Community Reviews

Inception

Sat, 17 Jul 2010 08:27:50 +0000

Wow, what a masterpiece. Nolan really out did himself, I mean yeah the Dark Knight was a good movie, but the only thing really memorable about it was Heath Ledgers impeccable performance. This movie however is memorable throughout its entirety. It was soooo beautifully acted, written, and directed. DiCaprio, Page, and Levitt's performances were spectacular. It's nice to see Page in a new, interesting role and she blew me out of the water. As for Levitt he is one of my favorite, underrated, actors and he was superb also. This movie is one of the most original movies I've seen since The Matrix. Nolan creates such a unique world for our minds to grasp that we feel like we are dreaming. What is real? All I know is that this movie is a real 10/10 unlike that Avatar shit.

When Is This Movie Coming Out?

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 21:08:56 +0000

There is a movie called Rancho D'amour. i've read a lot about it but can't seem to find the release date and if it's going into theaters or straight to DVD...can anyone help me?

A-Team

Sun, 13 Jun 2010 05:39:27 +0000

This movie was pretty awesome. It can't be labelled as a action flick, it is full of comedy. Murdock is fucking hilarious. I haven't laughed through an entire movie in awhile. Great shit. Amazing cast, decent story, fun movie, just all around entertaining. A must see. Love it.

The Clash Of The Titans

Sat, 01 May 2010 22:35:17 +0000

I took the kids to see this movie at the drive-in. I had no real desire to see it and was shocked by how much I enjoyed it. It kept me on the edge of my seat. I give it a 7 out of 10.

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpZ5D_Wc4cA"]http://www.youtube.c...h?v=qpZ5D_Wc4cA[/url]

The Clash Of The Titans

Sat, 01 May 2010 22:35:10 +0000

I took the kids to see this movie at the drive-in. I had no real desire to see it, but was shocked my how much I enjoyed it. It kept me on the edge of my seat. I give it a 7 out of ten.

http://www.hulu.com/watch/116213/sci-fi-wire-clash-of-the-titans

The Losers

Wed, 28 Apr 2010 08:19:38 +0000

New Review up from the Tim and Alex Show! We went and saw the Losers this weekend.

Thanks to any fellow Movie Loons who watch and support us. We both really appreciate it. Every view, rate, comment, subscription counts.

Thanks,
Shorty519

Clash Of The Titans (2010)

Mon, 05 Apr 2010 08:30:07 +0000

On my blog (http://random-babbles.blogspot.com/), I've set out to work my way through Rotten Tomatoes' list of the 100 worst movies of the last decade. As I've talked to many people about my "quest," I've mostly gotten interest. Only a very, very few people have not really understood why I was choosing to subject myself to these officially awful films. I consider myself a bad movie aficionado, but I don't think I'm entirely unique in that way. Maybe I like them more than most, but it seems like nearly everybody I talk to enjoys a bad movie here and there. Whether it's the built-in comedy, the chance to mock, or the camaraderie that can be built by watching these movies in a group, people actually have fun watching movies panned by the critics. And those critics...

I believe that few critics understand what we want out of them. I absolutely want to hear someone discuss the literary themes behind Aronofsky or the constant homages by Tarantino, but I also want to know if something is just entertaining on its own merit. When one grades on a scale, it becomes difficult to take the other movies out of a rating. I may give, say, Ocean's Eleven five stars (it's as entertaining as a movie can be, totally rewatchable, great for background), but I gave Schindler's List five stars. Can I really say that Ocean's Eleven is as good as Schindler's List? I'm choosing two good movies, but I hope you get my point. Besides, that's at one extreme. It's even tougher when you look at bad movies, which brings me back to the point that it seems that most people enjoy a bad movie now and again.

Most of these enjoyable bad movies are now called "cult classics." Rocky Horror Picture Show? Indecipherable. Attack of the Killer Tomatoes? Ridiculous. The Warriors? Awful. Some or all of us enjoy these movies to the point that we're fanatical about them. And that brings us to one of the great bad movies of my childhood, one that many people my age are fanatical about, and a movie that is downright awful: Clash of the Titans.

Clash of the Titans came out in 1981 and I don't remember if I saw it in the theater or not, but I know I watched it a number of times on cable and video. The four movies I remember watching the most when I was a kid are Star Wars (duh), Raiders, Rocky III (also not so good), and Clash of the Titans. The movie had special effects that probably weren't even that good for 1981. The acting was way over the top. Did I mention the special effects -- and it was an effects-driven movies -- were awful? Yet I, and many other people my age, remember it fondly because it was exciting and it made me love Greek mythology. A great movie for a kid. An average, at best, movie for an adult. So five-year-old me loves the movie even though I watched a few minutes a year or so ago and was horrified at its quality. And now thirty-three-year-old me hears that Hollywood has decided to make a new Clash of the Titans with digital effects and they even got the lead from freaking Avatar to play Perseus. Uh-oh, right?

On the way to the theater today (to see it in 2D so as not to waste my money), I read in Entertainment Weekly that the goal of the 2010 version was to be a remake, not a reimagining or reboot, of the 1981 version. This is an important distinction and potentially a dangerous one for the filmmakers. By doing this, they basically begged me to compare the 2010 version (v2010) to the 1981 version (v1981). In my eyes, there's only one way that this works out well for v2010 and hear my reasoning out. If v2010 is well-made then it makes me regret my enjoyment of v1981 and I'll resent v2010. If v2010 is boring or stupid then I'll hate it for trying to be v1981. The only way this works out well for v2010 is if it captures the cheesiness of v1981. Sure, the effects have to be better than the original, but can they fit into the movie without making it seem like a The Day After Tomorrow-esque film where the effects overshadow everything else? Can it, in spite of the money behind it (a reported $70 million budget), not take itself too seriously? Tall orders because I'm asking for them to, essentially, have made an enjoyably bad movie, which is not only difficult but unpredictable, because you can never tell when one of those is going to pop up and anyone who shoots specifically for that outcome ends up making unwatchable, pretentious garbage. Followed the reasoning? See where I'm coming from? Okay, enough! The verdict!

Epic win.

Didn't expect that, huh? Me either. I was ready to hate it and I ended up with a huge grin on my face. It had everything I needed for it to work. The dialogue: cheesy. The acting: over the top. Maybe the filmmakers didn't shoot for those things, but they did succeed in one thing they set out to do, "dumbing down" the special effects so that the effects didn't overtake the movie. The effects are pretty -- the final battle scene with the Kraken is actually quite a good action sequence -- but they don't seem fake. The best analogy I can come up with is how Lucas had his effects people scratch up the models for Star Wars so that the universe looked authentic. I don't know what's so authentic about giant scorpions and snake-haired Gorgons, but they fit with the rest of the movie.

The dialogue is your classic movie Ancient Greece/ Rome talk with big words and clumsy sentences and British accents, so much so that it made me resent 300 a little bit for being equally cheesy. The actors that play Perseus' group so overact and are congenial about it that you can't help but love their failure to be believable. On the other hand, the main gods, Zeus and Hades, are played by Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes, respectively, and they absolutely succeed in their aim to do homage to the cheesiness of the original. No way that two great actors like that are going over the top unless they mean to do it. And that brings us to the one thing that almost -- thankfully, it was only "almost" -- ruins the movie: Sam Worthington.

