Olympus Has Fallen: Movie Review

With the number of blockbuster movies to watch out for this year, Olympus Has Fallen seemed undermarketed compared to expected hits like Iron Man, The Hunger Games, Oblivion, The Host and the like. However, looking closer into this movie. One would find that it has a pretty solid cast, a rather ambitious premise and a potential to be one wicked action thriller. On most counts, i believe it delivered.

Mike Banning (Gerard Butler) is the lead Secret Service agent detailed to the White House but more than that, he enjoys a close relationship with President Asher (Aaron Eckhart) and his family. But when an accident makes the President lose confidence in his friend, Mike is exiled to the Treasury Office, where he still keeps one eye out for his commander in chief from a distance. When tension reignites in the Korean peninsula and the the South Korean Prime Minister visits the White House to seek the help of the United States against the North, the White House is blindsided by a daring assault in which its top officials are caught in a compromising situation. With the top brass at gunpoint, all that stands between the fall of Seoul and the future of the United States is the Speaker of the House Allan Trumbull (Morgan Freeman) and Mike Banning.

If one would ignore the glaring loopholes in the story (e.g. lapses in security protocol, the ability of the main antagonist to infiltrate the government without anybody doing a background check, the slow response time of the military and the sheer idiocy of the Secret Service strategy), it would be very easy to enjoy this movie. Directed by the dude who helmed Training Day and The Replacement Killers (Antoine Fuqua), this movie was not short of  amazing strategy, thrills and cool action sequences.  It had sort of a Die Hard vibe going for it but on a larger scale because never have I seen a movie in which the White House decimated on such a level so strategically and so efficiently. Hats off to the writers Creighton Rothenberger and Katrin Benedikt for the sheer brilliance of the material.

Olympus is the type of movie that will have audiences on the edge of their seats because of the suspense and those with weak stomachs to head for the door for the sheer brutality of the scenes. More than the violence, it gets audiences to think about what’s going on in the world today, especially since North Korea is cast anew by Hollywood as the villain of the piece. It makes audiences think about what would have happened if United 93 had hit its target on September 11 rather than crashing into a field in Pennsylavia because of the heroic acts of its passengers. It also gives an insight into the suffering of the people in the North and what drives them to act as they do.

What I loved about the movie was that it did not have a one dimensional plot. Just when one thinks that they have the entire thing figured out, the villains will reveal a new motive in which a new strategy is revealed. And the action will take off again. It did have a formulaic approach to the movie but it really worked out. Superb cast by the way. Their performances played off each other really well.

All in all, one man saving the world is still a long shot, but I thought Olympus has Fallen was great. Plus, with Morgan Freeman as acting head of state, how can one go wrong? Kudos to everybody involved in this film. A $70 million budget well spent. I had a lot of fun watching it but I’m afraid some of my hair may have turned gray in the two hours it took to finish the movie because of tension. That and a couple of my nails bitten to excess, but these were sacrifices well worth it.

Sunkyunkwan Scandal: Korean Drama Review

After my family trip to Seoul, I found it hard to let go of the city that has been so good to me with the friendly people, the cool air, and the excellent shopping that when I got back, I wanted immediately to catch up on my Korean dramas. I still had a couple on my TBW pile and immediately, I zeroed in on the Sunkyungkwan Scandal starring Park Yoo chun and Park Min young. I wanted to see Yoo chun’s Rooftop Prince (which I believe was more popular but a friend spoiled the ending for me so I decided to go with Scandal) but as it turned out, I couldn’t be happier with my choice.

Kim Yoon Hee (Park Min young) is a girl burdened by having to provide for her mother and ailing brother when her father passed away at an early age. In order to do so, she assumes her brother’s identity to work at the bookstore transcribing old books and making study guides for Sunkyungkwan university scholars, sons of noblemen who will soon take positions as government officials. But when their landlord, the Minister of War pressures the family to pay their debt worth 100 nyang or face eviction, Yoon Hee becomes desperate and she takes on the offer to become a substitute exam taker at Sunkyungkwan. A case of mistaken identity lands her face to face with Left Minister’s only son, the uptight, bookish and friendless Lee Soon Joon (Park Yoo Chun), who takes a special interest in her talents and forces her to take the exam and become a scholar herself.

