I must admit that Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen was my most anticipated movie of the summer, maybe even the year. I was really impressed with the first one, so it was hard not to have high expectations for Michael Bay's second installment. I heard certain complaints about the plot, but I find it somewhat interesting as it uses different time periods and introduces some new characters. As the title indicates, the story involves the Decepticons gathering up their forces for another epic battle. I don't want to say too much just in case you haven't seen either of the two movies. As would be expected, the first one should be viewed before seeing this one to get the full effect of the story, but the sequel actually stands quite well on its own. There's an equal blend of comedy and action, but the humor was hit-and-miss to me. The first few minutes were downright hilarious thanks to Kevin Dunn and Julie White (the parents), but later on the humor relies on corny, low-brow jokes and visuals which makes me groan more than laugh. I much prefer the slight dramatic touch of the first movie that this one lacks. While I'm nitpicking, I'll point out that the cinematography during the action scenes are a bit blurry and seem to be too close-up, which is a problem I see in most action movies to be honest. Also, it feels like all sense of scale was abandoned. How does a small sports car like a Camaro become four stories tall and appear to weigh 20 tons just because it transformed into robot form? Oh well, like I said, that's nitpicking the little stuff. Even though this film does not quite blow me away like I had hoped, it is a strong, entertaining movie, especially for a sequel. The props are outstanding, with the amazingly cool Chevrolet vehicles, fighter jets, etc. Plus, what's more awesome than a semi truck personified? The sound effects are well done, but this is an action movie after all. Shia LaBeouf has always made me laugh since his days on "Even Stevens" and there has never been a more aptly named actress than Megan Fox. As far as the soundtrack goes, I've been really impressed with the Linkin Park songs for the ending credits on both films; they just seem to fit. Despite its long length, the movie flows quite well and makes for a good watch.
Reviews
29 Reviews
The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou is one of my personal favorites from director Wes Anderson.....
19 June 2009
The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou is one of my personal favorites from director Wes Anderson. It's about an ocean-life documentary maker Steve Zissou and his struggle to find the elusive "jaguar shark" that killed his co-worker. Circumstances are further complicated when family drama, budget cuts, and a pirate attack all seek to destroy his mission. Anderson uses some of his regulars such as Bill Murray, Anjelica Houston, and Owen Wilson who once again deliver quirky personalities to the screen. Willem Dafoe also turns in a memorable performance as one of the sensitive shipmates. What sets this movie apart from other Anderson films though, is the animation and sets. Several times the focus of attention is on almost cartoon-like fictional ocean animals, like the aforementioned jaguar shark. Even though the animation appears very non-realistic, there's a certain art to the images and brings back feelings of child-like fantasies. Great humor abounds and the soundtrack is composed mostly of indie covers of David Bowie songs, so this movie does not disappoint. -JNJ
Network
(1976)
Network reminds me of movies like 12 Angry Men...
15 May 2009
Network reminds me of movies like 12 Angry Men, in which the film draws its strength from a superstar cast, all at the top of their game. The plot takes place at a major television network, where ethics fly out the window in favor of good ratings. The film has a certain post-apocalyptic feeling to it, in the way that the human race just seems to have gone completely off its collective rocker and everyone is in defense mode, caring only about themselves to survive. It's either that, or just good ol' fashioned greed. Faye Dunaway's character is downright ferocious, while William Holden as Max seems to be one of the few left with any integrity whatsoever. Peter Finch plays a great crazy guy and delivers the film's most famous line, "I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this anymore!!" Although, for some reason the scene in which this line was delivered did not impact me the way I hoped it would, but the overall story was much more interesting than I expected. There's not much to offer in the way of costumes, sets, etc., but if you're looking for a great character movie full of tremendous acting, this is one of the best.
Mulholland Falls
(1996)
This film is one of the most underrated movies on this site......
