Letters to Juliett(2010)

Director: Gary Winick

Casts:

Amanda Seyfried

Christopher Egan

Vanessa Redgrave

Gael Garcia Bernal

Stars: 2.5/5

Right now, I'm listening to Taylor Swift's Love Story, which was featured on a small part of a recent movie Letters to Julie. One of the reasons I watched this romanitc comedy is because I heard about the beautiful scenery of Italy. Another reason is for watching is to watch another Amanda Seyfried's movie. She has made such a beautiful impression on me on Mamma Mia! as a Greek goddess that I really wanted to watch another gorgeous movie that could bring up her bubbliness again.

Although it is always exciting to go to movie theaters, due to financial restraints I tend to refrain myself from going to theaters other than action movies, highly CG-ed movies, or movies which color plays a dramatic role in. Therefore, going to theaters for a romantic comedy was a quite a decision. However, it actually turned out to be a disappointment for me.

One thing's for sure: fairy tale lovers should definitely watch this movie. It will satisfy every single somatic cells in your body. I like the fact that the movie did not forget that it's a fairy tale. I was not happy because to start off, I'm not a huge fan of fairy tales. Even as a young girl, I was never into fairy tales or was day dreaming about my prince on a white horse. What really made me unhappy is that Amanda never really shined in this movie. Of course she was beautiful as usual, but all I can remember in this movie is her frowning and sad eyes. Obviously the role was meant to be like that - derived from her discontent - but I since it is a romantic comedy, especially a fairy tale romantic comedy - I think it should have showed her loveliness from time to time. Also, the color of the movie would have been much nicer if it was not too pastel. Lots of pastel colors and light yellow were used, just like an old faded letter. However, just like Amanda, there could have been a bit more vibrancy added.

One thing I felt after the movie: Obviously, this sort of movie should not be related to reality. However, it seems quite romantic to simply try to live like that - not to lose passion about anything you love until you are very old - even if the love is not a person. One last thing - I want to get old like Vanessa Redgrave! She is such a graceful lady.

Toy Story 3(2010)

Director: Lee Unkrich

Casts:

Tom Hanks

Tim Allen

Joan Cusack

Ned Beatty

Don Rickles

Stars:

4.5/5

It's never really happy to see others or yourself grow old. In Toy Story 3, Andy's beloved toys go under heartbreaking experiences due to Andy's leave for college. This one of the classics of PIXAR's, movies is awesome, even to the point of exceeding the very first sequence.

The story was awesome. It clearly showed that the society of toys are no different from our human world. There are corrupted and naive. What breaks my heart looking at Andy's toys was that they are so naive and loyal to him. Overall, it is a great, touching movie that all the adults and kids will enjoy!

INCEPTION

INCEPTION

Director: Christopher Nolan

Casts: Leonardo DiCaprio

Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Ellen Page

Tom Hardy

Ken Watanabe

Marion Cotillard

Stars: 5/5

This movie is something I've been waiting for so long, so I watched it on the release day, which was July 21st! It is an amazing movie, the one of the few movies to live up to my expectation. That's why I watched it 4 times in theater up till now.. Once in IMAX and in regular screens for the other 3. Just to watch it in IMAX, I had to take a bus for more than an hour and take a taxi.

The movie was TERRIFIC. Despite its complexity due to the multi layers, the plot is actually quite simple, dealing with the subconscious of the humans to 'extract' or 'implent' thoughts. I'm not going to discuss much details of the movie, in case there are folks who haven't watched it yet. If you are one of them, I strongly suggest that you do! But before you go, if you are one of the 'slow' people - who don't actually get the movies, but simply say "I didn't understand it but it was good", then I recommend you to read some brief summaries of the movie. I've seen many people say that they don't follow.

The visual effects and the actions are the most exciting parts of the film, having numerous creative scenes well-delivered. My favorite part was Joseph Gordon-Levitt's 'free fall' action, which was HOT beyond words. The music was also fantastic, thanks to the 'motion picture music big hand' Hans Zimmer. I belive he also wrote the scores for The Dark Knight, another movie of Chris Nolan. The coherent theme of the music in Inception is harbors or ships, because there are sounds that resemble ship whistles. In fact, the movie is constantly related with water and sea with its mysteriousness making it well connected.

Although the movie is highly entertaining, it is NOT merely limited to the entertainment factors. Dreams comprise life. People often talk about their dreams last night and try to interpret them. Sometimes a dream decides people's moods throughout the day and or even become the reality. Nolan does a breathtaking job of conducting a highly complex concept(three or four levels of dreams) without making it too confusing. It brought up my perception of dreams to a whole new level. Even after watching it four times, I am still astounded by his creativity and is looking for any clues that he might have left to help come up with a conclusion for an open ending.

Even though I am giving Inception five out of five, there may be some disappointments, especially for action frenetic. This doesn't contain intense actions every five minutes, but its originality makes a must-watch movie. Thank you Chris Nolan!

