| Name | Jeff Semlow |
|---|---|
| Gender | Male |
| I'm From | Chicago |
| Member For | 787 days |
| Last Login | Mon. May 26 |
| Profile Views | 306 |
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| Movie: | The Crow, Die Hard 2, Kingpin, Dodgeball |
|---|---|
| Actor: | Samuel L Jackson, Vince Vaughn, Adam Sandler, Keira Knightly, Johnny Depp, Angelina Jolie, Matt Damon, Tom Hanks, DiCaprio |
| Director: | P.T. Anderson, Wes Craven, Clint Eastwood, Farrelly Brothers |
| Quote: | "Damn it, Blue was old. That's what old people do. They die" - Old School |
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I recommend you see...
The Dark Knight
by Karineposted 1 day ago -
Hey - try this quiz and see how we compare
Angelina Jolie Movies and Charectorsposted 3 days ago -
I recommend you see...
The Dark Knight
by JensSo, what to say about one of the hypes of the year? That the first 30-45 minutes underwhelmed me a little, where there was a lot of politics and crime talk but not really all that much Batman, which made it almost feel like a superhero stumbling into a Michael Mann thriller? That I kinda missed Gotham City having a unique and at least semi-comic-esque look, like in the old films and still parts of Batman Begins, because it just looked like Chicago (which it was as an intentional choice by the creators, but not what I want in a Batman film)?
No, let's not talk about that. Before you're starting to think I didn't love this movie let's get to the acting, directing and especially and the second half of the film. Holy crap.
How Nolan managed to turn the excitement screw closer and closer with every minute of the movie with the character triangle of Batman, Dent and the Joker was just amazing. The action, the timing, the dialoges, the plot, the surprises: perfect. The whole showdown with the two boats and all twists and turns that included was just genius.
All that was not only thanks to a great script but actors at the pike of their abilities. People like Bale, Freeman and Caine always deliver great performances, but the winners of this movie were others for me.
a) Aaron Eckhart who was a perfect Harvey Dent, for a while even felt like an equally important co-star to Batman / Wayne.
b) Gary Oldman whose part as Gordon was so much more satisfying and interesting than still in the first movie, carried by his wonderful performance.
and then c) there was the late Heath Ledger, who somehow wasn't there. I didn't think of him for a second during the movie, because I was watching the Joker, this insane, funny, creepy madman who was pulling all those strings. He will be remembered and talked about for this role for a very long time.
In short, the second half blew me away so much that it more than made up for a few bumps in the first.
Easily the best Batman movie so far.Hey, you should really see this! One of the movies of the year, no doubt.
posted 4 days ago -
I recommend you see...
Baby Mama
by DAt first I was not interested in seeing this film, the sight of Poehler peeing in a sink is not my idea of good comedy. However the film has some good laughs, and some of the better comedy I've seen from Tina Fey. I like her but her comedy seems to be a mix of good and bad, sometimes she's funny, sometimes she's not. In this film it's more than not, also, women will enjoy the film and its comedy much more than men.
Now, I won't admit I was wrong thinking it was bad, however, it was not as bad as I assumed it would have been. It was JUST passable as a movie that I would see, on a whim, with some friends at the theater. I wouldn't plan to see it, I wouldn't go out late on a Friday/Saturday just to see it. But on a slow Monday/Thursday afternoon when you're just hanging downtown, it is a good movie to see. No real thinking, some quaint comedy and a story that doesn't get too bad too fast. However, the last 15 minutes were both rushed, predictable and was not synergistic with the rest of the movie. However, this is becoming a common occurance in movies lately.
Not great, not bad, just right for an afternoon time killer.A perfect mid-day movie on a slow and casual weekday. (Rent, don't buy)
posted 22 days ago -
I recommend you see...
The Happening
by D*groan*
A lot of people have shown their distaste for this movie, some people actually liked it. I am here to tell you what was good, what was bad, and exactly why this ship sunk instead of floated.
