One Word (+) Movie Reviews (Aug 2007)
Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon - conceptually interesting; kinda funny
Shooter - probable; I love conspiracies.
The Gravedancers (one of the 8 films to Die For) - good enough; cg is cheesy
Perfume: The Story of a Murder - odiferous
Sublime - uh, I can't decide.
1408 - good mind fuck
I Think I Love My Wife - uninteresting
Disturbia - predictably thrilling
Good Bye, Lenin! - comedy lite
Lonely Hearts - watchable; gritty crime drama w/o the grit
One Last Thing - endearing
The Lookout - well acted
One Last Thing - entertaining
Dr. Strange - best of the recent Marvel movies
Ever Since the World Ended - thought provoking
Fracture - fractured; it seems to have all the necessary parts, but something was missing.
House of 9 - wannabe; It wants to be 10 Little Indians or Saw. It's like a class project movie with a good end.
Memories of Murder - investigative
The Lives of Others - interesting
The Hamiltons (one of the 8 films to Die For) - amatuerish
Free and Easy - funny
Wicked Little Things (one of the 8 films to Die For) - ordinary
Unrest (one of the 8 films to Die For) - dull and unenticing
Anatomy - let down
Just a Suggestion:
I have seen 6 out of the original 8 Films to Die For and I have to say that no one should be dying for these things on a whole. Takashi Shimizu's Reincarnation is the best of the series by far. It could easily have been released on its own. It's a solid ghost movie. The next best is Gravedancers. The Hamilton's is somewhat original but the cinematography and acting are amatuerish. The rest suck the air out of the room. The only 2 I have not seen are: Dark Ride (a bunch of kids die in a ride at a fair or amusement park) and The Abandoned (a woman finds more than she's bargaining for when she searches her family history). I'd like to see The Abandoned because I've heard less about it than any of the other films and it seems interesting but familiar.
Monthly Must See:
I really wasn't sure which movie, if any, I would claim as the monthly must see. To be honest as I'm writing this I'm still not sure. I think I'll reccommend Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon. BtM is a 'how to' for the would be psycho serial killer a la Norman B., Michael M., and Jason. Leslie allows a film crew follow and chronicle his murderous preparations. This movie has it's tongue firmly in cheek and it's worth a peek.
Random Review:
I didn't expect to like 1408. I figured it was just the latest in pitiful horror/thrillers starring named actors. John Cusack gives one of his best performances ever as Michael Enslin, a non-believer ghost hotel/motel/inn room reviewer/author. After receiving a postcard simply telling him not to enter room 1408, he insists upon staying in it. The manager tries to convince him not to stay, but the doubting Thomas would not be moved. The hotel staff refuses to go in it. The room does not give him time to relax before it begins it's mind f**k. 1408 bends Michael Enslin over without asking please or giving him a good cuddle. I loved it!
Shooter - probable; I love conspiracies.
The Gravedancers (one of the 8 films to Die For) - good enough; cg is cheesy
Perfume: The Story of a Murder - odiferous
Sublime - uh, I can't decide.
1408 - good mind fuck
I Think I Love My Wife - uninteresting
Disturbia - predictably thrilling
Good Bye, Lenin! - comedy lite
Lonely Hearts - watchable; gritty crime drama w/o the grit
One Last Thing - endearing
The Lookout - well acted
One Last Thing - entertaining
Dr. Strange - best of the recent Marvel movies
Ever Since the World Ended - thought provoking
Fracture - fractured; it seems to have all the necessary parts, but something was missing.
House of 9 - wannabe; It wants to be 10 Little Indians or Saw. It's like a class project movie with a good end.
Memories of Murder - investigative
The Lives of Others - interesting
The Hamiltons (one of the 8 films to Die For) - amatuerish
Free and Easy - funny
Wicked Little Things (one of the 8 films to Die For) - ordinary
Unrest (one of the 8 films to Die For) - dull and unenticing
Anatomy - let down
Just a Suggestion:
I have seen 6 out of the original 8 Films to Die For and I have to say that no one should be dying for these things on a whole. Takashi Shimizu's Reincarnation is the best of the series by far. It could easily have been released on its own. It's a solid ghost movie. The next best is Gravedancers. The Hamilton's is somewhat original but the cinematography and acting are amatuerish. The rest suck the air out of the room. The only 2 I have not seen are: Dark Ride (a bunch of kids die in a ride at a fair or amusement park) and The Abandoned (a woman finds more than she's bargaining for when she searches her family history). I'd like to see The Abandoned because I've heard less about it than any of the other films and it seems interesting but familiar.
Monthly Must See:
I really wasn't sure which movie, if any, I would claim as the monthly must see. To be honest as I'm writing this I'm still not sure. I think I'll reccommend Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon. BtM is a 'how to' for the would be psycho serial killer a la Norman B., Michael M., and Jason. Leslie allows a film crew follow and chronicle his murderous preparations. This movie has it's tongue firmly in cheek and it's worth a peek.
Random Review:
I didn't expect to like 1408. I figured it was just the latest in pitiful horror/thrillers starring named actors. John Cusack gives one of his best performances ever as Michael Enslin, a non-believer ghost hotel/motel/inn room reviewer/author. After receiving a postcard simply telling him not to enter room 1408, he insists upon staying in it. The manager tries to convince him not to stay, but the doubting Thomas would not be moved. The hotel staff refuses to go in it. The room does not give him time to relax before it begins it's mind f**k. 1408 bends Michael Enslin over without asking please or giving him a good cuddle. I loved it!