The Movie Review and Discussion Thread

[Spirit Zero]

Spider-Man 3 (2007)

So I think the main number one big ginormous flaw in this movie is the fact they use too many villains and plots, I'm sure we can all agree on this. Way back in 1992 a certain young Mr Tim Burton had free reign to create the sequel for his smash hit 'Batman'. In doing so he stuck in two main villains alongside his own creation...The Penguin, Catwoman and Max Shreck. This seemed to start a massive trend that has continued to this day! Following on from this initial idea many or most superhero flicks seem to have at least two villains as standard, sometimes more! and this is where this film implodes.

First villain is Venom, now this alien creature crashes to Earth in or on meteorite out of nowhere and that's it, we get nothing more on it at all. No idea where its come from, how, why, what its intentions are, why its doing what its doing etc...its just there and you gotta accept it. Whether or not the comics give us this information I don't know (although I'm sure they do), but here in this film its a solid mystery for anyone who isn't a comic fanboy, myself included. So back story and the way this character is played out in the film is new to me, I have no idea if its correct alongside the source material, all I know is how this thing looks and it did seem well created to me. The CGI was decent and seemed to capture Venom's appearance well although why it would alter Spider-Man's spider logo seems daft, it infects his outfit and body, why would it alter the logo?

Second villain was the Sandman who I know was bumped up from a minor comic position to a major role revolving around Parker's uncle. Now again whether or not this was the right way to go if you're a fanboy I don't know, as for the rest of us I felt the story arc did work pretty well and developed the Sandman into something other than just a common baddie. This character now had a good solid family arc combined with an emotional connection to Parker which did feel a little forced admittedly, like a clear after thought, but it managed to hold together. I also liked the visual design for this guy, he had a distinctly old fashioned feel about him, like a criminal from the 40's. The characters musical theme really pushed that vibe if you ask me, a very Bogart-esque tune. I liked his outfit too, again it had a very old fashioned look about it, like something Gene Kelly would wear.

The final villain squeezed into the film was 'Harry Osborn' as the next Green Goblin, following on from his fathers work. Now I had no problem with this character being here because he's been here since the beginning and it felt right that this story arc should happen. Unfortunately along with the other two villains it all felt so convoluted and tight for space that the poor old Goblin was reduced to sporadic appearances. Well they all were really, Venom especially so, that thing vanished for half the flick. The Goblin gets conveniently injured right at the start, after a horrendously bad CGI battle in the sky with Spidey, and we don't see him again for ages. Its the same spiel as before with this character, just replace Dafoe with Franco, same action sequences, new outfit that's all (looks worse too). So in that sense it seemed weak but you knew he had to be there, if anything they should of dropped Venom as that really seemed crowbarred in, jostling for any kind of screen time.

The other problem I had with this film other than the multitude of villains was the relationship between Parker and Mary Jane. Oh my balls this got annoying, first they're together, then they're not, then they get back together again, then Mary Jane sluts around with Osborn, then Parker again, plus you've got 'Gwen Stacy' in there too...holy ribbons of snot!! I got so fed up of seeing Parker and Mary Jane fighting whining and crying Jesus. Plus the fact Mary Jane gets fired from her stage show after one performance seemed a bit ridiculous and is obviously done to crank up the annoying emotional relationship issues. Then you've got all that crap where Parker goes to the dark side due to the Venom alien. Parker as a dark character apparently translates to a lame looking emo hairstyle, a bit of goth eye shadow and then acting like 'The Mask' in a nightclub, what an embarrassing mess that was!

I must admit to being disappointed with the effects this time also, is it me or do the effects actually get worse after the first film? Seeing Spidey swinging from rooftop to rooftop is still sweet, Venom was cool and the Sandman had some great effects in places but the action sequences became very hard to follow with fast moving terrible looking CGI. As I already said the initial fight between Osborn and Spidey was awful looking, but the big finale was just a shambles of shoddy CGI and greenscreen, a lot of it looked very obvious to me. Also not so sure why or how the Sandman is able to grow to such massive proportions or fly, how does sand enable that?? and he kinda looked like a big lump of poo.

I honestly think this is the most over stuffed flick I've seen for some time (or ever), it really is so overloaded and overly long. Stands to reason this effects the film negatively which is a shame seeing as this franchise hasn't been too bad. The best bit in this film for me was probably the amusing cameo from Bruce Campbell (again!) doing his best snappy snooty French maitre d'. Seems incredible to say that I know but it was a fun little scene, everything else was a mess frankly...apart from the odd visual moment.

There are huge periods where characters disappear from the film entirely so other sub plots can continue (Sandman and Venom), Osborn and Parker end up fighting over Mary Jane instead of Osborn's dead father, Osborn's butler is a horrible 'Alfred' rip off, the guy acting in the role is dreadful plus he only now in this film tells Harry about how his father was really killed!! And lastly even though the Sandman's story arc worked OK and has a good heart it did feel like they were trying to rewrite the original film. So definitely ambitious and not a total complete disaster but clearly one bad guy would have worked out better, we now all know Venom was only stuck in there to maximise the audience due to the characters popularity. I understand that but really they should have known better...well I say that but this is Hollywood,

5.5/10

[Foggy]

Originally Posted by DjMethod

+1 for Tuesday night. Got a free screening pass.

I was planning to catch this one in IMAX but free is free.

Strangely enough, it's not being shown in IMAX, I'm not sure whether they just don't see the film lending well to the format or just that the other films that were released in IMAX didn't receive much business from IMAX showings.

[Spirit Zero]

Van Helsing (2004)

Pretty much the ultimate modern day homage to all the classic Universal monster flicks of the 30's and 40's, more specifically the few monster mash movies that were made including all the legendary monsters. Stephen Sommers takes his own hammy over the top Indiana Jones-esque schlock style from 'The Mummy' franchise and plumps it firmly into the Transylvanian homeland of Dracula, no CGI sparred. Oh and Kevin J O'Connor is brought along too yet again.

The plot? Van Helsing must do battle against Dracula and his minions plus werewolves and Frankenstein's monster...the end. This really is such a tough film to review for me, we all know Sommers from his Mummy films and we all knew exactly what to expect from his directing. This guy revels in complete tongue-in-cheek schlock action which is usually realised through heavy use of CGI. Its an old saying but think Indiana Jones but even more ludicrous, even more silly, even more quickfire quips and outrageously over the top everything. We all know this and going into this movie we again...all knew this, we knew it would be nonsense of the highest order, so I simply cannot complain about the fact the film is a total load of hammy cliches. I knew it would be! the only reason I wanted to see the film was simply down to the content...Universal's monsters.

This is the only reason why I had to see the film and why I give it kudos of any kind, the pure unadulterated fantastico monster mashing. But again I'm hampered! yes again!! the reason being I absolutely adored the concept behind this, the art direction, the atmosphere, the sets, the lighting, the use of that olde worlde Victorian steampunk style etc...but there are so many things about the film I hated and wanted to change. So many ideas that just begged to be awesome but the route they chose killed me artistically!

