JackReese Reviews

King Kong (2005)

King Kong...not the best movie...

[5/10 · 28 December 2005]

I've read comments by others saying this was the best movie of the year and that this rivals Jurassic Park and one person went so far as to say it rivaled Titanic. Now, let's all just calm down and think about this rationally. There are several moments in this movie which are "yeah, right" moments. Obviously, we have to allow some, we are talking about a giant ape on a monster infested island. But there are some moments which supersede the audience's suspension of belief and bring us into a cartoony and laughable movie. There is no great message about love in this remake, at least nothing that was not offered in the original. There is however a bunch of cartoon dinosaurs tumbling about the island, machine guns with magic bullets and Icecapdes galore. Please now, let's all calm down. Peter Jackson did give us Lord of the Rings, and we are grateful, but had he made this first, we would have been very suspicious of him bringing Tolkein's world to life. This film is too long and too boring. Random sequences of slow motion are generally used to highlight important events, but not in this movie. Apparently random things such as opening a door to the bathroom are worthy of about thirty minutes of our time (that scene was cut from the film, you won't find it unless you pay the $150 for the director's diary DVD, a great marketing scheme for a lousy movie). And if that doesn't convince you, think about this: you may leave the theater thinking Jack Black actually has talent. That, my friends, is a place in the history of film into which we do not want to go ever again.

Holy Batmania (1989 Video)

Luckily I was wearing my thermal underwear...

[6/10 · 2 April 2002]

A nice pleasant but disturbingly short documentary on the Batman tales from comic strips to the big screen. Although well intended and well needed, it focuses too much on the Batman of the 60's and fails to acknowledge his development up until the time of 1989. Also, it uses too much archive footage. "Too much?" you say. "You can never have too much Batman." True...but you can have have too much Adam West in his old bat-uniform telling bat-jokes at a bat-car lot or something to a bat-crowd of about 20 people. (Sorry Adam...but I loved the DVD release of Batman The Movie with you and Burt commentating..that was nice) It also briefly discusses the Batmania of its day. Since this was made in 1989, it could have dealt more with Tim Burton's Batman and more with the controversy surrounding it. Perhaps it had been made just a few months later, we could have gotten that. Nevertheless, if you can get your hands on a copy, it's worth watching. I work at a video store and saw it sitting around one day and took it home and watched it. A rare find.

Cinderella II: Dreams Come True (2002 Video)

The Disney Machine pumps again

[6/10 · 26 February 2002]

So, I really didn't want to watch this. I work at a video store so I get to watch everything before everybody else. Usually that's a good thing. Cinderella 2 is just one pointless movie. One little plot point after another that simply joins characters back together again. Don't ruin the first by watching this one. Walt had the idea. No sequels. Too bad he's still not around to enforce that idea.

Mercy Streets (2000)

Finally, a non apocalyptic film!

[8/10 · 26 February 2002]

Most Christian oriented films deal with the apocalypse and impending doom brought on by a devil possessed child or adult, and planes falling from the sky. This movie is not about that.

I found this something enjoyable to watch because it's not normal. Sometimes the frame will stop or it will sink into slow motion and we just ask "Why?" but we really don't care all that much, because we know we are getting a good movie. And might I add, that Eric Roberts is totally awesome, despite his one liners and the one that is plastered on his shirt in short cooking scene...

Definitly worth watching

Big Top Pee-wee (1988)

Where is the fun?

[4 February 2002]

So, I think I may have laughed once. Maybe twice. But it wasn't really because the movie was funny. It was just really bad. The first one was great. Tim Burton with his great style made it work. The second lacked Tim Burton, lacked Warner Bros., and poor Danny Elfman couldn't even use his original themes from the first one, so even that was changed a little. No longer is Pee-wee in small time suburbia, but in the hickville farmland with a talking pig (??) which isn't funny, and a symbolic hot dog tree that speaks metaphorically to give us some sort of hidden meaning about life. The movie was terrible having no semblance to the first. Even Paul Reubens struggles to keep the PeeWee voice in some areas often allowing Paul to take over. It really is a dissappointment. Glad I didn't pay to rent it. Don't look for this one on DVD anytme soon. And if you do find it, burn it so we can forget about it. Cover it up like a scandal...hmm...there's an idea...

