Directed by Andrew Lau who brought to you Infernal Affairs and Initial D, Look For A Star is a new Hong Kong romantic movie starring superstar Andy Lau(Three Kingdoms, Infernal Affairs) and the famous Shu Qi(New York, I Love You , My Wife Is A Gangster 3). With interesting characters and touching moments, this movie looks set to be a hit among romance fans and a good watch for you people who celebrate Valentine. - impedius
release date: January 23rd, 2009(Hong Kong) February 5th, 2009(Malaysia)
director: Andrew Lau
writer: Cindy Tang, James Yuen
starring: Andy Lau, Shu Qi
studio: Media Asia Film Company Limited
genre: Romance
rating: PG13
runtime: 2 Hours
Sam (Andy Lau), the most eligible bachelor in town has already divorced three times and finds himself crawling back to the game of love sooner than he expected. Falling in love with Milan (Shu Qi), a part-time poker dealer and a full-time cabaret dancer at a Macau casino, he decided to marry her. While Milan is being groomed into a society woman by experts galore, Sam is starting to have cold feet and signs a prenuptial agreement without consulting Milan. When she is asked to sign the document, she is flabbergasted and leaves him.
This is a new romantic comedy that pairs up Renee Zellweger(Letherheads, Bee Movie) and Harry Connick Jr.(P.S. I Love You, tv series Will & Grace) on screen for the first time. New In Town stars Renee Zellweger as Lucy Hill, your typical career minded city girl who ends up in a small town to get a job done for a chance of promotion. There she learns a another side of life that is different from the city and unexpectedly falls in love for the first time with a local man. A heart-warming comedy that looks interesting enough to watch as a valentine movie. - impedius
release date: January 30th, 2009(US), February 12th, 2009(Malaysia)
director: Jonas Elmer
writer: Ken Rance, C. Jay Cox
starring: Renee Zellweger, Harry Connick Jr., J.K. Simmons, Siobhan Fallon Hogan, Frances Conroy, Mike O’Brien, Rashida Jones
Lucy Hill (Renée Zellweger) is an ambitious, up and coming executive living in Miami. She loves her shoes, she loves her cars and she loves climbing the corporate ladder. When she is offered a temporary assignment - in the middle of nowhere - to restructure a manufacturing plant, she jumps at the opportunity, knowing that a big promotion is close at hand. What begins as a straight forward job assignment becomes a life changing experience as Lucy discovers greater meaning in her life and most unexpectedly, the man of her dreams (Harry Connick, Jr.).
Back in 2006, I watched In The Pursuit Of Happyness. Its one of the most touching movies I ever watched and recommend anyone to watch it till this day. A drama of a man’s struggle to somehow keep his family together and being a good father. One of those movies that brings you back down to earth and understand that it takes a strong will and real determination to achieve something in life. Now, the team of director Gabriele Muccino and superstar actor Will Smith(Hancock, I Am Legend) who brought to you In The Pursuit Of Happyness are back. This time with their latest masterpiece, Seven Pounds. Be ready to be touched with this heartwarming story of a man who will change the lives of seven strangers. A recommended watch. - impedius
release date: December 19th, 2008(US), February 26th, 2009(Malaysia)
director: Gabriele Muccino
writer: Grant Nieporte
starring: Will Smith, Rosario Dawson, Woody Harrelson, Michael Ealy, Robinne Lee
rating: PG-13 for thematic material, some disturbing content and a scene of sensuality
runtime: 1 hour 58 minutes
Once, Tim Thomas (Will Smith) was a gifted aerospace engineer with a beautiful wife and a lovely beach house. Then, while using his cell phone while driving, his car wandered across lanes and he became responsible for the deaths of 7 others, including his beloved wife. Unable to forgive himself or raise the dead, Tim sets out to give “pounds of flesh” that will give new life to seven deserving individuals to make up for the seven lives he destroyed. Just as Antonio would have to die to pay Shylock the “pound of flesh” he demands, Tim intends to kill himself to atone for his sins. His brother Ben (Michael Ealy), who works for the IRS, is deeply concerned about his state of mind. Tim steals his brother’s IRS ID to access the IRS database and to find and meet people who he believes worthy of his gifts which includes body organs and material possessions. Holly Apelgren (Judyann Elder), Ezra Turner (Woody Harrelson), Connie Tepos (Elpidia Carrillo) and Emily Posa (Rosario Dawson) are among those whom he identifies to help. Furthermore, Tim assumes his brother’s identity of “Ben Thomas” to personally investigate these people and verify that they are indeed the right people he should help. He has a plan for when he identifies his 7 beneficiaries that requires his best friend Dan (Barry Pepper) to see that his wishes are carried out after he is dead. Tim’s plan threatens to unravel when he begins to fall in love with one of the people he is trying to help.
