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Reviews
There Will Be Blood (2007)
Over-Hyped Hero Worship for the Director
In reading a lot of the comments on this film, people constantly mention how much they loved other films from the director of this movie. Their hero worship of the director has obviously skewed their assessment of this film. The movie was too long, had an annoying musical score and was just OK.
The movie is about a lonely, shrewd, relentless, power-driven man who finds success in oil in the late 1800s to early 1900s. The movie really centers on how greed rots this man to the core and ultimately denigrates his character to a pathetic, sinister state of being. It also explores how folks use money and power to fill certain voids in their life that are meant to be filled with family, friendship and intimate connection with others.
The movie has other characters in it like his son, a young small-town religious zealot and a few others. But clearly the "oil man" is the main character.
If you like long, dark movies that leave you wondering, then perhaps you too will think this was a masterpiece. Personally, I found this movie only moderately intriguing. It was well acted, but the directing was just OK as was the script. 6/10 stars at best, and a 4/10 for the musical score since I found it annoying and distracting. I like it when the score draws me into the movie, not when it draws attention to itself that draws me out of it.
I Am Legend (2007)
Will Grows as Actor + A "Different" Zombie Movie
In much the same way that Tom Hanks had to carry the movie "Cast Away", Will had to do the same with this movie. In so doing, Will showed me that he has really grown as an actor over the years. That was great to see, and I believe it will open even more doors for him moving forward.
Equally as wonderful was to see a VERY different zombie movie. Honestly, this movie is more about themes like the human spirit, redemption, deep loneliness, dealing with regret/loss and a surprising theme that I will leave unnamed as not to spoil it for folks. The zombie part is actually secondary, though well done and prominent throughout the movie.
I had the same reaction to this movie as I did to "The Mist". Both are movies with familiar backdrops that we've seen a million times. However, they explore and expose a totally different element of the story. That makes them unique, and Will Smith makes this entertaining, engaging and exciting. Very well done. One of my most enjoyable movie experiences of the year. Total surprise. Can't wait to see it again in HD. There was an unexpected depth to this movie that was wonderful to see.
Taxi Driver (1976)
Over-rated, But Still Good
I have read the comments on why so many people find this so "incredible". I must say upfront that I only find this film to be good, not great. Moreover, it is not a film that I'd watch over and over again like so many others. Frankly, it is vile, disturbing and odd in several ways.
Yes, De Niro did a brilliant job showing us a character who slips into unto utter, murderous lunacy. Yes, the musical score was well done. That's about it for greatness though. The graphic depiction of child prostitution was over-done for my taste, as was the violence at the end. As for the end of the movie, that was simply weird.
I guess the commentary on how people can feel so isolated in a large city was interesting. But, this movie simply did not move me in the manner in which others were. I walked away pretty unimpressed. 6/10 stars and without De Niro it would be lower.
X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)
Ignore the Critics
After reading the early reviews of "Last Stand" I almost did not go see the movie. I am so glad that I ignored the critics on this one. The Last Stand is equal if not better than either of its predecessors. It has a great story line, great effects, funny moments and a ton of action. It also has several moments that caught me totally off guard. If you liked the previous two films SEE THIS FILM ASAP. You will love it.
AND STAY TILL THE VERY END AFTER THE CREDITS. There is a reward waiting that "might" just mean that we have not seen the last of the X-Men.
D.
Ying xiong (2002)
Brilliant
Before I give my review, let me offer one suggestion that will help you appreciate this film. DO NOT SEE IT JUST ONCE. Watch it twice and then pass judgment. The film is so visually and artistically captivating that the plot can be harder to grasp the first time around. The second time around you'll get a better appreciation for the film.
I viewed this film with high expectations. People were comparing it with Crouching Tiger and I really enjoyed that film. Within the first 10 minutes you understand why the comparisons are made. The cinematography, editing, music and special effects are similar. The stories, however, are quite different, and I found the story to be better than the one in Crouching Tiger.
