The Movie Review and Discussion Thread

[jhiggy23]

Sherlock Holmes: 2 1/2 stars (out of 4)

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The Blind Side: 3 1/2 stars (out of 4)

One of the Better True Sports Films

Mr. Brown's review of this film is quite honestly baffling. He dislikes its cliches and sentimentality, but when the story is more similar to truth than most "true stories," what does he expect? There are definitely a few differences between real life and what's depicted in the film, but nothing substantial. The only criticism that can be launched against it is that it doesn't truly tackle some of the issues behind Oher's inspirational story and does not present any major conflicts, opting rather for a consistent feel good approach.

Yes, the film is sentimental but is it manipulative? Of course--EVERY film is manipulative! However, its intentions are good and never does the film attempt to convey false feelings in a cheap manner; the film has a very distinct heart present.

Mr. Brown also criticises the subtlety of Bullock's role, preferring Mulligan's in An Education. I find that to be amusing, especially having seen An Education just last week. Mulligan was surely great in her role and deserved her nomination, but she was every bit as subtle as Bullock. However, Bullock commanded the screen and stole every scene.

This is an excellent film and as Roeper stated, one of the best sports dramas, ranking with Rudy and Hoosiers. While I doubt it will leave the legacy that those two films did, it is a great film and it truly shocked me with its effectiveness

[bundyblu]

Karate Kid: 5/5
Karate Kid II: 3/5

The first is great. 2nd can get slow at times.

[CZAR]

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

Gotta disagree. It is a great film, and certainly one of the most underrated of the 2000s.

I saw it at the theater back when it was released and from what I remember I loved it also. I would have to view it again but I remember it was pretty damn good and I aint the biggest Tom Hanks fan. Got Em!!

[CZAR]

G - The hip hop version of the Great Gatsby starring Richard T. Jones. I enjoyed the film better than expected. Nice 1-2 punch with Richard Jones & Blair Underwood. Chenoa Maxwell is a fine female and I have never seen her before but wow! Nice twist on the Great Gatsby as the film had meaning and a sad ending as well. A tale of what u would give up for love. Overall rating 3.5/5 Got Em!!

[Diesel]

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

Gotta disagree. It is a great film, and certainly one of the most underrated of the 2000s.

What would you score it?

It definitely wasn't a bad film, as I said, just solid imo.

I thought it had good (but not great) acting overall, writing and I really liked the look of the film, but it just didn't click with me to get the rating upped.

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

Sherlock Holmes: 2 1/2 stars (out of 4)

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I gave it a 3.5/5 which would be about the same as your score.

The movie itself was a 3/5 but Downey elevated it to a 3.5/5 for me as I thought he did a great job with his role/chemistry with Law.

[Q?]

Originally Posted by Diesel

Road to Perdition


I've never seen the film before. It was a solid movie I thought.

Not great, but not terrible. I enjoyed it....but wouldn't watch it again.

Hanks/Newman did really good and I was SOOOO happy that the

[Show spoiler]happy ending they set up there for a second didn't pan out It would have, imo, not fit the rest of the film at all if Sr. and Jr. would have just lived happily ever after.

Rating - 3.5/5

OMG!!!!!

Rating fail!

[Show spoiler]Just kidding, I've given it a 9/10 on IMDb, it's been years since I last saw it, I don't know if I'll revise my initial rating but 9/10 for now. I hear it's coming to Blu-ray soon
Give it another go sometime in the future, mayhaps you'll change your mind .

[Atreyu]

The Karate Kid. I love this movie and considering the age of the film, Sony did a famtastic job on the PQ!

[seabterry]

I watched Edge of Darkness last night and I thought it was good. Not great. I didn't think Mel Gibson was mean enough to all the people he ran into...but on the other hand what were we all expecting from this film?

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Diesel

Road to Perdition


I've never seen the film before. It was a solid movie I thought.

Not great, but not terrible. I enjoyed it....but wouldn't watch it again.

Hanks/Newman did really good and I was SOOOO happy that the

[Show spoiler]happy ending they set up there for a second didn't pan out It would have, imo, not fit the rest of the film at all if Sr. and Jr. would have just lived happily ever after.

Rating - 3.5/5

I agree

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

Gotta disagree. It is a great film, and certainly one of the most underrated of the 2000s.

I disagree

Nothing in the film was great. All of the components were satisfactory, but not great. And when combined, the whole was simply OK. No pizazz to raise it to the next level. Nice camera work, but a stale story. Casting was iffy.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

Sherlock Holmes: 2 1/2 stars (out of 4)

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Did you make it all the way through Sherlock Holmes? I couldnt. The villan type/style was too out of place for me.

[Diesel]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

I agree



I disagree

Nothing in the film was great. All of the components were satisfactory, but not great. And when combined, the whole was simply OK. No pizazz to raise it to the next level. Nice camera work, but a stale story. Casting was iffy.

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Did you make it all the way through Sherlock Holmes? I couldnt. The villan type/style was too out of place for me.

The magic?

[Show spoiler]It was explained in the end that he had no magic at all, but was all trickery.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Diesel

The magic?

[Show spoiler]It was explained in the end that he had no magic at all, but was all trickery.