Worthington takes himself too damn seriously. There's a little joke about the mechanical owl from the original and Worthington apparently threw a fit over even that little scene because he thought the owl's mere presence would make a joke of the movie. There are a number of scenes where you see the other warriors hamming it up and the camera pans to Worthington's Perseus, who is either scowling or stone-faced (not literally). Whereas the others overact, Worthington shows next to no emotion in much of his line delivery, as if he's collecting the paycheck and biding his time until Avatar 2 starts production. But, I said he "almost" ruins it. He does laugh it up a little bit and, much like in Terminator: Salvation (which was not enjoyably bad in any way, it was just horrible), his Australian accent creeps in every so often even though he's supposed to have an Ancient Greek (read: British) accent. So even though I was worried at times about his sincerity ruining my enjoyment, I was still able to mock him enough in my head.

Almost every critic hates the new Clash of the Titans, with the only exceptions I've seen being Roger Ebert and Entertainment Weekly. Almost every critic also, much like Sam Worthington, takes themselves and their work too seriously. The reviewer for EW loved the 1981 version and used that to couch his review, much as I've done here. Ebert was able to enjoy the movie for itself, in disregard for how it compares to anything else other than the original. In his review, he kept using the words "entertainment" and "goofy." Indeed. It's the kind of movie that a kid is going to eat up with a spoon, much like I did with the original.

It's also the kind of movie that those many of us who enjoy a bad movie will have a great time with. Don't bother going to the theater. Not because it's not worth the money (even the early, early matinee price I paid), because I enjoyed myself. Wait because it's the kind of movie that Mystery Science Theater 3000 was made for, where you get the DVD, throw a party for people who aren't film snobs, and mock the hell out of it. If that sounds like fun, and movies are supposed to be fun, then how can you hate this movie?

Kick-Ass Movie Review

Sat, 20 Mar 2010 07:00:55 +0000

There’s a delicious stupidity at work in Kick-Ass‘ titular character, who is at times also known as… “Dave().” A comic fan, he wonders how it can be that no one has tried to become a superhero. No one has superpowers, sure, but you don’t need any just to slap on a mask and give a beating to a few evil-doers. Ok, it would be stupid, but look at all the stupid things people do. In the grand scheme of clueless endeavors, how has this one been left alone so long?

A mere High School student, and sorely lacking even in the arena of your average, mortal powers, Dave decides to give this superhero thing a try. Without the aid of radiation, alien lineage, or even a tragic backstory and billions of dollars, Dave puts on a suit and begins wandering the mean streets looking for crime.

What makes his effort wonderfully charming, especially given his lack of any skill whatever, is that he isn’t remotely fooling himself, and he isn’t crazy. He knows how stupid the whole idea is, but even after his first attempt at cleaning up the neighborhood goes horribly wrong, he is simply determined to out stupid the whole system.

Unbeknownst to Dave, there’s a more serious vigilante at work in town. Damon Macready (Nicolas Cage), going by the name Big Daddy(), is waging war on a certain crime boss, taking his underlings out one at a time. When Kick-Ass gets a little too much press as a “superhero,” said crime boss sets his sights on giving a lesson to would-be good samaritans.

Before he knows what happens, Dave finds himself in way over his head, and he’s still got to find some time to try to win over his High School crush, who he learns has something of a crush on Kick-Ass.

Kick-Ass is pure, high-speed action at its best, with a lot of wild laughs thrown in for good measure, and most everything good about it comes by way of turning its own genre inside out. Not simply a story of a superhero who isn’t, which probably wouldn’t amount to much, in the end it’s the story of a superhero who really rather is. Let’s face it, when you have the superpowers, being a superhero isn’t actually a real tough job. Kick-Ass quips at one point, “With no power comes no responsibility,” but he goes on to live up to a different standard.

Through the furious action, thoroughly engaging story, and myriad references to “geek” culture, the truly magnetic pull of the film is the distance it maintains from the comic norms. Apart from the obvious, and also obviously because of it, there is a certain reinvention of the wonder of simply not knowing that is utterly lost in the superhero genre as a whole. However grim things might get, you know the ultimate outcome of a superhero comic. Here, we are not only on different footing as a result of the basic situation, but the story plays out with Kick-Ass putting himself in such ludicrously dangerous situations that we actually manage some tension.

The script plays its role in delivering that tension, and the uniquely outlandish action theory, but Aaron Johnson cannot be given too much credit in giving us a Kick-Ass that fits the effort. A kind of everykid goof who ultimately is just trying to figure out a way to jar the status quo… aren’t we all… his is clearly an overly ambitious avenue of self-discovery, but one that, somehow, manages only to diverge from everyday life in extreme, and in commitment to execution. Crazy as it might sound before you see the film, this could actually happen (well, most of it), and Johnson delivers the kid who might actually do it.

As good as Johnson is, Chloe Moretz steals the entire film as Big Daddy’s daughter. Under the alias Hit Girl, she has been trained for several years already, and at the ripe old age of somewhere in her tweens, she is already a killing machine. The force behind a good percentage of the actual ass kicking in the film, she is tough, hilarious, cute as a button, and surprisingly believable dealing out punishment. Added to the list of things you haven’t run into before, there is something about a tween girl slicing people apart with a polearm that you simply don’t know what to do with as an audience.

I’m fairly certain that the easiest prediction of 2010 will not change, and that prediction is that you will have fun watching Kick-Ass. It’s funny. It’s fun. And, it’s the sort of thing they had in mind when they coined the expression, “that’s just crazy enough to work.” More importantly, behind every laugh and crazy fight scene is some mix of the sensibilities of comic book author Mark Millar and director Matthew Vaughn (Layer Cake(), Stardust()). The combination adds a clever, savvy approach to the film, and while it might have been an incredibly fun ride anyway, now it kicks ass.

The Crazies

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 05:16:41 +0000

This movie.....THIS MOVIE is the reason I want to be a filmmaker. I want to make badass movies people won't forget. I was pretty pumped to see this movie because I'm a big zombie, apocalypse, virus, or crazy people movie lover. This movie falls under that category. This movie is about a small town in Iowa i believe called Ogden Marsh. The movie starts out with a bang which I love. I love to get pulled into a movie right away and if you've seen the trailer you know the baseball seen in which I am talking about. Basically all the people in the town start going crazy because of a special reason I will not reveal , SO GO SEE IT! Anyway the thing makes the people become really quiet and the little they do talk is very repetitive and random, kinda like in The Happening where someone is talking about how they are inside a room and they can see a tree outside the wind.....all the sudden they start talking about math problems and saying it over and over (if you've seen The Happening you ALSO know what seen I'm referring to.) After the catatonic stage they go into a homicidal stage but still in la la land. Then you have the final stage of "CRAZY!!!!" We got crazy husbands, a crazy mortician, and some rednecks. I really wish I could go into more detail with this but I know anything else I say will reveal some of the plot which is to amazing to spoil. So the special effects, gore, and acting weren't over done at all. This movie was the perfect horror film in todays shitty horror flicks which are all mainly cheesy or gorror films. OR all of our favorite the Cheesy, Gorror, Teen Sex horror film. I mean I'm a guy, tits are nice, but it was nice they switched it up here and pulled off a very memorable and great movie. And you gotta love the presence Timothy Olyphant brings to the screen. I'm really happy to see him coming into the spotlight a little more. I definitely put him on my list of "Unknown Stars," right next to Kevin Durand. Anyways I'm gunna wrap this up the movie is simple a 9.5/10. I would give it a 10/10 but its a horror film and there are some of those moment when you know what's going to happen. So the only loss of points was .5 based on some predictability. I highly advise you see this movie if you like the zombie, apocalypse, virus category and/or you want to jump approximately 25 times. It's for sure one of those jumpy movies where you feel like you just want to look away so you aren't embarrassed from getting scared every 10 mins lol.

