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Movies seen/reviewed this year (2006)
[ Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec ]
Jan (NF21/MM4/CC5)
* * Star Trek - The original series - Vol. 13, episodes 25 & 26: [This side of paradise / The devil in the dark]: I've started viewing episodes of the original Star Trek series. I watched it as a kid when I was growing up (Yow! that makes me... old?), and I loved it back then. You know what? I still love it. My friends and I used to pretend to be members of the 'Starship Enterprise'. This side of paradise had Spock kissing a woman, exhibiting 'Happiness' and generally acting like a Human. A space-borne plant sprayed the planets colonists with 'spores' which healed them and made them docile. Another episode about stagnation of imagination and the Human drive to achieve, create, explore and dominate their surroundings. In this episode we also learn that Vulcans have more than one name. According to Spock, the second name is typically unpronounceable by humans. The devil in the dark was one of my favorite 'Alien' episodes. Miners on Janus VI have a deadly encounter with a silicon based life form who only wants to coexist peacefully with the humans. The human miners want the monstrous rock-thing destroyed. Spock mind melds with the creature and Bones patches up it's wounds with concrete!
* Pump up the volume: Starring a very hot looking Christian Slater (Umm, don't tell all my Homophobic friends that I said that). This movie is about pirate radio. I love it. The acting is actually pretty good for one of those typical teen angst movies. Samantha Mathis does a great job playing the typical teenage love interest. Her topless scene was completely unexpected. But as some of my friends are prone to arguing 'You gotta love that gratuitous nudity". What was it with her hair? The 80's (yeah I know it was released in 1990) sure had some strange hairdo's.. Anyway back to the movie. Excellent writing and directing by Allan Moyle. Too bad he didn't do to well afterwards. The story was a little thin, but the message was great. A single voice can affect the masses, your voice counts. A very inspirational message for the young target audience. You pretty much knew he was gonna get caught in the end, but so did the characters, so it wasn't completely unrealistic in that sense. Excellent music as well. I'm glad I own a copy. Solid 4 of 5.
* Sling Blade: An absolutely fantastic movie. Written, directed and starring Billy Bob Thornton as a morally simple moronic murderer who's got it more together than many 'normal' people. This movie was definitely the pinnacle of Thornton's career. I've yet to see him do anything this good, and it's a shame. The casting (Billy Bob Thornton, Dwight Yoakam, J. T. Walsh, John Ritter, Lucas Black, Natalie Canerday, James Hampton, Robert Duvall), music, costumes, sets, locations, dialog, acting; everything about this movie was outstanding. A landmark film which everyone should see. A highly synergistic film where all the pieces fit together just right. The story is uncomplicated and powerful. It's like an art film without trying to be. That's what movie making is all about. 5 out of 5.
* High plains drifter: Directed by, and starring, Clint Eastwood. A very good movie. It's evident that Clint Eastwood learned a lot from working with Sergio Leonne, and it comes out in this movie. I can even see connections to Akira Kurosawa movies in this one. A great tale of good and evil. Well, mostly evil. A corrupt town hires a complete stranger in an attempt to cleanse it's soul and save their lives. The stranger (who is never named), turns out to be a catalyst for evil, drawing it out into the open on a blood red day of reckoning. A great movie. One of Eastwood's early directing roles. Showed his true potential. This one gets a 4 out of 5.
* Raid on Entebbe: The true story of a hijacking. An Air France plane full of Israelis is hijacked from Athens and flown to Uganda. The story is a page from history, and it is thrilling. A gripping saga about terrorism and how Israel stays it's course. This movie is a great illustration of what has made Israel into the state it is today. The acting (Aside from the typically lackluster performance by Charles Bronson) was pretty good. A great cast (other than Charles Bronson), some good music, and excellent direction. Some of the dialogue wasn't the best, but overall it's an excellent movie. I give it a 4 out of 5.
* Stray Dog: (Japanese - Nora Inu) Another fantastic movie by Akira Kurosawa. Starring Toshirô Mifune, this is a movie about a newly appointed homicide detective who has his gun stolen on a crowded bus. Frantic, ashamed and concerned, he sets out on a relentless quest to recover his 'stray dog' before it kills again. A great social drama and commentary on the sense of responsibility amidst declining moral values during the reconstruction era of post WWII Japan. Featuring great music, acting, writing, locations, sets and costumes, this is one of Kurosawa's early works. I give it a 4 out of 5.
* Broken Flowers: Written and directed by Jim Jarmush, this movie stars Bill Murray as a declining, comfortably sedate bachelor who can't seem to care about anything. After another typical break-up, he learns that he has a son from a previous relationship. What he doesn't know is who the mother is. A neighbor arranges a cross-country quest to discover the identity of the mother. Despite his protestations, Murray's character is compelled to complete the quest, and in return he regains some sense of what emotions are. A wonderfully shot movie with great acting and a splendid soundtrack. Unfortunately, the movie lacks conviction. Like most of the characters, it lacks any ambition. I was so numb by the end of the movie, that the anti-climactic ending didn't really disappoint me too much. The highlight of the movie comes about 40 minutes in, when Alexis Dziena, playing 'Lolita' gives us a full frontal nude shot as the teenage tease of a former love interest. The gratuitous nudity was without merit, but nonetheless appreciated, as one of the brighter spots in this ho-hum drama. This one gets a 3 out of 5.
* High & Low: (Japanese - Tengoku to jigoku) Another fantastic piece of cinematic mastery by none other than Akira Kurosawa. A detective thriller that grabs you by the throat. The movie gets off to a blazing fast beginning. After a heated business meeting, terror strikes the family of a successful businessman - His son is kidnapped in broad daylight just outside his apartment. Moments later we learn that the kidnappers have abducted the wrong kid. The main character (Played by Toshirô Mifune), a self-centered industrialist is relieved at first, then learns that the young son of his chauffeur will die if he doesn't put up the money earmarked for a financial coup in his business affairs. A gripping tale of morals, consequences and the excesses of a materialistic life. A taut thriller where the pacing music and acting fuse together into an exhilarating train ride of suspense - Filled with real human drama and tension, this movie is way more than a slam bam action flick. A 5 out of 5.
* * * The Office - Series 2: (U.K.) A television series produced by BBC. A rather unusual sitcom. A paper company is facing lay-offs, and a film crew is making a documentary about the effect it's having on the workers. Some of the characters talk to the camera, some ignore it, and in the end I eventually forgot the premise of the documentary, and got mixed feelings about my role. At times I felt like part of the camera crew, at others I thought I might be one of the office workers, I even got the feeling that I might be an unseen eavesdropper. A totally dysfunctional social climate constitutes the stage where this drama takes place. The characters are absolutely fantastic. The writing is witty, biting, funny and very close to the real thing. I've experienced many of the 'scenarios' enacted in this multi-episode disc. Series 2 consisted of four or five episodes. I can't quite remember, as I stopped watching with one episode left to go, after what felt like four episodes... I was falling asleep. The second series is not as good as the first. The acting is just as good, the characters are joined by an entirely new cast of integrees from another branch, which made things a bit hectic, and this time the overall feel is much more like that of a slow-motion train wreck, the desperate controlling boss is about to go down in flames, and everyone in the office is acting like something bad is about to happen. After the downhill slide began, I continued to watch out of sheer morbid curiosity. Series two was way less funny and much more pathetic. Much ruder, cruder and darker than the first series. (I'm counting this disc (4 or 5 episodes) as four movies, just in case your curious). This one gets a 3 out of 5.
* Neighbors: Starring John Belushi and Dan Akroyd, this movie was a comedy? Strange folks move in next door, one's a psychopathic liar, and the other is a sultry temptress who taunts you and plays you like a kitten with a ball of yarn. Set at the end of the road in a swamp infested suburb, this tale lacks reason. I'm not sure what the point was, other than 'Hey! let's make a movie!' The acting was over the top, the characters were weak. The music was alright, and the sound production didn't suck. The movie did though. I give it a 2 out of 5.
* Trekkies: A documentary about the fans of Star Trek. You know what? I'm a fan of Star Trek. It's one of the few television shows I've ever liked. What I didn't like about this documentary was it's focus on the freaks of Star Trek. By focusing on the oddballs, they've given everyone the impression that science-fiction fans, Star Trek fans, are a bunch of nuts. It's almost as if they intentionally sought out the fringe element in an effort to give their documentary more 'color'. In the end, the ended up coloring all Star Trek fans into a very strange corner. The documentary was well directed, and I enjoyed the interviews with the former cast members, but the distorted focus on the fans put me off. I give it a 2 out of 5.
* The Blind Swordsman - Zatoichi: (Japanese - Zatôichi) There have been several movies made with this name, and this one must be one of the best. Directed by and starring, Takeshi Kitano, this highly stylized picture is a moving work of art. The music, choreography, acting, sets, costumes, locations, etc, etc, etc. It was very obvious that everything was planned to the most exacting level of detail. A finely woven tale with several complex characters created a truly deserving remake of a classic Japanese tale. The choreographed musical pieces were fantastic. The sword fights were new, fresh and unpredictable. The lighting and colors were remarkable. This movie is much more than a standard Samurai tale. Stage like, comic, tragic drama, at times Kabuki like. This one definitely gets a 5 out of 5, and I'm adding it to my list.
* Star Trek - The original series - Vol. 14, episodes 27 & 28: [Errand of Mercy / The City on the Edge of Forever]: I've started viewing episodes of the original Star Trek series. I watched it as a kid when I was growing up (Yow! that makes me... old?), and I loved it back then. You know what? I still love it. My friends and I used to pretend to be members of the 'Starship Enterprise'. Errand of mercy finds Kirk and Spock alone on a planet of pacifists when a war with the Klingons breaks out. As the Klingons invade the planet Kirk and Spock go underground to 'convince' the planet's inhabitants that the Klingons are here to do them harm. Despite their arrogant assurances and superior attitudes, both sides (Federation & Klingon) in this dispute soon learn that the pacifist inhabitant's have a lesson for the warring parties. The city on the edge of forever is another one of those time travel episodes that I love so much. Here McCoy rushes headlong through a time portal on an abandoned planet. Kirk and Spock have no option but to follow. Soon all three are embroiled in a complex web which will lead to the death of an innocent, or destruction of a civilization. Excellent writing.
