Movie Reviews - wow ;)
Finally doing another round of movies reviews. Some are a mixture of things that are in theaters now, in limbo (not in theaters anymore or on DVD yet), and some on DVD. Kind of a usual post for me in other words :)
Either way ALL movies are behind cuts, spoilers may/may not be involved. So please read with your own risk. Considering how many movies usually end up in these posts for me some 'reviews' will be brief, others might not be so brief. Will just have to see how it goes :) And one final note, movies are in no particular order.
Running with Scissors: Okay so I'll admit from the get go that I haven't read the book and went into the movie completely blind minus what I already knew from the trailers. The movie as a whole was okay - definitely a dark humor kind of movie and something you don't want to go into expecting a laugh a minute feature. Throughout the whole movie I actually felt horrible for the main character of that movie. All the things the kid had to go through, constantly going from one bad family dynamic to another. I had a really hard time liking any of the characters (which has to say something since I personally like Evan Rachel Wood as an actress and even her character was a little much for me). If you like the dysfunctional family kind of movies you'll probably like this one. Although at work it's personally not something I recommend to anyone.
Unhitched: I'm not a huge Stuart Townsend fan (although I have a few movies tha I really like him in) so I mainly rented this movie cause I wanted to see Seth Green doing a Brit accent through a whole movie. It's a typical boy meets girl, girl is marrying another boy, boy pines after girl, etc etc etc kind of movie. Very Hollywood and way too chick flicky for me. Most of the characters in the movie (outside of Stuart and Amy Smart's) are unlikeable. Although I found it very interesting to see Liz from Shaun of the Dead in another movie *g* This is definitely a movie that you rent if you like someone in the film or are really into the happy chick flick kind of things.
School for Scoundrels: This was okay and kind of fell into the catagory of movie that "the trailer shows the funny bits." There were some choice scenes at the end of the film that were funny that weren't shown in the trailer but for the most parts the best parts were in the trailer. It's very typical Billy Bob being an ass, picking on the under dog, the under dog having to over come something. Considering this is an 'exclusive' from my work's competition I saw it earlier then my work actually got it, and was kind of happy I did cause when it came out I was able to tell the people that trust my opinion not to bother paying for it :) The best line of the whole movie is literally the "How many of you own self help books? Well throw them out because yourselves suck." If you want to hear the delivery - go to apple.com and watch the trailer :)
The Gathering: Another movie that my work will never get. I'm so bad with renting movies that I can't see at my work from the competition ;) This one is basically a typical straight to DVD horror film with Christina Ricci as far as the effects and scares go. The thing that actually surprised me was the storyline. It was MUCH better then I thought it would be. The movie deals with the people that went to watch Christ getting crucified on the cross, nicknamed 'the gathering.' As much as some of the acting and effects are really cheap and kind of cheesy I definitely recommend this movie to people that are interested in a different kind of story. I didn't read the back of the DVD case when I rented the movie, so I wasn't expecting to watch a movie with a really religious feel to it but wasn't turned off from it at all. So yeah :) And for people that like Ioan Gruffudd he's in the movie too ;)
Hellboy: Sword of Storms: I have to admit that I didn't watch ALL of this movie. I rented it more for my dad - even though the more I see the Hellboy movie the more I love it. But what I saw of the movie was good. Not as action packed as the feature length film but good none the less. I love the fact that for an animated movie they got the main stars to voice their characters. Since for me I don't know anything about the comic books for Hellboy and just have those voices and images in my head for all the characters. My dad however, who is very into the movies and characters as well as some of the comics loved the movie. So I would recommend it to fans based on that :)
The Departed: Okay...um, why on God's green Earth did this movie win best picture? I know that I'm going to be in the minority in a large way since everyone at my work completely loved the movie and I know a lot of my friends did as well. But, um, wow. I didn't like ANYONE in that movie and personally the whole thing is like a 2 hour "how many ways can all the characters fuck each other over." That was the whole point of the movie to me and if I really want to waist my time watching that I'd rather find a movie that has more of a plot then that movie. When the movie won at the Oscar's and the announcer said it's the only film of the director's that has a plot I started making cracks about fucking people over in one big circle does not create a story. Or at least an enjoyable one. Like I said I know a lot of people that enjoy the movie so if you want to see it go for it. Personally I wouldn't recommend it cause I think it's a waist of time.
