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Reviews
The Dictator (2012)
Over the top, ultimately un-funny flick.
I really enjoyed Borat, but this movie is awful. The jokes go on too long and end with little payoff. It's the a sign of sloppy writing when most of your jokes just go for the extreme/insane. I know that's his schtick, but it doesn't work scripted like this. The only part I really liked was the U.N. speech at the end. I wish the rest of the movie was as insightful as this scene.
I hope he returns to the edgy reality based comedy that worked the first time, but I guess he's too famous for that to work now. Maybe he's a one trick pony, or maybe he just needs to refine his art. M. Night Shamalan was good for a while at least.
Apollo 18 (2011)
Not That Good
This movies goes pretty much where you'd expect it to go. Kind of an Alien meets Blair Witch. There hasn't been a sci-fi adaptation of that 'found footage' genre, so I guess this is the attempt.
Technical details: The dialog is weak and crew actions questionable. The cinematography is pretty good. Good integration of the old and new, so kudos for that. Acting was hampered by the poor dialog, but was serviceable.
They added some speculation about the Russians I thought was cool and hoped they would explore that further.
If you're a sci-fi fan you'll be disappointed. I am and was.
Monkey Shines (1988)
Bad Monkey, Bad!
I find it interesting that we've not heard anything from the top billed actors in this film, but Stephan Root, Janine Turner and Stanley Tucci all have gone on to successful movie careers.
Anyway, back to the movie. It reeks of a made for TV special and the acting is pretty awful. It's fun to watch with a date or friends; too see who and how the little primate will do in next. There is a truly scary scene in which the nurse, who at first finds a banana peel in her slipper next finds her dead pet bird. But these chilling moments are few. And that's too bad, because what this movies really need was more development of the monkey's subtle human qualities of vengeance.
An incredibly bad movie that had potential; I liked the premise a lot. Hopefully a better treatment will come out in the future.