* The Tesseract: (Honk Kong/Thailand) This movie, directed by Oxide Pang Chun (A Hong Kong based director) was filmed in Thailand in Chinese, English and Thai. Good thing the subtitles were obligatory! The screen play was adapted from a novel (The Tesseract) by Alex Garland. Unfortunately, this movie has nothing to do with a 'Tesseract', and virtually nothing to do with the novel which bears the name. A Tesseract is a four dimensional cube, and the movie initially claimed to have a multi-dimensional theme. It doesn't. The novel wove four characters into a whole story. Maybe the four 'dimensions' of the four characters as they overlapped into a single story was the basis of the title? While the novel may have been quite good (I haven't read it), this movie wasn't. It contained some neat visuals, color treatment, slow motion and pretty good acting, but the story was severely lacking. The plot was pretty thin - Someone stole my drugs and I want them back - your typical Hong Kong gangster theme. Despite all the big explosions and fancy camera work, in the end this one plays out with a disappointing whimper. 2 out of 5.
* The Constant gardener: I'm a sucker for a good conspiracy theory, and here's one that never quits. Filmed primarily in Kenya. This romance, murder mystery, conspiracy thriller, features British Diplomats, Pharmaceutical executives, Missionaries and deadly bandits in a wild conspiracy involving corporate corruption and the highest levels of government. Masterfully directed and acted. This movie was a tour-de-force work by director Fernando Meirelles. A 5 out of 5.
* Judgment at Nuremberg: A black & white movie made in 1961, but it feels as current as the middle east is violent. In the wake of violence, justice and liberty are threatened with subjugation at the hands of 'protecting' a nation from it's 'enemies'. At what point does the protection become the threat? This movie contains great acting by Spencer Tracy, Burt Lancaster, Richard Widmark, Marlene Dietrich, Maximilian Schell, Judy Garland, Montgomery Clift, Ed Binns, Werner Klemperer, Torben Meyer, Martin Brandt and a very young William Shatner. The writing and direction (by Stanley Kramer) are magnificent, the music is great. The best part of this movie is the story - highly relevant, very important. How easy is it to become what you despise, when you're surrounded by 'enemies'? The only flaw was pacing. At times this movie moved as quickly as our judicial system. 4 out of 5.
* A Streetcar named Desire: Dramatic and passionate. This classic play made movie contains some fantastic acting (Starring: Vivien Leigh, Marlon Brando, Kim Hunter & Karl Malden), great music and a dramatic story about love, guilt, loss, dreams, despair and destiny. If you haven't seen this one yet, you need to put it on your list. A classic play made into a movie. The music is top notch, the casting superb. Only one thing makes this movie less than perfect. It's pacing is too fast. Life simply doesn't happen in fast forward. Not one minutes goes by without an entire page of dialogue. This one gets a 4 out of 5.
* Bat 21: A movie I saw a long time ago, and then I saw parts of it again when I attended the Air Force NCO academy back in 2002. A pretty good vietnam war movie. An evade and survive/behind enemy lines movie. I've seen this plot before, and there really wasn't anything new or surprising . Starring Danny Glover and Gene Hackman, this movie, directed by Peter Markle, features excellent pacing, good music, excellent sets and locations, as well as some excellent acting by both Hackman and Glover. Based on a true story, this is an early example of the survive and evade genre. Thankfully, we're not led to believe that Hackman is an in the field military officer. Instead, he plays a semi-retired golf playing behind the lines pencil pusher who ends up in a situation where he's way over his head. I give this one a 4 out of 5.
* Cinema Paradiso: (Italian - Nuovo cinema Paradiso) I watched this movie with subtitles, but I was surprised to find that I could still understand a lot of the dialog without the subtitles. Kim and I enjoyed our seven years in Southern Italy, and this movie certainly brought back a lot of those memories. Directed by Giuseppe Tornatore, an unknown director (to Americans) until this movie came out. This movie is long, something like 170 minutes. I watched the directors cut. It's a journey through childhood. A famous film producer grows up in his village's movie theater, where he falls in love with a father figure, the movies, and a beautiful girl who breaks his heart. A touching and wonderful film. A character based drama about the big screen, and how it influenced one little boys life. This one gets a 5 out of 5. Splendid directing, good acting, and a touching story.
* Screamers: A sci-fi feature from Comcast's free 'On-Demand' offerings. Starring Peter Weller, Roy Dupuis, Jennifer Rubin & Andrew Lauer, this is a pretty good movie. The sci-fi war story is based on a novel by 'Philip K. Dick', and the movie 'borrows' elements from quite a few sci-fi classics. Unfortunately, it's lacking anything original. The acting by Peter Weller is pretty good, and I liked the way the movie created a futuristic feeling without resorting to odd costumes. This one gets 3 out of 5.
* Doctor Zhivago: With a cast consisting of Omar Sharif, Julie Christie, Geraldine Chaplin, Rod Steiger, Alec Guinness and Tom Courtenay, it's no wonder that this movie contained some brilliant acting. Astonishingly, this movie, set in the midst of the Bolshevik revolution, isn't much of a political statement. What it is however, is a brilliant dramatic epic set in the midst of a war ravaged nation. Full of character development, love, hate, death, war, and a search for reconciliation keep this movie moving forward at a pace akin to the Russian revolution. This movie contains some fantastic music, locations, sets, and costumes. The writing, directing and acting are unequaled. Deserving of the five oscars that it won and so much more. It's may be a long movie, but it's well worth it. I'm going to buy a copy and watch it over and over. 5 out of 5.
* King of New York: Despite a terrific cast, and some great directing. This movie lacked purpose or vision. What was the point? Pointless violence; the screen was spattered with copious amounts of blood, sex, drugs and abusive language. A glimpse into the most violent aspects of the drug trade in New York city. The Hollywood drug trade that is. The one we viewers are shown in countless movies. Movies that depict a gangster ruled world of violence. The movies (like this one) always depict the drug trade in a glorious but violent manner. The best thing about this 'movie' was the acting. Christopher Walken, David Caruso, Laurence Fishburne, Victor Argo, Wesley Snipes, Janet Julian, Joey Chin, Giancarlo Esposito, Paul Calderon, Steve Buscemi and many others. This one gets a 3 out of 5.
* The Chumscrubber: A different kind of drug trade. This movie portrays teen drug trade in a typical high school. What does it drive the characters to do? Another teen angst movie, where the adults ignore the increasingly desperate pleas of their offspring. The adults are all depicted as neurotic, self absorbed over-achievers. The hero is, as expected, a misunderstood, depressed male (played by Jamie Bell), who contemplates suicide, is convinced that no one can hear him, and no one really cares. In the end though, he does the right thing; rescuing the kidnapped innocent, and winning the kiss of the hot chick (played by Camilla Belle) who longs for his loins. Another waste of suburban angst. I've seen this movie far to many times to be impressed by this lackluster remix. Despite the talented cast, this flick didn't contain anything to separate it from the chaff. 2 out of 5.
Movies seen/reviewed this year (2006)
[ Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec ]
Feb (NF11/MM2/CC1/OS1)
* Robots: An animated movie. This one was in Kim's queue, but I thought I'd give it a try. This film is a perfect example of why these CG movies are drawing smaller and smaller audiences. Cute characters, simple and predictable plots, smoothly perfect animation, completely innocuous music. Nothing stands out in this movie. As a matter of fact, the best part of the movie was the voice of Robin Williams. Did you catch that? The best part was 'a voice'? This genre is pretty much dead. I group this type of movie in the 'Saturday Morning Cartoons' category. Not worth the effort. This one gets a 2 out of 5.
* Hawaii - Oslo: (Norway) Another one of those 'Many stories equals one movie' movies. I don't care for this style of movie, and this is just another example of why I don't like this type of movie. Lacking a cohesive plot, we're treated to a movie about a 'seer'. One of the characters in this movie has prophetic dreams. His dreams affect the lives of people in Oslo, Norway. He doesn't necessarily know the people, and they don't necessarily know him, but for some reason he's having prophetic dreams about them. I get the feeling that this 'Crash' style movie lacked anything original, so the author added the 'seer' as an after thought. The characters were great, the direction was great. The music was pretty good, but the story was lacking. Slow, without purpose, and meandering. I felt like 'I' dreamed the whole movie. Typical of the 'Synchronicity' genre. I give it a 3 out of 5.
* Mr. & Mrs. Smith: This one was on Kim's queue, but I didn't have anything else to watch. As expected, it was a waste of time. A typical hollywood waste of time. An excuse to put two good looking actors on screen together. Start with a worthless script (no plot to speak of), add lots of explosions, show some skin, dish up some corny dialog, and call it a movie. This is the typical hollywood formula for 'Crap'. The only thing worth watching in this movie was Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie. Their chemistry in this movie was very good. 2 out of 5.
* From here to eternity: (Made in 1953, I watched the original Black & White version). A great drama, dressed in Army green. Set just before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. This movie portrays the lives of the men in a typical Army unit. A seldom seen point of view. Life in the Army isn't quite the same today, but this was one fantastic drama. The directing (by Fred Zinneman), acting (by Burt Lancaster, Montgomery Clift, Deborah Kerr, Donna Reed, Frank Sinatra, Philip Ober, Ernest Borgnine) and character development were terrific. Great locations, sets and some fantastic music. This movie was more than a War movie, more than a love story. A dramatic portrayal of life in the military. Characters struggle with honor, duty, love and devotion. This one gets a 5 out of 5.
* * Star Trek - The original series - Vol. 15, episodes 29 & 30: [Operation: Annihilate! / Catspaw ]: I've started viewing episodes of the original Star Trek series. I watched it as a kid when I was growing up (Yow! that makes me... old?), and I loved it back then. You know what? I still love it. My friends and I used to pretend to be members of the 'Starship Enterprise'. Episode 29 is one of my all-time favorite Star Trek episodes. Featuring 'Flying Vomit' as a menacing pain inducing alien, mind-controlled colonists, and a determined crew. Kirk and Spock never relent in this episode. Some great (campy) dialog keeps the edge off. Kirk shouts "Spread out, follow-me", and everyone follows him in a relatively straight line (in order to stay in the shot). In one classic shot, Kirk beams down to the planet and the camera shot was set up with an extremely low camera angle, looking up at Kirk. Kirk stands for a moment, fists on hips, legs apart - The classic "I am Kirk - I am a God" stance. Episode 30 was fun as well. Featuring a pair of magic wielding aliens, a giant stalking cat, and the crew in manacles. This disc marks the end of season one, and I'm rating it 5 out of 5.
