Saturday, February 25, 2017

Pokémon 4Ever: Celebi - Voice of the Forest 劇場版ポケットモンスター セレビィ 時を越えた遭遇(であい

Released Year: 2001
Directed by 湯山邦彥 Kunihiko Yuyama

Voiced by:
 松本梨香 Rica Matsumoto & Veronica Taylor as Ash Ketchum (Satoshi)
飯塚雅弓 Mayumi Iizuka & Rachael Lillis as Misty (Kasumi) 
上田祐司 Yūji Ueda & Eric Stuart as Brock (Takeshi) 
戶田惠子 Keiko Toda & Tara Sands as Sam (Young pro Oak) 
 林原惠 Megumi Hayashibara & Rachael Lillis as Jessie (Musashi) 
三木真一郎 Shin-ichiro Miki & Eric Stuart as James (Kojirō)
犬山犬子 Inuko Inuyama & Maddie Blaustein as Meowth (Nyarth) 
 Story:
The film focuses on Celebi, who travels to the future with a boy named Sam while being chased by a hunter. Meanwhile, Ash, Misty, Brock, and Pikachu are on their way to the next gym in their Johto journey and get a lift from a man named Maki, who takes them to his hometown of Arborville. They see a Suicune (who was actually the first Pokémon Ash saw in Johto). When they plan to enter a forest that is claimed to have many unusual and rare Pokémon, they are warned by an elderly lady about the "Voice of the Forest", which may carry a person off to a different period in time unless those hearing it stand still.

Ash finds Sam alone in the forest, as Celebi has fled. Sam awakens and discovers he is forty years in the future from when he was. He, Ash, and the others search for Celebi and they find it in a tree. After some convincing, the gang manage to gain Celebi's trust. They run into a high-ranking member of Team Rocket, the Iron Masked Marauder, who has been trying to capture Celebi. Jessie, James, and Meowth also team up with the Iron Masked Marauder to capture Celebi.

The heroes take Celebi to its home, the Lake of Life, where it is healed by the water. The group spend the night in the forest. The next day, Celebi is captured by the Iron Masked Marauder and is turned evil by the Dark Ball, a ball with special powers that turns the captured Pokémon evil, and immensely strengthen and magnify all of their abilities to the highest power level. Ash attempts to save Celebi by climbing the Marauder's robot, which falls over and throws them both out. Ash lands on the ground, but the Marauder begins to step on his hand; it keeps doing this until Ash falls unconscious. The Iron Masked Marauder orders Celebi to create a giant monster from parts of the forest, as he reveals his true plan is to overthrow Giovanni and take control of Team Rocket now that he has a legendary Pokémon to destroy him for good. The heroes chase after Celebi in Maki's flying boat, but are brought down by the evil Celebi's attacks. The Iron Masked Marauder tries to kill Ash and Sam, but Suicune saves them. Brock sends out his Onix, and it and Suicune do battle with the Masked Marauder's evil Tyranitar, while Ash, Sam, and Pikachu clamber into Celebi's creature and manage to get Celebi to remember its memories, successfully bringing Celebi back to normal, and destroying the Iron Masked Marauder's Dark Balls in the process, releasing his Scizor, Sneasel, and Tyranitar.

With the collapse of the giant monster, the Iron Masked Marauder falls into the lake. The other heroes rush to the lake's edge and find Ash and Sam with Celebi, who suddenly falls limp. Ash and Sam realize Celebi is dead and everyone weeps, while the Pokémon of the forest howl in grief. However, the Voice of the Forest materializes in the sky and numerous of Celebi appear and resurrect Celebi. The Iron Masked Marauder suddenly appears and kidnaps Celebi and flies up with a jetpack, but Ash and Pikachu hold onto him as he flies away. Pikachu destroys the Masked Marauder's jetpack with a "ThunderBolt" attack and they fall to the ground, but Celebi saves them. The Iron Masked Marauder falls onto the forest floor (losing his mask and Dark Balls in the process) and is confronted by the old woman, her granddaughter Diana, Maki, and all the Pokémon of the forest.