The Fountainhead (1949)

Good movie...with too much thrown at us

[4 February 2002]

Watching this movie, I knew it would be more philosophy than story. And that's the problem. Rather than using the story to weave the philosophy, the story takes a backseat. I realize that the view taken by Ayn Rand (author of the book and screenplay) is important, it should not have been dialogued into the character's mouth every line. Often, I felt I was attending a seminar it would be just laid out for me. Which was good in a way. We definitely get the author's intention. But the story, what most people pay to see, was hardly memorable. Otherwise, it's a great movie, and worth seeing. Ayn Rand apparently reflects her philosophy because she must have pushed to have this done her way.

Wide Awake (1998)

I was awake with my eyes wide!

[8/10 · 28 October 2001]

I didn't think I would stumble across this movie unless I bought it online but then I got a job working at a video store and there it was. It was an absolute joy to watch. I have seen 'coming of age' movies before but none can come close to this one. The cinematography and music was excellent. It was funny and tearful at the same time. I recommend it to everyone. It is an obvious work of M. Night full of his trademarks and his certain touch! Go watch it!

Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985)

I'm listening to reason...

[8/10 · 27 February 2001]

I saw the last ten minutes of this movie at a friends house, and laughed my head off. I saw the DVD for sale, and said, why not? And I'm glad I did. Tim Burton does an excellent job keeping it realistic yet cartoonish (after just coming off the animation circuit) and does a fantastic job! Danny Elfman making one of the most memorable scores ever! (They play it a lot at Kings Dominion or one of those parks, and I've had it stuck in my head since, never knew where it came from until now). Paul Reubens, a glorious job before his senseless fall from the character. Pee-Wee at his best.

Titan A.E. (2000)

If it helps any, it's colorful...

[7/10 · 17 February 2001]

I anticipated this movie wouldn't do well. After all, an animated sci-fi adventure, with the storyline cliche and touch of Waterworld?? What were they thinking! It did much worse than expected (I attribute it to poor release date and marketing). I did not see this film until it's dvd release (and even then, I borrowed it from a friend). The opening is great, the animation superb. The dialogue and storyline is a little cliche, but we can look past that. The big problem lies in the fact that we don't know why the humans were attacked in the first place. Nor do we understand how a ship can help the entire human race (and when we finally do, we don't care anymore...). The ending seems abrupt. Fortunately, I watched it a second time with the Director's commentary turned on. I think that was better than the actual movie. Overall, the subplots were better than the big PLOT. But it's worth seeing nontheless. (Just one question: What's with the random rock songs springing up at the times where orchestrational music would be masterful?? Watch it and you'll know what I mean..)

Don Juan DeMarco (1994)

Never Heard of It?

[7/10 · 17 February 2001]

I had never heard of this film until I saw at the store one day. Johnny Depp? In a film with Marlon Brando? When did this happen? (1995 actually...)It is an interesting film, colorful and creative. Depp is excellent as usual, Brando is stunning as always. The story is unique and after watching it, I realized they could have gone several angles with it, turning it into a farce of sorts or what not. But it was good and satisfying nontheless. Worth seeing, but not alone, it wont' mean as much to you. It is for the young and old, and most of all Lovers (that's me) not fighters (not me). (shameless single guy plug in, i know...) Watch the movie!

The Maltese Falcon (1941)

There is Conspiracy Here...

[8/10 · 17 February 2001]

This is one of the great ones of the day. I enjoyed the storyline's twists and turns, it made me want to watch it more and more. You will not go to sleep watching this. It also has it's bits of humor as well from minor actors. I found this film very entertaining. There are a few problems though. The 'romance' aspect of it is casually inserted wherever it feels necessary and we really don't understand why. Bogart's acting is superb as usual, but the real delight comes from the way we are drawn into the story. It is definitely worth watching.

