| Movie | Rating | Review | Date | Your Rating | Match | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avatar - PG-13 | James Cameron is a filmmaker with the ability to balance story, character development, visual splendor, and high powered action in equal proportions to give us movies that inspire and thrill us at the same time. That's why it's so sad that this movie doesn't live up to his abilities. I know people will OOH and AAH all over the visual effects in this movie, and to be fair, they are probably the greatest CGI effects ever in a movie. Everything is so photo realistic, that many times it is impossible to tell what is real, and what isn't. There was a time in my life when that would've been enough for me to give it 5 stars, two thumbs up, and a 10 out of 10. But no longer. If I'm not interested in the characters, or what their plight is, stunning visual effects will carry me only so far. Quite simply, I didn't give a crap about any of the characters in this movie, or what they were going through. Basically, if you've seen Dances With Wolves, The Last Samurai, or even Pocahontas...you've seen this story. There's absolutely nothing new here. No surprises. Not ONE. George Lucas once said "A special effect without a story is a pretty boring thing". This movie is by no means boring, although the middle act does drag, but it could simply be a demo reel of new CGI technology, with no story or talking, and you wouldn't be missing a thing. Also, a big minus for me is that although the movie clocks in at over 2.5 hours, there is one action sequence in the movie. One. Granted is the mother of all forest battles, but I could've used a couple more smaller action sequences leading up to it. There's only so many "save the planet" metaphors I can stand in one movie. So for the visual effects...5 stars. For the story, 2.5 stars. It's cliched, predictable, even borderline stereotypical. But is sure looks great. It is easily the best use of 3-D technology I've ever seen. No "comin' at ya" gimmicks here. The 3-D is used to draw you into this world, plop you down right into the middle of it, and make you a part of the action. If that's all you want from the movie...then this is for you. But for me, the hopelessly sophmoric script is a HUGE downfall, and makes it a only a good movie, when it should have been a GREAT one. | December 20, 2009 | N/A | |||
| Crazy Heart - R | December 18, 2009 | N/A | ||||
| Did You Hear About the Morgans? - PG-13 | December 18, 2009 | N/A | ||||
| 2012 - PG-13 | Irwin Allen is known as the king of disaster movies. In the 70's he created such classics as The Poseidon Adventure, The Towering Inferno, and The Swarm. German director Rolan Emmerich obviously fancies himself the successor to Allen. Not satisfied with blowing up the White House, or flooding New York City under a massive tidal waver, Emmerich takes his eye for destruction global this time, with a story that many people around the world are convinced is going to come true. The destruction scenes in this movie really are a spectacular sight to see. As buildings and whole cities collapse, you find you could spend days looking over the tiniiest of details that have been added in. Fortunately the central character is played by John Cusak who, if he has any sense, is deeply invested in frequent flier miles, because he is THE luckiest traveller on the face of the planet. Every vehicle this man rides in is somehow blessed to escape the carnage around him. Whether it be a limo with more jumping power than the General Lee, or the worlds fastest and most maneuverable twin enging Cessna, Cusak is the man you want riding with you, because you are guaranteed to survive. While the destruction is massive and completely convincing, the characters don't fare as well. They are as cookie-cutter as they come, and 5 seconds after they are introduced, you know exactly who will be left standing at the end. The movie also falls prey to THE oldest cliche in movies like this...as imminent as death is, the kids AND the dog miraculously survive. BUT...you don't go to a movie like this for deep human insight...you go to watch shit get blow'ed up REAL good. No modern filmmaker is better at delivering that than Emmerich. No landmark around the world is safe. From the Washington Monument, to the Sistine Chapel, anything remotely recognizeable has a bullseye painted on it. The last act of the movie, involving "Arks" that will carry humanity to safety drags on, and could've been trimmed by about 15 minutes. But until that point, the movie delivers more "OH SHIT" stomach rollers than any of Emmerich's previous films. And that is saying something. | November 30, 2009 | N/A | |||