Director Bryan Singer(X-Men, Superman Returns) and Academy Award winning writer Christopher McQuarrie reunites to produce Valkyrie, a new movie since their team-up on the successful The Usual Suspects. Based on a true story, Valkyrie tells the tale of the German resistance to bring down Adolf Hitler and his army during the World War II. Tom Cruise(Tropic Thunder, Lions For Lambs) leads the cast as Colonel Claus Von Stauffenberg, a leader of the German resistance. Feel the tension and drama on-screen as Colonel Claus Von Stauffenberg and his team takes on Hitler with Operation Valkyrie, an ambitious plan to not just only bring down Adolf Hitler and his army, but also kill the Fuhrer himself. - impedius
release date: December 25th, 2008(US) February 12th, 2008(Malaysia)
director: Bryan Singer
writer: Nathan Alexander, Christopher McQuarrie
starring: Tom Cruise, Kenneth Branagh, Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson, Carice van Houten, Eddie Izzard, Halina Reijn, Kevin McNally, Christian Berkel, Terence Stamp, David Schofield
rating: PG-13 for violence and brief strong language
runtime: 2 hours
In a country in the grips of evil, in a police state where every move is being watched, in a world where justice and honor have been subverted, a group of men hidden inside the highest reaches of power decide to take action. Tom Cruise stars in the suspense film, “Valkyrie,” based on the true story of Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg (Cruise) and the daring and ingenious plot to eliminate one of the most evil tyrants the world has ever known. Director Bryan Singer (”The Usual Suspects,” “X-Men,” “Superman Returns”) re-teams with Academy Award®-winning “Usual Suspects” screenwriter Christopher McQuarrie to bring to life the story of the men who led the operation to assassinate Hitler. The film also stars an acclaimed cast including Kenneth Branagh, Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson, Carice van Houten, Thomas Kretschmann, Eddie Izzard, Christian Berkel and Terence Stamp.
A proud military man, Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg is a loyal officer who serves his country all the while hoping that someone will find a way to stop Hitler before Europe and Germany are destroyed. Realizing that time is running out, he decides that he must take action himself and joins the German resistance. Armed with a cunning strategy to use Hitler’s own emergency plan – known as Operation Valkyrie – these men plot to assassinate the dictator and overthrow his Nazi government from the inside.
With everything in place, with the future of the world, the fate of millions and the lives of his wife and children hanging in the balance, von Stauffenberg is thrust from being one of many who oppose Hitler to the one who must kill Hitler himself.
Sequel to the infamous Ong Bak, the movie also features again rising famous martial arts actor Tony Jaa(Ong Bak, Tom Yum Goong). This time Tony Jaa even directs this movie, which is one of the biggest and most expensive movies ever made in Thailand. Will Ong Bak 2 do better than the first movie? Featuring quite a number of different martial arts, the sequel promises non-stop martial arts action that will blow you away. - impedius
release date: December 4th, 2008(Thailand) February 5th, 2009(Malaysia)
director: Tony Jaa
writer: Panna Rittikrai
starring: Tony Jaa, Janista Choochuaisuwan, Nirut Sirichanya, Pongpat Wachirabunjong
The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button reunites director David Fincher and actor Brad Pitt in their third movie together after teaming up in two hit movies, Fight Club and Se7en. Based on a 1921 short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the movie tells a unique tale of the character Benjamin Button that was born in his 80s and ended up growing backwards. Already a hit in the US during Christmas last year, this heartwarming movie is not to be missed as audiences are bound to be captured by the ups and downs of Benjamin Button’s life. - impedius
release date: December 25th, 2008(US) February 12th, 2009(Malaysia)
director: David Fincher
writer: Eric Roth
starring: Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Tilda Swinton, Taraji P. Henson, Jason Flemyng, Elias Koteas, Julia Ormond
rating: PG-13 for brief war violence, sexual content, language and smoking
runtime: 2 hours 47 minutes
“I was born under unusual circumstances.” And so begins “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” adapted from the 1920s story by F. Scott Fitzgerald about a man who is born in his eighties and ages backwards: a man, like any of us, who is unable to stop time. We follow his story, set in New Orleans from the end of World War I in 1918, into the 21st century, following his journey that is as unusual as any man’s life can be. Directed by David Fincher and starring Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett with Taraji P. Henson, Tilda Swinton, Jason Flemyng, Elias Koteas and Julia Ormond, “Benjamin Button,” is a grand tale of a not-so-ordinary man and the people and places he discovers along the way, the loves he finds, the joys of life and the sadness of death, and what lasts beyond time.
