2012 (2009)

Directed by Roland Emmerich (1) 

Cast: John Cusack (2), Chiwetel Ejiofor (3), Amanda Peet (4), Morgan Lily (5), Thandie Newton (6), Oliver Platt (7), Woody Harrelson (8), Jimi Mistry (9), and Beatrice Rosen (10)

(Watch the trailer)

My favourite quote - "The moment we stop fighting for each other, that's the moment we lose our humanity"


It's 3rd of January 2013 and I'm still alive! Were you afraid that doomsday would occur on the 21st of December 2012? What were you doing on the 21st and where were you? On the day the world was supposed to end, I was on a holiday in Thessaloniki, Greece with an old friend of mine. 

While I wasn't terrified about the world coming to an end on the 21st of December, I did think about it a lot before I made plans to go overseas for a holiday. You see, this recent holiday to Greece marks the first time I've ever spent the Christmas and New Year holiday without my family and close friends. The Christmas season has always been a big thing in my family because I was born and raised a Catholic. Every year, the family would all get together to have Christmas lunch together but this time, everyone was celebrating it without me and I without them. And having experienced this recently, I don't think I want to spend another Christmas away from my family. 

When I made plans for this recent holiday, I did ask myself, 'What if the world does end in 2012? Do I want to be away from my family when that happens?' Well, my answer was no. If the events of the film 2012 did occur, I wouldn't want to be away from my family. But I still went anyway because I bet on the odds that the world won't end yet. And thankfully, I was right. 

Besides being a disaster film, at the heart of it all, the film 2012 is about what kind of person you want to be when faced with such a situation as well as who and what is important in times like this. When tragedy strikes, men either turn on each other to survive, or turn to each other for support and help. The following dialogue is my favourite scene in 2012. I mean every blockbuster disaster film needs a great inspirational speech about humanity and survival. While this is not my favourite inspirational speech from a disaster film, it's some good stuff. And I feel that this scene is the crux of what the film is trying to say, that saving the human race isn't just about saving it's people and it's culture, it's about what we do and how we treat each other during times of adversity. 

Dr Adrian Helmsley: I know we've all been forced to make difficult decisions to save our human civilisation. But to be human means to care for each other, and civilisation means to work together to create a better life, if that's true, then there's nothing human and nothing civilised about what we're doing here.
Carl Anheuser: Dr Helmsley's passion is admirable, but I will remind you that we have very limited resources and extremely limited time.
Dr Adrian Helmsley: Ask yourselves, can we really stand by and watch these people die. I read a quote two days ago, the author is probably dead by now, but he said 'the moment we stop fighting for each other, that's the moment we lose our humanity.'
Carl Anheuser: And in order to save the human race we have an obligation to stick to this plan, which every nation on this floatilla has signed up for.
Dr Adrian Helmsley: We have to let these people in!
Carl Anheuser: They're in God's hand now! Officer, you turn that off! That is an order sailor, turn it off!
Professor Frederick West: Don't you dare touch that button young man!
Carl Anheuser: Have you completely lost your mind? Look at the clock! We have barely 15 minutes left! Do you want to be responsible for the extinction of the human race? Can you handle that Adrian?
Dr Adrian Helmsley: There's a young astrophysicist from India who's the reason we're all here. 
Carl Anheuser: Oh for God's sake.
Dr Adrian Helmsley: He's the one who discovered it all. He connected all the dots, we all owe him our lives. I just learned that he was killed with his family in a tsunami in Eastern India. He was my friend, and he died in vain, everybody out there has died in vain if we start our future with an act of cruelty. What will you tell your children? What will they tell theirs?

I think it's sad that a lot of people only appreciate what they have either when they've lost it or are about to lose it. I will always remember something my secondary school teacher said when we asked him cheekily what plans he had for his wife for Valentine's Day. He said that there was no plan because to him every day is Valentine's Day, why wait for a special day to show someone you love how much you love them. And I think that what he said is true. You could die any day, if you don't want to die with any regrets, you have to live each day like it's your last. 

Kick-Ass (2009)

Director: Matthew Vaughn (1)

Cast: Aaron Taylor-Johnson (2), Christopher Mintz-Plasse (3), Chloë Grace Moretz (4), Mark Strong (5), Nicholas Cage (6), and Lyndsy Foncesca (7)

(Watch the trailer)

My favourite dialogue – 

Diner Fight Guy: The fuck is wrong with you, man? You'd rather die for some piece of shit that you don't even fucking know?

