crabcancer Reviews

Crazy Rich Asians (2018)

One massive flaw

[7/10 · 25 August 2018]

After being bombarded by all the facebook posts and local news about it (Overseas Singaporean), I though we should check out the movie.

Plot wise, it's pretty thin. But does capture the cultural aspect about the family is bigger than the self. How Asian families are superficially patriarchal but it is the matriarchs who decide and determine eveything.

It's worth it for the laughs and humour. It does capture the richer aspects of the Singapore lifestyle and the divide between the have and the havenots.

But as in my title, the one biggest flaw, for all wealth and money, the families have to use the local taxis to get to the airport. And they did not even splurge for the luxury version of the local taxis.

Or perhaps in the view of being a Singapore, has the COE gotten so high that nobody can afford to buy a car anymore?

Bushwick (2017)

Popcorn movie

[5/10 · 16 May 2018]

Hmm, going to keep it short and simple. It's a good popcorn movie, put your legs up and enjoy. Don't over analyze, think too deep or try to associate it with a real life situation. I did and unfortunately, I ended up as one of those guys shouting "Oh, c'mon" and "seriously?"

Spoilers As a ex-military, Dave runs around with a handgun, does not pick up a single assault rifle, webbing or even body armor. Knapsack is slung on one shoulder thus making weight distribution uneven and perhaps even affecting his aim?

Like I said, popcorn, soft drink, legs up, enjoy...

Lucifer (2016–2021)

Best pilot this year

[9/10 · 14 August 2015]

Hmm, in the land down under with all our cooking shows, renovations shows and reality shows, this is a total gust of fresh hair. You have the titular character who fits the epitome of the Devil. Suave, smooth talker, snarky and getting away with it.

His power of knowing a person deepest, darkest desires makes for good watching but his inability to read one person is a great hook and line.

I think Tom Ellis fits into this role very well bringing across that Lucifer is the ultimate schemer and plotter.

The thing that I also like in the pilot is the music in the pilot is actually quite fitting.

Dirty Movie (2011)

Don't waste your time

[1/10 · 20 February 2014]

This is a awful movie. Utter waste of time. I don't mind the National Lampoon series but this is definitely scrapping the scum on the bottom of the barrel.

The plot is non existent. We know that the producer wants to produce a movie about dirty jokes. But the jokes instead of being witty or sarcastic or barbed; turn out to be like what you will hear in a playground. Told by 6 years old, with giggles.

Honestly, the script writers, directors, producers should have watch Spaceballs, Robin Hood - Men in tights or even Borat. At least we get comedy (albeit low-brow but not stale).

Sheesh, they could even have drunk dial Mel Brooks for advice.

To sum it in one word, anagram of "heist"

23:59 (2011)

Local flavour, local taste

[7/10 · 7 June 2013]

To understand this show, you have to be a local and must have serve NS to know the plot driving it.

This basically deals with the things that all NS men are told or share around the bunk like in the starting scene. Tales and folklores whispered and shared about what they have been told or have overheard etc.

For myself, the suspense build up is good as I can relate to it partially but the final third bit is a bit of a let down when most of the plot is revealed. I feel it would have been better if it was kept in suspense and with glimpses instead of the director/producer trying to tie everything up.

Other reviewers have commented that there are some loose ends. For me, the most obvious is that how the heck did the Sgt and recruits manage to locate the shack.

But in the end, this movie is definitely worth a watch if nothing more then to reminisce about them good old army days!

City Hunter (1993)

One of Jackie's early comedy

[8/10 · 6 November 2005]

A comedy based on a Japanese manga of the same name. It has Jackie acting as a PI who tends to day dream a lot (about girls in bikinis...) He and his PA go aboard a cruise ship to rescue a millionaire's daughter. The fight scenes are pretty good (Jackie in his younger days is extremely agile) and makes good use of the surrounding props.

I would say the most exciting fight scene and the most humorous would be when 2 actors (cannot remember their names) crashed into a Street Fighter II machine and get transformed into Dhalsim and Guile respectively. The evil pony tail villain is transformed into Ken. Then Jackie comes along, first becomes E. Honda then Chun Li. It's something else seeing Jackie dress in a chong sum, jumping up and down.

Another scene that is pretty campy is Leon Lai who portrays a card shark. Every time he does a scene involving saving a girl, it's got into slow motion and he tend to blow his fringe.

Of course, lots of gratuitous gunfire, shooting and beating up people. But somehow, no blood or very minimal blood is lost.

All in all, I think this is one of the greater comedy movies made by Jackie Chan when he is willing to act goofy and elicit a few laughs. I would definitely recommended it for easy viewing or just a relaxing night.

The one aspect that might be a bit irritating to people would be that if the viewer cannot understand Cantonese/mandarin, the impact would be lessen as the meaning of certain innuendos would be lost in translation to English subtitles.