13 March 2009
This film is one of the most underrated movies on this site. When I watch this movie, I see a great cast involved in an interesting period story in which the sets, costumes, and cinematography are all very visually stimulating. Heck, Jennifer Connelly's luscious beauty and Nick Nolte's unbridled rage are reasons enough to greatly enjoy this movie by themselves. Add in a slightly disturbing performance from John Malkovich and solid work from other big names such as Melanie Griffith, Chazz Palminteri, Michael Madsen, Chris Penn, and Treat Williams (the guy from "Everwood"! Remember "Everwood?) and overall this turns into one of those diamonds in the rough. Apparently not many people like this movie, but it's a mystery to me.
The Simpsons Movie
(2007)
The Simpsons Movie may not go down as an instant classic, but.....
11 March 2009
The Simpsons Movie may not go down as an instant classic and it likely won't win over anyone who was not already in love with the series, but for those of us that are completely addicted to anything Simpsons, this is like watching a feature length episode with higher quality animation. The story revolves around Homer who, as always, through irresponsibility nearly causes the downfall of beloved Springfield by polluting the reservoir with the waste from Spiderpig (surely you've at least heard the song by now). Funny dialogue, hilarious songs, Homer, and the rest of the crazy citizens of Springfield give Simpsons lovers another DVD to rent.
The Wrestler
(2008)
The Wrestler is easily one of the best films of 2008....
27 February 2009
The Wrestler is easily one of the best films of 2008 and it's a shame that this movie hasn't received more attention since it's release, but at least the two big players in this film, Mickey Rourke and Marisa Tomei have each been awarded Oscar nominations. Tomei never seems to age. She may be even more attractive now than she was 17 years ago in My Cousin Vinny. But what I like about her is that she not only has a smoking hot bod, but she has genuine acting ability which seems to be a rare combination in this day and age. And about Rourke's performance.....wow. Simply legendary. I was personally heartbroken when Sean Penn beat him out for Best Actor at the Academy Awards (although, to be fair, I have yet to see Penn's performance in Milk). Rourke seemed to tell his own life story through his character, a story of crushing loneliness and imperceptible despair. With each scene, the viewer establishes a deeper personal connection with Randy "The Ram" Robinson and we can't help but cheer him on as he tries to find love anywhere he can find it. Darren Aronofsky sets the scenes up very well and the costumes, makeup, and soundtrack give an even deeper since of realism (I nearly burst into tears when GNR's "Sweet Child O' Mine" began to play). The numerous graphic scenes mean that this movie is not for everyone, and the filming is done in a shaky, documentary-style that won't appeal to some people, but if this movie's intent is to show life in all its glory and brutality, then mission accomplished.
Push
(2009)
Eh, about average I guess.....
18 February 2009
Eh, about average I guess. The story is yet again about people with special powers which is getting a bit tiring, especially when the abilities aren't that cool (and some of them are downright annoying). The written dialogue is of slightly less fluidity and intellect than I would like to see as was the direction and editing. However, there are two reasons to check this flick out: the setting and Dakota Fanning. The movie was set in Hong Kong, which is always a visually appealing and interesting place for a movie with it's cool night clubs and open marketplaces. And one thought kept going through my mind throughout....our little Dakota Fanning is growing up! No longer is she the pure picture of innocence (like in Dreamer or I Am Sam). She has now shown the ability to give a bit of edge in her characters and has successfully broken through to being a legitimate actress. All of this said, I would personally wait to rent this movie as opposed to seeing it in theaters if I were you, but do what you want, I'm just an online movie critic after all. :)
13 Ghosts
(1960)
Yeah. Not so good....
2 February 2009
Yeah. Not so good. 13 Ghosts is one of those rare times when the original was much improved upon by a remake (Thir13en Ghosts from 2001), and that's not saying much. Sometimes it's easy to get into a line of thinking that newer is better, for example, and then classics such as Gone With The Wind or It's A Wonderful Life show us that newer is definitely not always better. On the flip side, watching some of today's undeserved box office hits like Sex And The City or Beverly Hills Chihuahua make me think "I just don't think they ever got this bad in the good ole days." Well, once again it's proved that there are good movies and there are bad movies in every year since the invention of "moving pictures". Pretty bad acting and special effects plagued this movie throughout and I should have taken away more points from the Sets/Props category with those ridiculous glasses (goggles?) that they used throughout the film. Even though I very much understand that it can get much worse, this movie was just dull. If you want to see some better efforts from director William Castle, check out Strait-Jacket, The Tingler, or Homicidal.