Celebi prepares to bring Sam back to his own time. He has an emotional farewell with Ash and departs with Celebi. Before Ash leaves the town into his next journey, he talks to Professor Oak about what happened, and muses about the story. Professor Oak tells a sad Ash that he and Sam are going to be friends forever as true, strong and close friendships can withstand the test of time.

Ash, Brock, and Misty realise they never told Professor Oak Sam's name, but are soon distracted by the departing boat. Professor Oak is then shown with the sketch-book from earlier in the film, revealing that Professor Oak (whose first name is Samuel) is the grown-up Sam. He finally reveals it happened like it was only yesterday, after musing on a sketch he drew of a sleeping Pikachu and Celebi.

At the end of the film, Jessie (who got caught in Celebi's powerful wind when it was ordered to create the giant monster from the Marauder's control) is seen laying in the Lake of Life and feeling relaxed. Then, James and Meowth arrive on a raft to rescue her. Suddenly, the Tyranitar (who still has its powers increased to the highest level) emerges from the lake and attacks them, destroying their raft. As the Tyranitar swims away, the Scizor and Sneasel watch from the trees as they both leave and disappear into the fog. Team Rocket all come out of the water with Meowth saying he's all tingly, including James. As all three lay together in the water, they all say "Looks like Team Rocket's floating away," and all make a refreshed "Ah!"
 L² Scored: 8.5/10

L² Comment
The 4th movie of Pokemon and it brought out the gen 2 legendary pokemon - Celebi & Suicune. Entei has shown itself in the 3rd movie as the only one legendary pokemon in the movie. Though both legendary occurs, Celebi is carrying a much more important role and shown its greater power (after being evilize) and it can simply beat down Suicune. 

One thing I feel a bit weird on this movie is about Ash. Of course he is still the main human character in the movie, but his feeling to Celebi seems to be much greater than Sam, another boy who save Celebi... Indirectly i feel its kinda fake lol~

Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Out of the Dark 回魂夜

Released Year: 1995
Directed by 劉鎮偉 Jeffrey Lau

Casted by:
 周星馳 Stephen Chow as Leon
莫文蔚 Karen Mok as 阿群 Kwan
盧雄 Bryan Leung as 盧隊長 Mr Wu
李健仁 Lee Kin Yang as 大孖 Dai Ma
李力持 Lee Lik Chi as 細孖 Sai Ma
黃一飛 Wong Yat Fei as 鐵膽 Dan
黃智賢 Ben Wong as 阿強 Keong
 Story:
A proffesional ghost buster Leon is living with others psycho in the mental illness hospital, Kwan falls for his unique and bravery action. In an event which a son & his wife joint up to murder the poor mother. The spirit of the mother came back during the 7th day she passed away to inform the police who is the real person that kill her. After the truth was being told, the son and his wife suicident... 

Leon went to help a bunch of security who work in the building of the murder case. They manage to help the spirit of the mother who has been killed by her son and daughter in law. But the son and daughter in law has suicide in grudge and swear that they will be back on their 7th day to take reveng. Leon quickly work out a ghost fighting program to train the security and Kwan for the night... 
L² Scored: 7/10

L² Comment:
This might be the darkest film that Stephen Chow has acted/participated as at today. By hitting the 10th place in the HK blockbuster on the 1995, it is not one of the hits movie of Stephen Chow that everyone will keep repeating to watch. Seriously, this is my first time watching this movie, some part is a bit scary and kinda freak me out but the comedy part is funny as hell... And i love the pot of flower that him carry around, "Lily" is the name and it can detect ghost lol...

