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harold_a_shaver
Reviews
Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)
Reboot Epic Fail
I am going to try and write a review without giving too much away for those who have not yet sat through this lifeless reboot.
Having literally grown up as a defacto member of Star Fleet I was very disappointed in this JJ ABRAMS concoction. While realizing that we are nearly a half century since we first encountered ST cruising the galaxy dealing with new life forms and civilizations and our own human frailties and virtues and there would be needed changes and adjustments.
The core of ST has always been the cohesion of the crew...the fact that we as associate members of Star Fleet could identify with the crew and share what was happening on screen. This newest installment takes liberties with the script. I remind you that I am trying to give input without spoiling . There is the need to build upon the past but not to take bits from the scripts and just flip them around ..we needed new story lines not revamped works. I agree that after Nero ST needed to develop a villain that could get some mileage....this was achieved in this movie but without the energy and conviction of ..lets say Khan from ST2. The franchise is not junked and can recover in the next installment but we need to care about the crew as much as the story line. Zach Quinto is too robotic as Spock. He is lacks the subtle human projections that were key , in Nimoy's creation, that built allowed the friendship to be build between Kirk and McCoy.
Until Quinto can bring this to his work...ST will fall flat.
One for the Money (2012)
Not One For My Money
This movie was partially filmed in my home town so there was a natural curiosity to see the finished product after watching portions of the filming.
I am going to try and give a basic review without adding spoilers for those who have followed the book series or my fellow neighbors that will be compelled to see this film.
There was a lot of potential with the story line. The acting by Debbie Reynolds and the street-walkers were the acting highlights. The lead actress (Heigl) was disconnected from the role, the lead male(O'Mara) was not utilized fully by the director? screen play?. The villains non-threatening and lacking ( John Leguizamo could have made a much needed positive impact on the film if they would have actually given him more than two scenes).
Overall the movie misses in the following ways: 1) Heigl was not convincing in the lead role. She was flat and failed to develop any interest or depth in character. 2) The plot was so predictable it was not even deserving of a place on a Made FOR TV line schedule. 3) I did not care for any of the characters nor the entanglements they were in.
The plus side:
1) Debbie Reynolds was great! 2) Sherri Sheperd ....great!
I would wait for this film to come to late night television so you could at least enjoy those extended length infomercials between bits of the movie.
Angels & Demons (2009)
Had so much potential
I went into the movie expecting a little action mixed with a strong story line. I understand that changes between written works and movies must be made...for many reasons.
The changing of the relationship between the scientists ( they were father - daughter in the book) The Director of CERN was eliminated thus causing the scene between the Carmelengo and the Director to be changed to the Carmelengo and the head of the Swiss Guard in the Pope's office.
Ron Howard made sure to get his dad inserted as a Cardinal with a hayseed accent but missed all the symbolism. Both Lagdon and the Carmelengo ascended to the heavens in the helicopter with Hanks character landing in the river and the priest landing upon the chapel in what was described as a Christ-like image.
At some point this film needs to be remade by a director who is up to the job
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)
Indiana Jones and Search for the box office dollar
On a scale of 1-10 I rate myself an 8 when it comes to being an Indiana Jones fan. The one thing that I could always count on with the series was a fun ride with a quick witted and sharp tongued Dr. Jones.
This newest incarnation is only somewhat better than an original production made for TV. Well, maybe. It just sits there on the screen with no originality.
I am watching now on DVD and I can't wait for it to end.
If there is another movie please hire a writer who is familiar with the previous works.
Anyone who has not seen the first three movies may enjoy this one.
Have Spielberg and Lucas seen their better days? I hope not.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
Harry Potter and the Side Order of Fries
In this latest installment of the Harry Potter series the screen writer failed to read the book prior to writing the screenplay. It looks as if he opted to read the Cliff's Notes version. What was on the screen was not equal to any of the previous movies.
Simply stated it was like a side order of fries, it lacked the BEEF!.
So much of the original story is missing; 1) The lack of the Prefects 2) Sirius' Mother's Portrait 3) Dobby the House Elf 4) Revolt of the Centaurs 5) St. Mungo's Hospital 6) Quiditch (Ron as Keeper and Harry being banned)
The magic with the series has always been how true the movies were to the book. This pales in comparison.
Save your money. Read the book.
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007)
HO HUM HO HUM you need a bottle of rum to enjoy this movie!
I will tell you this, this movie was better than the second Pirates movie. But there is no way that it is the movie for the year or even the summer. The box office numbers will look good based on the 3000 screens for the preview night ( $14 million in tickets) and the extended weekend of 4 days.
Tired storyline with no emotional attachment to the characters. There were funny moments( not many), there were visually entertaining moments but all in all the screenplay had the continuity of a screenplay written by 2 4th grade classes located in different states and each class were only allowed to see one of the previous movies yet charged with combining together and writing the finale ( lets hope). The story was disconected and lacked originality. Barbosa was the glue that tried to hold the plot together. Beckett was weak as a villain and the story lacked a hero. What was this Calypso crap? What an opportunity to maximize the ending with Calypso causing havoc and forcing heroism from someone...but no ! we get crabs!
If it were not for the skills of Geoffery Rush and Keith Richards the Movie would have gone down with all hands on board.
Too Long! Too Short on storyline.
The final action sequence was so appropriate....two ships spiraling around and around in a whirlpool. Two Turds spinning in the toilet that is POTC 3. I just wish I had pulled the handle to flush the picture after the first hour.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006)
YO HO The Directors Compass Was Off
The interaction between characters is what separates average movies from blockbuster movies that will be recognized through out movie history. Sometimes the simplest of plots develop the greatest opportunities for the actors to develop the characters and the greatest chance for the audience to develop a caring relationship for the characters on the screen. Examples: Rocky, Million Dollar Baby, Gladiator, and even Anger Management....you can relate to the characters.
The story meanders from fast paced action to anchor dragging segments that add little to the story.
The actors should be recognized for their outstanding performances that if they had not contributed we would have seen "Heaven's Gate" of the high seas.
This was not the magical summer popcorn eating joy ride that was Pirtaes 1. For me this was; lets take a movie give it literary legitimacy and build a long-term franchise for Disney. This is not Star Wars that built characters and plot lines that transcend generations.
I went to the theater 4 times to see Pirates 1 I loved the action combined with witty dialog and fresh characters.
CPT. Jack should have been the heart of the story line not Davy Jones' heart.
I hope anyone else seeing this movie does enjoy the experience and this review was not too negative.