NATCHA ON FILM — Since all the films released last week were pretty good, I knew it couldn’t last. Things took a turn this week as most films didn’t look too promising, with low-budget Thai horror “Pee Ma Waew” the worst of them all. Also coming out this week is Taiwan’s version of Rush Hour, “Sweet Alibis,” and another teen apocalyptic film, “The 5th Wave,” is also out this week.
But to end on a good note, probably the only worth-watching film this week is “Spotlight,” the story of the Boston Globe’s Pulitzer Prize-winning investigation into a local Catholic archdiocese’s child molestation allegations.
Pee Ma Waew
If you like stupid Thai comedy horror films with low budget CGI and bad, easily-digested jokes, then this probably is the movie for you.
“Pee Ma Waew” is about a ghost that was somehow released by a group of students at a high school, so it haunts the premises. The film is apparently supposed to be a comedy because all the actors playing high schoolers look as if they’re about 30 years old.
Not only do the actors look way out of their depth, but the trailer for the film is probably the worst I’ve ever seen. The whole thing looks like a terrible amateur film and I can’t believe it’s going to be shown in theaters.
This film is probably a joke gone wrong and I feel like a lot of money was wasted to make it.
Ip Man 3
Never really watched this series before but from my first impressions the film just looks like any old martial arts film you would have seen ten years ago, just to forget about it two days later.
“Ip Man 3” is about professional martial arts Master Ip, known for training Bruce Lee, who must take a stand after a band of gangsters led by a corrupt property developer tries to take over his city. The film also stars Mike Tyson, who has a huge fight scene that is teased in the trailer. I think these films are the type that allow Mike Tyson to shine the most as he doesn’t need to speak.
Overall, the film will please those who love martial arts and its history, but to me it looks like a repetition of every other martial arts film.
Sweet Alibis
I don’t really see anything special about this film either – to me, it just looks like it’s trying to copy the action-comedy style of “Rush Hour.”
“Sweet Alibis” is about a veteran detective who has become lazy, and a determined newcomer. The two partner up to solve a meaningless crime – the death of a dog who was poisoned with chocolate. However, they soon begin to realize the dog is not the only victim as clues lead them to a series of murders they must solve together.
The film is entirely in Taiwanese so it’ll probably be difficult to understand the jokes, especially for a Thai audience.
The 5th Wave
It’s a new year and the wave of lame teen-filled apocalyptic films has already begun.
“The 5th Wave” is about a five-wave series of attacks by an alien species that causes the Earth to be inevitably destroyed. Afraid and with nobody to trust, the main character, Cassie, desperately tries to save her brother and protect him. As she gets ready for the last and final wave, Cassie teams up with a young man (they will probably fall in love) in order to try save the world from being completely destroyed.
People will probably go and see this movie despite its lackluster look, just because the genre has been popular for the last 3-4 years.
Spotlight
The film looks like one of those initially boring, serious dramas that turn out to be the best movies you’ve watched.
“Spotlight” tells the true story about the Boston Globe’s Pulitzer Prize-winning investigation on one of the oldest and most respected institutions in the world – the Catholic Church. When the publication’s “Spotlight” team dive into allegations of molestation and abuse, they uncover decades-long series of events covered up by Boston’s highest level of religious, legal and government establishments, causing a wave of revelations around the world.
The film looks really interesting, not only because it’s based on a true story, but also because religion seems to be a topic that everyone loves to debate.
Cop Car
I usually enjoy watching thrillers but this one is probably the second worst film this week – after “Pee Ma Waew.”
“Cop Car” is about a small town sheriff who makes it his personal agenda to hunt two kids who stole a cop car and took it for a joy ride. The “sheriff” may or may not have something to do with the dead body in the back of the trunk which seems to be the reason why he’s opening fire on a bunch of kids. The guy hardly looks like a sheriff at all, which may be the point of the film and why it’s labeled as a “thriller.”
Overall the film doesn’t seem to have a promising plot. I feel recent thrillers have been successful for being more complex and less linear than this film
