The 74th

     Hey readers and stalkers alike, I'm sorry for leaving you guys in the dark and all. As you may or may not know, I am the Chief Editor for The Malay College Magazine 2012, 74th Edition. With a brand new team and a bold new direction, this year, we are going to make a change. Going for a lifestyle feel and a much more elegant look, this year's magazine is set to be the best in all it's 74 years of glory. So, here's the First Official Reveal.

Video Game Review: Lego Batman 2: DC Superheroes

     This review is not the one that it needs but the one that is deserves. Given the title, Lego Batman 2: DC Superheroes is not just another Lego game and is certainly not just another Batman game. At first, I was skeptical, DC Superheroes? In June, I thought Traveller's Tales (Developer) was going to shoehorn every DC Superhero without the slightest context just to add more characters, cuteness and replay value. Fast-forward to August, how wrong I was.

Arkham City style posters

     Characters talk this time around. One might expect everything to go awry as we're so accustomed to the gibberish-speaking minifigures but the voice acting works wonders along with the witty dialogue. The least one would expect when the industry's best voice actors are lending their talent such as Troy Baker (The Last Of Us, Bioshock Infinite) and Nolan North (The Uncharted series, every other game you've played).

     The story is one of the highlights. Even at the beginning, Batman and Robin have their hands full with classic villains running amok and spreading fear throughout the brick-filled Gotham. The game does a good job at introducing established characters from other DC Comics as the narrative progresses and they fit perfectly in Batman's world. One of the best moments is when the Justice League show up in the wet streets of Gotham to rain down justice. There's still the tongue-in-cheek humour that we've come to expect from a Lego game and it is abundant. There's even a reference to the Dark Knight's outing last year, Batman: Arkham City. By the end of the story, I've only completed less than a third of the game.

Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman in Lego form

Green Lantern and The Flash in the Batcave

     The other two thirds of the game lies in Gotham itself. Gone are the signature hub worlds, you are then treated to an entirely open city where you have the freedom to explore. The city is full of puzzles to solve that nets you gold and red bricks to unlock various characters and cheats. Puzzles are simple enough to accomodate younger players. Famous villains are also found among the common rabble of street thugs wielding pies and giant mallets.

A whole city to explore at your will

     The game does have a few minor flaws, though. Flying around the city as Superman or in a vehicle can prove to be a bit of a struggle in tight corners. The dynamic split-screen can also be quite wacky but that can be easily remedied with a quick change of settings. As a whole, the overall package is superb and full of content that will keep you coming back for more. Rating: 9.5/10

Save Gotham as the Caped Crusader... and friends!

Video Game Review: Mass Effect 3

     Being the epic finale to conclude Commander Shepard's story, the expectations from fans and critics are extremely high. Can Bioware (Developer) deliver? I'm happy to say that Mass Effect 3 not only surpasses both of its predecessors, it's one of the best games of this year, hands down.

     The superbly crafted story keeps you on your toes from start to finish. The characters that you meet throughout the game are very well fleshed out. Each teammate or enemy has their own backstory, to uncover it, just engage in a dialogue. Lengthy conversations don't even feel cumbersome as the voice acting is top-notch and full of emotion despite the noticeable weird lip-sync. Though, the lip-sync has seen some improvement and character models move more organically than their robot-like nature in previous Mass Effect games. Danger lurks in all corners of the galaxy as the Reapers descend and wage war with every known species since their massive build-up in previous games. The story will tug at your heartstrings from time to time as anyone can die in this final chapter. One of the pivotal moments is the romantic scene where you truly start to feel attached to your love interest that you'll try your best to save the galaxy from total annihilation and come back safe in the final few hours, it's not just for the trophy this time. All of this culminates in a beautifully woven narrative that's one of the best of this year.

The fate of the galaxy is in your hands

     As an RPG, Mass Effect 3 isn't as complicated as Mass Effect and isn't as barren as Mass Effect 2 in terms of the RPG elements. It has just the right amount of customisation that it welcomes new players and still keeps veteran of RPG satisfied. Combat has seen a vast improvement as Commander Shepard is more nimble than he has ever been as new mechanics are introduced such as combat rolls, the satisfying heavy melee and the improved cover system. Alternating shooting dudes in the head and pulling off an omni-blade kill is as satisfying and addicting as ever. Enemies are varied and gradually increase in difficulty as the game progresses. So, that omni-blade might not be used as frequently in the later parts of the game.