Rear Window
(1954)
Rear Window is considered by many to be Alfred Hitchcock's greatest achievement.....
2 February 2009
Rear Window is considered by many to be Alfred Hitchcock's greatest achievement. I don't quite share that sentiment. I much prefer Psycho, Rebecca, Vertigo, and maybe even Marnie to this film. However, this is still Hitchcock, and that means another thriller classic. Frantic James Stewart, gorgeous Grace Kelly, and wise Thelma Ritter are simply awesome and just like almost all Hitchock films, there is a very intense scene or two that has you gripping the arm of the chair until your knuckles hurt. The main premise of the story has been highly publicized and spoofed over the years (anyone see the Simpsons's episode where Bart plays the Stewart character?), so the fact that Stewart is laid up in his apartment due to injury and spies on his neighbors offers little surprise. It has to be noted that this is still far superior to attempted remakes (most notably, Disturbia from 2007), even though the movie is made some 53 years earlier. I had to take away some points for sets and props simply because the movie never really leaves the apartment complex, but keep in mind that this is done on purpose to create a certain claustrophobia so these points are evened out by the great direction and editing. Although it seems to be a bit more highly regarded and popular than it should be, this gem should be on everyone's "To Watch" list.
Tropic Thunder
(2008)
Tropic Thunder was the comedy hit of the summer...
21 January 2009
Tropic Thunder was the comedy hit of the summer of '08 with it's well known stars in Ben Stiller, Jack Black, and Robert Downey Jr. leading a very good cast, both in quantity and quality. The story is funny in itself as a bunch of spoiled and soft superstar actors come together to make a war movie. As filming goes on, however, what once were fake special effects and stunts become very real very fast. Ben Stiller and Jack Black are funny as always but the standout performances come from Robert Downey Jr. who plays a white Australian preppy playing a black American soldier and Nick Nolte who acts as the beaten and battered Vietnam War vet movie consultant with hooks for hands. Special effects, makeup, and costumes are on par with what you would expect from a decent war action movie. Although this film was a bit overrated at the time of release, it is an entertaining watch if you can get past some unnecessarily disturbing images and language.
The Hot Spot
(1990)
Yow! This movie is hot!!
15 January 2009
Yow! This movie is hot!! Everything about the setting, characters, and situations is sizzling. A drifter (played by Mr. Cool himself, Don Johnson) wanders into town with the intentions of setting up a bank robbery and moving on, but quickly gets caught in the small southern town's sticky web. The web is spun by the only two major attractions the town has to offer: the blonde (Virginia Madsen) and the brunette (Jennifer Connelly). The plot gets as thick as the humid air as all the characters begin to collide. The film offers good acting by the aforementioned as well as Charles Martin Smith, Barry Corbin, and William Sadler. The score and the setting bring the movie to life on the screen as the anxiety and raw instinct reach a climax. The movie is a slow-mover at times, but is definitely worthy of recommendation.
The Usual Suspects
(1995)
Although Bryan Singer has directed some pretty good movies.....
14 January 2009
Although Bryan Singer has directed some pretty good movies (X-Men, X2, Valkyrie, Apt Pupil), nothing comes close to this masterpiece. The intricate storyline follows a cop (Chazz Palminteri) trying to solve the mystery of the identity of a mysterious and very feared Keyser Söze. The suspects include a strong cast consisting of Stephen Baldwin, Gabriel Byrne, Benicio Del Toro, Kevin Pollack, and Kevin Spacey. The film is strong in every area: soundtrack, sound effects, visual effects, etc., but its legend comes from its superb writing, both in dialogue and plot. This is a very fun flick to watch time and time again and is probably necessary to watch more than once in order to piece together the complicated mystery.
