Yippee Kee Yay Mother-*BANG!*-er

Yep, that's the way the iconic line is heard in this 4th installment of Die Hard. and you thought Melon Farmer is really creative censoring.

I really wanted to love the movie, I really do, especially since I saw the kickass trailer. For the most part, the movie seems to have everything a Die Hard movie should have: great action set pieces and Bruce Willis as the cool badass John McClane. However, in the end - maybe I was just expecting a great action movie, something that could kick Michael Bay and his robots' ass the next week - Live Free or Die Hard is just a so-so action movie.

Problems with the movie:

Story - The story is really ambitious and set up well. What if the whole technology infrastructure of the United States could be taken down within hours. It's definitely a thriller story worth exploring, except when it's a huge problem that could be solved by John McClane and his sidekick. That's really unbelievable and it requires a huge leap of faith from the audience. This story would work better if it was incorporated into a season of 24 where a team environment like CTU could handle the situation. A better story for this movie would be like the first one where the location is more confined.

Action, Directing and Editing - The movie had great action set pieces that are decently executed and done old school, but we should expect more. I never thought I'd say this but I think those action scenes were screaming for Michael Bay to come and make them more exciting. Len Wiseman had only directed Underworld movies and it shows; here, he's merely copying and following his preceding Die Hard directors. This is probably isn't much of a problem, but some of the exposition scenes are handled lazily too, it's like ok, here's the plot, get it? move along.

John McClane - I'll quote James Berardinelli in his review when he said it best: "John McClane is back - sort of. For, although this guy looks like McClane, sounds like McClane, cracks wise like McClane, says "Yippee kiyay" like McClane, and gets bloody like McClane, he doesn't always seem like McClane. Instead of an everyday guy getting the crap kicked out of him as he soldiers on to save his family, this guy is a superhero without the costume. "

... and just when I thought they saved the best for last, they mangled the iconic line at the very last scene. Yippee Kee Yay Motherfucker to everyone in the production indeed.

In some ways this film reminded me of Jackie Chan's New Police Story - an old action franchise getting reactivated one last time. Unlike that horrible film where its attempt to reinvent the main character failed spectacularly, at least this movie still knows what makes the franchise great. However it just never finds its greatness even if it had all the elements. Would there be another Die Hard? perhaps the last redeeming one like Rocky Balboa? One can only hope, but maybe by then Bruce Willis would be too old for that shit again.

Live Free or Die Hard (aka Die Hard 4.0)
Rating: 3 out of 5

End of F/TV 20 Spring 2007: My Film Sucks

So last monday night was the last night of the F/TV 20 - Introduction to Filmmaking class in De Anza College that I have been attending for the last 12 weeks. As expected, since it's the last day, it's the day where everyone shows their film.

Wow, was I blown away by everyone's works. This is an intro film class, and yet I see my classmates films, are full of bright ideas and brave attempts and excellent acting that forgive whatever rough quality the film have. There's a funny one about a doll which chases its owner who threw it away, there's a slapstick comedy about poker players who cheated and fought with each other, there's also another sitcom-ish story about a couple who's getting married, but one of them has a dark side, there's a sci-fi time loop story, there's even a code monkey video adaptation, and lastly a film about how an old man spends his time waiting for his wife to finish his bathroom that would perhaps make Godard or Hou Hsiau Sien or Yasuziro Ozu proud.

The best one, however goes to the story about a parent who's trying to kill a clone of his daughter, that story is very ambitious sci-fi drama for a short film. The production value was high too, it uses real actors and they could even film in downtown San Francisco and CalTrain. Wow, the only complain I have about it would be that it would be so much better if it's longer.

but what did I have to show for the night? The same old zombie flick. Yep, the now 3 years old flick since I couldn't shoot anything in the past few weeks. It's truly depressing.

Watching my classmates' films made me feel depressed. To be fair, my instructor actually singled out my film and praised its coverage. However, for me that thing is 3 years old and since then, I haven't made anything substantial. Sure my zombie flick might look "good", but my classmates' film made me feel much creatively inferior. I had always told myself to prioritize creativity above production values. But the thing is 1 reason why I haven't made anything for the past few years is because I'm so afraid of poor looking film. It's really the ultimate irony.

But besides that I also have problem (that also applies to other aspects of life besides filmmaking, e.g blogging?) getting motivated, committed and organized. I have been having some ideas kicking around and yet I'm so lazy/afraid of writing them down. My lack of social skills is also not getting me any new friends, let alone actors.

