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nthanl
Reviews
Avatar (2009)
I'm shocked, SHOCKED to find out this film is so good!
Mr. Cameron is back with another blockbuster Science-Fiction action film. Luckily this one doesn't suck.
Many people will now ask if I know who this man is, to which I would reply that I do. That's why he's lucky the cinema's open to him. For years, Cameron has been living on lack of innovation, thriving on the very archetype of the summer blockbuster. Luckily, we have evidence that this man actually has a brain.
Instead of the standard dull, brown action film, Cameron chose to create a powerful and stirring allegory for Manifest Destiny and the abuse of the Native Population of the United States. The story isn't the only thing that has been given a boost in hue, though. Thanks to the advanced and unique motion tracking and 3D Animation techniques used in the film, Cameron was able to create beautiful and lush landscape for the planet Pandora, a symbol for the "New World." It is a place of beauty, wonder, and - of course- the valuable element Unobtainium. Interestingly, Unobtainium is a scientific term for any element that cannot be easily attained, so we are left guessing what the element actually is. Whatever it is on Pandora, it makes a great symbol for the conquistadors' Unobtainium, Gold.
Though the film grows a little dull during the action sequences and should be shorter, it's still an excellent attempt to establish a new epoch of thinking man's Science Fiction. For that, I just wanted them to play it again.
James, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
Finn on the Fly (2008)
What a shame.
This film is poorly acted, poorly thought out, poorly directed, and poorly written. It's a real shame, since the concept could be really fun. At times, the film shows its true potential by providing us with catchy one- liners, but this is a potential it never fulfills. The villains are cheesy and cliché, and the sidekicks of the hero are enough to offend anyone that has ever touched an iPod, Game Boy, or Frisbee.
What could have been done to salvage this atrocious piece of film? Well, let's start with the writing. Give less time to the dog acting like a dog and more time to the dog expressing his feelings to his human comrade. As for direction, I don't think it can be helped. The actors could be good if they had interesting lines. Editing is slow paced and could stand a pick-up.
Overall, this is a crappy children's film the wreaks of low budget and exploitation cinema. I wouldn't recommend this film for anyone, no matter how much you love dogs, this film will make you hate them.
The Untouchables (1987)
De Palma does it Again... And Again
The Untouchables is a masterpiece. Every detail is meticulously calculated and revealed, creating a vivid and fascinatingly beautiful picture of a time of extreme violence. Using a smooth, tracking camera, De Palma creates a film that is paradoxically both beautiful and disturbing. This allows him to showcase a basic theme that figures prominently in the entire film: war is hell, even war against crime; it changes people.
The idea of change in man's values through violence can be seen in multiple ways. In the train station shooting scene, a great deal of action takes place in going down the stairway trying to catch a falling baby carriage. This is an obvious nod to the canonical Russian propaganda film Battleship Potemkin. This war motif continues through the whole film, including many references to the classic westerns of the forties, fifties, and sixties. Some call De Palma a plagiarist, but in truth what he does is allude to other works. He is the James Joyce of film.
So, given this, what could make this film better? Well, it could stand for a little trimming in the midsection. The scene in the staircase grows long after a while, drawing the viewer's attention away from the film. Other than that, however, De Palma has produced an excellent and unique film with unusually deep implications.
Dead of Night (1945)
Possibly The Greatest Horror Film of All Time
Dead Of Night opens with a common beginning: An architect meets a new client and his comrades, only to find that he lived it all before in his nightmares. What follows, however, is anything but mundane.
Without revealing too much, I can tell you that the film is anecdotal in nature. Most of what transpires does so in stories told by each of the characters about their brushes with the supernatural. These stories, including one by master H. G. Wells, are so well done and fascinating that you almost forget that it's a horror film- that is, until the ending.
The film also shows some signs of evolution towards a more Hitchcockian style of direction, including long tracking shots and use of the camera as a tool for emotional portrayal and pacing. If you are or ever might be a fan of the abnormal, or even the normal, you must see this.
Up (2009)
Great Movie. Not quite Perfect.
The following things are keeping me from giving this movie a higher rating:
-A Couple of Cheesy Lines -Many of the best jokes are spoiled by the trailer -The movie largely consists of two fight scenes, which leaves a lot to be desired plot wise.
The big problems are with the last two. When I go to see a movie, I expect some plot. Especially with a Pixar film. I must admit, though, that the last two Pixar films may have raised my expectations a little. Although I enjoyed Monsters Inc., it was a little dry. In the end, Docter's directing style and sense of humor show through. He's a funny guy, and an excellent filmmaker. Up is good, but not perfect.