The_Sun_Toucher Reviews

Spider-Man (2002)

I Can Live With This......

[8/10 · 6 May 2002]

It's finally here. Most of us hardcore fans have already seen it at least twice. We've spent the last two years visiting our favorite movie sites daily, devouring all of the latest "updates". We've debated even the most minute details in chat rooms and on message boards like these.

But after the credits roll, after we come down from the initial high of seeing our favorite web-slinger finally swing across the silver screen, How does "Spider-Man" measure up? Is it the great comic book adaption we've been waiting for?

"Spider-Man" is quite enjoyable, to be sure. One of the more enjoyable "summer blockbusters" I've seen in sometime. While it delivers quite well in terms of sheer entertainment value, it's not without it's flaws. I'm guessing it will be about as popular as the first "Batman" at the Box-office, and will probably inspire just as much debate.

In Sam Riami, we have a director who is not only Knowledgeable about the mythology of the title character, but who is more than suited for this type of material.

Sam directs from a script by David Keopp that is surprisingly faithful to the origins of the character. Sam and David make an interesting choice in that they don't take the subject matter deadly seriously, as Tim Burton did with Batman. They approach spidey with a sense of the absurd, allowing moments of slapstick to find their way into some of the films key action set-pieces (Peter's outrageous wrestling costume was a particularly nice touch). This is sometimes to the detriment of the fight scenes in terms of believability. Sam brings a 50's B-movie sensibility to the material that makes the proceedings a little more fun than they might have been, had Sam and company taken the ever-trendy "Dark" approach that is so prevelent with films of this type.

It is obvious that this is a film crafted by people who adore this character. During the scenes where spidey swings through the canyon's of Manhatten, the film itself seems almost in awe of him. If the films CGI effects weren't so obvious, maybe that feeling would've translated a little better, but no matter. The scenes are basically what they should be.

We also get a very sympathetic Peter Parker in Tobey Maguire. Could someone else have done better? Maybe, but I'm more than content with the version of Peter presented here. I only wish that Spidey himself were a little more interesting. We never get any insight as to the change Peter undergoes when he puts on the mask.

One of the more disappointing aspects of the film is that it has no distinct visual look of it's own. Compared to "Blade 2", "Spider-Man" feels rather subdued and generic. Even more so when you consider that this was directed by the same man who made "The Evil Dead" films.

As an adaption, Spider-Man gets an 8 out of 10. As a film, I give it a 7. Is it what we've been waiting for? Yes and no. Is it that best adaption ever? No. Richard Donner's Superman still holds that distinction, but's a damn sight better than any of the Batman films.

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

Do Not Let Die-Hard Fans Mislead you!

[7/10 · 22 December 2001]

Although well made, LORD OF THE RINGS: FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING is by no means the greatest film of time. After seeing it twice, I find it to be an enjoyable, though uneven, movie-going experience.

First, the effects. They are well done, but the quality varies from scene to scene. The opening battle sequence suffers from a reliance on swooping cameras and blurry, dull visuals. The entire film seems awash in darkness, visually speaking. Peter Jackson uses Dark, moody lighting to enhance the CGI, and quite frankly, he over does it.

The battle sequences are adequetly coreographed but poorly filmed. There is nothing especially ground-breaking or impressive in the swordfights here. After seeing Braveheart in 1995 and Gladiator just last year, The sworplay in FELLOWSHIP seems standard by this point.

The Characters, save Gandalf, are uninvolving. Frodo comes of as one- note and spineless. As a protagnist he generates very little sympathy and left me feeling indifferent towards him.

The corrupting power of the ring is very much over-stated. Every few minutes we are subjected to an overdone scene where a character is tempted by it. A few scenes of this nature would do just fine in establishing the rings allure, but the overkill ruins the effect.

This is by no means the Greatest film of all time or even the best Fantasy/Adventure film ever made (That title still belongs to THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, sorry LOTR fans). expect that #1 ranking to go down about twnety or thirty places over the coming weeks, as more people see the film. It is passionate and well-made, but it lacks energy and a sense of wonder. In the end, it's a rather dull labor of love.

This will do well at the box office, but not as well as expected. Tolkien fanatics are expecting TITANIC size grosses, but that is wishful thinking in my opinion. The opening weekend will be surprisingly huge, of that there is no doubt. But I think word of mouth will be quite different among average movie goers than it will be among RINGS fans. This thing is so tailer made for fans I think that the ordinary layman will be somewhat underwhelmed. I predict a gross of about $250 million at the most.

Training Day (2001)

A decent urban drama despite it's glaring flaws.

