Tag Archives: Fantasy

Oz the Great and Powerful (2013) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4) : Pretty but not so great or powerful

The fantasy world in “Oz the Great and Powerful” is wonderful to watch at theater – at least during its first appearance. My eyes welcomed it when everything was turned pretty colorful, and, appreciating the efforts put into the screen … Continue reading

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Jack the Giant Slayer (2013) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4) : I wonder how these big guys reproduce

 To be frank with you, I had no particular expectation on “Jack the Giant Slayer”, the latest offering from the recent trend of ‘re-interpreting’ fairy tales/folklores into Hollywood blockbuster films. The results from this trend have been unsatisfying like “Mirror … Continue reading

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

How to Use Guys with Secret Tips (2013) ☆☆☆(3/4) : Don’t judge it by its cover

I have never read those self-help books, but I know one thing for sure: they are pretty useless guides which only waste your money and time. Although I must confess that my nerdy life of 30 years are mostly filled … Continue reading

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4) : It’s a long, long start….

In 2000, I read J.R.R. Tolkein’s “The Lord of the Rings” for the first time after hearing the news about Peter Jackson’s ambitious plan for making that epic trilogy into three films. Although the translated version I read was not … Continue reading

Posted in Movies | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4) : Once there was a Hushpuppy…

 How nice it is to encounter a little but special fantasy tale like “Beasts of the Southern Wild”. Like any excellent fantasy tales, this small film is based on the strong sense of reality filled with bountiful details to be … Continue reading

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Rise of the Guardians (2012) ☆☆☆(3/4) : A nice gift set for the Holiday season

We have “The Avengers” early in this year, and now we have “Rise of the Guardians” around the end of this year. Like various superhero characters were assembled to save the mankind in the former, the various Guardians of Childhood … Continue reading

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Frankenweenie (2012) ☆☆☆(3/4) : He’s alive!

Tim Burton’s “Frankenweenie” is a dark, moody, and innocent animation inspired by old classic horror films such as “Frankenstein”(1931). True to its source of inspiration, it is a black-and-white stop motion animation decorated with quirky imagination and morbid but sweet … Continue reading

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

John Carter (2012) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4) : A big old-fashioned fantasy on Mars

I enjoyed “John Carter” to some degrees. I liked its fantasy world on Mars, and I appreciated how it presented its world with an old-fashioned pulpy style on the big screen, and I’d like to see and know more about … Continue reading

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Hugo (2011) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4) : A family movie from Martin Scorsese(no kidding)

At first, “Hugo” feels offbeat in the career of Martin Scorsese. Can you possibly imagine a PG-rated family movie made by the great American director who has impressed us with the gritty masterpieces like “Raging Bull”(1980) or “Goodfellas”(1990)? However, while … Continue reading

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale (2010) ☆☆☆(3/4) : Santa is alive – and he is not nice

To anyone who wants to watch an offbeat movie for the upcoming holiday season, “Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale” can be a nice mixed bag full of the goodies to be appreciated. The movie is a dark, amusing horror fantasy … Continue reading

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments