marcyu Reviews

Last Man Standing: Gift of the Wise Man (2015) Season 5, Episode 11

Quote of the Episode

[10/10 · 14 June 2020]

"This wasn't about me. That it was important to you and I was just sent down here to help."

10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)

So Stupidly Awful

[2/10 · 21 June 2016]

DO NOT WATCH THIS MOVIE. It is one of the worst ones I have seen in years. Stupid premise, stupid plot, stupid characters, stupid EVERYTHING. This is 45 minutes of my life I will never get back (thanks to the magic of the fast forward function).

PLOT - 2; Only the last 10 minutes saved this movie from getting a 1/10.

CHARACTERS - 3; The setup was weird and the way they started developing was even more odd.

ACTION - 1; The last 10 minutes were the only action scenes of the ENTIRE MOVIE.

Please don't waste your time.

Mischievous Kiss (2005–2006)

Incredibly Funny and Sweet Show

[10/10 · 5 April 2011]

On the surface, this TV series is the story of a girl who deals with an unrequited high school crush on a boy from the other side of the academic track. Underneath, it's an uproarious comedy that's smart, slapstick, and deep all at once. The acting won't win any Academy Awards, but the direction and timing of the episodes is impeccable. This type of romantic comedy seems have become lost in mainstream USA TV viewing. It took over 1 year to film this series, and it shows in the quality and depth of the writing and direction. My Latino wife almost bust her sides watching these episodes - this is really great viewing for the entire family, no matter your cultural background.

Apocalypto (2006)

Total Waste of Time

[2/10 · 3 March 2009]

This movie was just plain AWFUL. I loved Braveheart. I loved The Patriot. But what in the heck was this junk?? The same plot time, except not on a grand of a scale. Personalized and micronized plot lines with no historical implications. Speaking of history, the Mayan and the landing of the first Europeans were actually hundreds of years of apart, whereas this historically shockingly plot places them together, not to mention their proximity was vastly geographically distorted. Maybe I've been spoiled by the gore porn of all the Saw-type movies, but the action sequences done in this film were kind of awful. Thin, tired, and un-interesting plot, sad characterization, bad action, and, to top it off, historical inaccuracies. I have NO idea why this movie rated so highly. Easily one of the worst movies I've seen in years.

Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)

Too Raunchy

[4/10 · 28 January 2009]

I liked 40-Year-Old Virgin a lot, even though Steve Carrell is usually a bit too odd for me. And Knocked Up was one of my favorites of that year, in spite of those crazy sex scenes. But this movie really pushes the envelope too far. To be fair, the funny moments in this movie were very good, and it was thoroughly enjoyable during those times. However, the balance of romance and gross overboard nastiness was not well-balanced this time, in my opinion. I think that most good movies are kept from being great by editing too much of it away. In the case of Forgetting Sarah Marshall, the director, Nicholas Stoller, could probably have used Apatow's eye in the cutting room.

I Know Who Killed Me (2007)

You're not going to believe this (neither did I), but...this was great movie

[9/10 · 24 December 2007]

I admit, I thought this was going to be a throw-away film. I have an all-you-can rent membership with Hollywood Video and this was the only new release left on the day I rented this title. I'm a pretty harsh critic of films, so I just knew this was going to be awful. I hadn't read much about Lindsay Lohan (sorry, not of that generation), but I knew she'd been in the news in a bad way some time ago. For the people who rate a film mainly on the actor/actress involved - get a life. Please. Don't troll here. This was a GREAT film. Take a look at my ratings history and you'll see I don't rate movies highly.

It's not Grindhouse. It was a lot better. It was almost Memento good. Really. I recommend going into this film with an open mind and you may also end up being pleasantly shocked.

Disturbia (2007)

Just Plain Awful

[4/10 · 12 August 2007]

DO NOT watch this film. If you watch it, you'll wonder why you didn't listen to good, free advice.

The clichés are tired, the setup for the premise of the movie was wholly unnecessary, and the writing left everything to be desired by movie's end.

I'm uncertain how this movie earned this high rating. Movie plot is painfully predictable, some of the scenes defy reality, and the Asian character was overly stereotyped.

There's hardly anything redeeming about this film. I'll never get back the 2 hours this joke for a movie took from me.

