Doctor Strange

 Released Year: 2016

Directed by Scott Derrickson

Casted by:

Benedict Cumberbatch as Stephen Strange

Chiwetel Ejiofor as Karl Mordo

Rachel McAdams as Christine Palmer

Benedict Wong as Wong

Mads Mikkelsen as Kaecilius

Tilda Swinton as the Ancient One

Chris Hemsworth as Thor

 Story: 

In Kathmandu, Nepal, the sorcerer Kaecilius and his zealots enter the secret compound Kamar-Taj and murder its librarian, keeper of ancient and mystical texts. They steal a ritual from a book belonging to the Ancient One, a sorcerer who has lived for an unknown time and taught all at Kamar-Taj, including Kaecilius, in the ways of the mystic arts. The Ancient One pursues the traitors, but Kaecilius escapes with the pages and some of his followers.

Stephen Strange, an acclaimed neurosurgeon, loses the use of his hands in a car accident. Fellow surgeon and former lover Christine Palmer tries to help him move on, but Strange, firmly believing he can regain use of his hands, instead uses all his resources pursuing experimental surgeries in vain. After learning of Jonathon Pangborn, a paraplegic who mysteriously was able to walk again, Strange seeks him out, and is directed to Kamar-Taj. There, Strange is taken in by another sorcerer under the Ancient One, Mordo. The Ancient One shows Strange her power, revealing the astral plane and other dimensions such as the Mirror Dimension. Amazed, Strange begs her to teach him, and she eventually agrees despite his arrogance, which reminds her of Kaecilius.

Strange begins his tutelage under the Ancient One and Mordo, and learns from the ancient books in the library, now presided over by the master Wong. Strange learns that Earth is protected from other dimensions by a spell formed from three buildings called Sanctums, found in New York City, London, and Hong Kong. The task of the sorcerers is to protect the Sanctums, though Pangborn chose to forgo this responsibility in favor of channeling mystical energy into walking again. Strange advances quickly over several months, even secretly reading from the text Kaecilius stole from and learning to bend time with the mystical Eye of Agamotto. Mordo and Wong warn Strange against breaking the laws of nature, comparing his arrogant yearning for power to that of Kaecilius, who believes, after the deaths of his loved ones, that everyone should have eternal life.

Kaecilius and his followers use the stolen pages to begin summoning the powerful Dormammu of the Dark Dimension, where time does not exist and all can live forever. This destroys the London Sanctum, and sends Strange from Kamar-Taj to the New York Sanctum. The zealots then attack there, where Strange holds them off with the mystical Cloak of Levitation until Mordo and the Ancient One arrive. Strange and Mordo become disillusioned with the Ancient One after Kaecilius reveals that her long life has come from her own use of Dormammu's power. Kaecilius mortally wounds the Ancient One, and escapes to Hong Kong. The Ancient One tells Strange that he, too, will have to break the rules, to balance Mordo's steadfast nature. She then dies, despite the best efforts of Strange and a bewildered Palmer. Strange and Mordo arrive in Hong Kong to find Wong dead and the Sanctum destroyed, with the Dark Dimension already engulfing Earth. Strange uses the Eye to turn back time and save Wong, before creating an infinite time loop inside the Dark Dimension that traps himself and Dormammu in the same moment forever. After killing Strange many times to no avail, Dormammu reluctantly agrees to leave Earth if Strange undoes the time loop, taking Kaecilius and the zealots with him.

Disgusted by Strange and the Ancient One's disregard for the consequences of defying nature, Mordo departs. Strange returns the Eye, which Wong calls an Infinity Stone, to Kamar-Taj, and then takes up residence in the New York Sanctum to continue his studies. In a mid-credits scene, Strange agrees to help Thor, who has brought his brother Loki to Earth to search for their father Odin. In a post-credits scene, Mordo confronts Pangborn and steals the energy he uses to walk, stating that Earth has "too many sorcerers".

 L² Scored: 8.5/10

L² Comment:

I never read the comic version before nor even know about this character until recently I'm been too into superhero movies and notice that Marvel is actually going to release this movie. Same as his surname, this movie give me a strange feeling; I feel that I will like this movie but in another hand I'm kinda afraid i might get disappointed after watching this movie. But luckily, i did enjoy the movie and love all those special effect and graphic. Tilda Swinton is the best, but reading from other articles & done some research, I noted that her character was supposed to be a man instead. But i don't really care because she is so fucking cool :) Overall the movie is great, I enjoy it and hopefully will see Doctor Strange very soon in the upcoming Avengers then~

The Vow

 Released Year: 2012

Directed by Michael Sucsy

Casted by:

Rachel McAdams as Paige Collins
Channing Tatum as Leo Collins
Jessica Lange as Rita Thornton
Sam Neill as Bill Thornton
Jessica McNamee as Gwen

 Story:

Paige Collins and her husband Leo come out of a movie theater. On their way home, at a stop sign, Paige unbuckles her seatbelt to lean over and kiss Leo. At that very moment, a truck rams their car from behind and Paige crashes through the windshield. Both of them are rushed to the emergency room, and as Leo, in a voice-over talks about how "moments of impact help in finding who we are" the movie cuts to how Paige and Leo first met. The scenes of how they courted, proposed and married are interwoven with the present.

