Given that this is a Review forum without any topics about reviews I thought I'd start one up. So if you write reviews (and this doesn't include things like "This wuz gr8t" it should be actual coherent sentences) post here to discuss things like writing styles, offer encouragement/constructive criticism or just advertise your work. I realise that there's a wide range of tastes and ages so hopefully it should prove of interest to people here.
Good thread, one like this should have been started up ages ago. With a thread like this we can clearly draw the line between the dunces and the coherent people.
I may as well get the ball rolling:
The Shawshank Redemption
"Quite simply - a masterpiece. The Shawshank Redemption is a film of rawness, showcasing raw brutality, raw remorse, and raw emotion that reaches inside and strikes a chord through every member of the audience. This is a film that holds contradictions in itself where it holds a formula so alien, yet so familiar, and yet manages to transcend film and make this a true visual and emotional experience. The prison walls act not only as a barrier from the inmates escaping to us, but also us escaping to them, and this is a theme that hits very soundly throughout the picture where hope is a lost ingredient in the minds of men who become institutionalised by their surroundings. The metaphors of this film reverberate through each scene where simple lines of dialogue taken for colloquial language mean much more than first impressions imply and through this an added layer of depth is conveyed through this picture. The acting and interaction of this piece are sublime, they truly are, and it is this that gives the film the added sense on integrity, of something that draws you into the ongoing preceedings. With a plot that encompasses a true insight into those we see as bad, who in contrast to the guards, the protectors, are actually good, and combining it with mind contorting lessons of morality and hope, we are given a film that truly must be seen to be believed."
Thanks Shortcartoonist for the post shame no one else's picked up on this thread. Since I started writing these "reviews" I've gained a new appreciation for professional writers because summing up a film in a few paragraphs is bloody hard work!
Butterfly Effect-Drama/Thriller
This film poses the question; if you change your (memories) of the past can you alter the future? Darkly disturbing themes of sexual child abuse and mal-adjusted sociopathic behaviors, this movie is not for the faint of heart. While dabbling in cause and effect, it never really delves into digital vs. analogue algorithms or chaos theories of which, I gathered the title and the basis that the movie derived from. Probably a good thing as it would have required viewing a prequel to get us up to speed.
Kutcher plays the part of a twenty –something prodigal son who suffers from a mental illness akin to repressive memory syndrome. Having plagued him throughout his childhood, his adult recollections of his past is riddles with holes due to “black outs”.
As a result he has no idea why his childhood friends are as messed up as they are.
Journals that he kept since childhood are his only keys to unlocking the past and correcting the one big mistake, (of many) to make things right. Only problem is which one? Given the opportunity to re-write history several times he finds that the best course of action is the old saying: “you have to be cruel to be kind”, lending a new twist to the not so happy ending.
Personal notes: An intriguing film that throws a bit of the bizarre right in your face and asks you to suspend belief momentarily to reduce the tedium with a touch of ironic and tragic romanticism.
Just put a review up for Bergman's The Silence (which is a fantastic film by the way) and currently working on some others.
Trying to get a balance is difficult with these short reviews and it's still one which I haven't mastered. Anyone care to offer constructive feedback on my reviews? Too short? Too long? Shit?....
I've actually been working really hard lately on my own review site. It's called Movie Patron.
You can check it out if you like real movie reviews. I've actually hired a couple of people I've met on Flixster (including Lemmy) to write some reviews for the site that I didn't have time (or money) to see.
Anyway, check out the site and let me know what you think. I even started a forum in the past couple weeks, so check that out too. But don't ever forsake Flixster though, it's my home away from home!
Arthur in the service of the Roman Empire has been given the task of holding the isle of Brittan. Having done so for 15 years, with his rag tag band of knights their terms of service are about to be met after one final mission (in actuality it’s one more than expected). The Saxons are invading and Rome doesn’t intend to resist only to loose face as well as Brittan. So, Arthur is sent to evacuate a high priest and his son and escort them back.
