We were trying to watch the movie 2 nights a go, while Yoko was out with my Mom. We got 30 minutes and then she came home and demanded to see Curious George. I woke up the next morning and tried to watch it again while eating my breakfast. I got 40 minutes and uh-oh, nature calls.

So I brought the DVD to work and tried to see it during lunch. Just then I realized that it's not a good lunch movie, since it involves blood, body parts and such. Then came the ending, I was awestruck.

The movie was tight, with the tight camera works and tight acting. As we were prepared to see the mist and what's it about, we were forced to face the other thing entirely. As with the 'what's in the mist' it just a nifty touch of the movie, it "really" told us about something else. What human could be when they're desperate or scared. It's bone-chilling, it's real, it's good. I could really taste the desperation and despair. We have no future. The ending was just the ribbon that tied them up prettily. Or bleakly.

I know, right now I am in the middle of pretty chaotic deadline, but I just cannot resist. Before I saw Atonement, I thought this was just another war-era movie. I bought because - you know - James McAvoy was in it.

But turned out... I loved it! The movie kinda reminded me of English Patient, but with more punch and 'younger' attitude. But they were both at the same tear-jerker level alright. I loved it that Atonement sometimes used non-linear story line. And I just loooved the twist near the ending.

I don't like Keira Knightly, but it's safe to say that she performed well. Don't let me start on dear James. He was cute, endearing, passionate and well... sexy as hell. But don't take my word for it because I'm hardly objective. But don't you just want to take him in your arms and...

Aaand I cried my eyes out. The last time I cried in a movie was when I saw "Finding Neverland" and I was 2 months preggie. So watch it. It's a chick flick with gore twists and war scene. There's something for everybody.

Yes, Benjamin Franklin Gates is back. Yes, it's another treasure chase all over again. But now with some kind of a twist. His great grandfather's name is tainted, and he has to clear it by finding the treasure. Owkay. But why in US of A? If I hadn't misheard the treasure was of south american origin. Why would they put it up there? Convenience I guess... so they could claim it as 'national treasure'.

The movie is quite entertaining. With many surprise appearances by good actors. Well, maybe it was a surprise for me because I haven't googled the movie before I saw it. Not a bad theatre movie, if you enjoy the prequel.

PS. Note to Nicolas Cage: please lose the obviously-bad rug and go bald with dignity. Aren't you learning anything AT ALL from Ed Harris?

*Spoiler Alert*
I kinda knew what to expect, since I watched the prequel on HBO. But I forgot they cut all the super-gory stuff on the channel, so I guess I kinda didn't. But I get the idea, so the I was pretty much nervous since the beginning of the movie.

Right I was. At the first 10 minutes we were given already a disturbing picture of a decapitated body. Oh dear. And then we were be able to see from the 'other' side, AKA how the transaction is proceeded. The customers were introduced. Oh boy.

Then the movie moved on to the next level. Left nothing to the imagination. Picture of a woman slashing a girl's naked body without guilt? You got it. A man maimed to death by dogs? You got it. You want to cringe without end with a picture of a man's penis and balls got cut? Got it. Shit.

I know for sure that this movie is a fruit of a sick imagination. SICK indeed. But surprisingly entertaining. My question: did this movie run in the theatres in US? If it did, they are SICK!

Truthfully, I'm rather tired with Hollywood movies. I saw 'Perfect Stranger' and 'Deja Vu' recently, and both movies started promising and ended badly. Well, at least for me. The endings were so cheesy, I couldn't wait to push the 'stop' button on my DVD player.

I've seen Zodiac's preview once too often, and even then, I couldn't wait to see this movie. I love Se7en, and I love stories about serial killer, especially the 'based on real case' kind. And I am not disappointed.

Don't expect this movie to be like Se7en, it's not that gory, fast-paced, nor is it bone-chilling. David Fincher made it a bit strange, with all the murder scenes up front and then the characters that try to solve the case afterwards. But it's good anyway. The story is a bit confusing, and the police work seems sloppy, but it makes it real. I've suspected they make the CSI officers 'super efficient' on the series. The cops on Zodiac are far more believable.

Jake Gylenhaal and Robert Downey, Jr. delivers big time. Oh yeah, this is one of those 'star studded' movie, where everybody is somebody although they have only few lines. To name a few, Clea Duvall, Dermot Mulroney and Chloe Sevigny.

Highly recommended for avid detective novel readers.

I thought I wouldn't have the chance to enjoy this movie, for we had quite 'strategic' seats. Sitting next to me, there was a guy, whose girlfriend, sitting next to him (from what I heard) hadn't seen the previous movies of the pirates and kept asking him questions everytime a new character came up on the screen: "Ini jahat apa baik?" and her boyfriend, being such a schmuck for dating the airhead was always answering with long explanations.

Behind us, there was a group of men and women who felt obliged to narrate everything that we could see on the screen: "Chow yun faaaat!" and "Hiii kepitingnya banyak" and "Loh kok hilang? Dia kemana?"

God Damn it.

About 30 minutes later, I finally told the boyfriend: "Mas, bisa engga ceritanya nanti aja? (Kalo engga, cewenya suruh keluar dulu, nanti saya belikan dvd 1,2 dan 3 lengkap suruh dia nonton sendiri)" the words inside the brackets were my fall back plan, incase he didn't shut up from my first warning. But he did. From then on, when her gf asked him stupid questions he would answer: "engga tau" or "nanti aja" ha di ha ha.

The crowd behind us finally shut up after 1.5 hours (nobody could talk that long, for the movie runs for almost 3 hours).

Anywho... about the movie... it was well made, both visually and stori-wise. Love the characters and the ending. Very entertaining. Not bad for a sequel.

The only bad thing from this movie is the timing. But it's not their fault it came out almost precisely as the Prestige's release. But deep down inside (oh, I use it too often lately) I knew, a movie with Edward Norton and Paul Giamatti couldn't be that bad.

But I need to erase my memory of the Prestige first. I also need to lower my expectation. And voila! The movie was great!

Eisenheim was a magician, broken by his childhood romance with a Duchess, he went around the world to find a true mystery. Fast forward 15 years later, he became a famous illusionist whose tricks awed people so much. He then found his Duchess again, somehow, but in a very different situation.

Paul Giamatti gave superb performance, as an inspector torn between his fondness of Eisenheim and his order from the Crown Prince of Vienna. Edward Norton was cute as ever.

It's highly recommended for anyone who had seen the Prestige so long ago, it has became a dim memory.

I learned from my past experience, that, if you haven't seen or heard or read anything about a movie, if it's good, it gives you such a delightful feeling. Like this movie.

All I know was Will Ferrell was on it. And it's enough for me. It turned out, Emma Thompson, Dustin Hoffman and Maggie Gyllenhaal was on it too. So I was pleasantly surprised.

Will Ferrell was Harold Crick. Harold Crick works for IRS. He lives his life the same way he does for 12 years or so. Until one day he hears a voice that narrates his every move and thoughts. Who is this voice? I wasn't that surprised when I found out. If you read Sophie's World I guess you would've guessed it too.

But all and all, this movie is such a beauty. Emma Thompson gave superb appearance. The dialogues were touching and intelligent at the same time. Will Ferrell isn't exactly on the same 'calibre' as Emma Thompson, but, you know, he's Will Ferrell. There was a 'crash' of destiny scene that totally made sense. And you don't need Morocco or Tokyo to make that happen. Inarritu, eat your heart out.