2007-04-28

影畫絮語 - 蜘蛛俠 3

影畫絮語節目內容: 破盡香港票房紀錄,首日狂收738萬的《蜘蛛俠3》能否粉碎系列電影每況愈下的宿命?www.mov-reviews.com



Spider-Man 3 (2007) - 蜘蛛俠成魔之路 The greatest battle lies within

蜘蛛俠在一次拯救行動中,不幸纏上外太空不明物質,慢慢更受其控制,最初是外表的轉變,漸漸心智亦受蠶食。蜘蛛俠內外受敵,除了應付 Venom 外,好友哈里 Green Goblin 2 為報父仇,不停追殺蜘蛛俠;而殺蜘蛛俠叔父的 Sandman 力量比蜘蛛俠更強! 在愛情路上,他將周旋在舊愛 Mary Jane 及新歡 Gwen Stacy之間,到底蜘蛛俠能否戰勝心魔,挽回他至親及至愛的人?

Since Spider-Man 1 was released in 2002, I have been of the opinion that watching the Spider-Man movies with stupendous special effects is a great treat! Since then, it has gone from "good (3.5 / 5)" to "excellent (4)" and now "good, though a bit disappointing (3.5)".

In Spider-Man 2, Peter Parker is more human and the characterisation is more impressive. Besides, the entertaining gags inserted from time to time do not go very well with the movie talking about revenge and forgiveness.

With great power, one can do both good and evil. Whichever road you take, everyone indeed has a choice. That's the main message of the movie.

Although Spider-Man 3 has a cliched story-line and slightly drags, it is an entertaining blockbuster which you cannot afford to miss. Listen! Mary Jane Watson is screaming again!

Aunt May: Uncle Ben wouldn't want us living with revenge in our hearts, it's like a poison. It can take you over and turn us into something ugly.

Peter Parker: The suit... where'd this come from... the power... feels good... if you lose yourself to it.

The creator of Spiderman, Stan Lee: One man can make all the difference.


Spider-Man 2 (2004) - Peter Parker - an ordinary man VS Spider-Man - superhero with supernatural powers

兩年後,彼得已成為大學生。「威力越大,責任越大。」白晝上堂學習晚上伸張正義的生活令彼得疲憊不堪。彼得暗戀多時的瑪莉珍終於成為百老匯新星,更要與新男友結婚;那邊廂,好朋友夏利正是綠魔的兒子,他對蜘蛛俠的仇恨令彼得十分矛盾。當彼得打算放棄,不再做蜘蛛俠之時,一頭如同八爪魚的怪獸在市面出沒......

May Parker: We need a hero, couragous sacrificing people, setting examples for all of us. Everybody loves a hero, people line up for 'em, cheer for them, scream their names, and years later tell how they stood in the rain for hours just to get a glimpse of the one who told them to HOLD ON a second longer. I believe theres a hero in all of us, that keeps us honest, gives us strength, makes us noble. And finally gets us to die with pride. Even though sometimes we have to be steady and give up the thing we want most, even our dreams.

Rosalie Octavius: Peter, do you have a girlfriend?
Peter: Uh, well... I don't really know.
Dr. Otto Octavius: Well, shouldn't you know? Who would know?
Rosalie Octavius: Leave him alone. Maybe it's a secret love.
Dr. Otto Octavius: Love should never be a secret. If u keep something as complicated as love stored up inside, it could make u sick.

Peter: [sobbing] I went someplace else, I thought I could win some money, to buy a car, because I wanted to impress Mary Jane. It happened so fast... I won the money, the guy wouldn't pay me, then he got robbed... the thief was running towards me... I could have stopped him, but I wanted to take revenge... I let him go, I let him get away. He wanted a car, he tried to take Uncle Ben's. Uncle Ben said no... and then he shot him...

Peter: [narrating] I made a choice to live a life of responsibility. A life she can never be a part of. Who am I? I'm Spider-Man, given a job to do. And I'm Peter Parker, and I too have a job.

Peter: [speaks to MJ through a dead phone line] I wanna tell u the truth... here it is: I'm Spider-Man. Weird, huh? Now u know why I can't be with u. If my enemies found out about u... if u got hurt, I could never forgive myself. I wish I could tell you how I feel about you...