101 Dalmatians (1996)

See spot run...

[5/10 · 10 December 2000]

This film lacks something. I'm thinking originality...it is almost an exact duplicate of the animated version by the same company, and while I understand the story should be the same, I was hoping it would include elements found in the book that were left out of the animated version. Glenn Close, as everyone says was meant for this role, but in the end, it's an excuse to make money as many Disney movies are. It's clever enough for me to say "Hey, it's clever..." but that's about it. I recommend to see it, and hey it's Disney.

The Man Without a Face (1993)

A look in the mirror...

[8/10 · 10 December 2000]

I first saw this film on television. It was late and I had already missed the first half but it did not matter. I was soon finding myslelf engrossed in a story that all of us know too well: growing up. As with many coming of age movies, our hero is placed in situations which requires him to develop maturity right before our eyes. This film epitomizes that excellence. Mel Gibson does a marvelous job in his directorial debut and James Horner astounds with music that conveys the melody we are all thinking but are unable to express. Mel Gibson also does a great job as The Man Without a Face, and Nick Stahl is superb in his debut. A wonderful film commonly overlooked...don't miss it.

Batman: The Movie (1966)

The Joker's Big Joke...

[10 December 2000]

Batman (1966) is certainly colorful. And, well, they didn't have the wonderful Tim Burton as we do now...instead they had campy comic books still bearing the notorious POW, WHAP, ZEPPO and things like that. That was all fine and dandy when I was FIVE! So, looking at it from that perspective, I suppose I could force myself to like it...a little...the plot itself is so outlandish it could only come from the sixties...At any rate, it makes for an interesting historical value as the general attitude of this Batman era and interpretation is really quite..disturbing...film critics will wonder, "What is a holy cow? Is that some prejudice against Hindus or something??" We have to give it credit though. It at least generated interest in the duo and perhaps without the campy era, we would have never made it to the Dark streets of Burton's backyard...sigh...the sacrifices we make...

Batman Returns (1992)

The Glory of Gotham

[8/10 · 3 December 2000]

Tim Burton directs yet another astonishing film in which the Dark Knight protects the city he claims as his own. The set design is once again gloriously dark and its night canvas sets the tone. Michael Keaton reprises the role only he is careful enough to understand and brings the mental, emotional and brilliant character to life. Danny DeVito does an extraordinary job as Oswald Cobblepot, The Penguin, alongside Michelle Pfeiffer as the Catwoman. Christopher Walken plays his character well, he just gets in the way sometimes. Micheal Gough portrays Alfred Pennyworth with astounding praise and sarcasm, and Pat Hingle's Commissioner Gorden was not put to it's full potential, but is reasonable instead. The plot is dark and almost too twisted, even for us, but yet we understand that this is the way the Batman is to be portrayed, a dark shadow of a necessary evil. And despite what Joel Schumacher says about the first three films of Bruce Wayne being a whiny "whoa is me, my parents are dead", there is no mention of Bruce's parents anywhere in this film. (After all Joel, we dealt with that in the first film, YOU were the one who brought it back in the third, and by the way, the death of Bruce Wayne's parents is the driving force of Batman, if he forgets about his parents, he fails to be the Batman) You'd think people would research these things! But oh Tim Burton did!!! His artistic genius prevails yet again, and so does this masterpiece!

Batman (1989)

More than a Comic...

[8/10 · 3 December 2000]

Batman(1989) brought a new era to the film industry's perception of how to bring super heros to the silver screen. Tim Burton's masterful wizardry assisted this transition and is most responsible for setting this precedent (which some chose not to follow, and paid greatly for it) Michael Keaton is The Batman, and keeps Bruce Wayne and Batman separated understanding their unique styles and characteristics, fusing them into one being. The result will mark one of his greatest performances alongside Beetlejuice. Jack Nicholson brings the Joker to an all new level, resurrecting him from a hooting, skipping, bad-doing clown, to an artistic, psychological profile who is intelligent and gets his kicks by kicking others. A great performance not to be missed! Kim Bassinger is of great interest, and Michael Gough is Alfred Pennyworth. This film has become THE standard for all future films transitioning super characters from the books to the screen. (except for Joel Schumacher who ruined the legacy of the Batman ever returning to the screen...but we won't go there yet...)

