2008 Film Diary - Non 2008 Releases

Simply Heartbreaking. Fantastic Performances all around. It truly makes you understand the power of parenting. Everything wrong that happened in this film (which is based on a true story) could have been avoided with good or at least an attempt at parenting. Truly heartbreaking.

This is a near perfect film for me. Really loved it. This is the kind of hard sci-fi flick that is most important to me. The enormity of the dire situation and the sheer size and power that the sun is presented in gives great scope to this very atmospheric film. Great music as well. It's nice to see Cilliam Murphy in something other than the "bad guy" role for a change. Nice performances all around. If I really have to nit-pick the only thing that I didnt like was the film's minor dabbling in the "horr/slasher" genre for a brief period. It doesnt destroy the entire film, but probably could be a little less almost supernatural in its presentation. That overlooked this is definately one of the best sci-fi films out in a few years.

This is content over action, which is fine if the content is strong. The message was compellingly shared even if it was a little finger piointing and on the nose. A nice call to action, even if you might not agree with it.

Brilliant performance from Viggo Mortensen. I was simply blown away. Slow and fascinating, you simply become enthralled in the Russian culture that is Cronenberg is sharing with us. The Star tatto story is great. Very smart, powerful film. Great music by Howard Shore as well. Oustanding film.

Not the worst movie of 2007, but pretty damn close. Poorly executed to a massive degree, the basic idea at it's core could be a decent film if handled by the right person. It just reeks of amateur. The script itself is brain dead and needed a complete overhaul by someone with any kind of process of cohesion as this silly story dabbled in and out of the supernatural. Needless and moronic gore shots pollute the film as well.
To me, Lindsey Lohan is always likable in her films. This material is way beneath her abilities and seen mostly as an attempt to continue to distance herself from the "Disney" scene. I can just haer her saying with this film.. IM A GROWN UP NOW!! Apparently it takes her playing a Stripper to prove so. Saldy for Lindsey lovers her Stripping is a joke because apparently she is the ONLY stripper in the film that doesnt go topless. IF your gonna go this far show me show candy Lindsey, jeez.
And finally, Atrificial Limbs as "Spooky" is officially TIRED now. Moronic with a called M.

The real gem of this film is discovering Sienna Miller. Beautiful and smart she handles her role her with a lot of sass and depth. My main problem with the film itself is that that conversation doesnt feel real... it feels written. Handled well by Miller and Buscehi but still ultimately with a canned vibe. The cat and mouse game is fun, but it's difficult to follow since you never know what is real or bullshit. Nice ending. I will definately be interested to see where Miller's career goes. Was it me or was she trying to look exactly like Jessica Simpson?

simple perfection.

When it was over the only thing I could think to say is "Delightful Film". WOnderful performance by Ellen Page, who after this should have no trouble finding other great roles. Sweet movie, but the songs got on my nerves after a while.

An OK film with a totally unbelievable ending. Kind of a letdown. Crowe was great as usual. Nice Score.

Something felt like it was missing. Whereas Ricchard Shephard's previous film, THE MATADOR, nailed it with strong and fun characters this movie felt miscast or something. It felt like drinking a bottle of flat soda or bread thats a few days past it's expiration date. Not bad, but not good at all.

Maybe 2 laughs in the entire movie. A chore to sit through. Maybe the kids like it, but Shrek the 3rd doesnt even stand up to the previous one which sucked in comparison to the 1st. The law of diminishing return I guess. Im amazed that it made so much incredible bank. People really know how to throw their money away.

Hot Chicks, Bad Ass Kung Fu, Lots of Slow-Mo, WHats NOT to like. The definition of a Guilty Pleasure film that is smart enough to never take itself too seriously.

As a Time Travel/Sci-Fi fan I found this film very fun. Very touching at the end. Great film for the Family. Thanks for the recomendation, Wesley.

Absolute bottom of the barrel. Hideous. The WORST film of 2007 hands down. A chore to fight through.

What a fantastic suprise. Amazing animation. Loved the point of view shots. Laugh out loud funny. Seinfeld's script is golden. Really enjoyed this big time.

What an utterly amazing wretched piece of shit. They have actually managed to make a Alien film LESS appealing than Alien Ressurection. A chore to get through. Absolute garbage. Makes AVP1 look like a masterpiece. FOX you are a bunch of raging idiots.

