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Reviews
Road to Perdition (2002)
The Road to Snoozeville
Deary me what a turgid piece this is..
The script is less than inspiring, the direction plodding, the plot implausible, the acting of Hanks and Tyler Hoechlin wooden.
The most annoying thing however was the blasted score, on and on and on and on it droned. Im not a violent person but I seriously wanted to nick one of Sullivans machine guns and go after the composer.
The story rests on the relationship between father and son but as the actors are weak and the plot daft, I had little sympathy for them. I cannot understand why Hanks is regarded as an actor of worth, I cannot recall him changing expression, he is IMO the luckiest actor around!
This effort from Mendes is poor, tis a real disapointment after American Beauty.
Good points Jude Law and Paul Newman, now they are fine actors!
Red Dragon (2002)
Excellent!! Better than Manhunter, way better than Silence of the Lambs
Well I didn't expect much from this film as I've not been a fan of the Hopkins as Lector, in fact after Silence of the Lambs I didn't even bother to go see Hannibal. I went to this one with I suppose a disdainful attitude and happily I have been greatly surprised and impressed. This film had me gripped from the moment Lector winces at the flute player right through to the climax.
The performances of Hopkins, Emily Lloyd and Ralph Fiennes are absolutley superb. The play between Lloyd and Fiennes especially so.
*small spoilers*
The one sour note is the performance of Edward Norton, somehow he just sleep walks through this one. Seeing as others are giving great performances this cant be blamed on the director. Maybe it could have been the misjudgment of the casting crew. Norton suits the role of psychopath much better. Overall William L. Petersen IMO was a more convincing Will Graham. On the upside Nortons exchange with Fiennes in the film was damned fine!!
Another negative was Mary Louise Parker as Grahams wife also doesnt fit the role and alas there seems little spark between Norton and Parker.
Even so I still rate this an excellent film and one I would throughly recommend.
Insomnia (2002)
Stunned
Its rare these days that I am affected by a film, yet this film has done so.
The script, direction, cinematography and acting in this film are superb.
A palatable tension pervades this piece, which left me on edge through most of the film.
The few action sequences were well weighted without any over the top audience pleasers.
I went into the film expecting nothing from it as a knew virtually nought about it and emerged stunned.
Mr Nolan I salute you, I didn't care for Memento at all, but Insomnia is in IMO superb. Thank You.
BTW I release this is remake of a 1997 film, this does not negate the merits of Nolans vision of Erik Skjoldbjaerg's original. If the original is better than this I would be most impressed indeed.
A very rare 9/10
Reign of Fire (2002)
Hey nice looking dragons!
This film had a bad script that was totally improbable and nonsensical
A London that was seemed entirly occupied with actors with very dodgy cockney accents <rolls eyes>
It has some nice acting sincerely deleivering those dodgy lines
Matthew McConi....peddling some damn fine pecs!!
Christain Bale.....peddling some damn fine pecs!!
Damn cool dragons!!
Fine action sequences that were genuinely thrilling!
All in all a mixed, daft and enjoyable bag!
5/10 :)
Lord I loved those dragons! :D
Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002)
This *CHARMLESS* film
Far away in millenia long ago there was a talented film maker... He made three beautiful films that all the people loved... But alas he turned to the dark side :-(
This was one of the worst movie going experiences I've had.....
The script awful and I mean AWFUL!
The fx/cgi AWFUL! Tooo many critters, tooooooo many fx. It all looked REAL fake!
The acting uniformly WOODEN! There where some really talented actors in this piece and yet they were *all* charmless and unconvincing. The performance of McGregor was the most spirited....though his accent was awful. Portman flat.....Jackson erm bland.....Lee scary baddie DooDoo? ick noooooooo....Haydn Whatshisname.........the most awful performance I can currently recall :(
I was laughing in several places...then yawning.....then laughing........then yawning The laughter was more desperate than joyful The yawning *genuine*
Wow Mr Lucas You have done something I'd *never* have thought possible............ A film to rival my most *loathed* film. Yours is a film worthy of a 1........ Though I thought it not possible. There must, *must* be some redeeming features in this work - thinks hard
Nope sorry, can't think of *any* - sigh
A most rare 1 it is :-(
Iris (2001)
Worthy, moving but painful
Iris was a not a pleasant experience, but it was very beleieveable and moving one. The acting on the whole was good, with Hugh Bonneville taking the honours as the young John Bayley. His portrayl of the eccentric, shy and sensitive young academic is wonderful. Surprisingly Judi Denchs performance as Iris I found a little wooden and not wholly convincing. Broadbents older Bayley altough mostly good was a little hammy on occasion. A film that outstayed its welcome somewhat, but nevertheless is one of the better films of the year. If you insist on seeing a film about illness I would recommend this over the smoltzy A Beautiful Mind.