The first 20 minutes are actually really really good, the first 5 especially. Call me crazy but I think as an actor, Wahlberg falls into a niche, one of action, comedy and adventure (almost like a B-movie performance actor, but with potential) and I'm really waiting for a movie that truly capitalizes on his ability to be serious and funny at the same time. This movie almost allowed him to do that, and I will keep my eyes open in the future. Lequizamo is a support role, but you can't really go wrong with him. The plot starts off really good, and leaves you thinking however, I must get to the bad parts.
About the middle of the movie the plot becomes pedantic. It does not stay strong in the minds to keep you "on your toes" and near the end of the film, almost all the things that started off great went from a downpour into a light mist. It totally lost its edge, its comedy and everything else.
The last 20 minutes especially make no sense, it's as if Shyamalan wrote it in 5 minutes before they started filming. Thus the ending kills anything good about the movie. I thought the plot was great, that Wahlberg was an excellent choice and some of the scenes are just excellently done. However, the plot disappears and convolutes near the middle and by the end you really don't care or understand what's going on anymore.
Thus it started with a bang and ended in a whimper.People have been requesting me to do more reviews, and some specifically asking me what I thought about this film in particular.
The trailer for this film made my jaw drop. It then got consistently bad reviews. Against this I saw it. I will agree, it had some great scenes and started with a very strong plot, but it drizzled and that's a shame. The worst offense a movie can make is to have so much potential just to fall short in the middle.posted 32 days ago -
I recommend you see...
The Incredible Hulk
by DI just thought I would give my ideas and reasoning for continuing to not be interested in this film. It's coming out soon and Flixster is plastering the site with advertisements all for the all-mighty dollar.
I'll be honest, when I heard Edward Norton was in it, I was definitely interested. Of course the first one sucked (not that I even saw it) and naturally assumed this would too. I watched the previews, and every time I see Edward on screen, I think to myself that I HAVE to see it. However, the previews pretty much give away the whole story, secondly the CGI is still lame and finally I saw that Liv Tyler was in the movie, which was pretty much the nail that killed the dead horse on this one.
Nothing good has ever come from the no talent ass clown Liv. All be it, she is the daughter of a famous singer, however, unfortunately putting "My daddy makes music" shouldn't be a qualification that allows someone to just start acting in films. Since she continues to blow, I still don't understand how she finds work.
I unfortunately came to the conclusion that I did not want to see a totally crappy movie just to see Edward do great work on Bruce Banner to have the horrible CGI and ultimate sucking of Liv Tyler ruin the whole experience for me.
I may rent, I may get conned into seeing it when friends want to put it in, and I WILL enjoy the Norton, however, I will NOT give the money grubbing jerks my money. I suggest that you take this into account when you choose what movie to put your greenback on.
Enjoy!Yet another un-recommendation. Not saying don't see it, but giving you ample heads up of what will be lame, and why I will not see the film voluntarily.
posted 44 days ago -
I recommend you see...
You Don't Mess with the Zohan
by DThis movie exceeded my expectations. For me it did what Mike Meyers did for British comedy with Austin Powers, and what Jack Black did with Mexican culture in Nacho Libre. However, I warn all those who see it that if you are not versed in Judaism, Israel or any combination of the two, than you may be at a disadvantage for many of the joke references. I am neither, but living in a big city like Toronto and being surrounded by a few people of the faith I get most of the references. If you do, you'll enjoy this movie a lot more, however, devoid of most of the jokes or references, the movie will become dangerously un-funny, and could be a flop to watch. My only other complaint is the over-the-top fixation on sex, penis and other random additions of old-lady fucking. Although I looked passed it easily, I can see a lot of people just wanting to walk out, it can be a little too much.
Hilarious and innovative, past my expectations, but a warning for those who won't be able to take in the full aspect of the humor base.A recommendation, with a warning!
posted 47 days ago -
I recommend you see...