Spider-Man 1 (2002) - If you had extraordinary powers, how would you use them?

高校學生彼得被蜘蛛咬傷,及後發現自己身懷異能,原來身體內某些基因遭受改變。他開始時沒有好好利用這些能力,更因利慾薰心而簡接害死叔父。自此,他痛定思痛,帶著沉重的包袱,好好運用自己的天賦為社會鋤強扶弱,成為了蜘蛛俠。當羅曼教授實驗失敗、變成綠色怪物之後,蜘蛛俠的本領受到挑戰……

Uncle Ben: This guy, Flash Thompson, he probably deserved what happened. But just because you can beat him up doesn't give you the right to. Remember, with great power, comes great responsibility.

Peter Parker: This is my gift... this is my curse.

Peter Parker: Sometimes we hurt people whom we love.


2007-04-25

黑色名冊 Black Book + 自由煉獄 The Free Will



故事簡介:

第二次大戰期間,美麗的猶太歌手史莉荷 Rachel Stein 藏身之所被炸毀,遂與家人逃到已解放的荷蘭南部;可惜他們的船被一隻德國巡邏艇攔截,船上只有莉荷逃出生天。莉荷決定加入抗德游擊隊,化名韋艾利絲 Ellis de Vries 掩飾真正身分,並竭力調查是誰殺死她一家的兇手。

莉荷巧遇上德國軍官蒙茲 Müntze,蒙茲對她一見傾心。莉荷奉命潛入德國情報部門,救出一群被囚的抗德隊隊員,怎料有人告密,計畫最終慘告失敗,德國和抗德隊兩方都把矛頭指向莉荷,令她陷入腹背受敵的困境。在蒙茲的協助下,她又在過着匿藏的生涯,靜待戰爭結束。

可惜,戰爭結束並非為莉荷帶來自由,她亦未能揪出真正的出賣者,全因「所有倖存的人,都是罪人」...






影片短評:

Black Book is a well-cast and entertaining World War II thriller inspired by true events, yet this two-and-a-half-hour melodrama with an overstuffed storyline gussied up with female nudity and bloodletting may overstay its welcome. I give it 3 stars out of 5.


鳴謝:

Golden Scene Co. Ltd.




自由煉獄 - The Free Will:

It is a disturbing, but beautiful German movie subtly depicting a rapist's guilt and his ways to cope with his out-of-control "id" (the primitive, instinctive component of personality that operates according to the pleasure principle demanding immediate gratification of one's biological urges for food, sex, sleep, etc. according to Freud). The movie also studies if a rapist can truly love a woman and if love can change the rapist. There are some disturbing rape scenes and this pessimistic movie lasting for 2 hours and 43 minutes is slow-paced. Despite these, owing to the stunning cinematography (repeated motifs), original plot and natural acting, I personally don't find it long. Buy the DVD if you are looking for a unique cinematic experience. I give this haunting, if disturbing, movie 3.5 stars out of 5.

2007-04-21

影畫絮語 - 波特小姐:比得兔的故事 Miss Potter

影畫絮語節目內容 www.mov-reviews.com
由雲妮絲穎嘉及伊雲麥葵格主演的《波特小姐:比得兔的故事》包含了《BJ單身日記》及《傲慢與偏見》的元素。電影透過波特小姐的一生細說女性自強之道。