The monsters...ah those epic monsters...what the hell did they do to Dracula?! seriously! Could they have gone any further away from how this character should have looked at least. Sure Roxburgh does a good job with the role and stereotypical accent but his look...holy crapenstein! the Prince of Darkness looks like a rock star with that camp hair and God awful earrings. Yeah you could say that suits his style but the film is set within 18th Century not the present, it feels all wrong. They do get his Brides kinda right in monster mode at least although they seem to be dressed in Arabic style attire to me in human form, at least they are suitably hot although totally cliched with a blonde, a brunette and a redhead (why am I even saying cliched here?).

The werewolves look fantastic in wolf mode, love the thin pointed Batman type ears and overall colour schemes. Hated the transformation process though, instead of morphing they rip their skin off or shed which just doesn't seem right to me. That sorta indicates they would have multiple layers of skin going on and on plus what would their actual origin form be because there would always be another form underneath if you get me. The continuity is also off with the transformation because in some scenes their form seems to melt off.

Frankenstein's monster has a nice touch of the olde worlde steampunk theme going on about his person. I liked the jets of steam coming from his leg hinges/hydraulics and the metallic body sections, almost cyborg-like, but I didn't think much of the green CGI electric current on view in his head plates...bit too far there. On the flip side Van Helsing sports the usual superhero-esque long trench coat, broad rimmed hat and face hiding scarf in a dark brown colour scheme, but his weapons have a lovely steampunk style to them with a nice old fashioned cogs and wheels mechanical aspect (18th Century remember). Van Helsing feels very much like a historic version of 'Blade' and 'James Bond' rolled into one, and of course to complete that air of coolness he has his nerdy bumbling sidekick who supplies him with all his monster killing gadgets.

What I really couldn't get on with was the quite bizarre 'Alien' rip off where Dracula is trying to raise an army of his minions who have been incubated in 'Alien-esque' eggs! Apparently when vampires mate they create a sort of flying Gremlin/gargoyle type creature...in an egg, does the female vampire lay an egg or something?? The only way to do this is by using power generated from Frankenstein's monster? I think that was the game, beats me why. I also must ask why Dracula has hordes of little munchkins wearing gas masks as his henchmen, who the hell are they suppose to be? surely other vampires or zombies or something would have been better. Oh and where exactly is Dracula's icy fortress suppose to be? the good guys go through a portal of some kind to get there...sooooo is it not in Transylvania?

There are many bits that I could mention that frustrate me and force me to nit pick, I know its a daft Sommers film but it could of been a classic Sommers film had these things been different. There are VAST amounts of CGI throughout the film which at times work but at others look dreadful (more so than 'The Mummy' films, quality and quantity wise). Things like the little Transylvanian town at the start, Frankenstein's castle, moody skylines, werewolves, Dracula's Brides and some gore look really neat. On the flip side there is the entire action sequence finale where things get so absurd and incredible as the heroes leap around between these towers with ropes, seemingly invincible to everything that the film becomes a hyper cartoon. Again I know you're meant to leave you're brain at the door but really, some of the feats pull you right out of the film they are so super ridiculous. I also hated the awful looking CGI enhanced vampire jaws when vampires in human form roared or hissed showing their fangs. Why is that necessary? just use makeup and their real mouths! it looks like something out of the Mortal kombat films ugh!

A guilty CGI pleasure though must be the all out badass battle between a werewolf Van Helsing and Dracula in full winged demon form. Its a total CGI fest of course but these two monsters are pretty sweet looking and I simply can't resist it, just what a monster mash requires, almost on form with a Godzilla vs King Kong face off...almost. So yes the entire thing is practically 'The Mummy' in Transylvania but if you're of a fan of this classic genre then it should still win you over. Ironic that the film may have been even more spectacular if they had squeezed in a few mummies and maybe a creature from the Black Lagoon, overkill? nah that comes as standard with Stephen Sommers.

6/10

[Walts Ghost]

From my review at SoCalThrills:

"So many battles waged over the years... and yet, none like this. Are we destined to destroy each other, or can we change each other and unite? Is the future truly set?"

It's been a long, bumpy journey for the Marvel comic book series, X-Men, on the big screen. The series, now reaching its seventh installment, has been lauded, reviled, and and generally mixed, depending on the film in the series. But the love for the characters, and the brand name recognition, has kept it moving along over the last fourteen years. Now, with original director Bryan Singer back at the helm, the X-Men series is showing signs of life that it hasn't in a long, long time. X-Men: Days of Future Past is part sequel, part prequel, part reboot, and all parts awesome, taking the series in a very interesting and new direction, and finally making good on the promise of how good the series could be after X-Men 2: X-Men United.

After many years fighting a war that has left the mutants all but extinct, Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart) comes up with a plan to send someone back in time, hoping to stop the events that would lead to the dystopian future they're living in. Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) is the only person who can handle the pain that the time travel will cause, and voluntarily has himself sent back in time. Wolverine finds himself in 1973, in a time when the younger versions of Xavier (McAvoy) and Magneto (Fassbender) couldn't be any different, or farther apart from each other. Tasked to bring them together, they must try and stop Mystique (Lawrence) from being the mutant who unknowingly sets off a chain of events that will lead to the destruction of not just mutant kind, but the world. As things begin to widely go out of control, the question of whether the future is predetermined becomes a very real concern, and the Wolverine must find a way to make things right, to save not just his future, but those he cares about in the past as well.

As Days of Future Past begins, it's clear that we're returning to the roots of the series, with a voiceover from Charles Xavier, giving the film a feel of familiarity, as we're dropped into a world that looks like nothing we've ever seen in the series before. Bryan Singer wants fans of the series to remember what it was that grabbed us from the first film on, and bring it back. His direction has sorely been missed, and having him return really gives the film the push it needs to make fans really embrace and love the series again. He understands this world better than anyone, and the way the characters tick, which is very apparent here. After he helped pen and bring to life X-Men: First Class, Singer finds himself bridging the old series and new series, while also trying to fix some of the problems that have long plagued the series since X-Men: The Last Stand, which is no easy task. Thankfully, it's something Singer feels very strongly about, and you can tell he feels the need to make the series finally live up to what it promised so many years ago.

Screenwriter Simon Kinberg is up for the task as well, as his script and story is what makes the movie live and breath. He was one of the responsible parties for X-Men: The Last Stand, and you can tell he's learned from his mistakes this time. The film doesn't feel overstuffed and overbearing, with too many characters and too many plots. This film is much leaner, quicker, and more emotional than anything the series has had before. The film gives ample breathing room for the characters of Wolverine, Magneto, Xavier, and Mystique, who are really the four focal points throughout. Each is given plenty to do, and their stories all feel fleshed out, other than half baked and under utilized. Jackman once again gives a fantastic performance as Wolverine, and continues to show us why he's so beloved as the character. But this time, he gets a little bit more of an emotional core, as he spends time trying to help the younger version of Charles get his life back on track. Jackman and McAvoy play off each other fantastically, really making the relationship between Xavier and Wolverine feel more poignant and real than ever before. McAvoy has really come into his own as Charles, really getting a chance to sink his teeth into, making the role his own, but also giving us a chance to see the beginnings of what what he would become, with a little bit of Patrick Stewart beginning to emerge in him. Of course, he and Michael Fassbender continue to have great chemistry together as well, with their storyline of their strained friendship over Mystique, really being the film's emotional center. Fassbender, much like McAvoy, really owns the role of Erik, and makes it his own. You can see the beginnings of Sir Ian McKellen's version inside, but this is a much younger, angrier, and more aggressive Magneto than we've ever seen, and Fassbender delivers in spades.

