2013.4.26 Now Playing

A Happy Event (18)

Romance, Drama / 109 / French

The story revolves around smart girl Barbara (Louise Bourgoin) and romantic Nicolas (Pio Marmai). Barbara, a graduate student in psychology, meets movie-director-wannabe Nicolas at the DVD rental shop where he works. The two quickly fall head-over-heels in love and move in together. They are happy together. His smile gives her butterflies, and his eyes give her hope and comfort. Their relationship goes as smoothly as ever until he suggests they have a baby. Dreaming of a happy family, she gets pregnant. But soon she faces a harsh reality that threatens her whole universe with the radical change of her body. After giving birth, she frequently gets angry and finds it impossible to juggle her career and family. Ironically, it’s not a happy event for Nicolas either. He gives up on the dream of being a movie director and becomes an employee of a company. Their relationship starts to fall apart.

Unlike other romantic movies, which mostly end up with couples walking down the aisle, this movie sheds light on the lesser-known struggles with realistic insight. Anyone who might ever want to marry and have a baby or who has already had such experiences would love the film.

I Have to Buy New Shoes (12)

Romance, Drama / 114 / Japanese

Directed by Eriko Kitagawa and produced by Shunji Iwai, a Japanese director known for the 1995 film “Love Letter,” this film’s trailer had fans of melodramatic romance in a frenzy.

And from the get-go as siblings Sen (Osamu Mukai) and Suzume (Kiritani Mirei) descend on the city of light, the scenery, music and cinematography will capture Francophiles and romantics alike.

And things get really fascinating when, in a matter of seconds, the young Suzume unloads all of her brother’s luggage - while he’s busy trying to set up his tripod - and leaves him by the Seine.

Meet cute Aoi (Miho Nakayama), an older Japanese woman who calls Paris home and slips on Sen’s passport, breaking her high heel. Thus begins one of the two romances of the film.

As the two walk around town getting to know each other, Suzume is in the middle of her own love affair with an artist boyfriend who Suzume fears doesn’t love her as much as she does him.

After the initial half-hour, the story evolves at a slower pace as Aoi’s secret is revealed.

If you like fast-paced plots, this may not be the film for you, but nevertheless, the snapshots of life in Paris seen through the eyes of a Japanese tourist make the film interesting in a visual sense.
Iron Man 3 (12)

Action / 129 / English

It is not a story of a super hero who is always full of confidence. It focuses more on the human side of the hero. Iron Man loses everything from fame, love and friendship to suits of armor. Devastated Tony Stark confronts a question, “Do I make the suit or does the suit make me?”

In the aftermath of New York being attacked by aliens (in the last movie “The Avengers”), Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) feels insecure for the first time in his life. He is haunted by nightmares and post-traumatic stress.

To overcome the fear, he spends days and nights developing stronger armor.

But soon, he is attacked and destroyed by his toughest enemy, AIM.

He loses everything he had except for one armor suit. Infuriated, he seeks vengeance against Mandarin (Ben Kingsley), the head of AIM.

Now, he has to save the world and his lover (Gwyneth Paltrow) from terrorist threats.

Bombs go off in crowds of people and buildings are destroyed in the film. The spectacular action effects deserve to be seen in 3-D.

There’s also an after-credits stinger, so don’t leave too early or you risk being disappointed.

Pinocchio (All)

Animation, Fantasy / 86 / Italian

Our Daring Pinocchio will usher animation lovers into a fantastic adventure on the island of toys.

To revive the wooden boy, companies from four countries had collaborated on the film, including CometaFilm (Italy), Iris Productions (Luxembourg), 2d3D Animations (France) and Walking The Dog (Belgium), under the helm of leading Italian animator Enzo D’alo and illustrator Lorenzo Mattotti.

Unlike the Disney version, the new movie is much more faithful to the original book of Carlo Collodi.

The Korean version is dubbed in Korean by singer Jo Kwon of 2PM, actor Sung Dong-il and Jang Gwang. Jo Kwon’s hyper-cute voice will certainly add flavor to the joyous adventure.

As we all know, the story begins when the lonely carpenter Geppetto brings to life the wooden puppet. The mischievous boy runs into lots of trouble and at last goes to the island busting with pleasure, where he turns into donkey. Luckily, he escapes with the help of a blue-haired fairy. But soon after, he finds himself in the stomach of a shark and meets his father Geppetto, who was also swallowed by the sea monster. Will the naughty boy extricate himself and his father from the life-or-death situation?

To Rome with Love (19)

Comedy, Romance / 111 / English

In line with director Woody Allen’s style, this movie is a feast for the eyes with some beautiful shots of Rome.

The storyline is easy to follow, even as there are three stories to keep track of.

The lives and loves of those in Rome, both residents and visitors, are examined in this light comedy that tackles some big questions.

One story revolves around big-shot American architect John (Alec Baldwin) playing a sort of spirit guide to student Jack (Jesse Eisenberg) as the latter struggles to find out whether he should stick with dependable Sally (Greta Gerwig) or take a chance on her wild, free-spirit friend Monica (Ellen Page).

As if that’s not enough, there is a newlywed couple that tests the boundaries of their marriage by flirting with others and cross-cultural in-law conflict when an American opera director (Woody Allen) refuses to retire and recruits the father of his soon-to-be son-in-law.

Penelope Cruz shines as the femme fatale in a red dress while Allen resumes his usual neurotic, anxious character.

Despite the fusion of old and new actors, the comedy will better entertain a “mature” audience than the younger ones.

Overall, it’s a feel-good movie that will bring a smile to your face that fits perfectly with a warm spring day.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower (15)

Drama / 102 / English

For a movie based on a book directed by the writer himself, “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” did not disappoint the all-too-protective fans of novelist Stephen Chbosky unlike the epic train wreck that was “On The Road” (2012). The heart-wrenching, and then warming, tale of the shy narrator Charlie (Logan Lerman) unfolds through a rare friendship he fosters with Sam (Emma Watson) and Patrick (Ezra Miller).