Dave Lizewski: Three assholes laying into one guy while everybody else watches and you wanna know what's wrong with me? Yeah, I'd rather die... so bring it on!

My favourite quote – “With no power, comes no responsibility. Except, that wasn't true.”

I recently took a 3-day first-aid course because I had to. I was asked by my boss to do this first-aid course. Out of all the others in my department he had to pick me. So let’s just say I couldn’t exactly say no. Now if you knew me in person you’d see the irony in this because I am a klutz! I am an accident waiting to happen. So I am most likely to hurt myself, and others around me, instead of saving someone. Really its not that I minded sacrificing an entire weekend to do this first-aid course, but that in my mind, I really wasn’t the best candidate to be sent for this. But still, I went for the course.

The class was really fun. And on the first day, the instructor said that there are many Singaporeans who attend first-aid courses, but very few people actually receive first aid when they need it. He asked us why was this so, and really the answer was glaring right at us, loud and clear. Even if you know first aid, would you step forward to render first aid to someone who might be dying and needs it?

Not everyone is cut out for life saving. Not everyone has the courage or ability to think clearly and calmly in an intense and high stress situation. Not everyone will want to risk a lawsuit or sacrifice their time and personal safety to save another. Even now when I know how to provide first aid to another, will I really step forward and help someone in need? I hope I will, but I don’t actually know that I will until I am faced with that situation.

“With no power, comes no responsibility. Except, that wasn't true.”

How does this link to Kick-Ass you might ask? Well, there is a scene in the movie where two street bullies mug the protagonist Dave Lizewski and his friend and there was a by-stander who witnesses the robbery and does nothing. Yes, it has nothing to do with first aid. But think about it, it still stems from the fact that some people don’t feel compelled to help another when they need the help.

“I always wondered why nobody did it before me. I mean, all those comic books, movies, TV shows. You think that one eccentric loner would've made himself a costume. I mean, is everyday life really so exciting? Are schools and offices so thrilling that I'm the only one who fantasized about this? Come on, be honest with yourself. At some point in our lives we all wanna be a superhero.”

Hmm is this really true? Sure, I guess you can say we all fantasize about being an all-powerful superhero. But what if we didn’t have any super powers? Would we want to put ourselves out there then and save another? That is the question that is at the heart of this film. Or rather, that is the question that I take away most from this film.

“Even with my metal plates and my fucked up nerve endings, I gotta tell you, that hurt! But not half as much as the idea of leaving everything behind. Katie, my dad, Todd and Marty... and all the things I'd never do. Like learn to drive or see what me and Katie's kids would look like or find out what happened on "Lost". And if you're reassuring yourself that I'm going to make it through this since I'm talking to you now, quit being such a smart-ass! Hell dude, you never seen "Sin City"? "Sunset Boulevard"? "American Beauty"?”

Now I really love a film that makes me feel like I’m in on a private joke just because I watch a lot of movies. And the above quote also demonstrates why I think the dialogue in Kick-Ass is awesome! It’s witty and it’s colloquial.

“In the world I lived in, heroes only existed in comic books. And I guess that'd be okay, if bad guys were make-believe too, but they're not.” And that is why I think that while we don’t have human superheroes like Hit Girl and Kick-Ass in our lives, we have to really thank the everyday heroes who keep our streets and homes safe. Although, you never know, maybe there are vigilantes like them running around our streets keeping us safe, but they’re just keepin’ it hush hush.

The art direction of the film, the cast, the costumes, the sets are all pretty awesome. I have had Kick-Ass on my Blu Ray & DVD shelf for the longest time. I just never got around to it. I first bought it and put it on that shelf because of one guy - Aaron Johnson. I first noticed Aaron Johnson in the film Angus, Thongs And Perfect Snogging. There was just something about him that caught my eye. I didn't think he was drop dead gorgeous or anything. But I noticed him nonetheless and since then I would note down on my to-watch list the movies he's acted in like Nowhere Boy and Albert Nobbs. Now I think he did a really great job in Kick-Ass. I loved the way he played his character's gradual transformation and followed Dave's growth and realisations closely. His fear, his overcoming of that fear and him finding a sort of inner peace with all that has happened. 

Chloë Grace Moretz is a gem! She stole the show really. Kids really are quite foul-mouthed these days, maybe not the way her character was, but they're getting there. Considering I've watched her prim and proper performance in Hugo before I saw her as Hit Girl in Kick-Ass, I know that she has great acting chops and was again very impressed. 