What he finds is his future wife and a corruption of power that will inevitably shatter his rose-colored vision of Rome. Torn between duty and honor Brittan finds a new king
That’s the nuts & bolts of it. Good production values and great character development.
I found myself, actually liking the Norseman leader and Gweniver (can’t spell) is a bit of a bad ass, quite befitting such a legendary king. With the exception of how Merlin was portrayed, it almost ranks with Excalibur.
This movie intelligently delivers a new spin on an old tail. Given the anti Christian sentiments it’s no wonder the critics slammed it, in this political climate (US Bush administration), unjustly so.
X-Men the Last Stand
(Warning spoilers)
Mutant kind faces its biggest challenge yet. Now the anti mutant powers that be have the ultimate weapon… “A cure”. Top that off with the return of Jean Grey only to be an unwilling host to the phoenix, an other worldly entity who seeks to sate its own lust for destruction, who just so happens to align itself with Magnus and his army, of which are bent on mutant liberation by any means necessary. The X-Men face many tragedies with the loss of several members, one by choice. But in the end all is well as the credits roll hinting toward a not so dead Xavier.
This last installment had some pretty cool surprises with the introduction of Shadow Cat, Beast (Kelsey Grammar of all people); Arch Angel, Colossus and the Jugernaught.
At the same time however it was in this fan boy’s opinion, equally the worst! I’ll tell you why. As by now we’ve grown to accept, that we’re not going to see the X-Men as we’ve come to read them. (I’m over it). Though I’ll never settle with their choice of Ice Man over Gambit! But, it’s the little things left out that make an adaptive work a movie lovers’ nightmare rather than a dream.
Colossus, fairly good CGs in his mutant form but, only to have his character speak in an American accent. (Minor irritation).
The Phoenix; who didn’t want to see a giant flaming bird on the big screen? What moron said, “I think some dark veins on her face would be cooler.”? (Minor irritation border-lining on rash!).
Jugernaught; now the whole premise behind the human’s anti mutant weaponry is solely based on an injection based formula extracted from another mutant, who’s abilities temporarily negate mutant abilities while in his presence. Ok I’ll by that even though it was left unexplained as to how they managed to make this serum posses permanent effects. But the Jugerenaughts’ abilities are not mutant in origin. So least they could have done was fill the viewers in on this little change over. (Major oversight.)
Though with all the wrong it was as usual the effect were great, the motivational differences between Xavier and Magneto were well portrayed. And Halley Berry was the cutest I’ve ever seen her! Some serious bed head potential.
Guy Ritchie, following the same vein as Lock, Stock, & 2 Smoking Barrels, uses similar story telling techniques. This English gangster flick is hot! American viewers might miss many of the cultural quips that riddle the script, but you can tell the writers really had fun with this one.
Snatch is really about a diamond that wrongfully finds its way into many hands. But the story that unravels is the rise and fall of several interested criminal elements, all of which become intertwined in a complex and hilarious crime capper.
Now that I think about it they could have called it Fight Club 2. Watch it; you’ll see what I mean.
For my review of 'Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest', please go here:
http://thethicket.livejournal.com/14315.html
Here's the first two paragraphs:
Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl was a groundbreaking movie. With a phenomenal script, innovative direction and art direction, and (let's face it) some of the best actors on the planet, how in the world could a sequel live up to its predecessor?
Well, to be frank, it cannot.
This is not to say that Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest was not an excellent film. It was. It still had the lively spark, the salt of a good seafaring tale, and, of course, the always-incredible Johnny. However, the sea-wet sheen that covered the first movie is starting to dry...
Excellent, been looking for a thread like this. I'm tired of finding "roll the dice" users with a high number of movie comments, only to find half of them are "OMG TO FUNNAY" and "I WAS TEH SCARED"
Mean creek is a great movie , Let me tell you why. It is filled with tension and true emotion and leaves you feeling like you just got punched in the stomach.