GO SEE THIS!

Legion

Sun, 24 Jan 2010 22:11:51 +0000

I was pretty excited about this movie to say the least. But don't you just hate when there is a badass concept and it lacks when it comes time to deliver? Well to me thats what kind of movie this was. The basic premise is pretty bad ass if you ask me. Legion is centered around the Paradise Falls truck stop when the "Apocalypse" starts because God has lost his faith in man. God sends an angel to kill this woman's baby because if it's born then humanity may have a chance to continue. So we got God pissed off, badass angels, an Apocalyptic stage, possessed humans (possessed by angels I might add), and guns......we're talking lots of guns. Alright so this movie sound cool as hell now, like I'm pumped....wait a second did that old bitch just crawl on the ceiling? WTF!!! Anyways this movie loses points primarily because of it PG special FX and by PG I mean "Did they just shoot a flare inside a car and it bounced around the inside of the car? It looks like a red star and it is making toy like noises when it hits the walls of the car." Who edited this Mickey Mouse? Anyway that was just one, that crazy old woman slid across the floor to, it wasn't done well at all. I just feel like they really held back on this movie, they had such a gold mine and just failed. I'd say it's a go rent it when it comes out, I wouldn't pay to see it unless your really bored. It does have a nice mildly star studded cast which really surprised me. Tyrese Gibson has always been a favorite of mine. Then you have Dennis Quaid, Kate Walsh (mmmm), and Lucas Black. One of my all time personal favorites Kevin Durand who plays as the angel Gabriel which is my favorite angel. I realy wish Kevin Durand would have more role but o well I guess I'll tackle that when I become a big time director lol. So all in all the movie is about a 6. I give it the benefit of the doubt still because of the cast and awesome plot. I recommend this as a friday night movie rental.

Thanx for reading I hope to have more time to be back at the site. But school sux lol.

I miss reviewing

Up In The Air

Sat, 23 Jan 2010 22:05:02 +0000

Bottom line it was sooooo boring. The whole time I am expecting something to happen but nothing does. The movie at first seems to have a lesson but no lesson is learned. In the end it is a very boring film with a horrible script and just eh acting.

Jennifer�S Body

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 04:21:40 +0000

Jennifer�s Body

I love how everyone has been talking smack about this movie. I saw it yesterday and you know what it was exactly what I wanted. It did not try and cover up the truth with some lame story or some lame special effects, that I am coming to see Megan Fox in all her glory doing some pretty close to softcore porn. Thats it...There is nothing else to it and I loved every minute of it.

The Hangover

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 06:13:29 +0000

As of last summer, I thought the debauched-road-trip-to-Vegas-with-buddies genre was pretty much played out. With pictures like Go and Very Bad Things out there, what else could a filmmaker toss in to the mix to keep it fresh?
How about collective memory loss, a tiger, a misplaced baby, a missing tooth, and a Mike Tyson cameo? Waking up in a trashed suite that�s missing its groom-to-be, the three remaining friends (Ed Helms, Bradley Cooper, and Zack Galifianakis) try to retrace their steps through the previous night�s raunchfest. Effortlessly directed by Todd Phillips (Road Trip, Old School), this pee-in-your-pants funny film is pure escapism and a worthy antidote for these down times. What the Marx Brothers did for audiences in the 1930s, this crew managed to pull off for an entire nation in 2009.
Now the top-grossing R-rated film comedy of all time, The Hangover is out in a Blu-ray edition just in time for the holiday blues. Since this ridiculously popular movie seared its brand of humor into public consciousness months ago, I wouldn�t dream of trying to sum it up here. If you haven�t seen it yet and own a Blu-ray Disc player (why else would you be reading?), then it�s a no-brainer. Buy it. Play it. Oh, but it�s comedy. Why would you want to buy a comedy in high-def? Because the transfer looks and sounds great, and these days Blu-ray discs aren�t that much more expensive than a DVD.
Here�s what you�ll get in this BD version:
� A rated and unrated version. This is becoming fairly standard with projects that pushed the censors. In general, it�s cool to have the director�s version. Here, there�s about seven minutes tagged on, though it�s hardly worth the titillation that �unrated� normally suggests.
� Special Features � These are all pretty cool.
- Map of Destruction � lays out all fifteen stops on a map you can click on and view short clips about making the film. No question, the segment at Mike Tyson�s house rules over all others.
- Madness of Ken Jeong � Ah, Ken Jeong. An acquired taste for some, a master improv artist for others. This offering makes his case. You decide.
- Gag Reel � Actually quite funny in parts. Perhaps it�s the voyeurism of watching actors crack up on set.
- The Dan Band � with a clean version of the song
- Three Best Friends � OK, I could have done without this song, but here it is.
- Mash-Up � Not bad, not great. Slapstick action bits. Eh?
� BD Live Material � Basically, you get more Mike Tyson doing �In The Air Tonight� and a mash-up of foul language. Overall, the BD Live could have stood to be stronger.
� Commentary � If you purchase the Two-disc DVD version of this film, you are out of luck. Only the Blu-ray edition boasts a commentary track. Makes sense if you�re company trying to encourage Blu-ray. Frankly, it isn�t the most inspired session, especially given the hilarity of what ensues. I blame part of it on having PiP involved. Knowing you�re on camera while commenting doesn�t lend itself to relaxed observation. But I doubt that even with the cameras off, these guys would have had more to offer. (As an example of a funny and informative commentary track, I recommend Fight Club.)
This is a seriously funny film. Seriously. People who love this film, and there are tons of people who do, pity those that just don�t get it. And even if you think you might not �get it�, buy the disc and put your brain on autopilot. Let The Hangover do its job.

Extract

Wed, 30 Dec 2009 01:36:17 +0000

Extract

Its not Office Space.

In fact its no where close to Office Space. This movie provided no laughs, had no point to it and the acting was just meh. All the jokes just did not seem funny to me. Whole situation was not even funny to me. Very disappointing movie made by Mike Judge, staring one of my favorite actors Jason Bateman. He did not even do a good job acting in it. Just an overall crappy movie.

