Sunday, January 27, 2013

I found myself being occupied with watching drama and movies, analysing companies for the investment appraisal, working for the sake of personal income and taking classes for ACCA. Consequently, I neglect my blog. From July 2012 to early December 2012, I took very challenging task by taking four professional papers, P1 to P4. It occupied most of my time. Today, I am taking the last professional paper, P5 while waiting for the result for P1 to P4 on early February 2013.

I try to publish interesting articles about investment once I have an interesting ones to share with you, the readers. My journey to top class investor is quite exciting although it is long one, which nobody wants to take. I hope that I will have more free time to blog if I clear all papers by June 2013.

Books
Title: The Alpha Masters: Unlocking the Genius of the World's Top Hedge Funds
Author(s): Maneet Ahuja, Myron Scholes and Mohamed El-Erian
Rating:8/10
Remark: It is quite good book if you want to know what attributes of successful investors quoted by themselves are. The author's profile in summary is quite interesting one.

Title: The Value Investor
Author(s): Ronald Chan and Bruce C. N. Greenwald
Rating:9/10
Remark: An interview of different value investors in different countries, majority of them are based in USA. Different experiences bring me insights about how to think about value investing.

Title: Thinking, fast and slow
Author: Daniel Kahneman
Rating: 10/10
Remark: It is very good book. It educates us on how our mind function. System 1 and System 2 theories are excellent. With this knowledge, I will be able to improvise my investing framework for better clarity of analysis.

Title: The success equation : untangling skill and luck 
Author: Michael Mauboussin
Rating:8/10
Remark: It is wonderful book that explains how you can improve the rate of winning in certain game. It also define how winning comes about. Very helpful to affirm my investing framework.

Title: Einstein of Money: The Life and Timeless Financial Wisdom of Benjamin Graham
Author: Joe Carlen
Rating: 8/10
Remark: It is excellent extension of Benjamin Graham biography to any earlier works of Graham biography written by other authors. Additional details brought me some tears and regret that I am not able to meet him and learn from him. It confirm my suspicion that he is extremely intellgent when I read his financial articles.

Title: Tap Dancing to Work: Warren Buffett on Practically Everything, 1966-2012
Author: Carol J. Loomis
Rating: 7/10
Remark: It is compliation of fortune articles associated with Warren Buffett. There are additional commentaries.

Auric Pacific Group Limited

I bought two batches of Auric stocks in different dates and at different prices. I bought Auric stock at $0.72 on 19 January 2011 (Batch 1) and at $0.52 with subsidy of $14.72 (OCBC promotion) on 25 August 2011 (Batch 2). Over the holding period, I collected divdends too. I sold them at $1.10 on 13 Oct 2012. My return for batch 1 and batch 2 are 57.1% and 111.8%.
 

