Journey 2: The Mysterious Island: Movie Review

Put simply, "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island" is not that different from its predecessor. The basic premise for example actually uses the same exact sequence of events from start-to-finish (boy discovers a coded message, boy thinks it might be from a long lost relative and decides to go to the "fictional" place on which a legal guardian assists him, they find what they look for but soon find peril and they must escape or else). But here's the thing, "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island" does something that sequels rarely do and that is being better than its predecessor. Minus the "déjà vu-ish" story, everything else is bigger, faster, badder and funnier than the first one.

Sean Anderson (Josh Hutcherson) is caught by police escaping from a satellite research center. Luckily, his stepfather, Hank Parsons (Dwayne Johnson), saves him from going to jail. The next day, Sean reveals that he needed the satellite to receive a faint broadcast that contained a message with a bunch of indistinguishable words. Hank is able to solve the code which reveals the coordinates for a certain "Mysterious Island". Sean believes that his long lost grandfather was the one behind the transmission and that he has discovered the island. Sean and Hank set out for the island of Palau as the coordinates is nearest that location. In Palau, they board a private helicopter run by Gabato (Luis Guzman) and his daughter Kailani (Vanessa Hudgens). The four travel to the location but their helicopter is hit by a storm causing them to crash on the island. Eventually, the group meets Sean's grandfather (Michael Caine) but soon discover that they have a couple of days left before the island sinks into the bottom of the sea.

If there's one thing that "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island" does best is its non-stop pace. The film starts off in an instant - after the first five minutes or so, the adventure starts already and does not end until the credits roll. There's really no time to think and that is it's best asset as this is a film that really crosses the line from what's impossible and what's feasible. It's not about all about the action though and we have to say that the humor is another thing that defines this film's success. The tandem of Dwayne Johnson and Luis Guzman (with non-stop one-liners that are actually funny) perfectly caps off the feel-good aura this film exudes. To sum it all up, there's never a dull moment as the action, the humor or the combination of both is just a non-stop barrage from start-to-finish. On the acting department, everyone did a pretty swell job. The biggest surprise is Dwayne Johnson who does not only proves he is better than Brendan Frasier but he also does more than just act. As expected, the film was stunningly jaw-dropping especially in 3D. The first one did a good job but this one just blows that one away. There's really no reason not to love "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island". While its predecessor might have been too kiddie for some adults, the second foray is actually more mature and more attuned to adults. On top of that, this is a film that improved on the points that made the first film a hit and more.

Rating: 4 and a half reels





Why you should watch it:
- as expected, the visuals are stunning especially in 3D
- fast-paced and funny, there's never a dull moment in this sequel

Why you shouldn't watch it:
- the film's story structure is way too similar to the first film



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J. Edgar: Movie Review

Clint Eastwood's take on the eccentric yet highly-accomplished man that J. Edgar Hoover was works well because of Leonardo DiCaprio. It was one unbelievable performance as he subtlety captivates you further and further into one of the most powerful men from the last century. While the film's storytelling (and make-up for that matter) didn't keep pace with Leonardo's acting prowess, it was still one moving film that feels like a tell-all of not only Hoover's secretive life but his most cherished accomplishment, the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation).

During his lifetime, J. Edgar Hoover (Leonardo DiCaprio) would rise to be the most powerful man in America. As head of the FBI for nearly 50 years, he would stop at nothing to protect his country. Through eight presidents and three wars, Hoover waged battle against threats both real and perceived and often bending the rules to keep his country safe. “J. Edgar” explores the personal and public life and relationships of a man who could distort the truth as easily as he upheld it during a life devoted to his own idea of justice which was often swayed by the darker side of power.

"J. Edgar" as expected has one thing going for it and it was Leonardo DiCaprio's performance. It's simply amazing, magical and astounding to see an actor grab your attention so much that you forget that you are watching a film - more so that he is portraying a real man. It was so great so much so that you actually see the subtle deviances through Hoover's with Leonardo's acting on hand. Not even the thick, old-school make-up that masks some of the facial movements could stop him in delivering one of his best performances ever. Unfortunately, the film's development was greatly stunted by the flashback system used by Clint Eastwood. It was moving back-and-forth from present day, to younger Hoover and more. At times, it was just tiring and confusing to keep track of what timeline you were watching and it does not help that it did not reference any dates. Also, the make-up was just a nuisance. We know it's probably a personal choice in not using digital effects as Benjamin Button did (and we respect that) but they could have done way better in this department for sure. The set pieces and the visual style complimented the film well but the characters themselves did not. In the end, "J. Edgar", even with a confusing story line, still effectively reveals so much about Hoover, warts and all, that you can forgive its shortcomings.

Rating: 4 reels





Why you should watch it:
- Leonardo DiCaprio has one of his best performances we have ever seen
- feels like a legitimate tell-all film on Hoover and the FBI

Why you shouldn't watch it:
- the storyline and flashback style used was confusing
- the amateurish make-up ruins the experience a bit



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The Descendants: Sneak Peek

“The Descendants,” this year’s Golden Globe winner for Best Picture (Drama) and Best Actor (George Clooney) is set in Hawaii where outwardly successful businessman Matt King (George Clooney) is thrown into a crisis when his wife falls into a coma. As King struggles to be a hands-on parent for his two daughters Scottie (Amara Miller) and Alexandra (Shailene Woodley), it does not help that he discovers that his wife was having an affair with another man. As he steps forward to face the unturned stones his wife had left him with, he realizes he’s finally on course toward rebuilding his life and family. Catch the trailer and more after the break.