Disney's The Princess And The Frog

Wed, 30 Dec 2009 01:32:00 +0000

Disney's The Princess and The Frog

Yeah thats get this out there first I saw it. I know its not a movie I normally see but when my 7 year old cousin wanted to see it I guess I just had no choice but to apply because in her own way she is a princess. In the end I have to admit I was entertained throughout the whole thing, it's not Disney's best, but it's a damn nice return to form. The animation was great. I loved seeing it on a big screen to begin with, but Princess just *pops* on a visual level; it really feels like the "classic Disney" formula (which I love and will defend to my deathbed) never left. The story is admittedly predictable, but it's executed incredibly well, and there were even a few surprises along the way. The voice acting is terrific all around, especially Keith David and Jim Cummings. In the end my cousin loved it and I was not tearing out my eyes in disgust watching it with her.

Sherlock Holmes

Mon, 28 Dec 2009 11:17:02 +0000

Guy Ritchie shows he's got the goods to keep an audience on the edge of their seats for two hours. The story lives up to the literature and focuses on Holmes and Watson attempting to solve a mystery, with action elements to keep the story moving. Ritchie's brilliantly crafted action scenes were perfectly executed without going overboard and never detracted anything from the film. Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law and the entire cast had great chemistry, delivering colourful, charismatic performances and served the wonderful script on a silver platter for our cinematic delights. On top of all this, the production team managed to shoot and create old London beautifully, capturing the the ambiance and mood of the period. The film struck a perfect balance of mystery, adventure, humor and action that will be enjoyed by anyone ready for the ride.

Avatar

Wed, 23 Dec 2009 21:45:27 +0000

Avatar

Avatar is a beautiful movie. In so many ways not only the graphics. James Cameron did a wonderful job

You will practically not notice that you are watching a non-existing world, it is sooo real. Attention to detail is superb. This move was not rushed in the making. No wonder it could not have been done before - not having the proper computing power.

The wild life, the jungle, the animals, the Na'vi-s, or the dragon-like flying creatures are all so life-like, they almost pop-off the screen (and in 3D they actually do .

The sound effects were so well done, that when I saw at the credits that Skywalker Sound was behind it, i could only think of "yessss... now THAT makes sense." Cameron is a visionary - and again, he delivers, with full blast.

A certain character says in the movie that Pandora (the planet where the story takes place) became his real world. My advice to you: let Pandora become YOUR real world for two and a half hours, let it make you completely forget about your life and problems, let it entertain you, move you, let it carry you away.

In the end I was very pleased with the movie

Transformers The Movie...yeah The Cartoon 1986

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 16:28:14 +0000

Pulled this one out of the vault for my 3yr old the other day. Probably hadn't seen this movie since I was 7 or 8. All I could remember about this one was crying when OP died. Don't worry if you haven't seen it I didn't ruin anything for you! He dies like in the first 15 or 20 minutes. The question I have is why! why why why! OP shouldn't have fallen, just sayin'. Anyway, something I didn't remember though was that this whole movie is like a bad 80s rock animated musical! Nothing but crappy 80s music throughout the entire movie. Really could have done with a normal soundtrack. But, I'll be honest my kid had to go to bed about half way through the movie...

Yeah, I finished watching it. I don't know if it's just plain stupid reminiscence of a child hood long gone, but I LOVE THIS MOVIE! So kill me this movie was great. Would I tell you this is a must see...no I don't want to be ridiculed for telling you to watch a terrible movie. But if you love Transformers, or your kids love tranformers, see, this movie!

Awesome, really brought me back! 14 stars! It's my post I can do what I want! Some of the characters won't be as familiar to you, if they're familiar at all. The voice acting in this movie is great. Orson Wells, Leonard Nimoy, and Peter Cullen. Wait! Who's Peter Cullen? He was the original voice of OP, and he's voicing him in both the new Live Action Transformers movies. And he is the only voice that I could ever stomach hearing as OP. Hearing someone else would be one of the greatest tragedies of our time! Anyway, I have a BS in ranting, so I'll stop now. See it...Good movie, it'll really bring you back.

Men Who Stare At Goats

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 16:19:28 +0000

Has no one really talked about this one? And if so, I'm going to warn you, I may have been the only one who liked it.

Well, when I saw this it was the first movie I've seen in theaters in quite some time. You know what, it didn't disappoint me. Honestly went in with kind of low expectations, thanks to rotten tomatoes once again flaming a movie that was pretty good. Yahoo users kind of flamed it to, C+? Even yahoo critics gave it a B-...ish. Somewhere in there, anyway, if I had to grade it on the elementary school scale I'd give it a solid A- maybe an A. Maybe an A+ who knows. I know 2 lbs of buffalo wings sitting in my stomach was slightly distracting, yet the movie kept me entertained, very entertained. What can say, other than Jeff Bridges...yeah, let that sink in. The movie was crazy, stupid, quirky and more importantly great. I'm going to wrap it up here, I hate long movie reviews, mainly because I'm too lazy to exert that kind of effort. Seriously is the movie good or not? I don't want someones synopsis on a movie that I'm about to see! Right? Anyway, go see this movie, I liked it.

I really liked this movie. The dude...I"m sorry, wrong movie. Jeff Bridges is a free loving hippie...yeah you got me at free, and although I've never been the biggest fan of senior Clooney, all I can say is that he was perfect. Yeah, I thought about going on, but no one wants any more. See it, now if you can. I'm not stopping because I'm lazy, although I am lazy. I'm stopping because there's nothing more that needs to be said other than "See it." Good times.

District B13

Sun, 13 Dec 2009 07:56:45 +0000

I had never heard of this movie, just kinda stumbled across it while I was aimlessly wandering through netflix...I love having no expectations for a movie, makes them easier to like. Oh, and if the flow of the review is disconcerting, disorienting or just plain weird, I was writing it while I watched it. That's why.

Well, I honestly hadn't even heard of this one. Just saw it while browsing through movies, and I'm a sucker for a Kung Fu movie. Well, this started off with one of the sweetest chase scenes I've ever seen. So far not so much of a kung fu movie as a jump around like a monkey movie. I like monkeys...

Everyone in this movie can monkey all over the place! Anyway, Two guys, a monkey cop, and a street wise monkey guy who's trying to get his sister back from a ghetto kingpin and disarm a stolen bomb. Silly premise, tons of monkey jumpers and a giant bomb, fun movie.

It's a foreign movie, so who are these guys? Don't know? The dude that plays the main bad guys go to henchmen, you can't help but like him! The two main monkey guys also do a great job! Cop monkey guy is ok, but street wise monkey guy rocks! Oh they just fought! Good fight.

Decent plot, some sweet action, monkey people, and no sub titles. See it, I don't really think there is much more I can say about this movie. I guess it takes place in Paris in the near future where slums have become walled off little ghetto war zones. That isn't really explored in this movie, you kind of just have to accept it, so I did.

It's worth seeing, but it's quite possibly the best monkey jumping movie ever...just saying.

Religulous

Sat, 12 Dec 2009 05:59:00 +0000

I've never been a guy for documentaries but this movie really opened my eyes to this kind of film. I definitely want to see Micheal Moore's films now. I enjoyed this movie a lot, and I am sure I will get crap from everyone on the forum as I did for my Zeitgeist review. O well I think both are great movies. Definitely recommend both.

