Doctor Popcorn: The Unborn (2009)

Showing posts with label The Unborn (2009). Show all posts

[Opening This Week] 12 Rounds of Knowing Unborn Confessions at Talentime

This week there are tons of films coming to our theaters. 6 to be exact. But I will only be previewing 5 of them in this week's 'Opening This Week'. This week I will be previewing a new local film called Talentime directed by the famous Yasmin Ahmad who brought us films like Sepet and Gubra. The other films that are coming out this Thursday are Knowing, Confessions of a Shopaholic, 12 Rounds, The Unborn and My Bloody Valentine, which I will not be previewing today.

Lets get straight into things then. Starting off with some local flava.

Talentime (2009)
Starring: Jaclyn Victor, Harith Iskandar, Pamela Chong, Adibah Noor
Directed: Yasmin Ahmad
Release: 26 March 2009
Country: Malaysia
Language: English, Malay, Cantonese, Mandarin, Tamil
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Runtime: 124 mins
Rated: U

A music teacher puts up an inter-school talentime show. When practice and rehearsals commence, emotions run high exposing human feelings like jealousy. This funny yet serious film is described by Yasmin Ahmad as "a story full of joy and pain, hope and despair, a host of beautifully-written songs, and rich, rich characters."

I am ashamed to say that I have never seen any of Yasmin Ahmad's work. Not even Sepet, Gubra or Mukhsin. I don't really know why but if there is anybody out there reading this who is willing to lend me the films, I'll be more than happy to watch them. In any case, this film should be watched. Support the local entertainment industry people!

Confessions of a Shopaholic (2009)
Starring: Isla Fisher, Joan Cusack, John Goodman
Director: P. J. Hogan
USA release: 13 February 2009
Msia release: 26 March 2009
USA gross to date: $42,186,358
Worldwide gross to date: $73,203,616
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Runtime: 105 mins
Rated in USA: PG for some mild language and thematic elements
Rated in Msia: U
IMDb User Rating: 5.8/10
Rotten Tomatometer: 23%

Based on the popular Chick-lit novel by the same name, Confessions of a Shopaholic is about Rebecca Bloomwood (Isla Fisher) who is an obsessive shopper. When she lands a job at a economics magazine by accident, she finds herself closer to realizing her dream of writing for the fashion magazine, Alette.

Looks very much like your typical chick-flick. But looks can be deceiving. To get a better grip of what the film's about, check out Louis' review.

Knowing (2009)
Starring: Nicolas Cage
Director: Alex Proyas
USA release: 20 March 2009
Msia: 26 March 2009
USA gross to date: $8.8mil opening, est. $24mil opening weekend
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Sci-Fi
Runtime: 115 mins
Rated in USA: PG-13 for disaster sequences, disturbing images and brief strong language
Rated in Msia: U
IMDb User Rating: 7.2/10

After a time capsule is dug up and opened in front of an elementary school, a teacher finds some frightening predictions in the form of numbers. Some of the predictions have already come true but all doubt of the predictions is removed when horrible disasters start to happen.

Its been out for barely 3 days and Knowing is getting some positive reviews. From the trailer, the films looks awesome. I must say, I'm a big fan of disaster movies. I'm excited for this one.

12 Rounds (2009)
Starring: John Cena
Director: Renny Harlin
USA release: 27 March 2009
Msia release: 26 March 2009
Genre: Action
Runtime: 110 mins
Rated in USA: PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action
Rated in Msia: 18SG
IMDb User Rating: 6.0/10

When a cop's girlfriend is kidnapped by an ex-convict who holds a grudge against him, he needs to complete 12 challenges before he gets her back.

This movie reminds me so incredibly much of Die Hard 2 which was my favorite of all the Die Hards and Speed which is my favorite Keanu Reeves movie of all-time. No surprise there seeing that its directed and produced by the guys who made Die Hard 2 and Speed.

