haana86 Reviews

Up (2009)

One Of The Best Movies This Year

[10/10 · 25 July 2009]

This is by far one of the BEST movies I have seen this year. Every moment was enjoyable, funny, and amazing.

It started off with this kid (Carl Fredricksen) who is watching his favorite explorer (Charles Muntz) who went to South America and was stripped off his title because he could not prove the existence of a bird he claim that people said was fake. Then he meets a girl named Ellie who is also an explorer like him and has the dream of going to South America like their favorite explorer. She is loud, rash and aggressive and gets him injured and he doesn't even say one word and they end up falling in love (which was quite quick). Then it shows them getting married having a kid and saving money in a jar to go to South America (like a very fast forwarded movie of his life); but every time the money ends up needing to be spent (injuries, flat tire, etc...). Ellie dies of old age before he can keep his promise to her. There is a boy scout (Russell) who needs to get a badge (for assisting the elderly) and Mr. F sends him away on a wild goose chase and then when an instant happens that Mr. F will need to give up his house he decides to tie balloons to it and finally make the trip he promised with the unexpected guest; Russel.

I liked Mr. F from the beginning because you knew his life and I felt so sorry for him. But Russel was so so annoying but when you find out why he is the way he is I started to also pity him and like him.

They end up in South America and meet a bird Russel names Kevin and also talking dogs and particularly Dug who helps them.

I really like the dogs as a choice for Charles subordinates because they were really fun and silly.

I liked the way that Mr.F finally let's go and developed from a lonely grumpy man to a kind and caring person. That Russell finally earned his badge and he really did earn it. It was a great movie where characters evolved emotionally.

Great story, perfect voice actors, beautiful silly expressive animation and brilliantly developed characters.

It was entertaining from beginning to end and there is not one bad thing I could say about it.

Arthur and the Invisibles (2006)

I wish I got to see the scenes that were cut...

[7/10 · 20 July 2009]

I watched this on television. And like a lot of people were saying about cut scenes I was disappointed that I did not get to see those. I felt parts of the movies was missing like there was something missing but I read that US and the UK were the only two countries to change the movie which I am definitely disappointed by. I read somewhere that they found it "creepy" that the Princess and Arthur's feelings are growing for each other because they see the Princess as a lot older and him as a kid. But when Arthur asks the Princess if she really will be 1000 she tells him 1000 is around his age in human years. The story was quite good and entertaining but the voice acting was not the best. Even though they wanted to use popular celebrities for the voices I think it would have been better with more talented voice actors. The animation was very beautiful and well done. It is a lot like Arthur and the sword in the stone, and like a bugs life, ant all those types of bug animation similar. One thing I really liked is that the movie switched from reality into him shrinking into a minmoy and becoming animated and in the end they don't use he was dreaming but that all what his granny thought was just imagination (all the stories his grandfather wrote about the minimoys and etc...) was in fact reality. Worth watching.

Gone Baby Gone (2007)

Pleasantly Surprised

[8/10 · 27 June 2009]

When I read the back about a kidnapped girl I wasn't too excited to see the movie. They bore me with their excessive action scenes, extreme story lines and predictability. But my father wanted to see it so I didn't argue. The first thing that turned me off was the swearing, I know in those neighborhoods with violence, drugs, etc... well in most neighborhoods now a days is a lot of swearing which I don't like. The one thing that kept me watching was the believability of the characters. All of them are written and acted as people you would see in real life. Never over the top, raw, with beliefs that make sense if you were them. With views even how wrong it may be you can understand their thinking. The actions, the horrible and sad things you see happen in real life. The story was very captivating, you are watching everyone thinking is it him, is it her; they all had bad pasts. Where it ends is when it really begins and then you are left thinking did he do the right thing. This movie made you think at every moment, made you feel and understand every character. Made you question right from wrong. It didn't have a lot of action. A lot of fighting. It had no nudity. It was a really good movie worth watching if you like movies that make you think from beginning and even after the movie finished.

A woman who uses drugs and neglects the care of her child comes home to find her missing. Not completely telling the truth about her where a bouts at the time she left her daughter alone. A private investigator and his associate (girlfriend) hired by the missing child's aunt is called in to help find her. While trying to co operate with the police he tries to piece together clues from people who are hostile but little does he know the perpetrators have been beside him the whole time trying to cover what they thought they did was just. In the end did the private investigator do the right thing?

My Bloody Valentine (2009)

Predictable Let Down...

[5/10 · 20 June 2009]

I don't really like horror movies anymore because they are so predictable and lack scare. All the good ideas are already taken. But I am a huge fan of Jensen Ackles so I decided to watch it. It was a lot like most movies I have already seen nothing really new. I was really hoping for a huge plot twist in the end, like a really interesting reason. But it was a total let down. Everybody in the town knew who the killer was, and they were right. Total let down. Predictable from start to finish. There are a lot of gory scenes and grouse scenes worth seeing in 3D but that's all.

Jensen Ackles is a great actor... just not in this...

Drag Me to Hell (2009)

Could have been better...

[7/10 · 7 June 2009]

I watched "Evil Dead 1, 2 and Army of Darkness" like everyone else. I watched it so many times I did not ever want to see it again (my brother thought they were the best movies ever made and being young having only one television he was the oldest and biggest so he got his way. He bought them and watched it over and over). This movie didn't have the qualities I think those movies had. They were funny, unique, the special affects in those I think watching now are still entertaining. Those movies were always exciting. "Drag me to hell" was a big dragging in some parts. I wanted bigger shocks, something even more unique but I was let down. It wasn't scary, it focused on her just trying to save herself with a few things popping up but nothing that left an impression. The twist at the end even though a bit predictable was better then most movies who try to make it a happy ending. There was many opportunities left out that could have added scares, or even something strange. The "good girl" turned desperate was I think acted well. The boyfriend Clay acting extremely nice was nothing special. But no characters that left a deep impression. The "good girl" who just behaves bad once is punished and doesn't have her happy ending.

