A FILM BUFFS OPINION

(500) Days of Summer

2009-08-13T00:38:00.000-07:00

--PG-13-- This movie made me angry. I go to movies to escape and become engrossed in a fantasy world...not to be slapped with a depressing story about a man that loves a woman that is totally selfish and ignorant of how her decisions affect those around her. And to top it off, everything works out for her in the end. Not teaching her a damn thing.

What irks me more than anything however is that the movie was well made in every aspect. I have no complaints about the movie as a piece of art, just a major complaint about the message it is sending to an already self absorbed world.

A funny thing about it is that most people won't understand what I am saying. Most people will identify with Summer. They won't recognize that how she acts and behaves has a direct influence on others. That while she may have "covered her basis" by stating "I am not looking for a relationship" everything she did was contrary to that statement. Treating him like a boyfriend, doing "couple" things lead to mixed signals that can and did become emotionally crippling.

Anyway, I don't recommend this to anyone.

cah

Julie & Julia

2009-08-12T00:17:00.000-07:00

--PG-13-- Nora Ephron made a legitimate Oscar caliber film. Who knew she had it in her? I sure didn't. The queen of RomComs has shocked perhaps us all. With a steller cast comprised of Meryl Streep(another oscar caliber performance), Amy Adams as the titular characters with support from the likes of Stanley Tucci(I love this guy), Jane Lynch and Mary Lynn Rajskub. The ensemble cast was top notch and they all lived up to what we as fans come to expect from them.

Beyond the acting we have a story that was compiled from two books and weaved together to make a hilarious, touching and inspiring film. Ms. Ephron finally transcended her reputation and may perhaps garner her first Oscar nomination. She wrote, produced and directed this beautiful film and is well deserving of all accolades heaped on her this upcoming awards season.

Now to the story...Julie & Julia follows two women as they embark on life changing adventures. Julie is a failed novelist that finds comfort in cooking fabulous meals for herself and husband. Julia is Julia Child and the movie begins with her arrival in Paris and how she becomes "Julia Child." Inspired by a self-obsessed friend Julie decides to start a blog about cooking all the culinary delights in Julia Child's French Cuisine book in one year. This process tries her patience and her sanity as she struggles to create what we discover is perhaps an insane idea.

Throughout the course of the film you will laugh, perhaps cry but definitely will leave the theater smiling as you consider the beautifully executed (in every possible way) film that you just watched. A must see for everyone. It is not a RomCom, it isn't even a comedy by today's standards. This movie makes you think back to comedies use to be...laughter without the need for "potty" humor and "gross out" tactics that are now used in today's comedy realm filled with the likes of the Farrelly brothers and Judd Apatow tripe.

cah

G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra

2009-08-10T23:57:00.000-07:00

--PG-13-- I don't want to spend too much time on this movie, because it is what it is. And that is a summer popcorn thrill ride. So I will review it as such. You won't be bored, and there are only a few cheesy lines. Granted the acting is a bit weak, but the action sequences more than make up for the few and far between serious moments. In a movie that runs just shy of two hours, there is easily 1 1/2 hours of action.

The action sequences in my opinion never run too long. They are well paced and perfectly timed so you won't feel exhausted at the end of the scene and it will leave you wanting more...which you won't have to wait very long for. In fact the longest you have to wait between action scenes is probably 5 minutes.

To sum up, the movie is what it is...an adrenaline fueled thrill ride that is based on an action figure that has been around for half a century.

cah

Land Of The Lost

2009-06-06T00:07:00.000-07:00

--PG-13-- The best part of the movie is the very last scene. Everything before it should have landed itself on the cutting room floor. To say anything more would be a further waste of time.

Adventureland

2009-04-07T06:27:00.001-07:00

--R-- To start with the marketers of this movie completely misrepresented what it was about and the category in which it should fit. I distinctly remember watching the trailers and thinking that Adventureland was going to be another Superbad, Knocked Up type comedy. So, instead of watching a crude low brow comedy I was surprised to see a pleasant dramedy that had the same look, feel and flow as Juno.

Now, Adventureland isn't Juno, it isn't based on a pregnant teenager that is surprisingly well informed and mature for her age. No, this is about an over-educated kid working at an amusement park trying to earn enough money for graduate school...oh did I mention that it is based in the great bygone era of 1987! You have a couple of social misfits, mixed with an older musician that is living dangerously close to being a pedophile, a couple of misplaced intellectuals and your stereotypical arrogant pretty people that act dumb, and are dumb....Phew!

Okay...okay! I have given you way too much background on the characters. Part of the reason I found it so enjoyable is because I was taken aback at what the movie actually was. In short, this is a character story about a smart boy finding confidance and his relationship with an emotionally stunted, self-destructive, underachieving rich girl.

Adventureland is a movie that I hope everyone can enjoy, not just for it's self effacing humor, or the nostalgia it might illicit, but for the overall story, direction and execution that combined to make this a film that stands out in its misrepresented category.

cah

Race to Witch Mountain

2009-03-20T00:22:00.000-07:00

--PG-- Watching movies that star Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson bring me back to my younger years when I would see a movie that starred Hulk Hogan. Not because the movies they make are similar, but because those two people followed similar career paths. The big difference between the two is that Dwayne is a former wrestler and actually makes decent movies. Hogan still wrestles and made movies that would make most people run away and hide.

