KAUSERN MOVIE REVIEWS: TOP 10 MOVIES OF 2019

I must say the quality of movies from the 2^nd half of the 2019 is so much better than the 1^st half. In fact, I gave more 9s this year compared to 2018.

I watched the least number of movies in the cinema this year compared to the last 5 years. Blame it on office work and Netfix (I also started to review more Netflix released movies).

Before we get into the Top 10, let me first list down two (dis)honourable movies of the year.

The most un-enjoyable movie of 2019: John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum

I told myself I will never catch John Wick 2 because I didn’t enjoy the first movie. But I did. And I regretted my decision. So, when the 3^rd one came out, I wanted to be sure if it was really me (as the majority of people were raving about the 3^rd movie from the franchise). I caught it and...it's definitely me. I'm the problem. John Wick: Chapter 4? No, thank you. I rather watch paint dry.     

The most disappointing movie of 2019: El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie

Breaking Bad is the most complete and perfect series I've watched, bar none. And its spin off Better Call Saul, despite its inconsistencies, is still one of the more watchable series on TV. So when they announced there IS GOING TO BE A BREAKING BAD movie after all, I hyperventilated for weeks leading to the release of the "movie event" on Netflix. Bitch! What a letdown it was. They should have just ended at Jesse Pinkman driving away to his freedom in the El Camino at the end of Breaking Bad. 

Ok, now that I've put all that aside, let's get on with it, shall we? (Click on the titles to open up the full review)

#10 PARASITE

A rare and bizarre movie but yet very accessible to a global audience; with elements of dark comedy, drama and thriller.

#9 TOY STORY 4

The themes explored here are beautifully bleak; what does it mean to be unlovable and losing one's purpose. And because I care for these characters, the heart-wrenching conclusion ripped me to shreds.

#8 ALITA: BATTLE ANGEL

The most surprising movie of 2019 for me! I was prepared to be pounded silly by the CGI and mindless action scenes but boy, was I BLOWN AWAY! It's thrilling, violent and bizarre at the same time.

#7 MARRIAGE STORY

This movie is about the exploration of marriage; the happier days and the end it. It's humourous, honest and heartbreaking.

#6 THE TWO POPES

This is such a fascinating movie as it demystifies these divine men as mere mortals, and surprisingly, it made me reflect my relationship with God and who I am as a human being.  I was expecting this movie to be dry and talky-talky. Yes, it's talky-talky but it's absolutely not boring.

#5 KNIVES OUT

The ensemble cast of calibre actors here are playing against type and they are on-point. I was glued to what's unfolding in front of me because of its sharp dialogue. Knives Out is one of the most entertaining, smart and enjoyable films I've seen this year!

#4 AD ASTRA

This is the most visually beautiful movie of the year for me. What I really enjoyed about this film is the use of space exploration as a canvas to look inward at the very core of our humanity - what does it mean to live and to love? Ad Astra was a meditative and healing experience for me.

#3 FORD V FERRARI

The most feel-good movie of the year for me! A solid blockbuster driven by friendship, passion for the craft and human drama.

#2: AVENGERS: END GAME

Although not as "shock-to-the-system" impactful as Infinity War, this movie still carries an emotional punch to the gut. In fact, I was "punched" a few times. A super satisfying ending for me that has the right balance of closure and setup for future installments for some characters.

And the #1 movie of 2019 is

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#1 JOKER

The very fact that I was still thinking about this movie long after the curtain fell says something about this film. (The theme of mental health from this movie was further covered by my creative partner and I on our podcast The Stories We Tell Ourselves)

              

"Is it just me, or is it getting crazier out there?"

And that's a wrap for 2019!

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!

KAUSERN REVIEWS TOP 10 MOVIES OF 2017

I watched 43 movies this year, short of 4 movies from 2016. First movie of the year, La La Land and last movie of the year, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle.

As mentioned in my post for Top 10 Movies of 2016, it's a privileged to be living in Malaysia as our cinema tickets are very affordable. Beside movies released via the cinemas, added to my list this year are exclusive Netflix movies.

Also for this Top 10 list, I've excluded movies which are considered last year's releases (eventhough it was only released in local cinemas here early of 2017). These movies are:

• Arrival (9/10)
• La La Land (8.5/10)
• Hacksaw Ridge (8.5/10)
• Dangal (8/10)

You can read more on my commentary on the above list when I did a mid year stock take on the Top 10 list of 2017

Ok, now that I've put that all aside, let's get on with the Top 10 movies of 2017! All of these movies were chosen mainly because it connected with me emotionally. Some of these made me laugh out so loud, some made me bawl my eyes out and there are some here which kept me on the edge of the cinema seat. And there are a handful which are just fresh and clever.