But it's really Jennifer Lawrence as Mystique who really surprises in this film. Her performance is so different than the one she gave in First Class. This version of Mystique is much more inline with what we've seen with Rebecca Romijn's in the films. There's a real otherworldly feel to the way Lawrence plays her, and it can all be attributed to Singer's direction. He really takes his time to let us get to know the characters, and give them room to breathe, so we can really take in the performances of the actors. But it's just not the younger cast who shines, but the Patrick Stewart and Sir Ian McKellen as well. Seeing them return to the roles of Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsheer once again is a real treat, and it feels like a day hasn't passed since they played these characters. They completely embody their characters and their personalities, as well as their very tumultuous relationship. You can feel the pain and friction in their friendship, but you can tell they want nothing more than to fix what they inadvertently created, and they'll do anything to protect each other after everything they've been through. There's no way these two won't be remembered in these roles, and it's great they got to return once more.

The film also flows really well, for the most part. The film never feels too long, and with it clocking in at just under two hours and fifteen minutes, it has a lot of story to cover. Unfortunately, because of the runtime being that way, a few of the mutants seem to get a bit shafted. While Hoult really is good as Beast, he's just not given enough to do or a story to really bring the character full circle like the others are. Likewise, Colossus, Ice Man, and Kitty all seem to be there more for plot convenience than as full fledged characters. Thankfully though, all the aforementioned characters do get something to do, and get some fun screen time to at least show off their powers in action, which is a pleasant surprise. Unfortunately though, Anna Paquin's Rogue is missing from the proceedings, and her presence is very much missed. Time constraints had her role trimmed out, and it's hard not to be a little bit annoyed by the fact she's no where to be seen in the future battles. It's really a minor gripe in the grand scheme of things, but it's still one that really feels off as a whole. Thankfully, the action and story more than make up for her being missing in action, and Singer has really brought his game for the action scenes in the film. They're fast, furious, and intense, and lead to one of the best third acts in a film in quite a while. He's really learned to shoot action well over the last few years, and his growth as a filmmaker really shows, and it's great to see him more experienced now, bringing what he's learned to the series that he started so long ago, and giving it a new lease at life.

X-Men: Days of Future Past is a film that really shows exactly what this series is capable of, and really what it should have been, over the last several years. Bryan Singer returning to the series seems to be just the shot of adrenaline that the series needed to fully get back on track, and he's delivered a film that new fans and old fans will flock to. Featuring an excellent ensemble cast, some fantastic action, and a story that sets the film universe straight, this is a film that is going to leave audiences cheering. It'll be very interesting seeing where the series goes from here, because Singer has left the series in a very strong place, and one that leaves you wondering exactly where we'll be headed next. But wherever it is, lets just hope it's as strong and fun as this film, because this is as fun as blockbuster cinema gets.

9.5/10

[Lepidopterous]

Originally Posted by Foggy

Strangely enough, it's not being shown in IMAX, I'm not sure whether they just don't see the film lending well to the format or just that the other films that were released in IMAX didn't receive much business from IMAX showings.

You're right...

So I arrived an hour and 20 minutes early to the screening yesterday and still couldn't get in. A glorious waste of time...

[Show spoiler]

The line:

[Spirit Zero]

X-Men (2000)

Well this certainly feels a bit dated these days, the very first X-Men film, the backbone of the modern comicbook adaptations craze, the one that started it all. Had this film not done as well as it did then we possibly wouldn't have all the superhero flicks we have today. Heck just looking at the films poster shows how far this genre has come, its positively awful, bland and extremely unimaginative, the two groups just standing there against a city skyline, eh?

I remember this coming out back in the day and I recall pretty much poo pooing it as an obvious looking lazy CGI filled cheese fest. Upon seeing the film I didn't actually like it all that much, mainly I think down to the lack of decent action. Low and behold yet again my personal tastes have changed with age and I find myself actually appreciating this film a lot more now. The plot naturally includes the origins of certain main characters and the introduction of the X-Men lead by 'Charles Xavier' and his school for the gifted (mutants). We are also introduced to the bad mutants lead by 'Magneto' and his dastardly plan to turn all the world leaders into mutants presumably so they know what its like to be a mutant.

'Storm? Sabretooth?...What do they call you? 'Wheels'? This is the stupidest thing I've ever heard'

The general plot may be simple but I do like the easy to understand similarities with real time age old issues such as prejudice discrimination and plain racism. Magneto's ('Erik Lehnsherr') family were German Jewish and killed by the Nazi's during WWII, so he had first hand experience of the effects a madman can have in power, himself being a Holocaust survivor. Ironically though Magneto himself turns into the thing he once survived and fought against as here he wants to exterminate the human race to protect the mutant race. Whilst Xavier wants to gain peace between humans and mutants Magneto is constantly trying to start a race war between them, not too subtle but hey it works.

The main thing I notice with this first film in retrospect is how much dialog there is and how little kickass action there is. There is a heck of a lot of exposition to take in as we learn about the various characters and their individual flaws and powers etc...But that's not to say its boring, not at all, its actually delivered very well and you want to know more, meet more mutants and see their powers. The action is sporadic and not exactly top dollar in all honesty, we mainly see 'Wolverine' getting into the odd scrap, mutants going up against the police but not killing any and the finale at the Statue of Liberty gives us some semi decent one on one action but the CGI and wire work is pretty hokey to be fair. Prime example being the scene where Wolverine does a 360 spin around a section of the Statue using his claw...looks real nasty.

Most of the characters are really well visualised and well cast there's no denying that, twas the worry at first, that these guys would all look ridiculous in their silly costumes. But no! almost every character is realistically designed and performed. The main three of course being Stewart, McKellen and Jackman all brilliantly cast adding such a classy authentic epic feel to the comicbook tomfoolery, Jackman being the main surprise as he was completely unknown. At the same time Marsden, Berry and Janssen also come across in a surprisingly believable fashion, none of these actors ever really come across as hammy which is some feat in this. The only characters that let the side down visually has to be 'Toad' and 'Sabretooth' both of whom look totally daft.

I'm not an X-Men fanboy so I don't know the ins and outs of the franchise but some things I do find a bit silly. For a start Toad is just a pointless character, his tongue, jumping and spitting green goo are his mutant super powers?? how is he useful? how does he crush a human by jumping on him? and why include him in this film?! The main main running quibble I have throughout has to be the invincibility thing going on. Wolverine especially is virtually unbeatable, you can't kill the guy so it seems pointless to have him fight at all, we know he can't die or get hurt. Then there's the fact that most mutants seems to be super strong...but why? OK they have unique powers but is a side effect to this automatically having super strength because they all have it apparently. How come Magneto can fly? he can manipulate metal but how does that enable him to fly? and how the hell does 'Rogue' get through even one day without being able to touch another human? Her super mutant power seems utterly pointless and more of a curse than anything surely as she can kill real easy.