[7/10 · 13 December 2001]

Solid acting and writing rescue this film from director Antione Fuqua's glossy approach to the material (the Hughes Brothers would have made a much better choice)and a weak ending. The film is anchored by a strong central performance by Denzel and a well written screenplay, but the overall execution lacks the grit this type of subject matter demands.

X-Men (2000)

Homo-Sapien or Homo Superior?

[7/10 · 17 July 2000]

While X-Men is far from flawless, At least Mr. Singer seems to respect the characters and the source material enough to take them seriously (which is more than I can say for Mr. Shumacher or Mr. Burton). The first half of the film works surprisingly well, especially the Haulocost sequence and Logan's introduction. What's also fascinating is that Bryan singer seems more interested in the quiet moments than in the Pyrotechnics. Wolverines conversation with Rogue at the train station, for example. There is a certain fragile quality to those scenes. Unfortunately, things fall apart in the third act, mainly because of the thin plot and surprisingly lifeless action sequences ( although the train station battle and Magneto's stand off with the police are handled well). You can almost feel the film pulling it's punches. I would have preferred a more straight forward approach to the fight coreography instead of all the Hong Kong style wire work. Note to Bryan Singer and company: Just because "The Matrix" grossed nearly two hundred million does not mean that every "comic Book" movie has to look like Iron Monkey. I liked what I saw, but I wanted more. I'm really curious as to what was in those 35 to 45 minutes that Fox took out of this film just prior to release. I'll bet it consisted mostly of character development and plot. Hopefully, Bryan will get a bigger budget (and a longer running time) with the sequel after Fox sees this weekends box office results. Bryan seems to aiming for a thinking man's popcorn movie, and while he wasn't completly successful this time, I can see what he's getting at. If nothing else, you've earned my respect, Mr. Singer. I give you a well deserved B this time. Maybe Fox will take you more seriously now that you've delivered the 4th biggest opening in history. With X-Men 2, I think you should have a reasonable shot at an A+.

Planet of the Apes (1968)

"Beware the Beast Man...."

[10/10 · 10 July 2000]

A masterpiece of irony, intelligent storytelling and dark humor. Never before or since has a science fiction film taken reality and turned it so completely on it's head. The screenplay may have been adapted from a novel by Pierre Boulle, but as far as I'm concerned, this film has Rod Serling's stamp all over it, as the film's alternate reality and shocking ending make it play like an extremely well made episode of "The Twilight Zone". After 32 years, the film still retains a certain fascinating power, despite the fact that the makeup effects and costumes haven't dated very well.

Chicken Run (2000)

"What Kind of Pies?"

[7/10 · 9 July 2000]

A "Looney Tunes" short from Warners golden era stretched out to feature length. Not quite as good as it has been made out to be, but still funny, involving, and smart. Intelligent silliness for kids as well as adults. The painstaking claymation makes for some fascinating visuals. At times "Chicken Run" Resembles a three dimensional cartoon. The clay gives characters and sets a solid, "real" look that is almost never achieved by traditional cel animation or CGI. I've never had the slightest interest in any of the"Wallace and Gromit" shorts, but now I'm thinking I may have missed out.

The Mack (1973)

"You a rest Haven for Hoes"

[4/10 · 9 July 2000]

Considered to be one of the classic "Blaxploitation" films, this movie has amassed a huge cult following and has been immortalized by countless rap artists (Too Short and Ghost Face Killah o name a few)and has even been referenced in other movies ("True Romance"). Although, after recently seeing it again for the first time in eight years, it's hard to see why. Aside from some pretty funny (and colorful) dialogue (which is peppered with ghetto philosophy) this movie has almost nothing to recommend it. At least "Superfly" and "Shaft" had great music and charismatic heroes. All "The Mack" has is some of the poorest acting I have ever seen by an all black cast and some hilariously tacky wardrobes (even by 70's standards). Not to mention a predictable plot that moves at a snails pace( the only interesting element of which is the "players Ball"). The Soundtrack by Willie Hutch is also a disappointment. It doesn't even come close to the moody, emotional work that Curtis Mayfield did for "Superfly", or Marvin Gaye's memorable score for "Trouble Man". It's about as laughable as anything else in this film. I've often heard fans of this film refer to it's portrayal of the pimp trade as authentic(as I understand it, the cast includes real pimps as well as real life Oakland gangsters), but authenticity doesn't always make for a good movie. Maybe the Hughes Brothers should redo this movie and make it a period piece. At the very least they could give it some style, which was obviously to much to ask of this unintentionally funny film. This movie should be required viewing for all African American film students and movie buffs, you could call the class "Missed Opportunity 101: how to make a truly bad movie out of potentially compelling subject matter"

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966)

"Blondie, Do You Know What You are? Your a dirty Son Of A......"