| G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra - PG-13 | I've always been a supporter of director Stephen Sommers. The guy has never made anything you'd call high art. His movies are pure popcorn fun. They always moved as quick as a shot, and were fun to watch. Deep Rising was fun little monster flick, the first two Mummy movies, even manager to out-Indy Indiana Jones a couple of times, and Van Helsing was a visually impressive adventure. WIth this movie, Sommers once again delivers on the visuals and the action. The movie hardly ever stops moving to catch its breath. There are a couple of great action sequences, one involving "acclerator suits", and a climatic full scale battle that is the equivalent of a Star Wars space battle, except underwater. The movie also delivers on the babes. Both Sienna Miller and Rachel Nichols look absolutely DELICIOUS in skin tight leather. So anytime either one of them is on the screen, the eye candy delivers. But this movie fails, and fails BIG TIME, when it comes to the writing. The "script" is absolutely dreadful. There is not ONE believable character in this movie. The story is weak, and the dialogue is unforgiveable. The characters couldn't be more cliched if they tried. What's worse, the two main "heroes", Channing Tatum and Marlon Wayans, are such terrible actors, that even the most gifted writer in Hollywood could save them. Even Dennis Quaid, one of the most underappreciated actors in Hollywood history, is stiff as a board. The villains, played by Christopher Eccleston and Joseph Gordon-Levitt chew so much scenery I thought they'd be arrested for overacting. So when you can't get involved with characters, either the heroes or the villains, all you are left with is the action. Fortunately that delivers. It's a big, fast, empty headed way to kill two hours. But hey...it will give your surround sound system a workout. | November 8, 2009 | N/A | |||
| The Proposal - PG-13 |
No real surprises here in this fairly cookie cutter romantic comedy starring eternal girl next door Sandra Bullock, and vastly underappreciated Ryan Reynolds. It's the romantic equivalent of a buddy cop movie...the two leads hate each other, then they come to respect each other, and by the end they are friends, or in this case, in love. What sells the movie for me is the easygoing, and genuine chemistry between the two leads, and the amazingly beautiful Alaskan backdrops that surround the bulk of the movie. Bullock is one of the most likeable actresses in the last decade, so the bitchy aspect of her character lasts only so long, and she falls comfortably into the type of role that made her a star. Reynolds is a tremendously talented actor, and he's actually given a wide range of emotions to play here, and he sells them all. He's quick witted and sarcastic, but also conveys real emotion in a couple of great scenes with his father, played by Craig T. Nelson. They are supported by a solid group of familiar actors including Mary Steenburgen and Betty White. The GORGEOUS Malin Ackerman also has some welcome screen time as Reynolds' old girlfriend.
I'm sucker for movies with wilderness backgrounds. Be it summer camp, or the woods, or the lake, I see these places and I can only think how I'd love to be there. Alaska is one of the places I've always dreamed of visiting. The scenery here is nothing short of spectacular. From cloud shrouded mountains, to placid lakes, to tree lined streets with huge houses, the movie plays like a travel brochure. The simplicity of life up there makes it very inviting to move there permanently. So again, nothing earth shatteringly original here. A simple movie that you will be able to guess the ending to before the opening credits are over. But it's a pleasant enough ride, with two actors that are as easily watchable as their surroundings. |
November 8, 2009 | N/A | |||