Madea's Family Reunion (2006)

Diversity Lacking at IMDb

[5 March 2006]

There is something something missing from the Internet Movie DataBase for a long time, and I think the scoring for this particular movie has boldly illustrated the point. There is a huge lack of racial, gender, and age diversity at this site. I don't know how it can be solved, considering that the majority of this film's audience (52%) are African American females over the age of 35. Older black women, for the most part, simply do not take part in the ratings for this site. A movie that has earned almost $50 million over 2 weeks (and also the top movie in the industry during that time period) simply should not be rated a current 2.7. I am not implying racism - if you don't like the movie, you don't like the movie, especially if you cannot relate to the subject matter. However, I believe IMDb.com should attempt to reach a more diverse audience through its existing marketing and/or advertising channels. This movie could be to this site what Anita Hill was to the Wall Street Journal.

Hunter (I) (1984–1991)

Excellent TV Show

[23 April 2005]

This was a great show when it first aired in the 80's and it still is a great show in re-runs and on DVD. It says something about a series when it is still being aired 20 years after its original date. The production value for this show with all its action and stunt sequences was incredible. Of course, the chemistry between Fred Dryer and Stephanie Kramer was what really made this show. You were always thinking, "Are they ever going to date?" LOL - good memories. It's too bad that Stephanie Kramer had to quit the show because of health issues (kept spraining/breaking her ankle because of all the stunt work involved - surprising, considering she was a former female wrestler). Unlike the A-Team in that it had lots of hard stories, murder, blood, and violence. But very exciting to watch!

Prisoners of the Lost Universe (1983)

Excellent Movie!

[9/10 · 12 January 2005]

This is a great movie! There are so few movies out there dealing with the fantasy genre that are even half-way believable, especially with swordplay. This has the be the best fantasy movie I have ever seen. The acting is top notch and the plot, once you get past the original premise, is quite credible. The music is excellent, also, along with the visuals for its time. This is one of the true underrated gems of all time. I think it would have been one of the top grossing fantasy movies of all time (I think the live action Lord of the Ring series wasn't that good - I like the Rankin animated version much better, with he books being the best, of course), if it had been released in theaters instead of just Showtime. A must see for any fantasy fan.

A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004)

Just Plain Awful

[4/10 · 8 January 2005]

I'm Joe Average when it comes to rating movies. I pretty much think what everyone else around me thinks about a movie. This movie stinks and almost everyone else I know who has watched it thinks it stinks. No, seriously. I admit the cameos are somewhat amusing, but that's about the extent of the entertainment. The story really doesn't go anywhere and the ending not only leaves something to be desired - it doesn't even have an ending. There's no continuity, the characters aren't exactly believable, and Jim Carrey can only do so much. Trust me - put your money back in your pocket and spend your precious 90 minutes doing something more constructive - like underwater basket weaving.

Collateral (2004)

Pretty Awful

[2/10 · 19 December 2004]

More style than substance. And pretty badly styled. I didn't mind that Cruise was cast against type. I really liked Jamie Foxx. And how can you not love Jada Pinkett Smith? But the script was almost unusable from a reality point of view. Do NOT trust these hugely overinflated IMDb ratings that this movie received. I can't see how anyone could really like this movie. It doesn't leave you with anything but a bunch of loose ends and unfulfilled dreams. Highly NOT recommended. Not even a good rental. Don't waste your time and money unless you really feel like watching a movie with weird characters, a bad plot, and awful action scenes.

Buffalo '66 (1998)

The Reason For the Good Reviews

[24 November 2004]

The reason this movie has received so many good reviews and such a relatively high score is because this is one of those Internet pranks people play (like The Wrong Pants). Sometimes, a movie is so incredibly bad, a person cannot believe he/she has watched it. So what that person does, for sick humor or revenge, is to recommend it to anyone else so they can share his/her misery. This is one such film. The plot is beyond unbelievable. The characters are so painful to watch, it makes you cringe. There is no logic nor rhyme nor reason to anything shown in this film.

This is 2 hours in your life you will be in shock that you have lost. As another reader said, avoid this movie at any and all costs.

