Battleship 2012 movie review

Date: 10 April 2012
Time: 9.30pm
Venue: GSC Mid Valley
Screening courtesy of ChurpChurp

Battleship (2012)

PLAYERS

Production company: BluegrassFilms/Film 44
Cast: Taylor Kitsch, Alexander Skarsgard, Rihanna, Brooklyn Decker, Liam Neeson, Tadanobu Asano, Hamish Linklater
Director: Peter Berg
Screenwriters: Erich Hoeber and Jon Hoeber
Producers: Brian Goldner, Scott Stuber, Peter Berg, Sarah Aubrey, Duncan Henderson, Bennett Schneir

PLOT

(credits to rottentomatoes)

Peter Berg produces and directs Battleship, an epic-scaled action-adventure that unfolds across the seas, in the skies and over land as our planet fights for survival against a superior force. Inspired by Hasbro's classic naval combat game, Battleship stars Taylor Kitsch as Lt. Alex Hopper, a Naval officer assigned to the USS John Paul Jones; Brooklyn Decker as Sam Shane, a physical therapist and Hopper's fiancée; Alexander Skarsgård as Hopper's older brother, Stone, Commanding Officer of the USS Sampson; Rihanna as Petty Officer Raikes, Hopper's crew mate and a weapons specialist on the USS John Paul Jones; and international superstar Liam Neeson as Hopper and Stone's superior (and Sam's father), Admiral Shane. (C) Universal

PERSONAL COMMENT

Computer Graphics

I can't deny that the graphics are top notch. The moment the screen plays I told my girlfriend, wow! The quality of the film running and the graphics are very clear that I thought its 2D or something better! 

I get amazed when the alien's battleship came out.

 

The alien's suit is pretty cool, not really special but it will be something like Iron Man? 

By the way, it's kinda interesting how the CG players draw out the alien. You will get to see their face.

 

Actor/Actress

Taylors Kitsch - Alex Hopper

 Perform well with good expressions, doesn't seem fake to me. I should say he is experience!

Rihanna

 This movie is definitely underused of Rihanna, eventually when you thought Rihanna is not gonna perform well in this movie, she did perform averagely, consider her expression, movement and dialogue.

Tadanobu Asano as Captain Nagata

great supporting role in this movie, funny scenes with him appearing.

Plots
There are lots of loopholes in this movie.
Remember how the U.S Navy found the first alien and start to take out their mask?
The next moment, 1 troop of aliens went into the U.S Navy battleship and took the alien away. Why can't the alien just kill all the U.S Navy at that moment? They knew the US Navy is harming their own allies.

Next, how the old-retired US Navy suddenly appear at a museum battleship, how they start the battleship in such a short time frame, how can a museum battleship still works?

More loopholes can be found at HERE 

In case, you didn't notice, how they blend in the END of the story with Brooklyn Decker contacting Taylors Kitsch - Alex Hopper where the aliens are using the satellite.

Action scenes are pretty good!

 how the US Navy fight against the alien! See how the 2 round blades above, running the whole Hawaii, causing chaos, bridge breakdown, cars breakdown and etc.

Also take note on action scenes like, battleship shooting missiles.

Also it is interesting to see how the actors interact with each other, team up to fight the aliens.

I have to say that after reviewing all those action-Computer graphics movie, as long as it is entertaining, good graphics, able to let audience give your graphics (like Transformer and GI Joe) a WOW! That is enough to get back your return.

I really did enjoy the movie, how action-fied is this movie, how I like the CG graphics, see-ing how a battleship vs alien's battleship is entertaining!

 Try this movie in IMax 2D, I think you will be amazed! 

Oh yeah, 1 question here, did you guys hear about Malaysia is also one of the Navy teams? I remember Liam Neeson saying Japan, Malaysia, US and etc is part of the exhibition Navy crew.

PERSONAL RATING

Plot: 5/10
Graphics: 9.5/10

Dialogue: 5.5/10

Overall: 7/10

The review is based on my personal opinion.

Thanks to ChurpChurp for the invites!

Honda Jazz Hybrid 2012 test drive at Imavest Honda 3S Centre

Date: 7th April 2012
Time: 10am
Venue: Imavest Honda 3S Centre

Honda Jazz Hybrid

This is my first time driving a Hybrid car, a brand new experience and I'm gonna share my experience here although I'm not an expert in car reviewing.

Some of the features are as follows

1.3L I-VTEC engine with Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) 

(same as Honda Insight)

Econ Mode

for better fuel economy and reduced emissions

Jazz Hybrid VS Insight (Jazz Hybrid compare with Insight)

1. CVT Paddle Shift

7 speed paddle shift like you are driving a manual, shift your gear from D to S and feel a higher RPM. At D, you can still use paddle shift.

