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Lord Quixote
Reviews
Smokin' Aces (2006)
Talking...talking...talking...talking...where's the action?
Don't be fooled by the trailer. Don't be fooled by the blurbs. This isn't a guns-blazing action-fest. It's just all talk, talk, talk -- and it's not good talking either. I could've accepted all the talking sans action if it had any drama or characters or witty dialog or acting, but it doesn't have any of that. I could've accepted that this was mindless action movie if it weren't for the dialog. The movie will bore you to tears before it even reaches its first shootout (second if you count the flashback which was *talked* to death).
Basically, the movie is mostly people trying to explain the plot to you over...and over...and over...and over again. It's as if the filmmakers wanted you to know that there actually was a plot, razor-thin as it is, in case you didn't get the fact that there was a plot. So what's the end result? -- they filled all the space that could have contained things like action or drama or characters with *people explaining the plot*.
I want my money back.
Ripley's Game (2002)
Thin Adaptation
I was a little disappointed in this adaptation, especially after the superb The Talented Mr. Ripley with Matt Damon. It's not to say that the acting was weak, it's just that it lacked the emotional and psychological foundation that was a part of the Patricia Highsmith's novel. Basically, in this movie we jump right into the plot without being exposed to the characters -- especially the character of Johnathan Trevanny who was the main focus of the novel. The movie merely skims over his motives for getting involved in the whole mess whereas the novel devotes chapters to it.
Basically, this film adaptation is but a standard melodrama that lacks even the slightest bit of character study apart from the cliched "self-introspection" ending
Ying xiong (2002)
Sweepingly Majestic Portrayal of Mythic Characters
This is an amazing film that delves into ancient myths and legends. The broad colors fit well with the broad mythic symbolisms of the tale and characters, like the brush-strokes of Michelangelo or Rembrant. This film is full of archetypes, as it should be since it is a cinematic update of old oral myths and legends, so don't expect too much commercial pop-fare. One can only hope other legends, such as Hercules or King Arthur, can be filmed with such depth and artistry. The only western film that comes close is Boorman's Excalibur. Absolutely spectacular!
And for those simpletons who can't wrap their heads around mythic martial artists -- you're just being bigoted and xenophobic. How can you comfortably accept the impossible feats of Hercules or Thor or Apollo without accepting impossible feats of Nameless or Broken Sword? They all occupy the same realm of fantasy and myth, and must be treated as such.
Waildeu kadeu (2003)
Formulaic Cop Flick
Basically this is just a lot of cop movie cliches strung together, even to the point of the obligatory stepping on a victim's glasses and the good cop/bad cop scenes. But what's most distressing is the attempted "theme" of how bad it is to shoot a criminal with a gun while at the same time the characters have no hesitation of beating one to death -- it rather makes the "serious" theme moot.
American Psycho II: All American Girl (2002)
Pointless Sequel
It's quite obvious that the makers of this film had no idea what the original was about, nor does it seem that they actually cared. Apart from the voice-overs being no match for the eerie tone that Christian Bale had in the original, the entire movie was a complete remake of some TV movie rather than a sequel to an unquestionable cinema masterpiece. Lacking any sort of depth of character, depth of story or anything else that was present in the original, this poor movie was just a lot of empty vacuum punctuated by the perfunctory murder scenes.
Strangely enough, it reminded me of another lackluster "horror" movie starring Melissa Sue Anderson of "Little House on the Prarie" fame. This movie is just as bad as that one (Happy Birthday to Me).
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
Is it over yet?
One of the worst movies ever made. I admit that it's visually stunning, but that's not enough to sustain a film. It's like watching a mural dry. This is the first movie during which I actually glanced at my watch. Cardboard characters, pointless action sequences, and droll music.
Down there with The Power Rangers Movie, Pokemon: The Movie, Santa Claus Conquers the Martians, etc.