shawny11_2001 Reviews

300 (2006)

The New Age of War Movies

[9/10 · 12 March 2007]

It did not start with "Saving Private Ryan" & the motto "War is Hell." The new age for war movies started with "300" and "Why we fight." No, this isn't a recruitment movie for the armed forces. Surprisingly, this movie is about the reason for going to war, what would you lay your life down for, and ultimately about the sacrifices that have to be made for victory. But if you walked out of the movie saying "Gosh, that was really violent," you completely missed the point of the movie and should be kept from breeding.

Acting - Gerard Butler as Leonidas is at his best in this movie. No one else could deliver a corny line (about fighting for too long and how kneeling would hurt) any better. It was said with kingly charisma. The other standout was Lena Headly as Queen Gorgo. It's not often you see a strong woman character in a primarily male cast. All the others played their parts well, as Spartan soldiers willing to die.

Music - The perfect blend of metal and symphony but separated. Tyler Bates did a wonderful job. And there's nothing better than watching a band of angry Spartans marching towards the Persians with a heavy metal guitar-riff going.

SFX - Absolutely fantastic, except for Xerxes towering over Leonidas. That was very bad, but overall, the CGI and blue-screen work was fantastic. The stylized feel of the movie was brought out through this technique, and gave it a true comic-book feeling, even moreso than Sin City.

Overall - 9 out of 10. For the depth of this type of movie, it was near perfect. Eat that, Troy!

Pan's Labyrinth (2006)

Once I was blind, now I can see.

[10/10 · 29 January 2007]

This film is one of the most profound films I have ever seen. I've not been so affected by a film ever before. The anger and drudgery of a daily work schedule disappeared once I saw this film. All the worthless, mind-numbing crap doesn't affect me anymore since I watched this film.

The Story: Simplicity works best, and Del Toro & Co prove that all too well. The story follows a young Spanish girl in 1944 Fascist Spain, in the country with her pregnant mother and fascist step-father. She finds an ancient labyrinth in the forest near some backwoods town in the Spanish mountains (I think near the France-Spain border, but I could be wrong). Inside the labyrinth she meets a faun (the Pale Man/Pan) and sets out on a series of quests to regain her 'honor' as a princess in the underworld realm.

The FX: Now, I thought that all the shots with the Pale Man were CGI, but it turns out they were not. The faeries are CG, and done very well. The makeup is utterly amazing.

The Music: One word: haunting. The score brings the mood of film to life.

The Acting: I am completely unfamiliar with all the actors except Doug Jones (even though he's just a guy in a suit, really). Jones' mannerisms as the Pale Man were fantastic. Ivana Baquero was absolutely phenomenal as Ofelia. Her portrayal of a scared girl wrapped in a fantasy world was the best performance of the entire film. The only actor/actress I found not to be very convincing was Maribel Verdu, who played Mercedes. The first scenes with her were not very good, but her subplot as being an undercover agent for the resistance was very well done.

Overall: One of the best movies I have ever seen. As I stated before, I've never been so moved by a film. Magic exists. Beauty exists even in the ugliest of places. If you don't leave this film with some understanding of this, then you weren't paying close enough attention.

10 out of 10.

Snakes on a Plane (2006)

I can't believe it...

[7/10 · 19 August 2006]

It was abnout 8pm last night when I decided to order my ticket for "Snakes on a Plane". Shockingly enough, I went thru with the order, expecting the biggest stinker on the silver screen to appear (and yes, I was expecting it to be worse than any Uwe Boll film of "Battlefield Earth"). I was pleasantly surprised to find out that this movie was indeed campy, trashy, downright-ridiculous, and quite an enjoyable experience. (With the right people. Take a group of friends, have a few brews, and enjoy).

The plot: Read the title. Do I need to say more?

The acting: Pure campy B-movie trash with Samuel L Jackson having a complete blast. Everybody else played their parts just as you would expect. Sci-Fi original movie acting, but on the big screen.

The SFX: Utterly fake looking, yet with that fakeness comes the fun part of the movie. It's funny to see overly

The Music: Probably one of the best soundtracks ever made. The music is trashy, yet completely fun. The music video at the end is most amusing.

Overall: 7/10, mostly because for pride reasons I cannot rate a movie this trashy and bad over a 7. It is fun, it can get you jumping out of your seat if you're not paying attention, and there's two incredibly bad-to-laugh-at scenes (like in Pulp Fiction), Snake on a *** and Snake on a ****.