It is grossly undervalued stock because of the followings:
1) Analysts stop their coverage on this stock when it bought the stake in mining. To them, it is complex to value.
2) To most market participants, they felt that it overpaid for the acquisition of Delifrance and large stake of Food Junction. They also felt that it sold prized building too early
3) Lippo is the largest owner of Auric. It is very passive investor by far.
Auric has huge portfolio of different consumer brands that you can find in the supermarket. To name a few, they sell Sunshine, Topone, SCS Butter. It is also local dealer for POST, SaraLee, Kraft, and etc.
How did I find it? I was finding hard an investment opportunity. When I saw vending machine selling only Gardenia near to MP office, I look at QAF Ltd (the owner of Gardenia) and then its competitors. Among them, there is Auric. Its financial statements give me an impression that it is badly undervalued by Mr Market. Its net asset is not declining at all. Its earning power was stagnant.
Despite of no visible catalysts causing the rise of share price, I bought it and sat on it like those established value investors: Warren Buffett with his 'General' category in his portfolio, Michael Burry and etc bought illiquid stocks and sat on them until they turn profit accordingly.
It illustrates that you can make money on boring, unloved, ignored, or/and illiquid stocks. If you hear anything like‘you must avoid illiquid stocks’, it is not true to that extent. In fact, it is damn hard to resist the temptation of selling it when you hear nothing about this stock. I nearly sold it but the news of Auric appointing new CEO surprised me, causing me to cancel the sell order.
Auric made very good move so far this year by appointing Ms Saw to CEO seat. Although Ms Saw should be responsible for some MRT problems but it is not justified if people pinpoint her for all kind of problems, some of which she had no control. She is very impressive when I checked her career. Before her, SMRT was making losses. She solved it by converting empty spaces and walls into rental-collecting stores. It is indeed fitting for her to work for Auric!
When I saw recent quarterly report which she finally runs CEO position, the cost level was tightly controlled. I was wow-ed. It is flat growth on most of the cost drivers. Incredible! There is slow movement of share price rise.
The Edge featured Auric few weeks ago. It asked Ms Saw on how she would run it. She said that you see her performance. I like this comment. She is not making comments and let her results speak itself! I am pleased that Ms Saw is the ultimate catalyst, which is unexpected, for Auric.
However, I am not fortunate to sell it at higher price when it rose further after I sold. Nevertheless, I made money.
Transcontinental Realty Investors, Inc
I bought TCI shares at USD$4.52 on 11/02/2011 (US time) and sold at USD$4.70 on 21/09/2012 (US time) – the profit is 3.98%. Including transaction cost, the profit is 2.07%. It is my mistake to buy it and this money could have invested in better investment opportunity, which I discover later.
TCI has fallen so much due to disagreement with state government body over the schedule of building. I thought it is undervalued because this is only temporary one. Furthermore, there is decent margin of safety.
The state government decided to cut business with TCI and demand repayment of the cost of payment it had already paid. It is not a problem for me to press panic button. There is no big deal as TCI has sufficient asset buffer to keep it as a going concern. On the hindsight, I should have bought more stocks at lower price. The rationale that I did not is that I may have better investment opportunities in near future, which it did happen.
As many value investors and fundamental investors hold their selected stocks, they learn more about these stocks during the holding period. Likewise, I observe the shrinkage of net assets, causing a decline in asset power. Therefore, the margin of safety is diminishing over time. There are a large number of sales and purchase of assets all the time, which is necessary to improve earnings. It is not proper strategy compared to making money by having net interest income via rental or loan route. To protect our capital, it is better to sell rather than praying for luck to make decent profit. In short, it is better to look for an investment opportunity that has better probability of getting bigger profit return with limited downside than 50-50 chance of getting small return.

STC and WBL


Movies and Dramas

J Edgar (Hollywood Movie 2011)
Synopsis:
It is about the life of J Edgar, the first director of FBI. It tells how FBI is formed and was managed by J Edgar Hoover.
Rating:8/10
Remark: Good and interesting story.

In Time (Hollywood Movie 2011)
Synopsis:
Time is currency. They work for time. One day, someone flood time and the economy malfunctions.
Rating:8/10
Remark: Shocking good show.

Shark Night (Hollywood Movie 2011)
Synopsis:
Seven young teenegers are having vacation at a quiet and unknown place. One day, a shark attacked them.  As the time goes by, they learn that there are more sharks lurking in the water. How will they survive?
Rating:5/10
Remark: Mere gore show.

The Whistleblower (Hollywood Movie 2010)
Synopsis:
An American lady originally work as cop and took up the new job as UN office to monitor the situations in Bosnia, a country who has just ended the war. She discover human trafficking crime happening. It involves UN officers, cops and many important figures. What shall she do with this matter?
Rating:8/10
Remark: It is good show, underrated by the public in the world.

Strawberry Night (Japanese Drama)
Synopsis:
A lady who was rape victim as a young girl took the job at police leading a team of plainclothes cops. She work hard enough to prove her worth in front of males in the cops.
Rating: 7/10
Remark: Decent detective show

Hugo (Hollywood Movie 2011)
Synopsis:
A orphan was sent to work in a clock tower at the railway station by his uncle. Meanwhile, he is fixing the robot who can write on the piece of paper with the aid of a book left by his late father.
Rating:7/10
Remark: Decent.

Nameless Gangster (Korean Movie 2012)
Synopsis:
It starts with how Choi Ik-hyun develops his career from poor man to rich man. Basically, he builds his wealth by being bridge for many successful men.
Rating:7/10
Remark: Average story with all your expectations being met.