| Angels & Demons - PG-13 | A more action oriented, but no less non-sensical follow up to The DaVinci Code finds Tom Hanks trying to unravel a deadly mystery inside the Catholic church. I suppose someone more steeped in religion would get more out of these movies, but as a regular ol' Joe Moviegoer, I could never get invested in these characters or the situations they are involved in. The movie is professionaly made, and like I said, adds quite a bit more action and tension than its stiff-as-a-board predecessor. Tom Hanks gives it his all, and thankfully has lost the constant sinus congestion that seemed to plaque him in DaVinci. Ayelet Zurer is easy on the eyes, and provides a credible sidekick. The best performance has to go to Ewan McGregor as a young priest trying to hold together a Vatican in turmoil after the Pope is murdered, Bishops are kidnapped, and the Vatican is threatened with its total destruction due to an anti-matter bomb. The last part sounds like something out of a Star Trek episode, but is in fact a central point to the story, involving the ongoing battle of science versus religion. Unfortunately the story is filled with religious names and symbology that I don't understand, and frankly, we're never really given the chance to understand. We're supposed to grasp these religious meanings as easily as Hanks' character, but it just doesn't work that way. So much goes over a persons head, that it becomes impossible to get really involved. Still, it's visually stunning, and has some tense action moments. But all in all, as far as movies of this type go...I'll stick with National Treasure. | October 11, 2009 | N/A | |||
| Good Hair - PG-13 | October 11, 2009 | N/A | ||||
| The Damned United - R | October 11, 2009 | N/A | ||||
| Couples Retreat - PG-13 | October 11, 2009 | N/A | ||||
| Adventureland - R | This movie basically tries to be an 80's version of Dazed And Confused. A young man whose life is not going the way he planned takes a job at a small time amusement park, meets some colorful characters, finds the girl of his dreams, and comes to an understanding about himself, and what he wants out of life. That's pretty much it. The movie is set in 1987 (the year I graduated high school), but there really is no point to setting it there, other than to try and inspire a feeling of nostalgia, and load the soundtrack with 80's tunes. Although they could've done a better job there. Most of the songs are not too well known, and the movie probably would've invoked an 80's feel if they'd used some better known music. The performances are fine, but strangely subdued. Jesse Eisenberg is the typical geek, Kristen Stewart is the dream girl, who really doesn't do anything more than look cute, Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig are great as the park owners, but they are not given enough screen time, and Ryan Reynolds proves once again what a solid actor he is. There's a lot of angst ridden, unhappy people here. In fact, the people that are happy in this movie, are painted as very strange characters. The movie definately loves its amusement park setting, and sells it very well, creating an intimate atmosphere in which to bond with the characters. But there's really nothing overly interesting about these people or their situations, and ultimately that is what hurts the movie. I'm a sucker for nostalgia movies, especially ones set during my teenage years. But there has to be more going on than what is presented here. | October 11, 2009 | N/A | |||
| Trick 'r Treat - R |
This long delayed film debut of Superman Returns co-writer Michael Dougherty finally arrives, and the ultimate question is...was it worth the wait? In a word...yes. The film is several interwoven stories that occur on Halloween night in a little town steeped in the traditions of the day. The simplest way to describe the method of storytelling is to say that it's the Pulp Fiction of horror movies. Stories don't necessarily occur in chronological order, as we jump through various times throughout the night. The stories involve a school principal that moonlights as a serial killer, a bizarre twist on the Little Red Riding hood legend, and the most interesting of which involves a local urban legend involving a school bus accident that happened 30 years ago. Things are not always as the appear in this movie, and while some of the surprises are seen coming a mile away, there are some genuine twists that will take viewers by surprise. This movie, more than any other I can think of, really embraces the traditions involved with Halloween. It's absolutely thick with atmosphere, and is loaded with great cinematography that pulls you right into the middle of the action.