I for one am glad Dwayne Johnson has dropped his wrestling moniker and has taken his charisma and good looks to such family friendly films as The Game Plan and now Race to Witch Mountain. For those of you that never saw the original which was made back in the early 80's, both movies revolve around two alien kids with supernatural abilities trying to locate their spaceship so they can return home. Both movies also feature an enemy that wants to capture the kids and either dissect them, or control them.

Now that the basic plot line is layed out Race to Witch Mountain is a fun light-hearted comedy that should entertain anyone that is in the mood to smile. It isn't particularly funny or witty, the acting isn't superb and the pacing of the movie isn't perfect. But even with those unspectacular facts you still will smile at Jack Bruno (Johnson) muddling through something that is clearly over his head. You can't help but smile at Gary Marshall's (Soapdish) cameo as a wacked out alien conspiracy theorist. Better yet is Carla Gugino (Spy Kids) playing this straight laced scientist that is trying desparetly to be taken seriously by both the scientific world and the sci-fi alien nut-jobs.

No, Race to Witch Mountain is perfect, it isn't a laugh a minute comedy, but it is a light-hearted family film that will entertain you and have you believing that aliens might just be real.

cah

The Last House on the Left

2009-03-16T23:52:00.000-07:00

--R-- In a day and age when horror movies are a dime a dozen, filled with Saw XV's and Hostel V's it is rare to find a true horror film. To be clear I think a true horror film is one that terrifies you for its real life possibilities. Most horror movies made today are either supernatural and ridiculous or movies like Saw that celebrate depravity regardless of what could or would really happen.

The Last House on the Left is a truly terrifying film. The movie consists of a prisoner transport escape (plausible), teenagers making stupid decisions (plausible), rape of one of the teenagers by an escaped convict (plausible), surviving a gun shot wound to the back (plausible), power outage in a rural setting during a storm (plausible). All the key points to this film were plausible. Nothing was supernatural, the bad guys weren't heartless...just criminals trying to survive in a situation that calls for extreme measures.

Now all that being said, The Last House on the Left isn't the best horror movie ever made, but it is one that is based in reality and is entertaining enough to overlook its negatives. I will say that the rape scene is probably the most terrifying part of the movie, one in which averting your eyes would be beneficial. There is no need to watch a 17 year old girl get brutalized by a sociopath, however the scene was pivotal to the movie and a catalyst which allowed for survivors of this horrifying experience.

If you are a bit timid and tend to shy away from horror movies, don't go see this one. If you like movies like Saw you will probably not be disappointed however don't expect there to be complete depravity celebrating violence for violence sake. If you want to be scared and maybe teach your teenage daughter a lesson or two you will most likely enjoy this movie in all its horrifying splendor.

cah

Doubt

2009-03-04T00:02:00.000-08:00

--PG-13-- With protest and only by request I am writing this review...I'll leave it at that.

The most controversial thing that has sprung up about this movie isn't about whether it was good or not. That fact was decided by earlier reviews and Oscar night. No, the real controversy is about whether Father Flynn (Philip Seymour Hoffman) committed the unthinkable act of molestation. With all evidence being circumstantial, Sister Aloysius (Meryl Streep) is certain that the Father committed the crime and therefore must be ousted from the Parish.

The movie focuses on a sister in a patriarchal society, in a patriarchal religion standing up against her "superiors" and by any means necessary accomplishing that which she feels she must. This is the topic in which I would like to discuss. It doesn't matter whether I think he did it, or if you think he did it. What matters is if Sister Aloysius was correct with her flagrant disregard of church protocol and potentially ruining someones life without any real proof. We live in a society where everyone is supposed to be innocent until proven guilty. But in a religion where reputation is perhaps more important than innocence the fact that she even hinted at accusing him of it, would scare even the most innocent of men in his position, away.

Sister Aloysius acted in a way that portrayed a "by any means necessary" attitude. This kind of attitude is dangerous; they will lie, cheat, steal and in some circumstances kill to accomplish their end goal. What makes her attitude even worse is the fact that she had no concrete evidence, she was acting on instinct and experience. Two things that can lead to doubts. For instance, in the closing moments, Sister Aloysius with all her talk about certainty and doing what is necessary confesses to Sister James (Amy Adams), "I have doubts, so many doubts!" This startling confession proves that she acted in a manner that goes against reason and against all we as a democracy believe. Without certainty, without absolute proof, Sister Aloysius did all she could, to remove a priest that she simply did not like.

Do the "ends justify the means?"

cah

Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li

2009-03-03T00:21:00.000-08:00

--PG-13-- I am torn...I don't know if this movie should be in the popcorn category, or the trash heap. My reasoning is if I throw trash cans up there I will have to admit I am ashamed I saw the movie, but the problem is why should I be ashamed? This is based on a video game franchise that has sold millions of copies for nearly two decades, additionally Jean-Claude Van Damme made an earlier film in this franchise back in the early '90's. So I just can't admit that I should be ashamed I saw this movie.

That just leaves popcorn, my problem here is I don't think it was even a popcorn worthy film. I saw this for another Monday morning early bird special with ten other people. Of those ten, six left during the movie, there was even a moment in which I wanted to leave...okay there were three or four.