Glove (Korean Movie 2011)
Synopsis:
A professional baseball star was 'punished' for assaulting someone in the public. His punishment is to train hearing impaired school baseball team for national tournaments against normal school baseball teams. Finally, he re-discovered his passion for baseball.
Rating:8/10
Remark: It is surprisingly good.

Battleship (Hollywood Movie 2012)
Synopsis:
There is a scentific plan to send signal from Earth to unknown planet in hope of unknown species making reply via very powerful satellite. There was a reply but it is not what humans on the earth intend it to be. Aliens entered the earth with strange looking spaceships. USA navy is in lost because they have no intel about these spaceships. It is all about the battle with no radar!
Rating:8/10
Remark: Some people may not like it. My rating is based on my preference. Specifically, I liked how the navy deal with aliens without radar.

John Carter (Hollywood Movie 2011)
Synopsis:
John Carter, who lives in America on the Earth suddenly landed on a unknown planet. He see unfamiliar place. He gains incredible power that lets him to jump far and high. A unknown man who has the power to teleport himself from one planet to another controls the destiny.
Rating:6/10
Remark: Full of sci-fi action. Stunning moment before end of the movie.

Big Miracle (Hollywood Movie 2012)
Synopsis:
This is based on true life story. It starts with 3 whales - one male, one female, one child - trapped in the solid state ice in Alaska. A man, reporter discovered and reported solely. The rest of newscasters in USA join reporting. By then the world is hoping to free the whale!
Rating:8/10
Remark: Very touching!

The Grey (Hollywood Movie 2011)
Synopsis:
A group of men travel on plane. Suddenly, the plane crashed. The survivors face a host of wolves who are going to attack. Among them, one experienced wolf hunter leads survivors to safety, if possible.
Rating:7/10
Remark: Slow moving story.

Immortal Classic (Korean Drama 2012)
Synopsis:
A young girl, San Hee was expelled for something she has not done by her grandmother. Being framed, she lived quietly, making many different types of kimchi in her restaurant with her husband. One day her grandmother discovered the truth, asked her daughter-in-law, also San Hee's birth mother to find San Hee. The actual culprit is trying to succeed by doing dirty tactics. The big question is whether San Hee will meet her mother.
Rating:7/10
Remark: Decent show.

Safe (Hollywood Movie 2012)
Synopsis:
Luke Wright is trying to reconcile his life until he has the target. The target is a Chinese young girl who is the most wanted by cops, Chinese gang, and Russian gang in the New York. What does he want with that girl once he have her?
Rating:7/10
Remark: Explosive action show.

The Avengers (Hollywood Movie 2012)
Synopsis:
A few superheroes joined a force called Avengers. However, they are working individually until Loki's action got them together. At the end, they work as a team to fight unknown forces that are outside the Earth.
Rating:9/10
Remark: with good dosage of the storyline packed with action, it is eye-blowing show!

Get the Gringo (Hollywood Movie 2012)
Synopsis:
A driver was crossing to Mexico in order to escape the USA cops. By then, he is on Mexico soil, being caught by Mexico cops. His money, stolen from US mafia, is being taken away from Mexico cops. He is put in the prison for the crime he never did. What will he do?
Rating:7/10
Remark: Good show.

The Raid Redemption (Indonesian Movie 2012)
Synopsis:
A veteran cop invites SWAT team to attack a building controlled by a powerful gang lord.
Rating:7/10
Remark: Purely hand-to-hand fighting!

Prometheus(Hollywood Movie 2012)
Synopsis:
A corporation sponsors two persons, male and female, to find out the truth of how humans are created. The package for them is to have a team and spaceship to fly unknown planet.
Rating:8/10
Remark: Complex story with elements of surprises. It gives us the feeling that it is Alien 0.

Contraband (Hollywood Movie 2012):
A guy used to smuggle anything to his country. But he stop doing that because his dad was in prison for that smuggling. However, his friend created a plan to 'force' him to smuggle counterfeit currency from Mexico to USA. Will he realise the plan?
Rating: 7.5/10
Remark: Fine story. Good dosage of emotion drive the movie interesting.