* Agnes of god: A religious toned murder mystery. This one reminds me of 'Order of the Rose', another great religious murder mystery. The newborn infant of a nun is found in a convent trash can. The mother is a mysterious character who exhibits stigmata, hears angelic voices, and sings like an angel. The best part of this movie is the unsolved ending. It doesn't stoop to the 'We must answer every question' cliche. Featuring some excellent acting, a great cast and a terrific story. This one was definitely worth watching. I rate it 4 out of 5.
* Stander: (South Africa) An amazing film about Andre Stander, a South African cop who turns to robbing banks after he becomes disillusioned and disgusted by his governments corrupt and unjust system. This movie was filmed on location in Africa, and the actors spoke accented English. It felt very authentic and I was taken in by the feeling of apartheid falling apart as I watched the movie. A great drama disguised as an action film. Terrific acting by Thomas Jane, Ashley Taylor, David O'Hara, Dexter Fletcher, Deborah Kara Unger, Marius Weyers and At Botha. perfect direction by Bronwen Hughes, and a great soundtrack. Everything in this movie clicked. I give it a 5 out of 5 despite the violent nature of the film.
* Alexander: (Director's Cut (Shorter than the theatrical version?)) O.k. I finally got around to watching this movie, and I have to say, I didn't like it. The acting by Angelina Jolie and Anthony Hopkins was exceptional. They both did a fantastic job. The direction by Oliver Stone was fair, but the writing and dialog were poor. The sets, locations and costumes were outstanding. The problem with this movie was it's scope. It tried to be too much. Historical, but not focused on the historical aspects. Dramatic, but not just a drama. I liked the narration aspects (as told by Old Ptolemy (played by Anthony Hopkins)), but the story strayed too much from this format, and the numerous time shifts left me wondering 'why?'. Overall I rate it a 2 out of 5.
* The Kid: A Black & White silent picture (1921) with/by Charles Chaplin. Not a Disney movie with Bruce Willis. Another movie written by, directed by, and starring Charlie Chaplin. This time he goes one better. This time he even composed the score for the movie. In this dramatic comedy. Chaplin costars with Jackie Coogan (playing Jack Coogan). A child actor who's talent is immediately obvious and who's career is all but assured after the debut of this movie. The story is that of an orphan taken in by down-and-out Chaplin. Doing his best to support the duo in a depression era economy. The two end up involved in a rather complex set of comedic circumstances. At less than an hour in duration, this movie was a joy to watch. I give it a 4 out of 5.
* March of the Penguins: (France - Marche de l'empereur, La) A documentary shot in the eternally cold and utterly unforgiving antarctica. This movie is incredibly well shot considering the location. I can't imagine the hardships encountered making this movie. Extremely well narrated movie covers the first journey of a young Emperor penguin in Antarctica. Great directing, production, location, and acting :-) This movie gets a 4 out of 5.
* Red Eye: A psychological thriller directed by Wes Craven. Not very thrilling. Poor writing. The plot? Preposterous. Terrorists want to kill the Secretary of Homeland Defense, we're not sure why. Probably because they're terrorists. Part of their plot requires them to kidnap some innocent woman, threaten to kill her dad, and force her to move the politician into a different hotel room. Rachel McAdams as the damsel in distress surprises us with her vigorous self defense moves, but aside from that, there were no surprises is this flat thriller. I give it a 2 out of 5.
* Walk the line: I watched this movie while flying back from Hawaii. A documentary about rock/country legend Johnny Cash. Juaquin Phoenix gave a stunning performance as the god of the enigmatic country rocker. Reese Witherspoon delivers an unforgettable June Carter. The direction by James Mangold was great. The costumes, sets, locations and casting were all well done. While this picture was less bio-pic and more love story than some would prefer, I found it utterly convincing, compelling and deeply moving. The musical performances by Phoenix and Witherspoon were top notch, the acting was outstanding, the music was used to move the story forward, and I rate this movie 5 out of 5. I'm adding it to my must buy list.
* Z-Channel - A magnificent obsession: A totally captivating documentary about the man and the station. Back in the late 70's, a maverick by the name of Jerry Harvey took the reins of the nation's first pay cable channel. The undeniable genius that drove Z-Channel was driven to program the best movies he could for an audience that was hungry for something smarter that the industry standard broadcast community could provide. Featuring groundbreaking uncut, directors cuts and independent movies, Z-Channel became an icon of sophistication amidst a nation of pabulum sated american moviegoers. I made a list of over fifty movies while watching this amazing documentary. A fantastic movie worthy of a 5 out of 5.
* The forest for the trees: (German - Wald vor lauter Bäumen, Der) Another selection from Filmmovement.com. This one shows a lot of potential, but poor camera work and an unfinished and amateur feel detracted from my experience. The story follows a young and enthusiastic college graduate as she embarks on her new career as a teacher in a new town. Leaving friends and family behind, the character soon finds herself in a downward spiral of deepening depression. A social misfit, the character makes several mistakes as she desperately seeks to make friends in this new city. The movie's ending is a surprisingly symbolic scene where she completely loses control of her life as it careens out of control into a completely uncertain future. This one gets a 3 out of 5.
Movies seen/reviewed this year (2006)
[ Jan | Feb
| Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec ]
Mar (NF24/MM2/CC4/OS1)
* The Ladykillers: DVD borrowed from a friend. A remake of a 50's comedy (which I haven't seen). Starring Tom Hanks, this witty comedy features some fantastic characters with great lines. The writing and directing by the Coen Brothers (Ethan & Joel) is top notch. Unfortunately, the scope is a bit to narrow. The plot? An eccentric southern professor takes a sabbatical in order to assemble an unlikely crew to rob a floating casino. They tunnel to the cash from the basement of a nearby home. Unfortunately, the landlady discovers their crime. So, she must be eliminated... Easier said than done. Clever and well done. The problem with this movie isn't the characters, it's the story. The story is just a bit to mundane for the characters. I rate this movie a 3 out of 5.
* Wolf: This is the second time I've seen this movie, and I must say, I'd forgotten how good it was. Here's a classic horror theme (werewolf) turned current by setting it in today's competitive business world. The direction by Mike Nichols was fantastic. The acting by Jack Nicholson, Michelle Pfeiffer and James Spader was great. The lines were pretty good, and the camera work and lighting was perfect. The opening sequence was outstanding. It really set a good mood for the movie. This was a wonderful mix of horror and drama with excellent pacing. The music by Ennio Moriccone was outstanding. This is a horror movie in the classic mode. Where dramatic character interplay, good camera work and great music all work together. You won't find flashy eye candy, skin tight black leather or any CGI effects. I give this movie a 5 out of 5, and I'm adding it to my 'must buy' list.
* Il Grido: (Italian - The Outcry) Made in 1957, this black & white movie was co-written and directed by Michelangelo Antonioni. Starring American actor Steve Cochran and several Italian beauties, the movie is set in post-WWII industrial Italy during a period of social displacement. The main character, Aldo (played by Steve Cochran) learns that his live in lovers husband has died, but she's concealed another lover from him all this while. Despite the fact that they have a daughter together, she decides to leave him for this other lover. Unable to convince her to stay he instigates a very public break-up. Afterwards he begins a wandering journey across a bleak and desolate countryside. As he falls into one disastrous relationship after another he finally realizes that leaving his home town gained him nothing. He returns only to find his foundation condemned to destruction by the government. Convinced that fate has set his course he sees no alternative and commits suicide is a truly fitting ending. This tragic tale of love spurned and an inability to communicate results in a downward spiral of tragic consequences. The camera work is fantastic, the framing exceptional, the locations reflect the mood of the movie and the acting is great. Despite a poor translation (subtitles), this one gets a 4 out of 5.
* Four Brothers: The best part about this movie was the casting and the soul music. Starring Mark Wahlberg, Tyrese Gibson, André Benjamin, Garrett Hedlund and many others, the acting was pretty good, but this movie didn't contain anything new. The plot? Someone killed an elderly "Hell's Kitchen of Detroit" adoptive parent, the 'Brothers' (Two black, two white) return for the funeral and some vengeance. There's a bad cop subplot, a brother in trouble sub-plot, and a pair of bumbling detectives sub-plot. Add in lot's of violence, some catchy music, profanity and some sex and you've got yourself a hollywood blockbuster. I didn't care for it. 2 out of 5.
* Captain Blood: A classic pirate movie. This black and white movie made in 1935 is an early 'talky' featuring quite a few 'narration' screens. This was Errol Flynn's breakout role in American cinema. As a pirate movie this one was great. The plot used several historical facts and characters, the sets, locations, costumes and music were fantastic. While the acting was typical for the era, the chemistry between Errol Flynn and Olivia de Hallivand (as the high born love interest) was terrific. The actions scenes were amazing (for the time), and the story was the best. Containing all the iconic contents of a classic pirate movie: Political persecution, slavery in the west indies, an evil plantation owner, sacking of port towns, naval battles, tropical islands, drunken debauchery, sword fights, duels, chivalry, sieges, fair maidens and redemption. The plot contained plenty of stunning twists and turns and this light hearted pirate movie is one of the best I've ever seen. I give it a 4 out of 5.
* Europa Europa: (Germany) An incredibly powerful movie, based on a true story about the survival of a young jewish boy during WWI. What he had to do to survive Hitler's nightmare. How he had to subvert his own identity and live a life of lies. The direction, writing and acting were outstanding. The sets, locations and costumes perfect. How long could a jew possibly escape detection from within the ranks of the third reich? This one gets a 5 out of 5.
* Mr. Smith goes to Washington: Black & White political drama from 1939. A very well done movie with a positive message. A movie about political graft, corruption and American ideals. Starring James Stewart, Claude Rains and Jean Arthur, this movie featured some great direction by Frank Capra as well as a great script and terrific lines. Thoroughly enjoyable throughout. The only downside was the confining aspects of the movie. Too much of the action takes place on the floor of the U.S. Senate, and the ending left me wanting more. I rate this one 4 out of 5.
* Malena: (Italian - Malèna) Directed by Giuseppe Tornatore (See Cinema Paradiso), this is a movie about a young boys unrequited first love. An older woman, the most beautiful in the entire town becomes the object of his fantasies, love, lust, an obsession. As he grows into a man she is his focal point for the formulation of his ideals regarding love and adult relationships. The romantic, comedic drama is a fantastic coming of age story wrapped up in the setting of war-torn Italy. The music is fantastic, the characters completely authentic, the direction is superb and the story memorable. I give it a 5 out of 5.
