Tag Archives: 2005

Movie Project #38: Lady Vengeance [2005]

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Due to the surprising success of my initial Movies Project, I decided to do a part two for 2012. This time around I put a greater emphasis on directors I am not familiar with, but I also tried to compile a mix of different genres and eras. This will be an ongoing project with the finish date being sometime this year.

Lady Vengeance [2005]

Lady Vengeance [2005]
Director: Park Chan-wook
Genre: Crime/Drama/Thriller
Starring: Yeong-ae Lee, Min-sik Choi and Shi-hoo Kim
Runtime: 112 minutes

Revenge is a tried-and-true plot device in film, but rarely is this concept taken to the depths provided in Park Chan-wook’s Vengeance Trilogy. After two punishing yet brilliant films in Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance and Oldboy, Park closed out the trilogy with arguably his most stylish film yet: Lady Vengeance.

Lee Young Ae stars as Lee Geum-ja, a reformed female prisoner who was convicted for a crime she did not actually commit: the murder of a young boy. After years of good behavior and a total change in her spirituality, she is released earlier than expected. While others pester her as soon as he gets out, Geum-ja has just one thing on her mind: revenge.

Lady Vengeance [2005]

Her target is Mr. Baek (Choi Min-sik, a.k.a Oh Dae-su from Oldboy), the actual murderer of the young child. On her quest for vengeance, Geum-ja also reunites with her teenage daughter, Jenny (Yea-young Kwon), who was threatened by Baek during the initial killing. The transition from prison to the real world is jarring, but Geum-ja is on a mission and there’s no way anything is going to stop her in her mind.

Lady Vengeance moves at a more methodical pace than its predecessors in the trilogy, and it takes some time to pick up on just what is happening. The first act of the film flips back and forth between the present and Geum-ja’s days in prison, and it becomes a tad confusing at times. However, the second act represents a major tonal shift, and the big revenge payoff is dramatic, bloody and unforgettable.

Lady Vengeance [2005]

As the most stylish film of the three, Lady Vengeance impresses visually. There are some truly stunning shots, many of which make fantastic use of color. Perhaps this is why the film takes its time in telling the story — so we can enjoy its sheer beauty.

It’s difficult to fully satisfy when forced to live up to the legacy provided by the amazing first two films of the trilogy, and perhaps Lady Vengeance suffers from these comparisons. I quite enjoyed the film overall, but it is clearly the weakest of the three. Regardless, it can be stated that Park Chan-wook knows how to go out with style, as the closing shot is one I will not be forgetting.

7.5/10

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Movie Project #25: Kiss Kiss Bang Bang [2005]

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Due to the surprising success of my initial Movies Project, I decided to do a part two for 2012. This time around I put a greater emphasis on directors I am not familiar with, but I also tried to compile a mix of different genres and eras. This will be an ongoing project with the finish date being sometime this year.

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang [2005]

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang [2005]
Director: Shane Black
Genre: Action/Comedy/Crime
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Val Kilmer and Michelle Monaghan
Runtime: 103 minutes

Look up idiot in the dictionary. You know what you’ll find?
A picture of me?
No! The definition of the word “idiot”! Which you fucking are!

Now where in the hell did this movie come from? It’s rare that a film can combine dark comedy, action and mystery so effortlessly in one package. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang has all of this, with a satirical spin on Film Noir to boot.

The always charismatic Robert Downey Jr. stars as Harry Lockhart, a common thief who acts as the meta narrator for our story. After a botched robbery attempt, Lockhart cleverly evades police by running into an ongoing audition for a detective movie. The part, conveniently enough, is eerily similar to the exact situation Lockhart is going through at that moment. He nails the gig, eludes the cops and gets a part in the movie. Now THAT’S how you run from the law.

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang [2005]

To train for his role, Lockhart is teamed up with private investigator Perry van Shrike (Val Kilmer), commonly known as “Gay Perry”. While working on a case, the duo unwittingly stumble upon a vast conspiracy involving kidnapping and murder, and they soon become swept into a web of crime. Also caught in the heat of things is Lockhart’s high school sweetheart, Harmony Lane (Michelle Monaghan), who he happens to run into at a Hollywood party.