Ghostrider The Spirit of Vengence (Hollywood Movie 2012)
Synopsis:
Johnny Blade is trying to hide himself because he does not want to do ghost rider any more. One day, someone made an offer to him to free himself as ghost rider in exchange for a task. The task is to protect a body. Did he take up the offer?
Rating:6/10
Remark: Usual thing. The story is decent.

Men In Black 3 (Hollywood Movie 2012)
Synopsis:
The blackie partner discovered his white partner disappeared into the thin air. He investigates why it happen and try to bring him back.
Rating: 6/10
Remark: Typical franichse of MIB.

Hunger Games (Hollywood Movie 2012)
Synopsis:
In each state, a boy and a girl are randomly selected or are volunteer to be candidate in the game where the candidates are to keep each other. Only one winner is selected.
Rating: 8/10
Remark: Very unique story. It is all about suvivor of the fittest.

Lockout (Hollywood Movie 2012)
Synopsis:
A man is assgined by the cops to get the president's daughter out of the prison that is located in the space. That prison is full of hardcore criminals.
Rating:7/10
Remark: Nice cheesy talk and chemistry act by lead male actor and female actress.

The Avengers (Hollywood Movie 2012)
Synopsis:
Captain Amercia, Iron Man, The Hulk, Thor are invited to join the avengers that consist of only superhuman heroes. One day, Loki, the sworn brother of Thor discover the way to attack Earth. Can they, the individualists, form as a team to repeal Loki?
Rating: 8/10
Remark: Awesome CGI actions.

Ice Age 4 (Hollywood Animation 2012)
Synopsis:
One day, the ice island was split. The father of the anicent elephant was split from his wife and daughter when it happened. His two best friends were with him. He wanted to get back to where his wife and daughter are. They were on the small ice area floating on the sea. They faced the resistance from the pirates. Can they return back to the original homeland?
Rating: 7/10
Remark: Touching story

Battleground (Hollywood Movie 2012)
Synopsis:
6 bank robbers managed to escape from the cops. They were in a forest. However, there is someone lurking in the forest. He is interested in killing anyone who are in the forest regardless of who they are.
Rating:5.5/10
Remark: Boring story with gore actions.

One in the Chamber (Hollywood Movie 2012)
Synopsis:
An assassin was given the paid assignment to kill a mafia. When he failed to kill, that mafria in turn hired another assassin to kill him. Gun shooting war ensures.
Rating: 7/10
Remark: Very nice story.

Mission Impossible The Ghost Protocol  (Hollywood Movie 2012)
Synopsis:
Ethan Hunt is given an assignment to prevent someone from pulling the trigger on the button that launches the nuclear. But it was disaster. He failed! But he has another chance to complete that assignment with the door closed, where he cannot return safely regardless of the status of the mission.
Rating:7/10
Remark: It is well done show.

Act of Valor  (Hollywood Movie 2012)
Synopsis:
SEALs was assigned to stop the terrorists attack.
Rating: 8/10
Remark: Nice military exposure in this movie.

The Girl with Dragon Tattoos (Hollywood Movie 2011)
Synopsis:
The journalist is hired to find the missing girl by a rich family. She was missing for 40 years! Can he accomplish that?
Rating: 7.5/10
Remark: It is very emotional movie with little detective deduction.

The Iron Lady (Hollywood Movie 2011)
Synopsis:
It is about the summaried biography of Britian ex-prime minister, Margaret Thatcher. It focuses on how she became prime minister and how she guide England.
Rating:9/10
Remark: Wonderful story.

The Wrath of Titans (Hollywood Movie 2012)
Synopsis:
Perseus, demigod son of Zeus, was living earthly life. One day, Ares switched his loyalty to Zeus' father and locked Zeus. Hell went lose when Zeus father's was free from prison.
Rating: 8/10
Remark: Meaningful Greek story.

Men on a Ledge (Hollywood Movie 2012)
Synopsis:
A ex-con is standing on a ledge of the very tall building. A negotiator cop was assigned to talk him to return back to him. Little wonder, he has his friends to steal diamond.
Rating: 8/10
Remark: Very exciting action-based story!

