Populasian: July 2019

Friday, July 5, 2019

Mortal Engines - 移動城市:致命引擎

Mortal Engines (移動城市:致命引擎) is an 2018 film. The movie stars Hera Hilmar, Robert Sheehan, Hugo Weaving, and Jihae. The film is based on a novel series of the same name.

A thousand years in the future, a old war has destroyed the world and cities now run on wheels. London is the bully of the west and eats up other cities to continue its survival. A girl was wronged by one of the people on the London wheels. So she wants to get on and get revenge.

Yupe, that's the jest of the story from the trailers. The movie presents something different and its super weird. There's a mix of the exotic far east. Even 1000 years into the future. I did not like the film much, fell asleep a few times while watching and didn't even have to rewind.

Picked this up via T-Mobile Tuesday Redbox promo deal.

Thursday, July 4, 2019

A Star Is Born - 一個巨星的誕生

A Star Is Born (一個巨星的誕生) is an 2018 film. The movie stars Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga. The supporting cast include Dave Chappelle, Andrew Dice Clay, and Sam Elliott. This is a remake story with movies of the same name from generations before.

Bradley Cooper plays Jackson "Jack" Maine, a famous country singer who's touring the country. Jack runs into Ally Campano on a night out and the relationship starts. Ally eventually starts to tour with him. On her first show with him, their duet goes viral and Ally is approached to go solo. As Ally's career takes off, Jack's start to slide. During this time, they eventually love each other so much that they get married. But Jack's reliance on the bottle continues to manifest itself in negative ways towards Ally's newly minted career. Can they make it?

This movie was better than I expected. I went in with low low expectations. I had heard the song on the radio and thought I give it a shot. Nothing really fancy about the story nor the filmmaking. Straight forward and not much fanfare really. Bradley always gives a good performance.

I picked this up via T-Mobile Tuesday Redbox promo.

Wednesday, July 3, 2019

The Upside - 活個精彩

The Upside (活個精彩) is an 2019 film. The movie stars Kevin Hart and Bryan Cranston. The supporting cast include Nicole Kidman, Golshifteh Farahani, Aja Naomi King, Julianna Margulies, and Genevieve Angelson. The is based on a true story and remake of the 2011 French film, The Intouchables (逆轉人生).

Phillip Lacasse, a wealthy quadriplegic, looks for a replacement for a daily caretaker. Dell, an unemployed candidate, applies, but doesn't want to get hired. Instead, Dell only wants the signature of why they decided not to hire him. Phillip ask for Dell to come back the day after. Going against the grain and of what was expected of him in society. The staff around Phillip are taken aback by the "crude" nature of Dell. Phillip likes the honest approach of his caretaker. The strike up a bond that allows Phillip to have something to look forward in life.

I pretty much copy and pasted about 90% of that synopsis from The Intouchables (逆轉人生). However, the US remake was so much worst. I don't know if my watching of The Intouchables (逆轉人生) hurt this one, as nothing surprised me. And Kevin Hurt as Dell just didn't jive with me. I just didn't think it was very believable. If you're looking for a story of redemption and like buddy comedies, this might work. If not, skip it.

I got this movie via T-Mobile Tuesday Redbox Promo.

Tuesday, July 2, 2019

Serenity - 驚濤佈局

Serenity (驚濤佈局) is an 2019 film. The movie stars Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Diane Lane, Jason Clarke, and Djimon Hounsou.

Matthew McConaughey plays Dill, a fisherman who's obsessed with catching a tuna that continues to elude him. When he's propositioned by his ex-wife to murder her current husband, that's when the movie takes a turn. Can Dill maintain his honor while trying to save his ex-wife from abuse.

This movie was ok for the first half. It was an interesting take on that part of the US and the profession wasn't one you normally see. Which lead to some interest on my part to see it presented. However, towards last third of the film. The movie lost me. There is a twist that I will not reveal here, but it lost me. From that point on, nothing was good and I was ultimately disappointed.

Maybe the producers thought the twist would be unique. I'll just say it wasn't. If it were not for Matthew McConaughey and Diane Lane, I would have liked this movie a whole lot less.

I picked this up via T-Mobile Tuesday Redbox promo.