it's been a while

it looks like i'm back where i started - quite literally too.

i started this blog at the end of first semester exams and now here i am again at the end of the long haul called exams. i think i did alright in most of them apart from contract law, but i guess time will tell on that one. i was also offered to do honors in visual culture (as a post-grad year of my bachelor of arts (ha-ha) course). i was kinda happy about that but then realised trying to do an honors year plus a full-time law degree was scholastic suicide. i had to decline, but was informed that my option to do honors was open for the next five years - woohoo.

even though i'll be working 12 hours a day for six days a week for the next four months, i've tried to make plans for the uni break. i've started my writing again which is cool, i felt like a bit of a bastard neglecting it for so long. also i'm hoping to take my camera out a bit more too, get that shutter working again.

i've been to the cinema recently, and from the top of my head (as with all my reviews) here are my thoughts on the following films:

RESIDENT EVIL 2: APOCALYPSE
stars milla jovoich
2.5/5
you know those movies that look nice but have nothing to offer? well, RE2 is one of those movies. the film has some unique kinda of direction, with irreverent camera angles and fast-paced action. the whole film looks like one big set in that everything looks straight out of an ikea catalogue - not in untreated pine or lacquered steel, but everything is just too perfect to be in the real world.
anyways, the film opens with a recap of what happened in the first (and probably better) film then goes into the full-blown action of zombies killing everyone in racoon city, the troops sent in to save them, and any other poor bugger caught in the locked-down city. the "nemesis" project is kind of cool however, an uber-zombie that has huge guns and a brain that thinks about more than jsut his next meal. its funny how the nemesis project is supposed to be the equivalent of jovoich's character - he's on ugly mother-f'er.
so you can expect action, explosions, skimpy outfits, zombies, those rabid zombie dogs that just come out of nowhere, and of course, milla jovovich.
the most interesting aspect of this film is its examination of the power of the media. there's one character in it whose an tv reporter and carries a SONY DVC (if you don't remember that from my blog, you'll certainly remember it when you watch the film) and documents everything to expose umbrella corporations' biological atrocities. but you'll just have to watch the film to see how racoon city gets out of this one!

i would really like to give this film a "3", but there were some really crappy editing and one horrible actor (not jovovich, btw). the film is good just to watch and laugh.

THE NOTEBOOK
stars rachael mcaddams, ryan gosling, james marsden
3.5/5
from the writer of "a walk to remember" comes another tear-jerker of a story that looks at the lives of two young lovers from different worlds. i actually forget gosling's character's name, but he's the poor country guy and in comes alison (mcadams) and kind of puts a spin on his life.
the film uses a series of flashbacks cutting from past to present occasionally to remind us that this is a story being told to someone, and not something that's actually happening - or even actually happened. it is a testament to the human memory and what we hold dear to our hearts.
performances by all the cast were quite remarkable, especially mcadams who some of you may remember from "the hot chick", or "mean girls". however, throughout the film i found it hard to connect with the older characters, but the few final scenes tie things up really well and reel the audience in for the final act.
its a nice film, i don't think it was as good as "a walk to remember" (which stars mandy moore and shane west) but worth a look. it takes a while to pick up its pace but when it rains, it pours.

HERO
stars jet li, maggie chung
3/5
originally released back in 2002, "hero" is about a nameless warrior (li) on a mission to assassinate the tyrannical king. the film is, as a friend of mine had suggested, like an armani advertisement - everything is beautiful. the now everyday wirework of hong kong cinema plays a huge role in this film, having fight scenes over lakes and through the tree tops.
for me, i thought the fight scenes were kinda ho-hum and almost sleep inducing, but for the audience that was watching at the cinemas, they thought it was sorta cool.
whilst the fights scenes are notable, the most remarkable aspect of this film is its narration. the film uses its characters to tell differing tales of battles and triumphs, all with seamless and elegant colour-scheming.
the film is kinda long though i'm not sure of the exact minutes. but i implore you to stay awake! the audio at some cinemas may be really brisk and loud, which was certainly the case at my local cinema. but the sound on the dvd is quite alright.
stand out performance by maggie chung (spelling?), who gives the film the much needed emotional touch.