Happy Feet Two (Hollywood Movie 2012)
Synopsis:
A child is trying to sing and dance but he can't do it. One day, he joins the force with birds who can fly to save his family and his mates. They were trapped in a place where they cannot get food. It is the result of the landscape being changed itself.
Rating: 7.5/10
Remark: Very good child development story

Underworld Awakening (Hollywood Movie 2012)
A female vampire find herself in an experiment but she managed to escape. She wants to find her lover and daughter. But the humans are killing them. The ones who guide these humans are the secret forces who are developing to be a mixture of vampires and werewolf.
Rating:7/10
Remark: Startling story!

21 Jump Street (Hollywood Movie 2012)
Synopsis:
Two underachieving cops were assigned to a secret mission where they have to pretend to be high school. Their task is to bust a drug ring.
Rating: 6/10
Remark: Decent show!

Tower Heist (Hollywood Movie 2011)
Synopsis:
A group of employees working in luxury hotel find themselves losing their pensions to a rouge wealthy man who live in that hotel. One day, the manager decides to lead them to find any possible expensive items or money as the form of compensation.
Rating:7/10
Remark: It is comedy show. It remind you of Madoff stuff.

6 Bullets (Hollywood Movie 2012)
Synopsis:
A expert who specialised in locating missing children was asked sobbing parents to find their daughter.
Rating:8/10
Remark: Powerful, explosive action show.

Haywire (Hollywood Movie 2011)
Synopsis:
A female covert operative completed the assignment which the government cannot do it on its own. One day, she was double-crossed. What will she do?
Rating:7/10
Remark: You can see how desperate she was trying to be alive.

Journey 2 The Mysterious Island (Hollywood Movie 2012)
Synopsis:
A teenger is trying to collect clues to find where his grandfather is in. He believe that there is mythical island existing in the real world. His new father decide to give him support so that he can form the bond with his new son.
Rating:6/10
Remark: Average show.

Machine Gun Preacher (Hollywood Movie 2011)
Synopsis:
It is based on true real life story. A man was encouraged by his wife to be Christian. He was on the trip to Africa to build orphanage. However, some things turn worse. Consequently, he decided to fight.



Rating:7/10
Remark: It is good exposure to us, the naive people.

Safe House (Hollywood Movie 2012)
Synopsis:
A newly CIA recruit is assigned to protect the safe house. One day that safe house was under attack because the attackers want the criminal who was taken into that safe house.
Rating: 8/10
Remark: Very intelligent movie.

Seeking Justice (Hollywood Movie 2011)
Synopsis:
A man found his wife being assaulted by unknown stranger. When he was crying in the hospital, a man from unknown group asked him whether he wanted the group to kill that stranger for him. He agreed but he has to fulfill the condition by doing the job for the group in exchange.
Rating:7.5/10
Remark: Shocking story!

This Means War (Hollywood Movie 2012)
Synopsis:
Two colleagues are working together as a team to deal missions assigned by CIA. One day, they, being singles, discover the same girl individually. Eventually, they complete each other over that girl. Who will be the winner?
Rating: 6/10
Remark: Decent

Tinker Tailor Solider Spy (United Kingdom-French Movie 2011)
Synopsis:
M16 agent is doing a secret mission to uncover the spy who is leaking the M16 secrets to Soviet Union.
Rating:8/10
Remark: It is fine movie with some twists.

The Silent War (HongKong Movie 2012)
Synopsis:
A blind man, who has talent to hear any sound frequencies which average human can never catch the extreme side of sound frequencies. The China army is hiring him to decode the secret messages sent by the enemy.
Rating:7/10
Remarks: It is indeed silent!Tony Leung Chui Wai aced this. Top class acting.

The Amazing Spiderman (Hollywood Movie 2012)
Synopsis:
It starts with the story of how Peter Parker gets the power of spider.
Rating: 8/10
Remark: The graphics effect is stunning, pleasing to the viewers' eyes. The story is reasonable coherent.

The Expendables 2 (Hollywood Movie 2012)
Synopsis:
A team of men with guns is doing special missions with rewards. They are being sent to a secret mission to collect an item from a plane that was shot down. Unknown to them, there is a opposition who wants to get that item too.
Rating:8/10
Remark: Very Rambo style missions but it is not just one person but many persons in action as a team.