10/10

The Twilight Saga: New Moon

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 21:01:36 +0000

The Twilight Saga: New Moon

All you really need to know in this movie is its T and A for children. There is one scene where Jacob saves Bella and in the process some how Jacobs shirt comes off. I sware they propbaly spent a weak doing the lighting and different camera work from this one shot showing is abs. Jesus christ but thats what I knew the movie was going to be going into it. So if anyone is to blame its me and thats my point. You get exactly what you would expect from this movie. So with thats said its entertaining thats about it.

The Blind Side

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 20:58:20 +0000

I was pleasantly surprised by this movie, particularly it's more poignant moments. Yes, this is a sports story, but it is also in large part an interpersonal drama. It is rare to see a movie these days that relies on drama to carry it-not special effects, lush historically accurate wardrobe, or astounding make up- just a story that resonates with the viewer. That this story is based on contemporary facts makes it all the more resonant. Events that might have been handled superficially, predictably or exploited for dramatic purposes were instead presented in a nuanced and profound manner. Michael's biological mother was portrayed with dignity and compassion. In short, the aspects of Michael's story that make it moving and inspiring were captured with skill and integrity. As for the negative feedback regarding this movie that began when the only the trailers were available - I think the comments might be more a reflection of the world view of the authors rather than a reflection of the quality of the movie or the reality of Michael's story. Some people think the movie "To Kill a Mockingbird" was a story about racism in the south, or that "The Crying Game" was a movie about the IRA - to me those were the settings for the drama, and not the drama itself. John Lee Hancock really bit off a lot when he took on this project-but as it turned out, it was not more than he could chew. Remember when Attorney General Eric Holder commented on how we were a nation of cowards when it came to openly discussing race? With this movie, Hancock has demonstrated he is not one of those cowards. He did not ignore the racial or class differences of the characters in this movie, and he avoided using the movie to make a social statement with the movie. He allowed these character attributes to be what they were in reality, and told the human drama in an effective and sensitive manner.

Zeitgeist Movie

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 02:11:44 +0000

Hey everyone I know I haven't been around and I am sorry, I have little or no time to myself to enjoy my favorite pleasure, MovieLoons. But I had to stop by and let everyone know about a film I found out about in my History of E-Media class. Its called Zeitgeist and it is a very, VERY, VERY informative and touching film. I love this movie or film, and I feel I should share it with you guys and the world. it can be found on youtube and or the zeitgeist movie website. It is about many very controversial issues in the WORLD today. It was made and distributed free of charge so everyone could be informed about what is going on. I feel truly educated now. It is a movie I guess in documentary format, IDK really. Its hard to explain, but it covers these 3 issues: Religion ("The Greatest Story Ever Told") The War on Terror ("All The World Is A Stage") and World Government ("Don't Mind The Men Behind The Curtain")

I highly advise you see this, I have taken away so much from it, whether it be knowledge, quotes, or just general enlightenment.

10/10

The Boy In The Striped Pajamas

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 17:44:00 +0000

Quick Summary without ruining the movie:

A father in the SS Army during WWII has to move after being promoted. Him and his family move closer to the "work camp" that he will be overseeing. His 8 year old boy sees the camp, and believes it is a farm. He is a curious boy, ends up exploring all the way to the camp and makes friends with an 8 year old boy within the camp.

Review:

The movie was amazing. If it's not on your "Movies to See" list, it should be. I watched it on my Netflix- Watch Instantly yesterday, and ended up watching it twice due to forcing my husband to watch it when he got home. The little boys who play the "frienemies" bring something pretty extraordinary to the roles.

2012

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 01:18:33 +0000

If you've seen Independence Day, Titanic, or any recent vintage of the well-worn disaster film genre, you will not be disappointed at all with any of 2012. Its 2.5 hour+ running time moves at a great clip, and there's enough science and pseudoscience running around to give the film a certain of-the-moment wonder and clarity. The many destruction sequences throughout the film are absolutely breathtaking to behold, and one wonders if Roland Emmerich starts every film imagining how he will destroy the White House. Like all of his other films (except for The Patriot) it has big names but no huge names and really is a blast to watch. It has just the right balance of action and melodrama, often, as with all good films of this genre, in the same scene. The audience I watched it with was laughing and cheering throughout, and I'm sure it will be the definitive event movie of the holiday season, critics be damned.

Come on now tell me what you thought about it its not hard

This Is It

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 20:36:34 +0000

Just came back from watching this movie.

I went with very low expectation but it was really great movie. Lots of MJ songs and practice sessions. MJ was surprisingly very humble, I dint expect that from such a big start... I m really impressed with his behavior towards his troop I m not a big MJ fan.. and I was totally amazed by editing and quality of movie... I m pretty sure MJ fans would love this....

The Fourth Kind

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:17:40 +0000

I saw a screening of The Fourth Kind with a couple of buddies of mine, and wow this movie was truly powerful and thought-provoking. I was captivated by Milla Jovovich's strong performance along with the rest of the cast. Also, if you're looking for a disturbing movie... then this movie is for you. The real recordings combined with the recreated movie footage was so well executed that it will make you cringe and keep you on the edge of your seat.

Definitely got to give major props to the writer and the director. The Fourth Kind exceeded my expectations and truly sparked my fascination toward alien abduction and encounter theories. Now, I'm left asking many questions and still trying to decipher / figure it all out... This movie earns two thumbs up in my book.

A Christmas Carol

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 06:11:13 +0000

I wonder if Robert Zemeckis weren't a filmmaker if he would have become a pilot. Look at his films and you may find a recurring shot in them, if not all then at least a good lot of them: a shot up in the sky, flying around and bringing the audience along (i.e. the feather in Forrest Gump, the pull-back through the valley and mountains in Beowulf, Back to the Future with the flying Dolorean), and here too are shots like that, more than one in fact. It's exhilarating to see Zemeckis at a mastery of this particular shot, and in the full scope and awe in 3D it's even stronger to watch and wonder 'how did they do it(?)' With motion-capture, anything is possible... except, sadly, making one feel a true emotional connection to the material.

Oh, don't get me wrong. It's an improvement over The Polar Express, whose creepiness was more unto itself and jarring as opposed to serving the story, and one can already see advancements in the technology from Beowulf, which was also lots of fun and had an edge to it allowed only with the digital animation. But for some reason- maybe my heart is a lump of coal or I wasn't in the right Christmas spirit or something- the material in the film didn't connect with me, except those moments that were funny (intentionally or not, sometimes due to Jim Carrey's performance), and it became something peculiar. It's a story that is practically timeless, and the director is at the top of his game, almost at the same control of the medium for a particular story like Forrest Gump or Back to the Future - maybe more-so.

It's also still a WOOSH experience, not carrying the same time and effort for characters to really feel fully human before our eyes like, for example, Up did back in the summer. I mention all of this first since the story we all know pretty much (as an aside, I kept thinking back to the first incarnation of the story I saw as a child, the Muppet Christmas Carol, and marveled at how both that and this film kept much of the book's dialog and storytelling devices exactly), and it's almost pointless to recant it here. What is paramount to mention though is that Zemeckis, in keeping with the tone of the original Dickens text (and having the clout that he has), makes it a true Victorian horror movie.