Starship Troopers (1997)

Morder-day Satire at its Best

[8/10 · 13 February 2006]

Granted, I am a huge Heinlein fan, and at first I was incredibly disappointed with the lack of continuity with the novel, but as I've gotten older, and more jaded mind you, this film really makes a lot of sense. (I was just a lowly freshman in high school when it first came out...so the satire didn't make sense).

Satire is a powerful tool (see Jonathan Swift), and when used properly, can comment on anything and everything, and all at the same time. Starship Troopers does that perfectly well, with the pro/anti-war movements, politics, the military, teenage angst, and overall, the impact that propaganda has on us too (its in all the little blurbs that interrupt the film). Verhoeven is truly a master at portraying satire, while Ed Nuemier writes it perfectly, with a great blending of action, sex, and a bit of suspense. Basil Poledouris' score, with the massive amounts of bass (oh how I love THX sound) and marches are what top this off. The marches are fantastic, and the subtle references to satire (see the last propaganda scene in the movie and you'll understand completely) top off this flick. Enjoyable, fun, and a downright riot are what describe Starship Troopers.

The Fog (2005)

Utter joke

[1/10 · 19 October 2005]

One of the absolute worst remakes in all of cinematic history. It wasn't even remotely scary, nor was it creepy or believable. The acting on all fronts, even from Tom Welling, was sup-par at best. There wasn't any sense of horror or fear from any of the actors. If your town were being gobbled up by an unknown fog that killed people, I think you'd be panicking a little bit. But no, they're driving around and such, making complete donkey butts of themselves (I'd use other words, but expletives are prohibited).

The ending, ha! Overall it just wasn't good. Poor remake, and shame on John Carpenter for allowing Hollywood to botch what was a good flick. It boggles my mind that he was even interested in seeing a remake of The Fog.

The Phantom of the Opera (2004)

Awestruck

[10/10 · 8 January 2005]

There are no words I can muster to describe this brilliant piece of musical cinema. Since I was very young, about 8 or so, I've listened to the music and been enchanted by it. I never did get to see the stage version, and now that I've seen the film, I would drive down a sidewalk full of pedestrians to get a ticket. Well, maybe not that drastic, but darn close.

The music is the defining piece of the entire film. From the explosive entrance of the Overture till the silence at the end, the music is enthralling. It drives the story, more so than any other piece of music I've ever heard in cinema. Gerard Butler's voice is by far the most outstanding to me. His rock&roll twang in the baritone voice is much more convincing of the Phantom's anguish than the stage version's (I've no idea who it is, but the tenor voice does not fit for anguish). Emmy Rosum's voice is amazing as well. One thing that is a surprise though is Patrick Wilson. I'd never thought he'd be able to sing so well. Everything blends so perfectly in this. I cannot say much else, because the words are not here to describe it.

Joel Schumacher, you finally show some genius in film-making.

Conan the Barbarian (1982)

Classic, but why does IMDb hate it so?

[10/10 · 3 November 2004]

You durn fanboys just don't know great cinema. Yea, LOTR was great and all, and so was SW, but Conan the Barbarian is in the same league as those films! How can you not see that? I do admit that it does get to be boring at times, but both LOTR and SW HAVE THOSE SAME PROBLEMS!!!

What makes this film so remarkable is how well the score, by Basil Poledouris, ties the film together. The score drives this movie, from beginning to end. Maybe that's why I fell in love with this movie when I was a young lad. Just the percussion of Anvil of Crom (opening title) keeps reverberating within my head on a continuous loop, but not a loop that's truly conscious. Yea, I know, a movie score doesn't make a movie, but ya know what does? Characterization.

James Earl Jones, The "Governator", and Ben Davidson (Rexor for the uneducated) do splendid jobs. Though JEJ doesn't quite have the screen time I wish he had, the mystery surrounding his character is fascinating and how he delivers it to. The Governator, well, obviously lives the role of Conan and will always be Conan. Rexor was probably the best character of the film. He was emotional, driven, and just plain fun to watch.

***SPOILER***

The final battle was by far the best. The climax of the movie is when Rexor is struck down by a Valkyrie-esque Sandahl Bergman and the furious Conan. Absolutely great music and fighting!

Troy (2004)

Beautiful

[8/10 · 22 May 2004]

Granted, this is not entirely like The Iliad and the first part of The Odyssey, but it is still a wonderful film. Wolfgang Peterson strikes gold again with this epic.