Just the whole

[Show spoiler]darkside evil worship jazz

felt out of place with the the Holmes detective image for me. Also, this sounds weird, but it was too big budget looking fo me with all the big VFX. Another thing that was killing me, and I mean really pushing me out of the theater, was the score. And it was done by my favorite composer....Zimmer. Hated it.

[Diesel]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Just the whole

[Show spoiler]darkside evil worship jazz

felt out of place with the the Holmes detective image for me. Also, this sounds weird, but it was too big budget looking fo me with all the big VFX. Another thing that was killing me, and I mean really pushing me out of the theater, was the score. And it was done by my favorite composer....Zimmer. Hated it.

I don't remember the score at all....so I suppose that says enough.

But yea, I agree, even though it was

[Show spoiler]revealed to be nothing but trickery....in the last 5 minutes of the villains life

the set up of said theme seemed....off....to me.

The parts with Downey though, were always fun to watch

It was a decent one time watch, and I may watch it again one day if one of my friends rents it (Which one does want to) but I would never buy it/rent it myself

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Diesel

I don't remember the score at all....so I suppose that says enough.

But yea, I agree, even though it was

[Show spoiler]revealed to be nothing but trickery....in the last 5 minutes of the villains life

the set up of said theme seemed....off....to me.

The parts with Downey though, were always fun to watch

It was a decent one time watch, and I may watch it again one day if one of my friends rents it (Which one does want to) but I would never buy it/rent it myself

Yes, the chemistry between RDJ and Law was unmissable. It really worked well. The costumes and sets were fantastic too.

I think Hans tried too hard to deliver an eclectic mix.

[iam1bearcat]

The Departed

first i've seen this film since it was in theaters. and after that viewing, i thought the film was alright, but nothing special. well, my opinion has changed.

i love it!

I felt DiCaprio was well cast in this role, and who doesn't love Wahlberg's prick, in your face arrogance here?

the film moves at a pretty brisk pace and it's not a hard story to follow. a mole is planted in the Boston Police Department / SIU from Frank and a mole is placed in Frank's gang from the Boston Police Department. the first hour or so is all build up to what the second half becomes. and the second half is a dizzying, "find the mole before the other guys do" that has a pretty relentless pace to it. some shocking moments to be sure, as to be needed in a good gangster / crime film.

my only complaint really is the love interest of both Collin and Billy. that story line doesn't really go anywhere and isn't needed in the film. other than being the only person Billy trusts, she doesn't help serve any purpose in the film. nor is the actress who plays the psychiatrist realy attractive. at times good looking, but mainly... not. not that it matters a whole lot

4.5/5

[Chaotic]

Alice in Wonderland

Film 4/5
PQ 5/5
AQ 4/5

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

I think Hans tried too hard to deliver an eclectic mix.

I rewatched the movie recently, and though I'll admit that the score is really unusual. I found it distinctive that way, but wouldn't want to buy it or anything.

What really drives me nuts about the music is the god-awful folk song they kept using (during the pit fighting scene and during the end credits). I've heard it all the time non-stop at my workplace for the past two years (it's piped in through speakers, and the music is controlled by some unknown force that apparently enjoys outdated pop, archaic techno, and English folk songs). Thus, it makes me go .

[iam1bearcat]

Old School

I've always wondered what the "story" of Old School is. Not that an adult comedy really needs a story, but the one that is here, seems really ridiculous and actually doesn't make any sense at all.

Mitch (Wilson) comes home early from a work trip and finds that his girlfriend is a big fan of having orgies in their bedroom. Mitch doesn't find this the way he wants to live life, so he gets a house near a college. His buddies throw him a party to make him feel better and suddenly Beanie (Vaughn) says they should start a fraternity. Why? so he can get drunk and see college girls? okay.. but what the f*** does that have to do with anything else? literally nothing from what i can tell.

but again, who cares about a story for this type of film?

Some great, great jokes / scenes are present here, and the Fight Club references are hilarious - could be because it's my favorite movie of all time that i noticed and enjoyed these - and the characters are wonderful.

I think the best part of the film is the writing / improv. There are a number of truly classic lines of dialogue, my favorite being, "ladies, we're giving head here. not breastfeeding from a mythological beast".

Overall though, even with the classic scenes, it doesn't add up to a completely solid movie. there are multiple slower parts that don't have any laughs to them and the movie feels weak under the lack of solid direction / solid backing story.

3/5

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

I rewatched the movie recently, and though I'll admit that the score is really unusual. I found it distinctive that way, but wouldn't want to buy it or anything.

:.

As I sat in the theater, I thought to myself, "Wow, this is very unique" and then after a few minutes I was looking for the ammo for my gun so I could shoot myself to relieve the pain.

[seabterry]

Just watched Crazy Heart. I have to say it had some predictable moments. It would have been a better movie if it didn't seem to follow the previous movies before it that seemed to have the same formula. The redeeming qualities of the movie are Jeff Bridge's performance, Maggie was very good as well, but the music had me hooked. I feel the same about this movie as a did about Once: I wouldn't revisit it for the story, but I would revisit it to see the musical performances over and over again. Still 4 out of 5 for me.