Movie and TV Show...Reviews

The Constant Gardner

Just saw this a couple days ago and was pleasantly suprised. I thought it was very well done. Good mystery / adventure.. well written and acted.
 
TheNextStep said:
The Illusionist, with Ed Norton, Paul Giamatti, and Jessica Biel was pretty good. They could have given the characters a bit more depth, but it was still pretty good.
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I heard like 7 different people say the opposite. i guess i'll try it out, but i'm a bit skeptical biel or no biel.
 
CrossBones said:
I thought it was outstanding.

One of the best movies I've seen in a while. I like that Norton guy.
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Yeah, Ed Norton's a hell of an actor... but I still wouldn't go with "outstanding" in praising the movie. Like I said, I don't think they really did enough to flesh out most of the characters and there were parts of the movie that seemed to drag a bit.

Still, I thought it was pretty good and worth the rental. Oh, and even though Norton is a hell of an actor, I think I liked Paul Giamatti's performance better.
 
We have been to the cinema the last 2 Sundays. We watched Blood Diamond this weekend, which I thought was very good. It had a strong story and very impressive performances from DiCaprio and Hounsou. It was very enjoyable inspite of the annoying kids nearby (more on that later).

The previous weekend we watched Rocky Balboa. I said my wife couldn't go to see it until she had seen at least one of the previous films. She was very surprised by how good they were and how much she enjoyed them. I thought the new film was a fitting ending and certainly better than 5.

A couple of things about going to the cinema that really annoy me. The first is getting bombarded with anti-piracy adverts. It seems to be the same with new dvds these days. I paid my money and you are going to treat me like a criminal. How do they think these adverts are effective? Do they think they are going to make it onto the pirate copies, because at the moment the option to watch a copy without these things is becoming more attractive. Secondly why do kids go to see a film if all they want to do is talk? There was a group near to us who talked all through the trailers and at points during the film. Most of the time I was too engrossed in the film to notice, but I did find it amusing when one of them got a phone call 15 mins before the end and had to leave because his mummy was picking him up!
 
Layercake - It's been compared to Snatch & Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and though it has some comedic moments, it's more a straight Brit Gangster film with an interesting plot. Just an excellent movie that get's better with each viewing IMO.

Intermission - Fans of British films will recognize many of the actors. Another multiple character/multiple story line movie where things gradually come togehter at the end. Trade mark gritty Brit humor. Fans of Snatch & Lock Stock, etc. should see this film.

Hellraiser I, II, & III - I love this story. Part II is my favorite with the movie being a giant metaphor for human depravity. The pan views of hell are very Esher (spelling?) esque.

Sideways - I didn't "get it" a few years ago and now it's one of my favorite drama-dies. More life experience & a newly acquired appreciation for wine will do that to a person.
 
Last but not least:

Notes On A Scandel - I actually went out in public to see a movie. Haven't done that since last Spring. This is (another) British film, but it's not at all like any of the above. It stars Judi Dench & Cate Blanchett (my favorite actress) in which both are teachers in a London school and Blanchett has an affair with a 15 years student. Dench discovers the affair and because she is "drawn" to Blanchett, she agrees to keep the secret. This film is alternately brilliant and morally disburbing and I'm far from a prude. Still, it's worth seeing for those that truly appreciate great acting.

I nect want to see the Last King of Scotland, Babel & Volver.
 
I saw Prestige recently and its gonna be tough for the illusionist to touch that. i'll try it out this weekend though. Either way the Prestige was terrific movie and i liked the twists in it.
 
Settled down on the couch with my 6 year old last night (since Fridays are "Movie Night" for us) and watched Open Season. The main voices are Martin Lawrence (as "Boog" the Grizzly Bear) and Ashton Kutcher (as "Elliot" the deer). Although there were a couple of "gross" humor moments (vomit, poop jokes, etc) and I'm not generally a fan of them, this was a pretty freakin' good kids' movie. I was pleasantly surprised and my son thought it was hysterical.
 
