Warrior

What might be a cheesy storyline ends up in a presentation that embodies the complexity of manhood, brotherhood, and father-and-son relationship. Gavin O’Connor’s Warrior introduces us to three men bound and separated by emotional scars.

Nick Nolte as the father – in an Oscar-worthy performance – has a hole in his life he has no idea how to fill. He’s a recovering alcoholic trying to regain a grip in his life, but long lost son Tommy suddenly knocks on his door. As Tommy, Tom Hardy is pitch perfect. The self-imprisonment out of repressed guilt, the unleashing of hidden rage in every deadly jab of his hands, and the complicated love he cannot express to his father and brother – it all come together in Tom Hardy’s staggering interpretation of this well-carved character. The sympathetic physics teacher who desperately fights for his family is greatly portrayed by Joel Edgerton.

It’s quite a struggle to understand Warrior at its first half. Rather than simply explaining the story, the script chooses to let us peel every layer of it and its characters step by step. Towards the end, it’s a tour-de-force of brutal MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) showdowns and emotional breakdowns. Warrior makes us thrilled with every punch dan kick, and stirs our emotion deeply at the same time. It is not easy to choose who to side with at the final battle – a fighting sequence that is both scary and tearjerking between the one who fights for honor and redemption, and the one who fights in the name of family. Warrior is a brutal mix of action and emotion, and another milestone in filmmaking. (Ve Handojo)

2011, USA. PG-13. Drama, Action, Sport. Director: Gavin O’Connor. Writers: Gavin O’Connor, Anthony Tambakis, Cliff Dorfman. Cast: Tom Hardy, Joel Edgerton, Nick Nolte, Jennifer Morrison, Frank Grillo.

 

Midnight in Paris

Is the grass really greener on the other side? Or, in this case, on the days of yore?

Midnight in Paris explores this in a charming, alluring, and wonderfully surreal manner. Gil Pender (Owen Wilson), an accomplished yet conflicted Hollywood screenwriter turned aspiring novelist, is in love with the city of Paris and his fiancée Inez (Rachel McAdams). The couple is vacationing in the city along with Inez’s wealthy parents. Disillusioned by the chance meeting with Inez’s pseudo-intellectual college friend Paul (Michael Sheen), Gil chooses to explore the city that he and his literary idols of the 1920s dearly admire and stroll around the city at midnight. The magical adventure that soon unravels will lead him to a ‘perplexing situation’ and change his life.

That much can be said without giving away the storyline too much. However, consider this: Midnight in Paris is not for everyone. Arts and literature enthusiast, most likely of a certain age, will obviously appreciate it the most, but that’s not to say they are the only ones who can enjoy it. The beautiful shots of The City of Light, accompanied with the soothing, delightful music of Cole Porter and Sidney Bechet, and the sheer contagious excitement of Gil discovering his dreams unfolding before his eyes (to which Owen Wilson deserves credit for keeping the film’s romantically nostalgic tone very much intact) are enough to lure anyone. If that’s not enough, surely the dazzling Marion Cottilard will clinch it.

Most of all, though, literature enthusiast or not, one should be able to relate to some degree to the main premise: is the past really better than the ‘dull’ present? Woody Allen certainly relates to it. Throughout the film you can’t help but notice that this is the director’s own attempt at answering the question; and that Gil is Allen himself. Perhaps that’s why the film feels so earnest and unassuming. We tend to produce our most heartfelt work when we seek for answers.

Finally, Midnight in Paris is uplifting as it is enchanting. It does not set out to convince us that the present is better than the past because 2010 is better than the 1920s, or that the 1920s is better than 1890s and the Renaissance. The present is better because we occupy it. Gil shows us that if your heart is in the right place, your feet will lead you to it … quite literally. (Ghian Tjandaputra Muhammad)

PG-13. 94 min. Comedy, Fantasy, Romance. 2011, USA. Director/writer: Woody Allen. Cast: Kathy Bates, Adrien Brody, Carla Bruni, Marion Cottilard, Rachel McAdams, Michael Sheen, Owen Wilson.