The Birth of a Nation
(1915)
Perfect example of both the best and worst in cinema history....
12 January 2009
The Birth Of A Nation is a silent film directed by D.W. Griffith that is well known for being one of the earliest feature length epics. As great as the film is in it's technical aspects, it unfortunately is even more famous for something much less admirable. Viewers beware! This movie is extremely racist. It depicts the African-American race in a horridly derogatory manner and regards the Ku Klux Klan as a heroic group that helped save the South during the Reformation years. With the controversial storyline aside, this movie is very well-made. The special effects and cinematography are masterful considering this movie pre-dated Gone With The Wind by an astonishing 24 years!! This is supported by elaborate sets and acting by early film pioneers Lillian Gish and Mae Marsh. And, to make up for being a silent movie, the soundtrack is much better than expected. If the controversial issues can be overlooked (which is not easy, believe me) this should be considered one of the greatest Civil War epic films of all time.
Bolt
(2008)
Bolt is another animated hit from Disney and features a dog, a cat, a hamster, and a sweet-hearted young actress....
23 December 2008
Bolt is another animated hit from Disney and features a dog, a cat, a hamster, and a sweet-hearted young actress. This feature is about a loyal young dog who uses his super powers to protect his owner from the forces of the evil green-eyed man. However, early in the film, the audience finds out that the poor pup is being tricked into believing he has super powers by the movie studio so that his acting will be more realistic for their hit action show. It takes an unlikely pair in a cynical alley cat and an obnoxious hamster to help him realize his value as a regular dog. The animation is quite good, but the 3D doesn't add much in my opinion. The CGI is plenty good by itself with its crisp and clean realism and its bright colors and lighting. John Travolta, Miley Cyrus, Susie Essman, and Mark Walton's voices are perfect for the characters, especially Essman's as Mittens, the cat. The soundtrack is good, but too much attention is being paid to "I Thought I Lost You" by Travolta and Cyrus, which was recently nominated for a Golden Globe. Instead, one of the highlights of the movie is when Jenny Lewis's "Barking At The Moon" plays during an especially sentimental sequence. Adults and kids alike should get good value from this film.
Gone with the Wind
(1939)
Gone With The Wind is one of those absolutely essential films that all movie lovers must see before they die.
23 December 2008
Gone With The Wind is one of those absolutely essential films that all movie lovers must see before they die. This Civil War epic romance/drama centers around a rather spoiled and selfish young Southern belle named Scarlett. The story follows her through the blissful paradises of plantation dances and pretty dresses to the bitter, cold realities of war and scraping up the pieces afterward. During these trials and tribulations, many very complex relationships and people are examined, all the while using Scarlett as the catalyst. Victor Fleming's visual interpretation of Margaret Mitchell's famous novel is nearly flawless and represents, in my opinion, exactly how a story like this should be told. The lavish sets and costumes burst from the screen in an explosion of color. The cinematography and visual effects evoke a certain dream-like fantasy at certain times and offer stunning realism at others. It's hard to believe this movie was made 70 years ago and it's easy to see why this movie was considered so far ahead of its time upon its release. However, as great as these elements are, the aspect that makes Gone With The Wind a timeless classic is the great performance by the cast. Most have heard of Vivien Leigh's career-defining performance as Scarlett and the way she makes the viewer both love her and hate her with equally burning passions, or of Clark Gable's equally good role as Rhett Bulter, the self-reliant, and some might say, self-centered man who comes to understand the value of integrity and character. But sometimes these two giants overshadow very underrated performances by Leslie Howard, Hattie McDaniel, and Olivia de Havilland. Leslie Howard does a tremendous job of relating to the viewer the inner torment of love versus lust that his character deals with everyday. McDaniel offers a lovable toughness, wisdom, and discipline as the house servant. De Havilland's performance is the most pleasantly surprising, however. In every scene, her character emits purity and goodness in abundance. She truly demonstrates an unconditional love to all those around her despite the difficult circumstances she often finds herself in and is the perfect example of the model that other humans should aspire to become. Through and through, Gone With The Wind is a story that will probably never grow irrelevant, and this 4-hour movie is an astonishing masterpiece that is able to bring deep-buried emotions out of even the most hardened of hearts.