Acting - Top notch cast, and it delivers almost on all levels. Brad Pitt is elegant and brutal as Achilles. Peter O'Toole haunts the screen as Priam. Diane Kruger is great as Helen. Brian Cox is deliciously over the top as Agammemnon. Brendan Gleason needed more screentime as Menelaus. Sean Bean fit Odysseus perfectly. And Orlando Bloom...sigh...he couldn't act to save his life. And Eric Bana...the perfect Hector. All the other non-big names that had screentime were great.

Cinematography - Absolutely brilliant. The wide landscapes, the oceanscape, everything is utterly beautiful and clean. I've not seen this kind of filming in a long time.

Directing/Writing - Wolfgang Peterson is a god. Very well written, and the direction is fantastic. I cannot begin to describe how well it was done.

Music - Absolutely fantastic. THe way the music was turned down during battles reminded me of Saving Private Ryan, and it forced you to focus on the battles themselves. Spoiler - The fight between Hector and Achilles is the absolute BEST delivery ever.

Overall this is a great movie. The ending is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too quick. Spoiler - I wanted more of the siege of Troy. Not perfect, but great nonetheless. 9 outta 10

Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)

Fantastic

[9/10 · 24 February 2004]

Welcome back Quentin Tarantino. After not making a movie for nearly 7 years, he comes back with a violent, delightful revenge flick. I really can't say too much about this film because it'd just be fanboy blabbering. Top notch work, and I can't wait to see Vol. 2. 9.9/10

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

Utterly Fantastic

[10/10 · 18 February 2004]

Sadly, this isn't the film I was expecting. The end was waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too choopy and cut up to be very coherent. If Jackson and Crew had to cut stuff, it should've been earlier in the film and saved the last battle in total. Especially the Mouth of Sauron. Not seeing him was a major disappointment.

Acting: The best female role of the entire series is Eowyn. There is no contest between her and the other female roles. Viggo does a spectacular job as Aragorn once again. The biggest surprise is Pippin. Besides having a great voice, he can act. Denethor was amazing. Faramir truely showed his quality. Etc etc etc...

Music: By far the best music out of the entire series. Howard Shore is one helluva composer.

Plot: Just like the book, minus a few things. The addition of Shelob to the film, instead of at the end of The Two Towers was great. Very haunting and freaky. (Stupid crowds always jumped...and screamed...and gasped...) Minus a few qualms with the battle at the Black Gate, this is great. Top notch.

SFX: The best of the entire series. 'Nuff said.

Directing: Peter Jackson, you are a god among insects.

Overall: 9.8 out of 10. If the film had the Mouth of Sauron and an ending battle that didn't seem so chopped up, it would've been perfect.

The Matrix Revolutions (2003)

Cry all you want....

[11 November 2003]

This actually was a decent movie. Yea, this review is completely opposite of my review of Reloaded, but that was upon one viewing of Reloaded. Since that first viewing, I saw it once again on IMAX and another time in a regular theater, and actually enjoyed it. I bought 'Enter the Matrix' and beat that as well, getting all the little snippets that connect the game and Reloaded with Revolutions. Then I bought Reloaded and watched it for nearly 2 weeks straight before Revolutions came out. By the way, seeing Revolutions on IMAX is an experience that no one should miss.

Spoilers...

Onto Revolutions...and as I said, it is decent. There are few movies that put me on the edge of my seat, and this one actually did. The Club Hell fight sequence was interesting, and got better once The Merovingian was brought back to the screen. Lambert Wilson was a riot, and Monica Belluci takes her vitamins. The Duel between Bane and Neo wasn't very good, especially the mutilation of Neo's eyes. That had some point (Neo being able to see the energy of the machines) but it really wasn't more than a nod to Dune Messiah. The Battle for Zion was a tense scene that was amazing if you ask me. It alone was worth the price of the IMAX ticket. The blend of CG and live-action was phenomenal, and Captain Mufine should win "The Ultimate Bad@$$ of the Year" Award. The Death of Trinity was overly long and sappy to the ultimate end. I really didn't feel anything for Trinity's death. The Final Duel between Smith and Neo was fantastic. I felt like a little kid reading a Superman comic. The new Oracle was not Gloria Foster, but good nonetheless. And the reappearance of the Architect was great for a smile, though I wanted him to say 'ergo' and 'concordantly' once more.

If you didn't play 'Enter the Matrix' then the introduction of Sati was probably confusing. In the game, the Oracle speaks of a child who will save the Matrix. Sati is that child, though I really don't see how she saved the Matrix.

