DonShin Reviews

Old School (2003)

as funny as it gets - if you're in your late 20s/early 30s

[8/10 · 8 December 2003]

Watching this movie for the first time sober the other day, I continued to laugh hysterically as I did during earlier viewings. And it didn't take me long to figure out why I enjoy this movie so much: with its Whitesnake references and silly college setting, it reeks of a nostalgia that I can personally identify with. Additionally, I was watching this with my roomies that I've known since grade school, and concluded that the three main characters are us in about 3-5 years. 8/10 (this is a subjective assessment)

The Matrix Revolutions (2003)

critics are, well, critics

[8/10 · 11 November 2003]

... and they need to get paid for criticizing something, even when the criticism isn't necessarily appropriate.

I'm not sure what the naysayers were expecting from the movie, but I found it to be a fitting end to a stylish and thought-provoking trilogy. Naturally, I was disappointed by Reloaded like most people (how could any sequel realistically live up to the first Matrix?). But most of Revolutions I found riveting and almost beautiful, especially the ending.

Last point, albeit a personal one: I saw this movie during a weekend getaway in Vegas with some friends, and the deeper universal themes of the film will be what I remember most about the trip. 8/10.

Ravenous (1999)

an utter waste

[3/10 · 22 September 2003]

Judging from the fine cast (how entertainingly maddening is Robert Carlyle?), there was no shortage of talent there. However, the plot itself was, um, hard to swallow, and the direction of the film is an absolute joke. And this movie may have had the worst musical direction I've ever heard (quasi-60s/Beatles-type acoustic background music for a film set in the 1840s?!). What should have been a horrifying thriller is instead a bizarre disappointment. 3/10.

Magnolia (1999)

three and half hours I want back

[3/10 · 22 August 2003]

To me, this was akin to "Requiem for a Dream," in terms of its hype, pretentiousness, annoying direction, and level of disappointment. Some nice vignettes, yes (including the strange-but-true stories which have nothing to do with the film in the beginning of the movie), but agonizingly disjointed from story to story, too much crying, and the "We Are the World"-esque group singing scene towards the end of the film was something that viewers should not be subjected to. Definitely a miss, and the credibility of those who proclaimed it "the best movie of the year" (as one Wall St. Journal columnist wrote) should defintely be questioned. 3/10.

The Magnificent Seven (1960)

what's that they say about remakes?

[6/10 · 2 June 2003]

Since it was based on Kurosawa's SEVEN SAMURAI, it's all but impossible not to compare THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN with the Japanese film. And sad to say that the American version does not match up in any aspect. This isn't to say that Magnificent wasn't a good movie; it just reveals the mastery of Kurosawa's work. 6/10.

Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998)

clever, funny

[9/10 · 10 February 2003]

Rounders meets Trainspotting. Perhaps a bit too flashy and overcooked at times, and it might take more than one viewing to make sense of the plot and the myriad of characters, but definitely worth a look if you liked the two aforementioned flicks. Not your everyday dumb Hollywood crap. 9/10.

American History X (1998)

a movie like this needs to be made, but...

[6/10 · 6 February 2003]

... really not in such a shabby fashion. Tony Kaye's direction leaves much to be desired, and the musical decisions within the film make you feel like you're watching The Last of the Mohicans, and not a contemporary film about race. Derek Vinyard's transformation from skinhead to savior is admirable, but even this main character's development is done poorly, as are the other roles. The plot (though somewhat lacking in sophistication) is engaging enough, yet Edward Norton's superb acting alone saves this piece from being completely unwatchable -- further convincing this viewer how much better this movie would have been under different direction. I'm sad to conclude that this is yet another movie highly undeserving of its lofty ranking. 6/10.

