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Reviews
Super Troopers (2001)
I'm so confused..
....as to WHY this film is being rated a six. I gave it a one just because I couldn't score any lower.
I would never in my right mind rent this movie, but I saw it with a couple of friends and not once, throughout the entire thing, did we laugh. And this is coming from a group of 14, 15, and 16 year olds at three in the morning. The jokes were in bad taste, there was too much gratuituous sex/sexual jokes, and it wasn't even a tad believable. Avoid this film if you have an IQ any higher than the nearest doorknob.
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
Simply incredible...
***SPOILERS***
I waited about 4 hours in line on opening night with high expectations and left absolutely dumbfounded. I couldn't speak. The plot, acting, landscape, props, costumes, and special FX were astonishing. Gollum, for instance, was always one of my favorite characters and was a bit worried about how he would look. This frequently happens when they make a movie from a book - you have your own mental picture of someone/thing in the story which differs dramatically from what the director, writers, and animators have and that thing turns out to be physically warped beyond any recognition. It could also be too "Jar-Jar" like, off-colored, horribly animated...a number of those kinds of things happen all the time and it's always a pain in the neck. This was certainly NOT THE CASE for Gollum. He was exactly as I had pictured him in the books. I loved the scene where he was fighting with himself...it was so powerful and so sad because Gollum himself is an incredibly sad and pitiful character, though he also has a wicked side. I think they portrayed that wonderfully in the movie.
Also was the case for Treebeard and the other Ents. Their voices and sounds were spectacular. The scene where they re-rooted the river Isen to flood Isengard was incredible. You could see them straining against the sheer power of the waters. It looked so real.
And the Battle of Helms Deep?? I mean, come on, people, even if you're not into the whole fantasy thing or hated the first movie, it's worth going just for that!! Can we all say "Thrill Ride"?
Yet another BRILLIANT job by Peter Jackson.
Oh, and GO GIMLI! Hehe...I loved him. I guess Merry and Pippen (who, I might add, are great in this - Dominic Monaghan and Billy Boyd were the perfect casting choices) sort of handed the comic relief over to the dwarf.
The Count of Monte Cristo (2002)
A decent film, but sadly doesn't mirror the book in any way.
**Minor spoilers**
"The Count of Monte Cristo" is one of my all-time favorite books, so I went to see this film with moderately high expectations. Now I knew they changed a lot of things simply from the trailers I saw, but I don't usually criticize movies that are based on books just because they leave or add a little something. I left the theatre, not just confused, but hurt. To this day, I still don't know why the writers decided to ruin the ending. The story is most certainly not a happy-ending guy-gets-girl-and-lives-happily-ever-after deal. The point Dumas was trying to get across was the fact that the persuit for revenge destroyed Edmond, and some things in life aren't beautiful and happy, but sad and ugly. It's a beautiful story...and there were so many things changed that I gave the movie a 6/10 simply because it was reasonably well done, and was so different, that it didn't seem like the book.
I'd much rather everyone read the book, but if you're looking for an interesting action movie for the evening, rent this.
Anywhere But Here (1999)
Irritating and repetitive
*Minor SPOILERS*
I felt like everything kept repeating itself in different locations. It got a little boring. Natalie Portman kept the same facial expressions throughout the film, and really lacked the emotion needed.
The characters were a bit too distant as well. I know everything revolved around Susan Sarandon and Natalie Portman, but the other people just kept popping in and out of the story. Especially the "almost too nice" guy. He looked as if he would have a relevant part in the plot, but he just said he'd love to take Natalie Portman out to see some fish spawning thing, and we eventually find out later that he invited Susan Sarandon to Vegas. That was it. He wasn't mentioned at all in the rest of the film.
I think that just with those two things, the fact that the acting was just okay (even Sarandon - who is usually phenomenal), and the feel-good ending made into a mediocre movie that isn't really worth much higher than a 3. (In my opinion at least, whatever that's worth.)
;o)
Gangs of New York (2002)
Doesn't live up to the hype.
*Slight SPOILERS*
I actually downloaded this movie because I had it in semi-high expectations. It was nominated for Best Picture, had all these great reviews, and was directed by Martin Scorsese (<---spelling?). I watched it and it all flew out the window.
I guess it wasn't horrible. There was a certain amount of symbolism, and I rated it a 6, but still, the depth wasn't there and I found it to be a bad excuse for gratuetous sex, profanity, violence, and GORE. I was amazed at how bloody it was. There's a point in which you need to call it quits with the fake blood and mangled body parts and instead spend money on something worth while. (Like a better script for one thing.)