故事簡介 (以下內容透露劇情,敬請留意)
被英國傳媒稱為「上世紀的JK羅琳」的琵雅翠絲波特 Beatrix Potter (雲妮絲穎嘉 飾),是二十世紀初文學界的一個傳奇。在那個要求女人三從四德的年代,年輕女子的唯一目標就是找一張好飯票;但琵雅翠絲卻堅持自己的理想利用自己的創作,逐漸走出社會和禮教的枷鎖,找到自由與尊嚴。波特小姐年過三十,才鼓起勇氣踏出家門,找出版社出版她的兒童插畫叢書,因此與編輯諾曼汪 Norman Warne (伊雲麥葵格 飾) 結緣 。沒想到這兩個初出茅廬的新鮮人,以他們的熱情,聯手寫下暢銷書的佳話,也在朝夕相處的狀況下,暗生情愫。可惜童話故事結局並沒有發生,諾曼汪忽然患病離世,琵雅翠絲大受打擊,躲到以賣書利潤買下的湖區 Hill Top 農場,並遇上生命中第二位男人 – 律師 William Heelis。他們婚後定居於湖區,並買下大片土地,大自然的環境為她的創作帶來不少啟發。1943年77歲的她與世長辭,她把土地贈予環保機構「National Trust」。當然,她流給後世的,還有一共二十三本的兒童讀物。


Miss Potter's Books - Multimedia Texts in English
http://wiredforbooks.org/kids.htm

                 

Lots of Information about Miss Potter
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beatrix_Potter

片中男主角送女主角一個音樂盒,並清唱了 Let Me Teach You How to Dance,這段讓我感動不已,很可惜這個版本並沒有收錄在原聲大碟中。http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RD4NALxc02Q

Lyrics of "Let Me Teach You How To Dance" By Ewan McGregor

Let me teach you how to dance
Let me lead you to the floor
Simply place your hand in mine
And then think of nothing more
Let the music cast the spell
Give the atmosphere a chance
Simply follow where I lead
Let me teach you how to dance

Lyrics of "When You Taught Me How To Dance" By Katie Melua

When you taught me how to dance
Years ago, with misty eyes
Every step and silent glance
Every move, a sweet surprise
Someone must have taught you well
To beguile and to entrance
For that night you cast your spell
And you taught me how to dance

Like reflections in a lake
I recall what went before
As I give, I'll learn to take
And will be alone no more
Other lights may light my way
I may even find romance
But I won't forget that night
When you taught me how to dance

Cold winds blow
But on those hills you'll find me
And I know
You're walking right behind me

When you taught me how to dance
Years ago, with misty eyes
Every step and silent glance
Every move, a sweet surprise
Someone must have taught you well
To beguile and to entrance
For that night you cast your spell
And you taught me how to dance

影片短評:
Despite the lack of focus, Miss Potter is an educational, entertaining and somewhat touching biopic about a woman who strives for her dream to be a writer and the same opportunities as men. The cast is also charismatic. I give it 3.5 stars out of 5.

鳴謝: Golden Scene Co. Ltd.


影畫絮語 - 明日的記憶 Memories of Tomorrow



影畫絮語節目內容 www.mov-reviews.com
渡邊謙憑《明日的記憶》奪得有日本奧斯卡之稱的「日本電影學院大獎」及由東京電影記者協會主辦的「藍絲帶電影獎」最佳男主角,故事橋段又能否跳出公式化的催淚框框超脫韓國電影《抱擁這分鐘》?

故事簡介:
佐伯雅行任職廣告公司,年過50歳。他備受下屬們愛戴,在公司擔當重要角色。他充滿自信,從未擔心過身體健康問題,對於開始出現健忘的情形,他歸咎於年紀的關係。他的女兒亦即將結婚,他更榮升為祖父的身份。他正準備好好享受往後的黃金日子。某日,他突然感到身體狀態開始衰退,大大影響其工作能力。直到一天接受身體檢查後,被驗出患上「早老性痴呆症」,令他晴天霹靂。佐伯和妻子惠美子無奈被這事實弄得一時間不知所措。佐伯和惠美子開始跟病魔對抗,佐伯在絕望中期望能親眼看到女兒出嫁,可是病魔卻逐漸帶走他的記憶......

佐伯問: 妳無所謂嗎?即使我已經不是我…… 甚至我會連跟妳一起攜手走過的人生,統統忘得一乾二淨也無所謂嗎? 枝實子平靜地回答: 有我在,我永遠都會陪在你身邊。我會跟你一起活下去。

如果人沒有記憶,
我還是我 你還是你 ;
可是,如果沒有了那些記憶,
我還是那個我嗎?你還是那個你嗎?

鳴謝: Golden Scene Co. Ltd.