The idea that Neo and Smith are exact opposites is a wonderful idea and I thought it was portrayed perfectly on Smith's side and stonerly by Neo. But that's what you get for casting Keanu Reeves... I think Guy Pearce would've been a better choice, or at least someone who does have a brain. Hugo Weaving is an absolutely brilliant choice for Agent Smith, and he should be recognized as one of the all-time baddest villains. At least within the top five, but not the top.

The music is great, even the techno-ish stuff. The instrumental music is where its at though.

The SFX are great, even if you can easily tell what's real and what isn't.

Now I'm out of words to say. Go see it in IMAX. That is the only way you can really give the movie any justice. (And the source's voice shakes the entire theater like a really close lightning bolt's thunder).

Overall... 8.5 out of 10 for great action, good tension, sappiness, and Keanu.

Eight Legged Freaks (2002)

Scary? Ha! Funny? Ha! Stupid? Oh yes!

[2/10 · 4 September 2003]

This isn't scary, funny, nor even remotely amusing. I've had more fun clipping hangnails and ingrown toenails than I did when I rented this.

Take the team that brought you the "cinematic classics" of Independence Day and Godzilla, add some mutant spiders, and you get this "masterpiece" of crap. Then add David Arquette of 10-10-220 and Scream fame, and it goes from crap to primordial sludge in no time. The acting isn't even funny, the action is predictable, and the plot holes are immense.

Overall, a 2 out of 10. 2 points for the relatively good SFX, and that's it.

Soulcalibur II (2003 Video Game)

A stunning sequel to a perfect game

[28 August 2003]

Soul Calibur 2 is probably the second best fighting game ever made. Soul Calibur happens to be the first. The graphics are much cleaner, the music very dramatic, and overall, it plays almost exactly like the first game. I know that doesn't sound great, but with a smaller controller (unless you have an X-Box or Gamecube) it makes life a lot easier. Though I've only had this game since yesterday, I feel that it is worthy of a 10. Great sequel, and a must-have for any fighting game enthusiast.

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003)

Uh...

[21 July 2003]

That's about all I can say about this movie. It's poorly written, poorly filmed, poorly acted (even Connery isn't up to par in this sadly), and the CGI is poorly made. Stephen Norrington hit it good with "Blade" but hits nothing but a brick wall here, and it crashes down on him. This is a complete trainwreck. I'm not familiar with the comic series, but I'd like to experience it to see how incredibly different it is from the movie. Jekyll/Hyde...I don't ever remember Hyde being a Hulk knock-off. The plot twist in the middle confused me, including the muddled scenes in the collapsing streets of Venice. Nemo...I couldn't even see his fighting. Peta Wilson's vampire was...horribly bitten, er...written. Tom Sawyer was trite and boring. All in all, this was a disaster.

Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003)

The Sequel That Is Action, And Not Much Else

[6/10 · 20 July 2003]

I have always been a fan of the Terminator movies, and when I first heard they were doing a third, I couldn't help but be disappointed. Strike One. Then the news hit me that James Cameron opted out on this movie. Strike Two. Then I actually saw the movie. Strike three, Hollywood sucks!

First, there is almost no resemblance between T3 and its predecessors, plot wise. Here there is enough plot to satisfy your typical big-budget summer movie. Yet there were enough continuity and plot holes that I felt empty myself. I've had bowel movements more satisfying than the plot of this movie, which absolutely destroys the beauty of "There is no fate but what we make for ourselves." But for the masses, this is the movie of the summer. It's all action and forced humor. The entrance of Arnold was not entertaining, nor was him using "Talk to the hand." Ick...

Acting...well, it wasn't as bad as "Battlefield Earth" but it wasn't good either. Kristianna Loken is a pretty face, and she is nowhere near as frightening and creepy as Robert Patrick. But he also had a score that made him creepy. Arnold is back to what he did well once, but that is no longer there. Here, he tries to channel the Arnold of T2, and fails. Nick Stahl wasn't a bad choice, and continuity wise, I'm glad they chose him instead of Edward Furlong. Furlong just doesn't have the charisma or brooding sense that Nick Stahl brought to John Connor's role. Claire Danes, forgettable, just like the minor characters that pop up here and there.

The humor...wasn't funny. Trying to make Arnold into a comedian is nearly as bad as making Gimli a comedian. It doesn't fit, it isn't funny, and most of all, it made me want to vomit.

The action is where this movie shines, and that's it. The car chase is phenominal. The fights between the TX and the T800, uh, T101...??? (it was T-800, Cyberdyne Systems Model 101 in the previous films) are very cool. All in all, the action makes this movie.