Shepard using the omni-blade to dispatch his foe

Shepard doing battle with a Reaper

     Just when you thought it was over, Mass Effect 3 is the first in the series to introduce a multiplayer mode that's surprisingly addicting . The multiplayer is fully co-op so there won't be 13-year-olds screaming at you at the other and of the globe. After months of the completion of the story mode, I still find myself coming back to bask in the rich multiplayer.

Work together to defend the galaxy!

     I've said it once and I'll say it again, Mass Effect 3 is one of the year's best. The gameplay is fun, the story is masterfully presented and the ending is perfect. It's surely a prime candidate for the prestigious Game Of The Year award. Rating: 10/10

Commander Shepard and his squad

My Epic: Desperate Future

This is my fourth essay (rather, short story. I'll call them short stories from now on). Inspired by various sources, such as Naughty Dog's survival-horror video game, The Last Of Us, hot TV Drama, The Walking Dead and other post-apocalyptic and zombie related works of art. Enough talk, let's cut to the chase...

DESPERATE FUTURE

MAY 2012

            It was a hot sweltering Tuesday afternoon as I entered the dilapidated general store. With everything that has been going on, the outbreak, the whole world in turmoil, how was I possibly sure that it was Tuesday? Why should I even care when there are more important things to worry about?

            Dead bodies. Those were the first things that I saw. Some were human, torn, battered and some were partially another creature, their faces resembled nothing of a normal human being and their bodies were contorted. I couldn't bear looking at them for another second. Instantly, I started to search for a first aid kit in the wreck of a store. Time was of the essence, so I had to be swift before those things showed up again. As I rummaged through the pile of useless things on the counter, something caught my eye, something pink, something fluffy, something conspicuously out of place. I pulled it out and held it in my palms, a dirty plush toy that must have belonged to a little child. I thought to myself, "Where could she be now? Could she have suffered the same horrible fate as these poor souls lying on the floor?" I couldn't let my emotions take control of me. I needed to find that first aid kit.

            As I continued my relentless search for the kit that would mean the life or death of my loved one, I heard a howl, not of a canine, but of a mutated being. The blood-curdling howl sent shivers through my spine. "Why can't you leave me alone for once?" I thought. There were more than one of them and I'm sure they have caught my scent. I pulled out my pistol from its holster, instantly letting go of the safety latch. Twelve rounds in the clip, let's just hope that there are less than a dozen of them.

            I saw a backdoor. I hurriedly made my way through the mess of debilitating, old groceries and I found myself in a dark alleyway. Those things were there, their elongated shadows loomed horridly, their distorted faces stared unflinchingly at me. They started to sprint towards me as I shot one of them twice. It crumpled to the ground, lifeless. The rest of 'them' stampeded on it to make their way to me, crushing its bones and pounding its rotten flesh. I ran like a bat out of hell and let out a few more shots towards them. Two, three, dead. But, there were more, there was always more.

            I ran through the deserted city streets, passing by defunct vehicles overgrown by the verdant greenery reclaiming this man-made concrete maze. I spotted a door at the side of a decrepit building. I ran straight for it and emptied the whole clip of my handgun at those things. As I entered the darkened building, I slammed the door and found myself trapped in a pitch-black room. Those things were still out there, banging on the door. I pulled out my trusty flashlight. I pointed it around the room, scanning for an escape route.

            Out of the blue, something human-sized pounced at me. In an instant, I was locked in close-quarters combat. In the dim glow of my flashlight, I could see that this creature was trying to gnaw at my throat. I held it back with one arm as I desperately searched for anything that I could use to fend off this thing. "A lead pipe, perfect. Let's see how you like this." I swung the pipe towards its head, knocking it away. I got to my feet and beat it into a pulp. It was a mess of sinews and shattered bones when I was done. Disgusted, I threw away the pipe. I picked up my flashlight and saw a first aid kit on an unkempt desk. There was an old door leading out to the haunted halls. God knows whatever was waiting for me out there. Now, I remember, I had to get back to my loved one, it's her birthday, this particular Tuesday.