Unlike the Van Damme version that was futuristic, cheesy and full of 1 : 1 fighting scenes, this Street Fighter incarnation was filled with story, and voice overs to explain "The Legend of Chun-Li." Which of course is the subtitle to the title Street Fighter. Ugh, the movie was filled with bad acting by Chris Klein (American Pie Trilogy), decent acting by Neil Mcdonough (Band of Brothers) and interspersed with mediocre acting by Michael-Clarke Duncan (Green Mile) and Kristin Kreuk (Smallville).

Oh Kristin! This brings me to perhaps my biggest hang-up...Kristin is not Asian, she isn't even half Asian. Since her character has a caucasian mother this could be explained away if they didn't cast younger versions of her character as Asian girls. Those girls at various stages of development looked absolutely nothing like the adult Chun-Li. Ugh!!! Huge casting mistakes, stupid directing, bad acting and limited action sequences mean I have to throw this movie onto the trash heap.

cah

Fired Up!

2009-02-27T01:07:00.000-08:00

--PG-13-- I know...I know! So this is the story, I woke up late Monday morning...was bored...had no homework...nothing on TV...the showtime was perfect...and it was early bird $6 special. I also know that some of you won't care about my feeble excuses to why I saw this movie. But there might just be a few people out there that will secretly want to watch a couple of high school football jocks infiltrate a "cheer camp" and hook up with as many girls as possible.

For those of you, with that secret desire stashed away under that facade of a grown up, let me just say this...it wasn't bad. The movie is not about cheering, it isn't about hooking up with "chicks," or even about a creepy guy friendship. This movie is about change, and about how we all can have one idea of life and how if we try something else, for whatever reason, we might find a new joy and a new level of understanding about life, love and friendship.

Seriously, did you just read that drivel about life changing experiences? Who am I trying to kid? Let me just say that any movie which employs an alum of such awesome fare as Best In Show and A Mighty Wind deserves a viewing. John Michael Higgins is that alum, and he was pretty good, in an okay movie that gets firmly planted in the trash can department.

cah

The International

2009-02-17T01:29:00.000-08:00

--R-- The International is a crime thriller that pits good vs. evil, big business vs. government, right vs. wrong. The movie definitely will leave you questioning the perils of capitalism and if fighting back against "the man" is even worth it. I know that this movie sounds heavy, one that seems too close to home to spend 2 hours at the movie for. Especially when you go to the movies to escape life and imagine living in an entirely different world. This movie won't let you escape the economic status of the world right now. Instead it will make you think about which bank holds your money, and what prè tell are they doing with it?

This film follows a somewhat "rogue" inter-pol agent, and New York ADA as they try and prosecute one of the worlds largest most influential banks. I know that The International sounds like a dramatic slow paced film, but I am here to emphatically state that it is not! In fact with heart pounding tension and acting that is top notch this movie is not just entertaining and insightful, but also one of those rare films that make you think about society, and what we as citizens can do to correct it.

This film is R, for its language and violence. None of the violence is gratuitous and the language flows easily with the script. In other words, yes there is a lot of shooting of guns and swearing, but if you are already desensitized to these types of movies, there is no reason why you won't enjoy this film. And as a bonus you might just learn something as well.

cah

A Reinvention

2008-09-10T01:15:00.000-07:00

I am sure that it is quite obvious that I have been taking a sabbatical from my blog...my only excuse is I got a wee bit board with writing reviews, and to be honest there really hasn't been anything of significance to write about.

I know that one of my original desires was to write a review for every movie that I have ever seen...and well to be honest this is a hobby and I should enjoy it. So I decided that I will only be writing reviews about films that I feel like writing about.

I have seen a good 2-3 dozen new films since my last posting and I don't think any movie has moved me to the point of wanting to write one. So this is the deal about what movies I want to write reviews on. Why should I write about The Dark Knight when everyone is going to see it anyway? What does my opinion matter about such substantial films as that? Absolutely nothing! I am going to concentrate my efforts on writing reviews on films that my opinion might actually make a difference.

For those of you that still have been checking for reviews I am starting again so please come back, and I once again hope to entertain and enlighten once more.

cah

Forgetting Sarah Marshal

2008-04-21T01:29:00.000-07:00

*I can't give it 4 due to crudity*

--R-- First thing, funniest movie ever. I have never been to a crowded theater that has laughed from beginning to end before. That was an experience all itself.

Now the bad news...rather crude. What should I have expected from Judd Apatow, the brain behind Knocked up, and Superbad? Granted since this was directed by someone different and written by someone different, there were far fewer site gags, and more situational comedy. Ultimately, I think that is why I found this movie so hilarious. I admit, I have seen Superbad and Knocked up (not two of my proudest moments of movie going) and found them humorous. Forgetting Sarah Marshal is comedic genius.

If you don't know what the movie is about...it centers on a musician that gets dumped by a super hot actress. To escape and forget about her, he goes to her favorite location (Hawaii) and more importantly her favorite hotel (Turtle Bay Resort). Like that was smart! Predictably, as he is checking into the hotel, being helped by uber gorgeous Mila Kunis (That 70's Show) in walks Sarah and her new flame.

The movie follows him around as he runs into her, makes friends with characters that can't even be explained, only watched and finally attempts a relationship with hot hotel girl.

