August 21, 2006
Accepted
Yes it is totally implausible, goofy and cheesy but in the end this movie still works. I frankly expected to groan at a series of predictably shallow attempts at humor. To my surprise I found myself laughing out loud to smart, well done and well timed humor. It was fun watching the well meaning hero spin a web of lies and deceit which spiraled into a more and more complex fast track rush to disaster. I will say the "bad guys" were portrayed a bit over the top as usual in these types of movies but the move was funny enough on whole to overlook that. This movie will have you laughing out loud.
Posted by Sid at 06:17 AM | Comments (0) | Movies
August 16, 2006
World Trade Center
As a rule I consider Oliver Stone a screwball but this movie is good. Very good. The movie focuses around the events as experienced by the two Port Authority cops that were rescued from the rubble. The story, if the movie is to be believed, is fascinating (and it is supposedly correct according to those that were there). It was very interesting watching two guys try to carry a movie with only their voice and dirt caked faces available to convey the story. Even so they do a marvelous job.
My only complaint is the movie title. The scope of the movie is too small for the title "World Trade Center". A movie with that name needed to be about so much more then the story of two individuals.
Don't miss this movie. It is one piece, like flight 93, that I think will have to reveal itself in a series of very different 9/11 movies to even scratch the surface of this event.
Posted by Sid at 01:41 AM | Comments (0) | Movies
August 06, 2006
My super ex-girlfriend
This was not one of the finer moments in moviemaking. Granted I only paid $2 to see it so did not feel too cheated, it’s not a movie I particularly recommend. It had a few moments but for the most part was not nearly as funny as I had hoped. Sadly everything about the movie was rather cheesy and predictable.
Posted by Sid at 02:47 PM | Comments (0) | Movies
July 30, 2006
The Devil Wears Prada
This is a very good movie. Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway make great pair in what is a delightful back and forth between the exacting boss and eager new employee trying to prove herself. Anne, whom I like a lot, is still somewhat of a limited actress but this role suited her well as the fish out of water makes it work again. I recommend this move to everyone and plan to get the DVD when it comes out.
Posted by Sid at 05:33 PM | Comments (0) | Movies
John Tucker Must Die
This is a very funny movie despite being saddled with such a lame title. It follows the efforts of 4 unlikely friends who set out to destroy a lying, cheating school basketball star that is the dream of ever girl and envy of every guy. I was worried at the start that it might be just too cheesy to stand watching but it actually did OK. The cast pretty good for the most part and the dialog was very witty at times as well as funny a lot of the time. It is definitely a movie I will be purchasing on DVD when it comes out.
Posted by Sid at 05:28 PM | Comments (0) | Movies
July 09, 2006
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
I didn't particularly care for it. The actors were fine the action was decent but the move script left me cold. I absolutely hate sequels that rip the heart out of the original and end in a cliffhanger requiring a third to finish, especially when the script is so poor. Top that off with the feeling that everyone is teleporting all over the globe with technology right out of Star Wars and it gets even worse. If you like the original and don't want the story ruined for you head for the hills. It is possibly they may salvage the storyline but at this point I don't see how.
Posted by Sid at 11:45 AM | Comments (1) | Movies
July 02, 2006
Superman Returns
If this move has a sequel it is OK but not great. If not, it is a waste of time. We begin the move with the 5 year absence of Superman where Lois and the world has moved on. I find the selection of 5 years interesting since it gives terrorists a chance to blow up the World Trade Center altering the Metropolis/New York skyline without a possible Superman intervention though this is never mentioned in the movie (with the exception of vague news casts he watches about terrorist violence on his return). Lois now has a son and fiancée though she is still unmarried and unwilling to make that last step. Seeing as the son is about 5 years old I think we can avoid any pretense about confusion over who the father is.
The selection of Brandon Routh for Superman was a good idea. This guy channels Christopher Reeves like a pro. The face and mannerism were uncanny. Kevin Spacey makes an excellent funny/evil Lex Luthor. Kate Bosworth though takes Lois in a completely different direction. Lois is no longer the completely silly parody as portrayed by Margot Kidder but a real person (and much more attractive).
I also want to mention something about the recent controversy over the phrase "truth, justice and the rest of that stuff" as used in the movie, compared with "truth, Justice and the American way". I think those upset have totally missed the mark. In the context of this movie and who says it the phraseology makes perfect sense. This phrase is uttered by Perry White (news editor) of the Daily Planet. This is literally a slap at today’s entrenched press cynicism. Imagine this phrase uttered by an editor of the New York Times in New York as opposed to the Daily Planet and you understand what I mean. Another slap at liberal thinking was Lex mocking justice and denigrating Superman’s lack of respect for Miranda rights and due process. Here we have a hero just running around snatching people off the streets without a warrant. You could just see terrorists and left wingers in America cheering in agreement. My question is how many others saw this and if it was intended by the movie writers/producers.
My final judgment will have to wait on a sequel. Left as it is the movie is unfinished.
>>Spoilers under the fold<<
Believing that Superman and Lois could "move on" is as plausible as saying Romeo and Juliet could "move on". I don’t care if the other guy is a “good man” or not. I expect a sequel where this guy gets killed off.
Posted by Sid at 04:24 PM | Comments (0) | Movies
June 25, 2006
The Lake House
Don’t let the unassuming title fool you, this movie was breathtaking. This movie is easily one of the best movies I have seen this year. The story was mesmerizing, the chemistry was convincing and the acting was superb. Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock make an awesome paring. It's one of those movies that leave you begging for the next scene wondering what new secret will be revealed or which way the story will turn next. I would tell you more but I don’t want to ruin any of the surprises that pour from this movie at every turn.