The Wicker Man
(1973)
The Wicker Man takes place on a remote island of England as a detective investigates the disappearance of a young girl...
19 December 2008
The Wicker Man takes place on a remote island of England as a detective investigates the disappearance of a young girl. Immediately upon arrival, it becomes quite clear that he or anyone else is not at all welcome. The people and their island become more and more strange the longer he stays and the more questions he asks. This horror flick is a bit oddball, but the oddity is well worth it. Although not as good as I had hoped, there are many times during the watch that my eyes grew large and my jaw dropped to the floor. It is indeed a very eerie and strange movie. Think of it as a lesser quality Rosemary's Baby in the sense that a small community of wackos are out to get the only sane person left. Britt Eklund plays the evil seductress, if you will, and does quite a good job. The costume designs and setting are creepy in themselves, but props must go to the props (sorry for the pun), as the wicker man himself has remained the vaunting symbol of the movie for decades. Considered a cult classic about the occult, this film is sure to raise an eyebrow or two and is worth the time for those looking for something different.
Gattaca
(1997)
An underrated Sci-Fi about the not-to-distant future...
16 December 2008
This sci-fi/thriller is a scary reminder of what our world might look like in the not-to-distant future. Ethan Hawke plays a man who is discriminated against because he is of natural birth. In other words, he was not genetically engineered, so he is relegated to janitorial duty the rest of his life, that is, until he finds another way. Full of futuristic philosophies and technologies, this film includes exciting, edge-of-your-seat moments and challenges the idea of what it means to be human. The great plot is supported by awesome sets and visuals that literally take the viewer to the cold, hard time ahead. Uma Thurman is adequate as Hawke's co-worker and object of interest and Jude Law delivers a very solid performance in his role. I've never been a huge Ethan Hawke fan, but he does about as good as anybody else would have as the main character. One of my favorite sci-fi films, this one is highly recommended for your entertainment.
30 Days of Night
(2007)
ehh, could have been better, could have been worse
12 December 2008
Set in Barrow, Alaska, this next-generation zombie/vampire flick is about a strange group that visit during the month of darkness to terrorize the town. Ben Foster is once again chilling in his role (much like his stellar performance in 3:10 To Yuma) and the rest of the cast does a good enough job to not completely ruin the movie. The far north setting is kind of cool but the small village gets a bit stifling after awhile. The story gets very repetitive, is a bit shallow, does not develop characters, and is lacking in background explanation. This can work to a movie's advantage sometimes, like in The Strangers , but this method doesn't work well in this case. Certain special effects are not very appealing, such as the creatures faces and the last scene with Josh Hartnett and Melissa George (you'll have to watch to find out). This movie is best relegated for Halloween or a full-moon night when any decent horror movie will do.
Elephant Walk
(1954)
A truly underrated Elizabeth Taylor film
12 December 2008
The scintillating Elizabeth Taylor stars in this lesser-known classic as a young girl from London who falls in love with a tea plantation owner from British Ceylon (current day Sri Lanka). Upon arrival she instantly feels out of place and is forced to adapt to the new culture as well as be in constant awareness of the angry elephant herd. William Dieterle, who also directed The Life Of Emile Zola and Portrait Of Jennie , does a masterful job of bringing a somewhat dark, and almost eerie, undertone to this romance and the setting is one of the most beautiful I've seen with the black and white themed mansion and the gorgeous island scenery.
decent acting, funny writing, some good songs, not bad!
12 December 2008
Walk Hard is a comedy spoof of the movie Walk The Line and other music biographies. John C. Reilly does a decent job of playing the fictional Dewey Cox, the rising and falling star of the 50's, 60's, and 70's. The storyline is better than most of this type of movie and the songs are actually pretty catchy. Reilly does most of the songs himself which adds to the overall value. Jenna Fischer is not only funny, but also brings some sex appeal. However, there can only be so much depth to a movie like this and a couple of scenes involving a machete are pretty much terrible. Still, not a bad flick for a light-hearted laugh here and there.
