Archive for the ‘movie’ Category

The Boat that Rocked Poster

That does it, it’s official, I love British movie more that I love American, French or even Indonesian (excepting the Naga Bonar which I still think is one of the best masterpiece ever !!! ).

The latest establishment is of course The Boat that Rocked, which is not only uproariously fun and hilarious, but also heart warming and crowd pleaser in a real sense.

Written and directed by Richard Curtis, a name you’ve probably heard from a like such as Mr. Bean’s Holiday and Love Actually, the movie which is loosely based on the real Radio Caroline, tells a story of a Radio Rocks, a pirate radio that transmit from an old merchant vessel off the northern coast of the United Kingdom during the age of rock and roll.

The story started as Young Carl (Tom Sturridge) who was sent by his mother to stay with his Godfather, Quentin (Bill Nighy) to straighten up after he got himself expelled from his school for smoking, something that Quentin not surprisingly claimed as a spectacular mistake.

Soon on board the ship, Young Carl get acquainted with the rest of the ship crew, who are no other than the Dj’s and operators who run the Radio Rock 24 hour a day, non stop. Characters who were played by a like such as Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Rhys Darby, Nick Frost, Chris O’Dowd and many more, promised nothing less than excellent acting play as well as smart yet funny dialogue, complete with a mixed British  accent.

It was the age of the hippies, hence Young Carl adventure on board the ship will ultimately evolve around booze, drug and sex, especially sex. But make no mistake, if you think this is just another happy go lucky movie, who presents stupidity, like most Hollywood comedies do, as it main attraction you are catastrophically wrong.

This movie is not for the faint hearted. There are plenty of heart break moments, emotional scenes and some element of surprise here and there, that were embedded as a part of the story. There were the antagonists too, suitably played by Kenneth Branagh and Jack Davenport who posed as a government suits, aimed to close down the Radio Rock.

What complete this movie more than anything else (i.e. pretty girls, festive environment and nudity) is of course an excellent sound tracks from the names of the decades such as Beach Boys, Smokey Robinson, Skeeter Davies and many others. What makes them special, is that the music are more than just running at the back, but instead complement the story and helps incite the emotion, relating the scene with our own experience (which only happens only if you are either coming exactly from that decade, or well verse with the rock n roll music).

All in all The Boat that Rocked will make an excellent weekend movie, one that you can watch many times over.  The story line is light, yet meaningful, well balanced by smart dialog, catch quotes and convincing play from its casts. Now, I’m not so much inclined to quantify my judgment by passing score, but if I must, I will gladly gives this movie 8.5 out of 10. And yes, its that good.

Hotel Babylon (courtesy of bbc.co.uk)

What on earth is wrong with the British TV series.

 Just as every time I fall in love with the show, something changes and the worst change always come when the familiar main character of shows gone.

 This is what is exactly happened to Hotel Babylon, an acclaimed BBC TV series, that is now entering its 4th season. At first they get rid off Tamzin Outhwaite, who played the pretty and glamorous blond hotel manager Rebecca, who was a central character of the series in season one and two.

 And now there goes Charlie Edwards,  played by Max Beasley, the charming deputy GM, which eventually get promoted to GM position, replacing Rebecca, before being ousted by the producers.

 And the were not the only two. Along the first and second seasons, characters were come and goes. Some were applauded and cheered, others were waived with tears and sorrow.

 And mark this, this is not the first popular British TV series that done this. Several years ago, another BBC series called Spooks did exactly the same things. The main characters were either dead, or resigned.

I’m not sure why they did, and continuously done that. Perhaps it was a way to differentiate them with American, or perhaps it is some knack that the UK audience get accustomed and fall for. But whatever the reason and intention was, I don’t like it.

 My advice, If you looking for easy watch, happy ending, TV series that will satisfy your crave, avoid the British.

 Have you watch UK series before ? Do you like it ? What do you think ?