I'm Too Lazy to do Individual Posts

All right, this is a recap post.

Die Hard 4.0 (2007) *** / ****

In my opinion, this film works even better if the viewer hadn't any previous experience with Det. John McClane. Nevertheless, the over-the-top actions quite often make-up the McClane-less experiences to somewhat make this film quite engaging in and of itself.

In truth, i've been expecting the revival of our old-school hero - now balding, and a father to georgeous lady (in the film) - with lukewarm anticipation, at most. However, the film turns out to be a okay. In fact, i'm enjoying it so much to an extent that i'd give it a nod for actually the first summer sequel that i enjoyed the most.

When the plot revealed that it's going to involve Mary Elizabeth Winsted (aptly nicknamed MEW by her fans) as his daughter, i was afraid that the film would plot your usual damsel-in-distress scenario in which Det. McClane runs around to save his daughter. Well, i was wrong. And i couldn't be happier for being wrong. MEW is still had her portions of course, but Det. McClane is still Det. McClane. He does his job not because he has no other options. He does it because it's his job. And that's what nailed this film in my current appreciation. Should he runs around tried his best to save his daughters right from the first minute, i would laid curse to the screenwriters, and i wouldn't give a three-star to this film.

Timothy Olyphant (i haven't used to spell his name right yet) is magnificent as the main villain. I liked him since i saw him in the Deadwood series, and hugely anticipated his next flick, as Agent 47 in Hitman due this fall. MEW is great, superbly great as McClane's daughter, in a sense that she was in the film not merely as a necessity but as something more of a color to the film. And of course, the sidekick, Justin Long whose forever would be known to us as 'that Mac guy in the Mac TV ads'. Truthfully, even Samuel L. Jackson can't quite do well as McClane's sidekick. McClane is a lone-wolf and always will a lone-wolf, adding a sidekick would actually loses the sense of his lone-wolf-ness. However, i would love to see a possibility in which McClane team-up with his daughter. Number five, perhaps?

Ow yeah, Kevin Smith practically steals every scenes he's in. You know, he's the 30-something dude whose command-center is in his mum's basement?

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007) ***1/2 / ****

I gave a surprise to many of my virtual-friends when i said that i actually liked the film. Even more to say that this is the best of the series yet. With a darker, gloomier atmospheres as the young wizards' nemesis dawning its evil existence. Many fans of the book i know complained about the film being trimmed here and there, bla-bla-bla, yada-yada-yada. My take, the film is an actual improvement to the book. Where the unnecessities, overlonged tidbits are gracefully left-out. I'm not saying that the film was better than the book. Or to complained about how the books were overated. Well, for the books to actually spanning for seven series and cashing-in millions (probably billions) of dollars, my opinion is unimportant to the matter.

However, if i had been asked how to divide the series, i would say that fifth is the less lovable book of the series. Some argued that sixth is worse. Well, before the seventh hit the shelf, it's quite true that sixth is the worse (and i was growing anxiously afraid that the series would go downhill from there). But when i read the book number seven, i could say that book six and seven was in a unison. Book six being the first part, and book seven being the second part. Now, that left book fifth alone and ugly. That's my answer however, if i had been asked about the books.

As with the book, the film's spotlight unceremonously fell to Dolores Umbridge. The evil manifestation of cat-lover, purple-adorer newest DADA (you, bookworms should know what DADA is) is downright evil. I mean, she could kill a man. And that smile of her won't falter. Downright evil. The rest of the (main) cast shown quite an improvement in department acting. With an exception to Miss Emma Watson (Hermione Granger) who of course due to that she hasn't had a chance to star in a non Harry Potter-ish.

That been said, i won't be waiting that much for the sixth film (scheduled to release next-year). As i've been stated before, book six is better enjoyed when coupled with book seven. I don't visibly see the (would be) movies to be any different.

The Simpsons Movie (2007) **1/2 / ****

The Simpsons has been around for 18 years (correct me if i'm wrong). When the show has been around for that much of time, the only question of when the series hit the bigger screen was of course, "When?". But of course, 18 years cannot be qualified as short. However, even though that the film produces many laughters from start to finish, i won't be bothered to go seeing it for the second time anytime soon. It's just that, well, if you know them, you know how Bart is, you know how Lisa is, you know how Homer is, you know who's who in Springfield, it proposes a none to slight difference experience with enjoying (as Mr. Homer pointed out at the beginning of the film) the TV series.

Nevertheless, the guys behind The Simpsons are clearly having fun. And why can't we have some fun too? The film tackling religions (easy), environmental-issues (also easy), and of course, (US) government inability (easiest). Well, i won't be bothered to tell you about the plot, just enjoy the ride, and you surely going to had your laughs. Right from the very first minute when Green Day played the intro theme-song with a nod to Titanic. Owh, i speak too much already. Just go see it.

Now, my rating might be influenced by the fact that everyone seemed to enjoyed the film so much. It has been almost a week since the film hit the theater and yet there were still so many friend of mine who put the lyrics of Spider-Pig into their Messenger status. You who have seen the film must know what i'm talking about. And yes, it's hillarious especially if you know the lyrics (not merely reading the subtitles, that would ruin the fun-ness factor of it).

My favourite Simpsons moment however was when the film rolls it's end-credit. So, make sure you don't leave your seat even if the theater's light starts to light, it is, in my opinion, really worth the wait.