Don’t miss it.
Posted by Sid at 04:35 PM | Comments (0) | Movies
Click
This was a rather formulaic movie peppered with predictable Adam Sandler fare that many times takes away from the movie. It is not a completely bad movie just not what I consider a good movie. The plot line of the work obsessed husband/father who discovers he has missed something important has been done many times and better by other actors. There are too many moments where the movie takes a time-out from storytelling to slip in gratuitous cameo goofball moments which I found totally distracting. So much time is wasted that the ending almost seems rushed as though the director decided to finally make his point but was running out of time so he needed to toss out anything to bring the movie to a fast close.
Everything about this movie I have seen done better and funnier.
Posted by Sid at 03:46 PM | Comments (0) | Movies
June 10, 2006
Cars
This is a good movie. The storyline is not particularly new as it played out a lot like the Michael J. Fox movie Doc Hollywood, even still the use of cars as characters gave it a look and feel very much worth watching. I particularly liked Tow Matow, Rusty's self appointed new best friend. This movie has plenty of laugh out loud moments but particularly during the credits. Warning, do not miss the credits at the end of this movie. The drive in movie gag is a riot. They are worth seeing the movie for all by themselves.
Posted by Sid at 03:07 PM | Comments (2) | Movies
May 28, 2006
Over the Hedge
This is a great kid’s movie but I have to say most of it left me kind of bored. There were a few laughs but for the most part the story barely carried itself. What made it all worthwhile was the ending. The end was gut wrenching funny so if you go see the movie just be patient and the payoff will eventually come. I have to say having the villain be the president of the homeowners association was pure genius. Take the kids but prepare to be bored till the end if you’re an adult.
Posted by Sid at 05:44 PM | Comments (0) | Movies
X-Men: The Last Stand
This movie was a thrill. The special effects were stunning and the storyline was interesting and compelling. I will say some of Magnetos idealistic preaching seemed oddly out of place among hip, tattooed mutants but that was only a small portion of the movie so can be ignored. Much of what goes on may disappoint hard core X-Men fans but movies always require some sacrifice. In the end those of you that like comics adapted to movie will like this newest offering.
P.S. I saw previews for the upcoming Ghost Rider with Nicholas Cage. The visuals are stunning and I cannot wait to see it come out.
Posted by Sid at 03:49 PM | Comments (1) | Movies
May 21, 2006
The Da Vinci Code
As usual, any decent book is hard to capture in a movie and The Da Vinci code is no exception. The movie was OK but it left me a bit disappointed because of the poor casting and plot changes. For one, Tom Hanks is way too old to be paired with Audrey Tautou. There was really no chemistry in the relationship whatsoever. Half the time they came across as father and daughter.
I will say the ghost overlays were fun to watch but cute special effects don't really make a movie. They did manage to touch many of the events of the book but took a few shortcuts that completely changed the character dynamics striking at the soul of the characters portrayed. I can accept changes to save time but in my opinion they went a bit too far.
If you have never read the book you will likely be bored and lost during a lot of this movie. If you have read the book you will likely be disappointed in many of the changes. Still, I will likely buy the DVD when it comes out and watch it again.
Posted by Sid at 12:26 AM | Comments (0) | Movies
May 13, 2006
Poseidon
Twice the suspense and twenty times the burned bodies. This is actually a fairly worthy sequel to the Poseidon Adventure. As usual the movie makers know nothing about ships and make stuff up to carry the plotline but that doesn't stop you from being on the edge of your seat the entire time. Once the action starts it never lets up until the very end.
If you saw the original don't let that keep you from seeing this. The only thing carried over from the previous version is the general idea of a ship that tips over and a small band trying to escape. From there it is almost completely different. It was well worth the $2 I spent to see it though I would never buy the DVD when it comes out.
Spoilers under the fold.
P.S. If Celleste is reading. Kurt Russell's head is starting to look weird shaped. Like an ant head in the movie Ants.
One thing that was conspicuous by its absence was the man of God loosing faith because of the seemingly senseless death and bad luck at each turn. I will never forget the angry diatribe by the priest over the rising death toll as he closed a hot steam shutoff valve shortly before he dropped to his death.
This remake tried to replace this spiritual conflict with a more secular remorse which did not work as well. All the token hints at faith revolved around the father being a well meaning but silly prude. The secular approach might have worked better if more time had been available to spend developing the main characters.
Posted by Sid at 06:35 PM | Comments (1) | Movies
May 06, 2006
Mission Impossible 3
It's pretty much the usual fare, a bit of action, a bit of suspense, pretty girls and transparent plot. There was one thing that ruined this movie for me from the start, the realization that Tom Cruise has a HUGE nose. The close-ups generated glare off it's huge surface and in profile it filled the whole screen. I don't know if his nose was always this big and I just now noticed or if he is just suffering from natural nose growth but I fully recommend he do something about it before it gets any worse.