Am I the only one who felt cheated by the ending? With the huge battle at the beginning, you were expecting one of an equal, if not larger scale. It just seemed to easy for Amsterdam to finally kill Bill.
The acting was okay, although Leonardo DiCaprio was in desperate need of a better dialect coach because his accent was just the pits. Daniel Day-Lewis was excellant, but there was something about him that didn't fit right...not sure what it was, but just 'something'...
Bottom line: go see this film if you wanna see blood, profanity, mindless violence and sex, and a horrible excuse for an ending (although the NY skyline views at the very end were quite good...I liked how they kept the Twin Towers in instead of deleting them after 9/11).
The Matrix (1999)
Did anyone COMPLETELY understand this?
I saw "The Matrix" in the theatres when it first came out, forgot all about it, then saw it again a few weeks ago. I think maybe it takes a third or fourth viewing to begin to understand this?
What's up with the whole "Matrix" thing anyway? I think that was the main fault in the entire film (besides Reeve's awful acting and obvious lack of anything upstairs) which was that all of us who don't speak Techy - you know, that alien language computer geeks use - don't have a clue what's going on. OR, we do, but don't understand WHY.
The special FX were pretty cool, but I was so confused, I couldn't pay attention to half of them. Think I'll rent the DVD today. All in all, a decent movie with some good acting and a very cool plot (I think). :o)
Snake Eyes (1998)
Depth please!
I'm a big fan of Nick Cage and it grieves me to say this, but it needs to be said: this was probably one of his weakest films he's ever been in. Not his acting, but the film, which I had hoped would be at least a little more than entertaining, but turned out to be a depressing flop.
There was NOTHING to it. No depth whatsoever. You immediately knew Kevin was in on the whole assassination plot, so there was no buildup to what ended up being the thoroughly disappointing excuse for a climatic plot twist. The scenes in the hotel were, I suppose, intended to be full of suspense, but were just dull and increasingly irritating; I think everyone wanted to smack that obese guy who kept trying to get in bed with Julia. (Who, I must add, was a stupid person to revolve around since all she ever did was whine and scream and kick at the door of the room that Cage locked her in.) And what's up with the ending? They had Kevin cornered, than he turned to the wall and shot himself. Cage made some comment about "snake eyes" and and that was basically the end.
My take: 4/10. JUST for what they did to Cage after he was beaten up. I cringed every time I saw him. Kudos to the make-up department.
A Beautiful Mind (2001)
A Beautiful Movie.
First of all, let me say one thing: I didn't see about half of this film the first time I saw it because I was too busy crying. It's such a heartbreaking story and if the nay-sayers took one minute to think about a life like John Nash's and how Russell Crowe portrayed him in this, they'd understand what a beautiful movie this is. The acting was incredible, the script, cast, plot, cinematography, music...EVERYTHING was top-notch.
What else can I say? I was rather upset that "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" didn't get Best Picture at the Oscars, but I can't complain. "A Beautiful Mind" certainly deserved it.
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
Simply incredible...
***SPOILERS***
I waited about 4 hours in line on opening night with high expectations and left absolutely dumbfounded. I couldn't speak. The plot, acting, landscape, props, costumes, and special FX were astonishing. Gollum, for instance, was always one of my favorite characters and was a bit worried about how he would look. This frequently happens when they make a movie from a book - you have your own mental picture of someone/thing in the story which differs dramatically from what the director, writers, and animators have and that thing turns out to be physically warped beyond any recognition. It could also be too "Jar-Jar" like, off-colored, horribly animated...a number of those kinds of things happen all the time and it's always a pain in the neck. This was certainly NOT THE CASE for Gollum. He was exactly as I had pictured him in the books. I loved the scene where he was fighting with himself...it was so powerful and so sad because Gollum himself is an incredibly sad and pitiful character, though he also has a wicked side. I think they portrayed that wonderfully in the movie.
Also was the case for Treebeard and the other Ents. Their voices and sounds were spectacular. The scene where they re-rooted the river Isen to flood Isengard was incredible. You could see them straining against the sheer power of the waters. It looked so real.
And the Battle of Helms Deep?? I mean, come on, people, even if you're not into the whole fantasy thing or hated the first movie, it's worth going just for that!! Can we all say "Thrill Ride"?
Yet another BRILLIANT job by Peter Jackson.
