rwirtz Reviews

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

battle scenes saves this movie for getting 1 out of 10

[2/10 · 27 December 2003]

This must be the most overrated and overhyped movie of this year.

Too long, too boring, too sentimental and just too bad.

The battle scenes and Gollem save this movie. The acting, and especially Elijah Wood's (even Keanu Reeves' plastic acting in The Matrix trilogy is better), is so bland and incredibly sub-par this movie indeed sets a new standard for epic films: dread.

From the beginning I have told everyone who wanted to know that Frodo is portrayed as a total w***er and cry-baby and that the real hero in this series is Sam. OK, and Aragorn.

No, I was glad to have seen it, because the natural sceneries are beautiful, but in my eyes this movie doesn't even deserve a rate higher than that of the other completely overrated movie sequel called T3.

Give this one a miss and get the DVD so you can use the FFWD button!

The Matrix Revolutions (2003)

Perfect ending to a perfect beginning

[9/10 · 5 November 2003]

I disagree with everybody who says that after The Matrix the two sequels were a waste of time, money and talent. It only goes to show that those people have not enough brainpower to understand the magnitude and importance of these films.

Matrix Revolutions is the perfect end of the trilogy. All unanswered questions from Matrix Reloaded are answered. The action is not as present as in the first two movies, but whatever action there is is marvellous ... watch out for the punch Neo delivers in Smith's face, in slo-mo. The special effects are groundbreaking and awesome and the CGI is tremendously done.

I have enjoyed the trilogy thoroughly and I do believe Joel Silver that these movies will change cinema as we know it.

Identity (2003)

Interesting until the very end

[8/10 · 3 October 2003]

Contains spoilers! When I saw the ads for this movie I dismissed it as just another scary movie. But then I noticed that James Mangold directed it and that Pruitt Taylor Vince played a big part alongside greats like John Cusack and Ray Liotta, so then I decided to go see it. And I was not let down, because this movie takes you through the mind of a schizo and the movie is cut in such a way that you only learn this step by step, only to be revealed at the very end what is going on and who did all the killing. And when that moment comes you actually witness an aha-erlebnis, trust me. This is not just a slasher movie, this is a great psychological tract on schizophrenia and also a complaint against capital punishment. On a side note, John C. McGinley was absolutely hilarious in his role. If you see(n) it, you know what I mean. 8 out of 10.

The Cell (2000)

visually astounding

[9/10 · 28 September 2003]

OK, so maybe the plot leaves a lot to be desired, although it ain't half bad, but you have to agree that visually this film is absolutely astounding. Everything looks gorgeous: the locations, the set, the set dressing, the light, the shadowing, the special effects, the CG, the everything. And the superbly mixed soundtrack only adds to the beauty.

For instance, just look at when Catherine enters Carl's mind for the first time and we are witness to his baptism; that scene is visually mindboggling.

So, you may not like the story and how it is told, but you gotta admit that it is a feast to the eyes. That's why I give it 9 out of 10!

Igby Goes Down (2002)

Sarcastic and vitriolic

[8/10 · 14 September 2003]

I had to drive to effin Antwerp, Belgium to see this movie, because it was taken out of Dutch cinemas after running just for one week. And that is something that I don't understand, or maybe I do, because this is not the typical Hollywood feel-good movie. The story could have been based on a early nineties novel by Jay McInerney or Bret Easton Ellis, but it is an original screenplay by writer and director Burr Steers. The mood is very dark, the acting is top shelf and the oneliners are sharp as razorblades. Kieran Culkin and Ryan Philippe are perfectly (type)casted and the choice of music is plain wonderful. The scene where Igby runs off through Central Park accompanied by Coldplay's Don't Panic is close to perfection. I enjoyed this movie very much and I think it paints a very accurate picture of the lives of spoiled, rich kids. Go see it!

A Lesson Before Dying (1999 TV Movie)

The Green Mile, but better

[8/10 · 18 August 2003]

This movie brought me to tears. It was honest, upright and well executed. It plunks us right in the middle of a serious situation, a situation where there are can hardy be winners. The absolute good thing about this movie is that it's not pointing a finger; it just shows the facts. There are no supernatural interferences, except maybe the realization of a friendship, the establishment of kinship and the acceptance of reality and how to cope with it in order to change it for the better.

