ANT-MAN AND THE WASP (Malaysia, 04 Jul 2018)

Genre: Action / Adventure

Running Length: 2:00

Cast: Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas, Michelle Pfeiffer, Laurence Fishburne, Hannah John-Kamen, Walton Goggins, Michael Pena

Director: Peyton Reed 

Screenplay: Chris McKenna & Erik Sommers and Paul Rudd & Andrew Barrer & Gabriel Ferrari 

What's the movie about?

As Scott Lang/Ant-Man (Rudd) is under house arrest for 2 years following the events of Civil War, Hope van Dyne (Lilly) and Dr. Hank Pym (Douglas) present him with an urgent new mission. Shy of two days from completing his sentence, he is tasked to go into the quantum realm to save Hope's mom Janet van Dyne (Pfeiffer) who is stuck in there for 30 years. 

Highlights!

• This time round, we have a good balance of Rudd, Lilly and Douglas. They share almost equal screentime which I feel is a nice approach. 
• Similar to the first Ant-Man, Michael Pena steals every scene he is in!

Lowlights

• After the recent grandeur of Avenger: Infinity War this movie feels like a very small movie (no pun intended). The narrative is almost made for Netflix kind, just that the effects and action pieces are more polished thanks to a big budget. 
• The villains here have very little purpose beyond providing roadblocks to our heroes' mission to save Janet.
• Not too sure if it's because of Paul Rudd's laid-back personality or just the fault of the writing team, this film lacks energy. It gets pretty boring at times even during the action sequences.    

In summary

As fun as it gets, this movie is somewhat pointless. The only scene that got me excited is the first post-credit scene (the second one which is right at the end is rubbish) which leaves behind a clue to what's going to happen in Avengers 4. 

RATING: 6.5/10

THE LEAKERS (Malaysia, 21 Jun 2018)

Genre: Action / Thriller

Running Length: 1:43

Cast: Julian Cheung, Francis Ng, Charmaine Sheh, Louis Cheung, Kent Cheng, Sam Lee 

Director: Herman Yau

Screenplay: Erica Lee, Li Sheng

What's this movie about?
A Zika epidemic breaks out in Malaysia and rapidly spreads across the region. A local Malaysian pharmaceutical company claims to have a new but unapproved medicine which could cure the infected patients. In the race for time to get this medicine out, a Hong Kong journalist hot on this case and the eldest son of the pharma company are found dead. It's up to a Malaysian police (Julian Cheung) and a HK police officer (Francis Ng) to investigate and uncover the truth.   

Highlights!

• Shot in Penang! Most of this film was shot in Malaysia and that was the main reason I went to check out this film. There's just something patriotic seeing your country used as the backdrop for an 'internationally' released film.  
• Francis Ng's performance. To be fair Julian Cheung's performance ain't half bad (his command on the Bahasa Melayu language is "boleh tahan"). But he is easily out-shined here by Ng's nuanced performance where his character uses humour to mask the pain and disappointment he was going through in his domestic life. There is this scene where he had to break a difficult news to a hospitalized patient - wow, that was some serious acting from Francis.    

Lowlights

• An overly convoluted plot. Credit should be given to the film's writers for crafting an ambitious narrative (instead of the staple cops-versus-robbers plot) but the end product ended up somewhat short. 
• Boring action sequences. I used to love HK action but lately it has been just uninspiring. Cold War 2 got my hopes up a little on this front but the action in this film seems to confirm its downward trend. 

In summary
As much as I would like HK films to continue doing what they do best; cops-versus-robber, I am rooting for them to produce successful character-driven action thriller movies worthy of Hollywood standards (or even Korean or Japanese) to spark a revival for its film industry. Unfortunately, THE LEAKERS isn't one of them. 

RATING: 5/10

KAUSERN REVIEWS TOP MOVIES OF 2018 (SO FAR)

Due to work commitment, I've not been watching many movies this year. Moreover, the movies released in Malaysia cinemas during the first half of the year were a mixed bag. So instead of my usual Top 10, I give you a Top 5 (they are rated 8.5 and above).

Do click on each title to read the full review of the movie. 

#5 BLACK PANTHER 

What I remember most about this movie is not the typical superhero movie stuff but its characters and its political message. And that's a good thing. Wakanda Forever! 

#4: JURASSIC WORLD: FALLEN KINGDOM

I like how the filmmakers took risk in this 5th installment (of the Jurassic series) and spun it to a brand new direction. This film managed to successfully mix nostalgia with a new story.

#3 THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI 

A film where God's grace does not exist and the path to redemption is fully dependent on the characters' own hands. I like the balance of tragedy and dark comedy. This film takes its audience to unpredictable places.

#2 SICARIO: DAY OF THE SALDADO  

 

A worthy follow-up from the first film as it expands its universe of drug and human trafficking. The 'action sequences' are so well crafted it makes you feel that you're right there and the violence is usually quick, brutal and efficient.    

#1 AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR

This film was a spiritual experience for me! It felt like watching Armageddon unfolded in-front of me, where the conflicts and battles are of Godly proportions. To me, this is actually Thanos' movie - his higher calling for his madness is intriguing and debatable. And what a ballsy ending! No evil "ha ha ha" gloating. Just like that, it was all over. 

Looking forward for a better second half!

SICARIO: DAY OF THE SALDADO (Malaysia, 28 Jun 2018)

Genre: Thriller

Running Length: 2:02

Cast: Benicio Del Toro, Josh Brolin, Isabela Moner, Jeffrey Donovan, Catherine Keener, Matthew Modine, Elijah Rodriguez, David Castañeda  

Director: Stefano Sollima 

Screenplay: Taylor Sheridan

What's this movie about?

The cartels are smuggling terrorists across the US border. FBI agent Matt Graver (Josh Brolin) is ordered to assemble his team, including Alejandro (Benicio Del Toro) to instigate a cartel war to disrupt such operations. Of course, nothing goes right and very quickly, sh*t hits the fan. 

(SICARIO: DAY OF THE SOLDADO stands on its own. One does not require to have seen the first film Sicario, but by understanding the background of Graver and Alejandro it would help viewers to have a better appreciation for the series) 

Highlights!

• Expanding the Sicario universe. Rather than the lazy rinse and repeat approach to sequels, I like what returning writer Taylor Sheridan did here - exposing a whole other facet of the drug and human trafficking war among the cartels that wasn’t explored in the first. The first film felt small while this one seems much bigger.  
• The realistic violence. Eventhough the trailer markets this film as an action film, the violence here are not the same as that genre. No heroic slo-mo gun play. The 'action sequences' are so well crafted it makes you feel that you're right there and the violence is usually quick, brutal and efficient.  
• Same look and feel. Eventhough the original super trio (Director Denis Villeneuve, cinematographer Roger Deakins and composer Jóhann Jóhannsson - RIP) were not involved in this sequel, it still looks and feels the same. This movie maintains a lurking sense of dread with some unbearable moments of intensity.
• The performances of Josh Brolin and Benicio Del Toro. Both Brolin's 'do whatever-it-takes' character and Del Toro's character are more fleshed out this round. There's one scene where Del Toro's character used sign language to reveal a little bit of his background - that quiet moment was heartbreaking. 

Lowlights

• The ending bit. I would have preferred a bleak ending where redemption is not possible for certain characters.  
• The casting of Catherine Keener and Matthew Modine. Their performance is serviceable here but distracting. It would have been better to cast lesser known actors.

In summary

Eventhough DAY OF THE SOLDADO didn't deliver a gut-punch ending as what Sicario did, it’s a worthy follow-up delivered from the perspective of the ugly world of international politics and male aggression. 

RATING: 8.5/10