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Reviews
Haute tension (2003)
Gritty Great Gory Film
High Tension incorporates the aspects of a great horror film. The gore, and the suspense are well executed throughout. The picture is just great, atmospheric and gritty, almost too real. Truly one of the most violent and gory films of the last few years. Unapologetic and brutal gore violence make this film what it is. The acting in the film is very good as well. The film creates a big adrenaline rush and you'll find yourself rooting for the main character...until the conclusion.
Some may say that the ending is not original or that it doesn't fit the plot, but it is still very interesting and shocking.
The film over-all was very exciting and thought provoking. Violent and gritty, it really impressed me. Highly Recommended!
The Interpreter (2005)
Sophisticated Film With Excellent Performances
Nicole Kidman shines in this top-notch thriller as Sylvia Broome, an interpreter working for the UN who overhears an assassination plot of an African president. After this she is pursued by the men involved in the plot. That's where Sean Penn comes in. He plays Tobin Keller, a secret service agent who must protect Kidman's character. The acting in this film is nothing but amazing. The chemistry between Kidman and Penn is obvious. Unlike many thrillers that subsequently fail to deliver a good plot, The Interpreter entertains and never lets you down. A few twists also add on to the thrill of the film, and you can even get that "whodunit" kinda feeling. Over-all this is a sophisticated film with excellent performances and great direction. Highly recommended.
Maria Full of Grace (2004)
Amazing Film
Maria Full of Grace depicts the dangerous journey of three young Colombian women who must resort to serve as drug mules for money. The realism of this film is not only conveyed through the camera style used by the director, but through the heart-wrenching performances in this film. Catalina Sandino Moreno is destined for Oscar greatness. She's truly captivating and makes the movie far more enjoyable. The story really comes to show the struggle of people in Colombia and in many other so-called third world countries who must risk their lives in order to escape or even ease poverty. Maria Full Of Grace is an amazing film and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in realistic cinematography.
Mindhunters (2004)
Two Thumbs Up!!!
Mindhunters is a great film. It incorporates the elements that make a good thriller. It is both suspenseful and fast paced. The acting is not the best but not the worst either. The action is relentless and the special effects are pretty good. But to me the best thing about this film other than the story is how deep we delve into the characters minds, and get to know their weaknesses and strengths. It's very psychological and it makes you think. Many times during the movie, I tried to recall things that happened earlier, like hints that the director was giving us throughout the movie, of who's the killer. Overall this film is worth watching. Two Thumbs up for Mindhunters and highly recommended.
Panic Room (2002)
Highly Recommended
Panic room is a nicely done film. The concept is really interesting because the Panic Room was supposed to be the safest room, and after all it turns out to be the most dangerous one. Many nice camera techniques are used in this film and it looks very good. The director obviously paid a lot of attention to detail. From the credits to the final scenes the cinematography is top notch. Jodie Foster was just amazing and her character was a very intriguing one because Meg seemed often confused, vulnerable, and strong at the same time. Forest Whitaker did a great job with his character. The character of Burnham is an interesting one because he was a paradox between good and evil. Overall this film is worth watching, so take a look inside the panic room and you'll be sure to have a thrilling experience.
Shi mian mai fu (2004)
A Cinematic Achievement
House of Flying Daggers is one of the best films of 2004. It's a visually stunning work of art. Director Yimou Zhang really knows how to use color to perpetuate moods through the sceneries. The story and plot are very well done and although the movie might move a bit slow sometimes, the results are worth the wait.
The visual effects are amazing as well and the acting couldn't have been better, however on the DVD the English track is not so well acted, therefore I prefer the actual Chinese track with the real voices of the actors. Ziyi Zhang is a great actress and she embraces the character of Mei quite nicely.
Overall this movie is a cinematic achievement that people should appreciate more and not say "oh it's just another Kung-Fu flick", because it really isn't. So for people who want to see a great love story, perfectly executed action, excellent acting and just beautiful cinematography; House of Flying Daggers is the movie to watch.
Elektra (2005)
So Much Potential.....
Elektra is part of the era of comic book adaptations, and just like "The Hulk", it falls short. The plot was terribly carried out, and the acting wasn't so great. The characters sure were interesting but not much is known about them(unless you had read the comics). Still, Elektra brings nothing new to the comic book movie series and no wonder it flopped at the box office. Only hardcore fans of the Elektra comics will find this movie interesting. It truly had so much potential that unfortunately was not used to its greatest extent, Elektra suffers just like Catwoman did, so that goes to tell you that even if a popular and beautiful actress stars in a comic book adaptation , it won't necessarily be successful.
Hotel Rwanda (2004)
Deeply Moving Film
Hotel Rwanda depicts the Rwandan Massacre of 1994. This film accurately shows us the inhumanity of this event in world history. The performances are to be praised. Don Cheadle and Sophie Okonedo are breathtaking, their performances engage us in the film.
The most important thing about this movie is the awareness that it creates in those who watch it and who did not know about the crisis in Rwanda. It opens up with the line, " For your consideration", because that is what the director is trying to do; inform us about this terrible event. I was too young at the time of this injustice, and watching this movie has made me realize how cruel this world can be. This film should be remembered as a triumph.
It's such a compelling story and I agree with some of the other reviewers in that it seemed like a documentary due to the realism of the film. Hotel Rwanda is a deeply moving film and I saw myself shedding some tears during the movie and at the end. Over-all this film is a masterpiece and a must see. 10/10 Stars
Constantine (2005)
Terrible Film....Definitely not what I expected.
I don't know what director Francis Lawrence was thinking when he made this film. Weak plot and Keanu Reeve's worst performance to date. Constantine starts out kinda strong and then it's all downhill from there. The plot lacks excitement, and the characters were empty in the sense that not much is known about them(unless you had read the Hellblazer comics).
The only good things about this movie are the special effects and Rachel Weisz who delivered a great performance. Everything else in this movie is utter crap. This movie is just like "Catwoman", a huge buzz about it and then you watch it and it leaves you wanting more, it does not satisfy you. Lets hope that a sequel is not in the works because it will crumble as well. My overall thought on this film: Terrible, oh and yeah I wanted my money back. Avoid Constantine at all costs.......
Biohazard 4 (2005)
Best Game Of 2005
As an RE fan, Resident Evil 4 has truly proved to be the best in the series. It excels in all aspects, from the controls to the graphics, this game is amazing and extremely fun.
I was a bit skeptical about this game because of the changes in its story and all of the "no more zombies" rumors, but thank Capcom for those changes because they have taken the series into new grounds of survival horror and the gaming experience itself.
The best thing about this game are the graphics. The cut-scenes are rendered in such detail that they breathtakingly embrace the player. The dialogue is furthermore improved compared to the previous RE games. The story is fast paced and always keeps you on the edge of your seat. Resident Evil 4 is undoubtedly the best game of 2005, and of course the best in the entire RE series.
10/10 stars(personally I would give it 100:P)