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Gattaca
Synopsis
New Zealand screenwriter Andrew Niccol (The Truman Show) made his feature
directorial debut with this science fiction drama, set in a future when
one's life is determined by genetic engineering rather than education
or experience. The wealthy can choose the genetic makeup of their descendants.
People are designed to fit into whatever role is decided before birth.
But what happens when someone desires another way of life? Citizens
in this impersonal future-world are fashioned as perfect specimens,
so those in the natural-born minority are viewed as inferior to the
pre-planned perfect specimens (aka "Valids") who dominate. One of the
natural-borns (AKA "In-Valids"), Vincent Freeman (Ethan Hawke), has
several defects (poor vision, emotional problems, and short 30-year
life expectancy), but he also develops a different outlook on his preordained
fate. He yearns to break free from society's constraints, and he dreams
of a journey into space as a Gattaca Corp. navigator. To accomplish
his goal, he enlists the aid of DNA broker German (Tony Shalhoub) and
makes contact with Jerome Morrow (Jude Law), who was paralyzed in an
accident and is willing to sell his superior genetic materials. Vincent
assumes Jerome's identity and is scheduled for a flying mission. However,
a week before his flight, a Gattaca mission director is murdered, and
all members of the program are the suspects. Meanwhile, he develops
a romantic interest in a beautiful Valid, Irene (Uma Thurman), prevented
from going into space because of her heart defect. Tracked by a relentless
investigator who is methodically jigsawing all the pieces together,
Jerome finds his aspirations dissolving into stardust. Working title:
The Eighth Day (changed to avoid confusion with another current with
that same title). Rated PG-13 "for brief violent images, language, and
some sexuality." -- Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
Personal opinion:
It took me a while to warm up to this film, but after I got into it,
I realized that this was a different movie, but with a familiar message.
Never Give Up!
I like this movie, I recommend
you spend a couple of hours and be entertained.
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  Crouching
Tiger Hidden Dragon
Synopsis
Taiwanese filmmaker Ang Lee took a break from making Western period
dramas to fashion this wild and woolly martial arts spectacular featuring
special effects and action sequences courtesy of the choreographer of
The Matrix (1999). Set in the early 19th century, martial arts master
Li Mu Bai (Chow Yun-Fat) is about to retire and enter a life of meditation,
though he quietly longs to avenge the death of his master, who was killed
by Jade Fox (Cheng Pei-pei). He gives his sword, a fabled 400-year-old
weapon known as Green Destiny, to his friend, fellow martial arts wizard
and secret love Yu Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh). En route to Beijing, Yu
happens upon Jen (Zhang Ziyi), a vivacious, willful politician's daughter.
That night, a mysterious masked thief swipes Green Destiny with Yu in
hot pursuit -- resulting in the first of several martial arts action
set pieces during the film. Li arrives in Beijing and eventually discovers
that Jen is not only the masked thief but is also in cahoots with the
evil Jade. In spite of this, Li sees great talent in Jen as a fighter
and offers to school her in the finer points of martial arts and selflessness;
an offer that Jen promptly rebukes. This film was first screened to
much acclaim at the 2000 Cannes, Toronto, and New York film festivals
and became a favorite when Academy Awards nominations were announced
in 2001: Tiger snagged 10 nods and later secured four wins for Best
Cinematography, Score, Art Direction, and Foreign Language Film. --
Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
Personal
opinion:
Watching this movie after surgery, with only one eye, in a full room
of Chinese friends, and trying to read the subtitles, just to catch
up with them, is at best, a daunting experience. Perhaps my level of
sophistication hasn't reach that of those who think this movie is the
greatest thing they ever saw.
I think It was OK. Watching
a Chinese medieval drama (are there any others?) is not really my cup
of tea. But, I did enjoy the special effects -the tree walkers-
is particularly awesome, and of course I had a great time with my Asian
friends. Thanks Shin Ho!
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Castaway
Synopsis
An exploration of human survival and the ability of fate to alter even
the tidiest of lives with one major event, Cast Away tells the story
of Chuck Noland (Tom Hanks), a Federal Express engineer who devotes
most of his life to his troubleshooting job. His girlfriend Kelly (Helen
Hunt) is often neglected by his dedication to work, and his compulsive
personality suggests a conflicted man. But on Christmas Eve, Chuck proposes
marriage to Kelly right before embarking on a large assignment. On the
assignment, a plane crash strands Chuck on a remote island, and his
fast-paced life is slowed to a crawl, as he is miles removed from any
human contact. Finding solace only in a volleyball that he befriends,
Chuck must now learn to endure the emotional and physical stress of
his new life, unsure of when he may return to the civilization he knew
before. Cast Away reunites star Hanks with director Robert Zemeckis,
their first film together since 1994's Oscar-winning Forrest Gump. --
Jason Clark, All Movie Guide.
Personal opinion:
By far one of the best shows I've seen this year. Tom Hanks gets into
this role and gives a magnificent performance. I believe Tom, really
went thirsty to accomplish some scenes. Great movie!
menu
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 Unbreakable
Synopsis
Actor Bruce Willis and writer/director M. Night Shyamalan reunite after
the surprise success of The Sixth Sense for this supernatural thriller.
David Dunne (Willis) is taking a train from New York City back home
to Philadelphia after a job interview that didn't go well when his car
jumps the tracks and collides with an oncoming engine, with David the
only survivor among the 131 passengers on board. Astoundingly, David
is not only alive, he hardly seems to have been touched. As David wonders
what has happened to him and why he was able to walk away, he encounters
a mysterious stranger, Elijah Prince (Samuel L. Jackson), who explains
to David that there are a certain number of people who are "unbreakable"
-- they have remarkable endurance and courage, a predisposition toward
dangerous behavior, and feel invincible but also have strange premonitions
of terrible events. Is David "unbreakable"? And if he is, what are the
physical and psychological ramifications of this knowledge? Unbreakable
also stars Robin Wright-Penn as Megan, David's wife; the supporting
cast includes Spencer Treat Clark and Joey Perillo. -- Mark Deming,
All Movie Guide
Personal opinion:
Man, I was disappointed and bored pretty much through the entire show.
I kept waiting for the thing to get better, but it never did. Yeah,
there were times where the movie made you think, but nothing special.
I guess I was expecting
the thrill of 'Sixth Sense'
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Stevie
Ray Vaughn