It should be said also that children will be hit or miss with this version; while they'll delight and be awed by the animation and moments of craziness (my favorite being the scene with the ghost Marley and his entire presentation before Scrooge, unhooked jaw uneasily included), they may be put off by the "old" language, some of it in that olde 19th century English Dickens wrote in. Perhaps this is why, against his own better judgment, Zemeckis decided to add in a few scenes to change the very faithful adaptation, the key one being the chase through the streets of London in the Christmas-Future sequence. This is smack dab in the middle of what is the best segment of the film - seeing death as a silhouette with a bony finger and Scrooge's stark pleas is truly chilling - and it suddenly makes it also the worst. It kills the tension and makes a strange sensation: does one laugh at a tiny-voiced Scrooge running around like a mini Daffy Duck cartoon while he's supposed to be facing down his own demise? It's entertaining to watch, but awkward to behold at this point of the story.

That the motion-capture, for all of its beauty and detail in the faces and people and locations and dazzling set-pieces, doesn't engage on a purely spiritual level (not even to the extent that 'Muppet Christmas' did, that at least had the ghost of Henson on the production to keep things truly haunting), is somewhat forgivable for what Zemeckis does accomplish here. He puts a modern spin on a classic tale, makes it approximately dark and mostly uncompromising for all ages- adults will jump possibly more than the kids at the WHOA effects- and Jim Carrey is nothing short of astonishing.

Carrey plays Scrooge in such a bravura way that only calls attention to itself as a dramatic part (only toward the end, when he becomes "happy" Scrooge are there a few unintentional laughs), and it may even be the best Scrooge seen in many years in any medium. Added to this are his *other* parts in the film, as the ghosts of Christmas past and present, the former creepy just on the pronunciation of 's'. Others like Gary Oldman and Colin Firth come off more or less fine if not remarkable (Oldman as Marley is fantastic - as Cratchit, a Oldman-faced Hobbit, is another thing).

Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 06:10:06 +0000

I was surprised that it was very funny, at first i thought John Reily was badly chosen to play Crepsly but he made him a fun character. As a stand alone film for people who have not read the books it will be a good film. But for people like me who a fans of the books may think its not dark enough and a bit too as i say "disnified" for a lower age audience. I thought the cirque du freak scene was badly cut and badly sequenced and when Darren becomes half-vampire his slicked backed hair looked incredibly wrong. Apart from those few knick pickings an overall good film to watch.

Trick 'r Treat

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 20:35:29 +0000

My new favorite horror movie. This was a great film. I think the most impressive aspect of this film is the incredible attention that has been paid to detail. Every single shot of the film is beautifully framed and composed, often looking more like a cryptic painting than a frame of film. The austere trappings of Mr. Kreeg's dark house, the ghostly palette of the rock quarry, the incredible shape-shifting sequence around a roaring fire in the woods� everything here is gorgeous. That aesthetic, married with the spot-on performances and realistic dialogue, give the film an organic feel that never relies on cheese or parody to break tension. The cinematography by Glen MacPherson (who also shot this year's incredibly brutal Rambo) is so lush it manages to make you feel like you're a part of the celebration.

This is definitely going to be up there with movies to watch during Halloween now

Moon (2009)

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 22:31:33 +0000

New film Directed by Duncan Jones about a lone worker on a base on the moon, starring Sam Rockell.

Just watched this recently. Really enjoyed it, its not what i expected, it was a lot more serious and had some very interesting underlying themes.
Sam Rockell does a very good job, really hope he does more serious films.
Overall, a good film
7.5/10.

Paranormal Activity

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 05:46:41 +0000

No joke - this is the scariest movie I've seen recently (preface: if you go with it, which isn't that hard). Oren Peli prays upon audience anticipation. And he keeps going back to that goddamned bedroom. There are many moments that are very WTF, but there are those simple scenes where he lets the scene play out with the time code. Those fucking scenes stick with you.

Zombieland

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 20:23:07 +0000

Bottom line great movie. If you can handle all the blood than I think you will really enjoy this movie. Woody Harreleson and Jesse Eisenberg make an amusing odd couple and Emma Stone was fine for this material, although she and Abigale Breslin had slightly less to do. What I really loved is there was no subtle build up. You are dropped right into Zombieland as Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg) begins listing the rules to survival. Each rule having a hilarious story to go along with it.

One of my favorite moments in the movie was a very cleverly introduced mystery cameo. I'm glad I didn't know who it was and I won't spoil it for anyone else. It certainty holds its own if not better than Shaun of the Dead.

All About Steve

Sat, 26 Sep 2009 05:42:23 +0000

I went into this movie think well it looks funny and it has Sandra Bullock in it and Bradley Cooper one of my newer favorites. So it starts and its pretty funny, then it gets funnier, there were parts where i was lmao. I was like I thought this was more of a comedy/drama, but it just seems all comedy, which changes towards the end of the movie. It was very interesting seeing Sandra Bullock portray this character because we've never seen it before. The closest thing to "Mary" is Sandra's character in Miss Congeniality, "Hart(?)" The goofy, annoying, but yet fun loving geek girl. This time Sandra took it to a whole new level, I was really interested in her character and she really pulled me in with her acting. I felt like "Mary" was a real person and felt emotions for her, I almost cried a couple times. The movie gets more dramatic towards the end as you would expect, but it surprised me because in the end:

Spoiler

which I found very refreshing. Bradley Cooper was very funny with his role, although it mainly consisted of him and his news team running from Mary who is being strung along with the thought that Steve cares for her. Mary is generally the main character of the whole movie rather than her and steve. The movie mostly focuses on her trying to follow Steve and get what she wants. It is a very funny and cute movie. I went in thinking I'd like it, I left loving it. 9/10

Recommended

Pocket Ninjas

Sun, 20 Sep 2009 07:31:16 +0000

Pocket Ninjas

So I was looking around IMDB and noticed there is a bottom one hundred. So I just had to watch the number 1 movie of the bottom 100. The movie is Pocket Ninjas. Pocket Ninjas is one of the few movies that is so bad it's good. Most of the movie is flashback, but poorly done and confusing. The plot has more holes than the finest swiss cheese, and it takes 9 minutes for the opening credits to end. I personally found the patty-cake "battle" between the White Dragon and one of Cobra Khan's cronies in the carnival absolutely hilarious. The location for this movie is perfect. The dojo is right next to a liquor store, but nobody seems to mind. The training sequences are long, obnoxious and downright painful. This is quite possibly the worst "professional" production I have ever seen. All in all, the perfect formula for the perfect awful movie.

Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs

Sat, 19 Sep 2009 02:29:14 +0000

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

Saw this with my cousin. I was not expecting much but found myself rather entertained and more importantly it kept my 5 year old cousin entertained.

Extract

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 02:32:02 +0000

Anyone here seen Extract?