NOTEWORTHY MOVIES OF 2017

MAD WORLD (8/10)

A Hong Kong film on the rare topic of mental illness, with powerful performances from the three leads.


WONDER WOMAN (8/10)

A superhero movie done right. And Gal Gadot... *deep sigh with a hint of infatuation*


WAR FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES (8.5/10)

Somebody give Andy Serkis an Academy Award already!

BABY DRIVER (8.5/10)

Another Edgar Wright masterpiece: perfectly edited, amazing visuals and the SONGS!


THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE (8.5/10)

Very entertaining, highly re-watchable with many LOL moments and surprisingly grounded in real life family issues.


...AND HERE ARE THE TOP 10 MOVIES OF 2017! 
(Click on the titles to read the full review)

#10 COCO (8.5/10)

That scene where little Miguel sings "Remember Me" to Mama Coco? T____T


#9 GIFTED (8.5/10)

Such a feel good movie with genuine performances especially from little McKenna Grace.


#8 STRONGER (8.5/10)

A true story of Jeff Bauman (played by Jake Gyllenhaal), a Boston Marathon bombing survivor who lost both of his legs. This movie plainly shows the good, the bad and the ugly of what he and his loved ones had to go through to rebuild his life. Very believable.


#7 COLOSSAL (8.5/10)

A quirky, funny, refreshing, clever and tragic story on undealt issues and its consequences. A high-concept movie.


#6 THOR: RAGNAROK (8.5/10)

I re-watched it recently and it was still as funny! A really ballsy, entertaining and fun Marvel movie, complete with the fist-pumping Led Zeppelin's "Immigrant Song" memorable last act.


#5 OKJA (8.5/10)

This movie made me NOT EAT pork, beef, lamb and chicken for a month. I ate mainly vegetables and the occasional fish.


#4 GET OUT (8.5/10)

An exceptionally tight and clever movie which masterfully blends social commentary with the horror genre.


#3 BAD GENIUS (9/10)

A Thai movie which is brilliantly directed, edited and acted. What I love about this movie is the unpredictable plot. As soon as you think it would go a certain way, the dynamic changes. Who would have thought that watching a group of high school students cheat in their exams would be a nail-biting experience right to the very end!


#2 DUNKIRK (9.5/10)

A technical masterpiece filled with riveting moments which demands to be watched on the biggest screen possible and with the best sound system available. I watched it twice on IMAX.

  
#1 A GHOST STORY (9.5/10)

A haunting movie about unfinished business. A simple but yet a very high-concept film which was both intellectually and emotionally satisfying for me.


AND...that's a wrap for 2017! Here's looking forward to 2018!

KAUSERN REVIEWS TOP 10 MOVIES OF 2016

I watched 47 movies this year in the cinemas. First movie of the year, Point Break. Last movie of the year, Sing.

It's such a privilege to be living in Malaysia as our cinema tickets are still one of the cheapest (if not the cheapest) in the world; It cost only about RM15 (USD3.50) per admission to be entertained, educated and challenged. Of course one has to pay a loading for IMAX, 3D and other immersive experiences but the standard cinemas are good enough for me. The seats are comfortable, the sound is good and the air-conditioned temperature is always perfect.

On a side note, although none of the the locally produced movie this year which I've watched made it to my Top 10, I must say this year's quality collectively has improved. The one that left an impression on me was Jagat. If the industry continues to move towards this way, our film industry will progress slowly but surely.

OK! Enough of the commentary and on with the Top 10!

Note: Some of these films were released last year in the US but it only found its way to our shores early this year, especially the more non-blockbuster type of movies. 

#10 STORKS (8.5/10)

What I like about this movie: Many will be wondering how did this movie ended up in my Top 10. It's silly and absurd with its random over-the-top humour. And that's probably the reason why I LOL in the cinema hall, so loud that the audience around me were looking at me. It just hit all the right spots for me. This movie made me very satisfied and happy.

#9 ZOOTOPIA  (8.5/10)

What I like about this movie:  A very timely movie on the theme of "unity in diversity" and "self-acceptance". There are many thought provoking moments where adult viewers will be moved to confront the kid in them. It's also funny and of course, has alot of heart. And the expressive cute EARS!  

