Capricornian Reviews

The Invasion (I) (2007)

Thrilling, but not scary.

[18 August 2007]

Alright, so I was lucky enough to catch the first screening of this film. It's an enjoyable movie, despite what the critics say, IF you forgo the fact that it's a remake, and not so much "horror" as action and thriller.

If you're one for extracting life philosophies from movies, then you'll probably like it. However, if you want to see a movie that's gripping, terrifying, and will leave your heart pounding minutes after the film has ended, this is not for you.

Positive: The acting By Nicole Kidman (who plays a high end psychiatrist, concerned most with her son and career) and Daniel Craig (a very very close friend and colleague who is in love with her) is superb. While it gets off to a rocky and slow first start, it gradually gets better and more tense as it goes on. The action scenes are very well done, full of stressful moments that make you anxious. This film explains the scientific background of the aliens more than its predecessors' in a very interesting way, giving you the inside look of how exactly the aliens work.

Negative: A lot of ideas and themes were mentioned, but none really explored beyond that. You have a vague clue of how it started, but not where the aliens came from, why they came to earth, what happened to the space shuttle that made it crash, how the aliens got on the space shuttle in the first place; etc etc. You're left to pretty much guess for yourself. The ending, also, wasn't thorough. I think that one thing I disliked, also, was the fact that you find yourself sympathizing with the aliens, rather than humanity. It's a movie that wants to have a logical point, but it's not quite sure what it's trying to say.

Overall, a philosophizing flick, portraying the dispassion and inhumane acts of the world with a twist, containing both negative and positive.

7/10.

Ghost Rider (2007)

A fun ride.

[18 June 2007]

Despite having a lack of action and being chock-full of goofs, 'Ghost Rider' is fairly enjoyable and mildly exciting. Yes, there are some definite plot holes, and while the acting isn't the greatest, this movie is good enough to watch a second time; especially when you're just looking for a few laughs, some merrymaking, and a cure for boredom.

'Ghost Rider' contains some *very* nice visuals and an interesting concept: Johnny Blaze, a young man who sells his soul to the devil in order to save his father's life, is forced to become the same devil's bounty hunter--giving up love, friendship, family, and ultimately any chance at a normal life. But with a gracious turn of events, decides to use this disadvantage TO his advantage--by turning his "curse" as he calls it--back against Satan, the one who initially created it to begin with.

Though I've read some bad reviews for this movie and some harsh criticism, I *would* recommend 'Ghost Rider' to watch on a Saturday night when you have nothing else to do. All it is, is complete entertainment, pure and simple. No deeper meanings, no hidden agenda involved; and sometimes, that's just the kind of film you need.

6.5/10

Norbit (2007)

Hateful, bland, stereotypical, pointless--what IS there to like?

[18 June 2007]

First of all, I'd like to say that I am generally not one to criticize a movie, and when I do I usually *at least* point out some good parts; but this film was absolutely awful.

The plot is thoroughly empty--or, rather, there just isn't one. That would be fine if the dialog was actually witty and funny. The humor it does have is rude and offensive, even to the most open-minded of people. It consists completely of fat jokes and a few ill-hidden racial jokes, that are nothing more than annoying and needlessly insolent.

Don't get me wrong, I do like fat and racial jokes; I pretty much like any type of joke, even the ones that are often considered highly offending--as long as they aren't ignorant or predictable--but the ones that *weren't* insulting in 'Norbit' were just that. Dull, typical, the same fat jokes that have been done at least one hundred times in every other comedy out there.

I had maybe two or three chuckles that weren't forced throughout the entire film, which is saying a lot since I'm generally amused easily. 'Norbit' is lucky if it even evokes an eye-roll.

1/10