A Beautiful Mind (2001)
Smoltzy disease of the week fare
This movie was merely OK, defianetly nothing great. Sure Russell Crowe had a lot of screen time, his acting however uneven and wiffed a bit of ham. The violins of the score drove me mad and wrecked of smoltz. Jennifer Connelly was OK nothing great. The actor that stole the show for on screen prescence was Paul Bettany, a star in the making methinks. The second half of the film dragged as it rambled to the get to the get your hankys out <violins again> finale. If you insist on seeing a film about a fight against illness I'd recommend Iris over this.
In the Bedroom (2001)
Lifeless, boring, unmoving
This was the worst film I've seen in sometime. How it could win any award much less an Oscar is beyond me. It is unbeleivably slow and predicatble. I kept thinking go on dad have done with it. The acting was OK, but no way oustanding. Save your money folks, staring at your wall would be more entertaining.
Moulin Rouge! (2001)
Surprisingly good
I only watched this film out curiosity, too be frank I dislike musicals and this one from the clips I'd seen looked a tad cheesy. I am gob smacked to report I loved this movie. It is a wild, overblown, mad in your face experience. OK I found the initial run of song routines a little trying, but the movie dragged me along and just got better and better. I thought Kidman was superb and McGregor gave his best turn since Trainspotting. I cant put my finger on why I liked it so much, I should have hated it and I'm surprised that I did not.
X-Men (2000)
Entertaining fluff
I really hate comic strips and so have avoided this film for some time. However I really enjoyed this flick. A movie about 'mutants' at war could have slipped easily to farce but thanks to the tight direction of Brian Singer and earnest performances, particulary from Hugh Jackman and Anna Paquin, it stays on the right of credulity- just. Not high brow stuff but definately a film that *entertains*
Enjoy
Gosford Park (2001)
Good in part
Hmmmm, another British costume drama but this one has twist..... oh yes its directed by an american. Once more this american has a penchant for Hollywood in jokes, so he includes an american director as one of the MANY characters.I dislike in jokes, smug in my opinion. That aside this was a very slow moving affair, which all but lost my attention. My persistence was rewarded with some nice performances and banter. Was it worth over 2 1/2 hours of time, fraid not. A repeat performance - shudder - No thanks
Sexy Beast (2000)
Not more cockney gangsters
Honestly British film makers seem obsessed with presenting us with costume dramas and cockney gangsters. Yet more dull gangster rehash, shot in an annoying pop video style. The script was appalling, the plot ridiculous. Congratulations to Ben Kingsley on his extremly passable cockney persona (the're all psycotic lunes you know) but hey why bother the Eastenders set is crawling with them.
Black Hawk Down (2001)
Rambling, incoherent and very sadly...........boring
This film is based on the disastrous US army mission in Somalia in 1993, an event I remember from news coverage at the time.
Sadly this film was soooo confused and incoherent that I could have little empathy for the characters. It was for the most part one long shoot 'em up living virtually no room for *any* character development, which is bordering on shameful seeing as the film was portraying *real* people.
All in all I was left clock watching and groaning to the end of film, I only stayed to the end out of respect to the real people who had suffered.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
Consumed by the Ring
I,m a huge Tolkien and movie fan. I went with some trepidation to see LOTR and emerged from the theatre stunned. I couldn't quite make out why, I realise now it was sensory overload. I have never before felt like this after seeing a film.
I've now seen the film four times, the more I see the more I love it. The pace and detail of the movie is so great, that it does requires more than one viewing to truly get it.
Anyone who loves movies will love or come to love this film. Absolute die hard Tolkienites may not be able to take the leap of faith, but if the open their minds, give it a chance and go along for the jaw dropping ride, many I think will be converted.
Can't wait to see the next two, which in the books are even more packed then FOTR. Perhaps a health warning will be needed!
PS Mr PJ, Please do not alter the end of the Return of the King, some things *are* sacred