I finished the entire series in a total of one day and two nights because I was just so engaged with this series. The story was pretty generic, girl disguises herself as a boy to get better opportunities, gets close to the lead guy, while another gets interested in her, forming a triangle of sorts in which the story revolves but despite the fact that this storyline has been used countless times in other dramas, it still worked out, mainly because it was set in the Joseon dynasty period in Korean history so this injected a different flavor to the execution.

Aside from being a love story, the drama touches on major political issues that people in ancient Korea had to deal with such as inequality, politics, discrimination – things that most people of today take for granted and it was blended so well that viewers get immersed in what is happening and they get invested in the characters and the outcome.

The drama was depicted in such a way that it also became a history lesson, a lesson in friendship and a lesson in family. A father’s love for his offspring, a teacher’s love for his students, a king’s love for his people, and the loyalty of good friends who will risk their lives to protect one another.

I loved the chemistry between Soon Joon and Yoon Shik/Yoon Hee. Park Yoo Chunwas awesome as the awkward and uptight nobleman who was overly optimistic and naïve to real world, and Min Young provided a perfect complementary character to his stiff and bookish Soon Joon, with the resilient, headstrong, smart and sassy Yoon Shik, who despite being disguised as a man, manages to capture Soon Joon’s heart. The two other characters who made up the Jalgeum Quartet, Geol Oh (Yoo Ah in)  was equal parts tough, sensitive and adorable, while the cunning charmer Gu Yong Ha (Song Joong Ki), kept things very interesting. He had this devilishly wicked smile that makes viewers wonder what he’s up to and this added levels to his character that one would not have expected from the beginning. I loved how their different personalities blended together, but my favorite moments were actually towards the beginning when Soon Joon and Geol Oh were both becoming confused about what they were feeling for their roommate, and how the truth was eventually revealed. The fighting about the sleeping positions were particularly hilarious. Even the main villains had their fair share of humanity towards the end, when everybody eventually stepped up their game to achieve the new Joseon that the king dreamed about.

I thoroughly enjoyed this drama. Towards the end, even when I wanted to find out how it was going to turn out, half of me wanted the drama to go on and on. The only regret that I have right now is that I didn’t watch it sooner. I have no doubt that I will be seeing it again, and again, and again in the near future.

Game Change: A Review

I was very intrigued by this movie when it was initially released because of all the controversy surrounding it, mainly Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s strong opposition to it. I read somewhere that Palin didn’t like how she was portrayed in the movie that gives viewers a peek behind in the scenes at the 2010 Republican campaign trail, and how the promising start crumbled to dust towards the finish line. I finally caught a rerun on cable and am now able to get my two cents in. The HBO movie was based on the book of the same name written by journalists John Heilemann and Mark Halperin.

The story focuses on the campaign of Senator John McCain (Ed Harris) in the 2010 US presidential elections and how his political strategists led by Steve Schmidt (Woddy Harrelson), sought for a way to counter the superstar campaign of now President Barrack Obama. In their search for a game changer, the team picks out the name of Governor Palin (Julianne Moore) from a roster of possible running mates for the Arizona senator. However, as the initial blush of the campaign wears off, the team realizes that it takes more than charisma to convince the people that Palin has what it takes to go to Washington, DC.

I actually don’t get why Sarah Palin was throwing a fit over the movie because I found it quite interesting. Sure, it showed her as an ill prepared candidate for the big leagues but she didn’t strike me as stupid, as what some people would think when they see her grasping at straws during interviews about policies. Actually, I was very sympathetic for her because she was not fully briefed about what she was getting into and had no time to brush up on the things that would make her a prime candidate. The fault laid mainly on the strategists because they didn’t look beyond the surface and haphazardly chose Sarah over other more qualified candidates who had less of a pull than the Alaskan governor. On the other hand, I do get what prompted them to choose Sarah. Still, I have to give credit to Steve’s character for his quick thinking and his devotion to Senator McCain. I actually wanted him to win in 2010 because of his strong platform and experience in steering America and the movie just strengthened my resolve and gave me a fresh perspective on the man and his principles.