The story is about an assassin who concocts a plan to kill a king who had been trying to conquer his home land in pre-unified China. His assassination plan requires him to get close enough to the king to strike him dead. The movie shows the assassin's plan through a series of flashbacks, and culminates with the assassin getting his chance to kill the king.
The beauty of this film is the how the assassin becomes a "Hero". I won't spoil how he achieves this, but that is what made the film great for me. It made the film more than just a visual and musical masterpiece. It also made it more than just a Kung Fu picture. It actually added a decent plot to the film which made it worth while. Honestly, I was just expecting a good Kung Fu picture. Hero is actually a great overall movie which just happens to accent the film with some of the best Kung Fu action in recent years.
Definitely the best movie that I have seen this year. I hope it wins big at the awards ceremonies. It was impressive.
-- DP.
The Forgotten (2004)
Forget Forgotten
What a disappointment. I read some great IMDb reviews and prepared myself for a great thriller with a shock ending. I guess I will need to keep waiting for a film that delivers this.
If you saw the trailer for the movie then you pretty much know exactly what this film is about. There are no surprises in the film whatsoever. As for suspense, you get a marginal amount of that, and then are totally unshocked at the end.
This should have been a made-for-TV film that aired on the SciFi Channel. It is not worthy of the big screen. This film was a total waste of $7. I now see why Nicole Kidman passed up the lead role. She knows how to avoid movies that suck.
-- DP.
Troy (2004)
Much Better than Expected
If you are an Iliad purest and are looking for a film that directly maps to the original story then avoid this film. If you are looking for a great movie "based on" the Iliad with an engaging storyline then see this film.
This movie centers on Achilles and his quest for immortality. It also blends in human selfishness, lust, greed, power, loyalty and love into the story line in a fairly consistent manner. Brad Pitt delivered a great performance and looked every bit the part of the character. The other actors and actresses delivered equally solid performances, although the actor depicting Paris was marginal at best.
Overall, this is a pretty good movie and definitely worth seeing.
-- DP.
House of Sand and Fog (2003)
Worth the Watch
I had not heard much about this movie and rented it based on the IMDB reviews. If you are looking for a serious drama with (mostly) superb acting then see this movie. Kingsly gives an Oscar-worthy performance as the father of an immigrant family. The other actors and actresses deliver exceptional performances as well.
The story is quite interesting, fairly involved and refreshingly different. The characters are also well developed and believable. One warning though: the story offers no happy endings. So, if you are looking for a "feel good" film then pass on this until the mood is right.
-- DP.
Hulk (2003)
What a Shame
It just didn't have to be that bad of a movie. But, it was. This movie fails on so many categories I am not sure where to begin. Everything annoyed me. The long (60-minute) introduction into how Bruce becomes the Hulk. The fact that we get no real action until half way into the movie. The fact that the acting was horrible, the directing was equally as horrible, the script was putrid and the actors were miscast.
About the only thing of any worth in this movie was the SFX. Besides that I hated this film. What a shame. They had a great story in the Hulk. Where X-Men and Spiderman thrive this movie flounders. I could not wait for it to end and thought to myself that you would have to be a complete idiot to make Hulk - The Sequel. Unless you totally get new actors, new directors and new script writers. 4/10 stars.
-- DP.
28 Days Later... (2002)
Not Bad, Not Great
This is a movie about a highly contagious virus that evokes a sense of uncontrollable rage in its victims causing them to kill. It also explores the violence and rage that is within all people as well as the will to survive.
I liked the zombies. The makeup and directing of the zombies was fun for a while. I also liked the exploration of the difference between the zombies and the military men. That was also fun for a while.
The movie moves along fairly quickly and is generally well done. I enjoyed the movie and would recommend it to horror/gore fans looking for a good zombie flick. 7/10.
-- DP.
Gothika (2003)
Mediocre Story, Played-out Plot
Does this sound familiar? A person gets murdered. They then haunt someone and lead them clues that will help identify the killer. Hmnn? Sixth Sense, Stir of Echoes, What Lies Beneath, we could go on. But why? This movie might be somewhat entertaining if you have not seen a movie in this genre before. Otherwise, save your money and wait for the rental.