So what now? I don't know. Part of me, after watching my classmates' work and thinking of my weaknesses above, I got scared and I think I might just give up my dream of becoming a filmmaker. But another part of me knows that it's just fear and another obstacle, that is big, but has to be overcome and it won't be the last one too (parents, realities of life, etc). Besides, instead of being fearful, I should thank my classmates for reminding me again what it meant to be creative (even that zombie flick was once conceived out of a creative urge of making a good adaptation of Resident Evil). So yeah, I will not give up my filmmaking dreams. In fact, I don't want to hide in the closet anymore (no, not That closet), and I seriously want to be a film director, or at least seriously attempt it. This maybe my first open public announcement about this and to anyone who read this, please hold it back to me in the future if I, for whatever reason, still hasn't made it yet.

So what's next?

Immediately:

The Roomies (tentative title) - A "The Office" knock-off about the life of my friends who live in the same apartment. It was originally suggested by Kasim (who played the zombie) and I hope to have some complete scripts by end of October when everyone is back in states.

Untitled project - The indonesian embassy here is holding an amateur film festival to celebrate the Indonesian Independence Day. Deadline is July 21 and winner will be announced Aug 17. I still don't know what to do and not even sure if this project can be done given that I couldn't even make my last project.

So with that I say adieu. Btw, this weekend, watch Live Free or Die Hard

Back to Indo

After over 1 and a 1/2 year here, I am going back to Indo, this August.

On August 1, I will fly to Singapore. I hope to go back to Indo the following week to sort out my Visa. I also would very much like (although seems unlikely) to have a road trip around Java to visit places like Borobudur, Jogja and Surabaya. I'd prefer much if it's like a trip with friends rather than a tour. But it's very unlikely since I can't think of anyone who might be able to go. If you're interested, let me know.

I'll be back to US on Sept 27.

But i'll be back to Jakarta again on Dec 18, for my cousin's wedding.

Late Reviews

This post has been sitting idle for a month, it's time to release them

Reviews of the recent stuffs I've seen on screen. The first two I watched in the recent San Francisco International Film Festival

1. Opera Jawa (directed by Garin Nugroho)



Once in a while comes a film that makes you think you're watching not just a film, but a piece of art. Not an art film, but a real piece of art. Opera Jawa is one such film. It's not a surprise to see Garin Nugroho's name on it, considering he's perhaps the closest thing Indonesian cinema ever have to an auteur.

Opera Jawa is essentially a loose retelling of the famous epic story Ramayana set in a modern time java village, focusing on the love triangle between the "Rama", "Sita" and "Rahwana" characters. The whole film is a musical done in Traditional Javanese dance and singing (hence the title, literally: Javanese Opera). There's almost no dialogue, in fact, the language is hardly Indonesian and mostly Javanese. This suits me just fine because this is the kind of musical that I like, where they create a world where it's believable to see people singing and dancing to each other. I have never watched Javanese dance before and words fail me to describe how beautiful the whole dance and songs in the films are. You have to watch it to really appreciate it. If there's any complain I have it's that the film feels too long. Javanese Dance is a beautiful art, but it's also quite slow and watching the whole thing in almost 2 hours really taxed my patience. That's what prevented me from giving this movie a perfect score. Otherwise, if you are a Javanese Art enthusiast or fanatic, you will see the masterpiece for what it truly is.

Score: 4 out of 5

There was Q&A after the screening with actor Eko Suprianto in attendance. According to him, this movie has been screened only once in Indonesia. I don't know why, but this is a real travesty.

2. Singapore Dreaming (directed by Colin Goh and Woo Yen Yen)



Singapore Dreaming is a hard film to watch and review. Not because it's bad, mind you, but because I really (and painfully) identify with what the characters in the film is going through. I'm not singaporean, although I lived and studied for 4 years there. But anyone who is part of a dysfunctional chinese family, has ever lived with weight of expectations on you, and has ever lived in singapore should definitely be able to identify with this film.

This film is both a heavy drama and dark comedy that reflects on the singaporeans' inherent (and somewhat "no choice") obsession with material wealth and elitism through the story of a singaporean family who won a lottery and its aftermath. It's heavier on the drama than on the comedy. The subtlety of this film reminds me of 2006 oscar winner Crash (definitely not afraid to use the sledgehammer) - just imagine if Crash is about race relations in america, Singapore Dreaming is about Singaporeans worst nightmare, or something like that. Thankfully, directors Colin Goh and Woo Yen Yen don't sugar coat their story, unlike fellow countryman Jack Neo.

I'm sorry if I can't really do a proper review of this film, feel free to talk to me about it when you have watched it.