The knitty gritty of the crudity of the movie can be summed up as thus: 5 - 7 totally hilarious and unfcomfortable penis shots. You can predict when they are going to happen, so if don't want to see it (I don't blame you) you can avert your eyes. Other than that there was swearing, but the swearing wasn't over the top (like anything from Scorsese or Tarantino). If you can manage the things I have mentioned, you won't regret seeing this movie.

Funniest movie EVER!

cah

Run, FatBoy, Run

2008-04-16T04:31:00.000-07:00

--PG-13-- Raise your hand if you thought David Schwimmer (Ross from Friends) would direct a successful British Romantic Comedy. Okay now raise your hand if you thought Schwimmer would make a film starring writer/actor Simon Pegg. Thought so...

Pegg, the star of films Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz makes a legitimate statement in his first leading role in a straight film. Admittedly when I watched the previews for Run, Fatboy, Run I was certain it was going to be another farce. Clearly I was wrong, because Fatboy is a very kindhearted endearing film.

The movie begins at the wedding of Dennis (Pegg) and Libby (Thandie Newton), it quickly becomes apparent that Dennis is struggling with his decision to marry the woman of his dreams (who happens to be pregnant as well) and is last seen by many to be running as fast as he can away from the chapel, the wedding and his beloved Libby. Next thing we know, several years have passed and Dennis has become a hapless, out of shape, beer-belly toting, lingerie shop security guard. Trust me it is more bleak than even that description implies.

Dennis is sad and has never recovered from leaving Libby at the alter so he decides to make a drastic change in his life and in a misguided attempt to win her back, Dennis decides to compete in a marathon against her new Beau. A nice guy that is in impeccable shape and with minimal effort makes Dennis look really bad. Which is why it is such a great moment when you notice he is completely frustrated with the fact that Dennis seems to still have some kind of appeal to his jilted ex-fiance that also happens to be his babies momma.

I hope you followed that, if not reread it...anyway that is the basic story line of Fatboy. Schwimmer does an amazing job, especially when you consider the fact that British humor is decidedly different than American. Pegg does an admirable job as the depressed and love hungry Dennis. Newton gives an endearing turn as the still smitten jilted ex-fiance.

All in all I think just about everyone would enjoy this heart-warming, underdog tale with an undertone of forgiveness.

cah

Stop-Loss

2008-04-16T00:51:00.003-07:00

--R-- This movie has come and left many theaters already, and to be honest that is a shame.

Stop-Loss is a movie about an obscure contractual clause in the armed forces paperwork. Apparently in a time of war, the military can decide to re-deploy men or women after they are supposed to be getting out of the military. This of course comes as a shock to Staff Sgt. King (Ryan Phillipe) as he arrives home expecting to be relieved of his command. While there are a couple sub-plots running throughout, including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder the bulk of the movie is about King and his decision to AWOL from duty and seek help in legally breaking his military contract.

What was so fascinating about the film was the subject matter, something I had never heard of before and how writer/director Kimberly Price decided to intertwine current scenes with hand-held recordings of King's unit in Iraq. It was fascinating to see the camaraderie and dynamic of the unit in Iraq compared to how they reacted and interacted to being State side.

Price made a thought provoking, visually masterful...predictable film. Without going so far as to give the ending away, I will state that it is not a surprise and to be honest a bit of a let down after the political and personal struggle Staff Sgt. King goes through.

Overall, the film was above average and worthy of receiving far more attention than it got. The acting was superb (save for pretty boy Channing Tatum), the directing was good and the story intriguing. Definitely a worthy rental if you missed it in the theaters.

cah

Leatherheads

2008-04-07T00:24:00.007-07:00

--PG-13-- Clooney followed a well established path in making this film. Most people won't recognize that because they haven't watched film from yesteryear. I have, and know that the witty dialogue and quick banter is a style that was used in the fifties, and brought to modern day audiences by the Cohen Brothers early work Hudsucker Proxy.

I dare say that most people haven't seen Hudsucker and therefore will think that Clooney was original and creative in making Leatherheads. Obviously I disagree with that assertion.

That being said Clooney and company did a wonderfully pleasant job in making this film. I may be stretching here but I think most football fans would love to see a movie about the early years of professional football. In addition to the sports aspect the aforementioned witty dialogue, coupled with engaging stars like Clooney, Zellweger and Krasinski you find that Leatherheads is quite enjoyable, albeit a bit uneven.

The overwhelming feeling that you take from this film is the fact that when it is funny it is some of the most laugh out loud hilarity I have seen since...honestly I don't have a comedy to compare it to. Mainly, because this film isn't low-brow, slapstick, or potty humor: It is smart! Something that most film goers aren't use to seeing in today's dumbing down of audiences with films such as; Austen Powers, Waterboy, Anchorman and more notably the Farrely brothers films beginning with There's Something About Mary. No this film is different...in a decidedly good way.

Now the flip side is, when the dramatic scenes begin they are extremely slow and come close to the border of boredom. We are talking about Dances With Wolves boredom.

Overall, the funny and humorous scenes overwhelm that feeling of boredom. The movie starts funny and ends funny, you just will have to endure 20 minutes scattered throughout the film of its nearly 2 hour runtime in restful sleep.

cah

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

2007-12-29T02:05:00.000-08:00

--R-- Tim Burton and Johnny Depp's best collaboration since Ed Wood.