My Epic: Home

This is my third essay, touching a bit about my family, just a wee bit. I was still in the Uncharted fever, you'll see, it's abundantly clear. This isn't as good as the ones before. Anyway, here you go...

HOME

JANUARY 2012

            "Home is where the heart is", says a cartoon character from my colourful years of childhood. I agree, home is not exactly a house or a sturdy structure. Home is where you grow up, where you are comfortable even if everyone else is not, where you take shelter when the whole world is against you, where you find the ones who love you the most.

            Ever since I got my job, I rarely go back home. I've seen and learned so much, from the ruins of Machu Picchu nestled in the mountains of Peru to the city of Petra that is etched on the side of the hills of Jordan. But, right now, I'm longing to be back in the arms of my family at home. Just one more job.

            Think of me as a modern Indiana Jones, an antiquities retriever, working for museums around the globe, some legitimate, others not so much. The truth is I'm sick and tired of this life and I just want to live a normal life back home.

            There it was, a golden idol worth hundreds of dollars shining through the opening of the cave where sunlight could sneak in. All I have to do was squeeze myself through a crevice separating me from the priceless artifact. Despite the fact that I'm claustrophobic, I made it through with ease. Let's just hope that there's no trap. I took baby steps until I reached the artifact, hoping that nothing will jump at me out of the blue. I took the treasure carefully. Holding it in my palms, I'm elated at the fact that I will be home soon. Sooner than I thought.

            I rang the doorbell twice before I saw a couple of silhouettes moving inside the same house that was very familiar and yet strangely different. As the door opened, I saw Mom and Dad with a glint of happiness in their eyes. They welcomed me warmly. As we sat down for a chat, my cat pounced on my lap and purred silently. Home has never looked and felt better. A few minutes later, my younger sister came out of her room. I could tell that she was very surprised to see me. After dinner, we shared stories about our lives although I was a bit secretive about whom I was working for. My family called me a treasure hunter but I just laughed at the thought of wearing a fedora and carrying a whip even though I knew that it was partially true.

            The next day, I decided to stay at home and just enjoy the little things I never came to appreciate when I was growing up. Things ranging from Mom's exquisite pastries she makes on a daily basis, Dad's obsession with go-kart even though he was getting way too old for it to my sister and the obnoxious music she listens to. That is a home. Homes are not brick-built, instead they are created and fostered by the people who live in them. All those wondrous vistas when I was globetrotting still cannot match the ambience at home. P, B and J Otter are right, home is where the heart is.

The Dark Knight Rises

The Dark Knight Rises

Megat Redzuan / Reviewed on: 20th July 2012

The Dark Knight Rises was gloriously the best moment of my life in a movie theatre. It stands alone, peerless in the pantheon of superhero movies. There will be no spoilers here and if the impulse to spoil yourself before watching the film is too excruciating to bear, remember this, it’ll be the equivalent of Selina Kyle robbing you blind. When Batman Begins came out, I was very sceptical about watching another one of those Batman flicks, such is the enduring traumatic impression Joel Schumacher’s films left me. Thank goodness I did and from that point on there’s no turning back. Christopher Nolan’s finale made all the recently released superhero movies look like child’s play to be honest, it is the appetizer to the main course that is the final chapter of The Dark Knight trilogy. The typical critique of Chris Nolan’s movies is that it might be too cerebral for the casual moviegoer, no it’s not. His films are universal, it’s so well-layered, directed towards everyone. If you’re more of the “intellectual genre” you’ll notice the political undertones and social commentaries and what have you, but even if it goes over your head, it doesn’t detract your experience from the film. Fanatic fans of the Batman comics will love all the little nods and references, even the major ones from the comic books thoughtfully implemented throughout the film.

Christian Bale is just magnificent, as he puts it he plays three characters, the billionaire playboy Bruce Wayne, the true persona of Bruce Wayne still grieving the lost of his parents and the Batman. He’s the defining actor of The Dark Knight, his portrayal of all these characters are just perfect and even though he’s a man dressing up at night as a bat beating criminals to a pulp with his bare hands, we empathise with him. Returning inhabitants of Gotham and Bruce’s fundamental foundation of his lifestyle is Gary Oldman’s aged and weary morally-strayed Commissioner Jim Gordon, the Q to Batman’s James Bond, Lucius Fox and possibly a Best Supporting Actor nominee perhaps, the closest thing to a father figure Bruce can get, his moral compass, oozing with words of wisdom, Michael Caine’s Alfred Pennyworth. Scenes between the trio are so poignant, beautifully crafted and presented, it’s so hard to watch without getting a lump in your throat, to describe it as tear-jerking is an understatement.

