Wanted review

Posted : 6 days, 17 hours ago on 30 June 2008 12:21 (A review of Wanted)

A highly entertaining but preposterous, leave-your-brain at the door, film. The start of the movie is somewhat slow but the pace evens out as the movie progresses. In addition to the eye-candy, the film also has a few nice action sequences. What do you expect from another comic-book to movie production? It is what it is, but aside from the gratuitous violence, it was a lot of fun to watch.

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Young & Restless in China review

Posted : 2 weeks, 4 days ago on 18 June 2008 01:07 (A review of Young & Restless in China)

It’s difficult to grasp the extent of change in China's cultural and economic environment until you see this documentary by Sue Williams. Once known as a country where individual aspirations were sacrificed for the populace, China is rapidly burgeoning into an international economic powerhouse with its youth leading the way. At the price of cultural and economic growing pains, the Chinese Gen X'ers and beyond now have opportunities for personal success and happiness that were once inconceivable to those from the previous generation. This documentary chronicles the lives of nine Gen X'ers from all different walks of life for a period of four years. They candidly discuss their lives and how they are managing the pains and benefits of living in a society in constant metamorphosis. Only when a society undergoes such a drastic transformation that we see that these people surprisingly are not unlike the youths from any other developed country, individuals aspiring for a balance of career, family, social responsibility, and purpose. Because the documentary profiles these lives so intimately in a short amount of time, the audience may forget that this opportunity for the pursuit of self actualization is a luxury that has only been available in China for a few decades. So where you live determines whether or not it’s conceivable or attainable. I suppose, if poverty and repression gives way to prosperity and freedom, people, regardless of ethnicity and social status, are on some level the same.

You can watch the entire documentary online for free at: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/youngchina/


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Secret review

Posted : 1 month, 1 week ago on 31 May 2008 12:48 (A review of Secret)

Secret is the product of the Taiwanese music prodigy, Jay Chou. He directed, co-wrote, and starred in this typical Asian romance. Normally I wouldn't expect much from a singer, but his talent obviously encompasses more than music. The movie flowed like any other Asian romance. Boy and girl fall in love. I fall in love with the lead guy. j/k. A wrench, the third girl, is thrown in the relationship and the lead couple is temporarily torn apart. The plot is predictable and cheesy, but who doesn't mind a little cheese now and then? I ate it all up until the "Secret" is revealed. Who would've predicted such a sci-fi "Secret"? "Stupid" isn't the right word, but it's the first word that comes to mind. For me, the movie, though near the end, went downhill from there.

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