[10/10 · 6 July 2000]

Any truly successful film should convincingly create it's own world, and, from the very beginning, draw the viewer into that world. It should be a world with it's own point of view. It's own morality and rules. It should then stick by those rules and force the audience to see the world through the eyes of it's director. Sergio Leone's "The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly" fits all of those qualifications as well as any movie I have ever seen. Ennio Morricione's score, coupled with leone's melodramatic, exaggerated, off-beat visual style create a world like no other. This movie has got to have one of the best endings i've ever seen for a western or an action picture. it's got to be seen to be comprehended. It's the best payoff imaginable after nearly three hours of build up. Is this film over-the-top? Hell Yes. Is it realistic? Of course not. Is it a great film? Your damn right it is.

Vertigo (1958)

Hypnotic

[10/10 · 6 July 2000]

The Cinema is often referred to as an Art form, although only a handful of films actually live up to that ideal. most films, even great ones, are extremely forgettable to all but the most die hard movie buffs. Which is why Alfred Hitchcock's "Vertigo" is such a breath of fresh air. Here is a subtle, suspensful, mezmerising tale told with the patience and sure handedness of a true artist. At it's heart Vertigo is a tale of deception and obsession. After the brilliantly exciting opening sequence (which has been ripped off countless times, like much of Al's catalogue) the movie slows down to a steady, almost frustrating pace. It's main theme develops only gradually, allowing the viewer to soak in every tiny detail of character development. I fear, however, that this film may be too subtle and cerebral for most of today's action obsessed movie buffs, but for those viewers with a little bit of patience and just a drop of thoughtfulness, "Vertigo" will prove a very rewarding experience.

The Patriot (2000)

Braveheart Reborn as Revolutionary War Hero

[8/10 · 4 July 2000]

Yet another Larger than life epic adventure which creates mythic heroes out of actual historic figures(braveheart, Gladiator, The Untouchables). These movies don't provide much in the way of historical accuracy, realism, or detailed character development. What they do provide is an abundance of beautiful sets, scenery, art direction, cinematography and exhilerating action sequences. Minor criticisms aside, the Patriot delivers in Spades. It is probably the best film yet from the Team of Devlin and Emmerich(although, when you take a look at their previous track record, that ain't sayin much), yet Braveheart remains the masterpiece of this genre.

Shaft (2000)

Style over Substance

[6/10 · 18 June 2000]

I had a helluva lot of fun watching this film in a crowded theater. It managed to hold my attention and keep me interested. I expect it will be very popular with audiences and may be the first film ever by an African American director to reach the one hundred million dollar finish line in North America. John Singleton and company have put together a good looking, entertaining action film full of solid performances and funny dialogue. So why am I so reluctant to give this film my full reccomendation? I know some of you are saying to yourselves "well if you enjoyed the movie, what's the problem?" Well, for starters, Christian Bale's role seems like it was added to the plot as an afterthought. The plot is almost laughably implausible at some points. The drug lord's henchmen have got to be some of the most inept thugs I have ever seen in this type of film.

The real discovery of this film is Jeffery Wright as the Dominican Drug lord "Peoples" Hernandez. He really has fun with this role, overflowing with charisma and sleazy charm. He comes of like a more benevolent Tony Montana. So in the end, I give this film a reluctant reccomendation, because it manages to give it's audiences a good time. But it could have been so much more.

Superman (1978)

"You will believe a man can fly!"

[10/10 · 14 June 2000]

Back in 1978, this movie set a standard that has yet to be equaled, let alone surpassed. In the past twenty years, we've seen many live-action adaptions of comic-books, none of which can compare to Richard Donner's towering achievement. Nearly two decades later, this movie still retains a sense of awe and wonder. The film works because the director takes the character and his story seriously, but not too seriously. The movie finds the perfect balance of drama and comedy, homage and parody. Donner remains faithful to the source material yet still manages to make the movie palletable for a mass audience. In other words, he pleases the fanboys and the casual moviegoer. This has to be one of the most fully realized films ever made. Everything is as it should be. The Casting, the Score, the Character development, the script. With all of these great "production values", SUPERMAN still somehow manages to be MORE than the some of it's expensive parts. I hope that Bryan Singer and Sam Riami use this film as a reference point. If the X-MEN and SPIDERMAN can come anywhere near the quality of this film, I'll be more than satisfied.

The 36th Chamber of Shaolin (1978)

"I Want to create a new chamber......."