Christopher Mintz-Plasse also did a great job, except he was overshadowed by his two fellow co-stars Aaron Johnson and Chloë Grace Moretz. But considering their wonderful performances, I think Christopher Mintz-Plasse held his own against them. Together, these three young ones did a mighty good job.

The adults also was very well cast but I have to wonder though why goes Mark Strong always portray the baddie in the films I've watched him in. I first noticed him in the film Stardust, then later in The Young Victoria and in both he's playing someone who is scheming and "bad". Although, he does play a loving dad despite his bad career choice. And Nicholas Cage, I haven't watched anything he's done since National Treasure: Book Of Secrets. I think he did a pretty decent job. 

I loved the fight scenes and think that overall the film is a nicely packaged hit movie that is both fun, action-packed, with lots to say. It a one-of-a-kind movie and I can't wait for the sequel to come out.

(1) Matthew Vaughn has directed films Layer Cake (2004), Stardust (2007), and X-Men: First Class (2011).

(2) Aaron Taylor-Johnson has acted in films like Shanghai Knights (2003), The Illusionist (2006), Angus, Thongs And Perfect Snogging (2008), The Greatest (2009), Nowhere Boy (2009), Chatroom (2010), Albert Nobbs (2011), Savages (2012), and Annd Karenina (2012).

(3) Christopher Mintz-Plasse has acted in films like Superbad (2007), Year One (2008),  Fright Night (2011), Pitch Perfect (2012), Movie 43 (2013), The To-Do List (2013), and Kick-Ass 2 (2013).  He also provides the voice of Fishlegs Ingerman in the animation How To Train Your Dragon (2010), and again in How To Train Your Dragon 2 (2014). He has also voiced Giuseppe in Marmaduke (2010), and Alvin in ParaNorman (2012).

(4) Chloë Grace Moretz has acted in films like The Amityville Horror (2005), Big Momma’s House 2 (2006), The Poker House (2008), (500) Days Of Summer (2009), Diary Of A Wimpy Kid (2010), Let Me In (2010), Hugo (2011), and Dark Shadows (2012).

(5) Mark Strong has acted in films like Emma (1996), Fever Pitch (1997), Sunshine (1999), Oliver Twist (2005), Syriana (2005), Tristan & Isolde (2006), Sunshine (2007), Stardust (2007), Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day (2008), RocknRolla (2008), Sherlock Holmes (2009), The Young Victoria (2009), Robin Hood (2010), Green Lantern (2011), Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011), John Carter (2012), and Welcome To The Punch (2012)

(6) Nicholas Cage has acted in films like Raising Arizona (1987), Moonstruck (1987), Leaving Las Vegas (1995), Con Air (1997), Face?Off (1997), City Of Angels (2008), Snake Eyes (1998), Gone In Sixty Seconds (2000), The Family Man (2000), Adaptation. (2002), Matchstick Men (2003), National Treasure (2004), Lord Of War (2005), World Trade Center (2006), Ghost Rider (2007), Grindhouse (2007), Next (2007), National Treasure: Book Of Secrets (2007), Bangkok Dangerous (2008), Knowing (2009), The Scorcerer’s Apprentice (2010), and Ghost Rider: Spirit Of Vengeance (2012). He has also voiced the character of Zoc in the animation The Ant Bully (2006), Speckles The Mole in G-Force (2009), and Dr Tenma in Astro Boy (2009).

(6) Lyndsy Foncesca has acted in film Hot Tub Time Machine (2010) but she is well-known for her role as Alexandra Udinov in the television series Nikita (2010-present), as Dylan Mayfair in Desperate Housewives (2007-2009), and as Colleen Carlton in the soap The Young And The Restless (2001-2005).

The Eclectic Reviewer thinks… Kick-Ass will fire up in you the need to do good and save the world as best you can. It'll make you believe that while you cannot save the world all at once because you don't have any super powers, you can at least make the world around you a better place. Get off your seat and at least stand up for what you believe. Oh and don't get killed or beaten to a pulp while you're at it. (4 of 5)

* Movie Poster from Wikipedia

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The Young Victoria (2009)

Director: Jean-Marc Vallée

Cast: Emily Blunt (1), Rupert Friend (2), Paul Bettany (3), Miranda Richardson (4), Jim Broadbent (5), and Mark Strong (6)

(Watch the trailer)

My favourite dialogue – 

Princess Victoria: Do you ever feel like a chess piece yourself? In a game being played against your will.