Now the movie itself suffered from three things. First, how many moles can a top intelligence agency suffer before it is no longer a top intelligence agency and instead a keystone cop agency. Second, relying on fake full face disguise technology to carry a plotline makes everything unbelievable. Once this started, I just sat back waited to see who started ripping of a fake mask so we could get to a legitimately believable plotline. Third, why are the only safe bad guys nowadays all white racist? I look out across the geopolitical landscape and I don't see a single credible example of white supremacy in power. Are we destined to have all future spy movies built around internal corruption to avoid offending some segment of society? Basically the American government is at battle with its internal racists. During the cold war James Bonds battles with the Soviets made great plotlines. Is there any enemy today that would make a believable foil for our hero? Maybe he could save American citizens from a WMD threat. But who could possible be a credible villain?
It’s an OK movie for mediocre entertainment, assuming you don’t mind a PC and predictable approach to villain selection and Tom Cruise’s big nose.
Posted by Sid at 04:04 PM | Comments (0) | Movies
April 29, 2006
United 93
This movie left me stunned. I was at home Sept 11 and watched the events of the day unfold. This move brought it all rushing back. This movie clearly captured the helplessness of a nation unprepared. It captured the American willingness to act when the danger is clear. It captured the difference between Islam and Christianity. This movie made it clear that it could have happened to any American.
There are two contrasts that I saw fascinating. The lead hijacker is shown to be reluctant and just before he boards the plane to kill himself and others, he calls someone and says "I love you". This same phrase is repeated by the passengers over and over as they call loved ones while awaiting what they see as their final doom at the hands of this murderer and his fellow murderers. Seeing a man express love as he heads out to kill innocents seems to be an odd perversion.
The second contrast is demonstrated as the battle for the plane is about to begin. Both sides began to chant prayer, one side for glorious death and the other side for life. I can think of no more fitting contrast between Islam and Christianity. While this may seem a harsh criticism it is important to understand that this movie could easily be played uncut to Muslim crowds and elicit cheers. I am not sure the movie makers intended this but by sticking to the facts and only the facts it creates a certain dispassionate vacuum that is easily filled by ones own perspective.
The silence as people filed from the theatre was thick. Eyes were red and swollen. Handkerchiefs were moist and crumpled from wiping away the tears. Don’t miss seeing this movie.
The only important omission was a clear understanding that the ones who planned this attack are still out there planning more 9/11’s, preferably with nuclear or biological weapons.
Posted by Sid at 01:31 PM | Comments (0) | Movies
March 18, 2006
She's the Man
Amanda Bynes may have just become one of my favorite actresses. The movie was both warm in that Awwwww kind of way and gut busting funny. I doubt a better choice could have been made for the lead role of Viola in this updated remake of Shakespeare’s "Twelfth Night". The supporting cast did what it was supposed to and supported an awesome comedic performance by Amanda. Granted her male disguise was as transparent as Superman’s glasses but that part of what makes for the comedy. If you want to spend two hours laughing at what will probably be the funniest move of the year go see this movie.
Posted by Sid at 05:21 PM | Comments (0) | Movies
March 13, 2006
Aquamarine
Not the best movie out at this time but passable. It starts out as your typical goofy shallow teen girl crush but coming of age story but turns into something a bit more as the movie progresses. Your 10-14 year old daughters will probably like it but it doesn’t offer anything to a wider audience. It was worth the $2 I spent watching it but I would balk if it cost much more.
Posted by Sid at 12:53 AM | Comments (0) | Movies
The Shaggy Dog
In a word, disappointing. I am a huge Tim Allen fan but this movie was cliché, poorly written and not very funny. The whole animal rights moral lessen angle was either totally misunderstood, was an attempt to make fun of animal rights activists without them knowing it or was just a lame prop to give the movie someplace to go. Coming to the conclusion that animals are people too because you transformed into a dog and were able to then communicate with animals as a moral lesson is laughable. Just goes to show the influence of Bambi and Mickey Mouse on the formative development of the animal rights movement. This movie seriously needed a better vehicle to carry it and it might have had a chance.
Posted by Sid at 12:39 AM | Comments (0) | Movies
March 12, 2006
Failure to Launch
This is a hilarious movie. Oddly not because of the main story line which is cliché and not even very well done. The Chemistry between McConaughey and Parker is not particularly compelling and I have never been a big fan of Sarah Jessica Parker anyway. That mole/wart on her chin drives me to distraction and should be removed by force if necessary.
What makes this move funny is the side stories. The obsessive roommate that wants to kill the mocking bird (she steals this movie), the buddy that becomes entranced by her, the hostility of mother nature and the awkward moments generated by the parents efforts to drive him out. I must admit though seeing Terry Bradshaw naked will likely result in future mental health care costs.
Don't miss this movie if you want lots of excellent laugh out loud moments.
Posted by Sid at 02:30 PM | Comments (0) | Movies
March 06, 2006
The Academy gets it right with "Crash"
Normally I don’t care about the Academy Awards (and didn't even bother to watch it last night) but in this case I have to say they got it right. "Crash" for best picture was an excellent choice. I missed the move in theaters but did watch it on DVD which I reviewed here. If you have not seen this movie yet I highly recommend it. The subject matter is riviting and fascinating, particularly in the context of this film.
How they managed to avoid selecting "Brokeback Mountain" is a mystery considering the hype. What I find most interesting is how many take the movie seriously compared to the number of people that treat it as a comedy punch line. In the end that may be what sunk its chances to win. Everyone who sees it will take "Crash" seriously.
Posted by Sid at 12:03 AM | Comments (0) | Movies
February 04, 2006
Nanny McPhee
This movie was wonderful. Mary Poppin's this Nanny isn't but that’s OK. Nanny McPhee is cut from the tough love mold of teaching children discipline. She even seemed to have the kids in the theatre mesmerized under her spell as they where quiet at the serious parts and laughing at the funny parts with no bored misbehavior going on in the theatre once she took control of the movie. This is a movie even adults will appreciate because it is a smart and interesting story which should appeal to all ages.