The newcomers are Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s solid portrayal of beat cop John Blake and Marion Cotillard’s enviromentalist do-gooder Miranda Tate. The chief antagonist is Tom Hardy’s full time terrorist Bane, He’s frightening to watch, Tom embodies and embraces the sheer brutality and monstrosity of “the mercenary” flawlessly with half his face covered up, the way he conveys his emotions with only his eyes is amazing. But with all the characters in Chris Nolan's movies, there's more than meets the eye with this intelligent and articulate monster. Anne Hathaway is the feline femme fatale, morally ambiguous skillful thief known as Selina Kyle, a wild card, there's no way of telling what her next move is and it’s really fun to watch the development and chemistry between the cat burglar and Bruce/Batman.

 The 2 hours and 44 minutes running time didn’t feel long at all, the story flows seamlessly as it comes full circle with flashbacks from Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, it’s all beautifully balanced between the intimate moments of character development that’s unusual in a summer blockbuster film and the really elaborate and simply put awesome all-out war action sequences and the choreography of the brawls between Batman and Bane is much improved than the previous films. The most important element of The Dark Knight Rises however and what makes it a gem is that it manages to amp up the suspense and anxiety to incredible heights knowing that every single character is dispensable including the Batman. When was the last time you watched a superhero film and feel a genuine concern that our hero is not going to come out alive? Exactly.

Thank you Christopher Nolan for not giving in to the public and I’m assuming studio demands to continue this magnificent 7-year journey we have all been through together, to truly end this great vision of the legend with integrity, to give this great story a great and true conclusion to let the Batman ride off into the sunset if you will. It was the ending this iconic character deserved. And to anyone who thinks the Rises in The Dark Knight Rises is just a convenient way to name the film, it makes complete sense, it’s perfect.

"Time"

Hans Zimmer's "Time" from Inception

Close your eyes, relax, breathe slowly & fully and listen.

Hans Zimmer’s “Time” is the journey of one’s lifetime encapsulated in a 5-minute piece of artistry. It starts off beautifully quiet, reserved evoking a sense isolation and loneliness. As it goes on, the music starts to grow and begins to find it’s way and it grows exponentially full of confidence until it leaves all the uncertainty behind. It reaches it’s prime. It’s loud and undaunted, fearless and bold, full of highs and lows. It’s inevitable conclusion comes full circle as it ends the way it began, it tapers of heartbreakingly quiet with undertones of sadness. 

The Amazing Spider-Man

Movie Reviews

The Amazing Spider-Man

Megat Redzuan / Reviewed on: July 6 2012

Right off the bat, The Amazing Spider-Man is the best out of all four Spider-Man movies released so far. The key positive aspect of Mark Webb's reboot and what Sam Raimi failed to achieve with his franchise is remain faithful to the comic books. All of Peter Parker's iconic moments is still intact, the inevitable spider bite, uncle Ben's death, the first time he dons the realistic-lookingsuit, it's covered in greater detail and the “Is this scene necessary? We've already seen this” issues are absent. Some of the scenes were directly transferred from the Ultimate Spider-Man comics straight onto the screen, the artificial web shooters invented by Peter himself, is finally restored to the on-screen mythology in favour of the natural ability to shoot organic webs from his wrists, Gwen Stacy has also been re-established as Peter's first love.

In Andrew Garfield, we finally have the perfect Peter Parker and Spider-Man. His portrayal of the likable geeky high-school nerd with a crush on Emma Stone's equally goofy Gwen Stacy is really sweet and it's fun to watch their budding romance under the watchful and disapproving eyes of her father Denis Leary's Police Captain George Stacy. Their teenage romance subplot will undoubtedly be compared to Mr Webb's (500) Days of Summer. But Garfield's take on the “masked vigilante” is the real high point. The wow-he's-really-Spider-man-moment is a playful scene involving a carjacker and Spidey's infamous witty wisecracks and humor directed at said carjacker and the men in blue. 

