Movie:The Crazies (2010) Genre: Horror Review Category: Movie Showing in Theaters
I'm not usually excited for horror films, not that I hate the genre or anything, but lately I've felt it's either lacked originality or focus. And The Crazies, not to disappoint, managed to do both. The first of the two is obvious, this is a remake of the 1973 film by the same name. Not having seen the original but noting that the master of anything "Zombie" cinema George A Ramero directed and wrote the first one, I'm sure this version doesn't quite hold up to it's predecessor. I don't know where to begin my gripe so I'll just dive in. I'm glad the movie got off to a quick start; it makes no sense in horror films for the audience not to be puzzled or given some action right off the bat. So check one in the plus column (note this may be the only positive). My first real issue has to deal with one of the main characters, David Dutton (Timothy Olyphant) who is the small town sheriff. He just makes too many connections about what is going on with no facts or proof to back up his 100 percent correct assumptions. Now this isn't to doubt the abilities of small town law enforcement, but when you're used to ticketing teenagers for taking farmer Smith's tractor for a joy ride, or tipping over the cow's in Mrs. Johnson's pasture, you probably haven't cracked too many complex cases in your career. Gripe number two is that there just didn't seem to be enough blood and gore in the film. In today's horror industry with the SAW XXVII's (or whatever number of that franchise they're on) you have to do more than just show a little blood splatter. There have been Comedic movies that were more blood laden than this film. If this were 1980 then maybe the gory action scenes would be enough, but in 2010 I just wasn't impressed. My other Gripe and what might be the worst one of all, is that the inconsistency of the "infected" people's behavior destroyed any hope this film had of being good and landed it at mediocre at best. It's very strange, the first few "infected" we meet seem unable to speak or show signs of deductive reasoning. After the initial two, we meet some who seem to think clearly and speak easily, and others, who like the first ones, are nothing more than lifeless zombies we don't call zombies. I'm completely fine with the "infected" of the film having basic or superior human intellect, really I am. However, they either need to evolve this ability or have it shown from the beginning of the film. We cannot have instances where poor directing or a poorly written script make a scene draw out for no real reason just because all of a sudden one of the "infected", who have never spoken before and don't after, has something to say. It just cheapens the movie and insults the viewing audience. Seriously in this day and age if you can't have someone in a horror film die or almost die in a new and inventive way you don't deserve to direct in Hollywood. So for these reasons I'd rate this film Catch if you're in the mood.
Movie: Law Abiding Citizen Genre: Thriller Review Category: Available at Rental Retailers
I was excited at the prospect of this film, I felt the concept of a man seeking revenge and executing his plans while imprisoned could go places. Unfortunately the only place this film went was...nowhere. It started off fast, the initial scene having what eventually becomes the antagonist of the film being tortured and watching his family murdered before him. From there the time frame skips a few years and we return with Butler's character beginning his plot for revenge against "everyone", which is the main focus of the film. This alone wouldn't make for a completely horrible viewing experience, but somehow the film seemed to miss the mark for me. I've got a couple of gripes beginning with Jamie Foxx's acting. Harold-ed for his performance in Ray, I just didn't see that same focus and emotional power in his role in this film. I never got the sense of regret, fear, or anger that his character was suppose to show given that his life, the life of his family, and the lives of his co-workers and friends are in danger throughout the majority of the film. I really get the sense that Mr. Foxx couldn't care less what film he was acting in as long as the check cleared the bank. His lack of range in this film was a real let down, especially since he's shown that's he's capable of more. The other thing that really bugged me is how Butler's character is this feared black ops genius but is found out by a lawyer. This mad genius who inspires an ex-colleague to state, "..if he wants you dead, you're dead..." had his plans foiled by a lawyer. They didn't call in the local detectives, they didn't ask for military help, they didn't bother to speak to the FBI or CIA, when dealing with this black ops specialist; no, instead when questions arose they were easily solved by the Assistant DA (Jamie Foxx). I don't know it just takes away from the credibility of the "Evil Genius", to know that the man to whom our covert government agencies turn to in secret to fix issues they themselves can't resolve could be brought down single handily by a guy with a law degree. Not to knock lawyers or anything but they study law, and interpretations of law, which doesn't really correlate to being able to track criminals and their actions. For instance your dentist has a Doctorate, but you wouldn't expect him to moonlight on the weekends performing flawless triple bypass surgeries right? The film would have been more believable if the detectives involved had made more of the main connections in the case. The bright spot here is Butler's acting, I felt he conveyed the frustration, anger, and sadness of his character well. I believed him as a distraught father and husband who's family was murdered with no justice found. You get the sense in his tone and facial expression that he is a broken man who is driven insane by his loss. Surprisingly Gerard Butler is the only person I could say was truly acting in this film, it just seemed like everyone else was simply reading lines from a page. So while this film had a decent plot, the ending seemed lackluster and no one save Butler gave any attempt at acting; but for sheer concept I rate this film Rent for a $1 or less.