Friday, February 10, 2017

The Wild Ones 我未成年

 Released Year: 1989
Directed by 林德祿 David Lam & 宋豪輝 Song Hou Fai

Casted by:
鄭文雅 Olivia Cheng as 鄺青雲 Sandy
李麗珍 Loletta Lee as 羅敏兒 Yee
袁潔瑩 Fennie Yuen as 袁和平 Peng
溫碧霞 Irene Wan as 陳玉琴 Kam
陳加玲 Charrine Chan as 阿娣 Tai
任達華 Simon Yam as John
恬妮 Tien Lei as 陸娟 Kuen
Story:
Sandy decided to leave her boyfriend John and her job as a social worker in America because she was not accepted as an Asian. Coming back to her hometown Hong Kong, she was given a task to take care of 4 girls in the girls' home. They are Yee who has beaten her father's girlfriend; Kam who has been running away from home several times; Tai who is a teen prostitute and Peng who is taking care of the prostitution business.

In the meantime, Sandy was also searching for her lost mum Kuen. The girls in the homestay are stubborn and disobedience, they always get into fights and this has stressed up Sandy. Sandy bring girls to do some outdoor activities for them to get back to society and once again being accepted. Kam has been advice to leave the homestay and went back home to live well with her father; Yee gets to know her boyfriend David during the outdoor event and started to act good; while Sandy found Kuen and was shocked when she knows that Peng is actually her step sister...
L² Scored: 7/10

L² Comment:
Quite a meaningful movie back in the old days which Clifton Ko was the film producer. Usually this kind of similar movie will be showing male prison scenes and gang fight. Clifton smartly transferred it to a female version and managed to get the most popular teen actors that time - Loletta Lee, Fennie Yuen, Charrine Chan & Irene Wan to act in it while Ms HK Olivia Cheng lead them back to the good path... Not bad, I recommend you to watch when you are free dude :) 

Thursday, February 2, 2017

Fat Choi Spirit 嚦咕嚦咕新年財

 Released Year: 2002
Directed by 杜琪峰 Johnnie To & 韦家辉 Wai Ka Fai

Casted by:
劉德華 Andy Lau as 德華 Andy
梁詠琪 Gigi Leung as 詠琪 Gigi
劉青雲 Sean Lau as 青雲 Sean
古天樂 Louis Koo as 天樂 Louis
應采兒 Cherrie Ying as 采兒 Cherrie
王天林 Wong Tin Lam as 天叔 Tin
黃文慧 Bonnie Wong as 媽媽 Mother
 Story
Andy is an extremely compulsive Mahjong player. Thrown out of the house by his mother and ignored by his more academically gifted and successful younger brother, Louis, he had a hard time running away from debt collectors until one day he met a young girl named Gigi after a run-in with some of the debt collectors' men. Gigi started out as a thief, but because she fell for him and gave him immense luck, Andy gained great success with his extreme good luck in mahjong games and became very rich. However he refused to marry Gigi because she, though a nice woman when with him, was in reality quite a sore loser who threw temper tantrums while on the verge of losing mahjong games. She could not understand that he couldn't stand the way she behaved. As Andy said, her behaviour could be revealed by just playing a game of mahjong where when she lost, she would throw the tables. He promised her that he would marry her if she could play a game of mahjong without such a bad temper. She couldn't and so he couldn't marry her though he loved her. In the meantime, Andy found his mother who was now suffering from Alzheimer's disease and his brother who faced bankruptcy and moved in with Andy, who coincidentally lived in a bungalow. Not wanting to lose out in finding a job, Louis who had excellent luck in Mahjong but zero skill, was conned out of all his money and even his clothes by a skilled, yet devious mahjong player, Sean. But being a kind hearted simpleton, Cherrie on the con team, fell for him and decided to mend her ways.

