jacob-chiong Reviews

The Moment After (1999)

Believable!

[10/10 · 14 January 2024]

This movie has a believable portrayal of the post-rapture scenario in the U. S. There is no gratuitous use of special effects and the dialog is what would normally be found in real life, devoid of dramatisation and attempts to make an impact.

As we are following two FBI agents tasked to find out more, the pace is natural and unhurried. We are shown how the rapture affects a few families, with some necessary references to scriptures. As the story develops, we begin to have some insights into the rapture as prophesied in the Bible.

This movie will not sit in well with non-believers, and I expect a lot of them will be out in force to put this movie down. That is natural, as the movie was not meant to convert, but to depict what it can be like when the rapture happens.

Watch it to have an idea what some people think of the rapture. Nothing more.

Gerbert (1989–1991)

Great For Watching With Your Kids

[10/10 · 24 May 2015]

I bought a whole set of this series in VHS format to watch with my then 2-year-old. We had many hours of pure delight watching it. When my other children came along, they loved it too. The puppetry was excellent, the scripts simple to understand, and the values taught are invaluable. The set was wonderfully conceived and very attractive. The stories vary from confidence building, dealing with disappointments, to episodes of self-reflection, questions about God, and so on. The puppetry and acting were very natural and engaging. Later, I had them copied into DVDs before the tapes wear out. It was a great investment. As a parent who wants my children to grow up knowing God, this series is good to be a part of their young lives. Now mostly grown up, they do recall fondly the fun they had watching it.

Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)

An Engaging Movie

[9/10 · 18 April 2015]

This is another one of those engaging movies that I enjoyed watching. Engaging as in I find myself transported as if I am in it as an observer, immersed in the environs as it were. The set was realistically conceived, with the right amount of space-age trimmings and creative use of effects. The characters are interesting and delightful in their individual ways, and I find that each lends a different color into the story. And the soundtrack! I watched this on DVD, using an average 7.1 setup, and at one point I suddenly realize that I was so immersed in the visual and aural feasts that I was never once jarred out by the use of sound effects. In some other movies, they add those same, artificial heavy thumps repeatedly to give the impression they are action movies. Not this movie. Here the effects are used only at the right time and with the right characteristics within the context. The depth of the sound also matches the visual, so much so I felt the desired effects seen on the screen. And the big bonus is that this movie is wonderfully clean. No expletives, no gore and no ***.

3 Days to Kill (2014)

Looking Forward To Watching It Again

[9/10 · 9 June 2014]

I watched this movie on a plane and am looking forward to watching it again on the return flight. It was a lot of fun. I love it when a comedic bit pops up unexpectedly. And I never had to turn away in disgust as this movie did not rely on in-your-face gore. Many films peppered their dialog with profanity but this movie is not so. It fairly breezed along leaving one chuckling here and smiling there. This movie is believable in an unexpected way, in much the same way that a kind act today is believable but unexpected.

For some, movie reality means profuse profanity, evil and conniving elements, barbaric, rude and arrogant behaviour, inclusion of queers and jerks. For others, movie reality means strength of character, moderation, discipline, adherence to principles. This movie has more of the latter realities.

Curiously, even my wife enjoyed it.

Godzilla (2014)

Disappointing show

[4/10 · 26 May 2014]

CGI is used in movies in one of two ways. One way is to have a collection of CGI effects and build a story around them. The other way is to craft the story first, then build the CGI effects to fit. Godzilla belongs to the former. There are portions where you get the feeling that, yes, the computer guy is showing off his CGI here. But when the CGI comes into the real world, you get the jarring realization that the computer guy knows his bits and bytes, but has little understanding of physical laws. For example, the huge Godzilla leaves almost no wake as it travels swiftly through the water just below the surface. And the huge foot of the other monster can step on a roof without the roof tiles and rafters caving in, considering that just a portion of that foot is as high as that building. Almost as incredible was seeing the monster tender-footing around the tiny railway tracks that span the valley without so much as brushing the tracks that lie between its legs. To be fair, I slept through parts of it, something that seldom happens when I spend a small fortune watching a 3D IMAX version of a movie. Throughout my waking minutes the phrase "What the..." pops up over and over.

Chasing Ice (2012)

Sobering

[10/10 · 3 March 2014]

As one who has been concerned about man's negative impact on the environment, this movie still manages to draw me to the edge of my seat by the way it captures the polar warming impact in an absolutely stunning portrayal of the massive glacial melt happening within a short time. I think every young person must watch this. It is an excellent product of a very resourceful and fiercely focused individual and is definitely more worthy of one's time than even the most profitable Hollywood blockbuster.

@Dave - what is the probability of that computer in front of you coming together purely by evolution with zero intelligent input? If you can calculate that, even though it is just hypothetical, then you are a scientist. Then you can comment on evolution. Otherwise, pipe down on that topic.

Letters to God (2010)

Refreshingly Innocent in this Jaded and Filth-filled Age

[8/10 · 27 October 2013]

It is amazing that there are people still showing faith that God's love for His children is as relevant today as it was 2000 years ago. The story demands strong undercurrents of emotion and the actors delivered well. The pace is just right and the flow natural. As the tale unfolds, one begins to realize that letters written to God are received and read by God the moment the letter is written; the physical letter and actual delivery status inconsequential to the spiritual discourse it represents.

Go on. Watch this movie and follow the lives of people where a loved one is dying of cancer. Discover how these people overcome bitterness and draw strengths from God in the face of losing a loved one.

Ghost Ship (2002)

Gory

[3/10 · 14 June 2013]

There are movies that hold you in unrelenting suspense, and when your knuckles have turned white the release comes, and you feel a warmth spreading slowly through your chilled limbs and you begin to breathe. This movie is not one of those. Within minutes you will know what is going to happen next, and sure enough, it happens. Unfortunately, nothing is left to our imagination, and this movie takes an infantile delight in showing off, albeit unconvincingly, what the director must think is a special effect when it attempts to do gore in as brutal a fashion as possible. Laws of physics are discarded as only some directors can discard. Biological science and facts are not spared either. You come away with stomach turning and at the same time wondering, are they serious?

I would not consider this a horror movie. I find this more of a ruin-my-day movie. No enjoyment, no suspense, no humor, no brain. Enough gore in your face to make you, not recoil, but to puke.

Company of Heroes (2013 Video)

Watch It For The Fun Of It

[8/10 · 6 March 2013]

This is a straight, good guys versus the bad film. You have brave soldiers ready to die following orders, soldiers that volunteer without hesitation and soldiers putting others before self. Very remarkable. Such a fresh and rewarding film where you are spared the usual evil plots, selfish conniving bastards, cowardly spoiled brats, and those sickening overuse of newly discovered CGI effects.

It is fortunate that I am not familiar with the weapons in use at the time of the story or, like others, I may be distracted by the wrong choice made. Much the same way a physicist would be distracted when something is shown in complete conflict with physical laws.

Just grab your snacks, sit back and watch it for the fun of it.

Happy Go Lovely (1951)

An enjoyable time watching

[8/10 · 21 July 2008]

I find this movie very enjoyable. The plot is simple and easily digestible, the humour is light and clean, and because the storyline involving mistaken identity is quite common, I find myself looking forward to how this movie flesh this story out. Turns out to be very nice. The performance of the female lead is admirable; her portrayal of an innocent, naive girl trying to fabricate some white lies to David's sophisticated role was very charming. I also find Vera's dancing very, very well done. I find myself drawn to her toes as she pranced about the stage effortlessly and flawlessly.

For those who have had enough of profanity-filled movies of today, you will enjoy this movie thoroughly.