Total Recall (Hollywood Movie 2012)
Synopsis:
A guy who has his mind being washed up began to recall what happen to him and his real identity is. Step by step, he recollect the pieces of puzzle that tells him who he is and what he is doing in the past.
Rating:7/10
Remark: Interesting story with decent dose of action.

Stolen (Hollywood Movie 2012)
Synopsis:
Four persons team was about to break into the bank, fooling cops into thinking that they are breaking the jewelry shop. There is a disaster causing the leader of the team to be caught. Something haunt him when he was released from the prison. He has to save his daughter who is under the hostage right after his release from prison.
Rating:7/10
Remark: Good story flow.

As One (Korea Movie 2012)
Synopsis:
It is based on the real life story. North Korea and South Korea unite as a one team to complete in professional table tennis game in 1991.
Rating:9/10
Remark: Very touching show.

Bad Deal (Korean Movie 2010)
Synopsis:
Korean police tried to cover up something that spoil the reputation. It appoint a person who did not come police academy to clean up by producing any possible result to please the public who is anxious to have child-kidnapping-murder case to be solved. Eventually, gang and prosecutor are involved.
Rating:7.5/10
Remark: Slow story but surprising ending.

The Dark Knight Rises (Hollywood Movie 2012)
Synopsis:
Bruce Wayne tries to find the meaning to live as Batman. Bane came in to wreak havoc in the Gotham City. Will batman be back to protect the city?
Rating:9/10
Remark: I am totally blowed by a good combination of action and story.

End of Watch (Hollywood Movie 2012)
Synopsis:
This movie starts with the story of two best friends doing police job in Los Angeles. It is all about ups and down of these two cops. One day, one of them began to crack some cases that affect a Mexican gang. The latter wants them dead.
Rating:8/10
Remark: Slow moving story and yet convincing one.

Double Face ~ Sennyuu Sousa-hen (Japanese Movie 2012)
Synopsis:
It is Japanese version of Infernal Affairs. It is about one mole in gang and another mole in police force. Both sides are trying to find out who the moles are.
Rating:7/10
Remark: It is not good as the original version.

The Bullet Vanishes (Hongkong Movie 2012)
Synopsis:
Plainclothes cops were invited to investigate the murder case. There is no murder weapon. No suspects were identified. Who is the murderer?
Rating:8/10
Remark: The story is surprisingly good for a Cantonese movie for today standard. Good twist at the end of the show.

Alex Cross (Hollywood Movie 2012)
Synopsis:
Alex Cross, with skill of figuring out what happen based on the physical evidences left in the crime, was tracking murderer. He knew that this murderer is professional killer. He track down but the professional killer bites him back. Who will win?
Rating:7/10
Remark: The story is nothing amazing. The deductions made by Alex Cross are cool.

Brave (Hollywood Animation 2012)
Synopsis:
A princess learnt how to shoot arrows since young, which her mother does not approve. One day, at appropriate age for the marriage, her mother decide to marry her off to one of three partners who work with his father. Because of that, she was so angry that she run away from home. She asked for the curse. The curse turned out to be the one she does not want. She wanted to undo it. What are ways to undo the curse?
Rating:8/10
Remark: Meaningful story to teach the moral to the children that we can be strong only if we work together as one team.

Fire with Fire (Hollywood Movie 2012)
Synopsis:
A fireman is in the supermarket where a racist gang killed a blackie who is the owner of the supermarket. He is a witness and the boss of the racist gang wants to silence him. He is vital weapon for cops to put that boss into the jail. War went loose!
Rating:7/10
Remark: It is average movie.

Lawless (Hollywood Movie 2012)
Synopsis:
It is about three brothers working together to sell apple alcohol which was illegal to do so in older days. No cops could enforce that law. One day, a cop from other state in America was assigned to enforce that. Did he do it?
Rating:9/10
Remark: It is probably based on real life but some parts of the story is edited. It is really good story.

Looper (Hollywood Movie 2012)
Synopsis:
Looper is a job that require the person to kill someone who came from the future. Failure to complete the job will cause looper being haunted by the boss who paid him for the job. One day, a person from the future sets out to stop it.
Rating: 7.5/10
Remark: Above average movie.

