Patrick's Recent Reviews
Nine
PG-13
A very entertaining and enjoyable musical with a stellar cast. First, for people wanting Chicago II; you're not going to find it here. Just because both films are directed by the same director, each musical was written by a different person. You wouldn't expect Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange and Barry Lyndon to be the same film, same director, different source material. Some performances are average (Nicole Kidman, Judi Dench, Sophia Loren, Kate Hudson) while others are downright outstanding (Daniel Day-Lewis, Penelope Cruz, and especially Marion Cotillard).
A loose adaptation of Fellini's 8 1/2 and more faithful to the Broadway stage musical, the story to the film is fine, but the film really takes off with the musical numbers. Cruz's and Cotillard's song numbers are some of the most erotic and sensual scenes I have ever seen on film (espcially for a PG13 movie!) enough to make any male release steam from his shirt collar; while other numbers by Kate Hudson and Stacey "Fergie" Ferguson are quite catchy and enjoyable.
This is a great looking film with very good performances, but for those looking for the zing and zest of Chicago, won't be so satisfied. For those looking for a little "meat" with their musicals, then look no further than NINE.
Avatar
PG-13
Aside from the familar story, AVATAR is one of the most spectacular things I have see on the big screen since seeing Stephen Spielberg bringing back the dinosaurs to present day with JURASSIC PARK. I have to give James Cameron credit, the world of Pandora is nothing like I have see before and the effects and technology that Cameron used to pull it off still amazes me. What I loved about AVATAR is that James Cameron made a film that give reason a people to get off their butts and see a movie the way it should be seen, on a big screen in the theater, and to top that off, on a IMAX screen as well. Aside from other film makers who sell their film as a familar product that we grew up with ("look people, it's Transformers, you know Transformers, you grew up with them!" or "It's the Pirates of the Carribean, you love the ride now see them on the big screen!") I'm sure this movie would look good seeing it in regular 2-D, but to see this on digital/3-D/IMAX is the only way to get Cameron's full impact of what he wanted the viewer to see his film. At times, I thought I was on a dark ride at Disneyland with the hydroglow of the world of Pandora, and it felt like a ride also. The story and acting are average, but this is a visual movie, and besides the great visuals, Cameron also knows how to make a action scene exciting and intense. I don't know how this will be seen at home, so in the meantime, go see this film in the theaters. And for what it's worth fellas, it's also quite to see Michelle Rodriguez's "charms" coming out at you in 3-D IMAX.