#8 ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY (8.5/10)

What I like about this movie: Important characters get killed off in this unrestrained Star Wars movie. It wasn't done to manipulate the heartstrings of the audience but it was necessary for the plot and it serves an important "moment" in the Star Wars saga. The effects were believable and of course, that last scene...it reminded us all, why Darth Vader is the most bad ass villain ever created on the silver screen.

#7 THE JUNGLE BOOK (8.5/10)

What I like about this movie: Probably the best CGI movie of the year. That's the main star. We're talking about full on motion capture layered into CGI trees, river and mountains. It is mind boggling and more importantly, it's beautiful and believable.

#6 TRIVISA (8.5/10)

What I like about this movie: Probably one of the best authentic Hong Kong movies in recent years that didn't sell out to the pressures of Big Brother. A smart 3 films in 1 movie that sets up to be a sociopolitical commentary by weaving in the popular HK gangster genre into its narrative. Each film has its own strength especially the story starring Gordon Lam. But the actor that stood out the most to me is Richie Jen; the once popular heartthrob from Taiwan. He is unrecognizable and totally badass in this movie (yup, that's him in the singlet).     

#5 KUBO AND THE TWO STRINGS (9/10)

What I like about this movie: A powerful story about the power of storytelling. It was an inspired choice to use stop motion + CGI to tell such an epic fantasy because the results are organic and 'human'. The voice cast is spot on while the soundtrack is just perfect especially during the tender moments. I teared during some of these scenes T_T

#4 EYE IN THE SKY (9/10)

What I like about this movie: If there's one thing I remember about this movie is its tension. I definitely remember squirming in the cinema seat during some of its sequences. This intelligent 'talky drama' provides an almost real-time comprehensive inside look on the bureaucracy and humanity of a drone strike. The acting is damn believable. 

#3 THE BIG SHORT (9/10)

What I like about this movie: One of those rare movies where comedy and drama are used so seamlessly to educate us on a complicated subject; the 2008 housing credit bubble burst which triggered a devastating global financial meltdown where tens of thousands of people lost their homes and jobs. Even with an ensemble of a power cast, all the characters (both lead and supporting) are fleshed out well.  I remember feeling a sense of deep anger towards the greed of men when I walked out of the cinema hall.


#2 APPRENTICE (9.5/10)

What I like about this movie: This performance driven movie is haunting. Eveything about it was good; the pacing, the cinematography, the sound. It's also educational especially what a prisoner on death row will go through on the day of his hanging. It's deeply unsettling.

#1 THE WAILING (10/10)

What I like about this movie:  This psychological + thriller + horror Korean flick messed up my mind pretty good during the movie and after it concluded, as it continued to haunt me for days with its satisfying ambiguous ending. Everyone involved in the production (actors, cinematographer, sound, score, editor, costume, set design etc) delivers beyond what was expected most likely due to the leadership of its director and screenwriter, Na Hong-jin - a visionary and also a perfectionist in the details.


Lastly, here's looking forward to 2017!

TOP 10 MOVIES OF 2014

Another year, another top 10. And as always, so many movies, so little time. Managed to catch 46 movies this year (about 0.8 movie a week)

One thing I'm glad I did this year was to create this blog just to host my movie reviews. It keeps me focused on building my passion for reviewing and making films. Let's see how Kausern Reviews - The Movie Blog will evolve in 2015 and over the years.

Enough of reflection and on to the Top 10! (Click on the titles to read the full review)

Noteworthy mentions:  
THE HUNDRED-FOOT JOURNEY; an old-fashioned charming motion picture which explores the warmth of budding young love, the pursuit of a dream and the power of food and family. Veterans Helen Mirren and Om Puri's performance are enigmatic but the main star of the film is the charismatic leading man Manish Dayal.

LOCKE; a pure example of cinematic storytelling stripped down to its minimalist form. It's a one man show all the way and Tom Hardy's performance here is intensely engaging. The man who departs at the opening scene in his car is not the same man who reaches the destination at the end of the movie due to the events which will unfold along the way.

10.  CHEF; a small, intimate and light hearted movie that will guarantee to get you craving for Cuban sandwiches the second the credits start rolling. At the heart of this Jon Favreau's movie is a father and son story. A special shout out to John Leguizamo who plays the role of a loyal friend to the main character - he injects so much joy and energy into the film. And did I mention about the food scenes (the FOOD, OMG!)