Madagascar 3 Europe Most Wanted (Hollywood Animation 2012)
Synopsis:
The lion, Alex wanted to go to 'Big Apple' but he need to raise the money to do so. He authorise penguins to use his money to invest in Monte Carlo casino for growing his money. He wait and wait until he decide to get himself and his trusty mates to get the money back from penguins. Did he get the money and go to 'Big Apple'?
Rating:8/10
Remark: Explosive actions.

Maximum Conviction (Hollywood Movie 2012)
Synopsis:
A outsourced team, consisting of military veterans, are tasked to decommissioning a prison. However, it faces a opposing team who tried to extract two ladies. What will they do?
Rating:5.5/10
Remark: A lot of action but the story is monotone.

Premium Rush (Hollywood Movie 2012)
Synopsis:
It is about a guy who ride bicycle with no gear for the job of sending a letter from point A to point B. One day, the letter he is in charge is most wanted by a particular cop who is not the actual receipent. What happened next?
Rating:8/10
Remark: Very interesting actions to ride bicycle with no gear.

Resident Evil Retribution (Hollywood Movie 2012)
Synopsis:
Alice woke up nowhere. She tried to escape from a prison but a computerised lady wants to kill her.
Rating:7/10
Remark: Boring franchise movie.

Five Fingers (Korean Drama 2012)
Synopsis:
A guy, the boss of a company making piano, brought a unknown son into his family. His family already has a son. His wife silently plot to get rid of that unknown son. How?
Rating:9/10
Remark: It is incredible story with many cliffhanger in each episode.

Doctor X (Japanese Drama 2012)
Synopsis:
A freelancer doctor is hired to fill up the shortage of skilled doctors in the public hospital. She does not conform to the norm of the society. As a result, her colleagues were badmouthing her. She stays there because of her surgeon skills that never fail her.
Rating:8/10
Remark: Interesting acts.

The Bourne Legacy (Hollywood Movie 2012)
Synopsis:
It starts with separate plot where Aaron Cross went rouge due to botched operation (to kill him) initiated by CIA. He wants to get his medicine. Who will he get from?
Rating:6/10
Remark: Unexpected story. Slow paced show.

Taken 2 (Hollywood Movie 2012)
Synopsis:
A group of men whose sons, relatives, brothers were killed by a former CIA agent who tried to save his daughter from kidnapping. They want his blood for their revenge. Their plan is to kidnap his wife, his daughter and him and then take them to their hometown.
Rating:7/10
Remark: Slow-paced action show.

Training Day (Hollywood Movie 2001)
Synopsis:
A veteran cop takes a rookie to do how plainclothes cops do. The training is to be done within a day. Will the rookie pass flying colours for the training day?
Rating:7/10
Remark: The actor playing the role of veteran cop is top class actor but the story is somewhat slow paced for my taste.

Universal Soldier: The Day of Reckoning (Hollywood Movie 2012)
Synopsis:
It starts with a guy whose wife and daughter were being killed by unknown three thieves. He survives the brute attack - he was in coma for 9 months and woke up. He cannot understand why it happens. He slowly set out to find out the clues to explain this happening.
Rating:5.5/10
Remark: Poor story. The rating at imdb.com for this movie is well justified.

The Escapist (United Kingdom 2008)
Synopsis:
In the prison, an old man selects trusted men for the plan to break the prison. His reason to do so is to see his daughter before she leaves the world.
Rating:7/10
Remark: I watched it because it was recommended by local forum. In reality it is not anything good as The Shawshank Redemption and Prison Break.

Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (United Kingdom 1998)
Synopsis:
A young man plays a poker with his friends' money. However, he lost all and subsequently incurred a debt of 500k pounds that is to be paid in a week time.
Rating:7/10
Remark: Decent show with expected twist at the end of the show.

The Firm (Hollywood Movie 1993)
Synopsis:
A young man, one step away to complete final law exam at Havard, was offered an attractive contract by a law firm. One day, he discovered unexpectedly that he has two options to choose: 1) be loyal to the firm or 2)cooperate with FBI and bust the firm.
Rating:10/10
Remark: This story is based on a fiction book written by well known author. It is almost flawless.