Benjamin Barker (Depp) was wrongfully imprisoned due to the jealousy of a powerful Aristocrat known as Judge Turpin (Alan Rickman). After 15 years Barker returns with a new moniker Sweeney Todd. With the aid of Mrs. Lovett (Helena Bonham Carter) Todd resumes his career as a barber with the hope of taking his revenge upon Turpin. Whether he succeeds or not and what happens in between you are just going to have to see the movie.

It is a mark in a good direction that I enjoyed this film considering it is foremost a musical. Now I hate musicals and quite frankly wouldn't give any other musical as glowing an endorsement as this.

Bonham Carter is at the top of her game, but let us be honest is she ever off? Depp is superb and it was fun to see him as a character other than the over-rated Jack Sparrow concoction. Now my only complaint is the blood. This movie didn't need to be rated R, if Burton had cut out the blood splatter this movie would have been more family friendly and would make more money.

I don't understand the reasoning of releasing a film during the Holiday season if it isn't either hands down an Oscar caliber film or family friendly. Sweeney Todd is neither, it may garner some Oscar attention and maybe even a nod or two but it really doesn't deserve it other than for set and costuming...maybe. Anyway Burton should have cut down on the blood and made this a more accessible film that could be enjoyed by all.

cah

Juno

2007-12-29T01:39:00.000-08:00

--PG-13-- This movie is a perfect example of what is wrong with the rating system of America. While technically there is no F... words, no violence, no nudity or sex (the tell tale reasons for an R rating), this movie is of decidedly adult material and should not be seen by anyone of younger than adulthood.

That said; Juno is a sweet, fun, quirky film that exemplifies what a slice of life film should be. Juno Macguff is an outcast that is smarter and far more mature than your average 16 year old. The film begins with Juno taking her third pregnancy test refusing to believe that she is indeed pregnant. I mean after all she only had sex once and only did it because she was bored...and did it with her best friend Bleeker.

Now, Bleeker unlike Juno (that while she is an outcast is one of those people that doesn't care and in fact flourishes in her uniqueness), Bleeker is odd, geeky and as far as Juno is concerned the coolest guy she knows. Anyway I digress, Juno is a story about a teenage girl's pregnancy, the decisions she makes and how she grows into an even more mature and unique individual that realizes...oh well you have to see it to find out what she discovers about herself and life.

Once again Juno is a superb film, one that I recommend to anyone that can handle adult situations, because even though this film is about teenagers and received the rating of PG-13 the dialogue and situations call for a far more mature mindset.

cah

3:10 To Yuma

2007-09-20T20:30:00.000-07:00

--R-- A Western film that was good...something that is not very common in this day and age. In my lifetime I can count on one hand quality Westerns. They are in no particular order Young Guns, Unforgiven, Silverado and now 3:10 To Yuma. There are few stars that can match both Russel Crowe and Christain Bale as tough guys and to have them both sharing the spotlight in this movie was a joy to watch.

This movie is a remake, I haven't seen the original but if it was anywhere near as good as this one I should probably rent it. Everything about this movie both technically and artistically is superb, I have no complaints, and for me that is saying something.

Last and certainly not least we have the R rating. I know that there are several of my readers that don't see R rated films, and to them I say that this is one of those rare movies that has this rating for the sole reason to draw in bigger crowds. A film with sparse foul language, no nudity and truth be told very little blood and blood splatter. If you wanted to see this movie and were scared away by the rating, trust me and don't let it stop you, it is a film that won't leave you feeling dirty.

cah

Stardust

2007-08-15T17:12:00.001-07:00

--PG-13-- I don't like Claire Danes, in fact I dislike her enough to skip out on most films that she does. This is a personal thing, much like my dislike of Jodie Foster. I can't explain it, I just do not like either of them. This dislike prevents me from watching movies that I have moderate interest in, however when a film comes out that intrigues me I will see it regardless of who is in it. Stardust is one of these films.

Stardust is a fun lighthearted fantasy romance about a young poor boy named Tristan trying to win the heart of a beautiful rich girl. A simple enough plot-line and truth be told nothing new. The story is much richer and filled with wonder, magic and awe. Rarely can someone be equally impressed with the acting, directing, cinematography, screenplay and special effects. Lord of the Rings is really the only other fantasy films that I was so equally impressed with all the above mentioned attributes.

Now, Stardust is not Lord of the Rings and won't come close to winning any Oscars, but for what it is, it is perfect. As always with most great films it isn't the plot that makes it so, it is the acting, directing and story. Stardust has all three in spades and is fun for all to see.

cah

Day Watch (Dnevnoy dozor)

2007-06-15T11:38:00.000-07:00

--R--Much like the first film (Night Watch) Day Watch (the second film in a trilogy) has style with the camera placement as well as the camera angles, and mood with the excellent dark and light contrast utilizing shadows, in addition the fast paced melancholic demeanor of the supernaturally inclined guardspeople of mankind is done superbly.

Now I admit when watching a well done foreign film I am always eagor to say that it is one of the better films of the year. The reason for this is mainly because the "Hollywood Machine" does whatever they can to make money and most foreign films won't even make it to our shores if it isn't at the very least a commercial success in its native land. I do however feel that most foreign films are also far superior to our local fair visually, as well as with direction and depth.