Now it's by no means a perfect film. Some of it feels rushed, and some of the ideas are not competely flushed out. It feels like there were a couple of key scenes missing that would have explained things a little bit better. But as far as horror movies go, it's better than the majority of the ones being made today as it has a real story to tell, and chracters worth investing interest in. As it is, it's probably best that the film was never released to theaters. I don't think it would have found an audience. But on home video, I think it will have tremendous success, and it is destined to become a Halloween staple, and a cult classic. Don't be surprised if there ends up being a sequel. After all...it's a horror movie. |
October 10, 2009 | N/A | |||
| Superman/Batman: Public Enemies - PG-13 | Superman and Batman have crossed paths countless times in their histories. It's the greatest love/hate relationship in the entire superhero realm. Here they face not only Lex Luthor as the newly elected President Of The United States, but countless other heroes and villains from the DC Universe. The two heroes stand alone in a fast paced, brawls to the walls action feature with a surprisingly good story, and stellar performances all around by the voice cast. Tim Daly and Kevin Conroy reprise their roles as Superman and Batman, respectively. Also returning is Clancy Brown who brings his usual excellence to Lex Luthor. The movie wastes no time in getting into the action, and it rarely stops to catch its breath. You'll recognize many supporting characters from various DC interpretations, including a lot of old favorites from the Challenge Of The Superfriends cartoon show from the 70's. The animation is outstanding, and differs greatly from the stylistic work done in the previous Batman and Superman shows. It's beauitful animation that finds a proper balance between cell animation, and cg enhancement. My only complaint about the movie is that it is far too short. I wanted more. At 67 minutes it feels like there are scenes that were left out in order to keep the pace lightning fast. Based on the graphic novel of the same name, I'm sure that there are several key elements from the book that were omitted from the film. For example, several mentions are made of Lois Lane, but she doesn't appear until the last 5 minutes of the film. I'm sure there were scenes between her and Superman that the filmmakers chose to ignore. But having never read the book, I don't mind as much as someone who might have read it. This movie kept its focus on its title characters, and delivers the action in spades. It's a must see for all superhero fans who love to watch them throw down. | October 10, 2009 | N/A | |||
| Zombieland - R | In the tradition of Shaun Of The Dead comes this zombie comedy that is fun, fast paced, and contains its fair share of kick ass kills. Woody Harrelson is at the top of his game as a redneck good ol' boy, who seems to have found his calling as a zombie killer. Jesse Eisenberg is a sharper than he seems nerd who has survived the zombie apocalype by following his own set of rules. They meet up with two scam artists played by Abigail Breslin, and the sultry Emma Stone. Together they set out, presumably to their own various destinations, but along the way form a bond that keeps them together. The movie does a great job of showing a world in ruin, but there is a long stretch in the middle of the movie where there are no zombies at all. It's there that the movie drags, which is surprising because at 88 minutes, there should be NO down time. I have a feeling that some extra zombie footage was cut in favor of some bonding moments between the characters, that for a moment, bring the movie to a screeching halt. But still, there's a lot to like here, and it stands worthily along other classic zombie comedies like Shaun Of The Dead, The Evil Dead Trilogy, and the little known, but highly enjoyable Dance Of The Dead. | October 6, 2009 | N/A | |||
| Youngblood - R | When you have a movie that deals primarly with hockey fights, it probably would've been a wise move to cast someone a little tougher than Rob Lowe. Lowe plays Dean Youngblood, a hotshot young hockey player who gets a tryout with a minor league team, The Hamilton Mustangs. After winning a spot on the team, he learns that it takes more than fast skating and slapshots to make it in hockey. Patrick Swayze assumes the role of mentor, although his teachings are cut short when he is severly injured after a cheap shot during a game. It's here that the movie runs into its biggest problem...trying to make Rob Lowe tough. He goes through some Rocky-like training with his father and older brother in an effort to avenge Swayze. However, even after this training, it's obvious that Lowe has no idea how to throw a punch. So when the big fight comes, it's like watching Pee Wee Herman square off against Arnold Schwarzenegger. So that aspect of the movie fails miserably. Other than that though, it's a pretty solid movie. All of the actors know how to handle themselves on the ice, and are totally believable as hockey players. Ed Lauter is a standout as the hard as nails coach with a smart mouth, who also happens to be the father of Lowes love interest, played by the very cute Cynthia Gibb. So some good hockey, good characters, and a very welcome nude scene with Ms Gibb, and you've got yourself a tight little hockey picture. Just be sure to turn your suspension of disbelief up to the max when the movie asks you to accept Lowe as a brawler. | September 30, 2009 | N/A | |||
