TomCworld Blog

GRADE : A
Funny, warm hearted, cute, and simply done right. It’s great fun for people of all ages. I highly recommend this one.
Animation
1 hr. 37 min
Rated G
Directed By: Andrew Stanton
Starring: Benjamin Burtt, Jeff Garlin, Elissa Knight, Fred Willard, John Ratzenberger
Description by Yahoo: What if mankind had to leave Earth, and somebody forgot to turn the last robot off? Wall-E, spends every day doing what he was made for. But soon, he will discover what he was meant for, as he adventures across the galaxy chasing his dream.

GRADE : C+
Enjoyed the Chinese history portion, but that was about it.
Action/Adventure and Sequel
1 hr. 52 min
Rated PG-13 for adventure action and violence
Directed By: Rob Cohen
Starring: Brendan Fraser, Jet Li, Maria Bello, Michelle Yeoh, John Hannah
Description by Yahoo: Explorer Rick O’Connell to combat the resurrected Han Emperor in an epic that races from the catacombs of ancient China high into the frigid Himalayas. Rick is joined in this all-new adventure by son Alex, wife Evelyn and her brother, Jonathan. And this time, the O’Connells must stop a mummy awoken from a 2,000-year-old curse who threatens to plunge the world into his merciless, unending service. Doomed by a double-crossing sorceress to spend eternity in suspended animation, China’s ruthless Dragon Emperor and his 10,000 warriors have laid forgotten for eons, entombed in clay as a vast, silent terra cotta army. But when dashing adventurer Alex O’Connell is tricked into awakening the ruler from eternal slumber, the reckless young archaeologist must seek the help of the only people who know more than he does about taking down the undead: his parents. As the monarch roars back to life, our heroes find his quest for world domination has only intensified over the millennia. Striding the Far East with unimaginable supernatural powers, the Emperor Mummy will rouse his legion as an unstoppable, otherworldly force… unless the O’Connells can stop him first.

GRADE : B+
King Fu Panada is a really great movie for the entire family. The story is based on an ancient Chinese tale and very much predictable. Jack Black’s random comments and quirky attitude really comes through in the Panda character; however, the movie was not as funny as I predicted and it can not compare to Shrek.
Animation
1 hr. 35 min
Rated PG for sequences of martial arts action
Directed By: John Wayne Stevenson, Mark Randolph Osborne
Starring: Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, Jackie Chan, Ian McShane, Lucy Liu, Angelina Jolie, David Cross, and Seth Rogen
Description by Yahoo: Enthusiastic, big and a little clumsy, Po is the biggest fan of Kung Fu around…which doesn’t exactly come in handy while working every day in his family’s noodle shop. Unexpectedly chosen to fulfill an ancient prophecy, Po’s dreams become reality when he joins the world of Kung Fu and studies alongside his idols, the legendary Furious Five — Tigress, Crane, Mantis, Viper and Monkey — under the leadership of their guru, Master Shifu. But before they know it, the vengeful and treacherous snow leopard Tai Lung is headed their way, and it’s up to Po to defend everyone from the oncoming threat. Can he turn his dreams of becoming a Kung Fu master into reality? Po puts his heart - and his girth - into the task, and the unlikely hero ultimately finds that his greatest weaknesses turn out to be his greatest strengths.

GRADE : A++
Riddle me this, riddle me that . . . will I enjoy the big black Bat? I reckon you will. Agreed Jason Calacanis, it’s hands down the best super hero movie of all time. Heath Ledger’s performance as the Joker was bone chillingly scary. He really embodied the joker’s mentality, thus providing one of the most engaging and entertaining performances I have ever seen. With that said this movie does mess with your mind, but it’s not at all gory. This is not a child’s movie or for the faint of hearts. I recommend the iMax theater (I watched it on a standard screen because it is sold out here in Hong Kong for the next 2 weeks).
Action/Adventure, Crime/Gangster, Adaptation and Sequel
2 hr. 32 min
Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and some menace.
Directed By: Christopher Nolan
Starring: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman
Description by Yahoo: With the help of Lieutenant Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent, Batman sets out to destroy organized crime in Gotham for good. The triumvirate proves to be effective, but they soon find themselves prey to a rising criminal mastermind known as the Joker, who thrusts Gotham into anarchy and forces the Dark Knight ever closer to crossing the fine line between hero and vigilante.

GRADE : A-
This movie is broadly based on the beloved Chinese novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, but draws upon more grounded historical accounts.  The acting was awesome and so was the directing. Red Cliff lives up to expectations and maybe one of the better Chinese epic war movies.
Action/Adventure, Drama and Romance
2 hr. 20 min
Rated PG-13 for some intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence and language
Directed By: John Woo
Starring: Lin Chi-Ling, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Tony Leung, Zhang Fengyi, Chang Chen
Description by Yahoo: The Chinese history in the 2nd and 3rd Century, during which China split into three kingdoms following the fall of Han Dynasty, and after decades of war and peace, reunified under a new dynasty, Jin.