The Machinist (Hollywood Movie 2004)
Synopsis:
A guy is seeing things. He has difficulty to distinguish reality and dream.
Rating:7/10
Remark: the story is well done but it is too slow paced.

Alpha Dog (Hollywood Movie 2006)
Synopsis:
It starts with real life story. Jake owns money to Johnny. One day Jake asked for further $800 loan. Johnny refuses and the argument happened. Fast forward, Johnny decides to kidnapp Jake's brother, Zack.
Rating7/10
Remark: It is entertaining story.

Dredd 3D (Hollywood Movie 2012)
Synopsis:
Dredd was given an assignment to grade a recruit for her hand-on combat real time situations. She unknowingly selected the most difficult one. Can she pass?
Rating:9/10
Remark: It is incredibly good with nice dosage of actions.

Arbitrage (Hollywood Movie 2012)
Synopsis:
Mr Miller is anxious to sell his hedge fund to a firm but the firm is holding the chips in hope for a bargain price. However, he also encountered unexpectedly an car accident, which killed his mistress. He wants to keep that secret because this may affect his deal to sell the firm.
Rating:7/10
Remark: Not what I expect especially this movie was highly and expectedly associated with Wall Street in early stage of advertising.

The Campaign (Hollywood Movie 2012)
Synopsis:
A unknown guy was chosen by two rich guys who want to change the legislation to maximise profits for their companies. He is up against veteran congressman who was won the election in Carolina four times and recently screw his chance to win in fifth time.
Rating:6/10
Remark: The jokes are ok.

Hotel Transylvania (Hollywood Animation 2012)
Synopsis:
Dracula built a castle so that this castle can be used as hotel for all monsters only. He took great pain to tell his daughter that humans are evil. One day, a human managed to get in that castle. What will happen to him?
Rating:7.5/10
Remark: Good story.

Killing Them Softly (Hollywood Movie 2012)
Synopsis:
A man hired two kids to rob a place where people play pokers with money. One of those people want to hunt and kill them. To do this, he hired a killer to do the job.
Rating:6/10
Remark: Boring story. Brad Pitts is incredibly good actor - I was totally convinced that he is top notch killer and emotionless gangster.

Young Kindaichi Case Files -Case of the Hong Kong Kowloon treasure murder (Japanese Movie 2012)
Synopsis:
Miyuki was hired to be model in a fashion show at Hong Kong. Kindaichi and his close friend accompanied her to Hong Kong. One day, she was kidnapped for unknown reasons. Kindaichi was desperated to free her from kidnappers while murders occurred.
Rating: 8/10
Remark: It is interesting show to watch wherebyyou are charmed by the fusion of science, crime, and detective deduction.

Skyfall (Hollywood Movie 2012)
Synopsis:
James Bond is assigned by M16 to retrieve the list from a stranger.
Rating: 7.5/10
Remark: Good story with decent action fight.

The Flight (Hollywood Movie 2012)
Synopsis:
A pilot is flying a plane. One day, the plane is diving down for no reason! What will the pilot do? Eventually, the plane landed on the ground, causing damage to the passengers and plane itself. What will the legal authority body find during its investigate of post-event situation?
Rating: 7/10
Remark: It is all about psychology acts.

The Changeling (Hollywood Movie 2008)
Synopsis:
It is based on true story. One day, single mother discovered his son missing. She asked cops to find missing son. He was missing for so many months. One day, cops found the missing son but she knew that he is not her son!
Rating: 9/10
Remark: Shocking story. Top class!

Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter (Hollywood Movie 2012)
Synopsis:
Lincoln as a young boy witnessed his mother being murdered. When he grew up, he decided to kill the murderer. But he discovered that he is vampire. He was saved by someone who, in turn, taught him how to kill vampires.
Rating:7/10
Remark: Touching side story of Lincoln

The Interpretator (Hollywood Movie 2005)
Synopsis:
An American-born African white lady overhead a conversation in African language that someone would kill a important guy from Africa. She informed it to the United Nation where she worked at and the important guy will have conversation at. Unfortunately, there are a lot of doubts!
Rating: 8/10
Remark: Unbelievable twist of the story

Tony Del Piero wrote and posted at at 5:16 pm