WOW! Who knew Ben Affleck had this in him. It looks like an old pro directed this film. I'm stunned. An all around haunting film that will continue to ask you the question.. what is indeed better for the child? Fantastic performances all around.

Up until the last few minutes of the film I was simply transfixed. Beautiful, emotional, powerful on all counts. Fantastic and strange music score as well. Daniel Day-Lewis is simply amazing. Heartbreaking. and then BOOM.. the ending is confusing, feels oiut of place and awkward..BUT its also got me kind of floating in a sense of WTF was that? Still an amazing work from PTA.

Ya know....ZZZZzzzzzzzz..... whatever. It was fine. I see the point, I see why this is a critical darling of a film, but honestly I was bored. Wonderful performances, especially from Tom Wilkinson. Great "jam it up ya ass" ending was nice but couldnt pay me back for the haul of getting through the film. Nice film, just not for me.

The failure of this film is heartbreaking, especially since it has some true moments of brilliance in it. The use of music is strong and reminded me of Michael Mann's Manhunter. Erie, yet hauntingly beautiful. I quite enjoyed Costner in this role. The scenes where he silently prays to himself are powerful. The intteraction between Costner and William Hurt is simply fantastic and the real heart of the film. Somehow before the end that gets lost.
The failure of the film is due to " too much plot". There are nothing short of 4 seperate serial killers/wannabes in the film, not only making it unbelievalbe but also a little hokey. Can their be that many serial killers walking amongst us on a regular basis? Spread out over a longer time it might have been a little more believable. This would have worked better as a Mini-Series type of deal.. but then it would just be DEXTER (whihc is MUCHG better than this). Worst of all is the angle of following the Millionaire Cop Divorcee (Demi Moore) who is hunting multiple killers. Her plotline and character development take time away from the main plot of Mr. Brooks and sinks this ship. Demi Moore is also very mis-cast in this role. She in no way felt like a grizzled Manhunter and really just came off as an annoyance. AND we wasted time on chasing a completely other serial killer that was after her. I enjoyed the Father/Daughter relationship much more than the wasted time with Demi's character. MArk this one down as a big ol Coulda Been. To damn bad.

Nifty Polar Bears. Thats about all I can say for the big, expensive piece o' LAME.

A well made and Beautiful film (cinematography). I very much liked the perspective device used to keep us off guard and not know what is reality and what is.. something else. While the film attempts to make a big war statement it kind of feels a little empty around the middle not exactly knowing what the main point is. In the end it kind of just feels like a tragic romance chick flick.. but with very high standards. Its OK. Just OK. I'll forget it by tomorrow.

Fantastic Bio doc. on simple people with a dream to become famous. Sad yet heartwarming, the film follows these "actors" as they dress as superheros and pose with tourists for tips in front of Mann's Chinese Theater. Always inresting and endaering we follow these folks who, at the very least, have an optimisstic outlook on their quest for fame. Best of all, this Doc. just follows it's subjects and lets their world dictate the path of the film. It never tries to push any agenda, just that here are these unlikely and strange people moving through life in a way different than most of us. Christor Dennis (Superman) has slowly become a Hollywood Icon and as he says has, all of the Fame and none of the Fortune. Great Doc.

This was just great. Funny and charming across the board. Amy Adams is just GOLD in this.

What a raging, hideous, steaming pile of horse shit this thing was. Complete and utter New Age drivel. One of the supposed "experts" talking was RAMTHA (as channeled by this lady).. the spirit of RAMTHA was being "channeled" and passed off as an expert on the field of counsiciousness. HAHAHAH !!!!! This is one for the HATE LIST. WHat a fucking nightmare. I feel sad for people who buy into this waste of time. They might say that Im not "enlighted" enough to understand. HA. Ya I get it, and your NEW AGE fucking sad brainwashing bullshit vomitorium. Tell ya what.. you sit around and think happy thoughts, channel some spirits from another plane of existence while Im over here laughing at your moronic ass. SAD.

This film in all it's simplicity makes a major statement about the cost of dreaming big and hoping for more. Cast in the duel role of The DUPERS and the DUPED themselves are Pat Healy and Kene Holliday who simplu outstanding. At the heart of the film are these auditions sessions which I believe are of REAL people rather than actors auditioning with the hopes of scoring a record deal. Fi that is the cast then the process of making this film is simply brilliant to me. Heartbreaking, absorbing and powerful, you almost feel guilty as these guys almost unknowingly fleece the hopeful. A sad but true portrait, in the micro, of how the Entertainment Industry manipulates people into dreaming beyond the reality of there eathbound situations. IS American Idol any worse than The Great World of Sound Productions? Great Movie.