The Magdalene Sisters
(2002)
Nora-Jane No one is great in her debut.
12 December 2008
The Magdalene Sisters is a depiction of the abuse of girls at Magdalene Asylums. This is not an entirely accurate story and should be considered more of a summary of the history of the asylum and some report that the abuse was even worse than the movie lets on. As for the movie itself, the acting is very strong, especially from Nora-Jane No one, in her acting debut no less! It is also well written and directed, but the movie seems a bit dated, like watching a production from 1992 instead of 2002. Overall, a very good, but not quite great Irish film. It is, however, definitely worth your time if you like movies based on true events.
Seven Samurai
(1954)
awesome battle epic
12 December 2008
This is a Japanese tale of a small group of farmers who are tired of being raided by bandits, so they decide to hire samurai. They can't afford to pay them much, and as a result, the seven individuals who agree to help are an eclectic mix of personalities and abilities. Although the film seems to be a bit behind in technological advantages for its time (particularly sound quality), it makes up for it with an intriguing story and interesting characters. The movie is about 3 1/2 hours long, and yet I was left wanting more, a credit to the writing and directing of the movie legend Akira Kurosawa. Excellent acting, score, and sets/props add to this hands-down Japanese classic.
The Serpent and the Rainbow
(1988)
Definitely one of Craven's better efforts!
12 December 2008
The Serpent And The Rainbow is a very impressive film for the most part and is hardly noticeable as a Wes Craven film...that is, until the final 20 minutes or so. Then the movie digresses into cheesy special effects and action sequences that quickly remind the viewer of a typical Craven horror flick. However, since I'm rating the movie as a whole, it must be noted that there are some scenes that are extremely creepy (especially the freaky dreams that the main character keeps experiencing) and the whole Voodoo culture in Haiti is the perfect setting for this type of film. It also must be noted that this is supposedly based on a true story, but take this with a grain of salt as Wade Davis, author of the book this movie is based on, was reportedly disgusted with the cinematic depiction. Overall, I would say that this has some good value as somewhat of a cult classic.
Bobby
(I) (2006)
I much prefer Estevez the director after watching this movie
12 December 2008
Emilio Estevez directs his best movie yet with Bobby, a historical-fiction movie about the assassination of Robert Kennedy. An absolutely out-of-this-world cast in both quality and quantity highlight this film as almost every scene is filled with superstar actors and actresses. Sharon Stone, Christian Slater, Laurence Fishburne, and Demi Moore all come through on challenging roles. Estevez also incorporates real footage of Kennedy and a heart-wrenching soundtrack to evoke deep emotions in the viewer. "The Sound of Silence" by Simon and Garfunkel plays in the background at an especially heart-wrenching portion of the film. Although this movie is not meant to tell an accurate count of the events, it does a very good job of summarizing the overall mood and spirit of both the nation and of Robert Kennedy during the tumultuous time of the 1960's.
Raging Bull
(1980)
Not just a great boxing movie, a great movie altogether!
12 December 2008
Raging Bull is a poetic boxing movie based on Jake La Motta's autobiography. It details his rise to glory and fall from grace during the 40's and 50's. The central character is played superbly by Robert De Niro. In fact, De Niro established his name in legend when he gained an estimated 70 pounds during filming. Cathy Moriarty and Joe Pesci also perform at their absolute best as the wife and brother, respectively. Moriarty, with her deep, sexy voice, conveys a since of mental toughness that matches De Niro punch for punch. Pesci is his usual maniac self by showing amazing aggression and anger at times. But of course, none of this is possible without Martin Scorsese's direction. This is a true masterpiece, with black-and-white cinematography, an elegant soundtrack, and amazing costumes and props. The writing is fluid and thought-provoking and the story is as memorable as a Greek tragedy. This is one that all must see, whether you are a boxing fan or not.
Tell Your Friends