'The Maze Runner' review

The Maze Runner review:

A-Mazing Race

BY IAN TAN

The Maze Runner is the first entry in the film series based off James Dashner’s best-selling book trilogy of the same name. At this point in time, a book series-turned-film is a sure-fire box-office cash grab for Hollywood. But this doesn’t necessarily mean that we’ll be getting a good page-to-screen adaptation. While some of these adaptations succeed at pleasing fans as well as general audiences alike (Harry Potter & The Hunger Games films), some are an insult to both factions of viewers (The Twilight Saga). Then there’s the “meh” camp of these movies (this year’s Divergent). With that being said, where does The Maze Runner fit within these categories?

Surprisingly, The Maze Runner manages to be a very well made first entry in a potentially successful film quadrilogy (sigh, gone are the golden Trilogy days), ala The Hunger Games. Sure, it lacks the star-power of The Hunger Games, but new faces, as long as they’re good looking and have good acting chops, are always welcome. Just look at how far Marvel got using that strategy. Who would Tom Hiddleston be if it weren’t for Loki, or Chris Hemsworth if it weren’t for Thor?

Here, several familiar faces, namely Will Poulter (Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader & We’re The Millers) and Thomas Brodie-Sangster (Game of Thrones & Phineas and Ferb) really make a name for themselves and seal themselves as memorable talents we’d like to see in future films. Dylan O’Brien (Teen Wolf) takes on the lead role in this film as a bewildered Thomas who is unexpectedly brought to The Glade, a field of grass surrounded by an elaborate maze of gargantuan proportions. The habitants of The Glade have been trapped for over 3 years, with ‘Runners’ taking charge every day to work out the intricacies of the Maze in hopes of finding an escape route.

As previously mentioned, the acting talent involved here is pretty good and are likely to be newfound fan-favourites. Dylan O’Brien has a commanding presence as Thomas, striking a fine balance between dead-set bravery and inquisitive curiosity. Thomas Brodie-Sangster’s Newt is likely to be audiences’ favourite supporting character of the bunch, while Will Poulter channels a more mature version of the bratty Eustace Scrubb from Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader as the arrogant Gally in this film. The one that will most probably leave a mark on most audiences however is Lee Ki Hong, of Wongfu Productions fame, who plays the experienced Runner, Minho. Although there isn’t all that much depth given to his character in the film, he makes the most out of his scenes and proves to be a firm and likable action star, which is quite the departure from his She Has a Boyfriend and This Is How We Never Met days. Good news, girl moviegoers, you have now found your next Taylor Lautner, and he’s not a bad actor ;)

           
            Oh, and Kaya Scodelario’s character Teresa is rather wasted here, and seems like just an excuse to have a female player in the battlefield. The Teresa character really has no purpose in the story, and whatever elements she brings to further the story could have easily been given to Thomas. Hopefully she’ll have more to do in the sequels.

Story-wise, this film does a good job at keeping audiences interested in the events that unfold, which is primarily due to the nicely done character development of the main players, which was something I wasn’t really expecting from this movie. I even found myself on the edge of my seat during certain intense action sequences, which is always a plus. Although several pivotal characters are given a good amount of dialogue and screen-time, many of the other members of the Glade seem to fade into the background and are given little for us to remember them by. But that’s all right, because we’d rather have a film with a good small number of main characters than one with a clutter of poorly developed, uninteresting ones.

In terms of production value, the titular Maze is quite impressive, but overall, the film does suffer slightly from the typical sub-par visual effects and set pieces most first entry films do (remember the awful fire effects and terrible shaky-cam in the first Hunger Games?). Although the action in The Maze Runner is thrilling for the most part, it does rely on quick-cut editing and some shaky-cam to hide some of the unpolished CGI, most apparent during several Griever attack scenes. But this is a minor nit-pick in what is an overall enjoyable, good time at the cinema.