| Capitalism: A Love Story - R | September 30, 2009 | N/A | ||||
| Whip It - PG-13 | September 30, 2009 | N/A | ||||
| The Invention of Lying - PG-13 | September 30, 2009 | N/A | ||||
| The Haunting in Connecticut - PG-13 | In the spirit (ha) of The Amityville Horror, comes this "true" story about ghostly happenings in a house with a new family living in it. It's basicallly an old school haunted house movie. The pacing is slow, meant to build tension, and unravel the mystery behind the haunting piece by piece. There are the token "jump" scares, and the audience hit the roof more than once. The movie is very atmospheric, and creepy. The performances are solid, and you are able to develop a genuine caring about the people. The filmmakers make a good attempt at trying to present the supernatural visions of the movie's "hero" as visions that only he experiences. The other family members experience the strange happenings, but only the oldest son sees the actual spirits. It's a neat trick to try and hold on to the "based on a true story" aspect of it. A decnt little horror flick. | September 25, 2009 | N/A | |||
| Surrogates - PG-13 | A kind of Terminator in reverse, as humanity has allowed itself to be taken over by machines. People live vicariously through robot "surrogates" while they seldomly, if ever, leave their own homes. It supposedly makes for a better world, but the movie makes the statement that when humanity depends too much on its technology, nothing good can come of it. Bruce Willis plays an FBI agent investigating a murder, something of which hasn't happened in years. He is drawn into a conflict between surrogate users, and a band of humans who refuse to use the robots, and want an end put to their entire useage. The story tends to get a bit too conflicted, and it can sometimes be difficult to keep up with characters, as people have the ability to use some else's surrogate. The action sequences are well done, but they are few and far between. Director Jonathan Mostow has been one of my favorite directors of recent years, but this one is a disappointment. Mostow made a habit of reinvigoriting stagnant genres. Breakdown was everything Ransom wanted to be, U-571 is one of the best submarine movies ever, and with Terminator 3, he delivered what I thought was a superior film to T2. But here his pacing is off, and the movie seems to have trouble finding its footing. Bruce Willis is solid in the movie, but at some points I was expecting him to fall asleep on screen. Rosamund Pike and Radha Mitchell add some nice eye candy as his wife and partner, respectively. A decent sci-fi movie with a strong social statement about people being too dependant on technology, but I expected more when it came to the action. | September 25, 2009 | N/A | |||
| Pandorum - R | A difficult film to critque, because I'm not exactly sure what I just saw. Suffice it to say this isn't the typical "haunted spaceship" movie I thought it would be. Part "Alien", part "Event Horizon", the movie is visually stunning. It projects both the vastness of the ship it takes place on, while also selling the immense claustrophobia of moving through that very ship. A very small cast is led by Ben Foster and Dennis Quaid as two astronauts who wake up from extended hypersleep, unable to remember exactly who they are, and what their mission is. They find that their ship is overrun by animalistic humanoids who stalk and feast on an unlucky humans they come across. Foster makes his way through the ship, and comes across a few straggling survivors including the super sexy Antje Traue. Milk does a body good, indeed. Quaid does the majority of his role from one room, as he guides Foster through the ship, and deals with a mysterious survivor, played by Cam Gigandet, who may not be who or what he appears to be. There are many tense moments in the movie, and while it does lag a bit in the middle, the final act is fast moving, and exciting. The visual effects are great, and present many unique visuals. The sound is cranked up to the max, particulary during the monster attacks, and could leave people with a tremendous headache. Not a terrifying movie, but tense, and will certainly be embraced by sci-fi geeks. For John Q. Moviegoer...not so much. | September 25, 2009 | N/A | |||
| Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade - PG-13 | An exciting entry into the Indy series, it's also somewhat of a let down. The action doesn't seem as inspired as in Raiders and Temple Of Doom. The Nazi bad guys are paper thin. The damsel in distress/villianess is weakly written and poorly performed by Allison Doody. The visual effects are spotty, even by 1989 standards. However, all of that is made up for by the pairing of Harrison Ford and Sean Connery. Their chemistry as father and son is nothing short of legendary. There is also the fun opening sequence that has River Phoenix introducing the movie world to young Indy. Not quite up to the level of the first two, but a more than worthy entry nonetheless. | September 20, 2009 | N/A | |||
| Close Encounters of the Third Kind - PG | September 19, 2009 | N/A | ||||
| The Towering Inferno - PG | September 19, 2009 | N/A | ||||
| Rocky - PG | September 19, 2009 | N/A |
817 ratings
228 reviews