“The Descendants” is a story that could perhaps be told anywhere, but it has a completely unique setting among the landed upper-classes in Hawaii” says Alexander Payne, the director of the film. “It’s specific to this place, yet it is also universal. Hawaii is very interesting and not just for its obvious visual and vivid beauty; there’s a distinctive social fabric to life there and that intrigued me.” adds Payne.

The movie sees two masters, both Oscar winners, both at the pinnacle of their game. Funny but also reflective and poignant, this is Alexander Payne’s first film since “Sideways” (2004). And in one of the most interesting roles of his brilliant career, George Clooney plays Matt King, a conflicted and flawed man discovering his own humanity and responsibility in the wake of a tragedy.

In the depths of this crisis, King has to come to terms with the fact that he has been largely inadequate as a father as he attempts to repair his relationship with his two daughters. 17 year-old Alexandra is rebellious and has been sent off to boarding school. 10 year-old Scottie, played by first time actress Amara Miller, is precocious and in need of parental supervision. Compounding Matt King’s grief, there is the added revelation that before her accident his wife had been involved with another man. “Matt is kind of lost, befuddled, disappointed—all the normal things people feel in life, realizing they’ve done the wrong things.” says Payne.
“The film is about the awakening of a man who has been in an indifferent marriage that has gone stale,” adds producer Jim Burke. “It is a wonderful father and daughter story and something completely new for George Clooney. We have never seen him in a film about a relationship between a man and his children.”





“The Descendants” will open on February 15 in theaters from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

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The Code: Short Film Review

What if the monsters we fear actually have a code to live by on who gets the kill? What if they all meet in one sick mash-up? Taylor Brandt's "The Code" tries to answer that question and to be honest it was simply hilarious. You can catch our full analysis and the whole short after the break.

A couple is engaging on their first date when a swarm of zombies and a masked killer suddenly stalk them. Things get weirder when other monsters join the party. But the real question is, "Who gets the last laugh? The humans or the monsters?"

The short film, which is around 6 minutes long, won countless awards in the recently concluded Houston Splatterfest Weeekend of Mayhem and it shows why. What really makes "The Code" stand out is the dialogue between the monsters involved. The icing on the cake is the twist ending which really caught us by surprise.

Rating: 4 reels

The Code - watch more funny videos

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My Cactus Heart: Movie Review

"My Cactus Heart" just feels fresh and new overall - quite a feat considering its the only genre our local mainstream film industry knows to make 90% of the time. It's not only that the pairing of Matteo Guidicelli and Maja Salvador actually works (a true blue couple in real-life) but it also brings in a narrative style unique in its own way. While at times the movie lacks polish and consistency to be considered an instant classic, the narrative style and the lead actors carry "My Cactus Heart" into something worth a look. Read on for our full written analysis of "My Cactus Heart".



Sandy (Maja Salvador) while at work narrates to her co-worker how she met her soul mate. The story starts when she was still in high school. She and her best friend decide to play a game. Each one of them will draw an illustration for their "soul mates". They will leave the illustrations randomly - knowing one day that these will be returned by the man meant for them. Through the years though, Sandy grows hatred towards men and commitments due to her dad leaving their family with another woman. Sandy decides that she does not want to be a fool for love and be single for life like her mom. Every boy who courts her gets busted so much so that people call her a "cactus heart". Not until she meets Carlo (Matteo Guidicelli) that is who is not only her complete opposite when it comes to love but teaches her cactus heart how to love in return.

There are two big things that make "My Cactus Heart" better than your average local romcom. First, the narrative style made the movie more interesting than it should be. To be quite honest, the story was predictable but the flashback system was a breath of fresh air (the style is more or less akin to the television show "How I Met Your Mother") as it actually made the characters have depth not usually seen on local romcoms. This was so effective that the characters' back stories define how the lead characters react to the world around them. For example, you do not only understand why Maja's character hates commitments or why Matteo's character is a hopeless romantic but you actually feel their emotions and what they are going through. Second, the pairing of Matteo and Maja just simply works flawlessly. They make a beautiful pair on-screen and everything feels natural. On the acting department, the biggest surprise was Matteo. He just showed versatility that we didn't expect from him (not even accounting for how he has improved his Tagalog greatly). Where the film fails to make an impact is in its polish and consistency (actually a common problem on local films). The first half in particular has a lot of confusing moments especially when it came to how the timeline was presented. The film also had several scenes being cut abruptly or having video quality dip significantly even on the same scenes. The cheesy lines and jokes were just average too. At times it will make you smile even laugh but on other times the lines just feel stale. We won't lie, "My Cactus Heart" wasn't on our anticipated list but after seeing it, we have to admit that our assumptions were completely wrong.

Rating: 3 and a half reels





Why you should watch it:
- Matteo and Maja make a good pair on the big screen
- Matteo shows how much he has grown as an actor
- the narrative style used adds more depth to the story and characters

Why you shouldn't watch it:
- the film lacks polish and consistency
- it's filled with cheesy and corny one liners



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