In the end the film does start to crack towards the finale as things do get a tad stupid, inconsistencies with mutant power abilities, the fact no one notices all the commotion going on at the Statue of Liberty, all the destruction, 'Mystique' doubling as the Senator but showing her yellow eyes etc...I guess the main thing that made me think was simply...Magneto is kinda right, mutants should be very weary of humans, maybe not wipe them out but you can kinda see his angle, humans are a violent dangerous unpredictable species. On the other hand I dunno why he worries so much because in any war the mutants would win hands down.

The film isn't your standard comicbook flick gotta give it that, its not light-hearted silly kids stuff, there is a good solid serious tone to everything that does combine well with this material. Dealing with mutants as people who are treated differently because of their looks or abilities is a strong concept that many will relate to. Visually everything generally is quite realistic and doesn't look like a comicbook movie. The black leather outfits, big rich 'Wayne Manor-like' X-Men school, fancy super hi-tech gadgets/equipment and big black super jet are all cliched sure but obviously you need some fun fantasy elements. Despite being 14 years old this film still holds up well today and even better it still blends in with the whole X-Men franchise which has since moved on big time.

7/10

[Astro Zombie]

X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014):

Damn it, this is the perfect X-Men film. Bringing back the old cast and combining them with the new one, Bryan Singer has managed to do the impossible and tie every previous film together, creating one perfect X-Men universe. The plot might seem confusing on paper, but in motion, everything falls perfectly into place.

Serving as a sequel to both X-Men: The Last Stand and X-Men: First Class, the film involves Wolverine going back in time to try and stop a war. Along the way, he must find the younger versions of Professor Xavier, Magneto, Beast, and more. As I mentioned before, both casts return, with James McAvoy and Patrick Stewart playing young/old Xavier, respectively, and Michael Fassbender and Ian McKellen playing young/old Magneto, respectively. Jennifer Lawrence returns to play Mystique, Nicholas Hoult plays Beast, Halle Berry returns as Storm, and of course, Hugh Jackman once again plays Wolverine. I know I didn't mention everyone, but I can assure you they all play a part in the film. Everyone is at the top of their game, giving brilliant performances all around.

Singer balances the future and past scenes very well, and both casts get equal time to shine. McAvoy and Stewart especially share a scene halfway in that is arguably the best and most emotionally powerful scene in the series. This is still a summer blockbuster however, and the budget is put to good use, with some fantastic set-pieces making the film as exciting as it is emotionally investing.

I don't really have much else to say. I will just say please go and watch the film, because it rights the wrongs of the series and opens the door for new stories to be told. This is almost certainly the best X-Men film and one of the very best comic-book films of our time.

5/5

[wormraper]

Title: Spike Lee Joint Collection - Vol 1 Blu-ray Review



Movie: 4/5
Video: 4/5
Audio: 4/5
Extras: 2/5

Overall Score 76

WARNING: THE SCORES ABOVE ARE A COMBINED SCORE FROM BOTH FILMS, THE INDIVIDUAL SCORES ARE CONTAINED BELOW IN THE INDIVIDUAL SECTIONS OF THE REVIEW

Summary
Spike Lee is one of those very interesting directors. He’s not someone that I personally admire for many of his beliefs, but he’s an incredibly impassioned director who puts his entire heart and soul into his work and deals with a lot of social issues. “Do the Right Thing” is by far his polished piece of work and the crowning gem in his cap, but these golden “oldies” from the past were where he started out. Some of them good, some of them great, some of them not so good (“Jungle Fever” springs to mind). Director Spike Lee loves the nitty gritty trials of human existence, an honest emotional look at what makes humans ticks and he isn’t afraid to show us the bad as well as the good in our raw, human hearts.

The 25th Hour 4.5/5
I remember sitting in a theater in 2002 and seeing trailers for “The 25th Hour” and thinking “I need to go see that. I love Ed Norton”. Unfortunately I never did go see it and it took me over 12 years, and this collection later, to actually sit down and watch the film. Now I’m honestly shocked that I never got around to it before. Ed Norton turns in the performance of the year as “Monty”, a drug dealer who’s just starting to go straight when he gets pinched by the DEA and sentenced to 7 years in Jail. Now he’s got 24 hours left before his life starts inside of jail and he begins to re-evaluate his life and the decisions he’s made these last 31 years of his life. He’s got a beautiful girlfriend, Naturelle (Rosario Dawson), 2 friends (Barry Pepper and Phillip Seymour Hoffman) and only 24 hours left of life as he knows it.

Going out on the town, Monty begins to watch his life unravel, friends he thought were friends turn out to be enemies, people that didn’t seem like friends at the beginning of the movie turn out to be the closest thing he has to a real friend and parents, parents who love you through thick and Thin (played by Brian Cox). The movie is less of a movie and more of a raw pulsing nerve. You can feel the emotions, the pain, and the harsh reality of everything going on in the movie. I was incredibly impressed the amount of realism that went into the making of the film, and the emotions that pass through a person as they realize they have no other option in front of them. The characters are raw and vibrant, rough as any New Yorker and full of the same agony and demons that would haunt anyone in that situation. The characters aren’t nice, but they aren’t meant to be. They’re rough, they’re raw, they’re in pain, they’re desperate and it shows in every corner of the movie. Language gets a bit rough, and there is an epic “Boondock Saints” level of rant that happens when Monty is screaming at the mirror in the bathroom, letting out all his anger on the world in one 5 minute stint. The ending leaves it up to the viewer’s imagination to piece together what happened, and it works pretty well, but I felt the more obvious, less happy solution could have been left out entirely to add a bit more weight to the film.

He Got Game 4/5
“He Got Game” is an interesting film, to be certain. It takes a very realistic approach at the trials and tribulations of becoming famous fast in the sports arenas. We’ve all heard the tales before. Big basketball stars deal with a lot of fame and a lot of “friends’ and a LOOOOOOOOOOT of temptations. Sooner or later they’re on the news for beating a hooker, a dog, snorting cocaine out of dumpsters with 10 million women by their side. Jesus Shuttlesworth (Ray Allen) is about to step into that arena, as the nation’s best high school player with the world at his fingertips. His father, Jake (Denzel Washington), is the only shadow over his future, a man convicted of life in prison for killing Jesus’ mother years ago. Now Jake gets an offer from the Governor to reduce his sentence if Jake will go on prison leave for a week and try to convince his son to attend Big State University (the fictional university in the state that he’s being held in). Jake is now a man who’s got religion and hopefully a new outlook on life.

What seems to be a simple bonding experience turns into a truly heartbreaking story between father and son. One having made copious mistakes in his life and the other just starting to fall into the same pitfalls that tripped up his father. Now Jake has to try and get through to Jesus before all of the same corruptions that destroyed him take over his son’s life. With all this power he’s got women throwing themselves at him, hoods wanting to become “friends” for all the wealth that’s going to flow in, and just the plain sewers of the pro ball that seem to infect most positions of power. With great power comes great responsibility, yes, but with great power also comes great temptations for corruption.