 

3D Movie Review Contest Winners

Oh my Gandalf, it was not the easiest task to pick up the winners from the eight finalists! Banyak menimbang ini-itu sebelum bikin keputusan, dan setiap kali bingung kami selalu mencari jawaban di dalam kulkas kami, di mana ada sebotol vodka. And, my nocturnal lifestyle is not helping either. Jadilah pengumuman pun mundur selama dua hari. Maaf, maaf!

Anyway, akhirnya kami “menyisihkan” tulisan-tulisan menggunakan bantuan “kaca pembesar” untuk mencari possible spoilers, no matter how tiny they would be. Tulisan Ishak Yunanto Setiawan tentang Dark Country adalah format penulisan resensi film yang kami cari. (Okay, let’s drop this “kami” thing, because everybody knows that I work all by myself here!) Dengan singkat, pembaca bisa tahu betul apa pendapat Ishak Yunanto Setiawan tentang film itu – how is it, what kind of realm the movie is offering, the strength, and what to expect out of it. “But he didn’t tell anything about the story there!” Oh well … if you’re looking for a synopsis, please click http://www.imdb.com. Having said that, CaramelScreen is glad to give three Buy-One-Get-One vouchers to experience Blitzmegaplex RealD 3D movies for Ishak Yunanto Setiawan.

Semua orang yang pernah belajar menulis tahu betapa pentingnya kalimat pembuka dalam sebuah karya tulis. Kalimat pembuka itu bagaikan kesan pertama waktu kita kenalan sama seseorang; apakah ia sambil mengupil, atau sambil menawarkan segelas martini? (Oh, me and my alcoholic references!) Kalimat pembuka juga menentukan karakter sebuah tulisan. Misalnya, instead of using “Oh my God!” kenapa ngga pakai “Oh my Gandalf!” saja kalau tulisan tersebut berkaitan dengan film? (Yeah, I’m praising myself.) Itulah yang membuat saya berulang-ulang kali membaca resensi Resident Evil: Extinction kiriman Edhi Retno Susanto. Despite of the awful grammar – jangan dimasukkan ke dalam hati, ya Edhi! – kalimatnya menarik dan langsung memberi karakter ke tulisan tersebut. This writer must be a wacko, or simply having the worst heartbreak. Bukan hanya itu, resensinya pun fair, jujur, blak-blakan, tanpa sugarcoating apa-apa. So, it’s only fair if I give two Buy-One-Get-One vouchers to Edhi Retno Susanto buat nonton film 3D di Blitzmegaplex RealD screens.

Now you know why I write this in bilingual, no? Because there’s a fair amount of entries submitted in Indonesian and Bahasa Inggris. Now, if only I could write in English as good as Mr. Ghian Tjandaputra Muhammad did in composing his Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 review! This blog would’ve made zillions and I’d be the Indonesian answer to Harry Knowles. (The tummy’s growing that direction, actually.) So, Ladies and Gentlemen … sorry to ruin your day, but it seems like Ghian Tjandaputra Muhammad will be getting five Buy-One-Get-One vouchers to catch more 3D movies in Blitzmegaplex.

Feeewh!

Now, your next lovely task, Dear Winners, adalah buru-buru mengirim email ke caramelscreen@gmail.com berisi alamat pengiriman hadiah dan nomor telepon yang bisa dihubungi oleh kurir (just in case). For the others … keep on going to the movies, and pray that soon I’ll get the sponsor to throw contests like this again. Thanks for all your participations!

Gifts are sponsored by Blitzmegaplex – Beyond Movies.
This announcement is not sponsored by Absolut Vodka.

Dark Country – The darker, the better

3D Movie Review Contest Entry from @shaksur

To me, movies are like chocolates: the darker, the better. Neo noir movies have always been my thing. That’s why I was filled with excitement when Blitz Megaplex screened 2009’s Dark Country. In 3D!

Dark Country is not your typical 3D movie. No extravagant visual effects and explosives as in Transformers series; nor the playful colors and cute creatures of Kung-fu Panda. With barely other color besides black and white; and low-budget visual effect (the movie reportedly cost only $5 million!), your 3D experience in Dark Country relies heavily on its brilliant storyboard and camera work. Thanks to Blitz Megaplex’s RealD 3D Technology, the wallpaper-worth pictures looked so real, as if I was sucked to the surreal world of Dick and Gina’s. It was a brand new 3D feeling, I’ve never before had.