What Dreams May Come (1998)

Dreaming...

[19 October 2000]

This movie floored me. I related to the storyline completely...if you are a depressed person, this may not be the best movie..(i am..) but, it at least lets you know you aren't alone..people do feel this way..things are beautiful and dark all at the same time. The art is magnificent. Conceptually, it is dark in nature...the set design is terrific and beautiful. To say that someone would have to have mental problems to enjoy this movie is a statement of ignorance. This film is unique and will be remembered in the world of cinema as a masterpiece.

Clue (1985)

Uno Who?

[19 October 2000]

Naturally, just the idea of a film being based on a board game is somewhat intriguing and compels one to watch...so I did! The entire plot itself appears to be a mystery but noBoddy really minds because it's more fun than that. Sure there is a lot of death...that could make it bad...but Tim Curry is excellent as Wadsworth especially at the end as he recaps the entire evening's events. Christopher Lloyd (another favorite of mine) lands a small role as the infamous Prof. Plum (my favorite Clue boardgame character) which makes for wonderful fun.. Even when everything is explained...people are still wondering...who? what? when? where? The how is quite obvious...don't miss all three endings! (and chances are...you could probably come up with a few of your own and it would still fit into the movie!) It's not the greatest film, but it wasn't intended to be, so have fun with it! And then play a nice game of Clue when it's over...

Runaway Bride (1999)

Don't Runaway From This One...

[8/10 · 11 July 2000]

This movie is supposed to be hilarious. It's not. It is a cute ROMANTIC-comedy. Anyone who knows anything about this genre realizes and understands this does not indicate some psycho babbling funny, teenage, chick flick. It is actually both romantic and entertaining. I enjoyed it greatly. The unfortunate problem with reuniting great actors in a movie after already having a success is that everyone expects some great magic and to relive that same thing. However, each movie must be taken on it's on frames so there...Anyway, most will recall the team up of Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks in two similiar yet completely different films known as Sleepless in Seattle and You've Got Mail. I like both of these films for thier own independence not relying on the previous to get them through the next. Now, with that said, Runaway Bride is good movie. It's not great, but it is a good movie. And it touches many subjects that are life relevant. Sure it exaggerates it and makes it glamorous but all movies do and it's necessary to make it believable. Kind of ironic, ain't it? Anyway, go rent this one or buy it or whatever and then you'll know what I'm talking about.

The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle (2000)

Rocky is the key word here...

[7/10 · 11 July 2000]

And I'm not talking about the squirrel. Don't get me wrong, as a human being I loved the movie and all of its slapstick and wicked puns. But, unfortunately, I have to play the evil part of the critic and make the movie sound horrible when in actuality, it is pretty good. But while I am on the subject of "pretty good" whose idea was it to put Jason Alexander in the suit of Boris. Where the heck is Danny Devito? I mean he's not that busy in the film industry is he? (sorry Danny...) Okay, the movie, right...Well, let's just say I was hoping for a little bit more than what I got. The cameo appearances look great in the credits but in the movie itself one has to wonder "why?". Keenan and Kel try so hard to pass as geeky nerds but their chemistry and humor works almost too well for them in this picture. Whoopi Goldberg's motivation for her hip-harsh judge is somewhat lost. (Sorry Whoopi, we'll talk later) Robert DeNiro is interesting as Fearless Leader and I wish that he had a smaller part in the film until the end and a do a grand finish. But either way it works. And it does, because after all, while it looked cute, we are really here to see the famed duo from long forgotten right? Rocky and Bullwinkle make it fun. Not funny. But fun. After all, were Rocky and Bullwinkle ever funny? Yes! They had those awesome puns and slapstick humor! And the tradition continues through the whole movie!!! All the talk about digital this and that weighs it down some but overall, I felt somewhat satisfied when I left and am sure that if I were to see it a second time (and I will because I know I will buy it on video, I am always a sucker for those tapes, and soon the dvd...when i get around to it)I will love it.