The movie is a powerful drama, one that doesn’t pull any punches or seem clichéd and “Tv like”. Spike Lee’s connections with the pro ball world show here as he has a nice grasp on just how messed up that industry is and how it can take a promising young athlete and turn them into worn out old men in a matter of years. Worn down from the evils of life, from the temptations, from all the fake friends and how easy it is to lose your way. As I’ll say in my conclusion, I hate to just blindly recommend these two movies. Spike Lee is a very visceral, and very gritty director. His movies aren’t always “nice”, his characters are not always nice, and the situations they get into are not always kosher, but one thing that he does do an amazing job of representing is the true life pitfalls that happen to people. The sense of humanity ripples through it. It’s more of an emotionally draining film that takes it out of you rather than something you want to sit down with for pure entertainment value. In that sense Spike Lee is very unique and earns his status of cult following.


25th Hour: Rated R for strong language and some violence

He Got Game: Rated R for pervasive language, sexuality, some drug content and violence

Video: 4/5

The 25th Hour 3.5/5
“The 25th Hour” was shot using a very unique style of digital grading and looks surprisingly good, for the rough filming style. Spike Lee didn’t want a crystal clear image in his making of the movie and he opted for a more rough and tumble look with blown out contrasts and a surreal feel to the movie. The detail ranges from good to great, and sometimes superb, but that all depends on the lighting for with the digital grading with those 2002 cameras we have some nasty digital noise swimming around in all the dark scenes. In the lighter scenes it’s harder to see, but it’s still noticeable. Black levels are only ok, with many scenes showing washed out blacks and some nasty black crush. Overall it’s a decent picture and definite step up from the DVD, but nothing that’s going to make it look like a shiny new film.

He Got Game 4/5
“He Got Game” fares a bit better than “The 25th Hour” with a lot more “pop” and less digital issues on screen. The detail is good, with great facial tones and lots of fine detailing on the clothes and faces. The movie tends to be a bit soft and robs us of SOME fine detail, but there’s still plenty to see. The film’s color palette is very bright and saturated, even during the dark scenes. Giving it a very vibrant and “in your face” feel to the film. Blacks are suitable, much better than its predecessor, with only minimal crush and a little bit of faded blacks. For the most part, they are quite inky and solid. Thumbs up.

Audio 4/5:

The 25th Hour 4/5
"The 25th Hour" is handling a 5.1 DTS-HD MA lossless track and it performs admirably. To be fair, the film is mainly a dialogue centered film, giving us clean vocals and some nice ambient noises in the surrounds, nothing more. The vocals are handled quite well and I have no complaints there. The surrounds are used fairly, but really take off during the night club scene in the Ukranian part of town. There the pounding of the LFE and the swirling sense of immersion take over. I really can't complain about the track, and it does a good job at doing what director Spike Lee wanted, but it's not that demanding of a movie for the most part.

He Got Game 4/5
"He Got Game" sports a nice 5.1 DTS-HD MA track like it's predecessor in the collection. Both films are quite good and show some nice channel separation, but nothing that will knock your socks off. Dialogue is the important thing here, and it's done very nicely with the vocals locked firmly in the center channel. The Surrounds to get some impressive work, mostly with the ambient sounds of the hood and the other background noises like basketballs bouncing and reverberating through the court. Gunshots carry some nice ooomph, and the thud of a car door slamming carries visceral weight behind it. This isn't a powerhouse action track, but then again, that's not something Spike Lee's really known for. It does it's job very well and leaves little to complain about.

Extras 2/5
25th Hour
• Director's commentary
• Deleted Scenes
• Audio Commentary with David Benioff
• The Evolution of an American Filmmaker
• Ground Zero - A tribute

He Got Game
• Audio Commentary by Director Spike Lee and Ray Allen

Overall 4/5

the Spike Lee Joint Collection, is a collection of two of the earlier Spike Lee ventures, and both are solid movies, with the "The 25th Hour" being the clear winner in my minds eye. Both movies are well done and show an incredible amount of heart. Denzel is always fantastic, and Ed Norton has never once let me down. The only real problem is that Spike Lee is NOT a mainstream director that I would say "hey go watch this one, you'll like it!". He's extremely passionate and his films come across that way. However they end up showing such realism that they end up being very emotionally draining and more than a bit rough. They're much more of an emotional experience than most normal films and those unaccustomed to the inner city might fight it a bit shocking at times. My recommendation is that for Spike Lee fans it's a must, but for those of you who are just entering into the arena, some of his lighter fare like "Inside Man" or "Malcolm X" to get a feel for the very VERY unique director.

Additional Information:

Starring: Edward Norton, Barry Pepper, Phillip Seymour Hoffman : Denzel Washington, Milla Jovovich
Directed by: Spike Lee
Written by: David Benioff : Spike Lee
Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1 AVC / 1.85:1 AVC
Audio: ENGLISH: DTS-HD MA 5.1, Spanish DD 2.0/ English: DTS-HD MA 5.1, Spanish DD 5.1
Studio: Touchstone/Buena Vista
Rated: R / R
Runtime: 135 minutes : 136 minutes
Blu-Ray Release Date: June 10th, 2014

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Spike...Blu-ray/99474/

Recommendation: Watch It

25th Hour Trailer - YouTube

[The Narrator]

I saw The Immigrant today, oh boy

I admit to being relatively unfamiliar with the cinema du James Gray. I did see The Yards, which I thought was a great crime movie, one that even managed to ape The Godfather and make it not seem like overreaching (Harris Savides' cinematography might as well have made it qualify as Gordon Willis's last movie). Well, I have now seen my second James Gray movie, and I want to watch all of his other ones right away. Everything about this movie is fantastic. The acting is superb across the board. Marion Cotillard says so much by just looking that when she speaks, it seems borderline unnecessary. Joaquin Phoenix does fantastic work as normal as a sensitive, soft-spoken man with a deep, deep reservoir of anger lurking inside. Jeremy Renner doesn't get nearly as much screentime as the other two, but he makes just as much an impression. The cinematography by Darius Khondji is unspeakably gorgeous. As with The Yards, there's an obvious Willis influence here, with the lush golden tones and frequently dim lighting, but it transcends the Willis connection and becomes its own spectacular thing. Khondji has an understanding of how to light faces (just look at any of the close-ups in Se7en) and he makes possibly his best use of that skill here. Cotillard in particular is lit like an old silent movie star, the light complementing all of her features. And I don't think the movie puts a wrong foot forward otherwise. I take back what I said about this not being a good year for movies. Any year that brings us this, Under the Skin, and The Grand Budapest Hotel in the course of three months deserves a spot in the all-time canon.

5/5 stars

[Spirit Zero]

X-Men 2 (aka X2, 2003)

So Toad and Sabretooth are dead and buried then it seems, guess they weren't that popular huh. Not surprising seeing as they were the worse characters from the last film. So after the unexpected smash of the original film we got this sequel adding more characters, more effects and a bit more much needed action.

Moving on from the first film we discover now that Magneto has been tortured into giving up vital information about Xavier's school for mutants by the nasty new bad guy William Stryker. Stryker and his team capture Xavier and plan to create another Cerebro so they can brainwash Xavier into wiping out all the mutants of the world with his mental powers. Now is the time...the X-Men and Magneto's naughty mutants must join forces to save all mutant kind.