This film recently caught my eye. I'm not too sure how strong the plot is; and the film appears to be driven by Parker Posey's character, as to which I'm not sure she can carry the film. If nothing else this seems to be a crude comedy and should be a breath of fresh air amongst the films currently out.
This is a film I'll be waiting on. As a fan of the Nickelodeon cartoon series this movie is based on, I can't wait to see the finished product. I think this film should appeal to an audience wider than that of the cartoon's base. This should be a really good family film, one that both parents and children will like. It also helps that this will be film one in what is suppose to be a three part Trilogy, the cartoon series was so long, to fit all of the information in only one film would have been absurd. Honestly, it still might be a stretch to do it in three. My only question is if M. Night Shyamalan's triple threat approach (he Directed, Produced, and Wrote this film, like many of his others), will be an asset or hindrance to this film? I'm not too sure he can produce a highly involved martial arts action scene, though the trailers seem to suggest I may be wrong. One thing is for sure M. Night fans will have never seen anything like this from him before.
Now I've heard nay sayers brush this film off as the 4th installment in the Borne Series, and sharing the same director and lead actor it's no wonder. But to those people I ask, is that so bad? The action packed Borne Trilogy was a pretty good series with plenty of good hand to hand combat fight scenes, unbelievable yet realistic car chases,and a fast paced racy screen presence fraught with explosions and violence around almost every corner. Action fans do you really need more? I'm actually a little excited to see this film.
I'm a little scared of this movie. The Burton, Depp, Bonham Carter team is usually a recipe for success in any combination, the two actors and director work well with one another. However I'm hesitant to place a gold star on this film and tout it the greatest film of 2010. Both Depp and Bonham Carter have a way to bring a likability and off-putting persona to the "creepy" character's they're know for playing. I hope the dialogue is witty, and that the film isn't over-run with CGI as the trailers suggest, would be a shame for the visuals to bring this movie down. In my opinion CGI is great when used properly ( as sparing as possible to bring vision to the film) and will go a long way to add depth to a fantasy world like "Wonderland", but there is a point were too much is too much, we'll just have to wait until March to see if Burton was able to find a good balance.
I'm not 100% convinced about this film. It does appear that this remake will be a good film, not having seen the original I'm not sure if it will surpass it or not. The bright spot is the director Louis Leterrier also involved with the first two Transporter films as well as the latest Incredible Hulk (2008) film, is directing this movie. So if nothing else I expect the aciton sequences to be entertaining enough, even if the storyline and dialogue leave something to be desired. So for pure action I've marked this as one to watch for, as long as the trailers (link attached) don't give away all of the fight scenes.
