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eddievedder55
Reviews
Signs (2002)
Misleading Advertisement (possible spoiler)
I just got through seeing this movie and it was a huge, unbelievable disappointment. It was advertised as being about crop circles,UFOs,and aliens. Well, it had all that in it but it was also advertised as being scary or creepy and like something big and suspenseful would happen. The suspense is waiting for something anything to happen to wake you up out of the coma that you'll be in watching this sleeper. This movie is not really about spooky crop circles and figuring out what they mean or even the UFOs or aliens. It's about a man who has lost his faith in God and finds it again. The same old typical dramatic mambo jumbo. I went thinking that this would be an original movie about crop circles and the mysteries surrounding them. Possibly the movie might have addressed whether it was a message made by aliens to communicate with each other or some other beings on some other planet. But this movie didn't do that. Sure it speculated that the crop circles were SIGNS of something beyond, sending a message out to the other aliens but it really didn't explore that idea much.
I thought that finally a decent movie on the subject of crop circles was being made. Crop circles are real after all and many people don't realize just how many crop circles there are out there. This movie instead focuses on a family and the tragedy that they have experienced. My problem with this movie is that it was advertised to be something that it is not. It sucks in that way! What it turned out to be was a drama full of some creepy and suspenseful moments but for the most part was about the family. In this way, it still sucked! It was typical. The ending was predictable after all that you had seen!
The only up side to this film is that it had a lot of funny parts. It was more funny than anything else. Thank goodness for that much!
This movie needed more. Maybe someone else will make an incredible movie more thoroughly exploring the mystery of crop circles and still be able to tell an emotionally charged story that intrigues and excites the audience. I'm not saying make a documentary because that's been done I've seen those but incorporate more techniques to both explore more deeply the mysteries of crop circles as well as explore the people that they affect. Don't use the subject of crop circles as a tag line to really tell a story about a classic family drama without making it clear in the advertisement. I've seen other movies do this same misleading crap and I'm getting tired of it!!!!
Watch this movie if you want to see a somewhat creepy,suspense about something you already figured out, and to see Mel Gibson cry like a baby.
Life as a House (2001)
Hayden is wide open
I liked watching this movie. Hayden Christensen was wide open in this movie convincingly portraying his character Sam as a teenager that is suffering from self-hate and despair. I saw this movie before seeing him in Star Wars and I was impressed by his acting. I knew then that I would see a decent performance in Star Wars. One scene in this movie was a rarity to see in a film like this. Usually the weirdo perverted stuff is left in weirdo psycho movies. At times this movie drags and can start to bore you.
Of course just when you think you have had enough something happens to reawaken you. This movie needs more attention payed to the detail of the story. Sam is the most interesting character in the movie, hence rendering the movie worthwhile.
The Believer (2001)
Ryan has passion
I enjoyed watching this film. The passion that Ryan Gosling displays in this movie is amazing for an actor his age. As far as the subject matter of the movie, the religious aspects seemed a little fuzzy. It's layered in Jewish theology, however, it's not as clear at times.I was troubled at times by the message that the movie was trying to make. It seemed at times like Danny was suffering from split personality disorder rather than just going through a phase of confusion and self-hate. I think that a lot of the neurotic behavior shown by Danny was done on purpose to further emphasize the struggle taking place inside of him.
This movie may disturb some and confuse others but the acting is pretty good. Ryan did his best to keep this movie coherent but he can't work miracles. Good acting, shaky story.
Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002)
Bringing back the Passion
George Lucas really got the picture this time. The more that I think about this movie the more I love this movie. He didn't overplay anything too much. This Star Wars had balance and a great feeling to it. I really enjoyed watching Ewan bring back the old Obi-Wan. Hayden Christensen makes a good Anakin because he has heart and shows the anger, rage, and bitterness that Star Wars fans would imagine that Darth Vader would have possessed at such a young age. He doesn't overdo anything or become unrealistic about his emotions(except maybe in the love scenes). Of course there was a scene in the movie where I wished that George Lucas had shown more detail. Expanding one scene in particular could have given the audience a first hand view of Anakin's growing turn to the dark side. The love story's language was little overdone and forced at times but it was sufficient for such young actors.
Lucas brought back the interest in the characters, their relationships, and the vibrant action of Star Wars. I think that the next one will be full of action. This Star Wars contained more action than even the previous Star Wars I thinks it's due to the fans complaining about more lightsaber fights. Well, for the lightsaber freaks, there will be plenty of lightsaber fights, so many you might go blind.
The movie moves smoothly along and I found that at no point was I tired of any scene or felt that some scenes were rushed. If any scenes were rushed then I didn't notice and that's good. I recommend seeing this movie more than once. Lucas gives the fans back their treasured Star Wars, of course, it's doesn't have the feel of the Luke Skywalker Trilogy but Lucas is in a different place with this trilogy. He's on a quest to show how Anakin became the ultimate Sith lord. Fans should know that there are no big twists(of course you never know what Lucas might have in store) because if you saw the Luke series you know the twists already but this series shows the pain, the love,and the impending doom and despair of Anakin (Darth Vader). Lucas probably wants the fans to see Darth Vader as a man that we all can relate to, a man with turmoil threatening to destroy him from the inside out. Lucas is bringing back the passion. Watch this movie.