Everything kicks off nicely with the cool introduction of new character Nightcrawler, who is performed with a likeable heartfelt sincere persona by Alan Cumming. Its a good start to the film because not only do we get a slick sexy Matrix style ass-kicking sequence courtesy of the Crawler, but this guy looks good, he's accurate to the source material and simply feels very fresh and original especially with that German accent. The one thing I don't get about this guy is the fact he can only teleport when he can see where's he's teleporting too. Surely when you teleport to anywhere you can't see where your going right? so what difference does it make?

This film clearly tries for the 'Empire' tone by making everything quite dark with lots of pending doom and gloom. As we all know the film also ends on a downer with major character Jean Grey kicking the bucket, new boy Pyro switching to the dark side and Wolverine discovering some of his bleak past plus having to fight another similar mutant. In general the whole team are feeling like shit come the end of the day plus they no longer appear to be safe in their 'Wayne Manor-esque' home.

But not only this we also get a much more violent film than the safe fast cut first flick. When Styker's men storm Xavier's mutant school armed to the teeth with automatic weapons we see Wolverine tear into some real hack n slash action as he rampages through the building slicing n dicing soldiers left right and centre (finally!). We also see a hint of mutant power from some younger students at the same time. Of course there is no blood or guts anywhere in the film but we do see Wolverine piling into bad guys impaling them pretty good with no cuts. This sequence to me shows another possible Nazi angle again as a community of 'different' people are invaded, rounded up and taken away from their home by armed soldiers, not even women and children are left.

I liked how the story develops Pyro Iceman and Rogue together as they come to terms with their powers plus adolescence. The scene where Iceman outs himself to his parents is a cute scene with very real message which some folk will relate to. Some nice little touches of humour admittedly but its all very tame and easy going. The fact Iceman is obviously the good guy and Pyro is obviously the quick tempered bad guy feels a bit too simple, amazed one isn't wearing blue and the other red whilst fighting over Rogue. I didn't really like the inclusion of Lady Deathstrike though, she felt unnecessary and merely there just for a showdown with Wolverine at the end...which she ultimately was as she did nothing else the entire time. She's in and out quick, a sidekick that's killed off neatly, only there for the visuals and adding to the character roster. The fight was also completely lacking in any excitement because we know neither of these characters can be hurt, this being a problem with these films at times, invincible people fighting each other.

Although I must admit I liked the concept of Stryker using his mutant son to control other mutants with a serum from his brain and the fact he induces Xavier into almost killing off everyone. OK sure the fact they managed to built another Cerebro seemed far fetched as I thought that was a special contraption that only Xavier and Magneto could devise but none the less it worked.

I don't deny the film is dark but maybe it tries a little too hard? I'm not trying to nit pick but it does feel a bit forced especially when Grey didn't really have to die as far as I can tell. The jet wouldn't start due to a malfunction, so Grey goes outside and protects the jet from the tidal wave of water whilst using her powers to start up the jet. Why didn't she just start the jet up from inside or am I missing something here? I think I am missing something aren't I...??? Anyway it kinda felt odd that she dies in this way as if to try and create this iconic emotional death which I didn't really feel, it just seemed like a daft waste (and to kick start the Phoenix plot).

Everything does feel a bit clockwork to be honest, there aren't any major surprises really (you can see things a mile off) but none the less it does hold your attention to the end. The visuals are on the whole much smoother and glossier than the first film, the actors are really getting into their respective roles, multiple characters are handled well by Singer and the film is also a highly positive encouraging shout out for gay people, teens, underachievers, outcasts, bullied people and any minorities on the whole. Although I still don't get how that highly advanced metal detector that scanned everything on and in the human body didn't pick up all that iron in the guards bloodstream, oh well.

7/10

[Spirit Zero]

X-Men: The Last Stand (aka X-Men 3, 2006)

So what happened to the Nightcrawler? he was a good soft centred character with potential in the last film, what the Hadoken?? So yet again after the following smash success of the sequel, which may or may not have been a surprise, we get the trilogy bookend to the saga. Naturally we are pummeled with lots more characters, even bigger set pieces, even bigger action and various big deaths scenes, oh and Brett 'Rush Hour' Ratner takes over the reigns...which means it could well stink.

Plot time...Worthington Labs announce the cure to mutantism, well a drug that will suppress the mutant gene in mutants. This of course could be good news for certain mutants like the awkward Rogue (don't listen to Storm sheesh!), but for ultra cool mutants like Magneto, Wolverine, Iceman etc...it sounds like the worst idea since Brett Ratner took over the reigns for this third film. The 'cure' comes from the genome of a young mutant boy so obviously Magneto sets out to kill the boy with his alternate (not exactly evil in the evil sense) mutant army, only the X-Men can stop them.

I don't get the humans in this saga though, surely having people like this around with these powers would help mankind greatly. Sure there would be problems but on the whole if peace is kept as many want then the advantages for humans and mutants to work together would be astronomical! Plus aren't people amazed and in awe of these powers, hardly every day stuff is it.

So its back to more origins again and lots more exposition as we see how a young Jean Grey met up with Magneto and Xavier (I type Magneto because its easier than his human name) who have both had major CGI airbrush work done to their pretty faces. We then get to see a rather abrupt and brief origin for Angel which leads into some obligatory training sequences for the regular team followed by an intro for Beast and the steps being taken to find Magneto. Once the story skips through all this its back to Xavier's school again so we can have yet more origin chat as Beast visits.

One thing I noticed about Beast in this franchises continuity is way back in 'X2' we saw Beast as a youngish middle aged man in human form on the TV. According to comicbook lore (if we are picky here) Beast was actually one of the X-Men team from a young age I believe plus he was shaped like a gorilla. What we see of him in that brief cameo doesn't really match up although admittedly we don't see all of him. I would also hazard a guess that he would of been blue and furry by the age he looks in that cameo, like I say I'm just being picky.

This film feels more in tone with the original in the sense that everything is slowing building towards the finale. The plot is developed step by step in easy to swallow doses so each little story can expand and finally blend at the end. It does feel a bit slow admittedly but again it still manages to hold your attention well by slowly giving you more bang for your buck. Gotta be honest though some characters do feel squeezed in for no reason, Angel doesn't really do much, he's just there for visuals where as Multiple Man is around for one booby trap/gag moment.
There also seemed to be some tomfoolery with the Omegas group involving big visual changes and sexual gender alterations. Not that that's a problem as Omahyra Mota as Arclight was an inspired casting choice but the others felt very generic and bland looking. Not really sure how Kid Omega's power of being a mutant porcupine would come in handy unless you do the only thing he does in the film which is kill someone by hugging them. Its also these guys that start to mention mutants in class divisions depending on how powerful they are...where did that come from?

I find Pyro hilariously dumb in this film though. This guy goes around acting all tough and macho when confronting new mutants despite not knowing what they can do. For all he knows they could kill him easily with their unique mutant power, all he can do is control fire! geez dude don't be such a plum. Another stupid point was after Xavier gets obliterated Beast suggests the school close...eh?! why you big blue goon! surely the best way to honour him would be to keep the school going, no way Xavier would want it to shut down, go plait your hair sheesh!