Prince Albert: Do you?

Princess Victoria: Constantly. I see them leaning in and moving me around the board.

Prince Albert: The Duchess and Sir John?

Princess Victoria: Not just them. Uncle Leopold. The king. I'm sure half the politicians are ready to seize hold of my skirts and drag me from square to square.

Prince Albert: Then you had better master the rules of the game until you play it better than they can.

Princess Victoria: You don't recommend I find a husband to play it for me?

Prince Albert: I should find one to play it with you, not for you.

And…

Queen Victoria: I'm so sorry! I thought I was going to lose you!

Prince Albert: I don't think he was a very good shot.

Queen Victoria: Why did you do it? So stupid, why did you do it?

Prince Albert: I had two very good reasons. First, I am replaceable and you are not.

Queen Victoria: You are not replaceable to me!

Prince Albert: Second, you're the only wife I've got or ever will have. You are my whole existence, and I will love you until my last breath.

2011 was the year of biopics – The Iron Lady, The Lady, The King’s Speech, Soul Surfer, and J. Edgar were all films that hit the big screens in that year. I don’t watch many biopics, but they always fascinate me. And somehow, there always seems to be many biopics on my ‘to-watch’ list. Of those I’ve watched so far, my favourite is The Young Victoria.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited my sunny little island, Singapore, not too long ago and I thought it would be pretty apt to watch a film that focuses on the British monarchy. Especially since Prince William and his wife are here because of his grandmother’s Diamond Jubilee.

Queen Victoria ruled for 63 years, 7 months, and 2 days. And Queen Elizabeth II’s length of reign is just approximately 3 years shy of surpassing Queen Victoria’s length of reign. Wow! 

Perhaps it is because of the fact that she is the longest reigning British Sovereign to date that I am so captivated by her story and this film. Or perhaps I really enjoy this film because at the heart of it, it is about a young woman who makes her mark in a man’s world. And to add to that I love a good love story. Considering the time period, the fact that they loved so fiercely touches me greatly. 

The film chronicles the life of Queen Victoria from the time she was a young woman, up to the time she becomes a mother. Through the film you get a sense of who she is and why she is the way she is. I am not a historian and will probably not nitpick at the historical facts. So I enjoyed the film immensely.

Princess Victoria: Do you ever feel like a chess piece yourself? In a game being played against your will.

Prince Albert: Do you?

Princess Victoria: Constantly. I see them leaning in and moving me around the board.

Prince Albert: The Duchess and Sir John?

Princess Victoria: Not just them. Uncle Leopold. The king. I'm sure half the politicians are ready to seize hold of my skirts and drag me from square to square.

Prince Albert: Then you had better master the rules of the game until you play it better than they can.

Princess Victoria: You don't recommend I find a husband to play it for me?

Prince Albert: I should find one to play it with you, not for you.

Do you play chess? I do, but I have to admit I’m not very good at it. Although, I noticed that the scenes in films with chess or archery I tend to enjoy. That aside, I especially liked this scene because I felt that this was the point in the film that Prince Albert and Princess Victoria connected and began to understand each other. I like that Prince Albert talks of a marriage in which both individuals are equal and work towards a common goal.

Queen Victoria: I'm so sorry! I thought I was going to lose you!

Prince Albert: I don't think he was a very good shot.

Queen Victoria: Why did you do it? So stupid, why did you do it?

Prince Albert: I had two very good reasons. First, I am replaceable and you are not.

Queen Victoria: You are not replaceable to me!

Prince Albert: Second, you're the only wife I've got or ever will have. You are my whole existence, and I will love you until my last breath.

It’s obvious why I love this other piece of dialogue. Underneath it all I’m a hopeless romantic. But I wonder, while many of us may not ever have a need to jump in front of our loved ones to prevent them from being shot, would you? I have no answer to that question, probably because I’m single and we can say we will sacrifice ourselves for our loved ones, but you can say one thing but doing is something else altogether. Nonetheless, it is very romantic.

Prince Albert: My dear Victoria, while these days may feel endless, please do not lose faith in yourself or your people. We are all allowed to make mistakes, most especially when we have looked to others for guidance. 
Queen Victoria: The storm still rages outside the palace walls. I wonder now if everyone was right. Perhaps I am too young and inexperienced for my position.
Prince Albert: Open your mind, examine your choices and your honesty will take you through the storm. I promise that you can do this work and do it well. You have courage and heart, and you said it yourself, you are stronger than you look.

