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Gundersonm
Reviews
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
Geoffrey Rush's performance better than Johnny Depp's
I'm probably the only person on Earth that believes this, but I think that Geoffrey Rush's performance in Pirates of the Caribbean was better than Johnny Depp's. I agree that Depp is spectacular as Captain Jack Sparrow, and his performance makes the movie much better, but Rush's performance as Captain Barbosa is by far the most outstanding in the movie. The movie wouldn't be nearly as good without Rush's performance. The next time you watch the movie, pay special attention to Captain Barbosa (his mannerisms, the way he delivers his lines, etc.). You'll agree with me. Geoffrey Rush is very over-looked and under-rated in this movie.
Red Eye (2005)
Not bad, but not great
Red Eye is not a bad movie; it's probably one of Wes Craven's best recent efforts. It's well-made, and the acting (chiefly Cillian Murphy and Rachael McAdams) is good enough to keep viewers' attention. I have to say, the movie just wasn't very original. There's only one major plot twist, and it happens fairly early into the movie (and is not very surprising). The rest of the show is fairly predictable. I kept hoping for some interesting finish that I had never seen before in a movie, and for most of the show it seems to be building towards something of that nature. The ending isn't bad, and it does have some tense moments that kept much of the audience on the edge of their seats. However, it's just not very original. Still, it's not a bad movie; it's just not great.
Hotel Rwanda (2004)
Go see it!
This is a terrific movie. The performances are spectacular, particularly Don Cheadle. He deserves an Oscar for his portrayal of the hotel manager. The movie itself is much more important than just entertainment value. Most people aren't familiar with the horrific events in Rwanda in the 1990's, but they should be. We tend to think that genocide is something from the past that just doesn't happen in today's "civil" modern world. The true story behind this movie proves just the opposite. With all the focus on the Holocaust in World War II and all the talk about "never letting it happen again," the world as a whole failed the people of Rwanda miserably just a few years ago. Everyone should see this movie, and learn a thing or two.
Coach Carter (2005)
Good Movie
"Coach Carter" is a well-made movie, and from what I have heard it stays true to the actual story. If you're sick of inspirational-type movies, then don't go see it, but otherwise I highly recommend it. All of the performances are at least tolerable, and most are really good. Samuel L. Jackson is great. Most sports movies have terrible action scenes, but the basketball footage in the movie is actually quite believable (for example, no short white kids dunking and things like that). The movie is very realistic, and the director has gone to great lengths to make it seem as true-to-life as possible. I think it works very well.