Movie: The Proposal (2009) Genre: Romantic Comedy Review Category: Available at Rental Retailers
Now if you've read the introduction (and I hope you have I worked tirelessly on it, I promise) you realize that I'm not a fan of the "confused" film. You know, is it straight or gay or undecided, is it male or female, is it a Drama or Comedy...the usual. I just find that if directors, writers, actors, and producers all set out with the same end goal in mind than a film stands a really good chance of being successful. However the practice of mixing themes generally results in poo. The Proposal decided to take a 70 / 30 split of Comedy to "Romance". Through the first hour roughly the film is filled with scenes of Bullock and Reynolds characters engaging in what seems to be unscripted ad-libbed dialogue in which neither actor can come up with anything really funny to say. Which surprised me from Reynolds, I usually find his sharp and mouthy comedic style sort of funny, but not so much in this film. Bullock is more known for her slap stick approach to comedy and there are a few moments of that in this film, that work. Comedy enthusiast don't let me scare you completely there were funny moments; any scene with Betty White's character is one to watch close. She, in my opinion made the comedy aspect of the film. Although I did feel as though most jokes or physical comedy scenes lasted a touch too long, to the point where the action stopped being funny and just became boring. As for the romance portion of the "Romantic-Comedy", I can't really say there was any. There are scenes where we see the two lead actors divulge personal information to one another, but no real sense of the passion and desire that come to mind when I think of romance. Of course there is the public kissing scene these types of movies love to do, but honestly is there anything that romantic about kissing in front of strangers? When you see couples purposefully kiss in public areas to "prove their love" do you think how sweet or more likely do you just not care? Offered, instead of romance, there was a lingering dramatic feeling stuffed into the films atmosphere much like a pungent silent fart on a crowded elevator. And much like the fart you're left not really understanding where this came from, or why someone would think it was okay to do this; and ultimately just wanting it to go away as quick as possible. So like most cross breed films, I feel it suffered from the Jekyll / Hyde duality. The unsuccessful fusion of two opposing film genres. The comedy aspect in the last 30 to 40 minutes of the film is lost to the "Romance", (although worth mentioning if you see this film, watch the credits they did try to make it up there) and there was no real romance to speak of, especially in the first hour. But because I enjoyed Betty White so much, and because this film mostly fits the mold of the cross genre, I'd rate this DVD Rent for $1 or Less
Movie: Shutter Island Genre: Thriller Review Category: Movie Showing In Theaters
I went into this film with no real expectations, the Scorsese / DiCaprio "Dream Team" duo have disappointed me in the past both collectively and individually. Movies like The Aviator and Gangs of New York while visually ok movies, for me just failed to impress. The only good film I can attribute to this "Dream Team" is The Departed, which I can't give too much credit for because its a remake of the Hong Kong film Internal Affairs, which I really enjoyed. While I think Leo is a very good actor with real talent, I'm not a person who believes he has the skill or should I say power to carry a film alone; again Gangs of New York. That is to say I would never go see a film based solely on the fact that it stared DiCaprio. Now with all my usual complaints and nay saying out of the way, I'd like to say that Shutter Island is a decent movie. I really would like to say that, but I can't, it just wouldn't be a fair assessment of the film. The fact is Shutter Island is a very good film. I haven't left a movie theater as satisfied with a film since The Dark Knight (which in my opinion is the best super hero movie ever done; the yard stick for which all other films of this Action Sub-genre must be measured). Shutter Island embodies the perfect thriller. Nothing in this film is over the top or done just to produce what's suppose to be a "Suspenseful" moment in the film. The ominous concert style music, which sounds predominately composed of a slow playing Cello or Bass, isn't too racy but more fits the mood and helps set the tone of the film. Visually the film is stunning, I was very impressed. The majority of the movie takes place on the island during a hurricane, which usually means the color pallet is limited to hues of gray. However Scorsese is able to produce a vivid and rich viewing experience highlighted by the storm. The flash back and dream sequences are particularly colorful, and a pleasure to watch. In fact the first dream scene is probably the best one I've ever seen in a film, the use of foreshadowing and symbolism is great, coupled with the richness and depths of color achieved made this a very special scene. Not having read the novel, I will still go on a limb and say Laeta Kalogridis (Screen Writer) did a very good job adapting Dennis Lehane's (Author) work to the big screen. The dialogue, particularly the initial few conversations between DiCaprio and Kingsly's characters is very well done and really engaging. The acting was good, even in scenes with emotional over tones there was no moment of unbelievable over-acting sometimes found; which detracts from the viewing experience. All parts in my opinion where well acted, including Michelle Williams (Brokeback Mountain, Dawson's Creek) who really gave her character life and believability and worked well opposite an actor of DiCaprio's caliber. The plot of the film and ultimately the conclusion aren't really anything that hasn't been done before. A story centering around an Insane Asylum, doesn't scream new idea in the thriller genre. But when the story is well written, the acting is done just right, and visually a film is eye pleasing, creativity in plot can afford to take a back seat. In true thriller fashion, the audience is left speculating literally up until the last sentence of the film. I found that the plot could have easily gone in two or three different directions from the start of the film, and even went a step further to give a twist after the climax. My only knock to the film is DiCaprio's "Amazing Spider-man" impersonation, other than that I really can't complain. So surprisingly I have to rate this movie a Must See In Theaters.
