Movie review: The Phantom of the Opera

WARNING, only watch this if you like musical. This movie consists of more than 80% of musical performance. If you don't like musical movies at all, skip this movie at all cost. But if you like it, please watch it in the cinema, all the breath taking scenes and good music are supposed to work best in a cinema hall only. Don't complain it sucks if you watch it at home with your 21" tv and pirated vcd.
The storyline is all about 2 guys, 1 rich, famous and handsome, another 1 charming, talented but has part of his face twisted, fighting each other for the girl. Of course, most movies talk about the same thing. Things get a little slow and boring when u have to wait for everybody to sing their part, even when they're fighting each other. I noticed there're people who fall asleep in the cinema, so u can imagine how slow and boring the movie can get into.
But nevertheless, I enjoyed the movie alot with all the music, you can say it's a new experience, after all the standard movies you watch, it's great to try something different.
My take: 3.5/5.0

Makan Review: Iketeru, KL Hilton

KL Hilton is fast gaining popularity as the choice place to have a nice meal, as least in my opinion, and when I have money to burn (which is not often enough) or when it's on company's account. I've recently had the opportunity to visit the Iketeru japanese restaurant, located on the 8th floot of the new KL Hilton at Sentral.

Walked in and you can feel how grand the place is. High ceilings, large glass panels providing natural lighting and with the view of Hilton's swimming pool. Service is wonderful, a delightful trait that I find throughout the entire KL Hilton. While food wise is really nothing to shout about (especially at the price) but the ambiance and settings made up for it. I particularly enjoyed the miso soup that came with the set meals. A 6-piece sashimi plate costs RM72... so, if you are not a small eater, I suggest you spend those money on 10+ plates of sashimi at your nearest Sushi King outlet.

Ratings: 4 out of 5 (extra points for excellent service)

Movie Review: Ocean's Twelve

How often can a movie boast of such as stellar cast as those of Ocean's Twelve? Ocean's Eleven, it's predecessor had almost the same cast and had an engaging story line to make it a hit at the box office. Can Twelve repeat and make it one more notch better? Yes it can and it does.

3 years after their $160 million heist at Terry Benedict's (Andy Garcia) casino in Ocean's Evelen, Danny (George Clooney), Rusty (Brad Pitt) and team are living their own lives, trying to go legit. Unfortunately, Benedict managed to track them down, and demanded that they pay back the amount stolen, plus interest. Pushed onto a corner, the team decides to travel to Europe to pull off more jobs, tracked by a beautiful Europol agent (Catherine Zeta Jones) and encountering a mysterious and egomanical foe, the Night Fox.

Eye candies aside, this movie provide strong storyline, with lots of twist to the plot. There are plenty of laughter moments. I would even categorize this movie as a comedy more than a thriller. Definitely among the better movie I've enjoyed this year.

Ratings: 5 out of 5

Newspage in Genting over the weekend

Hehe, maybe someone will be interested to go and do something to them there? Such as pretending ghost, cheat at the gamble table to win their money etc.

Book Review: Skipping Christmas by John Grisham

Normally I wouldn't read books that has already been made into movies because I thought I'd lose the magic of imagination, with all the vivid images displayed on the big screen.

Skipping Christmas, by John Grisham, is now also a movie, just released recently in the States, known as Christmas with the Kranks, starring Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis. Well, reading through the book, I can't help but picturing Tim Allen (and his Home Improvement character and surroundings) as the protagonist, Luther Krank, a husband and father who came up with a supposedly brilliant idea of skipping Christmas and all the festivities that came with it. Nora, the dotting mom, reluctantly and quietly appreciating the idea that her husband came up with. Again, I think you can easily imagine Jamie Lee Curtis in Patricia Richardson's shoes as the wife of Tim Allen's character in Home Improvement.

The book itself is an easy read. Not heavy plots, little character development, lots of characters being thrown into the plot. Is John Grisham just milking the movie industry? The storyline is too simple, language light and not much to hold your interest for too long. I managed to continue to finish this book only because of the time I like to spend sitting in the toilet reading books! This book sucks as a novel, but I am sure it'll fare better as an adapted screenplay, no doubt. This book just reinforced my believes in books that has been made into movies are nothing to shout about... although there's a few more John Grisham books that are made into movies... which has been recommended to me.

My recommendation, don't bother picking up this book. Save your RM30 and buy your date and yourself the movie tickets to the show, popcorns and drinks, and enjoy the laughter I'm sure funnyman Tim Allen will bring to the screen.

Ratings: 2 out of 5

Movie Review: Polar Express (IMAX Release)

First off: glad that IMAX screen is finally on our shores. I first caught the giant 3D screen wonder 5 years back in Australia, and has been hoping to be able to watch more shows on IMAX. IMAX 3D screen gives you an additional dimension of depth when watching the movie/show.

Polar Express is the first movie to be released simultaneously in both the standard and IMAX version. It tells of a story of a little boy's adventure upon the Polar Express heading for the North Pole, home of Santa Claus. The boy lost his belief in Santa Claus and Christmas, and the journey will help him to rediscover his faith in the spirit of Christmas.

Overall, there isn't much depth in the story line. It is pretty simple. If it is a live-action movie instead of a animated one, it might be classified as one of those movie you find on the Hallmark channel. Animation wise, the producers and creators went for realism, creating looks and feels that resemble real actors. It might not be visually as appealing as other animation such as Pixar's Incredibles (which I've not yet watched :( )

IMAX Release also added certain element of excitement in certain scenes, where movement were brought closer to realism through 3D vision. I would recommend watching this movie on the IMAX screen.

Ratings: 3 out of 5

It's confirmed: Tom Hanks as Robert Langdon

Columbia Pictures has confirmed that Tom Hanks has been cast in the lead role of the famed symbologist Robert Langdon in the studio's upcoming film adaptation of Dan Brown's best-selling thriller The Da Vinci Code, it was announced today by Sony Pictures Entertainment Motion Picture Group Chairman Amy Pascal and the film's producers Brian Grazer and John Calley. The studio also announced that it has slated May 19, 2006 as the worldwide day and date release for the highly anticipated film.

OK. I'm trying hard to imagine Tom Hanks as Robert Langdon. Although Harrison Ford would be the perfect choice, had he been 20 years younger, I am still not convinced to have Tom Hanks as Langdon. Maybe he has been stereocasted as a simpleton, loner, outcast... to have him as an intellectual cum adventurist... still doesn't click. But Tom Hanks has proved to be a versatile actor, and I am seldom disappointed by his movies. So, let's just hope it doesn't bomb.