Posted by Sid at 06:00 PM | Comments (0) | Movies | TrackBack
January 21, 2006
Hoodwinked
This movie was smart and entertaining. While it was an odd twist on the Little Red Riding story the way the plot twisted and turned having the different stories intersect was very well done. At first you thought it was going to be the typical witness exaggerates cookie cutter movie but it wasn't and that’s what made it interesting. There is a lot in this movie for the kids and plenty to keep the adult interested too. While not great, it is definitely a fun movie.
Posted by Sid at 04:45 PM | Comments (0) | Movies
January 07, 2006
March of the Penguins
This is a move I waited for the CD to watch. While it is not normal movie fare it deserves mention because of its content. This was initially intended to be a documentary and still is to some respect but instead it was made into a sort of "year in the life of" movie about emperor penguins and what they go through to procreate. I have to say, the process is absolutely fascinating in its complexity, difficulty and absurdity. Everyone should take the time to see this movie at least once.
Posted by Sid at 02:42 PM | Comments (0) | Movies
The Family Stone
I have a sort of like/dislike relationship with this movie. As the movie progressed I became more and more irritated with the families pious superior inclusive acceptance of all things liberal. Their aggressive disdain for the caricatured suspected-conservative leaning daughter-in-law made it even worse. But just as the move had wound itself up so tight it was about to make you walk out in anger all hell breaks loose in cacophony of humorous and touching reversals that makes for some very entertaining comedy and tear drawing feel good moments. It was like racing to a cliff expecting doom and jumping off the edge only to discover you can fly. The movie is worth watching but be prepared for the bumpy ride.
Posted by Sid at 02:06 PM | Comments (0) | Movies
January 03, 2006
Fun with Dick and Jane
This was a bad movie. The movie cannot seem to decide whether it wants to be comedy, social commentary or just poorly written low budget fiction. Jim Carrey is actually his best when he is doing dialogue with Tea Leoni. There was a chemistry there that begged for a better script and director. Carrey did a few of his comedic bits but they were completely out of place in a movie trying to carry serious social content regardless how thin. In the end you had a movie trying to point out the evils or uber-rich people cheating the merely wealthy by having these merely wealthy steal from the middle class while mocking the poor. Hardly a move that can be taken seriously as social commentary even if the plot is a thinly disguised and heavily caricatured slap at Enron and it is followed up with a listing of top executives associated with the most recent corporate default scandals. This could have been a good movie but it will take someone who thinks more of their audience to make it.
Posted by Sid at 12:36 AM | Comments (2) | Movies
December 18, 2005
King Kong
This movie was amazing. King Kong came across as a believable and extremely sympathetic character. The chemistry between him and Naomi Watts was amazing and heartwarming. Hollywood has really learned how to make these things work much like Narnia did with Asland. The casting was superb Jack Black played the obsessed film director in classic form.
I really only have a few gripes. There was a side storyline between the first mate and a crewman that made no real sense unless the director was trying to show at least one black as something other then and evil savage. The action chase sequences were way too long and some parts were a total waste of time. I would say 10-15 minutes could have been removed and made this a better movie.
All that said the movie really captured you when Naomi and King Kong took screen together. A real must see for that alone.
Posted by Sid at 12:06 AM | Comments (1) | Movies
December 11, 2005
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
This movie did a spectacular job of bringing C.S Lewis's book to life. Also note this is no "Lord of the Rings" which was written for adults. Like most movies of its kind it did not follow the original text exactly but in this case no real editing of content for length was needed. The books written by Lewis were children’s tales of modest length designed to appeal to a younger audience. In fact this movie had the opportunity to add detail in an effort to more fully develop the storyline then the actual book. Lewis would occasionally rush thru details in a "this is too scary to really talk about way" which the movie took the time to scare you with.
The actors selected played their parts well and became who you imagined from the books. The talking animals were superb and believable, especially Aslan who was pretty much dead on perfect. The visuals were stunning in almost every case. The only real flaw I saw was at the iced over river, some of the special effects there were weak.
The move did it's part, I laughed, teared up, got chills, held my breath and cheered all through the movie. Go see this and take your kids.
Posted by Sid at 10:43 AM | Comments (2) | Movies
December 04, 2005
Aeon Flux
I liked it OK but this movie would have been a lot better if half of it had not been just about watching Charlize Theron strut around in various dominatrix style clothing while kicking some guys butt. Don’t get me wrong, eye candy is good but after a while you would like to watch an actual movie. There was a good story here that went neglected in favor of repetitive fighting scenes that offered little that we haven’t seen a hundred times and the before mentioned runway strutting. I would have loved to se how Aeon became who she was and how the resistance had come about. No one becomes the fighting machine she was without a story. The chemistry between her and Trevor worked and was about the only aspect of the story that received any attention. The movie is worth seeing and I somehow feel I should have liked it more then I did but too much was missing.
Posted by Sid at 12:26 AM | Comments (0) | Movies
November 27, 2005
Pride and Prejudice
This movie was a joy to watch. The acting and script were superb. The shooting was inspired. Keira Knightley as Elizabeth lights up this production with warmth, whit and humor. Watching this movie was like watching a mesmerizing dance from beginning to end. Matthew MacFadyen is excellent as Mr. Darcy and the two of them share genuine chemistry. Be sure to see this movie with you sweetheart.