The Day After Tomorrow (2004)

A Libby's Wet Dream Come True

[6/10 · 13 October 2004]

This movie is a liberal's wet dream come true. I especially liked the part where the Americans become the illegal immigrants. I almost died laughing. Include that with the greenhouse effect, the next ice age, Bush/Cheney bashing, SEC hunted stockbrokers, and third world countries, and you have the exact formula needed to have a Federal Election Commission ruling to make the viewing of this movie illegal in the United States during a general election year (the Bush administration actually tried the same thing with Fahrenheit 9/11). Would've been a much better movie if they actually stuck with the story's world viewpoint instead of focusing on a small select group and the politicians involved.

Wimbledon (2004)

Funny yet Flawed

[6/10 · 22 September 2004]

Writers in Hollywood still do understand the fact that one night stands are not the norm for today's society. The best comedies, romantic or otherwise, are the ones whose premise, mannerisms, or anecdotes find humor in real everyday life. I found Dunst's performance to be not very believable, but, she has a good range of emotions, which she displays well in this movie. The real star of this movie, however, is Bettany. I've found his acting to always be extraordinary. His breadth in the acting craft is almost without parallel. A Knight's Tale was the first movie to really showcase his abilities, and he has yet to falter in any vehicle after that. Still, neither of these actors can save this shortened movie. Perhaps it should not have been edited down the the result that you see on the screen.

Hulk (2003)

Not an Action Movie

[4/10 · 18 September 2004]

This is not an action flick. You'll get about 20 minutes of it in this very long movie, but not much else. Ang Lee, the director of "Sense and Sensibilities" is not the right director for this movie. The seemingly endless usage of flashbacks, family mysteries, and misused starpower successfully drags this movie almost to a screeching halt. Lee did a much better job on "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon". You're not supposed to look at your watch in an action movie, but I guarantee you'll be wishing it (a) to get to a good part or (b) the end to come. Unfortunately, you may feel like the latter comes before the former.

As for you "true believers" out there, you really don't want to know how badly they hacked the origin of The Hulk. Think of the worst ways you could misrepresent the original storyline and you'll still be 3 degrees of separation from how badly they did it in this film.

4 out of 10

Holes (2003)

Great Plot!

[8/10 · 18 July 2004]

I have never read the book, but I enjoyed the movie immensely. The premise of the entire movie seemed unbelievable, but as the story progressed, it started to make perfect sense. Unfortunately, it advocates superstition, violence, and murder, so it's definitely not something that kids under 16 should be watching. The flashbacks are done well and the screenplay moves at a very sharp pace. The acting by everyone involved was very good. You will be surprised by the bevy of high powered stars that are in this ensemble cast. This was the first time I've seen Shia LaBeouf, who played the lead role, and I was very impressed with how well he held up against his mega co-stars. Highly recommended action/adventure fare for anyone over 15.

Road to Perdition (2002)

Overrated

[6/10 · 2 March 2003]

This has to be the most overrated movie in a long time. The plot was one that's been used way too many times in the past few years, and I was correctly guessing the the very predictable dialogue by the middle of the movie. Paul Newman was unbelievably brilliant in his role, and Jude Law was his usual terrific self. I've always thought Hanks couldn't act, and this performance gave me no cause to think otherwise. I've never seen a guy squeeze more out of a bad sitcom beginning (Bosom Buddies) than him.

Ringu (1998)

Slightly Overrated

[7/10 · 24 December 2002]

It's a one trick pony - it has a nice ending twist. Not as scary or as suspenseful as the furor made it out to be. Still, for thriller fans, it's an 8 out of 10. For everyone else, prolly a 7. The 7.5 average is a fair assessment.

8 Mile (2002)

Never Seen Eminem Before This

[9/10 · 28 November 2002]

There appears to be a polarization between those who love Eminem and those who hate him. Since I've never seen him before this movie nor have I ever heard one of his songs before, I'll try to give my impartial impressions.

Another disclaimer - I don't listen to rap and The Sound of Music is one of my top movies of all time. That being said, I liked this movie. I enjoyed the way Mekhi Phifer and Kim Basinger played their roles. Both were top notch. I thought Eminem did a fine job for his debut, although he was basically playing himself.

The backdrop was done superbly. Having grown up near trailer parks, I think the movie captured their gritty reality. I especially loved the parts where they had to bum rides and go on buses because their car wouldn't work. Make no mistake, this is how poor live in this country.

