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So Angelina Jolie looks so cool doing the kneeling down move on top
of a moving train, so there are a lot of “bullet time” moments à la
all the Matrix wannabes out there. Popcorn movie trash… true?

False! Thankfully! I wanted to watch this film because director’s
Timbor Bekmambetov’s previous work – the Night Watch series
was a visual feast. But still, I was shocked that this movie blew
my mind away.

First few scenes, the story feels a lot like the Matrix. Man crashing
through the glass window, jumping from building to building… Bullet
time. Stylistic framing. Office drone, Wesley, living a meaningless life.

But the cinematography and sound design was amazing. Very tight
shots for tension. Shaky, tilted shots for disorientation (yes,
TILTED… on purpose! Off topic: I have been criticized for doing
too many tilted shots. Yes, guilty as charged! I don’t know where
I picked up the habit from, some shots actually made sense, but a
lot did not.)

Sound design was superb. At this moment, I can only remember the
sounds of the stapler and the beating of the heart. The sound
engineering involved in the slowing down of action sequences.

The tight editing is also to be commended.

There are so many elements to pick up that I would probably have to
watch it again. I will be keeping a close eye on Timbor Bekmambetov’s
future work. He’s like the Russian answer to Luc Besson!

Did you know I am a great fan of Luc Besson? Now you know!

Watched this animation a while back.

Kung Fu again? Enough already, you say? That was what I felt. But
the two names, Jack Black and Dreamworks Animation, still drew me in.
I still had to go and watch this. And I must say, it was quite refreshing.

It worked on many levels, and in my opinion, successful because it
appeals to the adult, the child, the Asian and the Americans. I did
not feel a bad taste in my mouth like some of the Asian-inspired or
Asian-themed movies Hollywood churns out… (e.g. Forbidden Kingdom?)

Of course, the story covers familiar ground, nothing new. But the
journey there was fun. Stylistically, Dreamworks have brought their
work to the next level. The visual design is stunning. Deceptively
simple Every environment was minimal in its elements, yet detailed
and realistic. I especially loved the last scene. (Watch all the credits
scroll by, there is a last scene at the very end.)

The musical score by Hans Zimmer was also good, a mix of Chinese
instruments and western. But please… how many more times do we
have to listen to Kung Fu Fighting??

“Everybody was Kung Fu Fighting… Hii YA!”