Ma Chao's Movies and Music

Sex and Breakfast

2008-02-27T22:03:00.004+08:00

Macaulay Culkin is doing art-film sex movies? Seriously. The kid from Home Alone? That's crazy enough to check this movie out...! The plot of Sex and Breakfast is simply about two couples who decide to go for group sex therapy to try and solve their problems. The movie tracks how the two couples get ready for it, and how they eventually end up after that experience. The other couple is played by Goal! latino star Kuno Becker, and the stunningly beautiful Eliza Dushku. The movie was pretty okay, but I was really fascinated with the ending, since I expected the opposite -- that the Becker-Dushku couple would fade away while the Culkin-Dzenia couple to last longer, especially with those protestations of love caught on tape from both of them at the start.

Breakfast and Sex is an okay movie for me, although there is not much of a plot? Nice portrayal of the emotions of both couples on something that not commonly talked about. Definitely art film material... sometimes the movie drags, but it's pretty good in the end. I give it a 3/5.

Good Luck Chuck

2008-02-26T09:08:00.003+08:00

A Sex Comedy Chick Flick with Jessica Alba? Count me in! Good Luck Chuck is one of those feel-good movies you watch on TV that is good before going to bed, not one you'd watch at the movie theater unless you're on a date. While the "have sex with chuck and meet your soul mate next" plot is original, the story still revolves around the love story between Chuck and Jessica Alba, which is honestly weak and cheesy. The characters were not well developed and with mostly straightforward personalities, but what do you expect from this type of movie? Dane Cook is great in the lead role of Chuck, and he reminds me a lot of Ryan Reynolds. Jessica Alba may be stunning to look at, but her acting is flat out terrible. Still, Jessica Alba in Penguin Panties is always a sight to behold. The humor is okay, mostly boyish light sexual humor that is quite funny.

Good Luck Chuck is a good, funny comedy that is typical in its genre. Not a movie I'd keep in a collection but a good one to watch on TV. I give it a 3/5.

Underworld: Evolution

2006-01-25T22:33:00.000+08:00

I actually thought this was going to be a gothic lord-of-the-rings type movie when I saw the start of Underworld: Evolution. That pretty much sums up what I knew about the first underworld movie -- nothing! Anyway, this is one action-packed goth movie -- it actually reminded me of the matrix series without the philosophical thinking side. While the whole plot of vampires and warewolves was quite intriguing, I was not that impressed with the storyline and particularly the end. The action scenes were pretty good, but again, they weren't that realistic. For one, I can't believe that William gets easily beaten by Michael when Selene and the entire team were actually having a hard time against him. Worse, Markus could have just wing-poked Selene to death but didnt do so. Also, aside from being stronger and being able to withstand the sun, what powers did Alexander Corneilus give to Selene? Nothing much I think, since she was still pretty dependent on guns which were useless anyway.

Well, it was still a pretty entertaining movie, and sure made me want to take a look at the original underworld movie. I give it a 3/5.

Little Manhattan

2006-01-25T22:13:00.000+08:00

I don't know about you, but when I read the synopsis for this movie I just thought -- you've got to be kidding me... we're going to watch a kiddie love story? But this seems to be one of the best movies I have ever seen in quite a while. I've always been quite a sucker for romantic comedies, and this one is pretty much in that genre. It's got a really cute and sweet love story about that elusive first love -- at it's most innocent stage. Fundamental lesson of the story is to stop keeping things to yourself and let the one you love your true feelings... overall a simple yet cute story.

I'm surprised they're not doing good in the box office, but since its quite a poorly marketed film with no star power I'm not that surprised either. It's just quite disappointing when nobody knows what you're talking about in the office. Oh yeah, there's one song here that I liked -- its that old Beatles/Johnny Cash/John Lennon song In My Life which was sang by Vertical Horizon's lead singer Matt Scannell... unfortunately, I can't seem to find his version on limewire or on torrent. Apparently, there is no OST for the movie either which made it extra hard to find.

Overall, this one's a great movie... I give it a 4/5.