Okay, outside the dimension of critic: This is hilarious! Ultimate stupid humor!! and I love stupid humor! Not like Ace Ventura stupid humor but like sweet innocent just plain stupid humor that you laugh at and then with! Because deep down, you know that's really the way things are. So dumb, you have no choice but to laugh. And you do!!! On a rate of 1 to 10 I'll give it a 6.5-7 which would make it like 6.5745978 or something like that....Anyway, go see it sometime (preferably in the theatre..they're losing money on this one...help em out a little, let em know innocence still has a place in the world!) and GO SEE IT!

The Man Who Knew Too Little (1997)

Who Knew? The Little Man

[8/10 · 11 July 2000]

Okay, so I didn't see this one until video. Let's be honest, the trailers didn't look all that great. So I said, "Hey skip it, come back to it." Well, I am glad I did come back to it because I would have missed something.

This movie is just wonderful. It is charming and hysterical. The first time I saw it I laughed. The second time I saw it, I laughed harder because I realized how much I had missed the first time. The humor is engrossing and if you're not careful, YOU WILL LAUGH!! So don't think about this one. Just let it take care of you and cure what ails you. Whatever that means...

The Kid (2000)

The Kid In Us All...

[8/10 · 9 July 2000]

When the first trailer for this film was viewed by myself, I was curious as to what angle the storyline would take. After all the plot of having one's childhood self return to the present leaves open many options. Bruce Willis however does a superb job in the role he was given. I was surprised to see just how well he could act in this part. This is also a good career move as many others have said but after seeing it I now agree. This film is mainly about remembering the kid you used to be, and coming to the realization that you aren't the adult you planned to be. This is a wonderful story and a gripping tale that makes us all think. Usually we scorn at "What if..." movies. For example, Waterworld attempted to answer the question "What if the world were to be covered with water and...?" But truthfully, nobody cared. This movie however effects everyone in the theatre. True, young children may not fully grasp the idea of growing up and having all your dreams fizzle away, but it leaves a great impact on the adults and parents of those children. This movie is definitely worth seeing. Although, it will be better the second time around because you won't be thinking so much (about how the kid got there, and why and all that stuff) Just relax and have fun. And take something with you when you leave that cinema. Take that piece of your childhood you've forgotten and enjoy it.

The Road to El Dorado (2000)

An okay thing...

[6/10 · 2 May 2000]

I saw this movie very recently. Quite naturally, it was okay. It tried, it really did, but they did so well with Prince of Egypt that Dreamworks had a hard time I think in meeting that expectation. The music was absolutely pointless. For some reason Elton John decided to tell the story in his songs somehow believing that we were too stupid to understand the film. The animation was good, a little different than the POE, but Road To El Dorado as a whole seems low budget and slopped together. The characters were supposed to be from Spain but didn't look it or talk other than a few commonly known Spanish phrases randomly thrown into the picture. The film was good and the villian was great, but I feel that the project was rushed. Perhaps they will take more time on the next one. In the meantime, go ahead and see it, but wait for video.

Bicentennial Man (1999)

A wonderful film depicting human emotions and life in a beautiful way.

[7/10 · 7 January 2000]

This movie is one of the most facinating films I have ever seen! Don't listen to the negative critics on this one. The film, of course, is not a comedy as advertised. This is a high rate drama, the best of its kind. Critics argue that it has no plot but it does. Despite what many think, it is not a movie about a robot getting skin. It is a wonderful, beautiful description of life and human emotion. The beauty of emotions and how we as humans take so much for granted such as facial expression or the ability to cry. A wonderful movie! Unfortunately, critics will more than likely kill it but don't let it stop you. I plan to see it again.