Requiem for a Dream (2000)

a wannabe Trainspotting

[3/10 · 22 January 2003]

After watching the above movie again, I was reminded of how much Requiem for a Dream resembles it (from Requiem's initial scene of the television theft, to the more general theme of hopeless drug addictions). And yet it also became more apparent to me how poorly Requiem compares to the British masterpiece, particularly in the method of direction by Darren Aronofsky. To me, his style in this film was reminiscent of the early commercial for DVD players -- catchy, yet in a choppy/gimmicky/dizzying way. Nowhere near worthy of its high rating. 3/10.

Red Beard (1965)

emotionally stirring

[9/10 · 6 January 2003]

Admittedly, I didn't find this to be the best of Kurosawa's works (Seven Samurai was more complete, Yojimbo was more enjoyable), and it was perhaps a bit longer than it needed to be. But I have never been more moved by so many scenes from one movie. A very touching film, perhaps even more so these days in the age of an increasingly detached world. A feel-good movie at its very heart, it made this viewer realize how fortunate and thankful he should be about his surroundings. Definitely worth the time. 9/10

Peppermint Candy (1999)

the origins of a Korean man's destruction

[9/10 · 3 July 2000]

while it may take being Korean (and being part of the "386-generation" that really went through all the turbulent events of this movie's timeline) to fully appreciate this movie, it is nevertheless a powerful, graphic, and grippingly emotional commentary on South Korea of the the last twenty years. Director Chang-dong Lee masterfully presents the plot in reverse chronological order, and protagonist Kyung-gu Sol handily goes from broken buisnessman to lovesick schoolboy by the movie's end/his troubled road's beginning. In a way, this movie is perhaps Korea's unique and tragic answer to a movie like "Forrest Gump." "Na ottoke" ("what do I do?") - indeed, what does one do when faced with such experiences? Easily one of the best Korean movies I've seen to date.

No Holds Barred (1989)

the ultimate cheese machismo movie

[4/10 · 23 July 1999]

... in search of the cheesiest "so bad it's good" movie, I've repeatedly laughed at the first fifteen minutes of various films, only to be left disappointed and bored at the end. Not this time!!! My eyes teared up, my belly and my cheeks ached from laughing so hard throughout the movie. Sure, Hulk Hogan is a subpar actor and the plot is utterly predictable, but everyone dives into this movie knowing all this - all anyone wants to see when renting this is Hogan breaking out a can of whoopass, with a bunch of "YEAH BROTHER"s and "WHATCHUGONNADO"s flying from his infamously goateed mouth. And while the Hulkster on the screen pales a bit in comparison to the Hulkster in the ring, seekers of the ultimate cheese will certainly not be disappointed by this backhand gem of a flick. A laugh riot.

The Perfect Weapon (1991)

a beer and pretzel special

[3/10 · 13 July 1999]

Get your brewskies out and enjoy this flawed action flick. Speakman's considerable kempo skill (nice spin kicks, decent with the sticks - poor couch!) is the only redeeming quality of a movie that just cries bad acting. The plot isn't half bad; just executed pretty poorly. But if you're seeing this movie for anything other than martial arts, you're missing the boat entirely. And for a movie that is supposed to take place in Koreatown, way way too few Korean actors (even extras).

Cobra (1986)

so bad it's good (for a laugh)

[1/10 · 7 July 1999]

This MUST have been the inspiration behind the McBain character on the Simpsons. If you're into really dumb, cheezy machismo, then buckle up for this one (which closely rivals Schwarzenegger's "Commando" for sheer violent macho lameness). I don't think I've laughed so hard in the first ten minutes of a movie, ever, but I went into the movie knowing it was going to be gawdawful, and this movie did not disappoint in this regard. Grab a beer, put on your bad-to-the-bone sunglasses, and absorb this beauty.

Carlito's Way (1993)

Pacino in the role of roles

[8/10 · 17 March 1999]

For me, this was Pacino playing his ultimate role (aside from him not being Puerto Rican, perhaps the role Pacino was born to play). A very entertaining movie; though not critically acclaimed, Al Pacino fans will fall in love with this film.