The X-Files: I Want to Believe (The X Files 2)
by DFirst off, it really grinds my gears when morons give movies star ratings for movies that haven't been released yet (in this case 8-weeks). These people are retarded, they rate based on their own personal hype which goes against everything rating movies stands for. I pity the fools who have to change their 5 stars to 2 ½ for movies like Spiderman 3, or even worse, don't change it because they're too dumb or lazy to do so.
However, on to the film to be...
I remember reminiscing about how it was a horrible idea to make another X-Files movie... why you ask? Well, the first movie came too long after the series was over anyway (and even much longer after Duchovny left, which to me, was the end of X-Files), secondly, the fan base although powerful, was strenuously limited due to the sci-fi nature and the continued linear and deepening storyline later in the series.
I am a huge personal fan of the series, but when the first film was released, I had almost forgotten all of the details surrounding the "alien conspiracy", and an attempt to add or modify this story in any way at this point, is ridiculous. However, this is a stand-alone film, which gives me hope that it can reach and intrigue a new set of onlookers, however I predict moderate-dismal numbers based on the fact that only die-hard fans will see it, and very few otherwise will take the leap into watching something they A) were never interested in or B) assume, quite understandingly, that they will be as lost as they were when they saw the first, or would have been had they seen it.
If you find yourself at the movies with no plan to see a big hit, or wondering what is the least-worst movie out at the time, I suggest giving this a try. Although it is not out, and nobody would be able to tell you if it is going to be good or bad, the Mulder/Scully combination is very synergistic and suspenseful. I will see it because I am a fan and I think that aside from fan base it has true potential.Just a friendly suggestion and informative summary of why X-Files might be a movie to see this year.
posted 51 days ago -
I recommend you see...
Iron Man
by DWhy is this movie so great? It's because I hated the preview (the comedic one-liners almost made me puke) and I still loved it.
Too many people with respectable reputations had vouched for it, and myself, being the impartial man of honor that I am took their word for it and gave it a chance. It was great. Although I'm not big on Downey (I have something against drug addicted drop-outs that try for flashy comebacks) although he did fit the part almost perfectly.
The movie was great for many reasons, a good villain, a story that is very up-to-date but NOT forcibly added to the storyline of Iron Man, which for me was very key. I hate it when movies capitalize on new age problems, however, Tony Stark would easily and believably (especially in becoming Iron Man) fall into this story. It was fast, funny, very unique and overall very fun and engaging for the audience.
I must say it is probably the best new-age comic to movie adaptation I have seen so far, although X-Men was "exciting" it had many holes and reasons for critique from die-hard's. Iron Man however does not lend itself to these kinds of criticisms, and thus, more accurately portrayed the true comic book nature, and for me, gets props.What started as a "not interested" turned into a favourite of 2008 for me. The way the movies in 2008 are going, the only real contender I see for this film is the new Batman movie.
posted 59 days ago -
I recommend you see...
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
by DFell way below expectations.
For some reason this movie is getting rated much higher than it should. Yes, I'm a big fan of the original 3, however, I was not expecting perfection from this one, and yet, I was still disappointed.
I'm not really spoiling anything by letting you know any of this, as you find it out in the first 15 minutes, but the plot is absolutely rediculous. Anyone who is able to stay in their seat until the end knows what I'm talking about, absolutely frikkin' rediculous. At the point that Shia was swinging off the vines like Tarzan and had random jungle monkeys assisting him in combat against the Russians I had lost the last speck of hope that remained in me for this movie.
The movie was a total waste, and personally, I am very very disappointed in Harrison. He had turned down some versions and was really on board for this version and I can't believe he read to the end of the script and didn't laugh out loud. I have never seen a worse sequal to a series over an extended hiatus that had screwed up such a film that had such promise.
Shame on you Mr. Ford... shame on you. You don't know how much it hurt me to have to write such slandor against a man that made a dynasty of trilogies.
*tearDO NOT SEE THIS. If anything, save half your money and rent it, then, hate it with a few more dollars in your wallet and the ability to just hit 'stop' on the DVD player.
posted 59 days ago
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