* Man on fire: Another typical hollywood kidnapping drama/action flick for the "Let's get some revenge!" crowd. Denzel Washington plays Denzel Washington as a washed-up alcoholic ex-military/mercenary assassin. Dakota Fanning provides an overacting lesson as the kidnapped child. Thankfully, Christopher Walken, Rachel Ticotin and some of the other cast members help ground the performances. The plot? Mexico city, someone kidnaps rich guys kid. Denzel gets shot up. The ransom goes bad and the kid is killed. Denzel pulls himself out of the hospital and goes on a blood-bath rampage. The extreme violence that follows was repulsive and did not serve to enhance the story in any way. As Denzel closes in on the 'leaders', the plot twists are revealed. Guess what? The kid is still alive! Guess what? The kids dad and his lawyer were the masterminds behind the kidnapping! Stunned silence follows... Gee. I would have never guessed. I figured out these plot twists before I even watched the movie. The camera work overused stylized shooting and the editing was a bit dizzying. The only thing that saved this movie from getting a 2 was the setting in Mexico City, which afforded some great location shots and really added to the movie. I give it a 3 out of 5.
* The Weather Man: From Kim's queue. I don't really care for Nicolas Cage, as his acting style is too stage like and his demeanor always strikes me as a bit too smug. This movie is a great drama, it's too bad they didn't cast somebody else in the lead. Cage's style wasn't right for this role. The acting by Michael Caine was superb. The pacing and directing (by Gore Verbinski) were excellent. The location shots were great, as was the music. Unfortunately the sound track wasn't well matched to the moods of the movie. The story is deep, dark, personal and carried a lot of unspoken dialog. The main character is tormented by his demons, he's on a downward spiral, desperately seeking a way up and out. When the transition comes for the main character it's hard to spot - That's the sore spot in this movie. 3 out of 5.
* The boys from Brazil: (U.K.) Starring Gregory Peck as Dr. Josef Mengele (Notorious Nazi) and Laurence Olivier as Ezra Lieberman (Nazi Hunter), this is fantastic movie. A dramatic thriller with a sci-fi slant. This movie, released in 1978, explored a sci-fi concept which is now accepted as fact. Human cloning. I remember seeing this movie back in the 70's. The audience was shocked by the possibility of human cloning. The story broached a scary concept involving cloning in a very believable way. While watching the movie, you're intrigued by the possibilities and then shocked to find that the Nazi's had actually achieved their goals. They'd already cloned Hitler! The acting was pretty good, the direction fine, the music added considerable propulsion, but the story was the star of this movie. As the movie begins with an investigation, the mysterious conspiracy thickens and an eventual confrontation between the resolute hunter and his elusive quarry ensues. The showdown involving the Doberman's is a very tense scene, and the ending leaves you guessing about the future of humanity. 5 out of 5.
* Lady in the lake: Released in 1947, this film noir detective story starred Robert Montgomery and Audrey Totter. The story was your usual film noir detective story. The characters were cardboard cutouts from any film noir detective story. There were two things that set this movie apart. First of all, the pacing was so quick and the plot so convoluted, that I had no idea who did what to whom. I found myself dragged along mercilessly through this fast-forward detective story. I got lost within the first 15 minutes, and never got back on track. With all honesty though, I was warned not to blink at the begining of the film. The other thing that set this movie apart was the way it was told/filmed. It was presented entirely from a first person point of view. The view that we're presented is what the main character sees. The only time we saw 'Philip Marlowe', was when he stood near or looked into a mirror. I give it a 3 out of 5 for the novel manner in which the story was told.
* Amelie: (France - Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain, Le) A great movie. A charming romance, a fantastic fairy tale. A naive young woman is alone in Paris. She reaches a turning point in her life and decides to help those around her. In helping others she helps herself and falls in love. Great characters, great casting, excellent direction and splendid camera work. The traveling Gnome thread was brilliant. The ending was terrific. This is the second time I've seen this movie. It gets a 5 out of 5 and I've added it to my 'Must Buy' list.
* The Star Maker : (Italy - Uomo delle stelle, L') Another movie by Giuseppe Tornatore. This director's films all feel like they were made in the 50's - 60's, even though they're relatively new (80's - 90's). His highly visual style of story telling creates stirring pictures full of raw emotion. This is the story of a self-proclaimed 'Talent Scout'. The main character is a huckster disguised as a movie industry insider. Traveling from town to town in a depressed and bombed out post WWII Sicily, he sells dreams to the eager masses for a mere 1,500 lira. Never staying in one town for very long, this con-man bounces from town to town the way he bounces in and out of relationships. He skillfully navigates the mine-field of potential traps until he stumbles upon the one trap that targets his heart. Fantastic characters, stunning visuals, terrific music, and unrivaled direction make this a movie on par with Cinema Paradiso. (This movie is rated "R" for good reasons. Don't let the kids watch this one.) I give it a 5 out of 5. Added to the 'Must Buy' list.
* War of the worlds: The remake that doesn't equal the original in any way. Directed by Steven Spielberg, starring Tom Cruise, Dakota Fanning and the underratedJustin Chatwin. This remake places alien invaders in a present tense. We're asked to believe that Aliens capable of interstellar travel wouldn't think about or take precautions to avoid contamination by alien life forms. For all their sophistication, these aliens are killed by the same thing that killed the original aliens. Audiences bought it back then because they weren't as knowledgeable about science and infectious diseases. Fast forward through the Aids epidemic, several 'Outbreak' style movies and 'Mad Cow' disease. Today's audience is just not gullible enough to believe the 'Germs' killed them ending. Rather than re-run the original 1950's naivete setting, Spielberg chooses to give us a different spin on the invasion. Unfortunately it's just not enough of a twist to monopolize our attention. Follow that with a deflecting drama about a man and his family and we've completely given up on the sci-fi aspects of the film. The acting by Cruise and Dakota was a bit overwhelming at times, and the best parts of this movie received very little attention. The pacing, effects and set work were fantastic. This one takes a monumental film, and remakes it to feel run of the mill. 3 out of 5.
* 2046: (China/Hong-Kong) Disappointing bait-and-switch. After reading a brief synopsis of this movie, I got the feeling that it was a sci-fi drama. The sci-fi in this movie was something like sci-fi in an episode of 'The Young and the Restless'. Dress in a costume, and show a poorly rendered CGI exterior shot. This narrated first person drama recounts the story of a lackluster writer's lousy love life. The story supposedly takes places in different times, but I didn't see it that way. I saw it as a bunch of unrelated dramas about love lost. The loser in this story can't seem to commit, and as a result he's destined to make a lot of women unhappy in an endless loop of time-traveling purgatory? The direction was well done, and the narrative prose was well written, but as a movie it failed. Maybe the book is better? The title? I really haven't got a clue, and frankly, I could care less. This one got a 2 out of 5.
* The 40 year-old virgin: Very funny, but too risque. American comedy is becoming too raunchy. I don't need continuous profanity and sex jokes to make me laugh. Am I the only one who doesn't swear twice a minute? Steve Carell is great in this coming of age - at 40! comedy (He reminds me a lot of Daniel Auteuil in The Closet (France - Le Placard)). The supporting cast and characters were very well matched. The music was great and there were a lot of great lines; Jay: [to Andy, in a bar] All you got to do is use your instincts. How do you think a lion knows to tackle a gazelle? It's written, it's a code written in his DNA, says, "tackle the gazelle." And believe it or not, in every man there's a code written that says, "tackle drunk bitches." Umm, wasn't I the one who said I didn't need profanity to make me laugh? Anyway, this was one hilarious comedy. I rate it 4 out of 5.
* Fahrenheit 9/11: O.k. some people refuse to watch this movie. What's up with that? Are they afraid that it might make them think? That it might change their perception of reality? That the movie might cast our President in a poor light? Come on people. We live in a democracy with (last time I checked) freedom of speech. I liked it. Yes it's a documentary, but it's obviously biased. Must all documentaries be unbiased? Really, says who? I thought it was artfully crafted. A well done documentary. Not the best documentary ever, but still. It was well done. Insightful, creative, and somewhat humorous, given the gravity of the issues it addressed. Whether you like or dislike Michael Moore, you have to give him credit for taking an extremely complex set of data, events and opinions, and converting them into a single cogent point of view. I give it a 4 out of 5.
* Polar Express: At last an animated movie that's not another stupid story about some talking animal or toy. This one is clearly aimed at a younger audience (Well, younger than me!), and I applaud it for not 'trying' to appeal to both adult and child. It made me laugh, nearly cry, and I watched intently as my inner child stared in wonder! Here we see animation used to help tell the story. It wasn't just a substitute for live action, and it certainly wasn't a cartoon. Tom Hanks was great in all the characters he voiced, and the direction by Robert Zemeckis was excellent. The only detraction from this movie was the obvious play to political correctness by inserting characters of distinctly diverse racial/ethnic types. This one gets a 4 out of 5.
* The motorcycle diaries: (Argentina - Diarios de motocicleta) This was a great movie, until it started getting political. If this movie hadn't tried to illustrate Che' Guevara's political motivations, it would have been a much better movie. The movie is a recounting of a great journey. Two young men set off on a grand adventure to ride a motorcycle across South America in the early 50's. It was a great travel movie, the main characters were great, and the acting by Rodrigo De la Serna (in the secondary role) was outstanding. The cinematography and the locations splendid. The direction was fine, but there were times when the movie slipped into 'documentary' mode. That detracted from the pure adventure and discovery aspects of the movie. This one gets a 3 out of 5.
* Horizons - Where the sea meets the sky: DVD Trio/Polynesian collection. This DVD contains three videos. Welcome to Polynesia, Fa'a Samoa, and the Horizon's Evening Show. All three videos are productions of the Polynesian cultural center located on the North shore of Oahu, Hawai'i. Of the three videos, Fa'a Samoa was by far the most entertaining and had the best production quality. The Horizon's show is much better when experienced live, and the Welcome to Polynesia video suffered from poor production and narration. Rating all three videos: Welcome to Polynesia - 2, Fa'a Samoa - 4, Horizon's evening show - 2. Overall: 3.
* The man who would be king: A film co-written and directed by John Huston. This movie is based on a Rudyard Kippling novel. Starring Sean Connery, Michael Caine and Christopher Plummer, this a fantastic adventure story. The type of movie that inspires one to write something like an Indiana Jones movie. Grand adventure, exotic locations, Masonic mysteries, ancient history, military conquest and a fatalistic ending. A perfect treat for a Saturday afternoon. I give this one a 4 out of 5.