The Quiet: This was a movie I wanted to see in theaters, the previews looked interesting but considering the movie is very heavily about incest between a father and daughter I knew if my theaters actually picked it up it wouldn't be for long. I was right and didn't get a chance to see it. However in some ways I'm kind of happy I didn't. The movie was good, and interesting in a very morbid way (re: incest), very art house type of feel, but not something I was jumping up and down about. I know that one of my co-workers really liked it - and it surprised me cause she's very squeemish about things like that. But *shrugs* wasn't really something that I'd watch again I don't think.
The Ron Clark Story: After doing that lust meme I saw this on the shelf and decided to get a bit of a Matthew Perry fix :) The movie actually was really really good. I think for it being the kind of movie it is (a biography of someone that was one of those inspirational teachers to troubled children) it's up there as one of the best. I wasn't too sure if I'd end up liking it or not and ended up staying up way too late just to finish watching it so I wouldn't have to stop it and finish the next morning. I think I might pick it up for my DVD library one of these days as well. The story is kind of predictable in the "if they made a movie about the guy he had to succeed" way but Matthew run's with the role and is just so awesome *hearts* This is one of the best movies I've seen (rented wise) in the last few months. So yeah, I highly recommend it :)
Man of the Year: Is okay. Not great, not horrible, typical Robin Williams, and therefore okay. I didn't expect the movie to have as much political intrigue as it did considering how it was advertized. And while I think it added a certain element to the movie to keep it from being a movie version of a Robin Williams stand up (minus the cussing) it was just unexpected. The movie had a lot of funny comments to say about politics and how government officials are elected. It's good if you want a comedy, but *shrugs* I think I'm getting spoiled seeing Robin Williams in other kinds of roles (The Final Cut for example) that seeing him doing his 'stock' comedy is kind of...old and easy.
Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny: So I bet not many people expected to see this on my list of movie reviews ;) I honestly didn't either but my dad said he wouldn't mind seeing it so I rented it to watch with him :) I rent a lot for my mom so every now and then I have to be able to rent something for my dad too ;) The movie is cheesy, very corny, and funny all at the same time. I was actually impressed with the fact that I was enjoying watching it. Well that and I was constantly making comments that I actually like Jack Black's singing voice (hell I've been thinking of buying the soundtrack off iTunes for $8). It does have a "musical" feel to the movie which I think a lot of people might get put off by, well that and of course the subject matter, but if you want a movie that is surprisingly funny and like the kind of odd/sexual/drunkin/high/rock kind of humor I would recommend giving it a shot. I mean it's not going to be for everyone (I think this weekend I didn't check out one copy to anyone) but I enjoyed it. Might rent it again when I can get it for free at my work again :) And I stick by the fact that Jack Black can sing no matter what people want to say! :D
The Messengers: Now when I went to see this in theaters I knew it would either be rather good, or really shitty. That's typically the way I feel about ghost movies when I leave them. I was very happy to walk out of this one with the "really good" comment about the movie. When I first saw trailers for it I was in giddy awe with the graphic effect of the sheets getting thrown up to make the bed and seeing the flashing glimpse of ghost legs. It just looked so good! Now for the actual movie, I mean it has "cliche" things in the movie typical of the horror genre. The main character however is a bit...unusual. The girl is often doing things you're going "you moron!" to but she's not running around the screen screaming her head off. She goes and looks at the cause of noises but doesn't run away screaming like you get in most movies that have a teenage girl as the main character. I was surprised to see John Corbett in the movie (I knew Dylan McDermott was in it but not Corbett), even more surprised considering his part in the movie cause um...wow. I don't think I've EVER see him in that kind of role (and I'm not saying so I don't spoil TOO much). Either way the movie had a good plot. The only person I would have liked to do without was the mother (Penelope Ann Miller). She was just a complete waste of space and the way she's portrayed in the movie the whole time I thought she was a step-mom to the main girl and she's not (hell my friends thought that too!). Definitely something I'll recommend when it comes out on DVD.
