Update: 365 Movie Challenge

That's how I feel. Really. 

I failed. Failed to watch 365 movies in a year. Failed to review films. Failed to update my blog. Never mind, failure is temporary. This year, I'm going to take it slow. I won't be challenging myself to watch hundreds of films. But I'll try to watch a lot and review some of them. Before moving on to the list of the films that I have watched this 2013, this is the continuation and final list of 2012:

I'm not giving up that easily.

Man of Steel (2013)

I waited for almost two weeks to post my review of this film because I wanted to be well informed on some of my favorite (and even the not so favorite) movie critics' reviews. I noticed that the ratings of this movie is well-balanced (an average rating of 5-6 out of 10). Not because the reception of the critics is lukewarm, but because some of them rated very low with intensely negative comments and them some rated extremely high with glowing reviews. I think it's because the critics are divided. On one side are the fanatics of Richard Donner's classic Superman (1978). This movie set the bar for all the Superman movies. And the bar is so high that no other version of the DC comic book could ever compare. On the other side, are the ones who are ready to give another version a chance. A chance to shine without its predecessor's shadow looming over. I am one of the latter side.

I gave this movie a chance. I have seen Superman (1978) and I did love it. I loved the humor, the warmth and the good feels. I thought that everything was well executed, from the effects to the storyline down to the acting. However, that movie is not for my generation. It did not speak to me in ways I could not describe. I was not immersed in the movie from start to finish. I did not have goosebumps. Sure, Richard Donner's movie is a classic. But Zack Snyder's Man of Steel is epic.

Stoker (2013)

Assuming that actual human beings visit this blog of mine, I apologize for not being able come through and for being the lazy ass that I honestly am. Moving on. For my first review of the year, I chose Stoker. Why? Because it's a goddamn amazing movie that's why.

This marks as the first non-Korean movie of the great director, Chan-wook Park. I suggest watching his previous films like Oldboy and Lady Vengeance to further understand his style, camera work and story-telling signature. Credit should also be given to Wentworth Miller who wrote the incredibly refreshing script. Stoker starts with the almost indifferent and unaffected girl named India Stoker, played by the ever dependent and wildly entertaining Mia Wasikowska, in her own world. We see through her eyes the events that took place after the death of her father. She meets her Uncle Charlie Stoker whom, together with her flighty and unsteady mother (Nicole Kidman at her best), she never knew existed. This is where the story starts. The uncle, played by Matthew Goode who banked gold in this role, is mysterious, magnetic, eerily charming and freakishly unaffected by his brother's death. India is drawn to him. Her mother is definitely attracted to him. But what are his motives? Why is he still in their house? Do they really want him to leave? These are only few of the questions that will arise throughout the movie. You will understand once you watch this film. You will see the palpable tension that the director effectively captures. You will feel the erotic connection that builds up and threatens to consume.