Day Watch is no exception to my general rule about foreign films. It was very well done and I enjoyed it immensely. The only thing that I can say negatively about Day Watch is that it doesn't stand on its own. If you haven't seen the first one, you will most likely leave the theater a bit confused. On the bright side Night Watch was everybit as good as Day Watch so make it a double feature and enjoy.

cah

Mr. Brooks

2007-06-04T17:01:00.000-07:00

--R-- It has been a while since Kevin Costner has done anything worthy of note and the only reason that this one is of note is mainly due to the fact that it was fun watching him play a bad guy.

Like most Anti-Hero films this one focused on Costner's Mr. Brooks and humanized him, making him likable even though he was simply a serial-killer...okay an exceptional serial-killer, but a serial killer none-the-less. Unlike most Anti-Hero films this one made justifications for why Brooks killed. That is why I didn't enjoy this one nearly as much as another Anti-Hero film like Payback, perhaps one of the best of its genre in recent memory. A film in which there was no excuses made, and no justifications to why he was bad...he just was.

In all, I did enjoy this film due to the cinematography, the directing, the acting with special attention to William Hurt (whom played a character that did more than simply add to Brooks' psychosis) who I have never seen give a sub-par performance (yes...including Lost In Space) and relished in the end as Mr. Brooks got a creepy and elegant punishment for his crimes.

cah

Pirates Of The Caribean: At Worlds End

2007-05-26T16:08:00.000-07:00

--PG-13-- Much like the Spiderman and X-Men series there are those that are going to see this movie because of what it is, regardless of the quality of film.

The problem with the Pirates series is that after the success of the first one the writers and directors tried too hard to make these movies more than what they are. Curse of the Black Pearl was strictly a popcorn adventure film that garnered way too much attention for its quality. Gore Verbinskey would have been better off sticking to the formula of the original as opposed to trying to make an oscar worthy film. Much like Dead Mans Chest, At Worlds End's only redeeming quality was Johnny Depp. At Worlds End like Dead Mans Chest was long, convoluted and took itself far too seriously to be good.

At Worlds End is going to make a ton of money and it has nothing to do with the quality of this movie; because this movie sucked!

cah

28 Weeks Later

2007-05-18T12:47:00.000-07:00

--R-- Recapturing the tense and creepy mood of 28 Days Later would have made this movie good, however the director failed and instead managed to create a second rate zombie film. The first 20 minutes of 28 Weeks was exactly like 28 Days and that was very well done and excellent film making. Following that preface to 28 Weeks the movie quickly descends to a mediocre formulaic film that failed to impress.

I don't like giving away too much in these reviews so please forgive this bit of information. The way the virus was brought back was a major reach in plot and how the virus seemed to affect one individual differently than the rest of the infected was laughable. The sole individual infected "differently" had focus and a calmness that when watched cheapened the movie and the "rage" virus. Making the individual appear more like an intelligent hunter doped up on amphetamines rather than the crazed out rage infected zombies that the rest were.

This kind of "mutation" in the virus would have been understandable if all were affected this way, but as I previously said it only affected one person this way and therefore while the reaches in plot points may be forgiven the mutated virus infection was not. Making this a poor follow up to the phenomenal 28 Days Later.

cah

Spiderman 3

2007-05-09T02:42:00.000-07:00

--PG-13-- Most everyone I talked to prior to my seeing this movie felt that it was too long and not as good as the previous 2. So when I embarked to see it I had very little expectations, and in fact fully anticipated being bored and disappointed. Since my mindset was such I found that I fully enjoyed Spiderman 3, I wasn't expecting a great film like Spiderman 2 so I was able to sit back and just be entertained. On this regard the movie was very successful.

Now, while yes there are a few boring parts all in all this was a fun and enjoyable film. I challenge all that went to see Spiderman 3 in hopes of getting a fun and good story like in Spidey 2 to see 3 again for what it is, not what you wanted it to be. The special effects, the fighting sequences and even the cheese factor were all entertaining. In fact I felt that this was probably closer to what the comics really are as opposed to the serious nature of which 1 and 2 were.

As a side note I just want to give a shout out to Bruce Campbell, does anyone play over-the-top characters better. I love that Sam Raimi has put him in all 3. Now that they have signed to make at least 3 more in this franchise I hope they keep the entertainment value up and the cast intact.

cah

Vacancy

2007-05-06T16:14:00.000-07:00

--R-- During the first 15 to 20 minutes of the movie, the director establishes his characters mindsets and relationship. During this time I was bored and felt the movie would not be able to bounce back from such a hum-drum start. I was wrong!

Once the Fox's (Beckinsale and Wilson) start to settle down for the night, their "neighbors" start harassing them with phone call hang-ups and banging. At this point the movie becomes a better than average horror flick. What makes it so different from most other horror movies is that the prey don't make all the cliched mistakes. They remain calm and level headed enough to think and plot plausible escape options. For instance: In one scene Beckinsale falls asleep due to the medications she is taking and awakes to find her husband studying the snuff films featuring the previous rooms tenants. He was studying them looking for mistakes the killers may have made in the past or routines they follow. The purpose of course was to find a way out of this horrifying situation. Something most characters in horror movies would not even think of doing. This was just one example of what made this movie terrifyingly intense as opposed to an almost comical slasher flick.