If you really want to enjoy all the first person shots of Spider-Man acrobatically swinging from rooftops, the easy to follow action sequences and the climatic battle/battles with Dr Curt Connors' the Lizard in the sewers, at Midtown High School, and on top of the skyscraper that is Oscorp tower try and catch it in IMAX 3D. And as an added bonus, I'm sure there's a scene near the end between Peter and Dr. Connors paying homage to a scene in Batman Begins. The loud and fast-paced action sequences provide the obligatory wow moments that a blockbuster summer movie should have but what sets The Amazing Spider-Man apart are the quiet intimate aww-inducing moments in between. And true to his music video director roots, Mark Webb manages to fit a Coldplay song in perfectly too. But you do get a sense that a lot has been sacrificed in terms of tying up loose ends for the apparent new Spider-Man trilogy. Stay for the traditional Marvel mid-credits scene teasing the next villain.

Inception

Movie Reviews

Inception

Megat Redzuan / Reviewed on: July 16 2010

What makes Inception so special is that it's not your typical straight forward summer blockbuster. Nolan gives you bits and pieces of information, and as the movie plays out the viewer begins to put the pieces together and the picture gradually becomes clearer. Chris Nolan doesn't dumb down the movie for the audience like most Hollywood movies do these days, he expects us to keep up with him. And when we do, the reward is extremely gratifying.

Marvel's The Avengers

Movie Reviews

Marvel's The Avengers

Megat Redzuan / Reviewed on: May 4 2012

The Avengers is the best Marvel film to date and quite possibly the best superhero movie I've seen in terms of all-out action spectacle, humor, and replay value. Tony Stark has so much more character development here than in the self-obsessed and flat Iron Man 2, it's nice to see Iron Man getting to do more intricate work aboard the helicarrier than just blowing stuff up. Chris' Evans and Hemsworth did an awesome job as the no-nonsense living legend super soldier and the huggable god of thunder respectively. Joss Whedon does an amazing job balancing the screen time for all the heroes and everyone gets their chance to shine, Black Widow and Hawkeye get to have their own complete story-arcs and S.H.I.E.L.D. Director Nick Fury, Agent's Maria Hill and Coulson also had their moments and they took it well with the most pivotal scene of the film. But the big surprise is Mark Ruffalo who really steals the show as Dr Bruce Banner/Hulk, he's nailed down the relationship between the scientist and the big guy down to a T, and he has all of the funniest scenes in the Avengers. 

Loved the first two acts, the first meet-up of the characters, the confrontations are all top draw but the highlights for me are the vocal interactions between everyone, whether it's between Stark/Banner, Stark/Cap, Coulson/Cap, Loki/Thor, Loki/Widow, Widow'Hawk and what have you is all perfect and I'd be more than happy if the movie would've been four hours long just to see them all bouncing off each other and that's all credit to the smart witty screenplay by Whedon. Every scene is so well made and the script compelling and essential to moving the plot forward, the most memorable moment for me was when Cap was putting on his suit while a Mozart-esque symphony is playing in the backdrop and loved all the pop culture references especially Stark's nickname for the Hawk.

 The final third of the movie is all-out mayhem and watching the team come together to save Manhattan from a never-ending wave of an alien race who-shall-not-be-named attacks is absolutely exhilarating and the one long continuous shot of all the Avengers in the heat of battle is captivating. It proves the point of how character build-up and the tension watching our superheroes fight and play-off each other in the first two acts and have the final battle in context can make for a more engaging and extraordinary spectacle than just mindlessly blowing things up because you have to. It's the best action set-piece I've ever seen and it's so over the top in an amazing way. When you walk out of the cinema I promise your craving for a very well made superhero movie that's not dumbed down and at the same time not as gritty and dark will be satiated. It's pure indulgence.

Young Adult

Movie Reviews

Young Adult
Megat Redzuan / Reviewed on: March 2 2012


Young Adult touches so close to home for me, not being able to let go. One can't help but to ponder and contemplate the supposedly glorious days of the past and reflect on our past mistakes, on what could've been and what should've been. The opportunity that we're given now in the present is all that matters. The past is in the past, we just have to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and get ready for what lies ahead. Our best years are still ahead of us, it's time to look into the future, start a new chapter. Life, here I come.

