deputy Lester threaten to send Massoud's family back to Iran if he doesn't return back the house. Highly depressed, Kathy tried to suicide herself in front of the Behrani family but was save by Massoud. Lester misunderstood the situation and locked the Behrani in the toilet after he discovered Massoud sue him in the station and he was fired. Massoud and Esmail was took to sign the contract, but on a fight, Esmail grabbed Lester's pistol but in the end he was shot to death for misunderstanding as a terrorist due to his races. Lester was put to jail.

Massoud went home and fed his wife with poisonous tea, he then wore his colonel uniform and suffocated himself with plastic bag. Kathy wake up from her unconsciousness and shocked to found the Behrani's couple is dead.

L² Scored: 6/10

L² Comment:

The movie is based on the same name novel from the writer of Andre Dubus III. The director smartly use the end of this film to do as the beginning of the film. A flashed back of Kathy's memories has brought the whole movie to life.

This film is kinda sensitive in terms of the terrorist problem in USA, never wonder it still able to win good critics among it. Shohreh has also won a few best supporting actress in several awards by this film.

This film also shows us that sometime, something can be solved on the beginning, but human being tends to get affected by their own emotion and greediness and cause a much more problem after it.