What transpires is an expertly written mystery that is both hysterical and suspenseful. The movie moves at a brisk pace, one that is occasionally hard to keep up with but always entertaining. The laughs are dark and crude, without resorting to slapstick or lazy humor. The story doesn’t take long to spiral out of control and it stretches the boundaries of believability (okay, it is hardly believable at all), but that doesn’t matter. This is a self-aware movie that revels in its irreverence.

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang [2005]

And who better to play the lead narrator/thief/pseudo-actor than Robert Downey Jr.? The man’s comedic timing and delivery is impeccable, and he plays the lead with just the right amount of cynicism. His chemistry with the surprisingly buoyant Val Kilmer is off the charts. In fact, there are moments where Kilmer steals the scene. His “Gay Perry” delivers some brilliant wisecracks, a perfect complement to Downey’s zaniness. Bonus points go out to Michelle Monaghan who is as stunning as I have seen her, and boy does she know it in this film.

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is one of the last decade’s more underrated films. Somehow this slipped under my radar (and many others, apparently) and I can’t believe it took me so long to discover this gem. Sure, the plot can be hard to keep up with, but damn if this isn’t an fun and wild ride. I am very glad to have included this in my project.

8/10

Video Game Review: Lumines [PSP, 2005]

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Lumines [PSP, 2005]

Lumines
System: PSP (later on mobile, PC, XBLA, PSN, PS2, iOS)
Genre: Puzzle
Publisher: Ubisoft
Developer: Q Entertainment
Release Date: March 22, 2005

Here I am, seven years late to this party. Seven years where I did not have Lumines in my life. Seven years where I had one less addiction than I do now.

Every major handheld system seems to have a wildly popular puzzle game tied to its release, starting all the way back with the original GameBoy and its top seller, Tetris. In 2005, the PSP’s claim to fame was Lumines, a psychedelic title influenced mostly by Tetris and Columns.

Lumines is a falling block game that uses 4×4 pieces of two different colors. The goal is to line up these blocks so 4×4 squares of the same color are pieced together and removed from the board. If a block is placed on an uneven structure, half will remain on top while the other half falls to the remaining pieces below. This adds an additional element of strategy to what is an otherwise very simple game.

Lumines [PSP, 2005]

What sets Lumines apart from the rest is its heavy emphasis on light and sound. An integral part of the gameplay is the use of a “timer” — a line that moves across the screen at intervals based on the beat of the music. This timer wipes out the same-colored blocks and removes them from the screen. The kicker here is that you must wait until the timer clears them before you can put new blocks in their place. This gets increasingly more difficult as the timer slows down and passes by less frequently. On the flip side, this can also be used to create massive bonuses by linking several squares together, if done correctly.

After passing through four levels (reached by hitting a certain amount of points), the music and the entire “skin” of the game will change. This means that the colors of the blocks, the background, and the tempo of the timer will all change at the same time, all while you are in the middle of playing. The transitions can sometimes be jarring, but they are a lot of fun and help keep the game fresh.

Music is a major part of the game, which is to be expected since this comes from Tetsuya Mizuguchi, the mastermind of the cult hit Rez. While psychedelic colors flash on screen, various blends of electronica play through the speakers, creating a thoroughly engrossing audio/visual experience. Plugging in a set of headphones really takes the game to another level — seriously, it makes everything even better.

Lumines [PSP, 2005]

While falling block puzzle games aren’t anything new, Lumines adds a fresh coat of hallucinogenic paint to a classic concept. This is one of those games that must be played to truly appreciate it, and it’s also one that is easy to learn yet difficult to master. It’s not perfect — I wish there were a way to start the challenge mode with random song selections instead of the same one every time, for example — but complaints are minor overall. The bottom line is that Lumines is addictive as all hell, and that’s all you can ask from a puzzle game. With several game modes and the ability to play multiplayer, there is a staggering amount of replay value. This title will not be leaving my PSP anytime soon, and I can’t wait to try out its sequels.