Warrior

Movie Reviews

Warrior
Megat Redzuan / Reviewed on: September 24 2011


Best movie of the year hands down. Very unique in that it does not have a clear antagonist. You're rooting for all of them each with their own promises to fulfill. Tom Hardy's Tommy is just outstanding, the level of intensity showcased is unbelievably scary. Joel Edgerton's Brendan who is trying to make ends meet as a school teacher moonlights as a fighter in parking lots after hours to provide for his family and Nick Nolte's heart-breaking performance as the willing-to-do-anything-to-make-it-right-again estranged father of his two distant sons. And that barely scratched the surface of their story, the depth of the characters is amazingly rich. The first half of the movie builds the foundation for the brothers, their present lives, their rough childhood and their own motivations to get back in the cage, it's as exciting and entertaining as the fighting scenes itself. There's about 4-5 climaxes in Warrior it's outstanding. Unlike a lot of sports/boxing movies we've seen you feel the high-octane scenes. You're really immersed in the fighting sequences, you feel every punch, every kick, every takedown and every headlock because you care about the characters, you know the journey of how they got where they are and you know all too well their hopes and promises to the people they care for.

Adventureland

Movie Reviews

Adventureland
Megat Redzuan / Reviewed on August 27 2011

It's such a simple, quiet movie and that is what makes it so special. Jesse Eisenberg is James a twenties guy in need of money after his parents can't fully support him financially anymore, finds a lowly job in a shabby amusement park Adventureland filled with rigged games and fair-to-speculate-on-the-safety secondhand rides and hand-made prizes "nobody ever wins the big ass panda". James meets Emily and the pair hits it off and so begins the weird and wonderful story of a summer-fling. But no, there is more in Adventureland and you'll have to find out about that for yourself. Jesse Eisenberg is always the go-to-guy if you're looking for a virgin-esque quality in your leading man, he's always great, no surprises here. The real surprise for me is Kristen Stewart, there will always be the Twilight role overshadowing her career. But if you look away from Bella, she is a really good actor. Emily is very shy, funny, sweet and she'll fight for what's right. She's very smart yet very conflicted and James and Em's budding romance is really a pleasure to watch. After Twilight is over, I really hope she goes off the mainstream path and produce great small movies like this, and I'll be all over it. Bill Hader is hilarious as always with what little screen time he's given "nobody ever wins the big ass panda". I loved everything about Adventureland, from the cheesy 80's soundtrack, to the simple but very nostalgic amusement park setting, funny side characters also there is more to them than meets the eye. I want to live in the 80's, I want a summer job in that period of time, I wanna smoke joints man!

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

Movie Reviews

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
Megat Redzuan / Reviewed on: July 15 2011


It all has to end, every single minute of the 18 hour-long Harry Potter movies preceding this one have been leading up to this moment. There was incredible hype for The Deathly Hallows Part 2 ever since the final scenes of the DH 1, and it has the impossible task of meeting the expectations that it has set for itself which is incredibly high. This is the perfect way to end the best movie franchise ever made. It's amazing to actually take a step back and look at all of the 8 movies, it never drops in quality and the shifts in the tone of the movies is just bloody awesome from the Sorcerer's Stone's light, funny, cheerful tone to the very dark and serious tone of the Half-Blood Prince, and Deathly Hallows 1 and 2. As always Mr Yates gets into the thick of the action and assumes that the audience knows everything and literally picks up where DH1 ended. Hogwarts surrounded by hovering Dementors and a despondent-looking new headmaster Severus Snape, cue the title sequence. You know you're in good hands. 




