Great.

Posted : 2 weeks, 5 days ago on 6 July 2008 02:49 (A review of The Bucket List)

"The Bucket List" is an emotional and moving film featuring two amazing actors to fit the parts. Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman are great on screen together. They really shine. This film was no exception. Rob Reiner was a great addition as the director of this film. "The Bucket List" is one of the best films of 2007. It made me shed a few tears, and respect life a lot more. If you have not seen this film, then please, do yourself a favor, and do so.

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Rounders review

Posted : 2 weeks, 5 days ago on 6 July 2008 02:26 (A review of Rounders)

Two of the finest actors in Hollywood play off each other in this thriller.Matt Damon plays a card shark trying to stay out of trouble. Edward Norton plays his friend who keeps dragging him back into trouble. The final poker game is so perfectly paced that you can't look away.

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If you disregard a couple of things...

Posted : 2 weeks, 5 days ago on 6 July 2008 01:29 (A review of Into the Blue)

Ok. As a scuba diver this was... a bit painful to watch.
Where do we begin?
Total disregard for safety. They penetrate a wreck, which is dangerous enough to do when you got scuba gear, but when you are snorkeling and got only one breath in your lungs? Come on!
They all run out of air at one point or another, which brings results in a few funny things. Sure, you can get excited and forget to check your airsupply, but I thought these were experienced divers? And what's with no octopus (backup 2nd stage to share air with a buddy in an emergecny)? Any trained diver will have one, it's essential standard equipment. Then we have the rapid ascents, sure they are not That deep, but that's just dangerous. This movie disregards most of the basic safety rules of scuba diving just to get more action.
Again with the huge underwater explosions that seemingly have no effect what so ever on divers real close.
Also, no one seems to care at all about preserving the archeological finds. I thought these were suppose to be the good guys vs the evil ones?
I can let the way way long breaths slide since people can train themselves to hold their breath for several minutes.

Ok, let's review the actual movie without the technical issues.
Predictable plot. Shallow characters.
Not much else to say really. Only waste time on this if you are really obsessed with Jessica Alba.

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Stinks of London

Posted : 2 weeks, 5 days ago on 6 July 2008 10:41 (A review of Naked)

A relentlessly brutal early-nineties odyssey that is so real you can almost smell the stench of London's underbelly in each cell. David Thewlis is amazing as the anti-hero, Johnny. So much so I'll probably see him as this character no matter whom he plays from now on. Johnny's rants are worth the rental fee alone.

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Forgettable action romp

Posted : 2 weeks, 5 days ago on 6 July 2008 06:31 (A review of Assault on Precinct 13)

Rosen: "Your eyes are red. You been smokin' crack?"
Beck: "Your eyes are glazed. You been eatin' donuts?"

Assault on Precinct 13 is the contemporary remake of John Carpenter's 1976 action thriller of the same name. However, this is an uncommon instance of a remake that circumvents the customary cliché of being an identical duplicate of the original. This is austerely a remake by name and raw concept only; merely inhibiting an insignificant number of scenes perceptibly influenced by Carpenter's 1976 film. This remake is solid in terms of the attractive production values, the impressive visual style adapted by French director Jean-Francois Richet, the booming sound effects, the noisy score and the exciting action. Below the remarkably good-looking film, the script leaves much to be desired. Assault on Precinct 13 expands upon the original film in terms of plot points and character development; ultimately providing an extra added layer of disbelief at every turn. Instead of the adept, engaging character presented in the original we are shown a cluster of dumb characters implementing stupendous acts and delivering contrived dialogue.

The lone aspect of the film's plot that mirrors the original is the concept of a siege on a police precinct that is due to close its doors very soon. Aside from that, the plot is dissimilar. On a snowy New Years Eve, a skeleton crew are manning police precinct 13. Guilt-ridden former undercover narc Jake Roenick (Hawke) is undertaking a boring desk job at the precinct until the official closing. Due to a howling snow storm unfolding outside, a prison bus transporting a number of criminals is forced to divert to the station for the night. Among them is renowned recently arrested crime kingpin Marion Bishop (Fishburne). Isolated by the relentless blizzard, and cut off from communication with the outside world, the precinct is rapidly bordered by well-armed hostile forces. Roenick, burned-out and still filled with remorse, digs deep for his long-lost heroism and pride to hold the fort until dawn.