2007-04-14

觸動心靈的插曲: 夢之浮橋 + À la claire fontaine



The Painted Veil 插曲的中文版本 - 夢之浮橋
主唱為國內2006年超級女聲總決賽冠軍 - 尚雯(Laure Shang)

睡在漂動的月光
夢跳起華爾滋
回憶又再次盛開玫瑰的浮橋上
愛從不同的路過來命運只有一顆心

六月的駝雲傾倒
三月下過的雪
仰起臉只為迎接落空的一個吻
il y a longtemps que je t'aime (思君良久)
jamais je ne t'oublierai (不敢或忘)

在我舉杯的時候
把對面留給你
當遇到美好詩篇要為你讀一遍
你只需在燃燒過後把灰燼全留給我

愛並不盲目
沒有愛才盲目
開始在你來之前 結束在你走後
il y a longtemps que je t'aime
jamais je ne t'oublierai

我已經開始蒼老
因為愛過了你
你甚至不用知道愛你的我是誰
愛戀中每一個瞬間都可能就是一生

時光都已經不再
你比我更永恆
親愛的沒有了你就沒有任何人
il y a longtemps que je t'aime
jamais je ne t'oublierai


The Painted Veil 插曲 (法國的搖籃曲) - À la claire fontaine (內容透露劇情,敬請留意)


À la claire fontaine 泉水何其清澈 At the clear fountain
M'en allant promener 我以漫步踟躇 while going for a walk
Il y a longtemps que je t'aime 思君良久 I've been loving you for a long time
Jamais je ne t'oublierai 不敢或忘 I'll never forget you

Sous les feuilles d'un chêne 華蓋蔭蔭之下 I found the water so beautiful
Je me suis fait sécher 我得擦拭浮塵 that I bathed in it.
Sur la plus haute branche 枝繁葉茂深處 Under an oak tree I dried myself
Un rossignol chantait 聞得夜鶯啼聲 A nightingale was singing

Chante rossignol chante 夜鶯聲聲歡鳴 Sing, o nightingale, sing
Toi qui as le cœur gai 為有胸中愛情 your heart is merry
Tu as le cœur à rire 你可一展歡笑 your heart wants to laugh
Moi je l'ai à pleurer 我卻難掩悲音 mine wants to cry

J'ai perdu mon amie 我已永失愛侶 I lost my lover
Sans l'avoir mérité 緣去無跡可循 without deserving it
Pour un bouton de roses 只為一束玫瑰 for a posy of roses
Que je lui refusai 揮手竟如浮雲 I wouldn't give her

Je voudrais que la rose 只冀望那玫瑰 I wish the roses
Fut encore au rosier 仍有昨日光彩 were still on their bush
Et moi et ma maîtresse 我與昔日遊伴 and that my beloved
Dans les mêmes amitiés 度過安寧時光 still loved me

Il y a longtemps que je t'aime 思君良久 I've been loving you for a long time
Jamais je ne t'oublierai 不能或忘 I'll never forget you
À la claire fontaine 泉水何其清澈 At the clear fountain
M'en allant promener 我以漫步踟躇 while going for a walk

影畫絮語第三集 - 愛在遙遠的附近
http://hk.myblog.yahoo.com/jw!kfLUvPuZER6ThNVwnDI9JaUhvQ--/article?mid=521

Kenji Chan's Review on The Painted Veil
http://hk.myblog.yahoo.com/kenji-chan/article?mid=271&prev=317&next=222

2007-04-04

羅拔神奇家族@4D超立體巨幕影館 + 尋找快樂的故事 + 吾友妻 + 再造人之戀

羅拔神奇家族@4D超立體巨幕影館

I watched the 3D version of Meet the Robinsons in 4D Extreme Screen on 31/3. This is the first time a 3D version of a Disneyland film has been shown in HK and this is my first experience watching a 3D film for more than 90 minutes, with specially made glasses worn. I'm impressed by the gripping 3D visuals and the heart warming ending. Besides, the movie emphasizes the importance of family and conveys the message that we should keep moving forward. Although the movie is criticized for having weird characters, lacking origniality and rushing into conveying too many messages,  it is absolutely suitable for children to watch and the Cantonese dubbing is amusing! In my opinion, it is worth watching its 3D version in the airport as there are lots of shops and restaurants. I suggest you spend 5 hours in Sky Plaza. The environment is really relaxing and people there are polite. Let's meet the Robinsons @ 4D Extreme Screen! I give this feel-good animated sci-fi comedy 3 (2D) / 3.5 (3D) stars out of 5.