For the fans who did not like the DH1 citing a lack of action sequences and a slow dragging story (I really enjoyed DH1) will be satisfied with this one. Almost immediately it starts with a break-in into Gringotts bank with Harry and a creepy looking goblin on his back under the invisibility cloak, Ron wearing a goatee and Hermione taking the form of Bellatrix Lestrange via the polyjuice potion. Helena Bonham Carter was absolutely amusing impersonating Emma Watson's character impersonating her. Searching for a horcrux, followed swiftly by an abrupt escape plan with the trio holding on for dear life on a dragon. Action sequence junkies you'll love this movie. The special effects in this one is great, amazing looking wand duels, knights, trolls and everything in between as Hogwarts is turned into a battlefield not dissimilar to the Lord of the Rings' movies. The calm before the storm is very similar to The Two Towers when they're preparing for the arrival of Voldermort and his posse, everything is so well-paced and the story just flows effortlessly. 

But even with all that in abundance, the heart of the movie will always be in the close intimate scenes, the CGI effects will never upstage the emotional core of the movie, two life-long friends finally share a tender moment, a boy circled by his deceased family and his reunion with the man he so much admired and so much more. There are a lot of deaths and I'm quite surprised that a fair amount of them occurs off screen, probably it's supposed to give a much stronger impact but I really wanted to see the demise of some of them. All in all the story was very solid and so unbelievably satisfying. Desplat's score, hauntingly magnificent. Truly beautiful and laced with bits from John Williams' and Nicholas Hooper's pieces, reminding us of much simpler and happy times and when everything came crashing down respectively. Eduardo Serra's cinematography is phenomenal, really capturing the look and feel of the movie as he did in part 1, you really feel that death is coming for Hogwarts.

The stand-out performance for DH 1 was Emma Watson, DH 2 is where Daniel Radcliffe really shines. Harry Potter is no longer just the boy who lived, he's grown into a man on a mission, now equipped with a sense of authority and no one really questions him anymore, it's best to let him do what needs to be done. The negotiation scene with the goblin and with Mr. Ollivander was just so intense and delicately captured on screen showcasing a different side to Mr. Radcliffe. He was given a lot of dramatic and emotionally-heavy scenes and he really delivered, this was his movie along with Emma Watson and Rupert Grint, who have been in their roles for 10 years now, their casting really made the movie what it is. And let's not forget the most impressive supporting cast ever assembled with a slew of great British actors, you know who they are. Ralph Fiennes is menacing as the immortal Lord Voldermort but every time a Horcrux is destroyed he gets progressively weaker and Mr Fiennes' performance is very delicate showing the Dark Lord's vulnerability. Then there was the half-blood prince's revelatory piece which almost reduced me to tears. That was a heart-breaking montage of Snape's agendas and his sacrifices. Alan Rickman was outstanding showing the deeper, more emotional side of Severus Snape, give the man an Oscar already. For those that have been following ever since the first movie, the reward here is extremely gratifying. The epilogue of the movie which was set 19 years later was very bittersweet, did'tt want it to end. The final few moments before the screen faded to black, and before the sun sets on the best franchise ever made I also felt that the sun was setting on my childhood, saw the first movie when I was 10 years old, and it ended with the end of my teen years. I grew up with the movies. What a ride it has been, goodbye Harry Potter..

Super 8

Movie Reviews

Super 8
Megat Redzuan / Reviewed on: June 10 2011

Super 8 was a surprisingly delightful movie. Judging by the teasers I was really not interested in it at all but with names like Steven Spielberg and J.J. Abrams being branded on every trailer and poster I simply had to give it a shot. And I was really glad I did because it was very very good. It was really a tribute to the movies of the late 20th century wasn't it? It had all the elements of Spielberg's classic E.T. with a close group of friends on bicycles riding about town shooting scenes for a movie with "production value", adults who seem to be one step behind the kids on the whole mystery, the government intervention and of course an extraterrestrial being "trying to go home". The special effects were great, especially the train crash. Very breathtaking stuff. 


But even with all the amazing effects and all the action going around, we never really forget the emotional side of it all, Abrams never let's the action upstage the human aspect of the story. Joe who recently lost his mother to a violent tragedy lives with his grief-stricken, depressed and distant father begins to bond with Alice in an 8mm film production of zombies, she herself has father issues. Their relationship reminds me a bit of Abby and Owen in Let Me In united by their own little tragedies, finding solace in each other. Elle Fanning and Joel Courtney play their roles exceptionally well, amazing since it's their first time in a major movie. It was really refreshing to finally watch a movie which was not rushed through production (yeah I'm looking at you X-Men), very carefully thought out and which really took it's own time to tell the story that it wants to tell. I wasn't born in the 60s or 70s but watching Super 8 made me feel like I was in that period of time of filmmaking, it felt very authentic. The closing credits was awesome.