Gamer

Sat, 05 Sep 2009 03:20:29 +0000

Going in I was pumped for the movie cause the concept to me sounds like it would be badass. People on death row can sign up for a chance to win their freedom in a game called Slayers. They have to make it through 30 sessions alive to win their freedom, but they aren't controlling whether they win or lose. They have been implanted with a Nanex chip which essentially makes all your brain cells turn into tiny remote control receptors, thus allowing someone from the outside world to control you as a character in the game. This sounds awesome, and I'm a gamer myself so initially I'm pumped, and the movie really did not disappoint. I was happy to see Gerard Butler back in an action movie, and also Ludacris in another movie, although his role can merely be written off as an appearance. The movie is set in the future obviously but I don't think very far and it starts off with Gerard's character 4 rounds from freedom, a feat that no man has reached before. There are only a few things I didn't care for in this film, the fact that it isn't all based around the game, I thought I'd see more gameplay. AND. The ending, although awesome and given the circumstances would work perfectly, was very abrupt. Thought they could have derated the ending more, not to long, but longer. Oh and also

Spoiler

So the movie instead of being based entirely around the game is about split in half for him trying to get out to find his wife and daughter,

Spoiler

So overall its a pretty BAMF movie due to the sweet gameplay and concept. Lots of blood/gore, action, nudity, you know everything the male mind needs lol. But I'd definitely recommend. 8.5/10

The Maltese Falcon

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 10:13:38 +0000

The Maltese Falcon

Just watched this movie for the first time last night and I have to say its one of my favorite noirs. Really enjoyed the story and did not think it was to outdated. Sure some of it was but it did not bug me as much as other older movies from this error do. Acting was great but mainly the story and how the main character can be such a swindler. Great movie

The Final Destination: 3D

Sat, 29 Aug 2009 04:50:19 +0000

Double Movie NIght: Movie 2

I like the final destination series, I like the cool and interesting traps or deaths they come up with. But this movie just wasn't good. I also hate how a movie is "3D" which means there is like 4-5 second long parts where some small object flies at you. Idk maybe I just expect to much from 3D films but anyway. The story was alright, this was just one of those horror movies (like most I see) that just make me laugh and bring on good jokes for me and my friends to comment about. Certain things that happens are so funny, and people are so dumb. This is exactly what you'd most likely expect from the Final Destination Series. Vision > death chain > saving/skipping death > (I'll let you fill this one in). There was as in H2 a hillarious joke in this movie that I came up with an Im gunna share it with all of you, you may think it's bad but it was hilarious.

Spoiler

So the movie is alright, just another horror movie to me which means somewhat cool deaths and funny jokes and comments to follow the dumb actions of the characters and story. Such as Im pretty sure every building in this movie wasn't sturdy or passed building regulations lol. Have fun seeing this series ended hopefully, they seem to be getting worse. Shoulda stopped at 3.

Halloween: H2

Sat, 29 Aug 2009 04:26:09 +0000

Double Movie Night: Movie 1

As a fan of Rob Zombie's: Halloween I expected more from this movie. I feel as it was thrown together to make money and not entertain. I'll start by saying I give it a 5/10. My basis for the low score is the story confused the shit out of me, I still don't know what the end meant which angers me. I felt left confused multiple times in this film. The reason I did give it a 5 instead of less is cause Micheal looks like a BAMF in this movie, his mask is more deshevaled and worn, add the hoodie he is wearing in some scenes and it's like a whole new killer. In fact I know we all know Micheal is a brutal SOB but he really was pissed this time around, talk bout no mercy. I think three deep stab wounds is enough to kill someone with your foot long knife, 20 stabs? Damn Micheal you need some Prozac. Somethin to mellow your ass out. Anyway alright, not better than the first film, still confusing is biggest downfall. It is gory, nasty, scary, and you see BAMF Micheal. But still with all that said the best part of my H2 experience was:

There is a part where Micheal kills a dog and someone in the theater yelled "holy shit it's Micheal Vick" I about pissed my pants I was laughing so hard.

So anyway see this movie if you want, but if you do please tell me what the end meant Lol

The Time Traveler's Wife

Thu, 27 Aug 2009 05:49:09 +0000

The Time Traveler's Wife is one of the very few romantic films I enjoyed. It's not the typical romantic films we see every day with the overly cheesy lines and predictable plot. This one is different. Based from the best selling novel of the same title by Audrey Niffenegger, The Time Traveler's Wife tells the interesting love story of Clare and Henry, the time traveler.

I personally enjoyed watching the film. The story was nicely presented. Acting from Rachel McAdams as the struggling wife was superb. Eric Bana met my expectations and the young girl who portrayed Clare was very funny. LOL. All in all, I think that the movie did give justice to the book. Though it may not have profoundly elaborated on certain subplots, the movie still holds strong as a really nice representation of the wonderful novel.

And by the way, the song "Broken" by Lifehouse was spot on as a track for the movie. Really great.

So, how about you? Any thoughts?

Adventureland

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 09:12:53 +0000

Adventureland

Saw this last night with my girl friend. Thought it was really good. It takes place in the mid-80's and involves a college grad played by fairly newcomer, Jesse Eisenberg who takes a job at a local amusement park to save money in hope to go to New York. Loved the typical 80's music and the clever sequences one involving "weed cookies". I particularly loved "Lou Reed." All in all the story and characters were enjoyable to watch and you can truly find yourself relating to them. In the end the movie was funny yet had a great clever story which was greatly portrayed.

Inglourious Basterds (quentin Tarantino, 2009)

Sun, 23 Aug 2009 04:45:32 +0000

I have never been certain about whether I give filmmaker Quentin Tarantino far too much credit or far too little. After watching his latest film, Inglourious Basterds, I am still unsure, but for the first time I can clearly seem him through the eyes of one of his detractors.

Tarantino is the cinema�s nerdiest man-child, a director who imbues his films with juvenile and romanticized depictions of violence, honor and revenge, a philosophical disposition likely accrued from years of treating cheap, trashy films as holy grails of wisdom. Also, his movies generally function within the confines of manufactured and self-conscious stylistic excess (including everything from the artificial, homage-ridden dialogue to the retro costumes and settings), the confines of which are too strict to allow for much natural character development or sincere human emotion. Regardless, I have always counted myself a fan of Tarantino�s work; he exhibits remarkable formal control over his material, excels at building and sustaining tension, and has a keen eye for fascinating and diverse visual schemes. His movies are slick, prodigiously entertaining, and employ a myriad of cinematic influences. They are quintessential popcorn fare.

Inglourious Basterds, for better or for worse, is something else entirely. For all its cartoonish acting, macho posturing, and over-the-top violence, this is a far more serious film, although I�m not sure it even realizes just how serious it truly is. Inglourious Basterds is essentially an idealized, Spaghetti Western-inspired World War II fantasy which focuses primarily on a group of Jewish soldiers who terrorize and kill Nazis, as well as a young Jewish woman with a plot to wipe out all top-ranking officials of the Third Reich. The film is part brutal action spectacle and part comedy, often blending the two with perverse glee. Judging by the audience reaction in the movie theater, it was a massive hit with most of the patrons who probably left the theater wanting to pump their fists and crack some skulls, but I left feeling deeply conflicted and more than a little unsettled about Tarantino�s willingness to exploit something as unthinkably horrific as World War II for dramatic thrills and cheap laughs. This is the only time I have ever watched a movie and afterward questioned whether or not there ought to be some sacred ground left respectfully undisturbed. Of course, one might argue that Inglourious Basterds is simply an outlet for the harmless fantasies harbored by many of us who grew up in awe of the horrors of WWII. But what good could such an endeavor serve? What possible wrongs could be righted by pretending that WWII was really a thrilling adventure and that it all ended on a positive note? On the way out of the theater, I overheard one woman say, �I like the ending to the movie a lot better than the actual ending.� The key problem with this film, as is the key problem with most idealized fantasies, is that its power pales in comparison to the harsh and complex problems of reality; it cannot insulate us from them, and even if it could, would anybody really want to live in such a state? One could also argue, probably successfully, that it is the job of entertainment cinema to do just that, to transport us to a different world for a couple of hours. Even so, transporting us to a WWII world of excitement and intrigue seems to trivialize the suffering of the Jews and unfortunate soldiers caught up in the brutality.