* I'll sleep when I'm dead: A dud - This one never gets out of first gear. The plot is as follows: Retired gangsters son is found dead, dad comes out of retirement to find those responsible and kill them. The pacing was incredibly slow, and the acting was un-inspiring. The plot was extremely predictable, and the ending was terrible. I think they actually forgot what they were doing when they edited the movie. This one gets a 2 out of 5.
* The Aviator: The remake directed by Martin Scorsese, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett and Alec Baldwin. The casting wasn't the best. I'm not much of a DiCaprio fan. He did a good job in this movie, but I don't think he was the best casting choice for the lead. Regardless of the age depicted, his voice made me think of a pimply faced teenage boy. In my opinion, the best acting and casting came from Alec Baldwin as Howard Hughes' arch-nemesis. While the movie followed the expected portrayal of Mr. Hughes, Howard Hughes may not have been as odd as the press made him out to be. I think that our perception of some historical figures is clouded by sensationalistic journalists. This bio-pic felt like a fictional film. It didn't feel like a documentary at all. Scorsese did a really good job. I was caught up in the story, which flew by. I give this one a 4 out of 5.
* Aaltra: (France - Aaltra) A Filmmovement.com selection, this movie was billed as a witty comedy, this dark drama had some funny moments, but it wasn't really a comedy. Two men collide when their petty problems overcome their senses. They become injured during a fight and seek revenge against the manufacturer of a piece of farm machinery (The name of the movie is the name of the manufacturer). The acting was pretty good, and the directing was very good. The movie lacked a decent soundtrack, and the video production was off. Lacking color (shot in black and white), depth or motion. It felt like I was reading a book. The only redeeming feature of this movie was it's treatment of the handicapped. They were definitely treated in a realistic manner, and I left the film with a greater sense of understanding for their day to day struggle with prejudice. This one gets a 3 out of 5.
* * Star Trek - The original series - Vol. 16, episodes 31 & 32: [Metamorphosis / Friday's Child ]: I've started viewing episodes from the second season of the original Star Trek series. I watched it as a kid when I was growing up (Yow! that makes me... old?), and I loved it back then. You know what? I still love it. My friends and I used to pretend to be members of the 'Starship Enterprise'. Metamorphosis features Zephram Cochrane at 235 years old! He's been kept alive by an alien that's fallen in love with him. There sure was a lot of interspecies love in the show! Friday's Child featured more interspecies love. The Federation and the Klingon empire compete for a rare mineral and McCoy is the parent of the planets next ruler! The bow and arrow ambush in Friday's Child was a pretty tense combat scene, thanks to great music. I can't believe they needed a stunt man to handle the difficult task of 'falling down'. I'm sure he earned every sent from that scene...
* Derailed: One from Kim's queue. I really wasn't paying much attention (reading my book on the couch) until the second half of the movie. That's when the plot really heated up. Just before things got interesting, I made some silly remark like... "O.k. I've got the entire plot figured out. Here's what's going to happen." I couldn't have been more wrong. At first I thought this was just going to be some sappy romantic drama, what with Jennifer Aniston and Clive Owen playing opposite each other. What I didn't count on was the fact that this was actually a suspense thriller, and a really good one at that. The best acting actually came from Vincent Cassel, who plays a blackmailing low life scumbag. The acting (overall) wasn't the best, and the directing was good, but the lighting, music and writing were really good. This surprising thriller gets a 4 out of 5.
* Kurosawa: A documentary on the acclaimed director. As far as documentary's go, there really wasn't anything spectacular about this one. Disappointing, considering the astonishing personality that was the subject. Akira Kurasawa's films have always been listed as some of the world's best, and he's my personal favorite. This documentary on the other hand, will be forgotten by the thousands who see it in less than an hour. A simple recap of movies he made, and some personal insight into his life. This movie was produced, directed and shot with a surprising lack of vision. There was nothing here about Kurosawa's contribution to the art of film, how his techniques and vision advanced the cinema. There's an extreme lack of focus when it comes to the schism between Kurasawa and his leading man, 'Toshiro Mifune'. I give this documentary a 3 out of 5. It had some good stylistic elements (reuse of Kurosawa film footage), but lacked in substance. Note: I only watched the main title on the disc. There were two other interviews, but I didn't watch those.
* November: Very stylistic murder mystery. Excellent photography, lighting, music and composition. The acting was o.k., the direction and music were good. A movie about a tragic event. Replayed over and over, the main character (played by Courteney Cox) tries to make sense out of a sense violent incident. A loved one is murdered in a convenience store hold-up, and the consequences test the sanity of the survivor. The ending was great, but the scope was too limited. I give it a 3 out of 5.
* Dark Water: The American version, directed by Walter Salles. Slightly better than the Japanese version by Hideo Nakata. Much more screaming, but still not enough! Great pacing, fantastic lighting, good camera work, very eerie music. Great acting by child actor Ariel Gade and Pete Postlethwaite as the handy man. This horror movie is very creepy, with fetid, dank, dark water oozing from every corner of the screen. Unfortunately, it didn't delve deep enough into the origins of the haunting. This one gets a 4 out of 5.
Movies seen/reviewed this year (2006)
[ Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec ]
Apr (NF20/MM6/CC4/OS1)
* Harry Potter and the goblet of fire: A sad excuse for a movie. I think that this series has run it's course. 85% of the movie was the same old Harry Potter that we've seen before. A sorcerous contest featuring wizards flying about on broomsticks. Oh, wait a Dragon, that's new right? Yawn... The new part wasn't even new. Same old villains, same old plot twists, same characters, same special effects, everything was pretty much the same. I really didn't see much point in making this movie. The best part of the movie was the opening ten minutes. Beyond that I was bored senseless by the apparent lack of plot and originality. I know there's another coming, but I'm just not interested anymore. I'm deleting the Prisoner of Azkaban from my queue, and I'm certainly not planning to watch Order of the Phoenix. 2 out of 5.
* Reservoir Dogs: Written, directed by and starring; Quentin Tarantino. Tarantino's directorial debut is an excellent example of what I don't like in American movies. The only redeeming feature to this movie are the great lines and the excellent acting by Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, Steve Buscemi, Lawrence Tierney, and Kirk Baltz (the tortured cop). The sets were another highlight in this extremely violent tale of a mobster robbery gone awry. A short story made into motion picture. The amount of violence in this movies caters to some of the basest instincts in the audience. It's difficult to tell a good story that draws the viewer in. It's difficult to look the other way when you see a car wreak on the side of the road. The opening scene (despite Tarantino's self-indulgent inclusion) was one of the best parts of this movie. I give it a 3 out of 5.
* Trees Lounge: Steve Buscemi's directorial debut. Written, directed by and starring Steve Buscemi. Now this is an example of what I like in American films. Thoughtful, introspective characters with more than two dimensions. Less hollywood appeal, but more to my liking. In this character based drama, Steve Buscemi plays a chronic loser who's questionable behavior leads to a life of misery. The movie ends with the main character on the brink of revelation. Moments away from a crucial decision. The best part of the movie? By the end of the movie we all know what happens seconds after the closing credits begin to roll. Fantastic acting, great characters, terrific writing. This one gets a 4 out of 5.
* The longest yard: (2005 remake of the 1974 movie starring Burt Reynolds) This movie was a typical hollywood remake. An attempt to suck money out of an audience reminiscing about the 70's. The acting by Adam Sandler was flat, but there were plenty of laughs. Unfortunately, most of the social context and commentary was gone. The writers stuck pretty close to the story line from 1974. Basically, it was a recreation with current social context, correctness, characters and comedy. Comfortable and predictable, smooth and bland, sort of like Poi. 2 out of 5.
* The wages of fear: (France - Salaire de la peur, Le) This black & white movie from 1955 is very multi-lingual. Scenes include dialog in French, Italian, Spanish, German and English. There may have been other languages, but I stopped trying to keep count. This movie is directed by a renowned french director: Henri-Georges Clouzot. The movie is set in central or south america (Nicaragua or Venezuela?). The setting is a backwater village where there is very little work. Foreigners abound, but there is no explanation as to why they are there. The beginning of the movie is a little slow. Eventually we get to the meat of the movie. An American oil company (who cares for nothing but profits) must hire drivers (who will go to any lengths to escape the life they've made for themselves) to transport nitroglycerin across rugged terrain in order to put out an oil well fire on the other side of the mountains. Many of the desperate foreigners apply for the job, and two crews are selected for the suicide mission. Once this phase of the movie gets under way, the movie gets much better. Washboard roads, narrow defiles, wastelands, hair-pin turns, avalanches and explosions. The tension becomes so taught at times that characters are more volatile than their cargo. It's a dark movie, with obvious anti-American socialist leanings, but it's a fantastic movie. The ending is very nihilistic and a bit of a downer. This one gets a 5 out of 5.
* The Village: Written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan. One of my favorite directors. Shyamalan also did Sixth Sense, Signs and Unbreakable. I rated all of these 5 out of 5, and it may come as no surprise that I'm giving 'The Village' a 5 out of 5 as well. A love story inside a story inside a story. Very well written. The cast was fantastic. With names like: Bryce Dallas Howard, Joaquin Phoenix, Adrian Brody, William Hurt, Sigourney Weaver, and Brendon Gleeson, this movie contains some top notch acting. The costumes are vivid, evocative and splendid in period. The sets and locations take you back to a simpler time. The music moves you, catching your breath, lifting your spirits and giving you hope. The direction is impeccable. This movie has more emotion and reason in it than M. Night Shyamalan's previous films. Despite the reviews of a couple of nay saying friends, I thought this was a fantastic movie. I'm glad I bought a copy and I look forward to his next film (Lady in the Water).
* The Thumbsucker: A movie with an odd title. This is a coming of age drama. A teen boy is trying to become a man, but something is holding him back. A great drama with some splendid acting from a great cast (Lou Taylor Pucci, Vincent D'Onofrio, Keanu Reeves, Vince Vaughn, Kelli Garner). If you're looking for a Napoleon Dynamite, you've definitely got the wrong film. This is more like Donnie Darko. The music, directing and energy all support a mature undertone. A coming of age revelation, not a drunken frat party. The focus is on the lead character, but the supporting characters are truly splendid as well. Some great 'tongue-in-cheek' lines, and a wonderful ending. Sorry, no explosions, but a great movie. 4 out of 5.