The movie itself is somewhat OK. Halle does a decent job. The plot works. The movie moves along fairly well. But, it is all too familiar. The movie doesn't even try to add anything new to what we've already seen in this genre. It gives us the EXACT same plot with less compelling performances and no originality whatsoever.
By the way, the movie might have been better if they had not given away so much in the trailer. That annoyed me to no end.
6/10.
-- DP.
The Matrix Revolutions (2003)
Not Bad At All
If you want to enjoy this film then just reach back to the Matrix Part I and take Morpheus' advice ... free your mind. Do not take the film too seriously or look for plot flaws or look for deeper meaning in the script. If you do then you will be disappointed. Just sit back, lighten up and take this movie for what it is. It is a celebration of the SFX genius of the trilogy's makers, and an over-the-top ending to the trilogy ... though apparently not an ending to the Matrix franchise.
The SFX were the most impressive I have ever seen including the first film. They were simply brilliant. The plot was somewhat engaging, and many of the questions from the second film were answered. The film moves along pretty quickly, although it does intentionally slow down at several points.
Overall, this was much, much better than Part II, which I found confusing and inappropriate at times (too much bumping and grinding for a franchise this popular). This saved the series for me and solidified it as a franchise that has cemented its place in SFX history.
-- DP.
John Q (2002)
Can I Get an Amen?
It's not all that often that I see a movie that takes such an overt socio-political stance on a topic and then uses much of itself to preach to the audience. But, John Q does just that. It takes a clear position on the U.S. healthcare system, and then it openly preaches against it. In fact, it comes complete with news clips from real-life political activists weaved into the end of the movie. So, this movie does not try to pretend. It is as much of a commentary as it is a movie.
I won't comment on the political aspects of the film, but the movie itself was fairly average. It was melodramatic, sappy at times and fairly predictable. It was definitely not any of these actors best performances, but this was not a movie about performances. It was primarily meant to deliver a message not to entertain. Since I normally go to see films to be entertained this movie was disappointing. So, I would only recommend this film if you want to get insight into the issues that poor people face with healthcare, although CNN, MSNBC and Dateline might be better options. 6/10 stars.
-- DP.
Die Another Day (2002)
Halle, Yes. This Movie, No.
(*** SOME SPOILERS ***) First, I adore Halle Berry. So, any movie that has her sporting Bond-outfits is for me. But, this movie was so "over-the-top" that I found it utterly ridiculous. The movie is about a young man who somehow makes enough money to create and launch a weapon that can wreak havoc on the earth. Bond and Jinx (Halle) have to save the day, and in the process avenge Bond from an earlier setup.
Look, I know when you go to movies that you have to free your mind a bit and go along for the ride. After all, it's Hollywood and it's just a movie. But, the premise of a couple of youngsters infiltrating MI6 and launching a mega-weapon into outerspace made me laugh out loud. This film lost me. I gave up on it mid-way, and just found myself saying that if James Bond films have come to this then maybe its time for Mr. Bond to retire. After all, if a group of 20-something criminals can outsmart MI6, the CIA and the legendary Bond then perhaps the sun is setting. Maybe we can have the cast from Spy Kids challenge Bond in the next film!
-- DP.
Out of Time (2003)
Good, Not Great. Worth the Cost.
There are things that made this movie worth it, and there are things that were very disappointing. As usual, Denzel shows that he can take an average movie and transform it into an above average performance. He makes you feel the panic that his character is experiencing, and does justice to his part. The other good thing is that they tie up loose ends in the film. So, the plot is consistent and the story is solid.
The problem was that the trailers spoil the movie. You already know it was a setup. You just don't know the details. Once you get the details you are not impressed or shocked by them. With little effort you actually see the setup almost from near the beginning. That took most of the fun out of the movie for me.
Sanaa Lathan, Dean Cain and Eva Mendes are all good in their roles. But, there is nothing to write home about in this film. It was a decent story with decent delivery and was decently entertaining. Keeping viewers in the dark on the plot would have really made a big difference. 7/10 stars -- only due to good acting by Denzel, and 7 is somewhat of a stretch.