For being an all-round disappointment for me, it was entertaining. But now my dwindling faith in Hollywood has vanished. No more lacklustre sequels with no plot and all action. 6.5 out of 10

Legend (1985)

A Flawed, Beautiful Masterpiece

[7/10 · 15 July 2003]

At least in the Director's Cut with Jerry Goldsmith's original score. That version of the film is by far the ultimate and most elegant experience.

The reason it's flawed is that it could never be perfect, no matter what could be tweaked. It just doesn't feel like the grand masterpiece it should've been, and I know of no way to give this film that feel.

Ridley Scott is a true genius filmmaker. He incorporates so many experiences and questions and dilemmas that the common man and woman go through when they age. Jack and Lily's adventure is the personification of those childhood experiences that turned boys into men and girls into women.

Tim Curry...the best one dimensional character in cinematic history. He is an absolute joy to watch and listen to in this film. His voice is chilling, his image is nightmarish, and he is just amazing to see.

This has always been one of my favorite movies. But now that I've seen the DC on DVD, it has cemented its place in my list. 8.5 out of 10 (Mainly because I feel flaws, but really can't explain them well)

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)

Spectacular Summer Fun!!!

[9/10 · 10 July 2003]

I came out of this movie last night with a big smile on my face. I hadn't had that good of a time at the movies in a long time. This is an all-round fun time at the theater, one that you will regret if you miss it. The acting is superb on all parts, from the barely noticed crew that Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) hires to the big wigs themsevles, this is a winner. Johnny Depp is absolutely deft at Captain Jack Sparrow, Geoffrey Rush oozes evil as Captain Barbossa, Keira Knightely pulls of the character of Elizabeth Swann very beautifully (both physically and actorly) and Orlando Bloom is always a joy to see. The writers should be handed medals, considering all the other crap that Hollywood has put out in 2003. (Minus X2, Reloaded, Finding Nemo, The Hulk) Gore Verbinski shows the audience that pirate movies are not dead, they just need a story, great actors, lots of action, and humor that isn't boring. All the shows last night were sold out, so it looks like Disney has come up with a true winner for a change. Now, go see it and have a fun time at the theater.

Hulk (2003)

Incredible!!!!!

[9/10 · 21 June 2003]

That's about the only word that I can come up with to describe this absolute masterpiece of cinema. Hollywood can learn something from Ang Lee, but I doubt they ever will. Yet unlike many reviews I've read who were expecting a big guns action movie, this is far from it. It is a character piece, with some action thrown in on the side.

Eric Bana was absolutely wonderful as Bruce Banner. He played the role perfectly. Jennifer Connely was a wonderful choice for Betty Ross. You could feel her sympathy and love towards Bruce and the Hulk in her eyes and voice. Nick Nolte is always a joy to see anymore. Sam Elliot portrayed Thunderbolt Ross briliantly.

Ang Lee's use of split-screen was spectacular. It brought the comic-book essence that has been missing from many comic movies. It was like being a kid again, reading The Hulk outside the comic shop.

And yet this is not a typical action movie. This is a character movie. It has suspense, drama, and a bit of action for those who've been brainwashed by Hollywood. Yet the action is in the end, but the story builds up to it.

I loved this movie. I'm incredibly happy that they finally got around to making a Hulk movie. It has been a few years coming, and boy was the wait worth every penny.

Zone of the Enders: Idolo (2001 Video)

Well...the Ending robbed me!!!

[7/10 · 1 June 2003]

This is decent, not great, not good, but decent enough to watch. The mecha, not the bada$$ one, reminded me a lot of Gundam and Robotech/Macross mecha. The Idolo mecha reminded me a whole lot of Evangelion. But overall they weren't too blatant.

The voice acting was pretty good. The dialogue at spots was a bit odd, but you can never nail dialogue perfectly. The story was beautifully drawn and written, yet I felt the backstory wasn't very well set up. Granted, I've not played the Zone of Enders game or seen anything else on this series, I'd like to know more.

6.5 out of 10

The Matrix Reloaded (2003)

Typical Hollywood Action Movie...

[6/10 · 16 May 2003]

Plotless, actorless, and just plain boring for the most part. There were a few good scenes, the Freeway chase, the Neo vs Agent Smith x 100, and that was really all that kept me going. Yet I still found myself wondering if I'd done the right choice by seeing The Matrix 2.