If, somehow, you are like me and slept on Lumines all these years, do yourself a favor and try it out. This is a bargain bin title now, and there really is no reason to skip out on it.

8.5/10

A Player To Be Named Later [2005]

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A Player To Be Named Later [2005]

A Player To Be Named Later [2005]
Directors: Bart Stephens
Genre: Documentary/Sports
Language: English
Country: USA

Today is one of the best days of the year for sports fans: Opening Day of baseball. In light of the new season, I perused Netflix’s Instant Watch for some baseball movies and found this little known documentary: A Player To Be Named Later. This 2005 film chronicles the 2001 season of the Milwaukee Brewers’ Triple-A affiliate, the Indianapolis Indians. The movie revolves around five players:

- Brad Tyler, a 32-year-old veteran who never got the call up to the majors. Near the end of his career he bounced around professional baseball, including a stint in Mexico.

- Micah Franklin, another veteran hitter who played for a bunch of different teams over his career yet only had one brief stint in the big leagues (1997).

- Kyle Peterson, a former first round draft pick who has struggled with serious injuries throughout his career.

- Allen “Meat” Levrault, a pitcher who spent the majority of his 2001 season in Milwaukee with less than impressive results (6-10, 6.06 ERA). He played in 2003 for Florida, and then struggled in the minors for the rest of his career.

- Marco Scutaro, a Venezuelan athlete who is the only one from this group still playing today. He is the current starting shortstop for the Boston Red Sox.

What makes this documentary so interesting is that it shows what life is like for these guys both on and off the field. None of them are guaranteed to make it to the big leagues; in fact, it is estimated that only 6% of minor leaguers actually get the callup at some point in their careers. Yet these guys still continue to pursue their dream against all odds.

Throughout the movie there are clips showing the players with their families, interviews with “super fans” of the team, and some interesting discussions with team personnel. All of these people share one common trait: the love of the game. Having said that, I’m not sure how much A Player To Be Named Later will appeal to non-baseball fans. For those who love the sport, however, this is a fascinating look into the lives of those who are so close, yet so far from the majors.

8/10

Silent Bob Speaks: The Collected Writings of Kevin Smith [2005]

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Silent Bob Speaks: The Collected Writings of Kevin Smith

Silent Bob Speaks: The Collected Writings of Kevin Smith
Author: Kevin Smith
Original Release: April 2005

Kevin Smith is a fat-ass fashioner of marginally successful films who isn’t hung very well. Now before you hang me out to dry for that remark, it should be noted that those are *his exact words*, not mine. If you aren’t familiar with the popular director (Clerks, Mallrats, etc.), then you will quickly realize that much of Smith’s banter in his writings is very self-derogatory. The dude thinks very little of himself and doesn’t understand how he has a following. While these ramblings are occasionally amusing, Smith beats this to death by bashing himself over and over again.

Silent Bob Speaks is a collection of writings that Kevin Smith posted on the internet in the first half of the last decade. Self-bashing is a common thread, as mentioned earlier. There are also equal parts discussing his “heterosexual man crush” on Ben Affleck, random comic book ramblings (including his thoughts on the first Spiderman movie), and reports on his issues with morbid obesity. Since the essays were published at various times, there is a lack of cohesiveness between them. Perhaps as a result, the writings are very much hit-and-miss.

There are a handful of great chapters in here, such as Smith’s interviews with Tom Cruise and Ben Affleck (especially funny to hear Ben talk with such optimism about his upcoming roles in Daredevil, Gigli and Jersey Girl — how did that turn out again?). And of course, Smith is actually quite gifted with his humor, although sometimes his lack of confidence causes him to be crude just to try to get a laugh.