When Paige regains consciousness, she thinks Leo is her doctor, having lost all memories of the past few years. When her parents, Bill and Rita Thornton, learn about this and visit her, it is the first time that Leo meets them. Paige does not understand why she left law school, broke her engagement with her previous fiancé, Jeremy, and why she has not been in touch with her family and friends. Her parents insist on taking her home with them and Paige agrees, assuming she might have married Leo for some mutual benefit and seeks evidence for the marriage. Just as she's about to leave, Leo comes running to play her a voice message in which she sounds very happy and romantic. Paige decides to go back with Leo, hoping it will help her regain her lost memory. Paige is welcomed home with a surprise party by her friends, but as she is not able to remember any of them, she finds it overwhelming and bursts out in anger.

The next day Paige ventures out to her regular cafe but does not remember having been there and loses her way back. She calls her mother because she does not know or remember Leo's number. That evening Leo and Paige are invited for dinner by her parents. At the dinner and in the bar later, Leo does not fit in with her family and friends. He persists in his attempts to help her regain her memory, but Paige is more driven to learning why she left law school and broke her engagement to Jeremy. During the course of one encounter with Jeremy, she kisses him. Her doctor advises her to fill the holes in her memory rather than be afraid of her past. With her sister Gwen's wedding approaching, Paige decides to stay with her parents until the wedding. Though Leo asks her out on a date and spends a night with her, the relationship is further strained when Paige's dad tries to persuade Leo to divorce his daughter, and by Leo punching Jeremy for talking about chances to bed his wife.

Paige rejoins law school and Leo signs divorce papers. At a store, she meets an old friend who, unaware of her amnesia, apologizes for having had a relationship with Paige's dad, thus alerting Paige as to why she had left her family. When she confronts her mother about this, Rita tells her that she decided to stay with Bill for all the things he had done right instead of leaving him for one wrong act. Paige then asks Leo why he never told her, and he replies he wanted to earn her love instead of driving her away from her parents. Paige, while in class, starts sketching; thus depicting how she first left law school. She continues her interest in art, eventually returning to sculpting and drawing. Though Jeremy confesses he broke up with his present girlfriend, hoping to be back with her, she turns him down stating she needs to know what life would be like without him.

As seasons change, Leo discusses his philosophy about "Moments of impact". "A moment of impact whose potential for change has ripple effects far beyond what we can predict. Sending some particles crashing together, making them closer than before. While sending others, spinning off into great ventures, landing where you never thought you’d find them..." Back in her room, Paige finds the menu card on which she had written her wedding vows and is deeply moved. The movie ends with Paige waiting for Leo at their regular Cafe Mnemonic and going with him to try a new place instead of their regular alternative.

   L² Scored: 9/10

L² Comment:

This is based on a real story of Kim & Krickitt Carpenter, whom Kim has never remember back the old memories that she has with her husband.

The storyline is nice, very romantic and warm. The add on points will be Channing Tatum juicy ass, so yummy :)

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

Released Year: 2011
Directed by Guy Ritchie

Casted by:
Robert Downey, Jr. as Sherlock Holmes
Jude Law as Dr. John Watson
Noomi Rapace as Madame Simza Heron
Jared Harris as Professor James Moriarty
Stephen Fry as Mycroft Holmes
Kelly Reilly as Mary Morstan-Watson
Story:

In 1891, Irene Adler delivers a package to Dr. Hoffmanstahl—payment for a letter he was to deliver. Hoffmanstahl opens the package, triggering a hidden bomb which is prevented from detonating by the intervention of Sherlock Holmes. Holmes takes the letter and disposes of the bomb while Adler and Hoffmanstahl escape. Holmes later finds Hoffmanstahl assassinated. Adler meets with Professor Moriarty to explain the events, but Moriarty poisons her with fast-acting tuberculosis—deeming her position compromised by her love for Holmes.

Some time later, Dr. Watson arrives at 221B Baker Street, where Holmes discloses that he is investigating a series of seemingly unrelated murders, terrorist attacks, and business acquisitions, that he has connected to Moriarty. Holmes meets with the gypsy Simza, the intended recipient of the letter he had taken from Adler, sent by her brother Rene. Holmes defeats an assassin sent to kill Simza, but she flees before Holmes can interrogate her. After Mary and Watson's wedding, Holmes meets Moriarty for the first time. Moriarty informs Holmes that he murdered Adler and will kill Watson and Mary if Holmes' interference continues.

Moriarty's men attack Watson and Mary on a train to their honeymoon. Holmes, having followed the pair for protection, throws Mary from the train into a river below where she is picked up by Holmes's waiting brother Mycroft. After defeating Moriarty's men, Holmes and Watson travel to Paris to locate Simza. When she is found, Holmes tells Simza that she has been targeted because Rene is working for Moriarty, and may have told her about his plans. Simza takes the pair to the headquarters of an anarchist group to which she and Rene had formerly belonged. They learn that the anarchists have been forced to plant bombs for Moriarty.