Oh, and GO GIMLI! Hehe...I loved him. I guess Merry and Pippen (who, I might add, are great in this - Dominic Monaghan and Billy Boyd were the perfect casting choices) sort of handed the comic relief over to the dwarf.
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
Simply incredible...
***SPOILERS***
I waited about 4 hours in line on opening night with high expectations and left absolutely dumbfounded. I couldn't speak. The plot, acting, landscape, props, costumes, and special FX were astonishing. Gollum, for instance, was always one of my favorite characters and was a bit worried about how he would look. This frequently happens when they make a movie from a book - you have your own mental picture of someone/thing in the story which differs dramatically from what the director, writers, and animators have and that thing turns out to be physically warped beyond any recognition. It could also be too "Jar-Jar" like, off-colored, horribly animated...a number of those kinds of things happen all the time and it's always a pain in the neck. This was certainly NOT THE CASE for Gollum. He was exactly as I had pictured him in the books. I loved the scene where he was fighting with himself...it was so powerful and so sad because Gollum himself is an incredibly sad and pitiful character, though he also has a wicked side. I think they portrayed that wonderfully in the movie.
Also was the case for Treebeard and the other Ents. Their voices and sounds were spectacular. The scene where they re-rooted the river Isen to flood Isengard was incredible. You could see them straining against the sheer power of the waters. It looked so real.
And the Battle of Helms Deep?? I mean, come on, people, even if you're not into the whole fantasy thing or hated the first movie, it's worth going just for that!! Can we all say "Thrill Ride"?
Yet another BRILLIANT job by Peter Jackson.
Oh, and GO GIMLI! Hehe...I loved him. I guess Merry and Pippen (who, I might add, are great in this - Dominic Monaghan and Billy Boyd were the perfect casting choices) sort of handed the comic relief over to the dwarf.
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
Simply incredible...
***SPOILERS***
I waited about 4 hours in line on opening night with high expectations and left absolutely dumbfounded. I couldn't speak. The plot, acting, landscape, props, costumes, and special FX were astonishing. Gollum, for instance, was always one of my favorite characters and was a bit worried about how he would look. This frequently happens when they make a movie from a book - you have your own mental picture of someone/thing in the story which differs dramatically from what the director, writers, and animators have and that thing turns out to be physically warped beyond any recognition. It could also be too "Jar-Jar" like, off-colored, horribly animated...a number of those kinds of things happen all the time and it's always a pain in the neck. This was certainly NOT THE CASE for Gollum. He was exactly as I had pictured him in the books. I loved the scene where he was fighting with himself...it was so powerful and so sad because Gollum himself is an incredibly sad and pitiful character, though he also has a wicked side. I think they portrayed that wonderfully in the movie.
Also was the case for Treebeard and the other Ents. Their voices and sounds were spectacular. The scene where they re-rooted the river Isen to flood Isengard was incredible. You could see them straining against the sheer power of the waters. It looked so real.
And the Battle of Helms Deep?? I mean, come on, people, even if you're not into the whole fantasy thing or hated the first movie, it's worth going just for that!! Can we all say "Thrill Ride"?
Yet another BRILLIANT job by Peter Jackson.
Oh, and GO GIMLI! Hehe...I loved him. I guess Merry and Pippen (who, I might add, are great in this - Dominic Monaghan and Billy Boyd were the perfect casting choices) sort of handed the comic relief over to the dwarf.
The World Is Not Enough (1999)
A disgrace to all Bond films.
This movie was, by far, the worst Bond movie I've seen. The acting was bad, the plot was horrible, there were almost NO GADGETS, and the cast definitely needed some work - Denise Richards...a nuclear scientist?? I had a laugh over that (In fact, there were only a handful of people I enjoyed watching.)
What else can I say? It's worth renting for the sole purpose to say that you've seen it.
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
Simply incredible...
***SPOILERS***
I waited about 4 hours in line on opening night with high expectations and left absolutely dumbfounded. I couldn't speak. The plot, acting, landscape, props, costumes, and special FX were astonishing. Gollum, for instance, was always one of my favorite characters and was a bit worried about how he would look. This frequently happens when they make a movie from a book - you have your own mental picture of someone/thing in the story which differs dramatically from what the director, writers, and animators have and that thing turns out to be physically warped beyond any recognition. It could also be too "Jar-Jar" like, off-colored, horribly animated...a number of those kinds of things happen all the time and it's always a pain in the neck. This was certainly NOT THE CASE for Gollum. He was exactly as I had pictured him in the books. I loved the scene where he was fighting with himself...it was so powerful and so sad because Gollum himself is an incredibly sad and pitiful character, though he also has a wicked side. I think they portrayed that wonderfully in the movie.
