Reviews by Reno

They are saying it was inspired by the true story of a Korean-American Chong Kim but I don't know whether it is or not. I thought it was just a gimmick to promote the movie. For me the movie looked very intense in most of the parts. If it is true then I think they have failed while translation from realism to a movie. That means you must not consider it a totally defective movie. But it gives a fair idea about how actual forced prostitution works apart from that we had seen in other movies like 'Trade' and 'Taken'.

Eden is just turned 19 who lives in New Mexico with her parents. On her birthday she goes to a pub with her friend to celebrate but soon after she will be abducted by a man who said he's a firefighter. In the next time she wakes up, finds she's in a strange place with strange people around. The days go on she plays equally fair to them expecting loopholes, an opportunity to her getaway. Does she get the moment that she was awaiting for a long time is what the rest of the story discloses.

We had seen Jamie Chung in many flicks as a sidekick but she got a real opportunity in here to exhibit her acting skills in a lead role. She was excellent and better than even I expected from her. That confirms it is her best performance for till now.

It was kinda disturbing to see young teenage girls kept in the cellars like the zoo animals. There are some scenes in the movie where inmates are killed by the system runner. It was very cruel but thankfully it was not shown. Yes, not only that, even sex scenes were very well censored, in fact they show none in anywhere in the story. Whatever I say and others think you should not easily discard the movie from a watch. It's a good message movie which alerts innocents to be cautious about such illegal activities by the perverts. So that makes you should take a look on this movie.

7.5/10

It was about the great Genghis' ten legendary soldiers called Aravt who are assigned to find the physician (doctor) and bring back safely. This is a travel based story where most of it takes place in horse riding and temporary tents. There's no forts and palace or a war with thousands of soldiers. In fact they won't even show Genghis. So if you are expecting it like the one from Russian movie you will be dissatisfied.

Soon theirs general assign them a task the ten Genghis soldiers travel to the forest to locate the skilled physician. On their journey they encounter the village that ruined by the enemy soldiers. They find an alive baby in the wreck and puts under their protection without knowing it is a child of their enemy. So finally the clash between these two small units of soldiers commence and what happens and who will be victorious is the remaining story.

It was a simple story with pure Mongolian actors in it. What bothers is it feels like the movie is not demonstrating exact history. Makes us think something missing that requires a qualify to be a movie. I found many scenes were boring, to say in other word it lacks with proper directional execution. Both the directors were new, it was theirs first movie so it is understandable without further denoting their mistakes. Go for it only if you are interested to know about the history of this part of the earth.

The first installment was one of my favourite movie of the year when it was released. It gave the new meaning and dimension to the action flicks of the present era. With fun filled tale which had many aged actors in the lead took to new heights. A movie like this can easily beat the mindless action 'A Good Day to Die Hard'.

'Red 2' is an even bigger action-adventure which story moves all around the world from America to Russia and Europe. After trying to run the normal life, Frank realises he was targeted by some people. His friend joins him and also the wife, while figuring it out who it was the more characters comes around him and one of it was the famous Korean actor Lee Byung Hun. Because of him we are lucky to witness some real action sequences where the rest were old and strengthless (except Bruce Willis).

The movie will entertain and it is cent per cent guaranteed. This is a great example how should be a good action movie, in the name of it many are giving a total crap. This one was not good as the first however very funny and will be better than one can expect from an action flick. It only made more curious about the third and I am anticipating more awesome actors to be in part of it. Hoping it will be one of a finest action-comedy trilogy ever made.

The smartest thing the filmmakers did was taking the character Logan to the abroad. With all the new faces around the movie looked very well refreshed like we do in desktop and laptop. Except few minutes in the beginning rest of the story takes place in Japan. Even the story had connection with Nagasaki's atom bomb incident. The incident was very finely blended with this sixth installment of the 'X-Men' movie series.

It won't tell this movie has connections with other 'X-Men' movies except his hallucinations of 'First Class's end incident. The character Logan is the only one who derived from it and tells his story when he was held prisoner in Japan during the world war two. He saves a young soldier Yashida from the nuke blast. After many years the Logan was requested to visit dying him to say the one final goodbye. But the war begins when enemies try to abduct Yashida's granddaughter who is a new CEO of his tech corporation. It forces Logan to fight Yakuzas and ninjas where his mutant power will be tested.

Everyone around me liked the 'First Class' but for me it was just okay. In fact 'X-Men' movies were never been my kinda movie, as a die hard movie fan I enjoyed the marvelous visual effects. Like I said the advantage was the atmosphere in the story with all the new casts. While you are engaged to see Logan fighting the bad guys, the story takes a quick turn and brings the twist and I did know it was coming. This movie was totally fresh and unique from all the previous movies, just like I wanted. It was not a massive fight movie with highly influenced by the mutant's magical stuffs but it had its own and sufficient stunt sequences that one can enjoy.

7.5/10

Steve Jobs, the man behind the revolution of computer technology. It is hard to consider this movie as an inspiration movie because to me it looked more like a revenge story. It is a nice biopic of a mans rise and fall and rise back to the chair govern his creation.