Top Alternative Hits for January 2006

2006-01-25T21:45:00.000+08:00

Top 10 Alternative Songs for January 2006
1. The Fray - Over My Head (Cable Car)
2. Butterfly Boucher - Another White Dash
3. Melissa O'Neil - Alive
4. Missy Higgins - Unbroken
5. Jadon Lavik - What If
6. Death Cab For Cutie - Soul Meets Body
7. Dishwalla - Coral Sky
8. Jamiroquai - Seven Days in Sunny June
9. Death Cab For Cutie - Crooked Teeth
10. My Chemical Romance - The Ghost Of You

Well, here are the top songs that ruled my world this January. The Fray's Over My Head barely eked out Butterfly Boucher's Another White Dash. I know, Another White Dash is an old song, but I heard it again on the radio and was hooked!

Last month's number one, Death Cab For Cutie's Soul Meets Body fell pretty bad... partly since I made a part of it as the ringtone for text messages on my phone, and partly since another one of their songs, Crooked Teeth, is getting more of my attention. However, Melissa O'Neil's Alive is getting top airplay on my playlist at the moment, so lets see if she can dislodge The Fray next month...

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

2005-01-30T23:18:00.000+08:00

Here's one of the movies which I heard was really good, but didn't get to catch at the cinema. Multi-awarded as well, or multi-award nominated at least.

Jim Carrey pumps in another awesome off-character performance in this one, following such non-comedy performances such as The Truman Show and The Majestic. I must admit that I thought this was one of those boring love story-type movies; but instead it was one of those art-film type stories that brings that message of love through an awesome and fantastic story. Even though the idea of a person's memories being erased through some kind of medical technique was crazy, the way the story is woven around it makes up for it.

Admittedly though, some parts were quite dragging -- the early memory part was quite so... but that was because I thought he was going to wake up soon. Also, Kirsten Dunst becomes another prop here, as she shows her sexy body to catch the viewers attention. But enough of the bad parts, Jim Carrey still gives a convincing and awesome performance in this one... he's quickly becoming one of my favorite actors. My favorite part would probably be the ending, where Clementine paints a picture of a likely future breakup and Joel just shrugs it off with his "okay" -- and they get back together. Another would be when the memory of their first meeting was about to be erased, and Clementine tells Joel that it's going to be gone soon and asks what they are supposed to do. Joel's response of "enjoy it" really touched me.

Now, two movies similar to this one immediately come into my mind... The Butterfly Effect and Memento. All these movies are really about screwing the mind, and makes you think to understand the story. But more especially the Butterfly Effect, since comedy clown Ashton Kutcher also delivers a similar and solid off-character role as well.

I give this movie a 4/5. Worth a place on your DVD collection.

"How happy is the blameless Vestal's lot! / The world forgetting, by the world forgot / Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind! / Each pray'r accepted, and each wish resign'd."
- Alexander Pope

The Italian Job

2004-11-30T22:48:00.000+08:00

There's only one thing I can say about this movie: Charlize Theron is PRETTY! But aside from that, the story and action is pretty clever. I never get tired of these incredible-thieves-scheme type of movies, ala-Oceans11. Pretty boy Mark Wahlberg does a pretty lame job as the lead guy, but the rest of the gang carries him through. Ed Norton is really one of my favorite actors, but that mustache on him just sucks big time. And of course, this movie is not complete without mentioning... the Mini-Coop! Truly an amazing tiny car. Also, don't forget that catchy theme song, the one that goes "what comes around goes around...".

As usual, I did some research on the movie and found out that this wasn't the original... Mike Caine starred as Charlie Croker in the first, released in 1969. Different story, although some similar elements were there: the gold, the mini-coops and the clever steal. Unfortunately, there was no Charlize Theron in this one.

Overall, this was a truly entertaining movie to watch; I give it a 4/5.
Another one that deserves its place in the DVD Collection.

"I trust everyone. It's the devil inside them I don't trust."

- John & Stella Bridger, in The Italian Job

Catch Me on a Rainy Monday

2004-11-29T22:50:00.000+08:00

I woke up today a little dazed and confused. It was almost 10 in the morning and yet the sky outside was still quite dark. I was a bit concerned since I already made plans to treat my friends out to dinner in order to belatedly celebrate my 22nd birthday... all that planning and fate hands me a glum day to celebrate my birthday.

After lunch I continued going through the DVD collection and found Catch Me If You Can as the next movie that I'd like to see again. Honestly, the first time I saw it, I didn't have good expectations for this movie - after all, it was a Leonardo DiCaprio flick... probably some romantic chick flick. But the story of Frank Abagnale Jr. just really blew me away. I really admired Abagnale, he had real guts and determination to pull of all of those scams... and all in his teens. And here I am already at 22, without the guts and determination to make my mark in the world. Once again, Tom Hanks comes up with some superb acting for his role as FBI Agent Carl Handretty. A total change in character from his part in Saving Private Ryan. I did do some research on Frank Abagnale Jr. after the movie and it turns out that the movie was actually tweaked... the real story is in here.