To sum it up, The Maze Runner delivers an engaging first entry film in its series, with some compelling characters and memorable performances. And although the production design and other technical elements could have been improved, it is forgivable considering that this is the first in its series, and if it manages well with audiences and the box office, a bigger budget will likely be given to its sequel, which we all hope will be the next Catching Fire of book-to-movie sequels, because in my opinion, this film is already better than the first Hunger Games movie.

Final rating

The Maze Runner gets 7.9 out of 10 stars

– A great kick-starter to a potentially successful book-to-film series.

'The Hundred-Foot Journey' Review

The Hundred-Foot Journey Review:

Slightly Undercooked, But Tasty Nonetheless

BY IAN TAN

The Hundred-Foot Journey follows the Kadam family and their hopes to open an Indian restaurant in France, much to the disdain of Madame Mallory (Helen Mirren). Things start heating up when tastes of two cultures collide, and as Hassan starts to appreciate French cuisine and begins learning its craft.

There are a couple of good things you can find in The Hundred-Foot Journey, one of which is the acting. The Hundred-Foot Journey is filled with fine and dandy performances from its Indian, British and French cast. Helen Mirren is great presence as always, and does the film favors as Madame Mallory, even if she serves only as a supporting character. This is not an issue, as the two young leads, namely Manish Dayal as Hassan and Charlotte Le Bon as Marguerite, give likable performances and add charm to the script. Much of this charm is what may keep audiences interested in the proceedings and help us ignore some of the film’s flaws.

Besides the acting, the overall feel-good vibe the film has will likely leave you coming out of the theatre satisfied, but craving for more. The film has some nice-looking shots of French morning markets and streets, but there simply isn’t enough of France seen here to give it that extra dose of feel-good-movie escapism. In addition to that, the shots of food in this film rarely make your mouth water, which is a bit of a negative considering that this is a food-based film. The number of scenes featuring French and Indian food preparation here are surprisingly low, with some of the dishes served up not looking as scrumptious as you might expect. Other food-related films like Ratatouille or even the Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs movies left us with hunger cravings as we exited the theatre. The Hundred-Foot Journey however, does not.

Besides that, the film has some pacing issues, and may feel a wee bit draggy at times, with one too many scenes that seem to set up a conflict, but ending with a one-sentence catch phrase or comedic event to end it. That left me a little annoyed as I wish there was more dramatic weight to these scenes. I’m not saying I want Korean-drama level emotion, but some form of an issue that turned the tables would have probably made for a more engaging film and story. Okay, there is one event that tries to do that, but the film’s editing doesn’t allow audiences to fully sink their teeth into the gravity of it. Thankfully, as previously stated, the likable characters and performances allow audiences to overlook these issues and have a relaxing time at the movies.

As a whole, The Hundred-Foot Journey feels like a meal at a sub-standard fancy restaurant – having the ingredients that could make for a wholly satisfying experience (in this case, a good cast, a pretty country and two cuisines of food), but bogged down by the lack of a couple of spices that could have enhanced the overall flavor.  Now, where’s my Ratatouille DVD?

Final Verdict

The Hundred-Foot Journey receives 7 out of 10 Michelin Stars

- A nice treat for a lazy Saturday evening :) 

Spoilt For Choice : Cinema Experiences in Malaysia

Spoilt For Choice : Cinema Experiences in Malaysia

BY IAN TAN

Malaysia has really stepped up their game in terms of the various cinematic experiences it offers its movie-going audience. As of recent, we have been treated with an overflow of different cinematic experiences from the numerous cinema chains in the country. Popular names like IMAX, BeaniePlex and DOLBY ATMOS come to mind. With so many labels to each new cinematic experience, one begins to become overwhelmed with all the confusing types of offers and what exactly their differences are. Here, I break down some of the top cinema offerings in Malaysia.

IMAX

First up is The IMAX Experience. IMAX is known to be the world’s most immersive movie-going experience, and rightfully so. Its screens are the largest in the world, spanning a cinema hall’s floor to ceiling with a width that goes from wall to wall. In addition to being larger, wider and taller, IMAX screens are also slightly curved, allowing audiences to be truly enveloped in the movie. Combine that with the curved seating arrangement and you get a movie experience that looks good no matter where you’re sitting in the hall. Even the front row seats are elevated slightly. Besides the extra large screen size, IMAX also features a laser-aligned surround sound system that allows you – the audience – to pinpoint exactly where any sound in the room is coming from. How’s that for bringing movies to life?