GRADE : B
I feel this movie is more suited as a comedy than a serious action flick. It does not live up to the hype as a summer blockbuster, but is worth watching if you are a Will Smith fan.
Action/Adventure, Drama and Romance
1 hr. 30 min
Rated PG-13 for some intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence and language
Directed By: Peter Berg
Starring:  Will Smith, Jason Bateman, Charlize Theron, Adam Del Rio, Jameson Dixon, Jr, Johnny Galecki
Description by Yahoo: What happens when a wisecracking, homeless, alcoholic superhero meets a determined PR exec? Hancock, who just saved the life of idealistic Ray Embrey, is about to find out. Embrey is determined to rehabilitate the down-and-out Hancock, clean up his image, and make him into a true hero the world can adore. Embrey’s wife Mary, on the other hand, isn’t so sure it’s a worthy endeavor, particularly when Hancock starts hitting on her in the midst of his big comeback. The “Big Blue Boy Scout” he ain’t.

GRADE : B-
Very creepy, but not not very M. Night Shyamalan-ness. The acting was terrible, Mark Wahlberg did not deliver a convincing role. John Leguizamo, on the other hand made this movie bearable. If you are really into M.Night’s flicks don’t watch this one because you will be disappointed.
Action/Adventure, Thriller and Politics/Religion
1 hr. 31 min
Rated R
Directed By: M. Night Shyamalan
Starring:  Mark Wahlberg, Zooey Deschanel, John Leguizamo, Spencer Breslin, Ashlyn Sanchez
Description by Yahoo: A family is on the run from an inexplicable and unstoppable event that threatens not only humankind–but the most basic human instinct of them all: survival.

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GRADE : B+
Not a very good movie, but I am a sucker for romantic comedies. I hate to admit this, but I really did enjoy this movie. If you are into teen comedies then this is a movie for you.
Comedy, Teen
1 hr. 47 min
Rated PG-13
Directed By: Joe Nussbaum
Starring:  Amanda Bynes, Matthew Long, Sara Paxton, Jeremy Howard, Crystal Hunt
Description by Yahoo: Gorgeous freshman Sydney White has come to Southern Atlantic University to pledge her late mom’s once-dignified sorority. But while surviving the pledging process wrought by evil campus witch Rachel, Syd finds out this version of sisterhood isn’t remotely what it’s cracked up to be. Banished to a condemned house on Greek Row, Syd finds her rightful place with a band of seven very socially challenged guys. With the help of one lovestruck frat boy named Tyler, she and the doofs campaign to take over student government. Fighting for the rights of misfits big and small, Syd organizes her gang to revolutionize the system, once and for all.

GRADE : A
It was very entertaining from start to finish without a single boring moment throughout. The Coen Brothers did an amazing job creating a movie that accurately resembles the original Iron Man comics. Catch, what I believe will be the movie to watch this summer.
Action/Adventure, Science Fiction/ Fantasy and Adaptation
2 hr. 14 min
Rated PG-13
Directed By: Jon Favreau
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Terrence Howard, Jeff Bridges, Shaun Toub, Leslie Bibb, and Gwyneth Paltrow
Description by Yahoo: Tony Stark is a billionaire industrialist and genius inventor who is kidnapped and forced to build a devastating weapon. Instead, using his intelligence and ingenuity, Tony builds a high-tech suit of armor and escapes captivity. When he uncovers a nefarious plot with global implications, he dons his powerful armor and vows to protect the world as Iron Man. While hunting down bootleg kung-fu DVDs in a Chinatown pawnshop, Jason makes an extraordinary discovery that sends him hurtling back in time to ancient China. There, Jason is charged with a monumental task: he must free the fabled warrior the Monkey King, who has been imprisoned by the evil Jade Warlord. Jason is joined in his quest by wise kung fu master Lu Yan and a band of misfit warriors including Silent Monk. But only by learning the true precepts of kung fu can Jason hope to succeed - and find a way to get back home.

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GRADE : B+

Not a serious kung fu movie, but a awesome and fun movie for friends and family alike.

Action/Adventure and Science Fiction/Fantasy

1 hr. 53 min

Rated PG-13

Starring: Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Michael Angarano, Liu Yifei, Li Bingbing, Collin Chou

Description by Yahoo: While hunting down bootleg kung-fu DVDs in a Chinatown pawnshop, Jason makes an extraordinary discovery that sends him hurtling back in time to ancient China. There, Jason is charged with a monumental task: he must free the fabled warrior the Monkey King, who has been imprisoned by the evil Jade Warlord. Jason is joined in his quest by wise kung fu master Lu Yan and a band of misfit warriors including Silent Monk. But only by learning the true precepts of kung fu can Jason hope to succeed - and find a way to get back home.