Posted by Sid at 01:59 AM | Comments (0) | Movies
November 20, 2005
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
This movie was good. Arguably the best in the series so far. The only downside as I see it was trying to cram a book this size into a 2.5 hour movie. It probably helps if you have read the books but the movie did an excellent job of standing on its own. There were some cuts made and some story line shifts to close off those gaps (some of which I actually liked) but all in all it maintained the spirit of the story. The movie is full of bust out loud laughs and ends in a breathtaking battle between Harry and Voldemort.
Posted by Sid at 12:24 AM | Comments (4) | Movies
November 14, 2005
Zathura
This was not a particularly good movie. I loved Jumanji but this doesn't even come close. This movie makes the mistake of having the kids be so misbehaved and unlikable that their later changes in character are completely implausible. Had there been a glimmer of a bond between them before the action it might have been believable. To make matters worse the older sister is just as bad if not worse. The behavior of the kids might be explainable if they were junkies, gang thugs or if they had a parent who was despicable but none of this was the case. The kids performance was just too over the top.
To make matters worse the movie was rarely funny or even interesting. If you saw the previews that was as good as it ever got which is always a sign of a bad movie. I doubt even the children in the theater enjoyed it all that much. This movie is a pass. If you must see it do it on the cheap or later on DVD.
Posted by Sid at 12:02 AM | Comments (0) | Movies
November 06, 2005
Chicken Little
This is a Children’s movie. I enjoyed it as lite fare but it lacked the adult’s appeal of earlier offerings when Disney was partnered with Pixar. There were plenty of laugh out loud moments but the story was simplistic, formula and incongruous at times (no kid that has been on a baseball team for a year would not know which way to run the bases unless they were an idiot) even if it made for some comedy. It's a shame too because the characters were interesting and deserved a better script. Still it’s worth seeing once.
Posted by Sid at 07:45 AM | Comments (0) | Movies
October 30, 2005
The Legend of Zorro
I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. Antonio Banderas shows his usual comedic flair and Catherine Zeta-Jones is lovely as ever. But that’s not what makes the movie funny. Their now young son is a joy to watch. His mini-Zorro appeal keeps you smiling an laughing throughout and Zorro's horse makes a nice comedy addition as well.
The movie does have its serious side as the family struggles to make things work in a family with deep secrets in conflict with family duties which are typically formula. The villain is played decently and a gratuitous stab at the evil "South" is made but it doesn’t really harm the movie experience. I recommend it for a nice fun movie that won’t disappoint.
Posted by Sid at 12:21 AM | Comments (0) | Movies
October 10, 2005
The Gospel
This is not an example of my usual tastes in movies but a coworker mentioned that she was excited about it so I figured to give it a try out of curiosity. Probably the best way to describe it is as a black revivalist musical. From what my friend tells me the actors/singers are well known in the black gospel community which would explain why I had never seen any of them.
The music is excellent but this movie like most movies that are a concert first and movie second suffers from a poorly developed script. The young son’s anger in the beginning seems out of proportion and his lack of anger on returning is equally unconvincing. The central conflict of the movie seems contrived and takes too long to show itself then ends too easily to be believable. I would not recommend the movie for the acting but the music is good enough to make it worthwhile if it is to your tastes.
I can't really review this movie without at least some small comment on the racial dynamic. To sit in a packed theatre as one of only two white guys was a bit odd. The audience was almost all families from kids on up to seniors. It got me to thinking that I had never seen this movie previewed at any other movie showing and left me puzzled as to why. The previews preceding this movie also were all kids’ movies and movies with black leads. This movie had to get almost all its promotion through word of mouth and still the place was packed. While I doubt racism is a factor it definitely shows that the movie powers take different marketing approaches to black and white communities.
Posted by Sid at 12:41 AM | Comments (0) | Movies
The Wallace & Gromit Movie
I wanted to like this movie but sadly it was about the most boring thing I have seen in months. The characters have their charm and I would probably have loved it 30 years ago but by today’s standards the story and technology were just plain tired.
Posted by Sid at 12:32 AM | Comments (0) | Movies
October 08, 2005
The Greatest Game Ever Played
The preview for this movie was misleading. You are given the impression the story was about aristocracy vs. commoners and that the young lad was the one that saw the game in a special way. In reality the battle is about the respect of peers and the struggle to overcome ones birthright. The movie is about an epic game between a young man and his idol both of which had common origins. The person of uncommon ability is Harry Vardon who is shown much of the time battling his demons.
This movie will probably appeal more to the golfer in the family. It was a treat seeing the game played by older rules and in the rain using wooden shaft clubs. In the end it's Harry Vardon and Eddie that are the most interesting to watch. Think of it as Tin Cup meets Little House on the Prairie. I enjoyed it but would not care to see it again or buy the DVD.
Posted by Sid at 12:01 AM | Comments (0) | Movies
October 06, 2005
Crash
I normally do reviews only on movies I see at the theater but I watched this DVD yesterday and I just have to tell people about it. This movie was riveting and if you can stand foul language, disturbing situations and one scene of brief nudity (a boob) you will find this worth watching. This movie is definitely not for children.
I still marvel that this movie was ever made and that when released it did not create a firestorm of controversy. I barely know where to begin other then to say this movie is about race and racial stereotypes. It shows how these stereotypes are true and how they are not.