All these years and finally I watch this and am totally blown away. Hardcore sci-fi masterfully produced. Stupid me for waiting so long

The Matrix is this film's retarded half-breed 2nd Cousin. I can only imagine the Wachowski's horror when after all the time working on Matrix and then this film beats them to the punch. HA !!! It took the MAtrix 3 films to do what this one did in one...and Dark City did it much better.

Theres some goofy and silly shit in The Postman.. but DAMN if there isn't some VERY sweet spots in it as well. I saw it telegraphed a mile away but I couldnt fucking WAIT until he challenged for the leadership of the clan. That was such a massive machismo adrenaline pump.. I had my fucking hands in the air.. I was about to fucking pop it was so sweet..."Cry HAVOC!!!"
yea, yea, yea.. I know what problems the movie has.. fuck all that shit.. at its heart THE POSTMAN is fucking GREAT... in it's head it's corny/silly/goofy/over the top/self indulgent.
BUT Hey.. at least we know that Tom Pretty survived the Big War. "Hey.. I know you.. your famous".
AWESOME James Newton Howard score that was abused quite a bit to make moments a little more poingant than they actual might have been.. but of well.. movies do it all the time.
ME Likey.. but I KNOW I shouldnt :-)

Lightening strikes twice. Simply stunning work.

The greatest behind the scenes look at the process of creation. I can watch it over and over. Simply brilliant. Coppola is my Hero.

Holy SHIT!!! This film is brutal. I think this shows off Ellen Page's abilities much more than Juno did. She is fantastic in this psychologial revenge nightmare. Look out peophile sickos, Hayley is coming for you!!

Fantastic Doc. on a great subject. Seeing Yao Ming's first season in the NBA and in America is fascinating. The cultural shifts that plagued him in the beginning eventually gave way as he become a Worldwide phenom and "unofficial" Ambassador between the West and China. The most interesting part of the doc. is the relationship between Yao's young/rookie interpretor, Colin Pine, and himself. Setting up 2 young rookie's together was either a stroke of genius or a divine accident, either way it is the heart of the film. OF COURSE, it doesn't at all hurt that I live in Houston. I think this film works so well that it would even be of interest to Non NBA fans as well. Very Nice. YAO!

Meh. I had a few laughs and felt for the main character, but in the end it just felt kinda hollow. Did I miss something?

This dumb and predictable chick flick reminded me of how much I love Jennifer Garner. It's a sweet little romp but really just the chick version of BIG and it really only lives from Garner's charm and appeal. I miss you SYDNEY BRISTOW!!

A fun ride destroyed by totally absurdity. The Lost City of Gold inside of Mount....? You gotta be freaking kidding me. HAs potential but after a few head slap silly moments it starts to wear on you. Sadly though.. BETTER than Indy 4.

It's hard to find much "comedy" in this comedy. The role of Lyla was obviously written for Cameron Diaz and they just abused poor Malin Akerman as a surrogate. Anytime that Jerry Stiller and Carlos Mencia are on screen you want to bash your head with a frying pan. It had some fun moments, but very few. Michelle Monaghan is wonderful, as she always seems to be... but she's sadly wasted in this tepid affair. The only shinning moments were true "gross-out" Ferrelly Brother moments, which felt strangely out of place in this mainstream romantic comedy mess. Pretty lame effort all around.

WOW!! This film depicts everything that SICKENS me about Hollywood. Very true to life. Its like oyu just keep getting stabbed with a knife deeper and deeper everytime someone has "notes" or "concerns". Abravise and devastating this film truly says it all with an incredible wit. I cant imagine that Hollywood enjoys seeing films like this that hit very close to home and exposes them for the retarded frauds that they are.

This is a bucket load of STUPID. Really terrible film all the way around. I enjoy looking at DINA MEYER (Starship Troopers) but beyond that this movie offers nothing but head slap stupid moments. Ice-T looks ridiculous and he should be embarressed by this now. Robert Longo is a pretty hideous director as the acting was abyssmal across the board and his film grammar is complete ASS. The whole "cyber-punk" theme just looks ridiculous and is completely out of date as represented in this flick. It rarely gets more stupid than this flick.