The Prestige: Oh how I love thee. This movie is one of the best I've rented the last few months as well. I get in arguments at work all the time but I think this completely out shines The Illusionist and tell customers that all the time. The movie is wickedly dark and is completely about the actual knowledge and art behind being a magician. Just wow. I mean I knew from the get go that it would be a movie you would have to figure out. I had that feeling from the previews, and I got everything except for one detail - that I kicked myself for later. But just...wow. The story is amazing, the sets are beautiful, the music is gorgeous. Hugh Jackman is nice on the eyes which is a wonderful bonus (sorry not much of a Christian Bale fangirl). I was pleasantly surprised to see Andy Serkis in the movie (didn't know he was in it). And can I just say wow again? :) This is an excellent movie, I really wish I had seen it in theaters instead of pissing off when it was there. This is high on my recommendations list for good reasons. If you haven't seen it - or saw the piss poor 'similiar' movie The Illusionist and didn't like it - see The Prestige, you won't be sorry.
Unknown: Yet another movie that my work isn't carrying. And oh how much money they are losing out on by not doing so! This movie is EXCELLENT. For a comparison I think it's very much along the lines of movies like Suicide Kings and The Usual Suspects. It just reminds me of those and not necessarily because of the plot. The movie is about a group of men that wake up in a werehouse and don't know who they are or why they're there. Some of them are tied up and others aren't, one man has been shot but is still alive. The movie is a mystery that boils down to who's a good guy and who's a bad guy. There is a very logical reason why everyone can't remember anything - which I liked. And for some of the character (that end up being your main characters) the movie used a really interesting technique of them looking into a mirror and the memories they started remembering showing in their reflection. I loved that trick! And Peter Stormare was in it :D Pleasant surprise there as well ;) To kind of show how much I like this movie - I went and bought it brand new from Circuit City for $15 after seeing it :) So yeah, I HIGHLY recommend watching this movie.
Catch and Release: Most people will automatically call this movie a chick flick. In some regards I would agree cause to most guys this film won't have anything appealing to them. But I think this is more of a life movie then anything. I really enjoyed it, made me respect Jennifer Garner more in terms of her acting ability. Since seeing the movie I've read some reviews of the movie in some of my magazines and such. I was kind of annoyed that some people were faulting the movie on how a girl could not possible not know all the stuff that her character is unaware her fiance is doing in his life. Which I really wanted to hit the reviewers for. Her character's fiance had money - people with money and ditermination can hide ANYTHING. So yeah, I don't agree with that being something to fault the movie. I mean some of it is kind of a 'huh' but as her character even says in the movie: "He tried telling me but I wouldn't listen. I asked if it would upset me, when he said yes, I told him not to tell me."
Okay that aside - Timothy Olyphant *hearts* Now I remember why you can be so cute! Although Timothy...wow did he lose weight for this movie! I mean I know he was kind of skinny on Deadwood but this is like insane skinny for him. I adore how he leaves Jennifer's character a note after they sleep together for the first time (he writes in sharpie on the white pillow case). Kevin Smith is awesome, definitely someone I'd want as a buddy in the movie. Even if the movie made him eat his way through it. He looks big, he is big, and I don't expect him not to be. I mean he's eating in like all his scenes for the first half of the movie. But in a lot of ways it's a realistic thing. This movie - for all the faults the critics can find in it - shows how REAL people deal with a very unexpected death. You have the people that just move on with things that might have them feel for a moment (Timothy) and you have people that wallow in the pain by replacing it with something else (Kevin) and people that don't know how to deal (Jennifer). It's just a really good HONEST movie. Highly recommended from me :)
And cause I need to get to bed I think that's it for now :)
Still to come: Pan's Labyrinth, and The Hitcher (2007) - which will be compared a bit to the first one with Loyal's comments why the first one could be seen as scarier but why the new one can as well ;)
Either way ALL movies are behind cuts, spoilers may/may not be involved. So please read with your own risk. Considering how many movies usually end up in these posts for me some 'reviews' will be brief, others might not be so brief. Will just have to see how it goes :) And one final note, movies are in no particular order.