In his first work as a director Thomas Jane did show some skills. Acting-wise, it was Jane’s best performance to date. Lauren German gave a believable performance as well. Together, their chemistry worked well enough to carry the subpar storyline. Yes, the writer must have watched Twilight Zone too much, and the dialogues felt like they were excerpted straightly from B-movies. But then again, the intensely captivating and hauntingly beautiful visuals redeemed it all. Watching in 3D is a must, because it would have been a lot less interesting otherwise.

Containing numerous graphic sex and violence scenes, Dark Country is definitely not for kids (and wusses). I looked around, the audiences were all college students, and me. Might have been a coincidence, but I really wish Blitz had certain procedures in advising inappropriate viewers not to watch a movie. (Ishak Yunanto Suryawan)

Up

3D Movie Review Contest Entry from @selviagustina08

UP menceritakan tentang impian dua anak kecil, Carl dan Ellie, untuk pergi ke negeri yang hilang di Amerika Selatan. Tahun demi tahun berlalu, kesamaan mimpi menyatukan keduanya dalam ikatan pernikahan. Sayangnya mimpi mereka tidak dapat terwujud sebelum Ellie meninggal dunia. Sebuah ketidaksengajaan yang dilakukan Carl pada seorang pekerja bangunan membuat ia harus menerima kenyataan dikirim ke panti jompo. Merasa tidak rela, Carl menerbangkan rumahnya menuju negeri yang hilang, tepat sebelum petugas panti jompo membawanya. Tanpa sengaja seorang anak bernama Russell terseret dalam petualangan besarnya.

Sebagai film pertama yang saya tonton dalam format 3D, UP meninggalkan kesan yang dalam bagi saya. Keindahan visualisasi dari Walt Disney dan PIXAR, membuat saya seakan melihat sebuah panggung khayalan yang sangat nyata. Ketika Carl menerbangkan rumahnya menggunakan balon, saya sangat terpana dan membayangkan bahwa itu benar-benar terjadi bersama saya. Pertarungan sengit dengan para anjing yang dapat berbicara juga sangat menarik. Ketika adegan tembakan peluru, saya sempat reflek menghindar karena seperti akan mengenai saya.

Dengan aliran cerita sederhana dan mudah dimengerti, UP memberikan banyak pesan moral bagi penontonnya. Pertama mengenai ketulusan cinta antara Carl dan Ellie, dimana kita dapat belajar tentang kesetiaan, saling menopang dan menerima pasangan apa adanya. Kedua, kita dapat belajar untuk tidak takut bermimpi besar karena selama ada niat dan usaha, pasti selalu ada jalan. Pada adegan Carl kembali untuk menolong Russell dan mengorbankan rumah kenangan serta mimpinya bersama Ellie, kita diajarkan makna persahabatan dan bagaimana kita harus hidup dalam kenyataan masa kini.

Walau ceritanya berakhir bahagia, namun beberapa adegan dalam film ini mampu menyentuh perasaan penonton, terutama saat kematian Ellie. Jadi jika emosi anda mudah hanyut dalam aliran cerita, ada baiknya menyediakan tissue pada saat menonton. Selain cocok untuk semua umur, sangat disarankan untuk menonton film ini dalam format 3D agar dapat merasakan petualangannya secara lebih nyata bersama orang-orang terkasih. (Selvi Agustina Gerungan)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2

3D Movie Review Contest Entry from @ghiankr

Severus Snape’s poignant gaze, encapsulated by “Lily’s Theme”, set the tone. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 felt like it was going to be something different. As it happened, it was.

Part 2 exemplifies the best of what the series has to offer. It explores all the pain and glory of the essence of Harry Potter: love and death – how the presence and absence of love and death so profoundly defines the eternal struggle of the hero and villain in each of us.

At the heart of the story are the characters, played by an immensely talented British cast. It is almost as if each and every actor was born to play their respective characters, bar Michael Gambon’s rugged Dumbledore and Ralph Fiennes’ melodramatic Voldemort. In Alan Rickman’s powerful performance, we are reminded just how integral the cast is to the series’ success.