Identity (2003)
Well Done!
If you are looking for a suspense thriller that is pretty hard to figure out and keeps you guessing to the end then see this film. 9 out of 10 "whodunit" films are pretty easy to figure out. This one fooled me, and I found the film to be very well done.
The story is about 10 strangers who end up stranded at a hotel during a violent storm. One by one they begin to die, and one of them is the killer. But who is it, and better yet why?
It was well worth the price of a pay-per-view, and was one of the best thrillers of the year. 8 out of 10.
-- DP.
Abandon (2002)
Heed the Title and "Abandon" This Movie
This movie is about a girl whose dad leaves her mother and her broke, and the pain of losing daddy just never goes away. The problem is that the pain is passed on to those who view this rather pitiful movie.
They say that this is a thriller, but it lacks suspense, drama, cohesion and anything that would send the slightest thrill. The acting was sub par, the music was horrible and I had to fight to stay awake in the film. Another 5 minutes and I was going to take the DVD out.
Do yourself a favor and abandon the notion of renting this movie. You will be glad you did.
-- DP.
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003)
Good, But Not as Good as T2
T3 is a solid final installment (or so we think) of the Terminator series. The plot pretty much works, the action is consistent throughout the movie and the ending was actually pretty good as well.
The acting was generally weak. Casting for this film, outside of the 2 Terminators, was not done well. However, Arnold somewhat makes up for the weak acting by providing some rather comical one-liners throughout the movie that bring a smile to your face. Kristanna Loken also does a great job as the 2nd Terminator. She was every bit as good as Robert Patrick in T2, and he was a hard act to follow.
Overall, T2 was the best of the 3 movies, not T3. There is nothing ground breaking in T3. However, T3 is an enjoyable movie with a decent story line and a lot of fun/action throughout the film. It is a must-see for true Terminator fans, and it is a respectable way to say goodbye to this story. (7/10).
Love & Basketball (2000)
Great Movie!!
I have seen this film about 12 times now, and I could still watch it again. The movie is about is childhood sweethearts who grow up, grow apart, experience life (a little) and then re-unite. While the story unfolds we are treated to a number of sub-plots that add to this movie's surprising depth and overall enjoyment.
If you are in the mood for a love story that adds a few twists along the way then rent this film. Omar and Sanaa do a great job in this film, and I would love to see Spike make a few more attempts to make similar films. This was simply was of the most pleasant surprises that I have had in quite some time.
-- DP.
Legends of the Fall (1994)
I Don't Know Why, But I Love This Film
I had no idea what this movie was about before watching it. I instantly fell in love with this film. I'm still not sure what it was about. Perhaps it was meant to capture the spirit of early, western American culture. Perhaps its about the beloved main character Triston and how he destroys everything he touches. Perhaps its just about life and the consequences of its decisions. Maybe all of this, or none of this.
For whatever reason, I love this movie. I love its melodrama, its sadness, the love, the pain, the sibling rivalry, the commentary on life. Its sappy, and in many ways overdone. In some ways its dark, and is not for people who like happy endings or tightly knitted cohesion in a story line.
So, I am not sure why I love this film so much. But, I do. I feel like we all know Triston. A man who never finds peace even after a lifetime of desperately searching. No peace, no joy, no fair. For some that's life.
Monster's Ball (2001)
Much More Than I Expected
No, the acting was not more than I expected. Halle and Billy do a "good" job acting in this movie. I might even say they did a great job. But, was it Oscar worthy? Halle delivers her usual acting excellence, but this movie did not grip me the way an Oscar movie should.
The movie is about two bad parents who make decisions that damage their son's lives. They both need redemption in more way than one, and end up finding it together.
For some reason the sex scenes were presented with elaborate detail. I did not expect the scenes to be that graphic, and was puzzled as to why they were so long and "in your face". Shoot me, but personally I think Halle went too far. Yes, her body is the epitome of female perfection! But, were the intensity of the scenes needed? Late night premium cable channels have nothing on Monster's Ball in that category, and that surprised me.