* The brothers Grimm: Awful. Disappointing. A colossal waste of time. It'll be quite some time before I consider Terry Gilliam to be one of my favorite directors. What happened to the brilliance that drove the Monty Python machine? The films Time Bandits, Brazil and 12 Monkeys were great. This was horrible, as was Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Starring Matt Damon and Heath Ledger, the best acting came from Monica Bellucci as the mirror queen. A mish-mash of unfocussed energy drove hyperventilating characters this way and that across a landscape set in overdrive. The plot is... rescue the children, destroy the evil queen, escape from the sadistic French count, engage in drunken debauchery, swindle the villagers, redeem yourself for the 'magic beans' episode? I was happy to see it end. 1 out of 5. (Aaron was right)
• Lolita: (The 1962 version directed by Stanley Kubrick) A movie about a middle-aged writer who falls in love with his land lady's teenaged (15?) daughter. The movie is based on a novel by Vladimir Nabokov. Admittedly, I haven't read the book, but I'm glad that the author wrote the screenplay. Adaptations by screen writters aren't always that good. This movie contains some excellent acting by James Mason, Shelly Winters, Sue Lyon and Peter Sellers. Due to the subject matter of the movie, there was a lot of unspoken (scenes not shown) subtext in this movie. Surely the 1979 version must be more explicit. The main character does whatever he needs to in order to keep his Lolita by his side. Guilt and obsession soon take over his life, and things end badly as his fantasy comes to an end. An excellent movie, but the prudish times in which it was shot detracted quite a bit from the subject matter. 3 out of 5.
* Salvador: A historically based thriller on speed. Directed by Oliver Stone, starring James Woods and James Belushi. Not for the timid, this violent movie focuses the camera on the men behind the lens. A movie about journalists on the razor's edge in war ravaged El Salvador, this picture cruises along fueled by adrenalin and stray bullets. The main characters enter the scene after fleeing no-win scenarios in the states. The movie starts out in 5th gear and never relents. This depiction of political corruption and violent death squads feels so real that I found myself flinching when the bullets started whizzing past. An outstanding achievement. I'm glad I bought a copy. 4 out of 5.
* Notorious: A movie by Alfred Hitchcock. Starring Cary Grant, Ingrid Bergman and Claude Rains; this romantic thriller contains some really good camera work, and the characters were magnificent. Full of complicated themes, motivations, and triggers. The problem with this movie was the sub-plot. Don't be mistaken, this is first and foremost a love triangle drama, and secondly a spy thriller. That's the problem. In a romantic drama, a spy-thriller setting is unusual. Unfortunately, when we try to focus on the the 'spy thriller' aspects of this movie, we're continually disappointed. The spy-thriller sub-plot is never fully realized, and I was left feeling like the victim of a hit and run. The character interplay was great, but the climax and sub-plot resolution were sorely lacking. 3 out of 5.
* The War Wagon: An early color western starring John Wayne and Kirk Douglas. This western caper casts our co-stars as the outlaw type (though they don't fit the roles very well), intent on robbing an armored stage coach, the movie is a wonderful Saturday afternoon adventure. A buddy movie, a comedy, a western and a heist caper all wrapped up together. The two actors play off each other wonderfully. They're such a pleasure to watch that the Jewish indian is barely noticed. The music is great, especially the title track: "Ballad of The War Wagon", performed by the actor/singer Ed Ames. This one gets a 3 out of 5.
* Fun with Dick and Jane: (remake) Starring Jim Carrey and Téa Leoni this movie didn't compare with most of Carrey's previous films. Depicting a family who's income evaporates with the loss of both jobs. The couple competes for menial jobs in order to maintain their affluent upper-middle-class lifestyle. Eventually they turn to crime - Stealing the neighbors lawn, robbing banks, and a scam to steal millions from the former executives that sold them down the river. This movie contains a lot of cheek-in-tongue references to the current soci-political climate, but it also contained some good laughs. Unfortunately it never took off. Leoni and Carrey haven't much chemistry together and Carrey's antics are tempered by the soci-political realities that this movie exposes. Having just retired from the military, the possibility of living like Dick & Jane isn't all that far-fetched. 3 out of 5.
* Cindarella man: Directed by Ron Howard, Starring Russell Crowe, Renée Zellweger and Paul Giamatti. A fantastic movie. One of those Underdog chick flick movies. American's love to root for the underdog, and this boxer was definitely that. Set in the midst of the great depression, James Braddock fights like every working man in order to keep his family fed. There's nothing new here, but the story is told so well that we can't help but feel for the hero. Ron Howard did a fantastic job directing this movie. The production and acting were top notch. The sets, costumes and props were great. This one gets a 4 out of 5.
* Devil's Playground: A documentary about Amish teenagers. Between the ages of 16 and 21, Amish teens have all church/Amish restrictions lifted. During this time, they must decide whether or not they will join the Amish church. Whether they will continue to be Amish. It's an amazing insight into a completely foreign culture. A civilization within a society that's totally alien to them. The teens struggle with incredibly complex issues, and the cosequences of living in a 'modern' society. Thankfully there's very little influence from the camera crew, and the teens tell their own story. This movie was well done, but the strength was the subject. This one gets a 4 out of 5.
* Ghostbusters: A classic comedy from the 80's. I own this one. The more I watch it, the more I realize the comic genius of Bill Murray. Starring Bill Murray, Dan Akroyd, Sigourney Weaver (after Alien), Harold Ramis, and Rick Moranis. Sure the 'special effects' were crap. The costumes, make-up and hair were attrocious (it was the 80's). Yeah it was corny. But oh my god, the lines! Very funny writting by Dan Akroyd and Harold Ramis. Akroyd's enthusiasm played against Murray's sedate comic comeons quite well. The story was preposterous, but it was original. That, and the comic mastery of Bill Murray made this movie a gem to watch. Murray can get a smile by simply starring at a fellow actor. This movie gets a 5 out of 5.
* Dogtown and Z-Boys: A documentary about surfers turned skaters. The revolutionary Zephyr team and how they created the Skate culture in America. A great documentary. Well directed, great narration, excellent music, and a visual style that complements the rebellious nature of the subject. The video production contained some really good fades, cuts and scene effects. Very well done. Mixing live interviews, vintage film footage, stills and narration - You don't have to be a skate punk to enjoy this documentary. These innovators tore up the pavement with more than polyurethane. This was a documentary about boys who would be kings. Alpha males one and all. They lived the life, became the legends and led a revolution. 5 out of 5.
* Junebug: A character based comedic drama. A 'Meet the Parents reality check'. Not your typical hollywood 'Meet the Parents' comedy. Character that are well developed and superbly acted. More convincing than a sitcom family. Sophisticated 'big city' newlyweds take a trip down south to court an eccentric artist. It's a side trip to his 'back country' parents, where dysfunctional is spelled 'n.o.r.m.a.l.' Fantastic writing. A stylish film in the sense that it doesn't have the words 'Art film' painted across it's face. There's subtlety, emotion, and an unspoken undercurrent that keeps pushing this movie forward. 4 out of 5.
* The hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy: (remake) A remake that shouldn't have bothered. There really wasn't any reason to do this movie. One word describes this movie - Boring! The acting is poor, the characters underdeveloped, the special effects aren't, and the story jumps about so much that it's not really worth sorting out. I woke up towards the end. I dozed off somewhere where the giant computer was about to reveal the big 'question'. I didn't even bother rewinding to find out what the question was. This one gets a 1 out of 5.
* Lords of Dogtown: Based on the lives of the people profiled in 'Dogtown and Z-Boys' (See above) This movie was nowhere near the caliber of Z-Boys. The beginning of the movie moves far to rapidly. We see a life style and a new sport evolve overnight, and characters developed in hyper-speed fast forward. The acting by the adults was pretty bad, but some of the younger actors were really good. Unfortunately, this movie had costume, set and production problems. This feature length film took on too large a scope for format. This one gets a 1 out of 5.
* Good night, and good luck: A hard hitting story about a focal point in history. Edward R. Murrow vs Senator McCarthy. A story about two men. A story about the power of television. A story about absolute power. A story about journalistic integrity. This movie reminds us what television news was like, what it's like, what it should be like. It's a story about integrity, honesty, truth, deception, censorship and courage. Fantastic writing., directing, and acting. This one gets a 4 out of 5.
* The ice harvest: A crime caper shot in film noir style. A very stylish movie with excellent writing. and acting. Every one is out for themselves in this convoluted crime caper where everything unravels. The primary character (played by John Cusack) is surrounded by a group of low class 'me first' characters, who are all bent on bringing him down. The real problem with this movie is its lack of anything original or surprising. On strength of acting alone, this one gets a 3 out of 5.
* Pretty Woman: I watched this on the TBS/Turner channel tonight. Kim was watching it, and I kind or got swept along. Yeah, I've seen it before, but it's been a while. This is a great movie. Well focused, well directed, and well acted. Starring Richard Gere and Julia Roberts, it's a modern fairy tale. An urban retelling of Cinderella. A cliched, corny, sappy love story. A chick flick for sure. It's a very predictable movie, but it has a certain charm all it's own. Julia Roberts was fantastic in this role, and this movie set a romantic comedy standard for the 90's. I liked it a lot. 4 out of 5.
* Day Break: (Iran) The most recent offering from my Filmmovement.com membership. At this point, I doubt that I will re-subscribe to Filmmovement.com. The movies haven't been all that good. Day Break is a pretty good story, but the movie wasn't directed or produced very well, and the acting wasn't the best. This incredibly depressing film is about capital punishment. Yeah, Iran practices capital punishment in accordance with Islamic law. Is this supposed to be some sort of political statement? The movie starts out in a documentary style, but eventually switches into a standard drama about a convicted murderer. The movie tries to portray the murderer as a victim. His sentence (death by hanging) cannot be carried out unless the family of the victim shows up. Three times he's led to the gallows, twice he's returned to his cell.. The movie ends with the outcome 'hanging' like a depressing but dramatic question. Darkness, boredom and depression ruled this film, and I couldn't help but wonder why I was watching such a depressing movie. There was good contrast between the depressing aspects of the movie and the hope of some redemption. Color and music made some difference in this regard. Unfortunately it didn't help enough. 2 of 5.
* Stir Crazy: A 70's comedy that's still got plenty of laughs left in it. Starring Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor, this movie was directed by Sidney Poitier of all people. This comedy is a great buddy movie. Wilder and Pryor were great together and this is some of their best work. The costumes, music and hair is definitely early 80's late 70's. There were some good character types in this movie, and I laughed out loud when I saw 'Grossburger' crushing the breath out of Pryor in that tiny jail cell. Two down on their luck actors lose their jobs (I think there might have been some deleted scenes depicting how Wilder lost his job) and decide to move from New York to California - They don't quite make it. Making a pit stop to earn some money, they're fingered as bank robbers in a backwater western town. Wrongly convicted, they attempt a prison break during an inmate rodeo. Many laughs follow. 3 out of 5.
