Ogres and vampires

Over the weekend I managed to catch 2 movies; Van Helsing and Shrek 2.
On Friday I managed to watch Van Helsing with Maybel. Actually we had planned to catch the 7 pm show at Lido but Maybel was held up at work so we had to go see the 9.30 one at Orchard Cineplex instead. We had dinner before that at a fine korean restaurant at The Heeren. I even managed to get a discount coupon for our next time there. And we will be going there again soon before 22 June!
Van Helsing is one of those effects laden movies which make you go 'wow' during and leave you feeling empty after you leave the theatre. The plot is simple yet effective. Hugh Jackman plays the title role which somehow is not disimilar to his career making role as Wolverine in the X-Men franchise. The same brooding anti-hero with a dark past battling strange freaks of nature. David Wenham in the role of Van Helsings loyal sidekick,Carl, steals the show as he provides the comic relief. Of some note also is Shuler Hensley as Dr Frankenstein's monster. It was a role that required subtlety and nuance which I think was achieved to bring acroos the tender and good to be found in such an abomination of nature. However I think Kate Beckinsdale is wasted in the role of Princess Anna Valerious. Her portrayal of a spunky princess hell-bent (pun intended) on the demise of the already dead Count Dracula left much to be desired. That coupled together with an atrocious attempt at a eastern european accent made my skin crawl.Richard Roxburgh hams it up as the arch villain of the piece Count Dracula. Of particular note are all the pop references to other action films like Star Wars,Indiana Jones,Die Hard, James Bond and Alens among others.

Speaking of pop references,I managed to catch Shrek 2 with Jackie on Saturday. It must be the smartest and most hilarious movie of the year. If the first one made Disney roll in his grave, the second installment just made sure he does a dance. This time the story moves out of the swampland where Shrek resides into Far Far Away Land.Along with the culture shock of Shrek in the big city and meeting the in-laws made for one laugh-a-minute ride where all story book conventions are thrown out the door and the ogres wins the hand of the princess. Puss in Boots (voiced by Antonio Banderas) steals the show with his campy antics. The wide-eyed-lovable-pussy-cat scenes have to be seen!

After the movie, we both went to the Zion Road food centre for dinner(or is it supper?).