9.  THE LEGO MOVIE; the script is smart and satisfying. The humour is delightfully random and the pace is infectiously energetic - "Everything is awesome!" And it caters for ages 5 and above. How the story unfolds is bordering mayhem, with many different random characters from the Lego universe coupled with explosions, horses and spaceships -  it looked like something out of the mind of a creative child placed in a room filled with Lego blocks. This is done intentionally to build up to the big emotional reveal in the last act.

8. HER; Spike Jonze's latest is an ambitious cinematic endeavour which explores the unconventional relationship between human and sentient machines. The story presented will cause viewers to reflect on their relationships, "What is love?" Joaquin Phoenix gives one of his best performance - his character is vulnerable, sympathetic and lost. But Scarlett Johansson (or her voice) steals the show as even a simple ‘sigh' is done with so much sincerity and ache. Special shout out to Arcade Fire's beautiful score.

7. NIGHTCRAWLER; a character study of a sociopath who is involved in the business of sensationalizing news to garner higher ratings. This isn't a feel good movie. It's dark, cynical, tense and at times downright uncomfortable.  The highlight of the film is Jake Gyllenhaal; his almost skeletal appearance, fake smile and dead eyes and his creepy "knowledge is power" personality really gets the audience under their skin. Equally impressive is Renee Russo's supporting character.

6. INTERSTELLAR; Christopher Nolan's most ambitious movie to date checks all the boxes of grandeur modern cinema story telling. But at the heart of it is a simple tale of sacrificial love that binds a father and his daughter. And without a doubt Matthew McConaughey is the human factor of this movie. His believable love for his family (and the despair he has to go through) makes this one of Nolan's most emotional film. 

5. THE JOURNEY; the Malaysia Boleh film which was worth every bit of the hype it generated. The movie is marketed as an east-west/father-daughter-Ang Moh son-in-law tension themed story but if you peel away the layers of the expected cultural and traditions nuances, the core of it is a beautiful and quiet story of forgiveness, reconciliation and closure.

4. X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST; is a film of grand ambitions and epic achievements but yet managed to retain an intimate scale. It doesn't feel like your typical superhero movie. In fact, it plays out more like a sci-fi film aka Terminator where our distant future is horrific and grim; mutants are massacred by the Sentinels - machines without soul or conscience. The only way to reverse the apocalypse is to travel back to 1973 and undo it all. Michael Fassbender, who dominated X-Men: First Class, is once again magnetic here but this sequel is truly James McAvoy's show.

3. THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL; Wes Anderson's latest is an engaging unconventional adventure peppered with idiosyncratic humour, all framed up in obsessively composed and symmetrical shots (often with beautiful bright striking colours). His characters are often exaggerated and are caught in quirky situations. Ralph Fiennes' character is the concierge of the The Grand Budapest Hotel and the actor plays a caricature of himself - and nailed the performance. A big shout out also to Tony Revolori for his debut as the lobby boy, Fiennes' protege.

2. DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES; in the latest Planet Of The Apes installment, the lesson of every decision made will have consequences is explored in a tough and uncompromising way. The narrative is structured like a Shakespearean tragedy; it's about love and hate, peace and war, freedom and fear - where the characters are conflicted to choose the values they are against in order to achieve the results they desire eg. in order to keep the peace, one has no choice but to fight. DAWN is far more superior in every aspect compared to its immediate predecessor Rise of The Planet of the Apes. Besides having more depth and breadth in the narrative, the human characters here are more developed. Also, the personalities of the apes are fleshed out very well. There are some tender moments shared between apes and humans which would move even the hardest of hearts. A few words must be written about the amazing contribution of Andy Serkis for making Caesar the most compelling character in the movie despite very little dialogue - his eyes and mannerism are stunningly life-like. Caesar is a remarkable creation of human acting and CGI. While DAWN boast some big-name human stars, make no mistake – Serkis is the star.

1. LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON; I caught this Japanese film on a very long flight to the US. My sense of timing was blurred, I was extremely jet lag and have perhaps feasted on too many movies before watching this film. Yet, it managed to reach deep into my reserves and tore me apart into many pieces from the inside out. It just shows how forceful and powerful this motion picture is. It's a simple plot about two 6 year old boys who were accidentally swapped at birth. And their parents faced with the heartbreaking prospect of having to exchange them after they found out about the incident. The highlight of the movie is not the resolution but where it really shines is the character study on each of the parties involved and their relationships. There are several scenes in the movie which were too heart wrenching to watch because it reflected the sinful nature of man.


And here's a nice 2014 movie mashup video. Enjoy and Happy New Year!