Simple brilliant Anime, across the board. Incredible eye-popping animation with a great HARD sci-fi story that most American audiences will never be able to comprehend on their diet of silly garbage. I didnt LOVE the music score...but the good things more than made up for it.

Absolutely Brilliant all the way around. Fantastic animation. KICK ASS action. This film had a more personal story than the previous film, but still with a huge worldwide scope to things. Great techno score. I saw some influences from other genre films (Star Wars, Star Trek) but I appreciated the tip of the hat and it felt more like an homage than a rip-off. I truly hope this story continues and I get a chance to see this story in some form on the big screen. More and more I find myself draw to foreign cinema. Films like this just simply do it better and smarter than the warmed over drivel we are getting stateside. This is a MUST for all action and sci-fi fans. I just LOVED it !! I'd love to know how deep John Woo's hand had in the quality of this anime film because it's the best thing he has been involved with in MANY years.

Interesting Documentary on how we mostly survive on the Corn in our diets and it's effects. This is good info. that people need to know about. The Doc. itself makes good points, but comes across as a little self indulgent and very "preachy"... but it's points are strong and worthy of dissemenation.

Yet another fantastic anime film and a "film" it is. An echo of the 1927 film, this takes place in a future where robots have become a threat to the mainstream populus. This has some common dystopic themes with other stories but is done in a fresh way. I continue to see how the Japaneese take their animated films seriously and attain to create profound art rather than just silly and vapid entertainment.

Definately enjoyed this. Some great laughs here. I love the 70s/80s vibe it pushes and definately reminds me of the innocence of youth. Shirts is comedic gold. Thanks to the guys at NOWHERE IN MULBERRY for hooking me into this little gem.

I read this book when it first came out but am only now getting around to seeing this flick. I thought some of the casting was inspired. Stuart Townsend's Lestat was very good, maybe even more like I pictured Lestat than Tom Cruise was and Aliyah made a nice Akasha. Ultimately the attempt to merge two EPIC novels (The Vampire Lestat and Queen of the Damned) into 1 movie is failed since MUCH of the stories, characters and overall depth was just cut out. This story just needs a bigger canvas to really do it justice. Unless you get a thrill out of seeing these characters live in a film from the books, they are really shallow and empty portraits. It's too bad.

My Son pushed me to watch this Live action version of the anime hit. AND Im glad he did. Extremely cool all the way around. A fascinating and interesting story about an anti-Hero (Light) who straddles the line between doing good or evil. His Nemesis "L" is one of the stronger elements of the story and the cat and mouse they play reminds me of Sherlock Holmes vs. Moriarty. Ryuk is a fascinating character who constantly haunts Light/Kira. I look forward to the next installment. AGAIN, it pays to look beyond US Borders to find quality/creative/unique films.

Absolutely oustanding Doc. on the creation and history of PIXAR. I love origin stories and this is truly a great one. Seeing John Lassiter go from losing his dreams to becoming the head creative honcho at all of Disney with make you want to pop with joy for him. PIXAR is truly a house of genius and we are living in another golden age of animation due to Lassiter, Andrew Stanton, Brad Bird and others.

A couple of laughs here and there but overall this was boring and predictable. Waste of time. Billy Bob fares much better in roles like Bad Santa where he can really be rude and crude. This was the "family" version... urghhh...

I actually quite enjoyed this. YES, it's another one of those BAD MOVIES with Laughs. As a fan of Sacha Baron Cohen (from Borat and the HBO Ali G Show) I wasnt suprised that this would be fun for me, but anytime you stretch a sketch-comedy character into something more it is always difficult to fill in the rest of the length of the film. As a film its awful.. but as a ballpark that Ali G can play in it is very fun... again more if you are familiar with the character and his schtick. Loved seeing Tim (Martin Freeman) from the Office UK in there as a wannabe White Gangsta. Respect.

One of the most God-Awful pieces of junk I have ever suffered through. Shame on me for sitting through this. DUMB to the tenth degree.

This is a fun twist on the comedy/horror Zombie gross-out flick. I had fun with it but man is it GROSS. Funny gross but still gross. I shivered when one of those slugs popped out of someones skull after it had been blown off. EWWWWWW. Of course I had to rewind it and see it again. I swear I almost started dry heaving. I think overall this is successful and a cut above most of the other schlock thats out there. If you can handle the gross out factor you might have some fun.