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)
Depp & Del Toro taking an ether walk
I watched this movie not knowing what to expect except a great mess from the criticisms that I read. I found that I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought. It was funny and depressing at times but overall you see the depths that can be traveled through heavy drug intoxication. Benicio and Johnny are great in this movie especially Benicio who seems to bring a whole new dimension to his character. He performs like no other actor and it was mesmerizing for me to watch him make me laugh(he should have been nominated for an Oscar) and disgusted at the same time yet still find him cuddly and like a grandfather figure in a drug crazed way. He shows the thin line walked between lawyer and drug crazed addict out to scare the world with his amazon like stature. I remember saying several times while watching the movie that "Dr. Gonzo, is a man that is too big to deal with" let him be. Johnny Depp sounds like Elvis at times and a weird caricature full of every drug you can imagine. He wheels and whirls through this movie never stopping to experience the world of sobriety. They say their looking for some piece of the American dream, if they would get off the drugs maybe they could realize the they are the ones to be feared and loathed for freaking everyone out(including themselves) on their drug binge. The ether walk truly takes you into another dimension of insane drama. Inside the freakshow of a casino/bar, Dr. Gonzo makes you trip out on how scared he is to jump off of the revolving bar. Who creates a revolving bar? Why don't they just hang barf bags from the counter? I'm telling you all who haven't seen Fear and Loathing, you should watch just to see the ridiculously funny "Ether Walk" not to mention "Dr. Gonzo's Acid/Suicide Trip."
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)
Depp & Del Toro taking an ether walk
I watched this movie not knowing what to expect except a great mess from the criticisms that I read. I found that I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought. It was funny and depressing at times but overall you see the depths that can be traveled through heavy drug intoxication. Benicio and Johnny are great in this movie especially Benicio who seems to bring a whole new dimension to his character. He performs like no other actor and it was mesmerizing for me to watch him make me laugh(he should have been nominated for an Oscar) and disgusted at the same time yet still find him cuddly and like a grandfather figure in a drug crazed way. He shows the thin line walked between lawyer and drug crazed addict out to scare the world with his amazon like stature. I remember saying several times while watching the movie that "Dr. Gonzo, is a man that is too big to deal with" let him be. Johnny Depp sounds like Elvis at times and a weird caricature full of every drug you can imagine. He wheels and whirls through this movie never stopping to experience the world of sobriety. They say their looking for some piece of the American dream, if they would get off the drugs maybe they could realize the they are the ones to be feared and loathed for freaking everyone out(including themselves) on their drug binge. The ether walk truly takes you into another dimension of insane drama. Inside the freakshow of a casino/bar, Dr. Gonzo makes you trip out on how scared he is to jump off of the revolving bar. Who creates a revolving bar? Why don't they just hang barf bags from the counter? I'm telling you all who haven't seen Fear and Loathing, you should watch just to see the ridiculously funny "Ether Walk" not to mention "Dr. Gonzo's Acid/Suicide Trip."
Little Buddha (1993)
Watch until Siddartha is enlightened and then stop! (spoiler)
Believe it or not Keanu actually had a half decent accent happening in this movie. He looks beautiful and does a pretty alright job of being believable. But please once you get to the scene where Siddartha is enlightened stop watching or else you'll fall dead to sleep. I wish they had focused totally on the story of Siddartha it was pretty good. Check this movie out to see just a glimpse of Keanu acting and not reading his lines.
My Own Private Idaho (1991)
My Own Private Frustration & Keanu (spoilers)
This movie left me wondering who was the guy at the end who picked Mike up on the side of the road? Was it Scott or just a passing stranger? I hope it was Scott because if it wasn't then their whole relationship is arbitrary. If anyone knows please tell me.
On Keanu, well I have heard some people say how wooden and devoid of emotion he is well, that's probably because Keanu seems to be constantly guarding his personal self from the public and therefore cannot feel free to truly open himself up in roles to be loose and fluid. He is working on the acting but until Keanu understands he must let go of himself when he acts then he will continue to worry his fans and critics. He seems to do best in nonleading roles probably because he feels he won't be noticed. Keanu's notoriety seems to be a double edged sword for him. For example, it seemed to me when he was unknown many of my friends and even critics thought he had talent and potential to be a great actor. But after the "Bill and Ted" fiasco and everyone knew him in the mainstream it seems the critics and everyone else started calling him a horrible actor. Anyway, if you care about relationships meaning something don't watch this movie but if you want to witness a strange journey with River(my fave actor) then definitely run and watch this movie. In the future my comments will be better.