This was quite a hit when it first screened, and highly hyped too. I would say yea it was pretty good, and some really artistic presentation of it too. But otherwise I didn’t it was anything special. Other than Takeshi, the rest of the cast didn’t feel like they have much development. They seemed 2D. The second gripe I have is they revealed too much at the start, so there wasn’t the oomph factor when you tried to play detective alongside. Basically, no suspense for viewer, the only thing left is to wait and observe how the in-show characters uncover the truth.

As the title suggests, pain. It isn’t going to move towards a happy ending anyday, so if you are the sort to cringe at a sombre theme, maybe avoid this, but I supposed I’m such a laggard that everyone else who wanted to probably watched it already hurhurhur… Yea I didn’t know what else to say, don’t have much wow factor with me.

(p.s. oh nos I’m starting to indulge in lots of relaxation before my exam is over)

This is the 2007 adaptation of a short story penned by Elmore Leonard. Well apparently there was an older movie adaptation back in 1957, but obviously I didn’t watch that. So no way to compare, but this version in itself is pretty decent.

Christian Bale (as Dan Evans) and Russell Crowe (as Ben Wade) gave magnetic performances in this movie. Bale plays a small time rancher who had lost one of his leg, struggling to meet ends and feed his family. His big chance for wealth comes with an unlikely encounter with Ben Wade. Wade is the boss of an outlaw gang who starts to be disillusioned with his life. While he seeks a peaceful life down south, authorities clamp down on him and successfully nabbed him with Dan’s help. Wade is scheduled to be sent to Yuma prison with the 3:10 pm train from town of Contention. Thus begin the journey of a small escort group with Wade’s gang in pursuit. Dan, in need of money, offered to be part of the escort on terms of reward on successful delivery.

Throughout the journey, we discover more about Dan’s and Wade’s character, and the subtle ways in which they are similar. Wade also unsuccessfully psychoed Dan to leave and free him. At the town of Contention, with time ticking, the outlaw gang surrounded the building Dan and Wade is in. The rest of the escort had either died, or gave up. Against all odds, Dan insisted on completing the job no one else dared to. Someone has to deliver Ben Wade to the train station, and time waits for one man…

It was all great until that point, but there are some rather ridiculous stuffs afterwards. Like how Dan can move with such alacrity with a wooden leg when earlier in the show he seemed to have a little trouble. The more shocking stuff is Wade’s reaction to the whole incident, in which he probably see a mirror of himself. What happened towards the final scene brought many audiences to a state of disbelief. Just a moment before THAT happened, you can figure out that it is coming, but it just doesn’t make too much sense. But all in all, the overall package is an impressive film that deserves to be watched.

Let’s see what do we have here. Another cop show, yes, but a much fresher perspective. The focus over here is on covert operations, as suggested by the title, specifically audio spying or whatever you call that.

This whole show is a blast, epic might I say. I really enjoyed it. To be fair it didn’t have the kind of action sequences like gunfire fights or close combat awesomeness, but the cream lies in the plot. Very often you feel a kind of heavy tension between characters, and you sense the dark brooding feeling, never knowing what to expect next.

Also, the question of how moral the cops are in handling what they need to, and what they want to, is raised through specific incidents along the show. I kind of like this. It is human, it is realistic. Shouldn’t reveal too much for people who had not watched this. Please do catch this, it is friggin’ cool.