Great movie, it gets 8 out of 10 from me. Recommended viewing.

Get on the Bus (1996)

Captivating

[8/10 · 14 August 2003]

Being a white European male I liked this movie very much. As I've read in some of the other comments there are people who think that this movie is berating whites and degrading the black status quo. While this may be true this movie revolves, just like Barbershop, around accountability and self-empowerment. Of course this movie has all the stereotypes, but you have to ask yourself how the stereotype became a stereotype!

I think that Spike Lee masterfully adapted this wonderful screenplay into a very good movie, leaving loose ends on purpose: everyone needs to find out for himself/herself what their next step is.

The acting was superb, especially Ossie Davis, and the soundtrack was spot on. I give it 4 out 5.

Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003)

Scared of T4

[4/10 · 18 July 2003]

Despite some nice action scenes and special effects this movie was basically a waste of celluloid. Ah-nuld's oneliners were hardly funny, the acting of Claire Danes and Nick Stahl was stale to say the least and the plot of the movie was that there is no plot. This does not predict much good for T4. They should have never done T3 because T2 was thet best it was going to get. Ah well, can't have it all ...

8MM (1999)

Underrated and controversial, yet classic to be

[8/10 · 18 July 2003]

As the user comments show this movie is either very much liked or very much disliked by its viewers. Although I don't want anything to do with the subject matter of the movie (snuff movies) I belong to the first category of viewers. This is an almost unprecedented movie for Hollywood, telling a very unusual and unsexy (no pun intended) story.

Together with the outstanding performances that is exactly why this movie deserves so much more credit. The plot is good and dirty, the acting is solid throughout and the score is just brilliant and haunting. Joel Schumacher deserves applause for taking on this project and for choosing Nicolas Cage for the lead character he made a very good decision: no-one can play a man torn-apart between two extremes better than him --> see Adaptation!

Because it is so dark and unconventional for Hollywood standards this movie is not getting the praise it deserves. Granted, it is not a run-of-the-mill feel-good movie, but a sinister and dark picture from the writer of Se7en. 8MM is as good as Se7en and it deserves the same treatment.

Welcome to Collinwood (2002)

good, at one point hilarious

[8/10 · 7 June 2003]

Having heard quite positive reviews and having seen the trailer I had to see this movie. With William H. Macy, Luis Guzman, Michael Jeter and Sam Rockwell present it had to be good. And it delivered. Overall, the movie is not crack-you-up funny, but there is one scene that really stands out and is, in a my eyes, a classic. SPOILER At the end, where they break through the wall to get to the safe and we see Rockwell and Washington stare at Jeter is just fantastic. This is just as good as the scene in The Big Lebowski where The Dude is using a chair to barricade his door, but forgets the door turns outward! END SPOILER Just go see this movie, you won't be disappointed.

Barbershop (2002)

good memories of a good film

[25 May 2003]

I remember seeing this film while on vacation in New York back in September 2002 and being white as snow I was the only one in an all-black audience. And I enjoyed it very much, because everybody was responding to the movie, hooting and cheering and laughing which made it one of my most memorable movie experiences (the most memorable being the total silence at the end of Schindler's List). Afterwards I realized that Barbershop probably hit some sore spots in the black community and I think it is good that a movie came out with that much self criticism. Understanding your own weaknesses makes you stronger and I applaud Ice Cube for taking on such a big but vulnerable part. Maybe not now, but say 20 years from now I hope that this movie will have proved its positive impact. Now that the DVD is out I will definitely buy it and make sure all my friends watch it and learn from it. Awareness is equality, education is paramount.

The Matrix Reloaded (2003)

unanswered questions

[9/10 · 15 May 2003]

In one word the movie is awesome. The action scenes are unparalleled and they will be for quite some time. The story line however is weak and poses too many questions. Probably this is all pre-determined, because answers will be given in The Matrix Revolutions. Six months can be a long time, but for now I will go back to the theater a couple more times to unravel all layers. Thanks Brothers Wachowski for this truly great movie.