Also was the case for Treebeard and the other Ents. Their voices and sounds were spectacular. The scene where they re-rooted the river Isen to flood Isengard was incredible. You could see them straining against the sheer power of the waters. It looked so real.
And the Battle of Helms Deep?? I mean, come on, people, even if you're not into the whole fantasy thing or hated the first movie, it's worth going just for that!! Can we all say "Thrill Ride"?
Yet another BRILLIANT job by Peter Jackson.
Oh, and GO GIMLI! Hehe...I loved him. I guess Merry and Pippen (who, I might add, are great in this - Dominic Monaghan and Billy Boyd were the perfect casting choices) sort of handed the comic relief over to the dwarf.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
My uneducated and dreadfully dull take on this wonderful film...
Wow...all I can say is: totally worth the two hour wait. I compared this to "The Lord of the Rings" (aka. The Lord of the Films). There are very much alike in the sense that the first film is much, much lighter, but not without peril and exitement. The next film is darker (As will be "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers"), creepier, and scarier. In COS, the school's future is basically resting on Harry's shoulders. If he fails: the school is doomed. However, if he succeeds: Well, the school is saved.
The special FX were awesome, though I thought some of the images would have been extremely frightening to some of the younger viewers (how wrong I was). The casting was great, and the overall message throughout the film was crystal clear. I rated this an 8, but I think I'd bump it up to a 9.
What a great film, and God bless Richard Harris. I hope he's gazing down at all the people lined up a mile and a half from the theatre right now, with that wonderful smile stretched from ear to ear.
Moulin Rouge! (2001)
Absolutely beautiful.
Moulin Rouge was beautiful...absolutely beautiful. Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman provided Oscar winning performances...wonderful voices, some of the best emotions I've ever seen, and very funny.
What else can I say? Along with "Lord of the Rings" and "A Beautiful Mind," it wasn't nominated for Best Picture and they didn't get on the top three slots on my all-time favorite list for nothing!! VERY well written, wonderful acting, singing, choreography, costumes....I could go on and on. I'd rate this a 10/10.
Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002)
+'s and -'s of this fun-to-watch-over-and-over-again film.
Much better than Star Wars: Episode 1, which just didn't have the flare that some of the earlier movies did. Episode 2 was fun to watch, had the cool special FX, and had some great acters, with the exception of Hayden Christensen (though I think he's gotten more negative feedback than he deserved). If you recognize the fact that he has his own style of acting, he's pretty good, but tends to mumble and stutter his way through lines. Sure, he's sexy enough, but some of the emotion that should have been there, really wasn't.
- I also thought that Anakin showed his sudden love towards Padme too soon. He may as well just have started to make out with her after 5 minutes of being together again. - The script was okay, but could have been worked on.
- And being shot entirely in digital, the color was off in most theatres unless you went to a digital theatre.
But enough of the negative comments. Had a few great action sequences, some awesome acting, good special FX, and a good story-line.
+++ BOTTOM LINE: Fun to watch with friends, or just to snuggle up with a bowl of popcorn and a stuffed animal ooo'ing and ahh'ing over Hayden Christensen (or Natalie Portman; depending on your sex or prefrences.) ;o) +++
Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002)
+'s and -'s of this fun-to-watch-over-and-over-again film.
Much better than Star Wars: Episode 1, which just didn't have the flare that some of the earlier movies did. Episode 2 was fun to watch, had the cool special FX, and had some great acters, with the exception of Hayden Christensen (though I think he's gotten more negative feedback than he deserved). If you recognize the fact that he has his own style of acting, he's pretty good, but tends to mumble and stutter his way through lines. Sure, he's sexy enough, but some of the emotion that should have been there, really wasn't.
- I also thought that Anakin showed his sudden love towards Padme too soon. He may as well just have started to make out with her after 5 minutes of being together again. - The script was okay, but could have been worked on.
- And being shot entirely in digital, the color was off in most theatres unless you went to a digital theatre.
But enough of the negative comments. Had a few great action sequences, some awesome acting, good special FX, and a good story-line.
+++ BOTTOM LINE: Fun to watch with friends, or just to snuggle up with a bowl of popcorn and a stuffed animal ooo'ing and ahh'ing over Hayden Christensen (or Natalie Portman; depending on your sex or prefrences.) ;o) +++