captainzoom666 Reviews

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)

I life worth forgetting

[1/10 · 10 February 2009]

Being one of the big Oscar contenders this year i tried not to expected too much from this movie. But what i got was far far less then i could ever have anticipated.

It's like the writers sat down and thought of a great idea about a guy, Benjamin, aging backwards. What the writers then forgot to do was think of an interesting life-story for this Benjamin guy. Sure it could be fun to see someone going to school when he already knows everything and having sex with young girls when he's an old guy, but there must be more something more interesting about a life led backwards. Instead what i saw was a 2:45 hour lasting agony. This guy Benjamin has the most boring life ever! He's just born one day and dies another.

Don't get me wrong. I love the Fincher movies (Se7en, Fight Club, Zodiac) and I like Brad Pitt in almost all of his movies. But what everyone who's concerned with this movie (director, actors, producers, Oscar-nominators) seems to forget is that a movie has to have a story. And there is non, it's non-existent. It's like making a three hour long movie about John Doe.

We don't see that much acting as for a woman who's in a near-death state of living all the time and we hear a semi-emotional narration by Pitt which reminds too much of Forest Gump, except that he had a life worth telling. OK i do admit, Cat Blanchett does act, but it's outrageous over the top annoying with some phony accent without any emotional depth whatsoever.

Benjamin Button's dad is a guy who made a fortune making buttons, you believe that? Now that's a story worth telling! He has a big house, his whole family was in the business of making buttons and he owns a boat etc. But no... the story about his son's boring life is what's shown instead.

I guess the point i'm trying to make is that i didn't like the movie and don't understand why the life story of Benjamin Button is worth telling with mediocre acting all the way. No wonder most reviews lack any basis for a high rating or Oscar nomination.

May 6th (2004)

Don't trust the voting!

[7/10 · 20 December 2004]

Nice dutch movie about conspiracy theory's considering the murder of Pim Fortuin. I think it's a good document for dutch viewers to re-live the events pre- and post six may 2001. The plot is pretty good, as we could expect from Ross but the acting is a little rough sometimes. Every time I see someone handling a gun in a dutch movie it seems strange to me. Only LEK succeeded in making that work (for me). It's definitely a movie a for many people in The Netherlands to see, especially because it's the last movie Theo van Gogh made before he was killed by a crazy SOAB. It's funny to see the voting on this movie. 38 When i'm writing this and about half votes it a 10 and the other half votes for a 1. That's an example of how this is still a subject in the dutch society and this might be compared to a dutch JFK. It's a pity van Gogh couldn't get actors that are the same quality as JFK or even find one that speaks proper English!

De ordening (2003 TV Movie)

Roeland Fernhout does it again

[5/10 · 29 March 2004]

Nice 'telefilm' by the maker of 'van god los'. Roeland Fernhout proofs his talent and Angela Schijf is getting better and better. I was disappointed about the romantic plotline, the film was good enough as it was. Still... when you are interested in Right Wing Politics from 'The Black Widow' (Rost van Tonningen) or just looking for a good quality dutch film this is surely one to watch. The script is very solid, based on a novel. The acting from all of the actors is quite good, specially Fernhout. It makes you think about how to deal with former warcriminals and makes you wonder if this a real possible storyline. Don't forget the check the things the movie puts forward as to be facts!

Party Monster (2003)

Money, Success, Fame, Glamour

[7/10 · 3 January 2004]

When i looked this film up at imdb i was expecting a very bad one. But i was surprised on how interesting the movie was.

Macaulay Culkin does a great job, he's totally weird and strangely funny at some times. Seth Green is also quite good. The clothing department did an excellent job at making great costumes for all the actors. The soundtrack kicks ass with a lott of Elektro music from Miss Kittin and The Hacker, Felix tha House Cat etc.

I think that people who dislike the movie are either not into the dance scene, are against homosexuality or just don't recognise art when they see it. Go watch triple X if that's you're average hollywood kinda thing, but don't go bugging on art-house films!

Ken Park (2002)

What's the point?

[6/10 · 22 July 2003]

I've seen kids and i really liked it. Generation X kind of thing. Now with Ken Park it's almost the same, but i didn't get any point or message from the film. It was just provocative and 'shocking' at some moments. But maybe my parents would consider it to be that way, I wasn't the least shocked by any of it. Nice film to watch, glad I've seen it but wouldn't have missed much if i hadn't.

The Discovery of Heaven (2001)

The Best Dutch Movie Ever

[9/10 · 15 December 2001]

I saw this one together with my father, he read the book, i didn't bother to read the 600 pages. I dont like Mullisch very much he does. The actors are so well chosen, the fit in just right. Quinten could really be their son etc. I cried, i laughed it was just great. Funny part is to see the places in a'dam and westerbork were i've been myself. First finnishing my book i'm reading now, then Mullisch and then prob. Lord of the Rings. I wouldn't say thjis was the best movie i ever seen, but it sure fits in between my other favourites like the godfather, apocalypse now etc. Maybe to much credit but i was wondering if that was because i'm dutch. But the movie has such an international caracter that i doubt it.

Well that's it. let me know what you though of it. Bart