Score: 3.5 out of 5

PS: I was very shocked and glad when director Colin Goh was present for post-screeening Q&A. He created the Singapore satirical website www.talkingcock.com and it used to fill me with a lot of laughter every week. It was definitely a real treat to see him in person, especially when you least expect it.

An interesting tidbit that pretty much tells you something about Singapore government: The movie is mostly in Hokkien and Singlish. When Colin previewed the film to the censors/film commission (forgot which one), they asked Colin if he can show the film in Mandarin in Singapore but he can show it in its original language anywhere else. Colin said his "brain just imploded right there". Eventually it was shown in its original language in Singapore, BUT, the first trailer for the film was pulled out because it feature some hokkien dialogue... hmmm.

3. Fracture (directed by Gregory Hoblit)



Hannibal Lecter goes to court, where he faces off with a talented but cocky prosecutor played by Ryan Gosling. The prosecutor thought he had the case in his hand but anybody else who has seen Anthony Hopkins in any of his Hannibal Lecter-like characters know that he is dangerously smart. When the case goes to trial, both go on a game of cat and mouse to outsmart each other.

One thing that strikes me is the cinematography, Hollywood doesn't make films like this anymore: a movie in which city of LA is shot in a noirish, glamorous, beautiful style where the sky is clear of pollution and the sunrise is so beautiful as if it's a very nice luxurious place to live in (unlike the urban LA in Training Day, Crash or Collateral). Cinematography aside, Hollywood also doesn't make a reasonably smart cat and mouse thriller that's actually engaging like this anymore. The game of upmanship between Hannibal Lecter and the cocky prosecutor itself is fun to watch, but truth is the Hannibal Lecter character here isn't really very smart, he's just surrounded by stupid people and predictable situations that he could take advantage of. Screenwriters could have tried harder. However, it's really quite forgivable since it's still an enjoyable game of cat and mouse and a chance to see another Anthony Hopkins' Lecter-like performance and even if the script isn't smart, at least it's got its characters right and consistent (why does the cocky prosecutor drive the old brown bmw?). After all, Hollywood doesn't make movies like this anymore.

Rating: 3.5 / 5

4. In The Land of Women (directed by Jon Kasdan)



Check this out: so we have Seth Cohen from The O.C, except he's called Carter Webb and he's a screenwriter. Whatever. But anyway, the Seth Cohen guy broke up with his girlfriend who happens to be this famous actress with a sexy european accent. So what does he do? Exactly what every screenwriter who looks like Seth Cohen from The O.C who had just broken up with a famous actress with a sexy european accent would do: go to Michigan to take care of his dying grandmother (well, the grandmother who thinks she is dying). Along the way, he meets two "women" in his neighbors: an unhappy housewife (Meg Ryan) and her teenage daughter with the regular teenage issues (Kirsten Stewart). along the way, their life is supposedly changed by their interaction with each other. Could you see where this is going?

Despite of the poster and the synopsis, this is not a love story between the Seth Cohen and any of the "women". In fact, there's hardly any romance that matters in the movie. In fact, there's almost nothing going on at all in the movie. It's just about Seth Cohen talking about life's issues with the women and bonding with them. There's an occasional hint of developing romance but nothing ever materializes. But that's not really the point, it's just about how the life of these 3 characters and through their conversations and reflections on their life, they change. Wow, if that's your type of movie, you'll probably love it.

There's nothing wrong with a movie in which nothing happens and it's just about people talking and sharing about their life. But ITLOW's (the 'cool' acronym for the movie - check out www.myspace.com/itlow - how cool) characters and their life situations/problems are either not really interesting or in the filmmaker's attempt to be low key, couldn't become interesting. Plus, the actors (except one) couldn't really help much: Adam Brody acts like he's still Seth Cohen from The O.C. Meg Ryan is mixed in this serious role, sometimes she's effective and sometimes she just goes into her typical rom-com mode. If there's a shining light in this movie, it's Kirsten Stewart whose performance was really good and very convincing, her character feels like a real teenage girl with a lot of vulnerability and confusion. If there's one reason to watch this movie, Kirsten is. She was in Panic Room and earlier this year, The Messengers. She got much talent and potential, unlike the movie which is ultimately just fluffy and inconsequential.

Rating: 3 out of 5

My version of Pursuit of Happyness

I'm so tired. I've been busy moving my stuffs from my place to my temporary joint at culun's place in San Jose. I've just cleaned the restroom and throw a lot of rubbish around 1-2 am!!

I feel kind of homeless, sorta, since I have no permanent address right now. Still looking for one, hopefully will find a good one by next week.

by the way, Culun is in for a Nice surprise waiting in the living room in August when he returns =)