Aside from these qualms, Inglourious Basterds is also the first Tarantino movie where his glorification of violence and his simplistic ideas of morality, honor, and revenge really bothered me. After screening the film Full Metal Jacket, filmmaker Samuel Fuller reportedly complained that its exciting depictions of war and battle were, whether intentionally or not, propaganda tools which would inevitably encourage impressionable young men to join the armed forces. If this story is indeed true, then Mr. Fuller must be writhing in his grave, as Tarantino has created a war film which unabashedly glorifies violence and warfare. A pro-war film is, I suppose, just as valid a statement as an anti-war film; sometimes violence is unavoidable, and there are arguably times when it is a legitimate or justified action. And perhaps the legitimacy of the biblical �eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth� perception of revenge and retaliation could be the subject of a rather interesting philosophical discourse. But what Tarantino is giving us are these views filtered through a childish and sheltered worldview, one which only serves to simplify these ideas and completely separate them from any real-world context. But a film set against a backdrop of WWII demands such real-world context; it demands that the fantasies and the wishful day-dreams be stripped away and exposed for what they are in order for the experience to be profound or meaningful. But Tarantino has no such intentions, and in his world divine justice is doled out with reckless abandon, and the persecuted enact brutal revenge against their persecutors in a series of fist-pumping, audience-baiting action sequences (Rosenbaum also made an interesting point, which is that portraying Jews as cruel killers and torturers of Nazi soldiers diminishes the impact of their suffering and is akin to Holocaust denial, a view which is probably extreme but certainly worth considering).

For all its ideological flaws, Inglourious Basterds is probably Tarantino�s most technically well-made film, and his skill at creating nervous tension has become extraordinarily adept. Also, Austrian actor Christoph Waltz is a spectacular revelation, and he delivers a performance which is probably much better than the material actually deserves. The fact is that even through my conflicted apprehension and my annoyance at the film�s clumsy attempts at humor, I was more entertained that I feel comfortable admitting. Still, toward the end of the movie there is a set piece where top-ranking Nazi officials attend a premiere of a violent German propaganda film called �Nation�s Pride.� What is the fundamental difference, I wondered, between the film I was watching and the film the Nazis were watching? What is the distinction, besides cultural perspectives, between Tarantino�s faux audience of cheering Nazis and the real-life audience bursting into laughter and applause all around me? Is Tarantino perhaps suggesting that there is no difference, that films are simply an extension of the values, beliefs and idealized perceptions of a certain culture? Shouldn�t the cinema, and in fact all serious art forms, be used to challenge and question commonly held perceptions rather than revel in audience-pleasing sentiment?

Despite all of this, I have no problem with the cinema being used as a device for fantasy or escapism, but there is something particularly distasteful about making a film where the audience escapes into the most horrific and tragic period of the 20th century. The real world comes crashing down around the Nazis during the screening of the propaganda film �Nation�s Pride,� but unfortunately, there was no such moment at the end of Inglourious Basterds, leaving the audience to cheer, applaud, and remain largely unperturbed by the actual atrocities which took place during World War II.

King Of The Ants (stuart Gordon, 2003)

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 07:30:20 +0000

King of the Ants (Stuart Gordon, 2003) - 4.5/5

As others who have seen this have pointed out, Stuart Gordon's "King of the Ants" is a sickening and unpleasant film, disturbing both in its brutal violence and its unrelentingly bleak worldview. Everything about this movie is unsettling: the most gruesome scenes of torture and violence take place in mundane, inconspicuous settings (the inescapable realism of which adds to the horror), and characters are constantly drenched in sweat from temperatures so sweltering and oppressive it almost makes your skin crawl. "King of the Ants" is about a young man named Sean Crawley who, after weighing the possible consequences and casting aside his pesky moral conscience, commits a murder; ostensibly he does it for a considerable sum of money, but Crawley's sexual fantasies about the man's wife reveal his true motives. After his employer refuses to pay, Crawley tries to blackmail him, and as a result he is taken into the desert and tortured, both physically and mentally (his sexual fantasies transform into twisted nightmares, presumably corrupted by his feelings of guilt, in some of the most Gordon-esque sequences in the film). "King of the Ants" soon emerges as a taut revenge thriller as Crawley becomes more evil and sadistic than his tormentors, and the film's true intentions are made very clear: the world is a violent and depraved place without meaning or morality, and the only way to emerge on top, to emerge as the king of the insects (a metaphor for mankind's relative insignificance), is to embrace the worst aspects of it. My only real complaint with the movie is that McKenna's casual, nonchalant performance in the film's second half is just too unbelievable and more than a little cheesy. Anyone looking for a wholesome movie promoting traditional moral values should look elsewhere. But for those of you who have to feed your darker sides with sick, depraved films, give "King of the Ants" a try. Just make sure that your dark side is hungry.

District 9

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 16:32:17 +0000

District 9

Hands down the best movie of the year.

Going into the cinema I had mixed expectations as I only saw a handful (yet interesting) posters and only one trailer. I only heard a handful of reviews yet all of them came from this site. Well, I decided to hedge my bets and walk in anyway. And I'm glad I did.
The story is well told; a refreshing, unique and somewhat original scenario, one that we've never experienced for quite some time. The atmosphere is bleak, dark and realistic, actually making me believe this thing can actually happen here on Earth.

Great film

Bride Wars

Sat, 15 Aug 2009 09:43:43 +0000

I normally like "chic flicks"/romantic comedies, but watching this I felt the need to fast forwards several times. It wasn't because the acting was bad, the story line was just sluggish. I guess its was okay. I really expected more, from an Anne Hathaway movie but sadly I was disappointed. 2/5 stars

The Boat That Rocked

Sat, 15 Aug 2009 02:48:31 +0000

The Boat That Rocked

This was a wonderful movie. Thought it was really funny to. Yes it does have Richard Curtis style of a chick style movie but with all the sub plots that come into play that it really does not matter. Plus these days what comedy is not basically about a guy and a girl.
Honestly I dont understand why so many people thought it was to long. I personal did not think it was long enough. With all the funny sub plots and comedic humor I thought it was great. Also what a great soundtrack. Overall the Boat That Rocked is silly and entertaining fun.

Anyone who has seen the movie who is your favorite Radio Rock DJ?
mine was The Count

G.i Joe: Rise Of Cobra

Sun, 09 Aug 2009 05:51:08 +0000

I just came from seeing G.I. Joe, and some casting issues aside over all I thought it was a good movie. I think they had a nice balance between keeping the integrity of the cartoon, changing enough to have a good story that would appeal to the masses, and not making the movie corny.

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