cinema_jones Reviews

King Kong (2005)

Made By A Fan For Fans!

[9/10 · 15 December 2005]

All the criticism this movie has received is justified. So is all the praise! Personally, I think PJ was out of his depth with The Lord of the Rings.Except for its visual impact there is not enough substance in those movies to satisfy a fan like me but with Kong, he came into his own.

He truly loves the Big Guy and it shows. The most awesome part for me was the characterization of Kong Himself. The one scene where he takes Ann to his mountaintop retreat...past the bones of those who have gone before was so mature, revealing and touching, my heart went out as never before to Our Favorite Primate. He's lonely....he's the only one of his kind left...and he's intelligent compared to the rest of the inhabitants of Skull Mountain. This makes a much better foundation for his affinity with Ann then some sort of sick bestiality slant! I loved all the homage paid to the 1933 version....the art deco slates for the credits....the font type is the same as the original...the natives in the New York presentation of the 8th Wonder of The World...and much of the dialog. I was pleasantly surprised by the caliber of acting....Naomi was excellent! Jack Black was very good! I don't watch too many films that were made after 1967 so I had no idea who Watts or Black were but I think they were perfect casting! I would even go so far as to say the film is brilliant...despite the silliness of the dinosaur stampede and other Jackson quirks. I'm going back to see it again. Very moving...

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)

Get Peter O'Toole out of mothballs...

[9/10 · 29 November 2005]

...and give him anything he asks for! I need a credible Dumbledore to deal with Delores Umbridge in the next movie! As one person commented: Dumbledore would never shake a student like this..especially not Harry! I can't see this maniac saying, "I cannot allow you to manhandle my students!" I resent losing the last chance to see Quidditch...and championship level at that! Please calm down Our Hermione! She is too shrill and you are losing her character. I've read the books repeatedly and listen to the audio-books weekly. ("Thank God for Jim Dale!" Listening to him perform these books, I feel that I've seen the movie already!) I need to see Sirius! Gary Oldman is an impeccable actor and this character is sorely needed. Besides, you need to develop Harry. It would have been better theater for Moody to perform the two Unforgivable Curses on the spiders but do the Imperious Curse on the students so we could see Harry fight it and throw it off! It's in the book and he is a great wizard, you know! Please get some focus about these films. Are you trying to honor the story or just using the thinnest veneer to make money? Haven't you realized you will make the money...just give the story a fair treatment. I sure hope people who didn't read the book understand Priori Incantantum! Besides, it was boring to watch that dragon flying all over Hogwarts which Dumbledore wouldn't have allowed anyway! The champions are being protected, you know. This is an emotional response to a film that I've already seen 4 times. I gave it high marks because it was enjoyable on some levels and it is Harry Potter but try to improve the process next time, will ya!

Green Street Hooligans (2005)

Excellent Film!

[10/10 · 13 June 2005]

Saw it at Tribeca and went to every showing! The acting is spot-on, the direction and cinematography are practically flawless. Elijah proves again what a unique talent he has always been. I hope this film is released on this side of the herring pond. It is thoroughly entertaining! I was a little worried about the probability of a clean-cut kid from Harvard being drawn so easily into the lifestyle of football hooliganism for any reason, but it works well. Even though I still think it would have been more convincing if Matt had a background that would indicate a slight interest violent sports, say if he was a kick boxer or push hand enthusiast, for example. Matt's motivation bothered me more than any of the violence depicted. Still, it is an excellent film.

Sin City (2005)

Visually Stunning....but BORING!

[2/10 · 3 April 2005]

I agonized over seeing this movie. I've never read the graphic novels. I appreciate Robert Rodriquez "chop and tech" approach to film-making and I will watch anything with Elijah Wood in it...at lease once! A movie with the title "Sin City" and made in this day and age with its callousness and utter intolerance of anything the least bit cerebral caused me many an anxious moment. Actually, I didn't find it as harrowing as I feared. It is a technical marvel but there it ends. Like many movies nowadays...all style but nothing to keep your mind or emotions engaged. Yes, this movie reflects the prurient, juvenile decadence of our day but I wouldn't mind that so much if there was something to it besides very slick special effects. I need more story, brilliant dialog and fleshed-out characters. I was bored stiff after 20 minutes. This would have made a very interesting short but to drag out the thin plot and shallow characterizations for over 2 hours to a very predictable ending was too much for me. I just don't find scantily dressed, cardboard prostitutes and brutal, macho men that interesting. My fault....I was expecting The Maltese Falcon on steroids. See it once and then move on!