[10/10 · 8 June 2000]

Quite possibly the most intelligent and inventive chop-socky of all time! The training sequences give the character of San Te a certain depth, allowing the viewer to understand how he became such a skillful martial artist. The viewer is also provided with a substantial amount of character motivation, and not just a simple-minded "revenge" plot.

Score another home run for Lau Kar Leung! The true "sifu" of Shaw Brothers studios!

Romeo Must Die (2000)

A Missed Opportunity of Epic Proportions

[6/10 · 30 May 2000]

This film is quite simply a waiste of two charismatic performers. Watching ROMEO MUST DIE, one gets no sense of Jets screen presence or awesome speed. Alliyah, an R&B singer who usually has a sort of appealing yet shy sexuality about her, is given almost no opportunity to show that quality. The Two have a sort of chemistry together that is stifled by this films poor character development and weak plot. The film exists simply as attempt to cash in on the current popularity of Hip-Hop Culture and Hong Kong action cinema. Being a fan of both Hip Hop Culture and HK action films, I feel I deserve more, and better.

Conan the Barbarian (1982)

Hindsight is 20/20

[7/10 · 30 May 2000]

Back when it was originally released, CONAN THE BARBARIAN was dismissed by the critics as a disposable Sword & Sorcery B-movie. It was criticized for it's excessive violence and Arnold's wooden performance. It's brilliant score and memorable sets are ignored by reviewers, as is the well choreographed swordplay. Thirteen years later, BRAVEHEART is showered with praise and Oscar respectability. It is embraced by critics despite it's graphically violent battlefield sequences, which are praised as exhilarating and authentic. Many of these battle sequences (as well as some of the costume design) bare just a little resemblance to the ones in CONAN THE BARBARIAN. Eighteen years later, GLADIATOR becomes a box-office blockbuster in a matter of weeks, taking in almost one hundred thirty million thus far. It receives generally good notices from critics despite it's historical inaccuracies, poorly edited action scenes and predictable plot. The basic story is reminiscent to the one told in CONAN, and the films violence is every bit as brutal. Isn't it funny how times change? What was once laughable and disposable is now respectable.

Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

The Most Absorbing Fantasy of All Time

[10/10 · 30 May 2000]

The Empire Strikes Back is that rarest of films, a sequel that is superior to it's predecessor. Thrilling, eiree, magical, funny and involving. Fans of fantasy/adventure simply cannot ask for more than this. Director Irvin Kershner creates a modern day mythology that lingers in the viewers mind long after the credits roll and the lights come up. The upcoming LORD OF THE RINGS films are building up alot of anticipation, but I doubt if any film in that much awaited trilogy can live up to the towering acheivment of Empire. This film is quite simply the best of it's kind.

Gladiator (2000)

"...Unleash Hell!"

[8/10 · 25 May 2000]

This is what mythic adventures should be. Bloody, entertaining, larger than life and beautiful to look at. While not exactly thought provoking or historically accurate, Ridley Scott's "Gladiator" works remarkably as mainstream hollywood entertainment.

Titanic (1997)

Titanic's box office gross is a testament to it's popularity with movie audiences around the world...

[7/10 · 25 May 2000]

...however, I'm sorry to say that I'm not a member of the congregation. Among it's many accolades and achievements, "Titanic" also holds the unique distinction of being James Cameron's most overrated film to date. The plot is about as simplistic and predictable as it gets. The Character development is on the level of a Bruckheimer production. Sure, the production values are top notch, but would you expect any less for over two hundred million? If I had to choose between robotic assassins from the future and sinking ships, I'd take the steriod devouring Austrian cyborg.

Jackie Brown (1997)

Blaxploitation with an arthouse edge.

[9/10 · 25 May 2000]

Smart, funny dialogue and solid performances make this homage to 70's cinema a real treat. Those familiar with the action flicks of the disco decade will be charmed by the films style, while fans of crime films will enjoy the suspense and plot twists. In years to come, Jackie Brown will be looked at as one of Quentin Tarantino's best films.

Broken Arrow (1996)

Every genius stumbles now and again.

[5/10 · 25 May 2000]

Simply put, this is John Woo's worst film to date. Not only does it pale in comparison to classics like "The Killer" and "Hard Boiled", it's not a very good action/adventure on it's own terms. Woo does what he can given the source material, but only Christ himself could turn water to wine. The screenplay seems like it was written for a straight to video production. If one is not familiar with the films of John Woo(or Hong Kong cinema in general)this would not be a proper introduction.Recommended for fans of second-rate action flicks with top-notch talent behind, and in front off, the camera. A wasted effort.