In general everything is fine up to the big showdown where for some bizarre reason Magneto decides to detach and use the Golden Gate Bridge as a crossing to Alcatraz. I mean yeah it looks impressive and fancy in all its CGI glory but really? why not just use a large boat or fly...most of you all do that. Plus that may give you more stealth for the attack. The actual main battle is reasonably well directed and sorta utilises everyone but the fact the soldiers have the cure in gun form does make a bit of a mockery of it all. Yes many mutants get 'cured' but I don't really think any of them would stand a chance with all that stuff flying around.

Its all pretty much the same again but with nicer visuals. Beast looks awesome and is portrayed really well by Grammer, Grey in Phoenix form does look pretty good to me and her story fits OK as far as I'm concerned although I know some fanboys didn't like it. Wish we knew exactly what happened to Cyclops though. Everyone else is on good form and haven't varied from their previous performances so its all good in that sense (Juggernaut is a bit iffy looking though isn't he, not sure why they cast Vinnie Jones there) and as I said there are some big characters getting kicked to the curb throughout and towards the end which was very cool I can't deny. Not quite as classy as the previous two sure, but it does the job...what else did you expect?

6/10

[SilentDawn]

My ramblings on Denis Villeneuve's newest masterpiece, Enemy.

[Al_The_Strange]

Godzilla (2014)

60 years ago, a monster rose up from the depths. Godzilla, a gargantuan beast borne from nuclear fire, invaded the monster movie scene in 1954 and gave us a terrifying vision of Tokyo's destruction. Godzilla's reign persisted through nearly thirty movies, seeing the titular monster as both villain and hero, pitting him against a whole universe of monsters, aliens, armies, and machines. Then, after running through a whole gauntlet of battles in Godzilla: Final Wars, the beast was given a good ten-year rest.

In 2014, Godzilla rose up again with a fresh new look and fresh talent. Even though the beast has been rebooted repeatedly before, he has never before hit the western shores as hard. In this American production, great care and detail has been given to provide a hard-hitting thrill ride that will remain true to Toho's original vision.

In a somewhat Spielbergian fashion, Gareth Edwards' vision of Godzilla purposefully builds tension before giving us the actual monster combat. Much like Jurassic Park, the film steadily builds up the suspense with tremors, sound, and focus on subtle details. Much like Jaws, the actual monsters receive limited screen-time to maximize their impact when you do see them. And much like 2005's War of the Worlds, much of the action is subdued to the background, with a firmer focus on the characters' drama. Above all, Godzilla represents an evolution of Edwards' debut film Monsters, which accomplished all these same techniques on a more limited scale.

What this amounts to is a film that builds and builds, taking its time on character-building and plotting before giving us what we really want: all-out monster bashing and city stomping. When you finally get to it, the mass destruction is modestly satisfying. Special effects are top-notch throughout, giving us an intense and epic vision of creatures smashing into each other and smashing into buildings. However, the action is not overblown or overdone, and it never overwhelms the plot.

The actual story involved is pretty much on-par with the older Godzilla films; most of these give us a handful of military and scientist characters who figure out what's going on, then behold some massive monster battle. This film stays true to this formula, but the focus is constant on the characters and their struggles, whether it be the struggle to deal with the monsters, or the struggle to save loved ones. The film definitely tries to pull at the heartstrings by showcasing a father trying to reunite with his family, while also trying to save his father and fulfill his mission. While this can be a bit contrived and sappy, the film does have a little more depth and power to it than the older kaiju flicks. All that being said, the characters are still not huge stand-outs; their emotional struggles are pretty much the only thing we can latch on to, but they remain pretty shallow and flat. Plotting suffers a little as well, given that some parts don't always make sense, and characters don't always make the best decisions. Much like the older films, the story overall conveys a strong theme about the folly of messing with mother nature and abusing nuclear power.

The film is competently made, with quality photography and editing. It is especially noteworthy in the way it masterfully reveals just what it wants to when it wants to, to draw out the suspense and make each monster's presence more powerful. Acting is okay from the whole cast; Aaron Taylor-Johnson is a pretty average everyman hero character, Elizabeth Olson is a pretty average as the guy's wife, Ken Watanabe is an average scientist dude, and Bryan Cranston steals the show in an all-too-small part. Writing is so-so. This production has some great-looking sets, props, costumes, locales, and special effects. Sound design is phenomenal, with monster roars that's guaranteed to make the entire theater shudder. Music is pretty interesting.

Finally, this has got to be the most intense and hard-hitting Godzilla movie since the original. Storytelling and characters aren't a big standout here, but never were in the older movies anyway; this version still offers a phenomenal build-up and a satisfying payoff, and anybody wanting a good monster-movie fix should be pleased. It'll be thrilling to see what directions modern film-making like this will take Godzilla next.

4/5 (Experience: Good | Story: Average | Film: Good)

[Walts Ghost]

My 5 star review of 'Chef'

"I get to touch people's lives with what I do. I love it, and I want to share this with you."

Sometimes, a movie can just make you smile ear to ear, and leave you walking out of the theater feeling great. Such is the case with Jon Favreau's newest film, 'Chef', which he wrote, stars in, and directs. It's been a long time since Favreau has done a small, indie film like the ones he started with. He's been spending so much time making bigger blockbuster films, so having him scale back just seems like a natural fit. This film certainly seems to be a very personal one for Favreau, who mixes his love for social networking, with a bit of commentary on his feelings towards critics, and the harm they can cause to someone who has poured their soul into their work.

The film, which follows a once acclaimed chef, Carl Casper (Favreau), who loses his job, and finds that he's at a loss with what to do with himself. He has a failed marriage, barely understands or knows his son, Percy (Emjay Anthony), and he can't seem to focus long enough to try and fix his life. But when Casper ends up with a food truck, it sparks a feeling he hasn't had in a while, which is a passion for what he loves to do, while giving him a chance to reconnect with his son.

While many may find the film too cloying and sappy, it really seems to be a much more personal film, so it wears its heart on its sleeve. The less than obvious commentary Favreau focuses on about criticism seems like something that's coming from him personally, as a filmmaker, and how he's been ripped up and spit out by the people who gave him praise years ago. You really feel for Casper, and the pain he feels seems real. Favreau plays the character very well, even in his lowest moments. He may seem unlikable at times, but he's just a man lost and trying to find himself, and he doesn't necessarily understand the error of his ways. It's that journey that really pushes him forward, and really makes you love him by the end.

It's hard not to really want to see Casper reconnect with his son, Percy, played by relative newcomer, Emjay Anthony, who is really delightful in the role. The scenes between he and Favreau, as they finally begin to reconnect over Percy trying to teach Casper about social media is really fun, and they two play off each other well. The bonding and connection feels real between Favreau and Anthony, and it's a natural fit that makes you really pull for the characters to fix their relationship. It can be hard to find a child actor who can hold his own against a seasoned actor like Favreau, but thankfully they got one who could match and play off him very well, and it makes the film the stronger for it.

The film is also full of wonderful moments for smaller characters, played by Favreau regulars Robert Downey, Jr. and Scarlett Johansson, as well as smaller roles for Sofia Vergara and John Leguizamo, and they all shine in their parts. Downey, Jr. in particular, to no one's surprise, steals his small, but pivotal scene. But it's just not the actors that are a major part of the film, but it's the locations and music as well. The film shows so much love for Cuban culture, places like New Orleans and Texas, their food, and their music, and it all gels together so well. It's a really fun experience, and one that really makes the movie that much better.