2. Larger legroom, larger space

the moment I sit on Jazz Hybrid my leg doesn't touch the front seat, note that I'm seating on the left passenger back seat. The seat back is slightly slanted as compare to Insight which is more stiff.

Further more, my head does not reach the top of the car

3. G-Force Control Technology (G-Con)

G-CON helps to minimise injuries by absorbing and distributing collision energy to other sides of the car. The technology works cohesively with seatbelts and airbag systems, reducing impact on the passengers. This brilliant force control design is even able to minimise injury to pedestrians in the event of a collision involving them.

4. Nicer dashboard

from my opinion, nicer dashboard compare to Insight. Although Insight has the digital speedometer, but I still prefer Jazz Hybrid dashboard.

5. Auto Wiper, High mount stoplight, 4 disc break

4 disc break as compare to Insight 2 disc break with rear break drum.

Brighter stoplight, especially at fog areas like Genting.

6. Does not have Spare wheel

Due to the battery placing, but there is Temporary Repair Kit.

7. Better Rear View

As compare to Insight. The rear view is relatively small for Insight. Jazz Hybrid tends to have clear rear view.

8. Boot space

Insight has larger boot space.

Features that Insight does not have: Side Curtain Airbags, Hill Start Assist, Arm rest, 

9. Price

Jazz Hybrid: RM94,800

Insight: RM99,800

Overall: For a cheaper price, you get more space, G Con, paddle shift but I know even for my own perception although the interior is awesome but the exterior still looks small compare to Insight. I would want a car that looks large outside.

For a reduction of RM5000, you get a smaller exterior car, more features. Worth it? See which is your preference!

Experience/Review

Hybrid car pick up is not that efficient compare to fuel injection system, I think it is mainly due to electric motor assist. In addition, if you want to pick up like a sports car I don't think that is the concept of an Hybrid car.

Handling

Handling is good. When at sharp corner, speed at about 60-70km/h it is still stable.

Speed

Feel the difference of using Paddle Shift as compare to Normal. 

When Gear Mode S - Gear speed 7, I can reached the speed of 130km/h but needs to lower Gear to 6 to reach at 140km/h. You can still reach 140 but hardly. 

At about 120km/h if you switch back to Normal D mode, you can feel that the RPM is lower thus less power.

FYI: Manual Mode means higher RPM, more consumption of fuels.

After 120km/h, you can hear the wind blowing noise. Perhaps they need a better wind proof.

This car review is based on my opinion, please test drive yourself to experience it.

Pictures credit to http://www.honda.com.my/

Thanks to Ryan and also Imavest Honda 3S Centre.

There will be a Honda Roadshow at following place:

3rd of April – 15th April :

Jusco  @ Balakong

23rd of April – 6th of May

Tesco @ Semenyih

15th May – 20th May

Alamanda @ Putrajaya

They will be giving vouchers for free Engine Oil to Honda Owners to be used at their Service Centres.

Some details of Honda Imavest Service Centre

20 service bays and can service up to 200 cars a day, customers have the choice to either walk in or make an appointment to service their cars.

List of services we offer besides Sales and Service :

1. Insurance Renewal (MSIG)

We do insurance/roadtax renewal for any cars (not just Honda)

2. Fuel Injector Cleaning

[Attached picture explaining the advantages of cleaning your Fuel Injector]

3. Polishing/Waxing/Disinfect & De-odorising

4. Aircond Servicing

5. Brake,Sideslip & Suspension diagnostic service

A video demonstrating the test :

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10150249705826339

Map: http://maps.google.com.my/maps/place?q=honda+imavest&hl=en&cid=10189777890034367243

Our facebook : https://www.facebook.com/imavest

Contact number :

+603-8737 8606 (General Line)

+603-8737 8909 (Service Appointment)

Mirror Mirror: The snow white legend comes alive movie review

Title : Mirror Mirror
Release Date : 29 March 2012
Genre : Fantasy, Comedy

PLAYER

Director : Tarsem Singh
Cast : Lily Collins, Julia Robers, Armie Hammer, Nathan Lane

SYNOPSIS

Starring Oscar®-winner Julia Roberts

and breakout star Lilly Collins

(“The Blind Side” &; “Priest”), and evil Queen (Roberts) steals control of a kingdom, and an exiled

princess (Collins) enlists the help of seven resourceful rebels to win back her birthright in a

spirited adventure comedy filled with jealousy, romance, and betrayal that will capture the

imagination of audiences the world over. The film also stars Armie Hammer (“The Social

Network”) as the object of their affection, Prince Andrew Alcott, and Nathan Lane (“The

Birdcage”) as the hapless and bungling servant to the Queen.

PERSONAL COMMENT

 Julia Roberts doesn't look that evil after all, but she is definitely a good 'bitchy' queen I can say. Along with the evil queen is the good helper Nathan Lane,

he is an important supporting role in this movie. After he turn into a cockroach, I can't forget that he actually say, 'the grasshopper take advantage of me'. It's kinda 18SX if you understand the meaning.