I guess what’s great about the movie is that it presented the campaign as it was. The successes, the failures. This made people understand what motivated the key players of the campaign to do the things they did and act the way they did. The movie made them human in the eyes of the audiences. Also, the film does not cast judgement on the characters but rather provides audiences with the information to weigh in on the events for themselves, which is a rare opportunity.

I think that Game Change is a very compelling look at politics and the different facets of leadership that one has to develop before going to the White House. I believe that Game Change did not put Palin in a bad light but rather highlighted her different skills — she was an administrator who solely focused on the local issues, which was well and good for being governor, but this may not have worked in the national scale when more awareness about the world was needed. And that was completely okay had she not been roped into running for vice president. The movie just showed how she got drowned by her sudden rise to stardom and the subsequent analysis of her personal life that went with it. I think at the end of the day, it all boiled down to one bad call. One major bad call. Had the team had more time to work with Sarah and groom her, she would’ve been a complete game changer, but as it so happened, it all happened to quickly.

All in all, it was a great movie that got me hooked from the first minute. Great cast, and great attention to details. It totally got me interested in reading the actual book. Kudos to the main (and supporting) cast for their excellent portrayal and filmmaker Jay Roach and screenwriter Danny Strong for bringing the campaign to the screen. A total must watch.

Game of Thrones Season 2: A Premiere Review

With Joffrey assuming the Iron Throne, Westeros is in chaos, especially since King Robert Baratheon’s brother Stannis has declared his claim to the kingdom, making public Ned Stark’s disclosure that the young king is the product of incest between Cersei and Jamie Lannister.

In the far north, Rob Stark continues to win battles and advances towards the south with the intent of freeing his sisters from the Capitol and asserting autonomy from King’s Landing. Meanwhile, the men of the black have left their post to travel beyond the walls to find out what supernatural beings threaten the peace of the kingdom.

As if there is not enough drama in the South, the dragon princess Daenerys and what’s left of her loyal subjects travel without any clear direction, weak and hungry but still certain that they have what it takes to reclaim her father’s legacy. With four leaders who want to be king and everyone moving to the the Capitol to declare war, the men of the black have their work cut out for them as they alone lay between the dangers of the unknown and the safety of the Kingdom.

Game of Thrones is an epic series. This is already a given. I personally love the cinematography and the scoring for this HBO release and the acting and the cast is already a bonus.

WHO WANTS THE THRONE? Stannis Baratheon openly declares his claim on the Iron Throne, dissing nephew and obnoxious king Joffrey, whose arrogance I'm sure will kill him one day.

What I liked about the premiere is that it manages to take off where the first season left off without missing a beat, with new characters being introduced and integrated seamlessly into the story. Of course, Joffrey is as obnoxious as ever and Tyrion, who now serves as Hand of the King, is still quick witted and smart. He is still my favorite character in the series. Cersei gets her comeuppance as her son grows arrogant and power hungry and Rob seems to be the only one among those who want to control the Kingdom with reasonable enough demands. The politics and the drama in all corners of Westeros keep viewers on their toes and I suppose that in series like these, not knowing what happens next because of not reading the books just yet is an advantage.

FRESH FROM BATTLE. After years of standing in the shadows, Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) finally gets to be the one who cleans up his sister's messes.

I especially love how grown the direwolves have gotten and still, they are adorable. Also, I can’t wait to see what happens when Jon Snow and Aria meet (when they finally do) at the wall, and how the king’s bastard son Gendry, who has become somewhat Aria’s protector and friend plays off these dynamics. And of course, who can forget the adorable Bran, who tries to fill the shoes of Lord and Master of Winterfell in the absence of the adults.

There are many more events that are set to happen and the premiere leaves viewers with a promise of a great season, and I for one think its torture to wait week after week to find out how the long winter treats the kingdom of Westeros. After finishing the awesome bloodbath that was the Spartacus finale, and the cliffhanger that was the Walking Dead season ender, I’m glad that Game of Thrones came back at just the right time to provide me with my fix of danger, drama, politics and great television.