UP(2009)

Director:Pete Docter, Bob Peterson
Stars: 3.5/5

This is obviously an animation, which I usually don't like to watch. However, this one was different. Since the first time I watched the trailer, I knew I want it.

There are two reasons to watch this movie. First, its graphics and the colors are simply adorable. There is no exaggeration in saying that a house floating in a clear blue sky hanging on to thousands and millions of rainbow-colored balloons makes the movie. The scene is that much fantastic. Second, it's a cute story of an old man and a boy having the particular Disney humor.

The story is simple: an old man, living a life in a comfort zone faces a trauma, and decides to live his dream. A boy scout boy accompanies him unexpectedly, and they meet a dog on the way. Of course, they also face a villan who used to be the old man's hero.

Although the movie conveys a very simple message of "Don't give up, live up to your dreams", it is conducted in such an attractive way that it even appealed to the adults who watched it with me. I hope there are more animations as pretty and as pleasant as this in the future.

Lat Den Ratte Komma (Let the Right One In) (2008)

The dangerous love stories of beautiful ladies and hot sexy vampires who crave human bloods are on Hollywood hot trend for sure. The popularity does not seem to be limited to in the States, but rather around the world, including Sweden. A Swedish vampire movie Lat Den Ratte Komma, has an English title of Let the Right One In. It is a sad love story of a lonely twelve year old boy named Oscar and a vampire girl named Eli who has been and will be a twelve year old for eternity.

Instead of focusing on the thrilling ‘dangerous love’ of a human being and a vampire like most other movies do, this film is far from exciting. However, this thought provoking movie has two main subjects of eternity and sacrifice. People have sought for longevity and eternity for a long time, proved by the fact that there are many old stories of them. However, this film arouses the question of whether eternity is something to long for. There is a scene where Eli asks Oscar to feel her as a being who has lived for centuries. Her agonizing pain through all those years living on permeates through the screens to the audience. Is it what we really want? Living forever in agony? The two devout lovers must be the only reason that keeps her from breaking down.

You probably have heard of sacrificial lovers. They are the ones ready to give up everything for their loved ones. It must be difficult to find one, but Eli has two in the movie. She has the old man and Oscar. Although intricate to notice at once, Eli’s companion of fatherly figure is actually her lover. When I noticed this, I realized that this is more than just a vampire movie. It brings up the imaginations that the old man may have been an innocent twelve old boy himself who falls in love with Eli, just like Oscar. What makes this movie so emotional is that this foreshadows future Oscar, an old man to die whose life was all about sacrifice. He knows he has to give up his life to help Eli, but he still chooses to be her partner and guardian. But there is a little bit of hope this time. Oscar may not be the only one to help.

Let the Right One In contains beautiful sceneries of pure white snow with pale golden haired boy. Maybe this is a contrast to the sad and bitter love of the two children? I’ll leave the decision up to you on its ending, whether it is sad or happy.

SUPER SIZE ME(2004)

Director : Morgan Spurlock

Casts : Morgan Suprlock

Stars : 4.5/5

You want to lose weight, but you can't drop those big macs and half gallon coke? How many times do you go to McDonalds in a week? Is it over 3? Over 4? That's quite a lot. Actually really alot. If you want to save yourself from raising your heart attack chances 200 percent or more, you should stop. I'll give you a solution. It's really simple. Watch Super Size Me.

I know what you are thinking. The intro may have been too much. However, people should watch this documentary style movie, a movie made possible by a humongous individual sacrifice. Morgan Spurlock, both the director and the only main cast for the documentary risked his health by eating only McDonalds for a entire month. Just by that, I give him a loud applause, because it must have been a pretty damn bad to eat burgers and fries every single day and every single meal. Much more than that, he got much fatter and sicker after his project. He goes through all this to show people. To show how terrible fast food is and how people are getting more into it.

The fact that it is documentary style might arouse some negative feelings already. It is not exactly an action movie or a myster, but it is not so boring. This film may be able to teach you a great lesson more than any other movies can! Viva McDonalds! Long live Big Mac! HAHA :p

LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL(1997)

Director : Roberto Benigni
Casts : Roberto Benigni
Nicoletta Braschi
Giorgio Cantarini
Stars : 3.5/5

The title Life is Beautiful may be an irony, since this movie is about a family that gets dragged to a Nazi concentration camp. However, the title contains the struggles of Guido's attempts to keep up his son Gisoue's spirit.

Although I had some trouble understanding the conversations through the Italian accents of the voice casts, it was good enough for me to feel the human characters of each individuals in the movie. Guido, who is always filled with joy and optimism, and the doctor, who is obssessed with reels.

The movie has a very serene sadness. Gisoue's big, innocent eyes when encountering the tank at the end is absolutely heartbreaking. However, I may not be so involved with the movie as much as some other audiences who have more knowledge about the genocide. Additionally, the English accents gave me quite a bit of trouble getting through many conversations. Therefore, I would like to watch this movie again later, after I gain more cultural understanding about the plot. Overall, it is a simple, humanistic movie.