The trio follows Holmes's deduction that the bomb is in the Paris Opera. However, Holmes realizes too late that he has been tricked and that the bomb is in a nearby hotel; the bombing kills a number of assembled businessmen. Holmes discovers that the bomb was a cover for the assassination of Meinhart—one of the attendees—by Moriarty's aide, Sebastian Moran. Meinhart's death grants Moriarty ownership of Meinhart's weapons factory in Germany. Holmes, Watson, and Simza travel there, following clues in Rene's letters.

At the factory, Moriarty captures and tortures Holmes, while Watson enters a firefight with Moran. Moriarty reveals that he owns shares in multiple war-profiting companies, and intends to instigate a world war to make himself a fortune. Meanwhile, Watson uses a large cannon to destroy a lighthouse in which Moran is concealed. The structure collapses into the warehouse where Moriarty is holding Holmes captive. Watson, Simza, and an injured Holmes reunite, and escape aboard a moving train. Holmes deduces that Moriarty's final target will be a peace summit in Switzerland, creating an international incident.

At the summit, Holmes reveals that Rene is the assassin and that he is disguised as one of the ambassadors—having been given radical reconstructive surgery by Hoffmanstahl to alter his appearance. Watson and Simza search for signs of the assassin while Holmes and Moriarty-also in attendance-retreat outside to discuss their competing plans. Watson and Simza find Rene and stop his assassination attempt, but Rene is himself assassinated by Moran. Outside, Holmes confesses that he stole Moriarty's personal diary in Germany—the only record of his plans and finances—and replaced it with a duplicate. The original was sent to Mary in London who decrypted the code using a book that Holmes had noticed in Moriarty's office during their first meeting. Mary passes the information to Inspector Lestrade who seizes the bulk of Moriarty's assets, financially crippling him. Holmes and Moriarty anticipate an impending physical confrontation which both men realize Moriarty will win due to Holmes' injured shoulder. Holmes instead grapples Moriarty and forces them both over the balcony and into the Reichenbach waterfall below.

Their bodies are not found. Following Holmes' funeral, Watson and Mary prepare to have their belated honeymoon when Watson receives a package containing a breathing device of Mycroft's that Holmes had noticed before the summit. Realizing that Holmes is still alive, Watson leaves his office to find the delivery man. Holmes, having concealed himself in Watson's office, reads a fresh eulogy on Watson's typewriter and adds a question mark after the words "The End".

L² Scored: 6.5/10

L² Comment:

Same as the first movie 1 year ago, i fall asleep in the cinema on the beginning part :P The movie is so heavy to watch in the weekday after a day of tiring work. So i advice u guys better watch it when you're relax :)

I only start enjoy the movie when Jude Law has his wedding after the fight. Same as first movie, Robert Downey dress up like an ugly lady AGAIN!!! Why? Why they use the same idea again in the second movie? Nothing else to think of? Or An ugly-Robert-lady is attractive for the big screen? And this Noomi Rapace is so damn ugly, why? Can't they choose Penelope Cruz instead?

Awwww!!!!!!!!!

Sherlock Holmes

Released Year: 2009
Directed by Guy Ritchie

Casted by:
Robert Downey Jr as Sherlock Holmes
Jude Law as John Watson
Rachel McAdams as Irene Adler
Mark Strong as Henry Blackwood
Story:

Sherlock Holmes is a famous detective with his partner Dr John Watson. They managed to solved a lot of cases and earn money for their living. In the latest case, they managed to arrest Henry Blackwood, a ritual killer.

John decided to move out with his fiancee, Sherlock get frustrated and always lock himself in the room. Three months later, when its about time for Blackwood to execute, he request to meet up with Sherlock. During their meet up, Blackwood told him that this is not the end yet, three more person will die. Irene Adler, a criminal who outsmart Holmes twice in the past, but Holmes still deeply in love with her. Irene told Sherlock that she has divorced and hope to have a new affair with him but Sherlock didn't give her an answer.

After Blackwood execution, John as the doctor has certified his death. But not long later, Blackwood's corpse is gone and everyone thought this is a black magic. As what have been mentioned by Blackwood, 2 more important people die in sequence. Before the death of the 3rd person, Sherlock managed to figure out this will be someone from the British Parliament. Sherlock let the police arrest him in purpose and bring him to meet the Home Secretary, Lord Coward. Apparently Coward belongs to the Blackwood gang for all this dirty tricks and reveal the whole things to Holmes. Holmes later broke off from the window and jump to the river where John and Watson are there in a boat.

The three of them went and dissolved Blackwood's trick, but Irene ran away with a cylinder which is very valuable. Blackwood run and fight with Sherlock and Irene on a construction bridge. In the end, Blackwood got hung on the bridge and die like what he supposed to in his execution. Later on Sherlock discovered that Irene is working for a guy name Proffesor Moriarty. He handcuffed Irene but left her the key.

Holmes later explained everything to John about how he discovered the tricks of Blackwood as a closing of this film.

L² Scored: 6.5/10

L² Comment:

Before i went for the movie i was so excited, but i'm a bit confused after the whole movie. I thought this detective movie will be as good as the preview, but ...i dont know... maybe i'm not good in watching guy ritchie's movie. :P