Silent Bob Speaks is a quick read, but only hardcore Smith fans will get maximum enjoyment out of this. I like the guy, even though his work has lately been spotty at best, but I just wish he would lay off the self-deprecating tangents. Look, Kevin, you are a genuinely funny guy. Stick to your guns and write with confidence — your work will be all the better for it.

6/10

Memoirs of a Geisha [2005]

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Memoirs of a Geisha [2005]

Memoirs of a Geisha [2005]
Director: Rob Marshall
Genre: Drama/Romance
Language: English/Japanese
Country: USA

Memoirs of a Geisha is about a young Japanese girl who is sold into slavery by her parents. This girl, Chiyo Sakamato (Suzuka Ohgo as a child, Zhang Ziyi as an adult), is sent off to school to become a geisha. After struggling with her separation from her sister, Chiyo adapts to her new life and eventually becomes the most prominent geisha in her area under the guidance of her mentor, Mameha (Michelle Yeoh). Doing so makes her a fair amount of enemies, particularly the conniving Hatsumomo (Li Gong) who feels threatened by Chiyo’s rise to fame. It is an interesting story adapted from the popular fictional book of the same name by Arthur Golden.

This movie adaptation suffers from two severe flaws. 1) Many of the main geishas are not actually Japanese! This is a massive oversight from the studio, as instead of using appropriate Japanese actors, they opted to give the roles to established Chinese stars. Naturally this caused a major uproar in Asia. For a movie that uses painstaking detail to pinpoint its time period, this is just inexcusable. 2) The movie is 95% in English. Some of the main actors could not even speak English before filming, and this is evident since oftentimes their broken English leaves a lot to be desired. The dialogue is also odd in spots since random Japanese words are casually used, such as “mizuage” and “danna.” I understand that the studio made these adjustments in order to appeal more to Americans, but it all feels so out of touch.

Memoirs of a Geisha is not a bad film by any means. Its attention to detail in terms of the fashion and settings of its times (during World War II) is outstanding. There are some truly beautiful shots as well, with the most noteworthy being a scene when the cherry blossoms are blooming. The acting, regardless of the stars’ nationalities, is strong throughout, and I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Ken Watanabe’s great performance as the Chairman, Chiyo’s love interest. Unfortunately, Memoirs of a Geisha feels like it placed more emphasis on style than substance, and it suffers because of this. If you can overlook the Chinese actors and broken English, you will enjoy this movie, but I found these problems too glaring to ignore.

6/10

God of War [Playstation 2, 2005]

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God of War [PS2]

God of War
System: Playstaton 2
Publisher: SCEA
Release Date: March 22, 2005

God of War is widely considered one of the best games on the now-hanging-on-a-thread Playstation 2 system. As a third-person action adventure game, God of War is certainly a strong offering. The game combines elements from all sorts of genres, including platform, puzzle and, to a lesser extent, RPGs. At its core, however, GoW is a hack ‘n slash brawler.

Users play as Kratos, a blood-thirsty Greek warrior with unbelievable strength who is on a revenge mission to kill Ares, the god of war. The story is simple, but as the game progresses it is easy to get behind the revenge plotine. The Greek mythological setting allows the game to provide some truly epic moments. Boss battles, although few and far in between, are incredibly intense, as there is nothing like taking on an opponent far bigger than Kratos. In order to slay bosses and some other tough enemies, users have to input certain buttons/joystick movements to match what is shown on screen. While some oppose these quick-time events, I found them to be satisfying since they help create a frantic atmosphere in the key moments of the game. There are dozens of memorable events in the game, and with an impressive soundtrack in the background, it truly feels as if you are partaking in something epic.

While God of War is a well-polished game (and easily one of the best-looking on the PS2), it does have a couple flaws that hold it back from being a masterpiece. As mentioned earlier, the boss battles are incredible yet there are only a few in the game. It would be nice to see more of them to break up the occasional monotony of entering a room, clearing it of enemies, and then repeating this over and over. Also, while the stationary camera angles are usually good enough, there are moments where they switch over at the most inopportune times. This doesn’t happen too often, but when it does it is frustrating. Overall, however, God of War is definitely an enjoyable experience and is one of the strongest hack ‘n slash games available on the PS2.