Running with Scissors: Okay so I'll admit from the get go that I haven't read the book and went into the movie completely blind minus what I already knew from the trailers. The movie as a whole was okay - definitely a dark humor kind of movie and something you don't want to go into expecting a laugh a minute feature. Throughout the whole movie I actually felt horrible for the main character of that movie. All the things the kid had to go through, constantly going from one bad family dynamic to another. I had a really hard time liking any of the characters (which has to say something since I personally like Evan Rachel Wood as an actress and even her character was a little much for me). If you like the dysfunctional family kind of movies you'll probably like this one. Although at work it's personally not something I recommend to anyone.
Unhitched: I'm not a huge Stuart Townsend fan (although I have a few movies tha I really like him in) so I mainly rented this movie cause I wanted to see Seth Green doing a Brit accent through a whole movie. It's a typical boy meets girl, girl is marrying another boy, boy pines after girl, etc etc etc kind of movie. Very Hollywood and way too chick flicky for me. Most of the characters in the movie (outside of Stuart and Amy Smart's) are unlikeable. Although I found it very interesting to see Liz from Shaun of the Dead in another movie *g* This is definitely a movie that you rent if you like someone in the film or are really into the happy chick flick kind of things.
School for Scoundrels: This was okay and kind of fell into the catagory of movie that "the trailer shows the funny bits." There were some choice scenes at the end of the film that were funny that weren't shown in the trailer but for the most parts the best parts were in the trailer. It's very typical Billy Bob being an ass, picking on the under dog, the under dog having to over come something. Considering this is an 'exclusive' from my work's competition I saw it earlier then my work actually got it, and was kind of happy I did cause when it came out I was able to tell the people that trust my opinion not to bother paying for it :) The best line of the whole movie is literally the "How many of you own self help books? Well throw them out because yourselves suck." If you want to hear the delivery - go to apple.com and watch the trailer :)
The Gathering: Another movie that my work will never get. I'm so bad with renting movies that I can't see at my work from the competition ;) This one is basically a typical straight to DVD horror film with Christina Ricci as far as the effects and scares go. The thing that actually surprised me was the storyline. It was MUCH better then I thought it would be. The movie deals with the people that went to watch Christ getting crucified on the cross, nicknamed 'the gathering.' As much as some of the acting and effects are really cheap and kind of cheesy I definitely recommend this movie to people that are interested in a different kind of story. I didn't read the back of the DVD case when I rented the movie, so I wasn't expecting to watch a movie with a really religious feel to it but wasn't turned off from it at all. So yeah :) And for people that like Ioan Gruffudd he's in the movie too ;)
Hellboy: Sword of Storms: I have to admit that I didn't watch ALL of this movie. I rented it more for my dad - even though the more I see the Hellboy movie the more I love it. But what I saw of the movie was good. Not as action packed as the feature length film but good none the less. I love the fact that for an animated movie they got the main stars to voice their characters. Since for me I don't know anything about the comic books for Hellboy and just have those voices and images in my head for all the characters. My dad however, who is very into the movies and characters as well as some of the comics loved the movie. So I would recommend it to fans based on that :)
The Departed: Okay...um, why on God's green Earth did this movie win best picture? I know that I'm going to be in the minority in a large way since everyone at my work completely loved the movie and I know a lot of my friends did as well. But, um, wow. I didn't like ANYONE in that movie and personally the whole thing is like a 2 hour "how many ways can all the characters fuck each other over." That was the whole point of the movie to me and if I really want to waist my time watching that I'd rather find a movie that has more of a plot then that movie. When the movie won at the Oscar's and the announcer said it's the only film of the director's that has a plot I started making cracks about fucking people over in one big circle does not create a story. Or at least an enjoyable one. Like I said I know a lot of people that enjoy the movie so if you want to see it go for it. Personally I wouldn't recommend it cause I think it's a waist of time.
