Blue is glue!

 from aquarium, to Bedrock, then Jinmao Tower, and this...What's next?

My gosh, it’s been so long that I haven’t updated this blog…darn! Between Europe and Hong Kong trip, and other lazy reasons, I just couldn’t keep up to update the new things that I’ve watched…Well, I supposed I gotta catch up then…Thus, I’m trying to write lesser, and compose a shorter but concise reviews.

It’s been 15 years since the first Mission: Impossible brought into the big screen by Tom Cruise and Paula Wagner. The first one was too convoluted and twistingly complicated for one time viewing, but the hanging wire and red-light green-light thing was classic. Second one was a disaster full with nonsense action scenes. While J.J Abrams managed to create the best of the series with the third one back in 2006. Emotionally gripping, supported with great cast, complete with eye-popping stunts, a truly proper popcorn summer flick.

Best hottie catfight for 2011. 

And here comes the number 4, Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol, and per say, the best of the series. So many reasons not to hate this one, it’s the most light-hearted and fun MI flick, it has wonderous and eye-catching gadgets, not to mention over the top stunts, and last but not least, Tom Cruise acts as if he is still 30 something. And what I like more is the active involvement of the cast as a team, so we are not just seeing Cruise in solo mission, where each of the member has its own unique treats. Ethan Hunt (Cruise) as the team leader, Jane Carter (Paula Patton) as the only female member, providing eye candy and male attraction (she got brain and amazingly hot!), Benji (Simon Pegg) as the I.T guy and ice-breaker a.k.a funny guy. Lastly, which most probably will gonna continue Hunt’s legacy, Brandt (Jeremy Renner) as the CIA analyst.

It’s nice to see the less-dominated screen time by Cruise and letting other guys have their own moments. Like everytime Pegg always made chuckling everytime he jokes or even says a word, while Patton managed to steal some scenes with some of her daring or tight outfit, and Renner, of course, showing his tough side later halfway through after being left out in the early part of the movie.

Renner: Listen, I'm gonna be your future boss! with bigger payment! 

Ghost Protocol is what I’ve been longing to watch on last summer period, especially with all the popcorn action flicks complete with some cheesy lines and beyond your imagination thrilling scenes (remember Fast Five?). Many memorable and over the top moments, and Tom Cruise was totally nailed it, which could be his last Ethan Hunt journey (he’s almost 50, dude!).  Nevertheless, If you manage to catch it on IMAX, shouldn’t be too dissapointed, you got Cruise jumping around Burj Kalifa and Patton showing her nice eye popping cleavage. What a total enjoyment of full 2-hour nonsense espionage movie, gotta love it!.

My Review: 9/10

The Agent Who Drugged Me...

Frankly, I have lost appetite with Tom Cruise’s movies recently. His last decent movie as far as I could recall was probably The Last Samurai, plus he made a pretty good cameo on ‘Tropic Thunder’. We all may blame his antics on Oprah, Sciencetology, or teenage love story with Katie. I didn't even catch Valkyrie at all. But there is something with Knight and Day which makes me interested. I think this is a perfect movie where Tom Cruise plays as...Tom Cruise himself. Actually, when the trailer was premiered last year before Avatar, I didn't get the idea, what the hell is this movie? A Super Secret Agent running around with Cameron Diaz, chased by bad guys? Not to bright, huh?

Overall, the movie is a total nonsense, over the top, and ridiculously fun in some parts. In a way, this popcorn flick delivers something fresh, out of the line action scenes, and no one gets hurt badly (thanks PG-13). I didn’t even see Cruise get scratched or wounded (at least until the end) most of the time. Yeah, he still has that ‘look’ and ‘charismatic’, I guess it’s better for him to use and explore it while it lasts. I really enjoyed the opening 30 minutes, the scenes were changing rapidly, from one spot to another spot, and bang bang bang everywhere. Afterwards, the movie was just going downward, it became too repetitive, and the only thing differs is the locations (we see airplane, tropical island, Switzerland, Spain, etc). As far as the story goes, the audience will be assured that no matter what happens, Cruise and Diaz won’t get into too much trouble.

The plus point of Knight and Day is the perfect chemistry of the main duo. I kinda enjoy how Roy Miller and June Havens start building their relationship on screen, right from the flirting moments at the airport, they fight among themselves, and right into the end when Diaz' character suddenly steals the show. Remember Mr. & Mrs. Smith? Just like that, but without 'Brangelina' hype. They prove to be a much better pair than Heigl – Kutcher on The Killers. Diaz still has her and sweet cute attitude. If only this movie is made 5 years ago, damn she must be a one damn hottie. Although I don’t buy the ending, the chemistry becomes a bit awkward and Diaz’ transformation is just ludicrous and bizarre.

Thanks to the domination from the main stars, the rest is just like puppets, even the villain, Fitzgerald (Peter Sarsgaard), looks like a douche, one of the lamest bad guy in 2010, making him on board with Jason Patric (The Losers) and Patrick Wilson (A-Team). He doesn’t look intimidating, the threat is so weak and dumb, and most of all, he doesn’t have that ‘bad guy’ face at all. Paul Dano plays very few screen as the inventor Simon Peck, who creates the mini super battery that can run a small city, which happens to be the center of all problems. It's a shame since I thought he will add the colors of the whole cast, he's pretty much underused and ignored (man, he's brilliant in Little Miss Sunshine and There Will Be Blood).

This may not the best Tom Cruise movie after all, and frankly, I’m still surprised he wants to jump into the wagon for this one. But, only Tom Cruise who can still add the flavor and additional gimmicks to this kind of flick. He can shoot, jump, play lasso to grab person by person, go from A to B in 18 hours, acting ridiculously, and still...audience will not blast him, we may even like him more. That's the power of Cruise. From technical aspect, the action scenes were unreasonably and ridiculously thrilling. Most of the jokes work well (I like the ‘with me, without me, with me, without me’), and Diaz can be really cute in some scenes (she can also play dumb, though). Again, just like when I reviewed the A-Team, leave your brain at the door, and ‘try’ to enjoy the movie. In the end, Knight and Day may entertains some audiences, kinda love storyish in a way....but if you’re looking for some seriousness, you’re in the wrong section, dude.

My Rating : 7/10