Special thanks to the Intercontinental Film Distributors (HK) Ltd.

由香港機場管理局、洲立影藝有限公司及SimEx-Iwerks共同合作的全球首間「4D超立體巨幕影館」(4D EXTREME SCREEN),選址定於香港國際機場「翔天廊」。4D超立體巨幕影館擁有全亞洲最大的4D影院銀幕,由世界最權威的立體特技娛樂公司SimEx-Iwerks提供尖端的放映技術,以及最先進的F/X特技裝置和音響效果。觀眾除可在高逾4樓層的巨型銀幕上欣賞到逼真震撼的立體影像,更可現場感受到與劇情同步發展的各式感官刺激,例如風吹、雪飄、水濺及各種氣味。觀眾將仿如置身影片之中,完全投入真假難分的4D虛擬世界,效果絕非一般動感或立體電影可比擬。4D超立體巨幕影館的主要特色如下:

●亞洲最大4D影院銀幕(64呎x 44呎),高逾5樓層;
●榮獲奧斯卡大獎的Iwerks 8/70 Linear LoopR 尖端放映技術;
●最先進及多元化的F/X特技裝置;
●最新式音響裝置及效果;
●獨家放映4D巨型銀幕影片,題材內容多元化,全屬國際級頂尖製作;
●4合1多功能影館,可放映2D、3D和4D的35mm及70mm影片。


Four movies are being shown there. Adults: $75 & Students: $50
迷你魔界大冒險 英文版 (特效版)
白馬奇緣(粵語) (4D 版)
白馬奇緣(英文) (4D 版)
羅拔神奇家族 粵語版 (3D版)

3D版 - 立體電影 (需要配戴3D 眼鏡)
4D版 - 3D電影加上特別感官效果 (需要配戴3D 眼鏡)
特效版 - 2D電影加上特別感官效果 (無需配戴3D眼鏡)
http://www.mclcinema.com









尋找快樂的故事 The Pursuit of Happyness
The Pursuit of Happyness is perfectly cast but clichéd melodrama which is long, dull and depressing. This is not a feel-good movie unless you believe that a few moments of good cheer can redeem 110 minutes of gloom. Sitting through The Pursuit of Happyness is a chore. Downbeat movies aren't inherently bad (in fact, many are powerful), but this one provides artificial characters in contrived circumstances. This movie "inspired by a real story" feels faker than those based on fictions (Rottentomatoes). I give it 3 stars out of 5.

吾友妻 My Friend and His Wife (申東一,2006)
It is a low-budget Korean film shown in the Film Festival. Although the director claim that the film is a boring one, I think the content is rich and there are several symbolic scenes. However, some sex scenes are disturbing to children and there is a shocking scene in the middle of the movie. Is it necessary to shoot that one?  It is also a pity that the message cannot be effectively conveyed despite the good acting. I give it 3 stars out of 5. By the way, the audience could only ask the director 2 questions. Then we had to talk to him outside the theatre ON THE STREET! The organisation has spent so much money inviting directors from different countries to come to HK and we discussed the movie on the STREET?????????? I'm disappointed...

再造人之戀 I am a Cyborg, but that's ok
I wanted to see this film because of the dirctor's trilogy on revenge... Yet, I'm disappointed! I do like the setting and there are some funny ideas, but what is the message of the film? Besides, my friend and I fell asleep for 10 minutes and we woke each other up. Moreover, the ending made me scratch my head. When we left the theatre, I overheard someone saying it is "MO LIU". I give this movie 2 stars out of 5.




HI I am Kenji! 

The first picture was taken several months ago in the Novotel Citygate Hotel located in Tung Chung and the second one was taken on 31/3/2007 in Sky Plaza (Terminal 2).