Movie : The Stepfather (2009) Genre : Thriller Review Category : Available at Rental Retailers
Looking at the list of actors in this film and noticing there was no actor / actress of great significance intrigued me at first; but only at first. The opening scene acts as any good thriller should and gives us a glimpse into the mind and actions of the psycho we're about to meet, but it all seemed a bit too predictable. And if it continued to get anymore predictable, then Cleo The Psychic might want to "Call me now". This film followed the "book" from A to Z, Alpha to Omega. The only places it decided to stray from the beaten, or should I say, well beaten path was to be confused as to if it were suppose to be told from the eyes of a psychotic killer, or from that of a love stricken teenage boy. Fifty percent of the time you're sure you're seeing things from the view point of what seems to be a slightly off and increasingly moreso off individual (however predictable his actions may be), and the other half of the film you're sure you're watching the tell of teenage love story develop, blossom, and become increasingly more and more boring. My real assessment is this film suffers from lack of inventiveness and clear focus. Everything done in this film has been done time and time again in this genre. I realize it's a re-make of course, but the true purpose of a re-make is to re-interpret the original, and make it the new director's own clear vision while also making it relevant to the current viewing audience. This film failed on so many basic levels; the acting was mundane at best, and the storyline was as predictable as a child's bedtime story. By the time the credits rolled, I was waiting to see Mother Goose perched on a rocking chair reciting Aesop's tale of moral decency, or something like that. Literally a two year old's vomit of lunch time spaghetti could produce a more colorful viewing experience than this film. This film is exactly what you'd expect it to be to a perfect fault based on the title and seeing any trailer for the film. There are absolutely no surprises and no good suspenseful moments. What are suppose to be suspenseful moments (cue the eerie music please) just aren't. The majority of the time I found myself predicting exactly what was going to happen next in the film, or even worse over predicting and being disappointed that neither the director nor production team could live up to the movie I envisioned and make the film as great as I anticipated. However. I guess if you don't have the budget to hire real acting talent then you don't have the budget to hire a creative writing staff. So, am I really all that disappointed? (note: not really a question for those wondering, but just play along for my ego's sake) The only bright spot is that the camera angles used to illustrate the true insanity of the stepfather character served their purpose. There were a few frames where he was slightly shadowed,with his head taking up forty percent of the screen staring off into the distance and the rest of the frame was just out of focus as he talked, which made his character look particularly deranged. Other than that I'm pretty sad I wasted my time on this film, I'd rate this DVD a Waste of Plastic.
Let me start off by saying I in no way, shape, or form hate movies. In fact it's quite the opposite I love to watch films. I always have; I can remember as a small child having: Belle and Little Foot tuck me in at night instead of Dr.Seuss or Teddy Ruxpin (just for my fellow 80's babies). The blog name comes from conversations with my co-workers on films, after which they usually just agree that I don't like any movies at all. I wouldn't say I'm overly critical of films, I'd just say I'm not likely to give out comments such as "Great Film" that easily. And with film budgets frequently topping 100 million and the best paid actors / actresses being paid 20 million plus a film; I don't think it's too much to ask that I actually be entertained by a movie. Instead, watching most movies for me feels like I'm eating cow patties, all the while being reassured that this is indeed the filet mignon I ordered.