Sadly, I somewhat was correct. Yet the funny thing is I had very low expectations for this movie. And the Wachowskis did a wonderful job of making me disappointed I saw this movie. The plot was nonexistent, the dialogue and acting were almost as bad as a porno movie's acting, and well, there was the recycled SFX. I remember reading a few interviews with the Wachowskis and how they said that the SFX in Reloaded would beat the first Matrix movie. Well, they were blowing smoke up where the sun don't shine. The SFX were nearly all the same from the first movie, minus the Twins. (Who should've gotten more screentime, considering the amount they get in the previews). The fight scenes were way too rehearsed to even be close to believeable. I nearly fell asleep during the Seraph/Neo fight... And the ending, we can't forget that! And how poor it was. Very poor...even Back to the Future 2's ending wasn't that bad.

To see a sequel executed on all 10 cylinders, go see X2. That movie expanded on the original and did it with pinache. Reloaded is a drag.

X2 (2003)

Absolutely Amazing!!!

[9/10 · 7 May 2003]

The first X-Men film was a superb movie, yet it didn't strike me as a true-hearted comic movie. X2 did (especially since its based off of an actual graphic novel). I had more comic-geek moments than I've ever had in a comic movie. Yet there is more to this than the typical comic geek reaction...

The movie is character-driven, and that is the best strength any film can rely on. Some characters sadly are left behind, Rogue and Cyclops, while others are expanded on and introduced. I was disappointed that Rogue didn't get more screentime...but they did introduce Nightcrawler who is superbly acted by Alan Cumming. He starts the rollercoaster with the Whitehouse scene and that is by far one of the best fight scenes in cinematic history. (Neo eat your heart out).

Hugh Jackman once again shows why he was the best and only choice for Wolverine...incredible. If Singer had focused on him a bit more this film, it would've been even better. (Though I'm sure not complaining).

Overall, this follow-up to the first is very much like they way Empire Strikes Back and The Wrath of Khan. It improves on the original by leaps and bounds, and opens the doors to new and higher ideas. Go watch it several times, in fact, see it at least 3 times to catch all the little Easter Eggs you missed before. (Remy LeBeau, the Sentinels project, etc etc etc)

Tears of the Sun (2003)

Enjoyable...yet not worth night price of admission...

[6/10 · 9 March 2003]

I was lucky enough to catch this friday night in an almost entirely empty theater. I was quite surprised, even if it was the late show. Least I didn't have to deal with stupid high school kids.

The film was enjoyable. The "artsy" parts of this film dragged it for about 40 minutes or so. The battle scenes are absolutely intense, if not so realistic that you could barely tell if they were filmed or not. I'm no ex-SEAL, but those were by far the most realistic scenes in a movie I've ever seen.

Now comes the real fun part...characters. There was little character development, and I really wanted to see more of the SEALS. Specially the ones they killed off. Then there was the doctor...did they really have to show her cleavage? No, they didn't.

This movie is a 6 at tops. Cut out the doc's cleavage, add more battles, cut the artsy crap, and Bruce Willis has a true action movie.

Old School (2003)

Good for a laugh on a lonely saturday...

[7/10 · 28 February 2003]

This isn't the same type of comedy that John Belushi put up before he passed away, but it is still funny.

Ferrel does a good job as Frank the Tank, even with shots of his white butt and his...er-hemm. When he's on screen though he's the funniest of the bunch.

Vaughn does a good job indeed. He's most amusing with his kid and the whole "earmuffs" gag. Very funny stuff.

Wilson does a good job as basically a character like himself. Though the whole subplot with the boss' daughter is iffy, it's still amusing.

Nudity...always good in a college flick such as this. All in all, just worth the 4.50 on a saturday afternoon.

Gundam Wing: The Movie - Endless Waltz (1998 TV Movie)

The True Ending to the series

[8/10 · 28 February 2003]

To be honest, the ending of the Gundam Wing series was so anti-climactic that it was horrible. It did not fit with what the entire series had going for it throughout its run. The mecha are beautifully brought back again for one final hurrah. The story is engaging, the characters (though textbook heroes) are still well-written, and that's it. The series ends, and what a way to end it. Top notch.

Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995–1996)

The Serious Mind-Job in Anime

[28 February 2003]

There are few words that can be used to describe this powerhouse of character development. Hideaki Annno is a great story-teller, even if he went off anti-depressants half way through the series and sent it into left field on Mars. Every character is fleshed out fully by the end of the series, with the exception of Shinji Ikari a bit. He's not quite fully fleshed out, but the movie "End of Evangelion" finishes that. All in all, I really can't say much. This is spectacular story-telling with a bit of mecha fighting to keep it "fun" so to speak.