Well, in between I was actually interupted since I made plans to go see a movie with my friends before my birthday bash. We all decided on National Treasure, starring Nicholas Cage. I've heard a lot of rave reviews about this and decided to check it out. In the end, all I can say is that it is a typical Jerry Bruckheimer movie... admittedly entertaining, but hollow in the end. In other words, it's not a movie I'd like to watch again, not a movie I'd be putting in my DVD collection. A couple of interesting actors in the movie though: Boromir from the Lord of the Rings was in the flick, he's playing the main badguy. Jon Voight plays Nic Cage's father, and because of his role in Mission Impossible, I just can't help but feel that there's something fishy about this guy, like he was going to backstab his son or something. Unluckily, there was no such twist in the movie.

We agreed to have dinner at this Japanese restaurant beside Citibank. I knew at once that having Japanese was going to mean mucho dinero, but went with it anyway. Also, a couple of my friends told me it was quite affordable, so I bit into it. Well, we ended up with a ton full of food and of course, I ended up footing the bill. The sad part about it was that I was so engrossed and so worried about the tab that I didn't get to enjoy my food. Well, at least my friends were satisfied.

All throughout the afternoon it was raining hard and the pace just intensified that night. As a result two of my friends had to stay at another friend's condo for the night because it was flooded in the streets. I'm now feeling really guilty because they might take their leave tommorow because of this. Well at least it sure is going to be a memorable celebration for them tonight!

BTW, Liverpool beat Arsenal, 2-1 in the English Premiere League. I just finished downloading the game on Bit Torrent... but i'm a bit sleepy now so maybe tommorow, I'll watch how this tragedy occured.

A Sunday for the Lambs

2004-11-29T00:24:00.002+08:00

Okay, not such a good start for my first blog... Internet Explorer crashed while I was surfing ESPN.com, and just when I was about to finish my first entry.

Anyway, I get to sleep late tonight since its Bonifacio Day tomorrow, or at least the government moved it to tommorow to give the public a long weekend. :) I just basically wasted the weekend by just bumming around the house and doing absolutely nothing productive.

Second night in a row that I decided to take a dive into the DVD collection and pick out some great classics. Yesterday it was Saving Private Ryan; tonight I went further back and settled for The Silence of the Lambs. No doubt one of the best films ever, you got to admire the acting put in by Anthony Hopkins as the crazed cannibal psychiatrist Hannibal Lector. What is incredible here is that what truly makes him frightening is not that this guy is a cannibal, but that he is a cannibal with a cool and calculating mind. I just love the way he acted like he was having a seizure to get him into that ambulance. Of course, there was also Jodie Foster doing a great role as Clarice Sterling. The only bad thing about the movie was the ending. I felt it was stupid for Buffalo Bill to get shot at... he should have used a blunt instrument instead and whacked Clarice to death. Pretty stupid if you ask me.

Afterwards I caught the replay of the final few rounds of the Barrera-Morales Fight which I missed earlier in the day. Amazing fight, and although Barrera ended up winning the bout, both fighters really fought well today... It could have gone either way. Morales just looked a bit more beaten up because his right eye began swelling. But talk about disrespect, this was the first time I saw two fighters nearly fighting again after the match. Apparently Barrera was going to shake Morales' hand when Morales threw some water at Barrera's father. I guess these guys have a genuine dislike of one another. Anyway, I think that a Barrera-Pacquiao rematch will be in the books soon. Forget about his match with Fasham, it's a sure win anyway. I'd like to see some other quality opponent for Pacquiao's next opponent. It's definitely gotta be Barrera, Marquez or Morales.

Finally, got to start listening to that Collective Soul discography I got from the edonkey network. I'm digging up lots of those old stuff that I like. So far, it has been The World I Know, December, Precious Declaration, Run, Shine, Listen, Maybe, Full Circle, Blame and Gel on my favorites list. But that's just half of the list, so I still got a lot of listening to do.

"Before this fight, everyone said Marco Antonio Barrera is bad, Marco Antonio Barrera is lost... Talk, talk, talk. I don't like talk. I show that I am OK in the ring with my fists." - Marco Antonio Barrera