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kstina5
Reviews
Spider-Man 3 (2007)
Just When You Think We're Safe...
Another politically charged "kid's" movie. This time, for the more conservative crowd. Spiderman has always been a stand up guy, "with power comes responsibility" and all that. Peter Parker is consumed with low self esteem and guilt, but it works for him. Except here.
Midway, or maybe 2/3 of the way, through this unnecessarily long movie Peter Parker/Spiderman becomes some Hollywood version of emo. His hair is darker, he's dressed in all black. His bangs even graze over one eye like that guy from that band. The typically shy Parker becomes a "suave" flirt, and a, how can I put this, daring dancer. *OVER OBVIOUS MESSAGE TO KIDS* emo is BAD children, now cut your hair and get some nice clothes. PS-the symbiote that causes the emo craze is thwarted by ringing sounds...kinda like music...I found it ironic.
How 'bout something red, white, and blue? Kinda like the flag our forefathers fought to protect. You know, the one behind Spiderman once he comes out of the throws of emoness-er-the symbiote, I mean. *OVER OBVIOUS MESSAGE TO KIDS* being American makes you better than everyone else! Besides the glaring conservative messages, this movie is just too full. There's three villains (if the symbiote counts once for Spidey and Venom), five plot lines, and erroneous dance numbers. I would have rather sat through a Spiderman 4 than this "epic" monstrosity. The fight scenes are spectacular. Hints from movies such as "The Mummy" and "The Grudge" come to mind. Digital is wonderful.
In a discussion during the ride home after wards I realized that while FLASH! BANG! is cool to watch, it doesn't beat characterization, plot, and heart. Isn't that what superheroes are all about in the first place?
Havoc (2005)
It's surprising how many people don't get this
I know it isn't an epic indie movie that's going to gain a cult following, but some of the comments miss the mark. 'Havoc' is a movie about teenagers who are bored with their upper class white lives. They know the lives their parents have are meaningless so they look for meaning elsewhere. They create gangs and use drugs to be more like people they think are "real". The writing isn't all that great, and, yeah, the plot drags in places, but the message remains: these kids are trying to be "real" by being something they aren't.
This point is hit again and again, but mostly in Allison's (Anne Hathaway) conversations with Eric (Matt O'Leary). All of the kids from the Pallisades are being fake, so blaming the actors is not the way to go. These characters are trying to be one-dimensional, it's all a performance. These young actors did an amazing job portraying how boredom leads to chaos.
As for Joseph Gordon-Levitt, he is so talented it hurts. Sam is a one-dimensional, wanna be gangsta who has burned away so many brain cells he can't function. But it was a strong choice made by Gordon-Levitt and he stuck with it until the end. Was he believable, no, but how many gangster white kids are? Blame the writing, the absurdity of seeing Anne Hathaway's nipples, or the lame plot, but don't blame actors for other people's mistakes.
Black Snake Moan (2006)
The Difference Between Exposition and Character
This is a movie about two people who have the blues. They've been hurt, betrayed, and left alone. Rae (Christina Ricci) and Laz (Samuel L. Jackson) live in the same small country town, but their lives haven't connected until now. They both have their demons, and they see what haunts them in each other. By helping each other they find peace in themselves.
The only part of this movie that keeps me from singing it's praises is the lack of exposition, especially with Rae. We know she was raped by one of her mother's boyfriends, but not how old she was, how long it went on, and if it was the only time she had been abused. Were her "attacks" part of a Post Traumatic Stress Disorder? If so what did having sex have to do with calming her? Needless to say, there are a lot of questions left unanswered. But Christina Ricci does a great job keeping her intensity through the piece. Even though we as an audience don't know everything that's going on with her, we can see the torment in her performance.
The same can be said for Samuel L. Jackson (Laz)dealing with his wife's adultery. The strength of these performances overshadow Justin Timberlake (Ronnie) who has to fight through his anxiety with Rae's help. He played a decent role, but was a little out of his league. I hope he continues to act and progress his craft, but he doesn't add anything to this movie (thankfully, he doesn't take anything away either).
If you want to see a story involving somewhat believable small southern culture and wonderful character development (plus some graphic sex) then you've got your movie here. If you want crazy violence, a complex plot, and loud explosions...you might wanna go somewhere else.