More Movie Dates

We did it again.

Not once but twice in a week.

Before you start getting funky ideas, let me clear the air: the hub and I snuck out for another late night movie date after the kids went to bed.

Last Sunday night, the hub suggested watching Priest since we it was one of the two movies we'd intended to catch.

"But we've got work tomorrow!" I protested.

"So?" He shrugged nonchalantly.

"My teaching schedule's crazy on Mondays! 7 hours! Plus I've to give a short 15-minute talk to some Business Juniors on choosing their elective!"

"So? It's only a movie. I thought you wanted to watch Priest?"

"Ya but it's Monday tomorrow!"
"What difference does it make?"

So off we went on a Sunday night to AMK Hub. This time, we booked tickets online so we wouldn't make a wasted trip.

This Horror-Supernatural-Sci-fi-Fantasy-Thriller is ride up my alley. Set in a post-apocalyptic future, the comic-inspired film brings to mind the Underworld andBlade series. It stars Paul Bettany as the stoic vampire slayer who goes against his order to track down his niece's vampire kidnappers. Sexy, cool Maggie Q, a Priestess, joins in the fight against the vampires led by Karl Urban. Cam Gigandet rounds up the supporting cast as a young sheriff who's the kidnapped victim's lover.

Lots of slick, cool fights as Priest takes on the ashen creatures of the night which don't resemble humans. And when Hope seems lost, Good trounces Evil . All's well that ends well. As expected.

The film was a little too short for me, and somewhat a downer for the hub who expected a lot more action. But the teaser ending implied that we could expect a sequel and I'm already licking my lips in anticipation. ;)

Rating: ***1/2

Then on Friday afternoon, the hub sent me an sms about, you guessed it, another movie.

Yeah, my man is on a roll!

This time he was keen to watch Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. I'd initially wanted to take the kids along but the 10.45pm show was a tad too late and way past their bedtime.

After several sms exchanges, we agreed that the kids will probably be better off watching Kung Fu Panda 2 the following week.

So off we went on a Friday night to - once again - AMK Hub.

I'm a Johnny Depp fan and love his movies, especially all his collaborations with my favourite director of ALL TIME, Tim Burton. His iconic portrayal of Captain Jack Sparrow never fails to tickle my funny bone and there's no doubt this talented and versatile actor is the main star of the show.

Geoffrey Rush reprises his role as Captain Barbossa, Jack Sparrow's arch-nemesis turned conspirator. Ian McShane is Blackbeard, the new villain of the High Seas whose name sends shivers down every seaman's spine. And then there's the beautiful Penélope Cruz whose Angelica manages to outwit even the charmingly devious Captain Jack Sparrow.

Depp's sizzling chemistry with Cruz spices up the screen - without overdosing the audience with mushy-love-goo that previous POTC films suffered from, courtesy of the Will Turner and Elizabeth Swan romance. There's no Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley in this film (thank goodness) since their love story's completed. Instead, the love metre is upped a notch by Sam Claflin as the young missionary who saves the young mermaid played by Àstrid Bergès-Frisbey.

Ahhhhhhh. Young, innocent, pure love. *SIGH*

Although I still like the first and original POTC best, the 4th installment beats the other two hands down. It boasts a refreshing star-studded cast playing quirky characters and an uncomplicated fun plot.

Rating: ****

With the June school holidays round the corner and the unleashing of Hollywood's summer blockbusters, I'm quite certain I'll be visiting the cinemas again really, really, really soon.