jenevere-heading Reviews

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

A Masterpiece

[10/10 · 15 May 2024]

A perfect 10. The trilogy is a perfect 10, although this first chapter is my favourite. It traverses such a breadth of landscapes and has such clarity in its story development - seamlessly transporting the viewer from the sweet innocence of Hobbiton through the exciting and perilous journey towards the evil of Mount Doom. It is exquisite in every way.

This movie also includes my favourite moment in a movie ever: the look on Gandalf's face when Froddo steps forward at Rivendell.

How this movie did not win the Academy Award for Best Picture is beyond me. Although it is clearly recognised for its brilliance through the many other awards it has received.

The extended version is even better. I suggest making the effort to find that version.

Thank-you for making this film Mr Jackson.

U-571 (2000)

Intense

[8/10 · 15 May 2024]

I can see that there are a lot of reviews critzising the historical accuracy of this film and their frustration of the 'US taking credit for war effort' theme that often arises during discussion on WWII films. As such, you probably will be frustrated with this movie if that bothers you. I also know nothing about submarines so the accuracy of battle scenes is beyond me.

I rated this movie an 8 because the above didn't bother me, and I found it to be an intense, unrelenting, knuckle-biter. A great cast, with Matthew McConaughey a stand-out. Sound effects are awesome and give due credit to it's Academy Award for its win in sound editing.

Novocaine (2001)

Weirdly intriguing

[8/10 · 13 May 2024]

This is one of the strangest films I have ever seen. Initially I thought the casting was terrible (despite liking the actors), and that there were too many little things that didn't make sense, but I changed my mind by the end of the film.

There seems to be debate about whether it is intended to be funny or not - I didn't find it so, but that didn't matter. I would recommend watching it (if you don't mind gore and suspense), but you might have a better experience if you try not to judge it during the film - just sit back and let it unfold.

I've gave a score of 8 based on originality and intrigue.

Free Guy (2021)

Fun

[7/10 · 17 August 2021]

Fun. That's the best way to describe it. I really enjoyed it and I don't even play (or like) computer games!

Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012)

Lost the plot

[1/10 · 10 April 2020]

Having enjoyed the first two movies, my family settled into this one anticipating enjoyment, certainly reviews here indicate that the movie is worthwhile.

The film starts where it left off, but then 5 minutes into it, the movie just lost the plot. I felt confused for most of the movie. There was no consideration for linking back to the story, and even for an animated children's film, lacked sense. I felt it took advantage of the audience by using previous frivolities and injecting them with steriods to the point of nonsense and not in a good way.

It is a terrible film. It has taken away the cleverness and fun of the earlier films and I wish I hadn't seen it. I gave it 2 stars - it was at least colourful.

The Life of Emile Zola (1937)

Immersive and historically interesting

[7/10 · 15 February 2020]

I only watched this because it won an Academy Award for best picture (1937). I didn't expect it to be very good, so my intention was to watch it over two nights, but I watched it in one sitting, because it was quite immersive.

The movie could be described as being comprised of two parts - the first, a snapshot of who Emile Zola was, and the second, his involvement in the Dreyfus Affair (which I knew nothing about until I watched this movie).

I thought this movie was immersive and historically interesting. I enjoyed it.

The Great Ziegfeld (1936)

Three hour commitment, but glad I watched it

[6/10 · 8 January 2020]

By the half-way point in this movie (I watched it over two nights), I sort of felt like I'd been force-fed a meal I wasn't sure I wanted. There is so much to watch and absorb. I had never heard of Ziegfeld before, and had no idea that such extravagant theatricals existed some 100 years ago. A lesson in history for me, regardless of accuracy.

I loved the characters, but felt that the storyline was clunky and, at times, left me unsure what had happened. The film lacked good editing in my opinion.

I had difficulty rating this movie because the storyline and editing was lacking, but the re-creation of immensely extravagant theatrical sets is amazing - and I found myself thinking about it days and weeks later. Perhaps an education on times past. Overall, I gave this movie a 6.