All in all Vacancy is a solid Horror movie that will keep you on the edge of your seat and entertained throughout.

cah

The Invisible

2007-05-01T15:53:00.000-07:00

--PG-13--The Invisible is a more sinister and less enjoyable version of Just Like Heaven which starred Mark Ruffalo and Reese Witherspoon.

The acting and pacing of this movie was off and I couldn't shake the impression that the whole thing was a dream. Everyone in the film seemed to be walking around in a daze, and if it was intentional it was a mistake because I was bored and uninspired by its lack of originality and taste. Marcia Gay Harden who typically does good work was abysmal, the star Justin Chatwin was boring and lacked screen presence. The only aspect of The Invisible that I enjoyed was the young up and comer Margarita Levieva who starred in the short lived series Vanished. While her acting wasn't amazing she at least has screen presence and a magnetism that makes you want to watch her.

cah

Hot Fuzz

2007-04-26T13:59:00.000-07:00

--R-- Hot Fuzz was an uneven film. It started out well providing a quick synopsis of who Nicholas Angel (Simon Pegg) is and in so doing painted a portrait of an almost super human police officer. The synopsis is quite funny and immediately following we are provided with a perfect portrayel of a man betrayed and downtrodden.

After the synopsis the movie is slow for the next hour. While there are several funny scenes amidst the slow down you the viewer will not escape the feeling of boredom. During this slower portion of the film it is however important because you are shown how maddening it must be and genuinely feel for him as an individual as he slowly descends onto the edge of insanity.

Right when you are as bored as you think possible (in a comedy) the truth unfolds and Angel comes back Commando style to claim victory over the town. This is the point when the movie takes on new life and you understand why the Brit's found it so funny. The next 30 minutes are non-stop action and comedy making the aforementioned boredom worthwhile.

If you liked Shaun of the Dead you will like Hot Fuzz. As typical with British cinema there is an inordinate amount of expletives, and if you know that you don't like British humor don't see this film, but if you do...you won't regret it.

cah

Fracture

2007-04-21T22:37:00.000-07:00

--R-- There isn't much to say about this film so this is going to be short.

Anthony Hopkins playing the alleged murderer Ted Crawford as always did an admirable job, Ryan Gosling as ADA Willy Beachum did an adequate job. Gosling's whole problem was the eyes; he was playing an intense, anal retentive individual that was driven to be as perfect as he could be in every way. Throughout the film his eyes were distant, empty, some would say soulful...anything but intense, that fact bothered me throughout the movie.

In addition, within 10 minutes it was obvious what Crawford was doing and how he was going to get himself away with the murder of his wife. Furthermore, Crawford was a highly intelligent and very meticulous individual, how he didn't recognize the flaw in thinking about his double jeopardy notion confounds me. It was totally out of character for him and didn't make sense.

On the whole the movie was enjoyable and hard to watch in all the right places, it just fell a little flat for me, especially considering the remarkable leading cast it employed.

cah

Grindhouse

2007-04-17T14:43:00.000-07:00

--R-- I went to see this movie to find out what Grindhouse theaters really were. My conclusion...just what I thought they were: B movies! I can appreciate the homage in which both Tarantino and Rodriguez were attempting, especially since I am sure there is a mass audience that has never before seen a B movie, gone to a "grindhouse" theater or to the drive-in to experience this kind of movie making. I just don't think they succeeded. To have succeeded in bringing back what the Grindhouse is suppose to be they shouldn't have taken the movie so seriously. In fact if you want to see a B movie with A-list actors watch Rodriguez's From Dusk 'Till Dawn. Save for the grainy film and missing reels that movie nailed what B movies are; far better than either of these films did.

Planet Terror

With Planet Terror what Rodriguez accomplished (save for the gratuitous blood splatter) was just a overpriced and over-hyped film. If we were suppose to be taken back to this cultish era of film we weren't. I mean the acting wasn't awful and cheesy, the cinematography was quite good, and the zombie story was actually fun and interesting. I was entertained without being annoyed. Simply put...I enjoyed it, but not enough to even consider seeing it again.

Death Proof

Death Proof, the second half of the "double-feature" directed by Tarantino didn't even have the typical cheesy feel of a B film at all. The main problem with it was the first 15 minutes. Those 15 minutes were torture and I was seriously contemplating getting up and walking out of a film for only the second time in my life. Thankfully I didn't. Once they introduced Kurt Russell's character the movie took on new life. In fact during the second portion of Death Proof it was quite good. I enjoyed the car chases, the dialogue was witty and the switch from hunter to hunted was worth the price of admission alone.

I can't recommend this movie to anyone, mainly because I don't think anyone I know would enjoy this unique twin bill, however if you would like to pay full price to see the last 45 minutes of the three hour film; feel free. In fact those 45 minutes was for me worth the torture of the first two and a quarter hours, but I only payed a few bucks at the early bird special to see it.

cah

Disturbia

2007-04-16T12:27:00.000-07:00

--PG-13-- Let us be clear about this, I don't particularly like the title and making a movie that so closely resembles a masterpiece like Hitchcock's Rear Window...usually is a big mistake, and yes here comes the obvious but, in this case it wasn't. Director D.J. Caruso kept the film within itself, never trying to make it something it isn't. That is one of the reasons Disturbia is a fun, creepy paranoid driven thriller.