I am an adamant Halle supporter and fan. However, this performance was somewhat short of deserving the Oscar for best female performance. Other females performances that year were better. Perhaps Halle was rewarded for taking such risk with sexually strong content. Yet, I would rather Halle get the award for powerful acting not for risk taking and fulfilling male fantasies worldwide.
-- DP.
Mulholland Dr. (2001)
Spare Yourself!
After seeing the high IMDB rating this got, we rushed out to see what inspired the rave reviews. By the end of the movie, we were left thinking that either there are we are too unsophisticated to "get" this movie, or other people's standards for a "good" movie are very different from ours.
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER: I "think" this movie was about how some actresses deal with a total lack of success in Hollywood, among other aspects of how Hollywood is run. But, again, perhaps I am just too unsophisticated to "get it". In any case, the movie centers around an actress who tries to help a woman who has amnesia. The two end up becoming lesbian lovers, and work together to find out the identity of the woman with amnesia. Their journey takes a series of odd twists that I suppose were meant to be "thought provoking". I found them boring, painful and in some cases just plain distasteful.
If you like movies like "Danny Darko" then this film is for you. If you like movies that actually make sense, and do not require you to look through the eyes of some "brilliant" producer who is "way ahead of his time" then spare yourself. I hated this film, and I am extremely happy that I did not pay to see this in the movies. It was simply painful.
-- DP.
Vanilla Sky (2001)
I'd Prefer Chocolate Dirt
Vanilla Sky is a movie about young man who inherits a ton of money and a powerful company from his late father. He has it all, or so it seems, until a freak accident takes away his health. He then makes a series of decisions that oddly shape the remainder of his long life.
Now that you know the plot, save yourself the pain of watching this movie. The problem is that the character portrayed by Tom Cruise is simply not very interesting, nor is the story itself. You are taken from one odd scene in this man's "life" to the next, and you anxiously await the end of the movie for an explanation of how it all fits together. Once you get the explanation you say to yourself, "how stupid".
Stupid. That pretty much sums up the movie. You are tortured for what seems like 3 hours until the end, and then you are angry that you wasted your time. They hired a heck of a cast, and the cast performed very well. But, the story is, well, stupid. The climax of the movie is beyond stupid. Spare yourself from Vanilla Sky and have some Vanilla ice cream instead. You will enjoy it much, much more.
-- DP.
Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002)
Well Worth It
AOTC was a solid installment to the Star Wars series. The movie was very entertaining, and was certainly worthy to be part of the Star Wars family. It is filled with action, a solid story line, beautifully done graphics and a bit of humor.
If you are looking for answers, you will find them in this movie. We begin seeing the circumstances that lead to later episodes, and get a better understanding of Darth Vader, Storm Troopers and Yoda among other key themes. I actually thought the movie could have been a bit longer, and should have explored the details of the story and characters much more. I thought the 2 hours went by fairly quickly.
About the only disappointing thing to me was the acting. The 2 main characters (Obi and Anachin) are not very good actors. I was particularly disappointed in Christensen (Anachin). His lack of acting ability was apparent, and I was left scratching my head on how he ended up with such a key role.
Outside of the "B Team" actors, the movie was very good. It is well worth the price of admission, and it was great to finally see Master Yoda show his Jedi prowess.
-- DP.
The Tailor of Panama (2001)
Warning: Not Your Usual Brosnan Movie!
So, we rented this movie because it had Brosnan in it, and it dealt with spying and treachery. Unfortunately, we could not get through the end of the movie. This movie was terrible!
The plot was suffocated by the over emphasized role for Brosnan. His character was surrounded by extremely graphic scenes that seemed to be inappropriate given the basic plot of the movie. You expect him to have a passionate affair with co-worker. After all, he is a spy. But, I did not expect that graphic scenes of homosexuality and adultery. That was a bit much, and seemed gratuitous at best.
The content of the film made it difficult for me to get into the plot. So, we hit the eject button before the movie ended. It is pretty painful to watch, and was generally disturbing and uninteresting.
2/10 at best.