The Prince, Armie Hammer

is able to handle 2 characters well, one as a prince who always come naked, in love with the princess and on the other hand the prince who fall for the love portion from the evil queen. The puppy character is like wow! How could you act like a puppy!

For Lilly Collins

She suits to be the princess, being quite innocent, intelligent and brave when fighting the evil queen. What I think really helps Collins in this movie would be the 7 dwarves! You won't forget them.

Having the dwarves constantly steal our attention makes the show very interesting. How one of them says, Its between US. Their expression impressed me.

Besides that, their costume is kinda colorful, nice and attractive. Even if the movie is not nice, maybe checking out the costumes is cool enough.

So overall, kinda funny, some laughter here and there, not really scarry unless the puppet part, and lastly I didn't really expect the ending, so I assume it's a good plot for me.
Make sure you watch till the end, now I understand why at the end Collins sing and dance like those Bollywood movie! The director is from India.  (Highlight the text if you want to check it out.)

PERSONAL RATING

Plot: 7.5/10
Action: 6.5/10
Comedy: 7.5/10

Overall: 7.5/10

Trailer 

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9zsP6RAPDs

Thank you Nuffnang GPlus for the media screening.

All picture credits to NEF (Nusantara Edaran Filem)

Niu Chen-zer Film 《Love 愛》 2012

《Love 愛》

PLAYER

Actor/Actress: Doze Niu (鈕承澤), Ethan Juan 阮經天, Mark Zhao 趙又廷, Eddie 彭于晏, Shu Qi 舒淇, Zhao Wei 趙薇, Zvy Chen 陳意涵, Amber Guo 郭采潔

Director:  Doze Niu (鈕承澤)

PLOT

This is a story that happened between two cities, Taipei and Beijing, a story about eight lonely souls searching for happy endings. Everything that happened and every sacrifice that was made was all for LOVE.

Ni comes from a wealth family. As the captain of a bicycle racing team of the college everything seems perfect until the day she finds out that her life tangled in a three people relationship. Ni's best friend YiJia was pregnant with her boyfriend Kai after a one night affair. Betrayed by the boyfriend and the best friend, Ni is going crazy. She needs answers.

(Ni and Kai)

Kai realized that he had made the biggest mistake of his life, but he is in love with Ni. Running away is not the answer. He needs to get her back. All this while, YiJia is also torned by this situation, and decided that she will end this by getting an abortion. But after a series of wild emotional rampage, Ni realize that she is not the only victim and her loving nature made her admit that she cant afford to lose either of them.

(Zoe and Mr Lu)

Mr Lu, the father of Ni, as a successful middle age businessman who lives in a glamorous life style with a charming movie star girlfriend Zoe by his side. Lu leads a lifestyle that is the envy of everyone. However when Lu is ready for marriage, he finds out that Zoe is no longer infatuated with him. In fact, Zoe is a lonely woman who needs someone to wake her up from the vanity around her. When she meet waiter Kuan, the brother of Yi Jia, she is attracted by his sweet personality and life of wisdom. Between Mr Lu and Kuan, Zoe faces the biggest choice of her life.

Lu's business partner, Mark, is from Taipei. Mark is a ladies man and he always and only dates women who are young, beautiful and chic. His fondest memories were from living with father, who has passed away, in the Chinese old-style courtyard house. Therefore, after his much business success, Mark always wanted to buy a Chinese old-style courtyard house in Beijing.

(Mark and XiaoYe)

XiaoYe is a single mother working in Beijing as a real estate agent. She is not young, nor is she stylish. She spends most of her time and energy taking care of her five years old son. One day, Mark meets XiaoYe looking for a place to buy. Through the process, Mark starts to develop feelings for XiaoYe and also her son. 

PERSONAL COMMENT

This movie is clearly similar with English movies like Valentine's Day and New Years Eve. It is also same with Chinese movies like Love in Space (全球热恋) directed by Tony Chan.

It should be a movie on cinema during Valentine's day but somehow a delay screening for Malaysia?

Alright back to the actor and actress, somehow I feel Zoe ( 舒淇) and Doze Niu (鈕承澤) really fits the character, Zoe really have the looks of relying on middle age man to live and the middle age man would be Doze Niu. The chemistry is there, and the actors that play the role do really helped.

Plot also shows a complicated relationship. Whereby not all relationship is perfect.

Like Mark (趙又廷), he doesn't have confidence in relationship, while for Kai (彭于晏) really love Ni but had sex with YiJia and is a dad now.

PERSONAL RATING

Plot: 7/10

Actor/Actress: 7/10

Expression/Chemistry: 6.5/10

Overall 7/10