'Chef' is a film that just leaves you feeling warm inside, and really leaves you feeling good as you leave the theater. Full of great performances, a lot of heart, wonderful music, and an incredible love for food, it's one of 2014's strongest offerings. Favreau seems so comfortable and happy to be back making a smaller film, and it really shows with the creativity and freedom it gave him. It's good to see him really stepping back to that world.

[Astro Zombie]

My review of "Chef"

Loved it, absolutely loved it. Only one complaint: not enough Scarlett Johansson

4.5/5

[Astro Zombie]

My Brief Review of "A Million Ways to Die in the West"

"Take your hat off boy, that's a dollar bill!"

Sure, not as good as "Ted," but still pretty funny. Charlize Theron is still ridiculously gorgeous

3.5/5

[BJKH]

Elysium (2013) Film Review

Science Fiction and Matt Damon, there’s something we don’t see everyday. I’ve always enjoyed it when actors take on genres that they really haven’t explored. The casting of Matt Damon and the urge to watch Director Neil Blomkamp’s (District 9) next Science Fiction filmed got me interested in checking out Elysium. It was interesting to say the least.

[bluearth]

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

The opening scene is entitled 'dawn of man', yet what we see is not man, rather some form of primate. Egg on the face right of that bat, but then we see one of the key figures in the film, the 'monolith'. Dramatic music plays as we view this black chunk of rock, as though it is suppose to be scary or mysterious. Sadly, its not.

Thankfully the film switches over to spaceships and the like. I must give credit for the great designs here, considering when this film was made. However we're thrown back into the 'mystery' of the 'monolith', which quite frankly isnt that interesting. Over dramatic music is played every time we see it but theres nothing dramatic about it.

Sadly the film unravels towards the end and leaves you with plenty of questions, and very few if any clues to the answers. If the film made me care more about the 'monolith' perhaps I would be interested in investigating those answers, but Im not.

3/5

The Town (2010)

After watching this film I must say I have a little more faith in Ben Affleck's ability to pull of Batman. However that doesnt fix this film. When theres too many stars in one film, you have a mess like this. Affleck's cousin is an A list actor. His father is an A list actor. His brother is an A list actor. His uncle is an A list actor. His mother is an A list actress. Its all just too much. In time Im seeing actors, not characters. The film could definitely use more no names.

In the end the story is recycled, nothing you havent seen before with minor twists. Why Rotten Tomatoes gave this 94% approval I dont really care to understand. Im sure it has something to do with all the 'great' actors assembled here, as critics are obsessed with the technical achievement of film (thats why they nominated Avatar for best picture) and not its quality as art.

2/5

[Astro Zombie]

Originally Posted by bluearth

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

The opening scene is entitled 'dawn of man', yet what we see is not man, rather some form of primate. Egg on the face right of that bat, but then we see one of the key figures in the film, the 'monolith'. Dramatic music plays as we view this black chunk of rock, as though it is suppose to be scary or mysterious. Sadly, its not.

Thankfully the film switches over to spaceships and the like. I must give credit for the great designs here, considering when this film was made. However we're thrown back into the 'mystery' of the 'monolith', which quite frankly isnt that interesting. Over dramatic music is played every time we see it but theres nothing dramatic about it.

Sadly the film unravels towards the end and leaves you with plenty of questions, and very few if any clues to the answers. If the film made me care more about the 'monolith' perhaps I would be interested in investigating those answers, but Im not.

3/5

The Town (2010)

After watching this film I must say I have a little more faith in Ben Affleck's ability to pull of Batman. However that doesnt fix this film. When theres too many stars in one film, you have a mess like this. Affleck's cousin is an A list actor. His father is an A list actor. His brother is an A list actor. His uncle is an A list actor. His mother is an A list actress. Its all just too much. In time Im seeing actors, not characters. The film could definitely use more no names.

In the end the story is recycled, nothing you havent seen before with minor twists. Why Rotten Tomatoes gave this 94% approval I dont really care to understand. Im sure it has something to do with all the 'great' actors assembled here, as critics are obsessed with the technical achievement of film (thats why they nominated Avatar for best picture) and not its quality as art.

2/5

[Al_The_Strange]

Saw a good bunch of films recently. Here's a quick run-down of the lot of it:

Captain Phillips: I can see how this film could be considered stupid, but I actually enjoyed it. Very thrilling stuff. And for a change, Paul Greengrass's filming doesn't make me sick! 4/5

Frozen (2013): A big and happy surprise for me, for even with all the singing and comedy, the film is nicely-balanced, it has a good story, and some great visuals. Probably the best princess-fairy-tale movie since Sleeping Beauty. Between this and Wreck-It Ralph, it looks like Disney will be king of animation yet again. 4.5/5

Independence Daysaster: Saw enough of it to see that it sucks. 1.5/5

The Conjuring: Pretty creepy film. It's great to see how it uses lighting, pacing, and (presumably) practical effects to create an effective horror experience, rather than using cheap jump-scares. Has that classy Amityville Horror vibe to it. 4/5

Identity Thief: I wouldn't say it's all that bad as people make it out to be, but the comedy really is low-brow and stupid, and the plot is ridiculous and contrived beyond belief. 3/5

The Internship: Predictable, formulaic, and nothing really new. But there are a few good laughs, and there is a feel-good vibe by its end. I could see it being a good, safe watch for some folks, or a really uninspired and stupid watch for others. 3/5

Her: Certainly a well-made film with a thoughtful plot and really endearing characters. The implications of the premise are often interesting. Hot damn, I want an OS like the one in the film... 4/5

American Hustle: I see it as a slick mash-up between The Goodfellas and Argo. The plot moves really well, showcasing a cast of characters that I can't stop watching, no matter how fake or morally convoluted they become. The plot is sturdily-built, the style is great, and above all, the acting is phenomenal. Everybody here delivers a great and memorable performance, to the point where I'm impressed and moved. And I think that says a lot. The movie overall is like a lightweight Scorcesee picture, and it stands out the most of the ones I'm listing here. 4/5

Dallas Buyers Club: Decent film, good performances, good story. It's definitely worthwhile seeing once. 4/5

Inside Llewyn Davis: Hate the folk singing (sorry), hate the pacing and dryness of the whole thing, but it does have its moments, there are themes worth thinking about, the film is good. 3.5/5

Pink Flamingos: Sickening stuff, avoid like the plague. And yet...why can't I turn it off?!! 2.5/5

2014 Mid-Year Update

Having seen so many more of 2013's greatest hits, I've updated my previous review of 2013 in film overall. I got to admit that it was a decent year, with crime dramas impressing me the most. My updated post can be viewed here, and I will probably update my blog this way some day. The score for the year remains the same: 3.8/5 (which is not too shabby).

As far as 2014 goes, I'm growing a bit more cynical about how it'll be in the long run. Haven't even bothered to get off my butt to see some of the ones I wanted to (although X-Men and Maleficent are on my radar). We'll see how things play out later on, I'm sure, but there have been some disappointments already and not a whole lot of standouts. Meh...