The Super Mario Bros. Movie - 超級瑪利歐兄弟電影版

The Super Mario Bros. Movie (超級瑪利歐兄弟電影版) is an 2023 film. The animated movie is voiced by Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, Jack Black, Keegan-Michael Key, Seth Rogen, and Fred Armisen. The film was produce by Universal Pictures, Illumination, and Nintendo. At the moment of this writing, it is the highest grossing US film of 2023 with $1.3 billion at the box office.

Mario and Luigi are plumbers that get sucked into the world of the kingdoms. Mario lands in the Mushroom Kingdom and than runs into Princess Peach. Somehow they team up to go against Bowser. Peach enlist the help of the Jungle Kingdom and they go attack. Will they be able to stop Bowsers war on the kingdoms?

I loved this film. Maybe because I grew up on Mario Bros games starting with those handhelds. In the schoolyard, it was always the rich kid that went back to Taiwan and brought one back from their summer trip that got us all wanting to play it. Just as kids are, those games had a short shelf life and broke. It wasn’t until a lot later when Nintendo entered the US market that we could goto the TV to play. Atari had already fizzled out by then.

The movie was fun and was always on the go. I liked the voices chosen as it was not even on my mind whom they were while I was watching. I didn’t think any of the voices were out of place. Which kept me in the story and movie. I will purchase this via digital during Black Friday and watch it again. You should watch it in the theatre if you get the chance. Visually, it was a very well made film. I think Universal and Sony are passing up Disney on these animated films now.

Kung Fu Panda 3 - 功夫熊貓3

Kung Fu Panda 3 (功夫熊貓3) is an 2016 animated film. The voices Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, J. K. Simmons, Jackie Chan, Lucy Liu, Seth Rogen, David Cross, Bryan Cranston, Kate Hudson, James Hong, Jean-Claude Van Damme, and Randall Duk Kim. This is the third film release.

Kai, a prisoner of the spirit realm finds a way to get to the human realm. When he does, he seeks out the Dragon Warrior to prove he's the strongest. Po inherits the master role, but does a poor job. Heading back home for some comfort, he bumps into another Panda looking for his long lost son. Po learns that there's a whole village of Pandas. Saying good bye to his friends, me makes the long perilous journey to this village. When he does, he gets reconnected. Just as he was getting comfortable, Kai's presence is felt and they must devise a plan to defeat him. Can the village learn Kung Fu in time to save themselves?

Much like the last installment, they expand on the mythology of the realm. Where the 2nd installment made improvements to the first one, this 3rd installment didn't. Seems there's always someone around the corner that is bigger and stronger than the last one. But beyond that, this movie didn't involve the previous characters as much, but spent a significant time in the panda village.

My kids both liked the movie and I plan on getting it on sale in Blu-ray during black Friday or the Christmas season. Be prepared for more, it was recently announced that there are 3 more planned films.

Neighbors - 惡鄰纏身

Neighbors (惡鄰纏身) is an 2014 film. The movie stars Seth Rogen, Zac Efron, Rose Byrne, and Dave Franco. The movie was made for $18 million and grossed over $268 million worldwide.



Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne play a young married couple that just had their first baby. The vacant house next door is rented out the frat run by Zac Efron and Dave Franco. When a huge party goes on they call the police, a story of revenge starts. The frat has the upper hand most of the time and makes for interesting comedy.

This movie is silly funny and raunchy in some parts. What you would expect from a party movie with frat boys. Since the days of Animal House, the tradition goes on, but each generation will put their spin on.

This movie did so well a sequel is in the works. If you don't want to miss out on the sequel, watch the movie that started it all.

50/50 - 活個痛快

50/50 (活個痛快) is an 2011 film starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt (JGL) and Seth Rogen. The supporting cast includes Anna Kendrick, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Anjelica Huston.

JGL plays Adam, a radio script writer. His best friend and co-worker Kyle is played by Seth Rogen. Adam finds that he has cancer. His girlfriend is initially supportive, but cheats on him. They break up. The majority of the movie is mainly Adam dealing with his cancer, the treatment, the decline, and the comeback. Kyle is seen as a selfish guy at first, but totally does what's in his friends best interest.

The movie was enjoyable. I had a good time watching. However, its not a subject matter I care for. As I've lost family members to cancer myself, its not a pretty sight. Sometimes its a slow decline. Sometimes it changes your life in an instant. JGL is masterful in going from secure, insecure, confident, shy, and ambivalent all in the span of the movie. For Rogan and JGL fans, its a must watch.