Beanie

BeaniePlex is arguably the most comfortable and homey cinematic experience out there. The concept is simple: audiences sit in bean bags instead of standard theatre seats. If you love watching movies at home in bean bags while shoving popcorn up your face, you’ll love watching movies in Beanie. It has been voted the world’s most comfortable cinema by film websites such as Gizmodo, ScreenCrush and MovieFone. This is cinematic comfort at its best.

INDULGE

Now here’s one super-duper luxurious cinematic experience of the highest class. This is Gold Class on a whole other level. INDULGE sports a fancy looking lounge with magazines, jazz music, an array of cuisine to order from, and one ultra-comfortable recliner seat complete with leg extensions and a blanket. And if you ever get hungry in the middle of the movie, just hit the button on your seat and a waiter will attend to you shortly to take your order. Also, INDULGE halls are equipped with silver-coated screens to produce a sharper, more precise looking image. The 7.1 surround sound is also terrific.

Dolby Atmos

Dolby Atmos is the future of surround sound, made possible today. ATMOS is a surround sound system that uses ‘pan through array’ technology. What this technology enables movies to achieve is the precise movement of sound that follows any moving object on the screen. For example, in a standard cinema hall you may hear a spaceship travel from the left to the back to the right and finally to the front of the hall, but that “real” sense of movement just isn’t there. ATMOS is able to deliver this real sense of movement all around the hall. Not only does an ATMOS hall feature additional side, front, and back speakers, it also includes ceiling speakers for additional immersive value. Now imagine a rainy scene and being able to hear the sound of raindrops dripping from the top of the hall, or a spaceship flying over your head, behind you, then right in your face. With ATMOS, the sound possibilities are limitless.

D-Box

From home technologies to the cinema, D-Box allows you to practically “live” the movie. A D-Box cinema seat is, in essence, a motion chair. It moves in accordance to the movements and action you see on screen, so if a car accelerates and crashes, you’ll feel the force of acceleration and the impact of the crash; just without you dying. D-Box seats allow you to control the motion level to ‘Low’, ‘Medium’ or ‘High’ depending on your preference.  At the moment, D-Box seats are available exclusively in THX certified and Dolby ATMOS equipped halls, so you can expect a good deal of action-packed cinematic glory when experiencing a film in this double-featured hall. D-Box allows you to experience action in movies like never before.

GSC Maxx

            GSC Maxx is Golden Screen Cinemas’ Premium Large Format, featuring larger-than-usual cinema screens equipped with Dolby Atmos and THX certification. Like IMAX, its halls are designed to bring audiences closer to the onscreen action, so the seats are on a steeper gradient than usual and the picture sharper.

Now that you’ve got the lowdown on the many cinema experiences Malaysia has to offer, think of the next time you want to watch a movie and maybe pick one of the 5 premium experiences we just covered. The future of the cinematic experience is here, and you’re given the privilege to give them a go. So the next time you choose to see experience a movie, experience it in IMAX, BeaniePlex, Dolby Atmos, D-Box, or even INDULGE (if you want to feel like a sir).

IMAX is available at TGV Sunway Pyramid, 1 Utama, Tebrau City & Sunway Pyramid. Beanie available at selected TGV cinemas and INDULGE exclusively at TGV 1 Utama.

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Dolby Atmos is available at selected GSC outlets and D-Box exclusively at GSC Pavillion and 1 Utama. GSC Maxx + Dolby Atmos is available at GSC IOI City Mall & GSC Ipoh Parade.

