Ah, finally managed to watch movie #30 on the very last day of January.. Quota accomplished!
The Heartbreak Kid (2007)
This is a Ben Stiller comedy, directed from the same dudes that brought you ‘There’s Something About Mary’. Expect the same amount of lame raunchy jokes that some might probably find funny. It’s vulgar, and Ben Stiller’s character is almost unlikeable in his role as the guy who gets married too soon to a wrong girl and happily goes about lying and committing adultery. Really not worth anyone’s time.
3:10 To Yuma (2007)
Wow, my first true modern western in a long while, and what a marvel it is. Starring an all awesome cast of Christian Bale, Russell Crowe, Ben Foster and more who all did amazing jobs in bringing their complex characters to life. A rancher with a desperate need to prove something to himself and his family, agrees to escort the captured notorious outlaw ‘Ben Wade’ to the 3:10 train to Yuma so that justice can play its course. The ensuing battle of wills takes center-stage in this movie in what I would call one of the better written character pieces I’ve seen in a while. If you like Westerns, there’s lots to love here with guns ablazing, saloons, indians, heists, and cool renegades and outlaws (everything from Bang! and more!). Watch and be entertained.. 
Balls of Fury (2007)
I’m happy I didn’t agree to watch this in the cinema when I had the chance, because this movie totally sucked balls (pun intended). Bad humour everywhere, degrading Asian roles, utterly stupid and senseless - what in the world was Christopher Walken and Maggie Q thinking when they agreed to their roles??? Avoid!
Pixar Short Films Collection Volume I (2007)
Interesting to see a collection of 3D animated shorts all the way back from even 1984! Man I didn’t even know that they were capable of such things at that time (shudders at the rooms full of computers they would have needed for this). Most of them don’t carry much plot or premise and are really short and pointless as they were made to showcase what could be done back then. However, the gems came in the short clips from the more famous Pixar movies that I missed - including one from Monsters Inc. (Mike’s New Car), The Incredibles (Jack Jack Attack!) & Cars (Mater and the Ghostlight). Of course, who could forget the other short clips that always preceded Pixar’s actual movies in theaters such as For The Birds, One Man Band, and the most recent - Lifted. A definite DVD to keep..
A Mighty Heart (2007)
Daniel Pearl was an American journalist who was kidnapped and brutally beheaded on video in Karachi, Pakistan in 2002. This powerfully filmed movie focuses on the investigation of his disappearance, the capture of those that was responsible, and of course the effects on his pregnant wife (played by Angelina Jolie). Don’t expect any flamboyance as this is a movie that tries to stay true to the actual events that occurred. The setting of an intensely crowded, busy and hectic Karachi, political influences, terrorist conspiracies and brutal interrogative methods used by the local Pakistani forces were eye openers for me. A great movie and tribute to Daniel Pearl, and one that anyone should watch - if at the very least to be aware of the sacrifices journalists have to make in order to bring cutting edge truth and news to us..
Hairspray (2007)
Boy oh boy, I can’t remember the last time a movie made me feel THIS GOOD. I sat through the entire movie with a REAL smile plastered on my face throughout 
. Of course, the shock of seeing John Travolta in a fat suit, as a LADY, dancing and singing again, plus Christopher Walken’s facial expressions as he tries to hold in his laughter is enough to make this a worthwhile watch. But throw in some delightful uplifting songs and lyrics, even more famous stars, great dancing and choreography and here is one of the BEST musicals I’ve seen in a long time.
Beaufort (2007)
Considering that Malaysia has practically zero diplomatic relations with Israel, this movie is my first real entertainment media exposure to Israelis as a whole. The movie isn’t much though, but it was interesting enough. This is a long drawn out psychological war drama about a team of soldiers holding a fort on a hill in Lebanon, just before they were given the approval to withdraw. Technically, the film was average at most for me, despite some good acting. It’s just too draggy, and a little pointless - but maybe that’s the purpose - because the whole Israeli Lebanon war is just too draggy and pointless as well.
Futurama : Bender’s Big Score (2007)
I was never a big fan of Futurama to begin with, even after watching a few episodes, and this movie didn’t quite make me change my mind about it either. Initially hilarious about the way the poked fun at the executives that canceled the show, the movie then began to spiral down into lame cartoon nudity jokes and a LOT of time travel that I couldn’t be bothered to make sense of. The Simpsons is still way better by far.
The Lookout (2007)
Looks like the little chap from 3rd Rock from The Sun (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) has grown! Into a decent actor too I might add, his acting was realistic enough, but realism is often boring - especially from the context of someone suffering from brain damage, and is unwittingly recruited into a bank heist. The movie has some powerful moments near the end, is tied together with great directing, keeps you guessing on its final outcome but falls just a little bit short of being an awesome movie. I’d still recommend it nonetheless - but be prepared for more of a drama rather than an action/thriller bank heist.
200 Pound Beauty (2006)
FINALLY got around to watching this, and I wasn’t disappointed. Kim Ah-Jung is breathtakingly gorgeous to watch as the severely obese and ugly lady who transforms into a drop dead knockout celebrity via plastic surgery. The comedy is sweet and endearing mostly, and the melodrama layered on thickly near the end typical of most Korean movies - but this was done very well. 200 Pound Beauty was also VERY colorful, with great costumes and extravagant sets and lightings and expressions and upliftingly familiar music (predominantly English songs). Did I mention she can really sing too? When the credits finally rolled, I couldn’t help but feel a little tipsy. 
Ploy (2007)
A Thai film from one of Thailand’s most celebrated arthouse directors (Pen-Ek Ratanaruang). A man meets a slightly battered and lonely teenage girl at the bar while staying in a hotel with his wife. Taking a little pity on her, and as a gesture of good will, he invites her up to his room to freshen up - which brings him into conflict with his wife who is suspicious of both the girl and her husband’s motives. And while all of this is happening, a silent erotic sidestory about a secret sex meetup between the bartender and a cleaning maid takes place… Where does it all end, and how does it all fit? A slow moving, languid movie that slowly draws you in, and surprises you with moments of unpredictability. Interesting use of sound too, from silent personal moments, realistic ambient sounds, and sudden explosions of music.. It’s a decent love story revolving around an expiring relationship. Somehow reminds me of Lost In Translation. Not too bad.
Breaking and Entering (2006)
This is a highly unconventional love story, with the central focus on Jude Law, a successful architect who is struggling to find his place in an ailing relationship (with a gf who doesn’t want to commit to marriage and a step-daughter that’s autistic). While following a kid who burgled his office, he meets and falls in love with a Bosnian lady who turns out to be the kids mum. Of course, things don’t turn out quite that simple. Very few movies take the time to explore the complexities and motivations of each individual’s decisions quite as much as this one. Written and directed by Anthony Minghella who also wrote and directed other hits like Cold Mountain, The Talented Mr. Ripley and The English Patient, I thought this was quite a fantastic piece of work (with some amazing acting and script) despite its negative reviews.