It was a good story and idea but it didn't show it's full potential.

Tôkyô shônen (2008)

Very Slow

[1/10 · 21 April 2009]

The movie is about a Boy named Shu who falls for a Girl named Minato who has a pen pal Night who happens to be her other personality.

Something bad had happened in her life and she expresses her feelings to her pen pal named "Night" who also takes over her body when Night feels that Minato needs protection and acts as the total opposite of sweet kind Minato.

The plot is shown three times showing the same sequence threw the "three" different characters perspectives.

Shu meets Minato at her job in a convenience store, they go on dates, she blacks out (her personality "Night" takes over)and she can not remember anything.

It is very slow paced, boring, repetitive and not much dialogue. Most of the interaction is between Minato, "Night" and Shu.

The whole movie could have been condensed into 30 min.

Not worth watching.

Boys Over Flowers (2009)

Very Entertaining

[10/10 · 9 April 2009]

This is one of my favorite dramas. The usual poor simple girl who has to work hard with family struggles but still triumphs persevering with a smile and has a extremely rich famous (F4 = Flower Four(four guy)) guys falls in love with her. Only this time it's two extremely rich amazing guys that you don't know who you want her to end up with. The sweet gentle guy who knows immediately when she is in trouble and knows where to find her or the obnoxious short tempered childish but faithful and loyal guy. Full of funny moments, romantic, morals and great entertainment. Great friends, and the worst mother I have ever seen. Each character evolves and you end up falling in love with them or pitying them. It was entertaining to the very end.

Wrong Number (2007)

Boring Conversation Between two people on the phone.

[2/10 · 29 October 2008]

As I started to watch the movie it seemed boring at first. Very slow moving. Jay has a friend named Michael who asked him to call Maria and say he says hi because Jay has gone to Berlin to work and Maria lives there. Maria clearly does not know Michael, her name is Maria and he did dial the correct number. So they understand it is some kind of mistake and decide to continue talking because they enjoy their conversations.

They call daily and talk about all sorts of things. The boring conversation of question and answer that most people have on first dates to get past the awkward phase. Watching a guy alone eating and talking on the phone was a waste of my time.

But I wanted to know who was at the other end of the phone. It was the only thing that kept me watching.When we finally get to see the girl at the end of the phone they throw in a plot twist (which was quite surprising I thought her secret was she was a prostitute or something)

*spoiler*

But it was actually that Maria was scared to meet Jay again because the first time he opt out and decided to continue talking on the phone. So she sent her friend Bettina to meet him instead. Bettina gives Jay her phone number while Jay calls her and continues to see her thinking she is Maria. Maria who followed him home after the first meeting with Bettina (WHo he thought was maria) shows up at his door of his house while he was having dinner with Bettina. That's when he finds out about what happened. He says on the phone he want's to continue seeing Bettina. But when he calls Maria to meet in person he is clearly confused with his decision. Bettina can clearly see that. The movie ends with how it started this time it's a woman who calls Jay asking for Steve.)

If they do have a second part it will be that same guy again but this time a different woman at the end of the line.

Boring.

Do not bother to watch.

Whisper of the Heart (1995)

So Motivating and touching

[10/10 · 29 October 2008]

I really love Japanese Animate Movies above anything else. The story was wonderful, touching, endearing, captivation. A young girl who borrows books from the library only to become infatuated with the name of a boy who always checks out the books before her. When she finally meets him first time meeting someone you really don't know them until you really try. He comes off as a rude jerk who insults her. But we finally get to know he use to sit beside her at the library and he only checked out the books to get her attention because he loved her from the start.

She find out that he wants to go to Italy to become a craftsman of violins and that his parents will allow him to go there for two months and train with his grandfather's friend and if he is good enough his parents will allow him to stay there and study.

She falls in love with this motivated man who has a goal and future in his horizon which gives her the passion and drive to realize her own dreams. She makes a deal with herself that if she can write a story a good story before he returns.

At first she doubted herself thinking she was not good at anything and was not good enough for him.

She allows his grandfather to read the finish story who tells her its like a rock with gems inside that need to be polished but will be beautiful when its done.

After some tears and realization that she can be good enough for him.

He returns after he tells her that he will be good enough after some training but decided to come back to finish high school. He asks her if in the future when he is a famous violin maker and she is a famous writer if he can see them getting married.

Beautiful drawn captivating story.

Up Close & Personal (1996)

Jessica Savitch

[24 May 2007]

Usually I like to research a movie for fun before watching it. I don't like to waste time watching a movie for 2 or 3 hours. What I learned is that this movie is based on "Jessica Savitch" who in the 1970s became the first female American anchor on television.

The movie was based on the book " Golden Girl: The Story of Jessica Savitch" written by Alanna Nash.

The movie is said not to be as accurate in detail and also over dramatize and exaggerate events. Also emphasizing on aspects that are debatable. So the movie might be leaning more towards fiction, then of true events. But that's debatable.

I didn't give the movie a rating because after 20 minutes i couldn't bare to watch anymore. The movie had nothing to draw me in at all. Nothing to captivate me into sitting there and watching it for free.

I suppose if you are the type that like to judge a movie after watching it then the best thing for you to do is watch the whole thing.