Mean creek tells the story of A young boy named Sam who is constantly beat up and taunted by a lonely boy named George. After Sam is beatin by George Sam and His brother Rocky and Rocky's friends devise a plan to get back at George. They also bring along Sam's girlfriend.
They're prank involves a boat on a river. But after the Prank goes Awry they must deal with the consiquences.
This movie hit me hard when I first saw it. And had me stunned as the end credits rolled.
The dialougue is gritty and real.
But don't get me wrong this movie does have flaws. But not too many I highly reccommend it.
Hey kays27 that one sounds cool.
Another hard hitter is "Once Were Warriors"
An Austrailian family is torn apart by socail inequities, alchohal and physical abuse.
So, you’re a vampire. In your human life you had been subject to medical experimentation, during which you’re pregnancy had been aborted buy scientists,
Who are trying to make the blood disorder work in their favor. (Sound like a pharmaceutical company you know?) Now you’re a suck head with only days left to live... What do you do?
Steal the mortals’ latest weapon espionage style…Duh.
It was a geeks’ wet dream, it had everything! High tech toys, nifty action scenes, A HOT chick (sorta')and vampires! And still it fell on par with suck.
I still want the bike though.
Pulp Fiction - This is my favourite movie of all time. It has everything a movie should and more. Fantastic acting, directing, screenplay and greatly developed characters. I am an massive fan of Quentin Tarantino and he certainly delivers here. The movie contains some of the most memorable moments in movie history including the Ezekiel 25:17 speech given by Jules Winnfield played by the amazing Samuel L. Jackson and the well known Royale with Cheese quote. The cast of this movie is utterly fantastic and they work together like no other cast I have ever seen. You haven't lived if you haven't seen Pulp Fiction and I suggest you definetly do if you haven't already. This movie is in my opinion the greatest movie in history it would be lost without it.
I completely agree with the above statement. Pulp Fiction rules. The only film with the chance to overthrow it is the original Star Wars. Episode IV: A New Hope.
A Scanner Darkly - An absolutely phenominal film. It is a mind-blowing film that I couldn't take my eyes off. I was absolutely glued to the screen from start to finish, not wanting to miss a moment. Keanu Reeves gives a great performance as Fred aka Bob who is addicted to Substance D and who is sent by the police (unbeknown to themselves) to take down himself. The movie contains a very interesting, and original idea of a suit which changes what you percieve someone to look like every second. Reeves is supported superbly by the rest of the cast, who do steal the show from him a bit. Robert Downey Jr is amazing, with his quirky, sarcastic comments. Woody Harrelson is also quite something with his paranoid and angry performance. One of my favourite performances came from Freck, played by Rory Cochrane. His paranoid, drug addict character kept me absolutely entertained even though he didn't speak a lot. Winona Ryder was supringly good but not nearly as good as the rest and she was made out to be more of a main character than she was. As a whole the film is the most original, spectacular take on an idea and graphic novel and is certainly one of the best movies I have seen in a long time.
We go to the movies to be entertained. Some of us like to laugh. Some of us enjoy a nice thrill. And some of us like a movie to wedge its way into our brains and stay there.
The Descent blends all of these qualities into a lumpy, inconsistent mass.
The best part of this movie is undoubtedly the first hour. Stiff dialouge is made better by wonderful acting talents, and the movie begins with one helluva bang before the audience is even ready for it. If only the film had maintained its course, perhaps we would've been presented with a delightful film: the best thriller since "Aliens". But, oh, no...
Phone Booth:
The latest movie I watched, and to describe it in one word; awesome.
It is original, has just enough funny elements to keep it from being depressing, and amazing acting. Colin Ferril (or however you spell his name) did a truly amazing job acting as an egotistical, lying publisist who's life is shaken apart by a phone call.
One interesting fact is that Phone Booth is shot almost entirely in one location--one street actually, but yet it still builds tention and captivates one's attention right to the end. This film is a masterpiece I would highly recommened.