It was a wonderful life journey of Steve Jobs with all the bad and good in the path of glory. It begins in 2001 where he introduces his new innovative product, a music player, an apple iPod and then takes us to the 70s to tell his earlier story. As a college dropout, he was uncomfortable to work under someone. So he forms a team and manufactures his own products under the name of apple. And the rest of the story tells his rise and fall and revenge.

The movie was not that appreciable but admirable for the character inspired by real life. I felt the movie went to the wrong filmmaker, expected better delivery from the director of 'Swing Vote'. The performances were just okay, especially the imitating walking style of Steve Jobs by Ashton Kutcher looked like a fake. It is unfair to say Ashton Kutcher is the responsible for all the mess. He was awesome in many important scenes of the movie. In the end it is all left up to you. If you see a portrayal of the real life person's tale on screen then you will be stupefy for the great personality. Or if you see it as another movie you will get notice plenty of flaws in the movie and feel something was not right. But in my opinion it a movie one should never miss although it is rated bad. Now I am more eager for the next adaptation 'Steve Jobs, the Poet'.

Frankly to say the movie was not that bad. The thing is it is not for everyone. It is a simple storied movie that suits for children, they will enjoy it more than you and I do. Maybe here and there an adult can enjoy especially one with the kids. Other than that it is an easily ignorable movie just like the 'Alvin and Chipmunks' sequels.

The story follows after Smurfette was kidnapped by the evil wizard Gargamel. Along with papa Smurf, few others join him in the journey to find and rescue her. So the adventure resets into the Paris where these little blue creatures roams around the streets finding the abducted one with the help of their old friend Patrick. Do they track them down and what happen and how they gonna defeat the powerful villain is the remain portion of the tale before it concludes.

The Tale's notion was about the family's importance especially it tells how a father and his child relationship should be. It was thoughtful and meaningful but the movie failed to hold strongly on that line. I think this movie is once watchable and also easily skippable in another angle.

Not seen much New Zealand movies other than Peter Jackson's and few others. I actually found it interesting story of a community that we don't know anything about it. When we go deeper and deeper into a country's daily life we get to know a strange but beautiful culture that in use in present era. So this movie is here to take us to the one of that adventureland, more like a heaven with those beautiful sceneries. I felt like not enough to see through small camera lens, my eyes wanted more of it.

It is the story of a young boy called Kimi who live in the remote village of a coastal New Zealand. When he and his sister Melody forced apart by a new arrival to the town, he must let it go what he loves the most. The way he behaves, especially his family who are concerned about him must give strength.

If you are a children movie fan you would find it an interesting movie. Not only the beautiful locations, the performances by these two kids were very good. All the above the director who used these two to blend with the beautiful places where the movie shot was so pleasant for the eyes. The movie was a lot like an awesome poetry.

Without a doubt one of a best Russian movie I have seen till date and one of a best among 2011 world movies. It tells the story of cruel Siberian natural environment and those men who are depending on it. Specially it deals between the good versus the bad, even some animals are in crucial part of this beautiful tale.

This movie distinguishes between the man, the animal and the nature. These three are the main ingredients of the story and the movie explains how they are related in this one world which they share for theirs survival by facing and defending each others all the time. The one who gain victory will be profitable for their survival and future. Of course it was concentrated more on human perspective which tells how the humans created borders within themselves by ethic, race, nationalism and all, who had to fight themselves others than the beasts and harsh mother nature.

This movie gives more meaning than what it was made of just like some modern art. If you had a vision you will get it just like an poet. The places where the movie was shot were amazing and breathtaking just like what I have seen in the other Russian movie 'Kray'. Camera work was good, a fine photography, it was the artistic capture of beautiful Siberia.

'Bel Ami' means 'Beautiful Friend' in French which was based on more than 100 years-old French novel of the same name. It tells the story of a poor ex soldier who is promised to get him a new and better job in Paris by his ex army fellow. Actually he's not meant for that job but the way he uses his new friends to accomplish his fortune is the rest of the story.

There is a quote that we all know very well which says 'Never judge a book by its cover' and it's a perfect match for this title, don't judge this movie after reading rating and reviews from movie database sites. It is better than what they have said, of course the theme was influenced by adult relationships, secret affair and sex. But the way it was handled was nice I mean I am saying it was not disturbing story on that topic.

The movie had a fine cast, everyone was up to their best. The cinematography was fine, the costumes were very nice, of course performances were excellent and I still don't know what let the movie fall apart as far the critics concern. For me it was a fine piece of period drama with good story and presentation.

I tried hard but this movie won't let me dislike it.

The movie was about the teenagers especially the girls who choose the life they wanted with unlawful and freedom over the boring regular one. The movie was kinda new age culture of the young teenage girls which tells they are nothing less than the any gangster and smuggling men.

It was a totally different experience to watch the movie. All the four girls were good but it was shocking to see cute Disney girl Selena Gomes in this avatar (I can see why she broke up with Bieber).

The movie was presented with a flashy style cinematography with good background musical score and many tracks were very nice and even some of them were hot and sexy in lyrics. But I liked the end credit song 'Lights' by Ellie Goulding.

And finally how can I forget to mention James Franco as an Alien, He was fantastic especially his metal teeth. Usually he's more like a chocolate boy with his smile who did justice to his role in the movie to fulfill the masculine part of the story. I must Warn this movie is too sexy and hot to handle by the parenting audience.