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Reviews
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
ROTK exceeded all of my expectations
I feel like I have been on this amazing journey following these films for the past 3 years. Anticipating, participating and being totally swept away by the sheer passion, enormity, beauty and heart wrenching effort that has gone in to making these almost unfilmable of films. I'm very proud to be a kiwi and I hope that PJ and everyone involved can feel satisfied, as they have suceeded in releasing 3 of the best films from the fantasy genre ever! Well done guys, you deserve your Oscars and a lot more. From watching all the behind the scenes footage so far, the most important thing for PJ / writers / producers was not only entertain an audience visually but to also realize Tolkiens themes of friendship, honor , courage and trust. They have suceeded especially in the third film.
Visually ROTK is very appealing, sure some dialogue is on the cheesy side [but then so was some of Tolkiens writing] and there are definately flaws [hey, but nobody is perfect] But where these films and ROTK especially have suceeded is they have stayed very true to Tolkiens vision and yes there are minor departures but not major ones. I will need to see this film again as it is simply to overwhelming to take it all in in one viewing. I can say I feel extremely satisfied and am a little sad this brilliant journey had to end. Go see this film and read the books! Thanks PJ and Crew/ Cast! It has been an enthralling 3 years as I'm sure it has been for you - "May the stars shine upon your faces"
Cheers JP :) ***** p.s. this story was written well before "Star wars" was a twinkle in George Luca's father eye. This has to be cleared up right now!!!
G. Lucas was inspired byTolkien! Not the other way around!
The Matrix Reloaded (2003)
Better than expected, a thinking film that entertains us!
[*SOME MAJOR SPOILERS] I'm very suprised at the vast amount of negative comments on this film. I'm a devoted Matrix fan and had expectations but still didn't know where the story could or would go. Bearing in mind this is only half of the story in a trilogy so ie: "The Matrix was film one and reloaded/revolutions is film two! I was ENTERTAINED!!! and I have been THINKING about this film since I seen it last friday! many unanswered questions that will be no doubt be resolved in the final part. Food for thought - Is there a Matrix within a Matrix? hence Neos
powers within zion and smith being able to enter zion? also the fact that zion has been attacked and rebuilt 6 times? Very Interesting. I also doubt that the wachowski bros would put all their eggs in one basket in "reloaded" as far as special effects/fighting sequences are concerned. More to come in that
area......stay tuned........Sure the bullet time effects were replicated but were explored in much more detail. I have not seen anything even remotely close [bar crouching tiger] to the fight scene choreographed with the 100 smiths and neo - stunning adrenalising stuff. Car chase was ok, bike chase scene was better. The Morpheus fight scene was great and the neo rescue was awesome. Sex
scenes/erotisim was unexpected and maybe not needed, I guess the bros were
trying to make Zion human/natural/warm and inviting [just to throw us off track possibly?] Overall a very decent effort for half a sequel, I say this film needs a 2/ 3rd watch to really appreciate it and definitely wait until november before
entirely discarding this crucial bridge of the story as a b grade action flick. Well done guys - you still have a devoted fan. 4.5 stars.......... I believe this is our destiny.........Tank :)
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
EPIC, ENDEARING, ENTHRALLING AND UNBALANCED!*some spoilers*
People who have read the books - People who haven't - This will make a huge difference in how this most anticipated film will be perceived - honestly - 75% of this films target market is the non-reader and 25% the reader - Putting this epic tale on to celluloid was always going to be quote "walking on the edge of a knife - sway an inch either way and this could fail" I was quite suprised peter jackson placed so much importance on CGI and special effects and neglected the all so important character development that was crucial to "believing this world existed" PJ could of quite easily done away with 50% of the orc/urak kai Isenguard scenes involving tree felling and urak births, and developed the extremely vital "council of elrond" scenes. *Please note: I will mention the flaws breifly then move on to the good bits, and there are many (good bits) so bear with me) ** 1) They could have been alot more imaginitive with the title sequence, very small flaw but its the small things that really count, aleast a little imagination in this department would have gone a long way **2) serious character undevelopment for non-readers: people were trying to figure out who the hell the other races were and why would they throw away there lives at a whim and a snap judgement ie gimil,borimir,legolas etc. **3) Hugo weaving mmm elrond smith? believable when he didn't speak, but when he said " I shall name you the fellowship of the ring" I almost spat my cola all over the guy in front of me, contrived and very odd! **4) the transition from rivendell to lothlorien, lightning speed, what the? how the hell did they manage to do this so quick, galadrial wigging out? over the top and very odd * all in all I realize its impossible to make a perfect film, but it is surprising some of the crucial character building was replaced by massive cgi effects, unbalanced and hopefully PJ will get it right in the next two films...........hopefully!
Now the good stuff - still I was left with my mouth left wide open on many occasion, I will see this film several times and to see 'gollum' realized on screen along with the balrog, cave trolls orcs and gandalf was an honest to god treat, the score was well placed, if not a little too quirky in places for my liking, but none the less solid. The direction was tight, effects astounding and the acting brilliant (in places). It would of taken just one or two cast changes and a screenplay nip & tuck here and there and this would of been the films of films - I give it 9.3 out of ten - see this film - It won't change life on earth, but for 3 hours you will be transported in to middle earth and you'll forget all your daily toils in this existence.....May the stars shine upon all your faces......JP
Mullet (2001)
Tell your father " I really did enjoy this film"
I really love the fact that Australians really don't mind having a honest look at themselves.What I especially liked was how accurate these characters were portrayed, these people are real! Granted the movie was a little slow in places, but this is set in a small town so the pacing really puts the viewer inside the minds and hearts of the people and the general atmosphere of the township. Simple story telling at its best, well portrayed by an excellent cast, I think we have all met a "mullet" or Peter and of course their fabulous parents at sometime in our lives. This film was gritty, emotional, and always searching and trying to make sense from a personal perspective, especially from a family perspective. The questions this film asks, are how does this town work? where do I (mullet) fit in? do I fit in? why did I come back? and the search always made difficult with so much communication breakdown and self denial, ultimately people are pushed into corners where eventually you have to "stand back up when you have been knocked down". The story is about Eddie "mullet" coming home after 3yrs absence and completely upsetting this little community, which is tight knit, simple yet complicated. The girlfriend he left behind has married another, so mullet wants answers! leaving the girlfriend torn between her past and her present lovers. No pretense. No gloss, just honesty and simplicity. So I f you want to kick back, smile, empathise and enjoy some light drama (just to escape hollywood cliches, and not be bombarded by explosions/gunfire and cgi effects!) then this movie is just the ticket........well done 7/10