* Æon Flux: A highly stylized futuristic thriller. Charlize Theron does a good job playing an assassin opposite Marton Csokas in this action-packed sci-fi thriller. A group of rebels is trying to overthrow the corrupt government of mankind's only remaining city. Things are hardly what they seem in this thriller. The rebel assassin sent to slay the leader of the corrupt government can't help but feel like she's being played by an invisible hand. Plot twisting revelations move as fast as the action in this stainless steel, latex clad sci-fi thriller. Everything was neatly wrapped up by the end of the movie, but I was still left wanting more. I give it a 3 out of 5.
* Code 46: A sci-fi drama with your obligatory human cloning sub-plot. Does every sci-fi movie have to include a 'cloning' cliche these days? In a not-too-distant future, there are two types of civilization. Protected, highly regulated, secured cities surrounded by an unregulated, frontier-like, outland. Into this world come an outsider, forging papers on the inside, and an insider who's decided to take a walk on the wild side. When they get together it's a violation of Code-46. This sci-fi movie is actually a dramatic romance in disguise. Great direction by Michael Winterbottom. Starring Tim Robbins and Samantha Morton (who gives us a great nude shot (below the waist only?)), the acting is pretty good and the characters were very well written. The locations, sets, costumes and props were all well done. The music helped set a perfect mood, and the use of different languages (flash back to Blade Runner) convinced me that this was a highly plausible future. The makers of this movie did a good job creating a future without resorting to the obvious CGI cityscapes evident in other recent sci-fi movies. This one gets a 5 out of 5.
* Control Room: A documentary about Al Jazeera news. A new news network, who's intended audience is the Islamic world. Who would have suspected that their point of view would be different than Fox's? A look inside the controversial networks coverage in Iraq. With bombs falling all around them, Al Jazeera stuck it out until the U.S. bombed their headquarters. This documentary was pretty well done, and I have to applaud them for taking a critical look at the questions of bias and balance in the media. 3 out of 5.
* Best Seller: An odd sort of police thriller. Starring James Woods and Brian Dennehy, this movie had some pretty lousy pacing, and a weak plot. A former industrial assassin (Woods) has decided to reform. He turns to a cop turned novelist with his murderous story. He's hoping to bring down the corrupt businessman he worked for, and make millions in royalties, by getting the cop to write a tell-all book. The cop (Dennehy) takes forever to convince, and remains doubtful to the end. The ending was a very disappointing shootout. The acting by Woods and Dennehy was pretty good, and the pair worked well together. Unfortunately, the direction was terrible and the story wasn't that good either. With a weak premise, poor support, and plenty of plot holes, it meandered for all but the final 15 minutes. This one gets a 2 out of 5.
* Kung-Fu Hustle: (China/Hong-Kong - Gong fu) Incredible! Xmen meets Mystery Men in a Hong-Kong kung-fu spectacular. An amazing comedy. Dancing, singing, kung-fu! Directed by Stephen Chow. I laughed hysterically. This reminded me a lot of Katakuri-ke no kôfuku (Happiness of the Katakuri's) and Tampopo. At times it seemed like a western, a play, a drama, a Japanese Shogun movie, a comedy and more. A group of misfit kung-fu masters are trying to lead a 'normal' life in a Shanghai slum. Along comes a local gang, intent on shaking things up. As the locals defend themselves I entered a fit of laughing unlike anything since 'The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra'. This one is a solid 5 out of 5.
* Without a paddle: Should have been named 'Without a rudder', 'Without a clue' or 'Without a laugh'. This one was absolute crap. C-Grade actors need C-Grade scripts. This movie was a horrid mistake. Riddled with homophobic references, stereotypical characters, an uninspiring story, poor acting (if not enthusiastic), and bad direction. It's a buddy movie where a group of guys band together to complete a quest in the name of their recently departed fourth. The quest? A treasure hunt in the back woods of Oregon, looking for DB Coopers 'lost treasure'. The stale jokes, cliched scripting and stereotyped characters forced me to remove myself early. I left 20 minutes before the ending. That's 20 minutes I'll never have to regret. The only redeeming part of this movie was the location. 1 out of 5.
Movies seen/reviewed this year (2006)
[ Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec ]
May (NF23/MM10/CC4/ST2/OS3)
* Spider Man 2: What's wrong with the Spider Man franchise? It's trying to be two things at once. It's trying to attract both an adult comic fan, and a 12 year old boy. That's a very tall order. The acting and directing is geared towards the juvenile audience, while the writing seems more adult oriented. This entire movie is character development. It's all about Peter Parker. There's nothing new in the way of hero-villain relations. Nothing new in the way of Peter Parker's relationships, nothing new in the special effects department. Nothing new in the acting, casting or production. Direction by Sam Raimi was o.k. I enjoyed the cameo by Bruce Campbell, but found myself wondering why I was watching this movie. 2 out of 5.
* Lagaan - Once upon a time in India: (India - Lagaan) Loaned to me by a co-worker who knows that I enjoy foreign films. A triumphant tale of colonial India. Packed full of culture and courageous lessons in ethics. The story and writing were fantastic. The arrogant British commander of a provincial victorian cantonment presents an impossible challenge to the local people. Beat the British occupiers at cricket, and there will be no tax (lagaan) for three years. Lose, and you'll have to pay three times the normal tax! The results are a foregone conclusion, but getting there is a tour de-force triumph in Bollywood style. Wonderful locations, sets and costumes. Great music, fantastic dance routines, some very good acting and a tale to make you cry, laugh, and shout out in joy! 4 out of 5.
* Taal: (India - Thaalam) Loaned to me by a co-worker who knows that I enjoy foreign films. Another Bollywood spectacular. Despite some terrible editing (film and sound) and abysmal subtitles, this blockbuster was a powder keg of entertainment. Fantastic music, choreography and locations. The story is a good old fashioned love triangle. Nothing new there. The Indian family is a powerful theme in this love story, and the ending is happiness for all. The acting is great, the characters terrific and the direction was great. What american cinema has forgotten how to do, the Indian movie industry has nailed in execution. A movie for the whole family. 4 out of 5.
* Mirror Mask: (U.K.) An ingenious combination of live action and animation. A modern Alice in Wonderland. Following the lead character down this particular rabbit hole was a wonderful experience. Full of unusual characters, witty dialog and a shadowy world full of reflection, introspection, hope and celebration. This movie took place primarily in a black and white world gone out of balance. The main character struggles to right the balance and free herself in the end. The pacing was unhurried, and the direction splendid. The costumes, makeup, sets, cgi and animation were simply amazing. The acting - especially that of Stephanie Leonidas, was great. A 4 out of 5.
* A sound of thunder: Sounds like the sound of stinky smelly dead animal as it is run over by a pick-up truck.. This stinker was based on a novel by Ray Bradbury. I'm certain that the book was 'Much Better'. If it were anywhere as bad as this movie it would never have been made into a movie - even a really bad one. The special effects were 'special' alright - special as in the Tuesday night special at your local heat-lamp buffet. Old leftovers that've been sitting in luke warm grease for far to long. The acting (over and under) was terrible. The plot - which made for good reading back in 1952 - is way past it's prime. There's nothing in the plot that would hold up to modern science, and the holes were large and worn. The direction was stilted, stiff and scene driven. Save yourself from future destruction. Go back into the future now, and prevent yourself from ever seeing this movie. 1 out of 5. I'm a sucker for Time Travel themes.
* Silent Hill: Kim and I went and saw this movie at the theater. It's the first time we've been to a theater in a long time, and the theater 'may' be responsible for an elevation in my rating. I've played the game, and there's really no way it could be directly translated to film without being eight hours long. The best parts of this movie were the way they used light, darkness, and sound to create an other-worldly atmosphere. The sirens signaling an impending 'transformation' were really cool. The darkening which signaled the descent was also a nice touch. The cgi sequences were well done and gave the film a very creepy feel. The 'Creatures' were very well done, very much like the video game. The downside of the film was the narration. Although necessary, the narration broke the pacing and took me out of the movie. Another problem was the casting, there were a lot of female characters - That's fine, but do they all have to look like anorexic models? the main male character was an obvious cut-out who had no real role in the film. The best acting came from Jodelle Ferland (the child actor), and the story was o.k. The end sequence was handled well if not a little rushed, and I was pleased to see that they didn't opt for an obvious hollywood ending. 3 out of 5.
* The memory of a killer: (Belgium - De Zaak Alzheimer) A surprising production with some outstanding acting. Here's the story of a hired killer with a conscience. Unfortunately, he's having a hard time remembering why he has a conscience. This police thriller manhunt is a fine roller-coaster of action, plot and acting. The killer doesn't think of everything, and the cops aren't infallible. It's a conspiracy theory where the only one you can trust is the killer you're trying to catch. Very well done. 4 out of 5.
* Beyond the sea: Co-writen by, directed by, and starring - Kevin Spacey. A bio-pic about 50's pop singer Bobby Darin. The writing wasn't the best. Spacey's performance was very good, but there was no attempt to 'age' the actor. Throughout the movie, we are led to believe that this 40 something actor is portraying the 20 something singer. There's a lot of singing, and Spacey did a very good job there, but there just wasn't a lot to captivate in this movie. There's a lot of sap and crappy lines in this movie, so much so that I found myself groaning and pleading. Is this the story of Bobby Darin, or every lounge singer who ever had a bad marriage and an up and down career? There wasn't anything special about this movie. 2 out of 5.
* Chinatown: Made in 1974, this film noir classic is a masterpiece of the genre. A truly remarkable film. Perfectly cast with Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway and John Huston, this movie (directed by Roman Polanski) features excellent directing wrapped around a hard-boiled detective plot. The pacing was perfect and the characters carried more substance than any two movies. Set in L.A. during the late 20's early 30's. The plot is a roller-coaster ride from land scam to murder mystery to deep dark family secrets. I've seen it three times and it still keeps me guessing. This one gets a 5 out of 5.
* Paradise Now: (France/Germany/Netherlands/Israel) This is a Palestinian movie.. A tragic human drama. A thrilling look inside the hearts and minds of a people who don't know how to solve their problems. It's a movie about two young men who volunteer to become suicide bombers. Excellent acting, direction and camera work. Without actually placing blame, this movie attempts to examine a very serious subject. The point of view is powerful. An inside look with honest insight and unblinking truth. 4 out of 5.