Being a lover of good cinema, I'm writing this blog to give my opinion on films I watch. I'd like to watch and critique at least one film available in most theaters, and one film that is available to rent in most movie rental retailers each week. In the event I can't make it to the theaters (my check wouldn't post in time or something) I'll attempt to re-place the theatrical film with a rental. I'll also try my hardest not to give away key aspects of the films I critique since I'm always upset when someone spoils things for me in films I haven't seen. The films will be rated on the following scales:
Movies Showing in Theaters
Rating Scale
Must See In Theater
Movies falling into this category are good strong films that are enhanced by the viewing experience you can only get in a movie theater staring at a 40 ft screen with full surround sound
Must Own
Movies in this category are one’s I may have recommended to be seen in theaters and are films that would be good additions to any movie buffs catalog of films
Good Rental
This category is reserved for films that are good enough to spend money on but not really worth the theater prices or to take up space on a shelf in your home, but still worth seeing as soon as they are available to rent
Wait For Premium Showing
This is a film I’d consider average no real strong performances, or new plots offered but a movie worth seeing at some point just not worth spending money on past the premium cable channel add-on you may already pay for (i.e. HBO, Showtime, Cinemax, Stars, Encore) tried not to leave anyone out don’t be offended if I did I love all premium channels equally, I promise
Catch if you’re in the Mood
This is a film you may want to catch sometime but don’t make plans around it, best to catch it if you're in the mood to rapidly stick rusty nails in and out of your cornea
Movies Available at Rental Retailers
Rating Scale
Must Own
Movies in this category are very good films and well worth the extra $15 or so over renting to take a spot in your film collection
Rent Now
This category is reserved for films that just missed being worthy of a theater view, or have moved to video before I could review it in theaters but is a good film and should be rented as soon as you have a chance to but may not warrant the second, third, forth, etc viewing of a must own film
Rent for $1 or Less
This is a pretty good film nothing special, but worth a rent if you happen to find a Redbox, MovieCube, or some other $0.99 retailer that carries the film go for it
Waste of Plastic
Reserved for films that should replace water bottles in the adds aimed at inspiring people to reduce their carbon foot prints (i.e. they belong in a landfill)
I plan on reviewing 2 films as stated above once a week and posting a new blog by Sunday of each week, starting Sunday February 21, 2010. But to give a sense of my critique style, I rented the film Pandorum last night, below is my review.
Movie:Pandorum
Now I don't usually find myself in the mood for the hybrid spawn of two different movie genres, you know Romantic-Comedy, Action-Suspense-Thriller, Dramatic-Comedy. They in general don't quite hit the mark for either genre, and end up falling short in my expectations, or usually loose the feeling of one of the genres and end up falling into just one category with traces of the other(s). I above all detest the mating of Science Fiction and Horror to produce the often deformed movie offspring of the Space Horror film. As far as I'm concerned this marriage of genres is always better as a one night stand in which all loin fruit are terminated upon conception. It simply doesn't work, Event Horizon anyone. I'd like to know what crack team of screen writers is responsible for films starting with both the main character and viewing audience lost with no idea of where we are or why we're there; only to be given several non explored or fully explained explanations of what's happened by the half way point in the film, never to be confirmed during the course of the film. I blame M. Night Shyamalan for my other complaint, the unexpected completely unrelated twist in the last 10 minutes of a film. He only did it good once, The Sixth Sense, and he did it quite well in that one film. However since then he nor anyone else for that matter have been able to introduce a plot twist of great significance in the last 10 minutes of a film that A. Makes sense, B. Is clever, and C. Adds to the movie. Pandorum doesn't fail to try and fail at the last 10 minute plot twist. Screen writers I implore you please stop it; just stop. The good is that the film did have an overall theme which is explained in the film two or three times, for those of us too bored to catch it the first time, and the theme also explains the films title; which I mostly enjoy when the title isn't self-explanatory. But other than that it's a film that begins down hill, and somehow rolls further below sea level as the movie progresses. There are no great conflicts, no outstanding acting, visually it wasn't moving, no real character development, and the dialogue wasn't particularly interesting; I'd rate this dvd a Waste of Plastic