In the meantime, Gigi who was very disappointed with Andy's refusal to marry her, went with the bad crowd, in the form of mahjong con men led by Lau Ching-wan. Andy who was cursed by Gigi lost his winning streak and instead found a living as a taxi driver and moved into public housing. Being ever optimistic, he did not complain. However, not wanting Gigi to fall into the con men's trap, he played a game of mahjong with Sean and lost terribly. But Gigi was touched by his actions and went back to him, promising she will return a better woman. But before she left, she gave Andy a blessing and from there on, Andy's winning streak came back. Louis who had created a mahjong computer game with his new girlfriend, Cherrie, received word that there would be a Mahjong tournament sponsored by his game. The ever optimistic Andy decided to join the contest which saw him competing against Sean. Before the tournament began, he discovered that Gigi had returned to her old job as a stewardess and gave him a lot of good fortune items from around the world. During the tournament, Andy was able to secure a seat in the final match which also included Sean, Sean's father and a henchman. Andy easily won the match but was then confronted by Sean to have a rematch. Andy agreed and the two of them squared off. Before the match could end, Andy gave up and gave the prize to Sean. Sean, surprised at what had happened, decided to look at Andy's hand, which was a major breakthrough set. Sean realized all his mistakes and decided to learn from Andy. Andy then regained all his money and started a Mahjong school by the sea. He eventually got married with Gigi.
 L² Scored: 4.5/10

L² Comment:
No matter how many times I rewatch this movie, i just feel stupid. But this year, I changed my mind. Referring back Gigi Leung's filmography, she has make a big change on the way she perform in the movie. Beside of willing to drive her way into a character that is a bit "not her style" during that time, this character challenged her in expanding her way to different styles of acting. Beside that, she's the one who is mainly bringing out the comedy part throughout the whole movie, so this 4.5 score goes to her :) Looking at other actor like Sean Lau & Louis Koo, I feel like puking at them in this movie seriously... while Cherrie all these while never bring any glorious moment to any of her movie, the scene where she smoke is also sickening, she's so fake! In another hand, Andy Lau did not bring any big surprise and Bonnie Wong's scenes are too little for her to shine~

Wednesday, February 1, 2017

Resident Evil: The Final Chapter

 Released Year: 2016
Directed by Paul W.S. Anderson

Casted by:
Milla Jovovich as Alice
Ali Larter as Claire Redfield
Shawn Roberts as Albert Wesker
Ruby Rose as Abigail
Eoin Macken as Doc
William Levy as Christian
Iain Glen as Dr. Alexander Isaacs
李準基 Lee Joon-gi as Lee
Rola as Cobalt
Ever Gabo Anderson as Alicia Marks / Red Queen
Fraser James as Michael / Razo
 Story:
Picking up three weeks after the events in Resident Evil: Retribution, Alice awakens in the now-ruined White House, after being betrayed once again by Albert Wesker. While searching for survivors, the Red Queen appears and tells Alice that she must return to the Hive in Raccoon City within 48 hours, where the Umbrella Corporation has developed an airborne antivirus, which will kill every organism infected by the T-virus, before the remainder of humankind is wiped out. When asked why she's betraying her creators, the Red Queen simply says that she will tell Alice once she arrives at The Hive. During flashbacks, it is revealed that Dr. James Marcus, the original founder of the Umbrella Corporation, had a daughter who was dying of premature aging. Marcus, desperate to save her, developed the T-virus as a way to cure all diseases on Earth. After having had his creation taken away from him, Marcus' business partner Dr. Alexander Isaacs tried to convince Marcus to use the T-virus for military purposes. When he refused, Isaacs ordered Wesker to kill Marcus.

On her way to Raccoon City, Alice is captured by Isaacs, long thought to be dead. Isaacs tells her that the one she killed was a clone, and decides to toss her to a horde of zombies trailing his armored vehicle, but Alice escapes via a motorcycle carried within it. Alice later arrives in the now-destroyed Raccoon City and is captured by a group of survivors, consisting of Doc, Abigail, Christian, Cobalt, Razor, and Claire Redfield, who is revealed to be alive after the attack on Arcadia. After learning that a group of armored vehicles and a horde of zombies is coming their way, the group prepares to make their last stand. With the help of Abigail, they manage to defeat the enemy forces, although Cobalt is killed in the process. The group later realizes that a second horde is coming in their direction.