8/10

Grizzly Man [2005]

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Grizzly Man [2005]
Director: Werner Herzog
Genre: Documentary/Biography
Language: English
Country: USA

With Grizzly Man, director Werner Herzog created a documentary about the life of Timothy Treadwell, a man who spent several summers living amongst grizzly bears in the Alaska wilderness before ultimately being mauled and killed by one of them. To make this documentary, Herzog waded through hundreds of hours of videos filmed directly by Treadwell, and most of this movie is pieced together via his footage. Interspersed between these clips (which often include breathtaking footage of Alaska and some close encounters with the bears) are brief interviews and recountings from those who knew Treadwell. After hearing from those nearest to him, many things become clear about this man and exactly why the hell we would want to tempt fate.

For one, Treadwell was egotistical and a classic narcissist. The only thing he cared about was himself, and it is rather unfortunate that during his last two trips into the wilderness he brought his girlfriend with him (she was also killed by the same bear). As a former junkie and failed actor, Treadwell had little to live for and somehow decided that hanging out with grizzly bears was the right thing for him to do. He clearly had no regard for his fellow human peers because by living in the bear’s natural habitat, it made them feel more comfortable with humans and could ultimately cost more people their lives if they attempt to get as close as Treadwell did. Also, for a man who loved the bears as much as he did, he ended up doing them a great disservice since the bear who killed him was gunned down by those attempting to find the bodies of him and his girlfriend. The man clearly had a strong mental illness, and it is rather tragic that he was never properly helped in a manner that would have caused him to avoid living this life.

It is hard to enjoy a documentary about a man who is so self-centered and completely off-the-wall, a man who claims to love the grizzly bears but shows complete ignorance by invading their habitat. As such, it was hard for me to sit through this film’s full 100 minutes. Herzog shot a well-crafted documentary, and as mentioned before, some of the footage that Treadwell filmed is extraordinary, but I can’t help but feel that there are more worthy targets to document. Timothy Treadwell was absolutely crazy, and his story really does not need to be glorified.

6/10

Munich [2005]

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Munich [2005]
Director: Steven Spielberg
Genre: Drama/History/Thriller
Language: English
Country: USA

After the horrifying acts of terrorism during the 1972 Olympics in Munich, an Israeli hit squad was assembled to extract revenge on eleven Palestinians who were believed to be behind the attacks. Steven Spielberg’s 2005 film, Munich, tells the story behind this act of vengeance. Branded as a work of “historical fiction,” Munich is loosely based on the real events that transpired. Eric Bana plays the lead role of Avner, a Mossad agent who is annointed the leader of the hit squad. Slowly the group works through their targets, often bumbling their way through hits. Despite being a former Mossad, Avner and his newfound partners are not exactly professional killers and they have some questionable incidents throughout the film. I would think that the Israeli government would higher a more professional squad to accomplish this mission, but I digress.

Munich is frequently labeled as a thriller, although the movie’s pace is very slow for such a title. Clocking in at just under three hours, Munich requires some patience to get through. There is some predictability on occasion to anyone with half a brain, but some of the film’s more tense moments are quite captivating. There is one particular scene involving a home-made phone bomb and a matter of who will be one the receiving end of the explosion – the intended target or his innocent young daughter – that is particularly unnerving. However, for every memorable scene such as this, it seems there is a complementary awkward scene such as when Eric Bana’s Avner character is having rough sex and at the same time has flashbacks to the Munich terrorist attacks of which he wasn’t even there to see! That whole particular scene was just strange and completely unnecessary.

Still, even with its flaws and ridiculous length, Munich is a more than capable film that enlightened me to the post-Olympic response that I was not familiar with. Production values are sharp, the acting is generally strong and the attention paid to 1970′s details is impressive. If the aforementioned problems were addressed and the film was cut down a bit, it could be truly great. As it stands, Munich is a good, but flawed, movie.

7/10