The Unborn (2008)
Starring: Odette Yustman (Grannie Undies wearer), Gary Oldman
Director: David S. Goyer
USA release: 9 January 2009
Msia release: 26 March 2009
USA gross to date: $42,670,410
Worldwide gross to date: $62,213,489
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Runtime: 87 mins
Rated in USA: PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and terror, disturbing images, thematic material and language including some sexual references
Rated in Msia: 18PL
IMDb User Rating: 4.6/10
Rotten Tomatometer: 13%

Casey Bell hated her mother for leaving her as a child. However, when inexplicable things start to happen, Casey begins to understand why she left. Plagued by merciless dreams and a tortured ghost that haunts her waking hours, she must turn to the only spiritual advisor, Sendak. With his help, Casey uncovers the source of a family curse dating back to Nazi Germany - a creature with the ability to inhabit anyone or anything, which is getting stronger with each possession. With the curse unleashed, her only chance at survival is to shut a doorway from beyond our world that has been pried open by someone who was never born. (Source: Cinema Online)

This actually looked like a decent movie early on. But it hasn't gotten great reviews so I don't really know. Take a look at the trailer for yourself.

Malaysian Censors Have Gone Too Far

If you're Malaysian and you're reading this, you know how bad the censorship can be in this country. The Film Censorship Board of Malaysia is a government body that screen movies before being shown in Malaysia. If a film is allowed to be shown here at all, scenes that are deemed inappropriate to be shown to the Malaysian public are cut out. Yet, they have a ludicrous rating system.

Before 2007, movies were either allowed to be seen by all ages or by people over the age of 18. Only two years ago, the PG-13 rating was implemented to join the other ratings- 18SX (seks; sex), 18SG( seram, ganas; horror, violent), 18PA (politik, agama; politics, religion) and 18PL (pelbagai, variety). If a film is restricted to an audience of over the age of 18 then why do scenes that contain violent, sexual, political or religious elements need to be completely ommited from films? If you want to have the age limit at 18, don't censor stuff. If you want to censor stuff, lower the age limit. Or at least classify more films as PG-13.

Check here for a list of films banned from showing here in Malaysia.

Apart from knowing how good the censorship board is at cutting scenes out from films, I also found out how good they are at adding certain aspects to a picture.

Here's a poster I showed you guys at the beginning of the year for the movie The Unborn, which opens here in Malaysia next Thursday (26 March) and which incidentally has an 18PL rating. Sorry kids. You won't be seeing little unborn kids in cinemas anytime soon. In any case, here is the genuine poster released by Rogue Pictures.

Yesterday, as I was flipping through the Malaysian Today newspaper, Jeremy pointed out to me that there was The Unborn poster was in the paper and he asked me to look at it. I obliged, only to find this hilarious atrocity.

I apologize for the picture quality. You know how camera phones are. But more importantly, look at what happened! She's wearing Grandma undies now! I honestly could not stop myself from laughing my butt off. Maybe you can't really tell from this shot but it is so obviously Photoshopped onto there. If you get your hands on this poster in the papers or whatever, take a close look.

I have never ever seen this kind of manipulation outside out the theater before. Thats why I'm astounded by this. Here's my problem. Why choose to use this poster and go through the trouble of Photoshopping it when there are other posters to use.

Like this one. Wait. Maybe this has too much of the horror aspect. Oh no, we can't use this. Its too scary.

How about this one? I don't think so. Too religious I say.

This one? Maybe too sexual. Who knows?

Whatever the reason was for the people who makes the decisions to decide to edit then publish that particular poster, it doesn't change the fact that it was unnecessary and very silly.

In my honest opinion, censorship increases the need and desire of the public to purchase pirated copies of these foreign films deemed inappropriate for cinemas. By taking away the good stuff and showing chopped up films in the cinemas, people are more willing to watch these films at home on their tiny TV sets than in the theater. But I do not condone piracy and thats why I say scrap the plans to increase foreign film ticket prices and get the censoring in this country in order.

Although I very much despise the work done by the Film Censorship Board of Malaysia, I will help them publicize one thing.

If there are any creative, dedicated and experience photo editors out there, who preferably are good at Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator, contact the Censorship Board now. They are hiring. They need more Grannie Undies to be created.

DoctorPopcorn. Out.