However exceptional, Part 2 still just falls short from perfection. It benefits from starting in the middle of the book, operating in a thrilling pace. Yet, those who have waited for years to see the final battle sequence captured in screen won’t exactly come out of the theatre gulping for oxygen out of excitement. The 3D is also somewhat fruitless, apart from the roller coaster-like sequence at the beginning of the film and the exquisite details of the scattering ashes at the end.

Worry not, for both Potter enthusiasts and unconverted muggles will still find it very hard not to embrace Part 2. In any case, Harry Potter has never been about being flawless. It’s never been about being righteous for the sake of it. Love entails flaws, but in the end, love conquers all. For showing that, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 further cements Harry’s place in our world: our hearts. (Ghian Tjandaputra Muhammad)

Transformers: Dark of the Moon

3D Movie Review Contest Entry from @janitra

SIAPA YANG GAK SUKA TRANSFORMERS??? Oke, selain ibu saya. SIAPAA??

Susah untuk mencari orang yang tidak tertarik dengan film eye-candy semacam Transformers. Full-time explosion, hingga melupakan jalan cerita. Tapi tidak mengapa, karena ketika saya bilang eye-candy, it really is.

Animo masyarakat Indonesia ketika film ini keluar cukup miris. Patungnya bertebaran di mall-mall Indonesia, tapi filmnya tidak kunjung masuk. Saya hingga rela download versi bajakannya yang masih sangat jelek sampai-sampai Sam Witwicky looks more like Sentinel Prime.

Akhirnya saya kejar juga film itu ke Singapore, dan saya pun bisa menonton dengan kualitas manusiawi (despite the fact that it’s a robotic movie). Tapi, saya belum puas bila belum menontonnya dalam 3D. Dan pada saatnya film ini rilis di Indonesia, saya pun nonton 3Dnya. *ngapaen dikejar ke S’pore dong?*

Transformers versi Michael Bay memang tidak menaruh cerita sebagai keunggulannya, layaknya Power Ranger yang (sepertinya) tidak bakal cocok bila dibawa seperti The Dark Knight. Film ini memang mengutamakan visual effect sebagai bambu runcingnya, bahkan seseorang tuna rungu pun dapat menikmatinya. Atas dasar itu, saya rela menonton ketiga kalinya, hanya agar bisa mendapatkan 3D experiencenya.

And it’s worth it. Terlepas dari fakta bahwa saya nonton di bioskop Bandung yang emang murah tiket 3Dnya, the effect blows me away. Dan saya berani bilang, “Loe belom nonton Transformers kalau belom nonton dalam 3D”. It’s effin’ cool. Biasanya, efek 3D akan membuat film gelap, namun sepertinya Bay cukup cerdik dengan menambah brightnessnya dari awal, sehingga filmnya pun tetap cukup terang bila dibawa 3D.

Lupakan ceritanya, bawalah teman laki-laki, dan nikmatilah bersama-sama. Setiap ledakannya, setiap transformasi robotnya, setiap kali batu-batuan dari bulan melompat keluar dari layar perak, nikmatilah. Jangan gunakan otak Anda untuk mencerna film ini, karena pasti akan banyak sekali pertanyaan terlontar. And that’s how you enjoy a Transformers movie. (Janitra Ezra Putra)

Alice in Wonderland

3D Movie Review Contest Entry from @dearSheilaR

So, this is Tim Burton’s one of his great art, not the best but still lovely to watch! First, I love Mad Hatter. Second, I love The Red Queen. Third, I hate Mia Wasikowska.

AliceKingsleigh, dulu kita kenal sebagai gadis manis dengan rambut panjang pirang dan midi-dress biru cerah sudah berumur 19 tahun, akan menikah dengan Lord Ascott! Sayang semakin besar, ia semakin melupakan Underland. Tapi kini, Alice jatuh kelubang yang sama…

Saya amat sangat mengagumi karya seni Tim Burton, he’s epic! You named it; Edward Scissorhands, Nightmare Before Christmas, Sweeney Todd, he’s a master of dark gothic film. Sekarang ia mencoba membuat Underland berbeda seperti dulu, ia membesarkan pupil mata Jhonny Depp, menebalkan kepala Red Queen saat sedang marah, belum lagi efek pada ChesireCat yang menggemaskan. Apalagi saat battle di akhir film, semua menakjubkan! Bravo, Burton! You did it!