With no defenses left, Alice and the crew decide to get to the Hive entrance, located at the bottom of the atomic bomb crater which destroyed the city. However, Wesker, having taken control of the Hive, releases mutated guard dogs, killing Christian. Upon arriving at the Hive, the Red Queen appears again and explains the reason of her betrayal. It is revealed that someone uploaded a video recording of the Umbrella executives, including Isaacs, formulating a plan to release the T-virus on purpose in order to cleanse the world, save the rich and powerful with cryogenic capsules hidden in the Hive, and later rebuild the world in their image. The Red Queen, although programmed to never hurt an Umbrella employee, was also programmed to value human life, which is why she enlists Alice's help in order to stop Isaacs. The Red Queen also warns Alice about one of the group being a spy for Umbrella.

Upon entering the Hive's air chamber, Wesker activates the power, causing the fan to spin and kill Abigail. In the ventilation ducts, Alice and Razor fall into a trap, pitting them against a BOW. Razor is devoured by the BOW, but Alice kills it. Meanwhile, Claire falls into a glass confinement cell but manages to escape. Alice reunites with Doc, plants bombs in the Hive's core, and comes face to face with the real Dr. Isaacs, only for her and Claire to be captured by Wesker and Doc, who is Umbrella's spy. A cyrogenic capsule opens, containing Alicia Marcus, co-leader of the Umbrella Corporation and daughter of Dr. Marcus. It is revealed that Alice is a clone of Alicia, which explains her lack of memories before she awoke in The Hive. Isaacs also reveals his plans to eliminate Alicia and take over as the sole leader of the Umbrella Corporation. However, as Alicia is still in control, she "fires" Wesker, causing the Red Queen to recognize him as a civilian and crush his legs with a security door. Doc tries to shoot Alice, but his gun is empty - as Alice had deduced his treachery earlier - and he is shot dead by Claire.

Encouraged by Alicia's words, Alice and Claire fight Isaacs, who is genetically enhanced. Alice detonates a grenade in Isaacs' pocket, causing it to severely injure him. Alice retrieves the antivirus and heads outside. As she tries to release the antivirus, Isaacs, still alive, stops her, but the Isaacs who met Alice en route to Raccoon City - yet another one of his clones - arrives and kills him before being devoured by the zombies. With a few seconds to spare, Alice releases the antivirus, killing all the zombies and presumably herself. The bombs planted within the Hive explode, killing Alicia, Wesker, and everyone within it.

Claire later wakes Alice, revealed to be alive. The Red Queen explains that the antivirus merely killed the T-virus within Alice's body, ensuring her survival, and gives Alice an upload of all Alicia's memories of childhood, granting her a fully human existence. Alice drives off on an Umbrella motorcycle, stating that the antivirus could take several years to reach all corners of the globe and until then, her mission isn't over, as several BOWs pursue her.
 L² Scored: 10/10 

L² Comment
Though we only able to watch this movie at the big screen near the end of January 2017, this movie has actually being released in Japan on 26th Dec 2016, so I have to indicate the released year as 2016 in my blog here. Same as "Underworld", this series of movie has come to an end for total of 6 installment since 2002, 1 extra movie comparing to Underworld.

Of course Resident Evil is a much more better movie comparing the both, having the game released all these while with the movie has easily boost up the ticket selling worldwide.This finale movie explained the root of the T-Virus and Ali Larter was back as well :) I'm a bit relieved when I didn't see the bitchy Michelle Rodriguez but a bit disappointed of Lee Bing Bing not appearing instead. The producer still consider about the Asian's market and plot in the Korean celebrity Lee Joon Gi in it this time. The whole movie has begin with a good start and brought several peak moment in it, finally ends well. Good Work Milla Jovovich, hope that we will able to see more of her great work coming but not only the Resident Evil series :)