I also liked how gunplay was kept in its proper perspective. Guns are dangerous and should not be played with, and I think the movie showed how most people react to them in real life. Of course, the way the movie was written, I think it was intentionally attempting to alleviate the anti-homosexual and sexist remarks Eminem had made a little while back (in fact, this is the only thing I ever heard about Eminem before this movie).

The editing was excellent and smooth, and I enjoyed some of the scenes that were tossed in purely for the cheap laughs. Hey, I like to enjoy a movie! The director obviously did a great job. Overall, 7 out of 10. Quite enjoyable - would've rated higher if that gratuitous sex scene wasn't in there.

-Marc

Resident Evil (2002)

Much Better Than Expected

[8/10 · 23 August 2002]

I thought this might be one of those brainless action movies that I'm used to watching. Having this be one of the "video game" films didn't make me expect much. What a surprise! The writing is excellent, especially for a movie of this genre (horror action). The acting was a tad cheesy with a couple of the supporting cast, but overall, the acting was good. Whoever wrote the screenplay for this should get an award for doing an unbelievable job with material that could have easily become bad. The editing with the flashbacks made this movie a pleasure to watch. Well, lots of gore, too, but it was partly a horror film. Don't sell this flick short - you'll be in for a pleasant shock.

Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002)

Mixed Review

[7/10 · 16 May 2002]

I would give it a 7.5 out of 10, if it existed. I rounded down to 7 due to Lucas' inability to direct any type of on-screen romance. The audience, which was applauding even before the movie began, groaned when the "romantic" scenes were playing. They were too slow, too contrived, and visually awkward. Clearly, not his strong point - unfortunate due to the sheer volume of these scenes. The action scenes were quite excellent. And Yoda - well, you'll see. Kudos for the action scenes. Thank goodness we didn't have another intergalactic C-Span for a movie. The local Washington Post reviewer here said the movie lacked a plot. This is why almost everyone I know ignores the Washington Post reviewers. Plot and intrigue galore. And here's hoping Lucas somehow finds the humility to ask his good friend Steven Spielberg to direct the last of the prequel series. Spider-Man was a better movie.

Ghost World (2001)

Truly Awful

[3/10 · 18 March 2002]

One of the most overrated movies I have ever seen. I gave it 3 out of 10 stars, but that may have been too kind. Big spoiler: The plot is about a selfish, arrogant loser who graduates high school and mocks everyone else because she does not have the work ethic to develop her own talents. That's it. The entire movie is about that. I tried to slit my wrists before the end of the first hour, but I couldn't find anything sharp enough. This movie is not funny. This movie is not dramatic. It's stupid. I have never called a movie stupid before. Someone please give me back the 2 hours of my life that I lost while watching this movie. This is truly one of the worst movies I have ever seen. You'll probably be sorry as I am if you watch it.

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

Overhyped

[7/10 · 19 December 2001]

Just saw this movie at 12:00 a.m. with a bunch of friends. The movie attempts to, and almost accomplishes, its goal of matching the book. Therein lies its weakness. I found the movie much too slow with too few action sequences to justify 3 hours of playing time. A cinema event should give us an experience that makes us hold our breaths. The special effects were tremendous, something which did have me at the edge of my seat. However, as I stated before, the plot advancement seemed to crawl at times; in rare cases, it virtually stopped as it attempted the develop characters - something it failed to do at the expense of the storyline. Because of the pace of the story, I am giving it the following rating:

6 out of 10

Memento (2000)

Not What You'd Expect

[10/10 · 2 December 2001]

I found this film to be very well made. This movie is about an insurance claims agent who loses his short term memory, which he believes he can regain by avenging the death of his dead wife. This is one of those films that goes from the end of the story to the beginning.

It wasn't confusing to follow the timelines as they merged to the climax, but it's not a film you really enjoy throughout. That's probably my only criticism of this film: you can't enjoy it until the very end.

Most of the time, you're sitting trying to fit the pieces together. And do not be fooled by the beginning of the film. I thought I had it figured it in the first 10 minutes, but the ending is absolutely impossible to guess. The editing on this film was near flawless.

If you want a film that will intrigue and challenge you, this is it. If you're looking to just relax and watch a no-brainer, save this for another time.