Michael Mann sure knows his stuff. In Heat, Collateral, and now Miami Vice, he mixes us just the right amount of guns, cars, a dash of romance, and a fast paced plot. Granted, the story of Miami Vice is not as deep as Heat, but it still is plenty entertaining.

The movie is about two undercover cops who infiltrate a big drug smuggling organization. Pretty soon they got entwined into this world and Sonny (Colin Farrel) especially faced the risk of losing sight of the original objective. But he declared he hasn’t and proved it, somewhat, in the movie’s action packed climax reminiscent of Heat’s street shootout.

There are chick flicks and there are guy flicks. This is definitely a guy flick. And definitely not an art film. But don’t think that’s bad!

Rating: 4/5

A few months back, my sister offered to lend me her copy of The Motorcycle Diaries. I was a bit busy at that time and I forgot about it. I only remembered when my friend Cez and I were talking about traveling the width of the USA and she mentioned in passing the movie, that it was about traveling (and also that it is about Che Guevara). I decided I should watch it (for the travel part) so I borrowed it from my sister and watched.

It turned out to be quite a good watch. It’s about the adventures of two friends as they made a decision to leave what they have to do and people they love behind to travel across South America. Most of us probably had the same conflicts and stayed pretending that we can do it later. But do we really NEED to do these things? Can’t the ones we love wait or at least go with us? Can we really do it later? But these two, travel they did with just a few bucks, some bags, an old motorcyle, and their wits. The epitome of the spirit of adventure.

It is also in a way a view on the plight of the rural South Americans and a glimpse of the influences behind Che Guevara’s ideology later in life. One scene of this aspect that I particularly liked is when they asked a couple they met along the way on why they are travelling. The couple responded “To work.” then threw back the question. There was silence as the friends took the answer in and finally answered “We travel just to travel.” It captured the essence of the issue.

The movie is probably not for everyone but do at least give it a try to see if it is for you. If it is, you won’t be disappointed.

Rating: 4/5

I’ve been holding off watching Superman Returns for the longest time because I wanted to watch it on the IMAX cinema at the SM Mall of Asia. But tonight, I finally watched it with some MBA friends.

Never being been into Superman, preferring Batman and his brooding nature,
I wasn’t expecting much. But the movie was so lame. It’s practically a glam movie with a dragging love story between Lois Lane, Superman, and Cyclops :P with Lex Luthor and his not-so-nefarious scheme thrown in as a side act. Needless to say, Superman wins against both Cyclops and Lex. So typical.

Good thing the 20 minutes of 3D footage sort of saved the day (or should I say the night?). I’ve said this about IMAX before but I’ll say it again: It’s great! The technology needs further tweaking but in time it will be the standard of cinema.

Rating: 3/5

The Constant Gardener based on the book The Constant Gardener by John Le Carre is a story of love and revenge that pits Justin (Ralph Fiennes), a minor diplomat (and hobby gardener) against the evil pharmaceutical industry. The movie’s cynical view of the pharmaceutical industry reflects our own. Okay my own :P But seeing prices of medicine in Thailand to be way less expensive than in the Philippines, could you really blame me?

The movie is set mainly in Africa and begins with the death of Justin’s wife. His wife was an activist who had been involved in activities aimed at the pharmaceutical industry and he suspects that this was the reason for her death. Flashbacks abound as he slowly unravels the conspiracy that led to her death. He ultimately tracks down who was responsible. This he accomplished with great difficulty due to the power of these people. But in the end, he finally gains a measure of bittersweet revenge and deliverance.

A good movie with superb acting from Rachel Weisz as the activist wife and, to a lesser extent, Fiennes as the soft-spoken and reserved guy who is raging underneath. The director is the one who directed City of God and you can also see his realism style (think news footage) here.

Rating: 4/5