As an example, the movie starts with two black teens walking down the street complaining about the white waitress that did not serve them as well as she serviced other customers. When asked how much he tipped he says "nothing" playing to the stereotype that blacks don't tip. Next he complains about a white woman that shows fear upon seeing the two teens as a sign of racism and 30 seconds later they carjack the woman’s SUV at gunpoint.
The white woman shaken from the experience goes home to have her house locks changed but is disturbed by the tattooed hispanic doing the work and wants the locks changed again the next day. She rants about him selling her key to his homies. Later her hispanic housemaid saves her life after a fall down the stairs.
This is just a small example of the twists and turns this movie takes as it explores race and racism. It shows how the tables turn and twist making today’s racist tomorrows hero or today’s hero tomorrows racist. It is a seriously spellbinding and thought provoking ride.
P.S. The Hispanic locksmith storyline is stunning.
Posted by Sid at 12:17 AM | Comments (0) | Movies
October 03, 2005
Lord of War
I liked this move mostly because it was smart and relevant. This movie was not really what I expected. What comes across in the trailer as a teaser for cynical humor actually presents itself in the movie as cynical tragedy. The movie also wallows in moral equivalence by making no distinction between the motives of good and evil even going so far as to say there is no real difference between one "freedom fighter" and another. While I don't buy that myself it is entirely appropriate coming from the story teller’s perspective.
Just suppose the bad guys were the only ones that bought and sold weapons. Just suppose only the good guys stopped making weapons. Imagine a world where the evil were able to prey on the innocent without fear of retaliation. Oddly even the attempt to make the guns the boogie man fails when a woman and child are hacked to death with machetes. Knowing people that have done business in sub-Sahara Africa the events are chillingly plausible.
In the end no real questions are answered but the move does make you sit there and think long and hard. It comes across as a documentary with the names changed and if you have any interest in the dynamics of world events you will find this movie interesting. I would say I liked this movie but frankly the subject was too disturbingly real to go that far.
Posted by Sid at 12:06 AM | Comments (1) | Movies
October 02, 2005
Serenity
This is an excellent movie. The dialog is sharp and witty. The characters are interesting and the action is well paced. Oddly one of the most interesting characters in the movie is the bad guy.
As some probably already know the movie is based on "Firefly" which was a short run TV series. Oddly I had never managed to catch an episode until yesterday. The movie is much better then the TV version but if you are a fan you may not care for some of the plot twists.
It lacks the epic good vs. evil feel of Starwars but it carries the small loyal crew dynamic just as well. It definitely makes up for it with much smarter dialog and surprise plot twists that keep the good guys one step ahead of the bad guys. A definite must see for any sci-fi fan.
Posted by Sid at 12:28 AM | Comments (1) | Movies
September 27, 2005
Flightplan
Very nicely done. Jodie Foster puts in an excellent performance. The suspense is literally nonstop and the mystery is sustained well to the end. You will not regret going to see this movie.
Posted by Sid at 12:07 AM | Comments (0) | Movies
September 24, 2005
Tim Burton's A Corpse Bride
This was a good movie. Well worth the $7 I paid (I normally see $2 matinees). I was surprised that it was a musical of sorts but the story was well told and interesting, it also had quite a bit of laugh out loud humor.
Posted by Sid at 12:01 AM | Comments (3) | Movies
September 19, 2005
Just Like Heaven
I found the movie enjoyable but this move was no "Ghost" or "Sweet Home Alabama". The male lead took too long to fit into his role and character development fell flat thought the first half of the movie. When the movie finally took off about half way through the chemistry had to struggle to catch up. The movie ended fairly well, especially where they were trying to steal her body. Outside that the best parts where when they visited the book store, the young "hey dude" psychic had some of the funnier and more interesting dialog.
Posted by Sid at 12:52 AM | Comments (0) | Movies
August 30, 2005
The Brothers Grimm
An extremely disappointing movie. The premise was fine it was just very poorly done. The move spent half the time trying to figure out where it was going and then fell flat when it got there. Probably the worst movie I have been to see this entire year. And remember, I saw Shark Boy and Lava Girl.
Posted by Sid at 12:01 AM | Comments (2) | Movies
August 22, 2005
Red Eye
This was a pretty good movie. It did a good job of maintaining suspense, characters were believable and the story was decent with acceptable acting. There were no tricks or surprises but that didn’t hurt at all. I enjoyed the girl at the desk the most.
Posted by Sid at 12:58 AM | Comments (0) | Movies
Valiant
It is a good movie for the kiddies but I wasn't all that into it. It was fairly formula for this type of movie with no surprises. Not particularly funny either.
Posted by Sid at 12:56 AM | Comments (0) | Movies
August 21, 2005
Four Brothers
This was a pretty good movie IF you can take a healthy amount of violence and obscenity without becoming too uncomfortable. The story is well written, well acted for the most part with some excellent plot twists, humor and heart. You definitely want to keep the kiddies away though.
Posted by Sid at 12:00 AM | Comments (0) | Movies
August 13, 2005
The Great Raid
My feeling on this movie is mixed. The lead in and especially the end showing actual black and white footage depicting actual events was riveting. It pulled the move out of the disappointing category into the OK category. The move suffered from limited character development largely due to the time spent on the love story between the nurse smuggling medicine to the POW's and the ranking officer. The acting had a bit to be desired as well. The actual raid itself would have been great if it had been more the focus and so much time had not been wasted elsewhere. I do hope it inspires someone to tell the real story in some DVD extras when it hits DVD. The story itself is amazing. sadly I think this movie does not really do it justice.
