kdude12 Reviews

Prometheus (I) (2012)

Good & provocative film despite the complaints that may be fodder for future discussion

[10/10 · 15 June 2012]

This is a compelling film that faced huge expectations that were probably not matched, but manges to deliver a compelling and engrossing experience. It is true that the film requires a certain suspension of disbelief, much like almost any other science fiction film, but also because there are a few flaws in the plotting, logic and characterizations. These flaws have seriously disgruntled some of the reviewers on IMDb and elsewhere and reduce the impact of the film. Despite those issues, I found the film to be gripping, provocative and visually fascinating. If you are a sci-fi fan, or a fan of the Alien series of films, there is really no question that this is an absolute must-see film.

There is some horrific material and some bizarre things happen, not all of them explained within the movie. This is both frustrating and entertaining, and the extent to which this pleases a viewer is a matter of personal taste. How much to you like being left with unresolved questions in a film?

The movie is not quite as suspenseful as Alien (which for many viewers was one of the most suspense filled movies of the last couple of decades), but it does deliver a continual does of mystery, suspense and awe the the fantastic scenery and environment.

This is not a film that truly provokes genuine philosophical or technical questions (which many viewer had hoped for), but it does raise some entertaining questions about the motives and basis for what's happening in the movie, and as such it pretty much begs for a sequel. Some of the motivation and story is also enriched by reflecting on the classic Greek myth of Prometheus and how it might relate to the story line.

Since watching the film I have vacillated between frustration, annoyance and satisfaction, but in retrospect it has provided more engagement and sustained entertainment than most films I have seen in the recent past, even though some of that engagement was due to hand-wringing about what seem like unrealistic choices.

The Limey (1999)

What and awful derivative junk film

[15 July 2011]

This movie is one of the worst I have seen in a long time. It is, at once, poorly written, predictable, derivative and filled with wooden laughable dialogue (but not laughable to be funny, just ludicrous). I just saw the film "Harry Brown" with is also a British vigilante-themed movie with substantial violence and a roughly similar plot. While that movie is a (somewhat disturbing) gem, this movie is just an amateurish mess. The character development here is weak, the story line could be summarized in two lines, and the acting is by-and-large a disappointment. The one highlight of this movie is that if you get called away for a phone call while it's playing, you can come right back 10 minutes later and pick up without having missed anything that might matter (since you can fully understand the whole plot after the first 10 minutes).

Terminator Salvation (2009)

Even a director with an infantile name can make a good movie; too bad this one didn't

[3/10 · 12 June 2009]

The Terminator series started with a movie that was intelligent and provocative, despite the fact that it was also an action-packed romp. This latest movie is sadly devoid of any hint of that intelligence. In fact, by watching the four-minute trailer you can see pretty much the whole plot and all the best bits of the movie. A die-hard sci-fi fan won't be able to resist watching this, but I would recommend waiting for the DVD or television release. In that way you will save yourself the frustration of paying good money, you will avoid rewarding such a plodding and dim-witted producer and director, and you will allow yourself to do something else while the movie is lumbering along.

Mirrors (I) (2008)

A waste of time and money

[1/10 · 1 March 2009]

While I am not a fan of grotesque films, I can accept the fact that some people might enjoy them if they are well made or compelling and persuasive. This film is very gross, and in addition it is illogical and suffers from inconsistent and irrational motivations, actions and events. It's not dumb enough to be funny, but rather is a pastiche of gross and bizarre events, some of which are cliché. If you pay attention to only a few minutes at a time, it feels like it's going somewhere and is reminiscent of various other bizarre horror films, but of you can bear to watch for an extended period and listen to the meaning claptrap uttered by the people in the film you quickly realize that the film doesn't hang together well.

Some viewers seem to find the premise spooky and impressive because reflections are so commonplace (and hence scary??). They should be waiting with anxious anticipation for the sequel "DUST" which will contemplate another commonplace material gone awry.

Meet the Fockers (2004)

Embarrassing -- it sure is.

[2/10 · 3 January 2005]

The tagline for this film is: "And you thought your parents were embarrassing." I presume this tagline refers to how the actors in the film must feel. Compared to the embarrassment of being in this stinker (or having written, produced or directed this, worse yet), nothing else seems embarrassing in comparison.

I cannot imagine how some well respected actors lowered themselves to the completely infantile level of this film! The fact that the reviews and ratings are not MUCH worse is easily explained by the fact that many potential viewers with even a modicum of good taste were warned away by the title and promotional material which, at least, is fair in that it portrays the film to be just as asinine and low-brow as it actually is. The film is amazing in that it leaves me in awe over how sadly our culture has sunk when a film like this, and like many similar films, can actually do quite well at the box office. If you think you might find the film funny, you could probably do almost as well by simply eating a can of beans and then sitting in the bath tub for the evening.

How to Steal a Million (1966)

Charming

[9/10 · 26 December 2004]

A charming adventure comedy. It revolves around good-hearted art forgery and the need to set thing right. The basic plot is rather implausible, but it hardly matters. There is a great chemistry between the primary characters and the story is pleasantly devoid of attributes that would prevent the film from being enjoyed by anybody from 10 years-old and up. The blend of mild suspense, gentle comedy and a bit of romance is not too intellectually provocative, but it makes for great fun. It's a film I can sit down an watch with my teenage daughter, my younger son, my wife and my mother, and everybody has a good time and comes away feeling better than when they sat down.

Dreamcatcher (2003)

It's certainly a horror movie...

[16 November 2003]

Now I know why King is reputed as a horror writer: so many of the films based on his books are horrible, and this one takes the cake. If you are compelled to sit through this, be sure to keep the fast-forward button at hand, and (ideally) a magazine you can broswe through while it's playing. This is like 4 cliche movies thrown into a blender.

This should be played at the dentist's office so when it's your turn to go into the office for a root canal, it would be a much-anticipated relief!

Sand (2000)

People fight (yawn).

[3/10 · 23 February 2002]

It is an extreme challenge to find a sufficiently negative phrase to describe this movie. It is utterly boring, predictable, and without any interesting features whatsoever... no wait, that doesn't sound nearly negative enough. The plot isn't worthy of a newpaper cartoon strip, nothing much happens, the settings are uninteresting. You'd be better off sleeping or watching the clouds in the sky float by. The only provocative issue is the question it raises (for me) regarding why I let it remain on screen. No, wait, there's also the question regarding how anybody could make a film like this.