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Frank144
Reviews
Titan A.E. (2000)
Great film on its own, not just as a sci-fi or animation movie.
I did not know what to expect coming in, but I'll admit I was a bit scared after the SF Chronicle reviewer gave it the highest rating. That said, I came out of the theater highly satisfied. I found the characters engrossing, fun, and almost immediately they weren't just animated cels talking, but they eventually became as alive and real as any other other "live" or "real" movie characters, even more so.
Sure, if you like to nitpick, the movie does cater to a younger audience, simplifying many aspects of storyline and dialogue. But to most, those details aren't bothersome at all, leaving Titan AE to be an immensely enjoyable film.
Entropy (1999)
Uneven at moments, but overall a worthwhile movie to watch
I didn't know what to expect coming into this film - and most of the time, my experience comes out a lot better. I really did enjoy the movie, if you're in the mood to see someone analyze a snippet of his life. That may be a bad thing for some movies, but in the case of this one, Stephen Dorff carried the film. He has a knack for making you want to punch him and help him from the floor at the same time, all of the time. The supporting cast did a fine job, and the reason I picked up the movie, Kelly Macdonald, was a breath of fresh air.
My only complaint is that the movie didn't seem to have a focused direction. Blockbuster categorized it as a romantic comedy, but for a long time there was none. Then suddenly, humor starts to play a major part and you're left wondering where it came from. The tone almost made for two different movies.
But still, check this movie out if you want something a little more than mindless fun or less than a mindful documentary.
Dawn of the Dead (1978)
Unexpected Laughs and Suspense
I saw this movie with absolutely no prior knowledge of it being a sequel, or a supposedly good horror flick. I only happened to tune into it late at night, and managed to get hooked from the opening scenes.
Mostly, the alternating humor/suspense and the overall attitude the film carries makes it an enjoyable experience. At first, I thought I was possibly the only one laughing at some of the scenes until I came to this page and was surprised to see the film had such a history.
My only small gripes with the movie were the running time and the ending. I thought it played a little long, and although I may be missing the point, the focus at the end could have been spread to the big picture, instead of just the main characters.
But aside from that, very decent fun.
The Cement Garden (1993)
Solid acting and disturbing visuals set the tone in this mostly dark film.
The character played by Gainsbourg is magnificent, and really brings the film alive. Without her, I feel, the film would be drab and be somewhat pointless but the way she plays the sister brings a hope of redemption, little as it may be. The movie comes across as a good short story, rather than an engrossing movie. Now, I know this is probably the case for a lot more of the Euro films instead of American, but being in the United States a film rarely leaves me with a feeling a book does. This film is highly interesting, and if you're in the mood to wander into that dark, dysfunctional area we all hide so well, check it out. Not a bad way to spend 105 minutes.