Young Shia LaBeouf is continuing to build his resume of solid work by playing the guilt ridden lead character Kale. David Morse the object of Kale's paranoia fuels that feeling by playing a character that can only be described as CREEPY! The rest of the cast does an adequate job and don't really do anything to add to or take away from the film.

What I really like about this movie is that even though the cast is dominated by teenagers you never get the feeling that this is another stupid teeny bopper wanna be thriller. It is a legitimate thriller that all ages above 13 can enjoy.

cah

The Pathfinder

2007-04-14T18:10:00.000-07:00

--R-- When I first saw the trailer for Pathfinder I wasn't all that impressed, but thought it looked fun enough to warrant my attendance. Boy was I wrong! The only thing that was worth while in this movie was the scenery. Now, I don't know where they filmed Pathfinder but the snow covered mountains in the rich dense forests off an ocean coast was breathtaking. Other than that the acting was atrocious, the story weak, and watching another movie about a peaceful Native American society ravaged by the big bad Europeans has gotten a tad annoying.

The worst thing about this movie is I was expecting a good action flick (in fact it was the only reason I went to see it), and even the action fell well short of what it needed. The action sequences were abbreviated at best, and focused far too much on the main characters facial expression as he was killing the destructive Viking invaders. The director tried to compensate for this by giving us brief glimpses of gore and blood splatter, this again did little to make this movie worth watching.

So...to wrap this up don't waste your money, and the time being spent to watch this movie would be better served if you took a nap.

cah

300

2007-04-12T16:34:00.000-07:00

--R--The most important thing to note about this film is that it is not a comic book movie. It is however a graphic novel adapted to film. Is there a difference? In layman terms, yes...a comic book is typically portrayed as a caricatured version of reality, where as graphic novels are far darker and more of an anthology. So when adapting graphic novels to film they have to be taken more seriously than your standard comic book movie. The most notable comic book adaptations are probably either the Spiderman series or Batman Begins. The most notable graphic novel films would be Sin City, Road to Perdition and now 300.

300 is a flawless masterpiece! From start to finish you find seamless editing, striking costumes, as well as superb acting and many other remarkable assets. While 300 bills itself as an action film (which it is) it is also far more than that. With each significant role, you find that they all have a rich meaningful back-story which adds depth and color to these characters lives and the part they play in the battle against a Persian Emperor touting himself as a God. Whether the 300 strong Spartans survive or not doesn't matter, you understand their plight and the importance of their stance against corrupt politicians, tainted prognosticators and a maniacal emperor hell bent on world domination.

Is this movie going to win the Oscar for best picture? No, but this movie wasn't made to that end. A film like this is made to make money for its financial backers and by its director for the artisctic wonder of which it is.

cah

The Lookout

2007-04-08T02:43:00.000-07:00

--R--The Lookout brings a new and fresh look at a heist film that beautifully intertwines the intricacies of psychological drama wrapped around the mental disabilities of a once gifted and beloved individual. Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays the titular character; a young man born into privilege and wealth as well as a gifted athlete who crashes his car into a broken down combine while trying to impress his girlfriend. This tragic accident kills two friends maims another and causes severe brain damage to Levitt's character Chris. This injury causes Chris to lead a life that is mundane and depressing, especially when compared to his previous existence.
Before I reveal too much of this magnificent film I would like to point out the surprisingly good acting by Jeff Daniels (Chris' blind best-friend), and Levitt's ever increasingly solid work is just a little of what makes this film worth watching. Not to mention that the cinematography, acting, directing and writing all combine to make this movie a potentially surprising film, especially come awards season.

cah

Blades of Glory

2007-04-08T01:19:00.000-07:00

--PG-13--While watching this movie I knew that Will Ferrell wasn't acting any different than he does in all of his roles (save for Stranger Than Fiction) and that Jon Heder found another way to play the quirky weird character. Yes, while watching this movie I knew those things...they simply did not matter. As illogical as this film was, and as impossible some of the maneuvers they performed on ice were I was able to laugh from the moment the movie started to the second it ended.
Admittedly, I found the whole movie eerily similar to The Cutting Edge which was another pairs ice skating movie (that starred Moira Kelley and DB Sweeney). Even with the similarity to Edge and the creepiness of the premise, as I previously stated the faults that lay
in this movie are easily overshadowed by the hilarity of it's two stars, not to mention the excellent job of it's supporting cast. Jon Heder with his morality stance keeps the movie cleaner than any other Ferrell movie and not surprisingly the movie doesn't suffer from the lack of vulgarity.

cah

the one that explains it all

2007-04-07T21:30:00.000-07:00

For a brief time in my scholastic endeavors I entertained the idea of becoming a film critic. After a semester or two I altered my major to behavioral science. Anyway...after I changed my mind about pursuing a career as a film critic I was talking to a friend that recommended I continue with my passion and publish my reviews on a blog. I have however decided to forgo publishing a full review and decided to focus more on a simple straight forward opinion about each film that I have seen. To make this easy for me and everyone else that might find their way to this page I will start from scratch and only comment about movies that I see in the future. If there is a film that anyone would like me to express my opinion on feel free to email me and tell me the movie. My goal is to have a written opinion about every movie I have ever seen. Since I have seen thousands of movies in my life this will be a momentous undertaking since I am starting from scratch. Happy reading and I hope my opinions fall on open minds.