The sequel to epic war movie Red Cliff will be bring back Tony Leung(’Lust, Caution’, Infernal Affairs), Takeshi Kaneshiro(Sweet Rain: Shinigami no seido aka Accuracy Of Death) and the rest of the all star cast from the first movie to the screen. Watch their characters fight and end what is called one of the biggest battle in history as described in the story of The Romance Of Three Kingdoms. Just like the first one, Red Cliff 2 is a must watch for fans of war movies. - impedius
starring: Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Chang Chen, Chi-ling Lin
studio: China Film Group
genre: Action, Adventure, Drama
official site: http://redcliff.meiah.com/
rating: PG13
runtime: 2 Hours 16 Minutes
With a budget of US$80million, “Red Cliff” is the most expensive Asian-financed film to date. The movie is based on historical records of “The Chronicles of the Three Kingdom” rather than the novel, “Romance of the Three Kingdom”. In the early third century, the land of Wu is invaded by the warlord Cao Cao and his soldiers. The ruler of Wu, Sun Quan (Chang Chen), calls on the rival warlord Liu Bei (You Yong) for help, but their two armies are still badly outnumbered. However, the strategists Zhou Yu (Tony Leung) and Zhuge Liang (Takeshi Kaneshiro) see that Cao Cao’s army is unused to battling on the sea. With 200,000 men, Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang defeat Cao Cao’s army at the Yangtze River.
The 3rd movie in the Underworld movie series, The Rise Of The Lycans goes back to the beginning on how the vampires and werewolves started their war against each other. Promising to showcase the war in epic proportions, this movie looks like a potential blockbuster hit when it hits the cinemas this month. - impedius
release date: January 23rd, 2009
director: Patrick Tatopoulos
writer: Danny McBride
starring: Michael Sheen, Bill Nighy, Rhona Mitra
studio: Screen Gems, Sony
genre: Action, Adventure, Horror, Thriller
official site: http://www.entertheunderworld.com/
rating: R for bloody violence and some sexuality
This prequel story delves into the origins of the centuries-old blood feud between the aristocratic vampires, known as Death Dealers, and the barbaric Lycans (werewolves). A young Lycan, Lucian (Michael Sheen), emerges as a powerful leader who rallies the werewolves to rise up against Viktor (Bill Nighy), the cruel vampire king who has persecuted them for hundreds of years. Lucian is joined by his secret lover, the beautiful vampire Sonja (Rhona Mitra), in his battle to free the Lycans from their brutal enslavement.
A stranger on a bus, a sinful air stewardess and an angry young man obsessed with gothic black metal. Pretty interesting characters if you asked me. The story of all 3 characters are the basis of Maut, the film directed and written by award-winning Bade Hj. Azmi. Something different from the rest, I reckon this new thriller movie is somewhat worth a look for Malay movie fans.
A throwback to almost 50 years ago in the black-and-white “Isi Neraka” directed by Jamil Sulong, “Maut” is a powerful study of Man and the afterlife, told through a three-part story punctuated by the months of the Islamic calendar. Chronicling the twisted destinies of a stranger on a bus, a sinful air stewardess and an angry young man obsessed with gothic black metal, “Maut” plays judge, jury and executioner; delivering a compelling story beyond today’s industry norms. Expect to see car crashes, rude tattoos and loose women contrasted against graveyards, demonic visions and ghostly apparitions as award-winning director Bade Hj. Azmi returns to the forefront of hallmark filmmaking.
An original critically acclaimed Spanish movie, [REC] is an intense horror movie. I’m sure most of you would have known about the movie Quarantine by now. Well Quarantine is basically the American version of [REC]. Sadly [REC] is only out in Malaysia this month instead of July last year, which was when it was originally scheduled for release. By now I’m sure most of you would have probably watched this movie on dvd or seen Quarantine. So I only recommend this movie to those who hasn’t done any of both or want to see the original movie that Quarantine was based one. Still a good movie in its own right, [REC] comes recommended to horror fans. - impedius
release date: 23 November 2007 (Spain) 15 January 2009(Malaysia)
A young TV reporter and her cameraman cover the night shift at the local fire station. Receiving a call from an old lady trapped in her house, they reach her building to hear horrifying screams - which begin a long nightmare and a uniquely dramatic TV report.
I'm a movie goer who is proudly born and lives in good ol' Sabah, Malaysia. I love movies and would like to share and discuss my knowledge or opinion of this hobby of mine with others. Impedius is one of my nicks online and also the name of this site you're viewing now. I also post and discuss movie info and reviews in clickstartplay forum.
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