Saw III - Despite some decent moments for horror/gore fans, this series continues to jump the shark by making that stupid little (bad acting) chick a focal point of the story. She sucks and involving her continues to be a sad mistake for the story line IMO. Particularly when the lead drops his chilling "rules of the game" laced with an ironic rationale on why this person is about to be f*&cked, is much preferable than hearing the actress. Bleh.

Still, the little evil laughing puppett is pretty damn creepy and the deaths are as nasty as ever.

SawIV is without doubt in the works.......

I give it 2/4 stars.
 
Okay, this is a bit of a change-up and it really doesn't follow the title of the thread at all... but I trust that everyone around here is literate...

So... the other day, I start reading a David Baldacci novel... no, not a new one, but one of his older ones that I'd just missed up to this point... and I plod through hundreds of pages of disappointment. Not because Baldacci is a horrible novelist (he's pretty good sometimes) but because this particular story was probably obsolete 6 months after it was written, given the technology that he describes. Anyway, after I put it down, I pick up another "thriller" type novel, read through it, and come to the conclusion that I'm all "thrillered out." So, I goes to the bookstore and I decide on The Pirate Hunter, by Richard Zacks. It is a biography of the notorious Captain William Kidd, one of the most famous pirates in history. Now, people... let me tell you... this is an outstanding book and I so thoroughly enjoyed it that I'm in a TV & Movie review thread to recommend it to anybody who enjoys history or who likes pirate stories or who just plain old likes a good read.

Good book.
 
Been meaning to post some for awhile now...

* Smoking Aces
I was disappointed to be honest... I guess I expected more based on the previews and what not, but it was a yawner for me...

* Alpha Dog
Didn't like it at all... That the torrent I downloaded wasn't of the best quality didn't help, but still a pretty weak effort and a waste of time...

* Ant Bully
I really enjoyed it as did my daughter... Recommended even if you don't have kids...

* Children of Men
I'm not a big Sci Fi fan, but I really enjoyed this movie...

* Undisputed 2
I didn't care for the first one at all, buit after seeing some of the fight scenes on youtube, I decided to download U2... As far as B action flicks go, this is right up there with Bloodsport IMO... Some of the best movie fight scenes ever, and a nice way to spend 90 carefree minutes...

* Pan's Labyrinth
Absolutely great movie... make sure to get a good download because alot of the effects are visual in nature...

* Babel
I wasn't as impressed with this movie as the critics were... The intertwined multiple storyline thing has been done to death... For that genre, I'd highly recommend people see Amores Perros instead...

* Thr3e
I didn't read the Ted Dekker book but I had heard good things about it... The movie didn't disappoint me in any way... Great for those that enjoy thrillers/horror flicks...

* The Persuit of Happyness
Will Smith has done come up... Just an awesome movie and a great performance by the Prince and his son...


Thanks for the book tip Stepper, I'll look into that book... I have a recommendation of my own: The Winter of Frankie Machine by Don Winslow... I enjoyed his previous book the Power of the Dog so I gave this one a go... I couldn't put it down once I started... I understand Robert DeNiro is going to adapt it into a movie so that's something to look forward to... I'm really hoping Winslow turns this into a series for this charecter...
 
hawaiianboy said:
* Undisputed 2
I didn't care for the first one at all, buit after seeing some of the fight scenes on youtube, I decided to download U2... As far as B action flicks go, this is right up there with Bloodsport IMO... Some of the best movie fight scenes ever, and a nice way to spend 90 carefree minutes...
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BLASPHEMY!!

In the movie world there's BLOODSPORT and then theres everything else.



'Very good, buh brick no hit back'

Does it actually get better than that?

It should have won the Oscar...For greatest movie EVER.
 
Went to see Hot Fuzz at the weekend. It is a comedy from the same people behind Shaun of the Dead. It was a little slow in the middle, but more than made up for it in the end. An entertaining film.
 
I went to see "Ghost Rider" whilst in Puh-hoe-nix last week. I hate Nicholas Cage, but was surprisingly entertained, oddly enough. Maybe I just needed a distraction. Who knows?

I rented and watched "The Departed" last night. It was well-acted, (Thank God DiCaprio is looking like his former talented self and less like the boy toy from "Titanic")though the ending was a bit of a let-down for me.
 