Posted by Sid at 04:43 PM | Comments (0) | Movies
August 01, 2005
Stealth
When a movie takes Hal (2001/2010 A Space Odyssey) gives him an attitude then combines that with Top Gun you have a very wicked movie. This is by no means Shakespeare but its fast moving action and fun dialog make it a movie that the male species will enjoy for sure. Mix in a female pilot and a bit of romance and you have a mix that should at least keep the ladies from getting totally bored. The air combat is exciting and all the special effects are well done. I definitely recommend this move.
Posted by Sid at 12:52 AM | Comments (0) | Movies
July 30, 2005
Must Love Dogs
Excellent movie. The story is fairly typical Hollywood fare involving a heartbroken divorcee looking to rebuild her life with the assistance of friends and family. Sarah (Diane Lane) is fabulous and when she gets together with her sisters, get ready for gut retching laughter. This movie focuses more on the behind the scenes events then the romance between her and the guy she finally settles on but that’s OK because those events are much more interesting. Well worth seeing.
Posted by Sid at 07:33 PM | Comments (0) | Movies
Sky High
While I did enjoy the movie it did not live up to my expectations so I left a bit disappointed. The movie took a rather shallow, cliché approach as in a low budget teen in high school flick. This did allow them to insert some comedy that would have been more difficult in a more serious movies (like Spiderman, X-men or Batman) but I am not sure it was worth it in the long run. The previews had such promise but the movie was also hurt badly by horrible special effects in almost every aspect of the movie. I would recommend it for those that like this kind of stuff but it will not likely appeal to all audiences.
Posted by Sid at 07:17 PM | Comments (0) | Movies
July 23, 2005
The Island
Wow. This is a very worthy update to Logan’s run. It takes the old story of avoiding old age and gives is a cloning twist that is relevant today with the new advances in this field. Cloning along with genetic engineering may change the face of the world one day. You take that, mix in fast paced action and a stunning cast you get a movie you want to see from beginning to end. This movie is well worth seeing.
Posted by Sid at 08:42 PM | Comments (0) | Movies
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
This was a delightful movie, the kind of movie that you smile through from beginning to end. I hate Johnny Depps politics but I love his acting in this movie. The characters come across as sincere and the story is updated and well told. I always love these stories that build on family love, loyalty and shared sacrifice.
Posted by Sid at 08:27 PM | Comments (0) | Movies
July 10, 2005
Fantastic Four
This movie has been the subject of mixed reviews but I liked it a lot. It suffered a bit from having to develop five characters at once so the story rushed through a lot to get to the good stuff. Imagine trying to portray the acceptance of the changes from say 5 spidermen in one movie. I think you get the picture.
The Thing stole this movie. How an actor can pull of the range of emotion he did in that costume is amazing. The interaction between thse sulky thing and the rash human torch was hilarious. As for special effects, the human torch and Mr. Fantastic provided plenty of new visual effects to love. Well worth the price of admission in my opinion, but then I always loved the Fantastic Four and was thrilled to see them on the big screen.
It was not as good a Spiderman or X-Men but it was still good.
Posted by Sid at 12:10 AM | Comments (0) | Movies
Rebound
Not a totally bad movie, after all I got about 10 good laughs from it. But this movie is a tired formula movie we have all seen many times. Not really worth the trip to the theater.
Posted by Sid at 12:05 AM | Comments (0) | Movies
July 02, 2005
War of the Worlds
I am fresh back from the movie and thoroughly enjoyed it. The movie does an excellent job of capturing the feel of the original except for the following. First, the original had one main character which gave it an everyman of global humanity perspective. This new movie is based around a flawed dad and his two kids who make the story feel more local rather then generically global. It also embraces that coming of age family bonding and understanding angle. Not that this is necessarily a bad thing, it just makes it different in perspective, tone and emotionality. Second, there was no need for our hero to deal with the crazy guy as he did. In the original our hero moved on, having our hero kill him served no real purpose and undermined the "growing up" that they were trying to establish. And finally, the end focuses more on the family triumph and bonding then the wonder of how our planet repelled the invaders. That said this is still a movie well worth watching.
P.S. It still bugs me even from the original that aliens from space with all their technology could overlook biological infection.
Posted by Sid at 04:15 PM | Comments (0) | Movies
Batman Begins
I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. The pace was excellent, the action was intense and satisfying and the storyline smooth. It helped having Morgan Freedman who is probably one of my favorite actors. On the down side it started with what seemed to be a kind of remake of the movie Kung Fu except that everyone at the temple was on crack and liked to kick puppies. There were also a couple of items that were odd. I keep wondering why the microwave didn’t make the people explode too. Regardless it makes a nice start to what will certainly be an excellent series of movies. Having Gordon start out as a good cop was also a nice touch since we know one day he will be commissioner.
Posted by Sid at 12:05 AM | Comments (0) | Movies
June 30, 2005
Bewitched
In a word. Disappointing. I was a huge fan of the TV series and this movie manages to miss all of its original charm. It isn't very funny , it's shallow and at times drags on badly. For some reason they decided to make Samantha a dingy blonde and Darrin a insincere buffoon. I found myself sitting there wishing for the smart knowing Samantha and the lovable straight man played by Darrin in the TV series.