The creative team behind Assault on Precinct 13 had the right idea of altering aspects originally present in Carpenter's original. As a result, this is a re-imagining with potential. With such potential, the filmmakers could have created a superior movie. However the law of Hollywood remakes is that script flaws befall the rest of the production. In this case, almost every move made by the characters is stupid, illogical and unrealistic. In a claustrophobic situation such as this, no characters are ever granted half a brain. Despite the intense action and a few interesting moments, the script flaws can't be overlooked. Characters execute the most predictable acts in the book. Of course the cons aren't going to follow orders...that would be too unconventional for an action movie! Sticking to the original in that aspect would have been a benefit. There are also the glaring errors in logic. For example, people dismissing gunshots as fireworks...when fireworks can't even be set off in the blizzard?! There are several more instances, but I'd be spoiling a few mildly interesting scenes. It's also interesting to note that the original showed brutality to every character without a hint of sentimentality. In this remake, more characters survive and hence the film is less brutal.

French director Richet is unable to recapture the sense of claustrophobia and confinement. He's competent in filming solid action scenes but there isn't any sense of being cut off from the world as much as the feeling instilled by Carpenter. One of the film's redeeming features is the cast. Ethan Hawke is credible in the title role. Laurence Fishburne has always possessed the skill to be commanding and authoritative whenever appearing on the screen. He again flexes his great skill here. Gabriel Byrne is a sinister villain who's unfortunately underused and underdeveloped. Other characters include blatant racial stereotypes in the black characters, and a few despicably shown people for the cons.

Overall, Assault on Precinct 13 is a wasted opportunity. Instead of intelligence in its script, the filmmakers seemingly aimed to create solid and intense action scenes infused with incredible sound effects that will give your speakers a workout. Impressive considering the $20 million budget the filmmakers had to stretch. But this action is futile if there isn't anything behind it...in this case there are endless clichés, predictable events and contrived dialogue...not to mention flaws in geography and logic. It's violent, riveting, sometimes exciting and competently made, but ultimately very stupid!

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Last Holiday review

Posted : 2 weeks, 6 days ago on 5 July 2008 10:20 (A review of Last Holiday)

It's an old, familiar story - woman who lets everyone walk all over her gets told she's going to die, doesn't get a second opinion from another doctor, does all the things she regrets not doing before only to realize that her diagnostic was wrong and that she has a long, happy life ahead of her. That said, it was a very cute rendition of that story. The transformation that Queen Latifa's character went through was a joy to watch, and the message to live your life when you have the chance is one that you can never hear too much. The effect that her character had on all of the other characters, too, was amusing to see - especially those characters who really did not like her at first. Slightly unrealistic to think that everyone you meet would end up liking you, but it was a feel good kind of movie, so it fit. Definitely highly enjoyable, brainless fluff. Loved it.

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Interesting story, but poorly conducted

Posted : 2 weeks, 6 days ago on 5 July 2008 08:24 (A review of Atonement)

The novel is good, the story etc, but this movie is extremely slow and boring to watch. Too many unnecessary scenes, long takes, very boring and slow.

Anyway, some people enjoy it, but I couldn't watch it again.

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The Fifth Element review

Posted : 2 weeks, 6 days ago on 5 July 2008 07:35 (A review of The Fifth Element)

In the 23rd century, Korben Dallas (Bruce Willis), an ex-special forces agent who now practices as a down-and-out cabbie, finds himself caught in a struggle to defy a prophesied Evil from destroying the Earth when a mysterious woman (Milla Jovovich) falls into the back seat of his cab. Pursued by both the government and a powerful magnate enlisted by the forces of Evil (Gary Oldman), the woman is the key to Earth's salvation, known only as the Fifth Element.

A visual feast combining ancient mysticism, cyberpunk sensibilities, flamboyant entertainment personalities, and gun-toting alien mercenaries.

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Return to House on Haunted Hill review

Posted : 2 weeks, 6 days ago on 5 July 2008 07:34 (A review of Return to House on Haunted Hill)

It started when five people agreed to spend one night in a haunted house . . . What began as an evening of fun a harmless scares in exchange for one million dollars to anyone who stayed the night--and survived--soon turned into a night of terror. Years later, several more people risk their lives in search of a cursed statue of Baphomet, a relic worth millions that will come at the cost of their souls. Now, the terror begins when the doomed Return to House on Haunted Hill.

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Half Light review

Posted : 2 weeks, 6 days ago on 5 July 2008 07:31 (A review of Half Light)

After the tragic drowning of her 5 year old son, best selling thriller novelist Rachel Carlson moves to a remote cottage on the Scottish coast. But Rachel's demons have followed her as loneliness and paranoia leave her not knowing what's real and what's imagination in the fight to save her life.

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