The Quiet: This was a movie I wanted to see in theaters, the previews looked interesting but considering the movie is very heavily about incest between a father and daughter I knew if my theaters actually picked it up it wouldn't be for long. I was right and didn't get a chance to see it. However in some ways I'm kind of happy I didn't. The movie was good, and interesting in a very morbid way (re: incest), very art house type of feel, but not something I was jumping up and down about. I know that one of my co-workers really liked it - and it surprised me cause she's very squeemish about things like that. But *shrugs* wasn't really something that I'd watch again I don't think.
The Ron Clark Story: After doing that lust meme I saw this on the shelf and decided to get a bit of a Matthew Perry fix :) The movie actually was really really good. I think for it being the kind of movie it is (a biography of someone that was one of those inspirational teachers to troubled children) it's up there as one of the best. I wasn't too sure if I'd end up liking it or not and ended up staying up way too late just to finish watching it so I wouldn't have to stop it and finish the next morning. I think I might pick it up for my DVD library one of these days as well. The story is kind of predictable in the "if they made a movie about the guy he had to succeed" way but Matthew run's with the role and is just so awesome *hearts* This is one of the best movies I've seen (rented wise) in the last few months. So yeah, I highly recommend it :)
Man of the Year: Is okay. Not great, not horrible, typical Robin Williams, and therefore okay. I didn't expect the movie to have as much political intrigue as it did considering how it was advertized. And while I think it added a certain element to the movie to keep it from being a movie version of a Robin Williams stand up (minus the cussing) it was just unexpected. The movie had a lot of funny comments to say about politics and how government officials are elected. It's good if you want a comedy, but *shrugs* I think I'm getting spoiled seeing Robin Williams in other kinds of roles (The Final Cut for example) that seeing him doing his 'stock' comedy is kind of...old and easy.
Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny: So I bet not many people expected to see this on my list of movie reviews ;) I honestly didn't either but my dad said he wouldn't mind seeing it so I rented it to watch with him :) I rent a lot for my mom so every now and then I have to be able to rent something for my dad too ;) The movie is cheesy, very corny, and funny all at the same time. I was actually impressed with the fact that I was enjoying watching it. Well that and I was constantly making comments that I actually like Jack Black's singing voice (hell I've been thinking of buying the soundtrack off iTunes for $8). It does have a "musical" feel to the movie which I think a lot of people might get put off by, well that and of course the subject matter, but if you want a movie that is surprisingly funny and like the kind of odd/sexual/drunkin/high/rock kind of humor I would recommend giving it a shot. I mean it's not going to be for everyone (I think this weekend I didn't check out one copy to anyone) but I enjoyed it. Might rent it again when I can get it for free at my work again :) And I stick by the fact that Jack Black can sing no matter what people want to say! :D
The Messengers: Now when I went to see this in theaters I knew it would either be rather good, or really shitty. That's typically the way I feel about ghost movies when I leave them. I was very happy to walk out of this one with the "really good" comment about the movie. When I first saw trailers for it I was in giddy awe with the graphic effect of the sheets getting thrown up to make the bed and seeing the flashing glimpse of ghost legs. It just looked so good! Now for the actual movie, I mean it has "cliche" things in the movie typical of the horror genre. The main character however is a bit...unusual. The girl is often doing things you're going "you moron!" to but she's not running around the screen screaming her head off. She goes and looks at the cause of noises but doesn't run away screaming like you get in most movies that have a teenage girl as the main character. I was surprised to see John Corbett in the movie (I knew Dylan McDermott was in it but not Corbett), even more surprised considering his part in the movie cause um...wow. I don't think I've EVER see him in that kind of role (and I'm not saying so I don't spoil TOO much). Either way the movie had a good plot. The only person I would have liked to do without was the mother (Penelope Ann Miller). She was just a complete waste of space and the way she's portrayed in the movie the whole time I thought she was a step-mom to the main girl and she's not (hell my friends thought that too!). Definitely something I'll recommend when it comes out on DVD.