* King Solomon's mines: There are three versions of this movie. 1937, 1950, 1987. I watched the 1950 version. This adventure film was shot on location in Africa. The authentic locations and native extras made up for some of the acting and directing. The depictions of native dress, dance and behavior was fantastic. A treasure hunt through the heart of Africa. A great movie. 3 out of 5.
* The 400 blows: (France - Quatre cents coups, Les) I've been waiting a very long time to watch this movie. NetFlix kept moving back the delivery date, and pushing it down towards the bottom of my queue. At one point they removed it from my queue without notifying me. A terrific French film directed by François Truffaut. This movie is a look at the life of a young boy growing up in a broken home. Abused and confused, the lead character (a young boy) is continuously misunderstood and abused by everyone around him. This unhappy boy acts out by turning to petty crime and delinquency. This touching movie portrays youth's freedom through a theme of continual motion and escape. Great location shots around Paris add to the realism of this movie. The ending was fantastic. This one gets a 5 out of 5.
* Oliver Twist: Holy crap! IMDB lists 20 different versions of this movie! I watched the 2005 version, directed by Roman Polanski. An astonishing tale about a young boy growing up as an orphan. Abused and confused... Wow, this movie seems a lot like 'The 400 blows' (see above). An orphan is shuttled from one abusive situation to another. As he's exploited and abused he maintains a sense of hope and dignity throughout. This movie explores the character in many ways, and the story is much richer than earlier versions. This one gets a 5 out of 5.
* The last Samurai: A cinematic masterpiece. A tribute to a culture overwhelmed by change. Superbly directed by Edward Zwick, this movie was an epic drama filled with action, nuance and substance. Starring Ken Watanabe as Katsumoto (Samurai lord) and Tom Cruise as Nathan Algren (Captain in US Army). Cruise's character is fed up with the heavy handed immoral tactics practiced in campaigns against the American Indians. Working on a lifetime of despair and alcoholism, he takes the first job that gets him the hell out of town. He's sent to Japan to train the Japanese military. He's captured during a skirmish, and learns the way of the Samurai. Soon he is ally not foe. This is an absolutely must see movie. I'm sure I'll watch it over and over. The acting was great, especially that of Watanabe. Everything in this movie was worth watching. 5 of 5.
* Jarhead: I have to admit that this was a very good movie. A fantastic character study, great lighting, locations, costumes, and the acting - The acting was great. The story was really good. I liked the fact that it wasn't your typical hollywood "War movie". It didn't portray thousands of people dying, and indestructible heroes dodging bullets. This wasn't a Steven Segal or Chuck Norris screen play. This was something that actually happened. Genuine, unfiltered, black coffee for your soul. This movie depicted service men as people who actually wipe their asses after taking a shit. 4 out of 5.
* Memoirs of a Geisha: Visually perfect. The sets, costumes, makeup, props and location shots were all stunning. The acting was fantastic, and the characters were as rich as a Japanese nobleman. I lived in Japan for three years, and I've actually enjoyed the company of a Geisha (on one occasion). This movie re-kindled some of my fonder memories from that time. It was a fantastic tale. A romantic notion, as devoted to emotion as it was to detail. A tale of love, beauty, frailty, greed and ego. 4 out of 5.
* Corpse Bride: Another visually stunning and musically magnificent vision from the minds of Tim Burton and Danny Elfman. An animated story that's reminiscent of 'The Nightmare Before Christmas'. This animated masterpiece features a perfectly selected cast for voices. The animation is superb. This isn't your ordinary animation, it's a combination of puppets and cgi. Composite effects create a world that looks as real as anyone's dream. The story was a great mix of melancholy and comedy. A tragic love story that ends happily, if not unexpectedly. Unfortunately, it's too much like TNBC. Too similar. This one gets a 3 out of 5.
* The New World: A visual masterpiece. This movie was a stunning work of sets, costumes, locations and props. It managed to create the feeling of a completely new world. It took me out of my living room and moved me into another world. Unfortunately, the story was boring, boring, boring, and the pacing was slow, slow, slow. The only thing that held my interest were the costumes, makeup, sets, etc. I found myself fast forwarding through countless pastoral love scenes. The other thing that annoyed me was the love story angle. Come on, Pocahontas was what, 10 years old when she saved John Smith? What sick sort of game is hollywood playing? Yeah, a young native girl and a European explorer would make a great love story, but we know (I was taught in school) that Pocahontas was 10 or 12 at the most. So why are they trying to imply that there was something more than a platonic relationship? It's a little sickening if you ask me. The actor who played Pocahontas (Q'Orianka Kilcher) was only 15 (when the New World was released), yet they cast her in a romantic love story against an actor (Colin Farrel) who's 30? Here's another gripe. Was it just me, or did it seem like I was listening to the same score throughout the entire movie? The music was very well done, but it was just as boring as the movie. Finally, why weren't any of the native women topless? Right, I get it, we can't show a topless 15 year old girl in a romantic love story with Colin Farrel... How twisted, it's o.k. to imply that there was a sexual/romantic relationship, but it's not o.k. to show nudity. Stupid. This movie reminds me of another film - 'Eyes Wide Shut'. The visual style, pacing and musical notions are nearly identical. This one gets 2 out of 5.
* The Kentucky Fried Movie: A short series of comic skits. John Landis directed this piece of raunchy 70's gross-out humor. This is the sort of thing that Saturday Night Live would do, if the censors would let them. There was a lot of nudity, sexually explicit material and politically controversial stuff in this movie. Funny stuff shot on a shoestring budget. A lot of the skits made me laugh out loud. The shorts format would have been better served without the feature length "A Fistful of Yen" segment. This one gets a 3 out of 5.
* An American werewolf in London: Unfortunately, my VHS copy is in very bad shape. The entire movie seems like it was shot in the dark. Despite the poor quality of my VHS copy, I still enjoyed this movie. Here's another John Landis directed movie (Director of Animal House). This time it's a humorous horror movie. Something that was fairly novel at the time. The acting was pretty good, there were plenty of laughs, and the special effects (for the time) were great. The transformation scenes were particularly graphic. The ending wasn't all that satisfying, but the middle was full of savory meats. 4 out of 5.
* Fantastic Four: The fantastic flop. What a sorry excuse for a movie. Another comic book made into a movie. I'm such a sucker for the genre. The writing, direction, and acting were terrible. The plot was overly simplistic, the editing and production were horrible. The music was mediocre, but the worst part of all? A sequel hinting ending! The story had some really big holes in it. I found myself criticizing the obvious plot discrepancies out loud. The best acting came from Chris Evans (playing Johnny Storm the Human Torch), he actually showed some enthusiasm. There really wasn't any chemistry between Ioan Gruffudd (Playing Reed Richards) and Jessica Alba (playing Sue Storm). The pacing was too fast, and the story too predictable. Typical hollywood treatment of comic book material. I give it 1 out of 5.
* Sonatine: (Japan) Usually, I'm not much of a fan for the violent Japanese gangster genre. However, this is an exception to the genre, an exception to my sensibilities and an exceptional film. At first it appears as if I'm about to be subjected to a stylized gangster movie with stereotyped characters, a typical plot of gangster tit-for-tat turf wars, and poor direction (aka John Woo style). However, that's not what happened. While the movie starts out that way, the characters start evolving, developing before your eyes. The plot coalesces into something that's off the beaten track, and the direction turns into an outstanding effort. At the beginning of this movie, I could care less about the stone faced Japanese Yakuza killers who form the focal point of the movie. As the plot begins to diverge from the typical beaten track, the characters start coming into focus. With direction that punctuates the mundane with absurd, we're drawn into the personal worlds of the characters. Instead of focusing on an inane gangland style conflict, the story focuses on the characters. The result, a group of characters that feel so real that you actually begin to feel for them by the end of the movie. Another success for the Japanese Director: Takeshi 'Beat' Tikano. This one gets a 5 out of 5.
* Match Point: Well directed (by Woody Allen) drivel. Here's a movie with a great cast, great direction, and fantastic atmosphere. Unfortunately, it's a waste of talent. The story is boring and pedantic. A perfect people soap opera where stereotyped characters prey on each other over love and money. The pacing was incredibly slow and the story was worthless. There was a feeble attempt to recover from utter boredom by adding a fairly predictable murder twist at the end, but it was too little and too late. This one gets a 2 out of 5.
* Le Magnifique: (France) While this movie may have rated high on IMDB and NetFlix, it doesn't get such marks in my book. I found the humor outdated, too up front, and rather listless. This film is a satirical spoof on fictional 'James Bond' characters. A struggling writer rushes to churn out a spy thriller novel before his rent comes due. The movie slides back and forth from the writers waking life, to the characters in his novel. This movie was a very fast paced collage of gags, set ups and silly situations. Eventually, I had to quit watching. I came to the conclusion that there really wasn't any point to this movie. 1 out of 5.
* The Da Vinci Code: Kim and I went to see this one at the theater. I read the book, and I for one wasn't disappointed. There were a couple minor deviations from the novel, but overall it was an excellent production. The direction by Ron Howard was spot on, and the casting was magnificent. Unfortunately, the performances by Tom Hanks and Jean Reno just weren't that good. The best acting came from Ian McKellen as a crippled but wealthy 'Grail Expert'. An entertaining, suspenseful story, full of twists and turns, revelations and tribulations. There are some parts of the film where the story becomes narrative in order to present historical facts and figures, these dialogue heavy portions of the movie are essential to the story, but significantly interrupt the pacing. This story of 'The Holy Grail' is great at creating a sense of "Could this be true?" in the audience, and for that it gets high marks. The music was haunting but not very memorable, the sets, locations, props, and costumes were terrific. To those who would rate this movie based on the religious dogma that it examines, presents or 'invents', I would like to remind you that this is a fictional story, not a documentary. The book was much better than the movie. Here's the problem. The book presented thousands of ideas, plot points and twists. The movie doesn't have the time to do that, so the writers did their best to fit as many plot points and historical nuggets as they could into the movie. The result was a lack of character detail, and that's where this movie suffered. 3 out of 5.
* The Skeleton Key: A 'Hoodoo' (aka Voodoo) movie. It's been some time since I've seen a movie that based the premise on this premise, and I have to say I found it very enjoyable. This psychological thriller takes a supernatural track towards suspense and horror. Ver
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