'The Expendables 3' Review

The Expendables 3 Review:

Running Out of Fuel

BY IAN TAN

Sylvester Stallone and his expendable crew are back for a third outing in theatres, this time with the additions of Harrison Ford, Wesley Snipes, Antonio Banderas and Mel Gibson, among others. This time however, it’s not only other famous 80’s action heroes that join in the ensemble cast for this third film in the Expendables series; newer, younger action stars such as Kellan Lutz and mixed martial artist Ronda Rousey join the crew to add some young blood into the series.

Replacing Simon West in the director’s seat is Patrick Hughes, who does an adequate job at this sequel, even if it lacks some of the fun that made the second film work. What Hughes does improve on over the last film, however, are some of the character dynamics and motivations. As much as characters aren’t necessarily the main reason why we go see an Expendables movie, it’s something that definitely elevates the movie slightly, as good action is made better when character motivations drive the action, and not the other way around. It is that aspect, and the inclusion of Mel Gibson’s character Stonebanks that I personally thought were nice inclusions to the movie and added some depth to it. Some. This still is an Expendables movie.

The performances from the returning cast members continue to provide us with likable, sometimes funny characters and add to the fun of the movie. Sylvester Stallone still makes for a commendable team leader as Barney Ross, with Jason Statham equally as good as his right hand man Christmas. Everyone else seems to be having a great time shooting this movie, which just adds to the fun of the movie as a whole. The newer, younger Expendables are serviceable in the action sequences but are underutilized character-wise, having one-dimensional personalities and wooden dialogue. Ronda Rousey in particular, is terrible in this movie. Anything in regards to speaking any line of dialogue to emoting are just painful to watch in her performance, to the point that we just want to see her kick more ass and stop speaking completely. The same can (sort of) be said about Antonio Banderas’ character, Galgo, a character with the audience tolerance level of Jar-Jar Binks (eek!). Galgo never, and I mean never shuts up, and has officially become the Expendables’ most annoying character. Much of this is due to the improvisational work on Banderas’ part, which could have easily been edited out of the final film. Mel Gibson on the other hand, is pretty good playing the villain here, adding some gravitas and seriousness to the movie, which is a nice touch. Next to Jean-Claude Van Damme’s character in the previous installment, Gibson’s Stonebanks is probably the best antagonist the series has had so far. Good on you, Gibson.

As for the action – what these movies exist for – The Expendables 3 is unfortunately low on anything truly worthy of it being called an Expendables movie, considering all the macho-ness that surrounds it. There are a couple of cool action sequences, most of which involve practical, physical stunts. It’s nice to see how some of these actors really treat age as just a number. But this film just doesn't have enough of that to truly harken back to 80's action flicks that prided themselves with nearly zero use of CGI.

Speaking of CGI, pretty much every explosion seen on screen is the work of ones and zeros, and really, really pulls you out of the whole 80’s-gritty-action-movie feel this series is going for. The film’s climactic battle features not one, but two horribly animated CGI helicopters in the summer’s cheapest looking chase sequence, made even more cringe-worthy considering that the Terminator, Jet Li and Han Solo are the ones manning one of the helicopters, ultimately making you question their bad-assery. Another downside to the action is just how frenetically edited some of the hand-to-hand combat sequences are. At one point, Ronda Rousey's character goes against two bad guys while Wesley Snipes fights another somewhere else, with Antonio Banderas or Kellan Lutz or whoever it was fighting some other bad guy in the mean time. The thing is, all these fights are incomprehensible pieces of half a second’s length of footage strung together in a confusing sequence that makes you just want to give up on wondering who’s fighting who and where. That one scene with Kellan Lutz riding a motorcycle up a steep, steep ramp and grabbing on to the edge of a building before pulling out a gun and shooting a band of bad guy fodder was a jaw-dropper though.

On the whole, The Expendables 3 feels rather lackluster in execution. Although it does attempt to script better character interactions and motives, the choppy action and straight-to-DVD level special effects take away from the overall sense of gritty, practical effects driven realism that the previous instalments had more of. It isn’t as bad as the first film, but not exactly an improvement over the second either.

Final rating

The Expendables 3 gets 6 out of 10 stars – Just download it.