Vantage Point - 2008(Hollywood)

Genre : action/thriler/drama
Rating : 8/10
Cast : Dennis Quaid as Thomas Barnes, Matthew Fox as Kent Taylor, Forest Whitaker as Howard Lewis
Director : Pete Travis
Release Date : March 20, 2008 in Singapore
Similar : The Last King of Scotland (2006)

Story :
The story revolves around the assassination of the US president who is attending a counter-terrorism summit in Spain. The film is told from multiple viewpoints and the events that transpire within a 23-minute time frame, thus a Groundhog Day-like experience.


Comment :
Vantage Point is really just an action film . . . pure and simple. When seeing this film, don't expect a complex and deep storyline; it certainly isn't that. The proper approach is to just take it for what it is. I liked this film because it had no pretensions. It didn't want to pretend that it needs to be over-analyzed by the viewer. There are no lengthy sub-plots and behind-the-back conspiracy pieces, no need to explain who is fighting for what cause. And if you approach with this frame of mind, then I assure you, you won't get bored or disappointed.

It's a movie that doesn't need to be analyzed ad nauseam. It doesn't care about needing to tie up lose ends and explain all the circumstances surrounding the assassination. Approach it from *that* "vantage point" and you'll appreciate it more.

Chocolate - 2008 (Thailand)

Genre : action/drama
Rating : 10/10
Cast : Jeeja Yanin as Zen, Hiroshi Abe as Masashi, Ammara Siripong as Zin
Director : Prachya Pinkaew
Release Date : February 2008 in Thailand
Similar : Ong-Bak(2003), Tom Yum Goong (2005)

Story :
A young autistic woman named Zen (Yanin Vismistananda) has developed uncanny martial arts skills by watching television, and from living next door to a Muay Thai academy.

The girl is the daughter of Zin (Ammara Siripong), the Thai wife of Yakuza boss Masashi (Hiroshi Abe).

Zin was previously the girlfriend of Thai gangster No. 8 (Pongpat Wachirabunjong), who was jealous of her relationship with rival gangster Masashi, so he cut off one of Zin's toes, and forbade her from seeing Masashi.

Zin then falls ill with cancer, and does not have the money to pay for treatments. One day, Zen's friend discovers a list of debtors in an old notebook, from the days when Zin was a high-interest moneylender under No. 8. In order to get money to pay for her mother's cancer treatment, Zen decides to collect on the debts, which leads to confrontations with various criminal gangs and, eventually, No. 8.

News :
The star of Chocolate, Yanin Vismistananda, was discovered by director Prachya Pinkaew in 2003 when the director was working on casting sessions for Panna Rittikrai's directorial effort, Born to Fight.

Already experienced in taekwondo, Yanin underwent more training with Panna Rittikrai's stunt team.

The script for Chocolate was then developed with Yanin in mind.
The film was in production during 2006 and 2007, with promotional efforts including a cast appearance at the Bangkok Film Market during the 2007 Bangkok International Film Festival in July.

A three-minute promotional video was released online in early January, showing action scenes from the film as well as outtakes of what appeared to be painful injuries for the star and stuntmen.