Kung Fu Panda 2 - 功夫熊貓2

Kung Fu Panda 2 (功夫熊貓2) is an 2011 animated film from Dreamworks. This movie is a sequel to the 2008 film, Kung Fu Panda. Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, Jackie Chan, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu, and James Hong reprise their voice roles for the sequel. Additions to the second installment are Gary Oldman, Michelle Yeoh, and Jean-Claude Van Damme. The movie was directed by American-Korean, Jennifer Yuh Nelson.

Po is now the dragon warrior supreme. When a clan from the captial attacks for resources, Po's pulled into the fight to save his country from tyrants. Can Po become strong enough to overcome the cannons and save his friends and heroes?

This second installment didn't go into character development for the five as much, but the backstory of the antagonist was explored in much depth. And I was very much the same about this film as I was for the first. "eh" was it. Entertaining and worth a watch to see where its going. There's a cartoon series now. i wonder if that's it for the movie franchise. However, the wikipedia says there are sequels involved. I prolly have watched my last one by myself. The next ones with be with my daughters as they're coming to age to start watching this. But I started on TVB dramas when I was 8 years old. Seems right.

The Green Hornet - 青蜂俠 - Released Today in Taiwan

The Green Hornet (青蜂俠) was released in Taiwan today. I hope that the people of Taiwan go out and support President Chou. However, it is a Hollywood movie and the slapstick aspect should fall flat on its face in Asia. But hey, its got Jay. And some really absurd action.

As for Seth in Taiwan. I hope he gets out and about to the old parts of Taipei like Jiufen (九份). Maybe hit up the night market like Shilin Night Market. Hit up Ximending!

Man! I really need to visit Taipei again.

Funny People - 命運好好笑

Funny People (命運好好笑) is a 2009 film out of the US. The film stars Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen and Leslie Mann. Supporting characters include Eric Bana, Jonah Hill, Jason Schwartzman, Aubrey Plaza, and RZA.

Adam Sandler plays George Simmons, a famous comedian and movie star. George is diagnosis with acute myeloid leukemia is starts to take experimental medicine due the stage of the disease. Seth Rogen plays Ira Wiener or Ira Wright. Ira is a struggling stand up comedic looking for his big break. George shows up one night and is followed by Ira. George like Ira's act and hires him to write him jokes for a MySpace event. After the event goes well, George hires Ira to be his personal assistant. George eventually is "better" from the experimental medicine. With his second chance, he tries to re-kindle a relationship with Laura, played by Leslie Mann.

The movie was both funny and extremely sad at the same time. The comic "universe" created from this film was quite amazing. The less than funny life threatening disease was quite sad.

I've been a Sandler fan since his SNL days from the early 1990s. I'd be lying if I said I remembered Sandler in The Cosby Show. But maybe I did, I can't remember that far back now.

For brain-dead comedy a la Sandler, this is not your type of film. If you're looking for more Spanlish or Punch Drunk Love, this is the Sandler movie you might get. I do recommend it. Lots and lots of cameos from the comic world and many unlikely cameos too.

Eric Bana plays Clarke, a rough Australian salesman in China. In the film, China is use in both a positive and derogatory way. It was funny with Ira asks if Clarke's Chinese was Cantonese or Mandarin. And Clarke and kids go "Ba Ba Bu Yao!" repeatedly. Almost to a rap.

Jay Chou as Kato

2 days ago, it was announced that Jay Chou (周杰倫), Taiwanese music and movie superstar, was cast to play Kato in the upcoming Green Hornet movie starring Seth Rogen.

I am actually pretty shocked by this announcement. But also a little excited as its Jay Chou. Jay Chou continues to make great music out of Taiwan and land roles in interesting movies out of Asia.

If you didn't follow the rumor mill for the Green Hornet, the first star attached to play Kato was Stephen Chow of Shaolin Soccer and Kung Fu Hustle fame. When Stephen Chou drop out of the project completely, the casting call for any "Asian" was broadcast. Korean hunk Kwon Sang Woo was than rumored for a week or so, before Kwon denied the rumors.

So, my initial thoughts are that he's got very little time to prep his English. The movie is set for release on July 9th, 2010. I don't know where Jay's English is now, but in the past, there's a strong FOB accent to it. Second is that we're not going to see the normal Jay Chou output for the next 12 months. Jay seems to work like a madman to release a CD every year with crazy videos. Jay has also been attached to several movies.

Being on the Hollywood schedule means he's going to have only 1 thing a year. And if the Kato role rumors are true, this will be the only thing he does in 2010.

Best of luck to Jay. I've included Jay's Double Blade MV as it seems to be filmed in the US and has a little of his English on display.

And for those of you that do not know who Kato or what the Green Hornet are. Kato was the sidekick to the Green Hornet made famous in the 60s by the late Bruce Lee. The Green Hornet was only able to last 1 season.