X-Men: First Class

Movie Reviews

X-Men: First Class

Megat Redzuan / Reviewed on: June 5 2011

I had my doubts but it was the best movie of the franchise. To be honest, I never really found Prof X and Magneto to be interesting in the previous movies, But Matt Vaughn managed to make them very interesting and intriguing characters. The emotional core of First Class is surprisingly deep for an action flick, the friendships, the insecurities of being different and wanting to be accepted into society is really a solid backbone of the movie. I just wished that more of the running time of the movie would be devoted to the friendship between Xavier and Eric, I wanted it to develop and be explored more than what was given to us. 

The stand-out performance is by Michael Fassbender, he made Eric into such a likable person that we root for and sympathize with. He's just so good, ever since Inglorious Basterds. I hope the rumors are true and that when Daniel Craig steps down, this is the man who's going to be the next James Bond. But take nothing away from James McAvoy, he was perfect for the role of the smooth-talking highly charismatic Xavier. These two guys really made the movie what it is and it's all credit to Matt Vaughn for perfect casting. Favorite scene: surprise cameo by a mutant who shall not be named with the funniest line in the movie.

Let Me In

Movie Reviews

Let Me In
Megat Redzuan / Reviewed on: November 20 2010


I've seen the Let The Right One In and I have to admit that it was more artistic but Let Me In was an improvement from the original one. Matt Reeves did a really good job, the pacing of Let Me In is definitely way better than LTROI. It's practically a shot-to-shot remake, it follows the LTROI very closely and the scenes that were replaced only serves to improve the movie further, the "father" getting caught scene is just one of the few examples. Chloe Grace Moretz handles Abby very well, she's very mature compared to girls far older than her, Miley Cyrus in The Last Song comes to mind. She might not be as creepy as Eli but when she turns, my God she turns. She's going to have a bright future and her casting was a brilliant one. 


Let Me In sheds light on what was very unclear in the Swedish version, which was "the father" character, it was finally revealed to us that he was actually Abby's "former Owen", it really adds some weight to the ending. It was satisfying to know Owen and Abby's fate after all they've been through. Matt Reeves didn't really hold back on the gore, lots of blood, added suspense, it was Americanized in a good way. It's satisfying in a weird way to know that Abby and Owen were attracted to each other because both are really outsiders and how they built a world of their own in the midst of everything that's going on around them, though to be fair most of the commotion was caused by Abby in the first place. An excellent movie which takes it's own time, and great things do take time.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1

Movie Reviews

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1

Megat Redzuan / Reviewed on: Novermber 19 2010

By far the best film of the franchise, and the darkest in tone. Long gone is the light, cheerful score of John Williams, being replaced by Alexandre Desplat's haunting adult, haunting score. Basically all the characters and the spells has been layed out in the six previous movies and The Deathly Hallows straight away picks up where it left off in The Half-Blood Prince. To be honest, when I heard that the movie was going to be two and a half hours I was really worried that it'll drag on and on, but not suprisingly David Yates proved me wrong. I thoroughly enjoyed it and it didn't feel like 147 minutes at all. 

It's definitely a stand-out than all the other Potter films as there's no Hogwarts in sight. The sense of security the trio had before inside the four walls of Hogwarts and under the watchful eye of Dumbledore has been torn down. Instead, they have to face "the real world". Being hunted down like fugitives and the feeling of anxiety that anyone can pop up anywhere, and if they're not alert, they're done for. It definitely takes it's toll on all of them. My favorite scene was one that wasn't in the book, after Ron stormed off, Harry and Hermione were dancing to Nick Cave's O' Children. All the gloominess was slightly and briefly lifted by a few of the lighter bits of the movie, but basically it's all doom and gloom. The cinematography was absolutely brilliant, the best looking movie of the franchise, Exceptional acting by all three of them, a stand-out performance by Emma Watson. Part 1 ended with the death of a friend and a minor cliffhanger. What a way to kick-off the long emotional inevitable goodbye and I trust David Yates to knock it out of the park on July 2011. Bring it on.