Log-04/27/2012

In the class time, I presented my project to class. Even though I had to look at my note card a lot, I think it went well. Classmates seemed like they were interested in my project. Outside of class, I watched another movie, the Usual Suspects. It was a awwesomeeeeeeee. I want people to recommend good movies to me. I learned that I need to follow schedule I've planned because it is going off little bit.

Log 04/26/2012

During the class I listened and watched my classmate's presentation. They did very well. Especially, Mike's project, making cook book was awesome. I really want to try his food at the end of term. I learned many things from their presentation. Compared to their my presentation wasn't good enough. I posted reviews that I've written on my blog and edit them during the study hall. I wish I can do well on presentation tomorrow.

Movie Review- Mission Impossible 4: Ghost Protocol

Mission Impossible 4 (2012)

Director: Brad Bird

Genre   : Action

Cast    : Tom Cruise, Paula Patton, Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg, Anil Kapoor

General Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)

Review:       

Coming from a guy that hasn't seen any of the previous MIs, "Ghost Protocol" was nothing short of an awesome movie. From start to finish, it offers heart-pounding action and jaw-dropping special effects that will leave you in awe. 

One thing that bothers me about these kinds of movies is the way that you can never give the actor any credit for being so badass; there is usually (with exception of a few actors) a stuntman who creates what people watch action movies for: the action. I really appreciated this movie because Cruise actually IS that badass. Most of his stunts are actually done himself. Being able to both watch him fight, jump, and free-fall AND see his face at the same time was somewhat special. I really enjoy the little things. 

The rest of the actors did an admirable job as well. Pegg assumed his usually goofy character, and as tiring as he was, it was funny. Renner was definitely a great asset to the cast; he also knows his action. As long as you can tolerate a minimal amount of cheesy dialogue (most of which is provided by Pegg) you will enjoy it. 

Another recommendation would be to see this one in IMAX if you get the chance. The sound effects in this one are fantastic, and can only be appreciated to the fullest in such an environment. Plus, they will most likely show the prologue for "The Dark Knight Rises". Not to take anything away from "Ghost Protocol," but that prologue was the highlight of my night. 

In a nutshell, Tom Cruise delivered, and it was much better than expected. If you're an action-lover, you won't want to miss this one.

My Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)

Movie Review- Man on a Ledge

Man on a Ledge (2012)

Director: Asger Leth

Casting: Sam Worthington, Elizabeth Banks, Jamie Bell

General Rating: ★★★(3/5)

Review: As you'd expect, "Man on a Ledge" is a Swiss-cheese plotted heist and "prove his innocence" movie but taken as just that, it's quite an enjoyable movie. I suppose after having seen enough of these kinds of movies, I shouldn't expect perfection in how every plot thread is tied up since very few movies manage it. However, what the movie does excellently is setup the plot and build up the situation perfectly. Just starting as a literal man on a ledge, we see subtle layers added until we get this full on crescendo of diamond heists, negotiators, cops, convicts, bad guys, good guys all happening on in a single block in New York. So, given that you're willing to suppress your tingling plot-hole sense, it can be an enjoyable movie.

The cast is quite good and the acting and tension is par for the course. The leads Sam Worthington and Elizabeth Banks do a great job. Seeing Worthington as an ex-NY cop, ex-convict and Banks as a negotiator/psychologist with a past is surprising on paper but they manage to pull it off very well. However, Jamie Bell is one of the heist-team but his opposite who plays Angie make for some cringe-worthy comedy, like some Sofia Vergara slapstick in the middle of a tense situation. Ed Harris looks emaciated but equally sinister as the villain and there are a host other minor NY characters.

I can hear the Hollywood pitch for the movie in my head, "it's like The Negotiator combined with The Italian Job but happens in NY and instead of a hostage situation we have a jumper." And, essentially it's just that – a movie that heavily recalls other movies from the past except perhaps for the man on ledge. On a side note, it seems that every NY movie nowadays has a reference to the OWS movement and what a typical OWS protester might look like.

The movie is at its best when it clamors for our hero who desperate and is fighting all odds to clear his name as he shouts from his ledge, "I am innocent and this is my retrial." The movie is at its worst when it's ungainly roping in all the plot threads it cast out but can't seem to put it together. Overall, it's a good enough movie for people who like these kinds of movies. If you've caught yourself bitterly berating the many plot holes in heist movies, maybe this isn't for you.

My Rating: ★★★★(4/5)

Movie Review- The Hunger Games.

 

The Hunger Games (2012)

Director: Gary Ross

Casting: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth

General Rating: ★★★★(4/5)

Review: I was excited to see this film based on all the hype from my friends. I haven't read the books, but thought the story was interesting based on the one-line explanations I got from others. I went into this film expecting to see something similar to the Twilight films (teen obsession over book turned film), but better. What I got was much, much worse.
First off, I want to say that I thought the acting was great. The actors did a great job of portraying their characters. What WASN'T so great was the lack of character development. The death scenes, even those meant to be emotional, didn't affect me at all. I am one who isn't afraid to cry like a baby at a movie, and I often do. But while the others around me were sobbing, I was just ready for the scene to be over with.

Another reason I strongly disliked this film, has to do with my title. It seems like 95% of the shots in this movie were closeup on the characters faces. These are fine, to an extent, but you begin to wonder after a while if the actors aren't all just bodiless floating heads. The fight scenes were quickly cut together, which could work, if you weren't zoomed in so much that you have no idea what was going on.

For a film with a supposed 100,000,000 dollar budget, this came across as a low-budget independent adaption of the book. They could have done so much more to improve the visual aspect of the film as well as make the characters more likable.

Overall, I would give these film 4 stars, mainly due to the great acting and costume design. Everything else was horrible.

Log 04/25/2012

I've received my comment card on my project. I got horrible grades on my logging. I should pay more attention on it. During the class, couple of classmates brought their grand parents to class. Each of us introduce our projects to them. I also got a tip from Mr Igoe about how to write the logs on the blog. I should upload my reviews on the blog. Outside of class, I kept made my presentation for tomorrow.

Log 4/24/2012

Since end of this week I have my mid-term presentation, I started to organize my project on my blog. During the class I finished up writing my reviews on the Hunger Games. It took less than 30 minutes. Outside of class, I start to make presentation page on my project. I will introduce my project to class with detail plan. I realized that I should manage my time more practically. I shouldn't spend my study hall time for watching movie.

Log 04/23/2012

Goal: Re outline review form and write review about Hunger Game
Inside: re-outline review form
Outside: Start writing review of Hunger Game
What I learned: High general rating of movie doesn't always mean good movie for me. (Hunger Game sucks)

Log 04/22/2012

Goal: Finish Man on Ledge review
Outside: Finished Man on Ledge review

Log 04/20/2012

Goal: Write review on Man on the Ledge
Inside: Write review
outside: Write review, Watched The Hunger Game in the Chuncky's
Learn: I need more organized formation.

Log 04/20/2012

Goal: Write review on Man on the Ledge
Inside: Write review
outside: Write review
Learn: I need more organized formation.

Log 04/19/2012

Goal: Finish the review
Inside: Wrote review and finished it
Outside: Watched Man on the Ledge
Learn: I should pay more attention while watching movie and I think I need more quiet environment.

Log

4/18/2012
Goal: Write reviews
Inside: Wrote review of Mission Impossible 4
Outside: Wrote review of Mission Impossible 4
What I learned: I need more information to figure out what is a good movie

Log

04/16/2012
Goal: Making outline for movie review form.
Inside: Read the David Thompson’s “Have You Seen…”.
Outside: Watched Mission Impossible 4
What I learned: Organizing is important.