Posted by Sid at 12:05 AM | Comments (1) | Movies
June 29, 2005
Herbie: Fully Loaded
I must confess. I grew up on Herbie the Love Bug and loved him. I liked this movie and you will too if you grew up during the Herbie/Flubber movie era. Lindsay Lohan is excellent in the lead and the supporting cast including Michael Keaten as her father works. The movie plays in the typical Herbie formula and you will recognize many of the gags as classic Herbie. Think of it as a "best of" Herbie but updated (Herbie learns a few skateboard moves) and you will have a good idea of what this movie offers. In the end as always HERBIE ROCKS!!
Posted by Sid at 12:05 AM | Comments (0) | Movies
June 12, 2005
The Adventures of Shark Boy & Lava Girl in 3-D
If you have young kids they will love this movie. Like most movies of this kind the plot is thin and disjointed. It’s kind of a cross between Neverending Story, Spy Kids and Wizard of OZ; only not as good as any of them. It has limited good 3D sight gags. It was worth the $2 I spent but then I had only two hours of sleep last night so that probably helped. It's either that or my wife and children are correct in that I have the movie tastes of a 6 year old kid.
Posted by Sid at 12:44 PM | Comments (0) | Movies
June 11, 2005
MR. AND MRS. SMITH
This movie is just plain good. The chemistry is great between Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. The storyline is fun and the dialogue is smart and hilarious. This will definately go into my CD collection when it comes out. It may be an action movie but you wife will love it too.
Posted by Sid at 08:40 PM | Comments (0) | Movies
June 03, 2005
Harry Potter obsession
I confess. I am an obsessive fan of all things Harry Potter. I have read all the books at least 2 times. I have listened to the books on tape as much as 4 times each. I have seen all the movies at least 6 times each. The next book, "The Half-Blood Prince" is coming out in July. The next movie "The Goblet of Fire" comes out in November. Saw the trailor recently for the first time and it's looking good. As a fan, lots to look forward to this year.
Posted by Sid at 12:48 AM | Comments (0) | Movies
June 02, 2005
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
I know, screams CHICK FLICK and yes it is. But I gotta admit it was good, very good. The movie nearly had me in boo-hoo city twice and had me smiling ridiculously most of the time. I was pathetic. The movie starts as a typical "coming of age" movie about four teen girls that find a pair of pants that "magically" fit them all. The girls then go out on their own and discover themselves. If your one of those guys that are constantly advised of your insensitivity, take the females in your life to this movie. They will enjoy it and you will too even if you don't admit it.
Posted by Sid at 12:35 AM | Comments (0) | Movies
May 30, 2005
The Longest Yard
This movie does not have the heart of the original, also the storyline is choppy and awkward at times (particularly at the start). But it is much funnier then the original. Adam Sandler actually carries the lead very well but all the supporting cast seems to be too contrived to work. Once the game starts though it matches or exceeds the original. I recommend it for a fun night out.
Additional review here.
Posted by Sid at 12:44 AM | Comments (0) | Movies
May 21, 2005
Monster-in-law
This movie is just plain funny. In spite of my dislike of all things Jennifer Lopez I laughed so much I cried (as did most in the theater) and my eyes got puffy. It was a bit choppy and disconnected in places and during pauses I kept thinking how much more I would like it if Sandra Bullock was the lead but it was still a wonderful movie. Jane Fonda was excellent but Wanda Sykes as her assistant stole the move with the best lines.
I will definitely be getting the DVD. The assistant said a few things I didn't catch and I have to know what they were.
Posted by Sid at 04:49 PM | Comments (0) | Movies
Star Wars review
Just saw it. That movie blew chunks out of every body orifice. They should have left the first 2/3rds of it on the cutting floor and made a mediocre short to play in front of a better movie.
The biggest thing they could do is every time Anakin appeared just have the screen go blank and provide dialog in subtitles. The audience imagination would have done a much better job. I was frankly hoping he would die on the lava planet. Which would have really helped because the dialog that followed didn't help either. This looked, sounded and felt like a mediocre patch job trying to tie episode 2 to episode 4. Everything was rushed, out of proportion, poorly acted and implausible. Even for science fiction.
I haven’t been this disappointed since Battlefield Earth was turned into a joke of a movie. I watched it for $4 and I want my money back.
Minor spoiler in extended comment.
As one of my friends said "The transition from Skywalker protector of the people and the jedi way to pledging to Sidious and wiping out kids in the space of 1 movie min and 30 or so real life minutes was awful." It was so poorly done it stabbed any chance of redeeming this move in the heart.
Posted by Sid at 08:19 AM | Comments (0) | Movies
May 09, 2005
Kingdom of Heaven & A Lot Like Love
If you can get past the sexual innuendo, body-outline nudity (A Lot Like Love) & graphic violence, gore (Kingdom of heaven) both these movies will prove entertaining.
Initially I was put off by the constant negative depictions of Christian leaders but after reading some history on the period discovered that overall the portrayals were probably fair in many cases. Most of the characters portrayed are pure though our hero seems to be a conglomeration of 2-3 people from the period, the love story aspect appears to be a complete fiction. The rest of the storyline has a lot of basis in fact and some of the dialog is almost verbatim from historical accounts. All-in-all the story was well told. At the very least I will now have to spend some time studying up on Saladin (the Muslim leader and a fascinating character of the time) and the history of the crusades. Additional review from a historian more familiar with the era here.
As for A Lot Like Love. It is definitely a chic-flick but I found it laugh-out-loud funny.
For more history on the crusades go here and here.
Posted by Sid at 05:29 PM | Comments (0) | Movies