Visualisasi Alice yang grown-up lumayan bagus tapi saya sangat menyayangkan sekali mengapa Tim Burton harus memilih Mia Wasikowska yang sangat pucat, berusia tanggung dan terlalu kaku, atau mungkin Burton tak ingin ketinggalan tren vampire sehingga memilih wanita pucat seperti Mia? Padahal kita tau bahwa Alice kecil berkulit sedikit oranye dengan rambut lurus dan tebal. Walau banyak yang memuji akting Mia, tapi tetap saja sedikit mengecewakan untuk saya dan beberapa penggemar Alice.

Efek 3D yang sangat saya rasakan adalah ketika Alice jatuh kedalam lubang Underland, satu bioskop kompak mengaduh dan memalingkan wajah tanda efek 3D benar-benar terasa. Selebihnya, efek kurang begitu terlihat namun klimaks sampai pada pertempuran Red Queen dengan White Queen, dimana panah-panah hendak menusuk kita.

Film ini cocok ditonton dengan adik perempuanmu, nachos dan softdrink jangan lupa. In the end, Burton dan kru perlu diberikan apresiasi atas ini. Mia berhasil menyabet piala Teen Choice Award untuk kategori Movie Fight dan beberapa nominasi lainnya. Selamat, Alice! (Sheila Rizkia Alifadzanti)

Resident Evil: Extinction

3D Movie Review Contest Entry from @edhiretnos

Menonton film ini, itu seperti orang yang berani untuk PDKTan, udah berani deketin, tinggal jalanin, dan cari tahu gimana akhirnya, bisa jadian atau putus hubungan gitu aja.

Tapi, saya dengan film ini, belum bisa diputuskan hubungannya begitu saja. Setelah saya tahu saya gagal berhubungan dengan Resident Evil 3, saya berani memulai hubungan dengan Resident Evil 4. Karena apa, karena dia punya apa yang sebelumnya tdk punya, 3D.

Dan ternyata, ketika saya menontonnya, saya jatuh cinta dgn sesuatu yang baru ini, 3Dnya. 3Dnya maksimal sekali, sm seperti saya jatuh cinta pada Avatar. Tapi saya tetap merasa gagal, karena saya tidak cocok dengan sifat aslinya yang sama dengan sebelumnya. Tidak berkembang, tidak berarah, dan setengah matang. Saya hanya suka 3Dnya, bukan Resident Evilnya, tapi sekalipun ini gagal, saya tetap ingin tahu bagaimana akhirnya. Apa saya akan putus, atau saya jatuh cinta.

Film ini paling pas ditonton bersama teman-teman, atau bagi sebagian yang punya pacar, ini juga pas ditonton bersama pacarnya. Karena 3D maksimalnya, maka kita akan kaget, takut atau bahkan tertawa dibuatnya (karena begitu noraknya dengan scene most-3D, yang gambarnya keluar banget).

So far saya paling suka hanya pada 3Dnya, bukan ceritanya, apalagi adegan2 aksi klasik di dalamnya. (Edhi Retno Susanto)

Avatar

3D Movie Review Contest Entry from @batlim

One movie instantly popped in when I saw the 3D Movie Review Contest. The 2009 flick, Avatar, is arguably has the most stunning graphics to date in any movie in two millenniums, and with no doubt has given me a brand new experience when it comes to watching a 3D movie. I personally watch it twice, the normal digital 2D, and of course the 3D version.

The first one already fascinates me with James Cameron’s brilliant ideas and techniques to produce sublime special effects. The Na’vi – the CGI creations, an unusually tall blue creatures – are unlike anything ever seen before. The colors and everything about them are magnificent.

Then I watch it again in 3D.
It. Blew. Me. Away.
It was out of this world, the breathtaking effects got real booster with the 3D glasses. Pandora, a remote planet inhabited by the Na’vi, is so immersive with a sheer beauty. The detail is astounding as it feels like a never ending cavalcade of native species and scenery to wonder at. Avatar really soars above and beyond anything before it.

In my opinion, there is really no limitation on who should enjoy this phenomenon creation of the decade; everyone should enjoy the stellar graphics of Avatar. You don’t even need a bucket of popcorn, just sit and let your hunger for visual delight be satisfied. (Batara Surya)