The Prestige: Oh how I love thee. This movie is one of the best I've rented the last few months as well. I get in arguments at work all the time but I think this completely out shines The Illusionist and tell customers that all the time. The movie is wickedly dark and is completely about the actual knowledge and art behind being a magician. Just wow. I mean I knew from the get go that it would be a movie you would have to figure out. I had that feeling from the previews, and I got everything except for one detail - that I kicked myself for later. But just...wow. The story is amazing, the sets are beautiful, the music is gorgeous. Hugh Jackman is nice on the eyes which is a wonderful bonus (sorry not much of a Christian Bale fangirl). I was pleasantly surprised to see Andy Serkis in the movie (didn't know he was in it). And can I just say wow again? :) This is an excellent movie, I really wish I had seen it in theaters instead of pissing off when it was there. This is high on my recommendations list for good reasons. If you haven't seen it - or saw the piss poor 'similiar' movie The Illusionist and didn't like it - see The Prestige, you won't be sorry.
Unknown: Yet another movie that my work isn't carrying. And oh how much money they are losing out on by not doing so! This movie is EXCELLENT. For a comparison I think it's very much along the lines of movies like Suicide Kings and The Usual Suspects. It just reminds me of those and not necessarily because of the plot. The movie is about a group of men that wake up in a werehouse and don't know who they are or why they're there. Some of them are tied up and others aren't, one man has been shot but is still alive. The movie is a mystery that boils down to who's a good guy and who's a bad guy. There is a very logical reason why everyone can't remember anything - which I liked. And for some of the character (that end up being your main characters) the movie used a really interesting technique of them looking into a mirror and the memories they started remembering showing in their reflection. I loved that trick! And Peter Stormare was in it :D Pleasant surprise there as well ;) To kind of show how much I like this movie - I went and bought it brand new from Circuit City for $15 after seeing it :) So yeah, I HIGHLY recommend watching this movie.
Catch and Release: Most people will automatically call this movie a chick flick. In some regards I would agree cause to most guys this film won't have anything appealing to them. But I think this is more of a life movie then anything. I really enjoyed it, made me respect Jennifer Garner more in terms of her acting ability. Since seeing the movie I've read some reviews of the movie in some of my magazines and such. I was kind of annoyed that some people were faulting the movie on how a girl could not possible not know all the stuff that her character is unaware her fiance is doing in his life. Which I really wanted to hit the reviewers for. Her character's fiance had money - people with money and ditermination can hide ANYTHING. So yeah, I don't agree with that being something to fault the movie. I mean some of it is kind of a 'huh' but as her character even says in the movie: "He tried telling me but I wouldn't listen. I asked if it would upset me, when he said yes, I told him not to tell me."
Okay that aside - Timothy Olyphant *hearts* Now I remember why you can be so cute! Although Timothy...wow did he lose weight for this movie! I mean I know he was kind of skinny on Deadwood but this is like insane skinny for him. I adore how he leaves Jennifer's character a note after they sleep together for the first time (he writes in sharpie on the white pillow case). Kevin Smith is awesome, definitely someone I'd want as a buddy in the movie. Even if the movie made him eat his way through it. He looks big, he is big, and I don't expect him not to be. I mean he's eating in like all his scenes for the first half of the movie. But in a lot of ways it's a realistic thing. This movie - for all the faults the critics can find in it - shows how REAL people deal with a very unexpected death. You have the people that just move on with things that might have them feel for a moment (Timothy) and you have people that wallow in the pain by replacing it with something else (Kevin) and people that don't know how to deal (Jennifer). It's just a really good HONEST movie. Highly recommended from me :)
And cause I need to get to bed I think that's it for now :)
Still to come: Pan's Labyrinth, and The Hitcher (2007) - which will be compared a bit to the first one with Loyal's comments why the first one could be seen as scarier but why the new one can as well ;)