I like this exchange between Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, I like that Prince Albert understands her and knows just how to support and encourage her. The film portrays the budding romance between Queen Victoria and Prince Albert through their letters and while this form of courtship seems slow and dated, do remember this is set in a time when emails and telephones were not invented yet. Perhaps the traditionalist in my likes their love story so much because theirs is a love that grew over time through mutual understanding and support despite the distance. Theirs is a long distance relationship that survived not only the physical distance, but also politics and the fact that his wife is a rich woman and a sovereign.

I must say though I love The Young Victoria also because the cinematography is beautiful. The director loves to use depth of field and plays with the visuals. This gives the film a very romantic feel and gives due credit to the wonderful sets, costumes, and props in the film. 

Before The Young Victoria I watched Emily Blunt's performance in The Devil Wears Prada and I was in awe of her talent. Since that film, I've paid closer attention to her and watched her films like Sunshine Cleaning and The Jane Austen Book Club. In fact, when The Young Victoria was first in the cinemas, it was a limited release in Australia and I had to go all the way to the Birch Carroll & Coyle cinema in Bulimba. And mind you I didn't own a car when I was studying in Australia. She does a fantastic job here as Princess Victoria.

Truth be told, when I saw Rupert Friend's performance in The Young Victoria, I was rather impressed. And then I went home and researched who he was and what other films he's acted in before. And I was surprised that I didn't remember him as Wickham in Pride And Prejudice. I think it was the accent and the make up that he has as Prince Albert in the film. Nonetheless it is his performance as Prince Albert in The Young Victoria that made me sit up and notice him. 

Paul Bettany. Ever since the film Wimbledon, I have paid close attention to his performances. He has this subtle charm that sneaks up on you and he didn't disappoint in The Young Victoria. In fact, the entire film was well casted. 

The Young Victoria is a film that is most definitely worth watching. 

(1) Emily Blunt has acted in films like The Devil Wears Prada (2006), The Jane Austen Book Club (2007), Charlie Wilson’s War (2007), Sunshine Cleaning (2008), The Wolfman (2010), Gulliver’s Travels (2010), The Adjustment Bureau (2011), The Muppets (2011), Salmon Fishing In The Yemen (2012), Your Sister’s Sister (2012), The Five-Year Engagemment (2012), and Looper (2012). She also voiced the character of Juliet in the animation Gnomeo And Juliet (2011).

(2) Rupert Friend has acted in films like Pride And Prejudice (2004), The Boy In The Stripped Pajamas (2008), Cheri (2009), and The Kid (2010).

(3) Paul Bettany has acted in films like A Knight’s Tale (2001), A Beautiful Mind (2001), Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003), Dogville (2003), Wimbledon (2004), The Da Vinci Code (2006), The Secret Life Of Bees (2008), Inkheart (2008), Creation (2009), Legion (2010), The Tourist (2010), Priest (2011), and Margin Call (2011). He also provides the voice of J.A.R.V.I.S in the films Iron Man (2008), Iron Man 2 (2010), and The Avengers (2012).

(4) Miranda Richardson has acted in films like Sleepy Hollow (1999), Get Carter (2000), The Hours (2002), The Prince And Me (2004), The Phantom Of The Opera (2004), Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire (2005), Paris, Je t'aime (2006), Fred Claus (2007), and Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010).

(5) Jim Broadbent has acted in films like Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001), Moulin Rouge! (2001), Gangs Of New York (2002), Nicholas Nickleby (2002), Around The World In 80 Days (2004), Vanity Fair (2004), Bridget Jones: The Edge Of Reason (2004), The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005), Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008), Inkheart (2008), Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince (2009), Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011), The Iron Lady (2011), and Cloud Atlas (2012).

(6) Mark Strong has acted in films like Emma (1996), Fever Pitch (1997), Sunshine (1999), Oliver Twist (2005), Syriana (2005), Tristan & Isolde (2006), Sunshine (2007), Stardust (2007), Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day (2008), RocknRolla (2008), Sherlock Holmes (2009), Kick-Ass (2009), Robin Hood (2010), Green Lantern (2011), Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011), John Carter (2012), and Welcome To The Punch (2012).

The Eclectic Reviewer thinks… The Young Victoria is beautifully shot, wonderfully cast, and invites you to get a glimpse of the fascinating woman who is also the longest reigning British Sovereign to date. It reminds me that royalty or not, they can make mistakes and they can fall in love. They are human, just like you and me. (4.9 of 5)

* Movie Poster from Wikipedia

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