The Sopranos


I got to see the screener of the first episiode that premeires a week from now... Looks like it's going to be a pretty good final season... I don't want to spoil anything but it appears a drunken monopoly game of all things is going to be what ends up driving this season... and AJ somehow manages to be more annoying than Janice...


The Black Donnelly's

I don't know if anyone else is watching this show, but I've really enjoyed it... Not quite Sopranoish as it was previewed as, but an interesting view of some Irish borthers that I'm guessing ultimately run the neighborhood Irish mob... If you haven't seen it, nbc.com has all 6 episodes online to view...


Premonition

It sucked... that's all I can say about it... it sucked bad...


Shooter

Seems like this movie has been done a few times in various forms, but it was still both interesting and enjoyable... Not a bad way to spend an hour or so...


300

Not nearly as great as it was hyped to be... Great battle scenes and visually, it was superb... but it just didn't seem to have the meaty plot or characters of say, Braveheart... It definitely took CGI to another level...


Breach

I really enjoyed this movie... Chris Cooper was simply great portraying the FBI traitor... I just wish they had cast someone opposite him other than that boring, cardboard lump of an actor Ryan Phillippe... For what ever reason, the guy annoys me...


Hannibal Rising

Hannibal the vigilante righter of wrong? Who would have thought he started out that way... I loved the movie.. The actor chosen to play the young Lechler was perfect...


Bridge to Terabithia

My wife is a fan of the book, a book I didn't know existed so I had no expectations... I actually liked it... It was like the Disney movies that played on Sunday nights when I was a kid....
 
You, Me, and Dupree - If anyone that you know and love recommends this movie to you, punch them in the face and choke them until they fall unconscious. If you take the recommendation and rent the movie, punch yourself in the face and choke yourself until you fall unconscious.

Flyboys - This coulda, woulda, shoulda been a great movie. Talk about great subject matter set in a great time period for storytelling. Sadly, it isn't all that interesting and it takes a long time. It wasn't horrible but (a) it doesn't really stand out in any way and (b) I just can't get over how good this movie SHOULD have been.
 
hawaiianboy said:
* Babel
I wasn't as impressed with this movie as the critics were... The intertwined multiple storyline thing has been done to death... For that genre, I'd highly recommend people see Amores Perros instead...
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I'm with you in being underwhelmed by this film. Everybody says, "Oh it does a great job of showing how people are basically good across many different cultures" and blah, blah, blah. My response is that if you need Hollywood to show you that, you're a fucking idiot. This movie bored the shit out of me.
 
I liked Breach.

Entertaining.

My kind of movie.
 
Babel made me want to jump off a building it was so boring and bad. garbage.

Jesus Camp is a really good rental about insane extremist christians in Kentucky brainwashing children. Seriously.

I also have to stress, anybody who hasnt watched Arrested Development needs to get on that. Its one of the best shows ive ever seen. Maybe THE best. People were too stupid to get into it, so it was canceled.

Prestige was pretty decent too. I liked the Illusionist with Norton better though. No cloning crap.

Casino Royal was kinda whack, and I thought Touristas was pretty dumb but worth watching if you liked saw and hostel and shit like that.
 
Casino Royale - I liked the choice of Daniel Craig to play Bond (and still do), but fans of 'Layercake', one of the best films of the past 5 years will be disapointed. I don't blame Craig for the failure of this moive, I blame the writing & direction. This franchise has really become a typical "action hero" type series. Gone are the days of the "cool bond" IMO.

The Young Lions - Considered a classic WW-II film with Marlon Brando (playing a German officer), Dean Martin (as usual, pretty much playing Dean Martin) and Montgomery Clift. Try as I might, I still have a hard time swallowing the acting style of old and I didn't buy Brando's German either. Still, the story line is interesting and the women are classic beauties.

The Royal Tennenbaum's - Funny, quirky story with a lot of serious theme's. I liked this quite a bit and I will probably catch more of the nuance when I watch it a second time. Gene Hackman is great (as usual) and I found the Gwenyth Paltrow character sexy - in a very aberrant, dysfunctional way!!! Go figure, because I don't think she's hot at all in "real life".
 
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