safinahmed Reviews

Teeth (I) (2007)

Amazingly Bad

[2/10 · 9 May 2008]

The premise of the movie made me think that this film could be interesting, but boy was I wrong. It starts out really slow paced, story/drama about a girl who meets a boy, and has a crazy brother and the mother is sick. Well until now you have nothing special. You get stuck in this part of the story for almost 30 minutes, and then when you think things will start to pick up everything changes from a drama to a really bad comedy/horror movie. They had a nice premise but the plot goes nowhere, and the acting is so bad that I almost ripped my hair out. Jess Weixler is bad, and Hale Appleman is even worse. In the first scene that they meet/talk, it was the worse piece of acting/direct that I have ever seen. And for the rest of the movie Hale only has one expression on his face, at least Jess has two different expressions. Movie gets 2, acting gets 0.5

Basically don't see this movie, it's not Horror and definitely not Comedy. Skip it.

Carver (2008 Video)

Real Bad

[3/10 · 5 April 2008]

This type of movies is getting old, I mean real old. Every movie is the same, they don't even add new things, it's just the same recipe over and over.

This one is no exception, the movie is bad, the plot is the same, the actors are bad, the image is bad. The only thing positive in this movie is that is violent, everything else is bad.

And is it my imagination or the kids in this movie are getting dumber (if that was possible)?

Have you seen Texas Chainsaw Massacre? House of 1000 Corpses? The Devil's Rejects? The Hills Have Eyes? etc etc? Then don't watch this one, it's the same.

If you haven't seen any of the above, pick one of them so you don't have to watch this one.

The Nines (2007)

Stick to Comedy

[3/10 · 27 March 2008]

When I went to see this movie, I thought it would be something in the line of The Number 23 (maybe because of the name), but it's even worse then that movie.

The story is really bad, makes no sense, and Ryan Reynolds should stick to basic comedy roles because he is no great actor, he can perform, but nothing too serious.

About the story, I'm all pro Science Fiction and Fantasy, but this is just way out there, the idea behind the movie it's not bad, it's quite intelligent actually, but the way the story is presented is bad and removes credibility to the whole idea.

Once again Ryan Reynolds, please stick to Comedy

Juno (2007)

What's all the fuss about?

[4/10 · 27 March 2008]

I was really excited to watch this movie after all the nominations, reviews, and ratings I saw around the Internet. Maybe it was my fault because I built it up a lot and then I got disappointed, but this is a just an average movie. I can't even say it is good comedy, I was so in shock that I think I laughed two times the whole movie. The story is predictable, and all the characters (except maybe Bleeker, and one or two more) are annoying (especially Juno) and really hard to believe in their existence. The movie would only get any better if someone had a shotgun and killed Juno after the first 10 minutes. I think you should see this movie, just to agree with me.

Awake (2007)

Good Script, Bad Casting

[6/10 · 20 March 2008]

The best thing about this movie is the script, it's a different and captivating story about a man who goes to surgery but it's still awake when it begins. I didn't care much about about the ending, because I think they rolled it out a bit too fast and don't make it believable enough. Another good thing about the movie are the couple of twists they throw at you, and some of them your like "I wasn't expecting that!".

The bad thing about the movie was the casting, I think Hayden Christensen is a bad actor, and this movie gives me more prove of that, he doesn't quite show you the feelings and emotions in his words, and body language (face expressions, and things like that). Also the other characters suffer from the same problem, the only one that did a decent job was Terrence Howard (but still nothing special). Even if I thought Hayden was a good actor, he doesn't look like a successful business man, when the movie started I thought we was playing a high-school teenager or something.

Anyway you can live pass that, and you should try to see this movie (don't put it on top of your list though)

I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With (2006)

Where's Larry?

[5/10 · 22 February 2008]

This movie is like an 80 minutes long episode of "Curb Your Enthusiasm", except there is no Larry David, and Jeff Garlin is now the main character. We can say that Jeff would be Larry, and David Pasquesi would be Jeff. This movie is so much like that show, that many of the actors have been on the show, and in some scenes even the soundtrack sounds exactly the same. I don't mean that this is all bad, but Jeff, some originality please.

The movie it self has quite funny parts, but most of the time you are just looking at the screen with no emotions, you are not bored, but you are amused, you don't want to laugh, and you don't want to cry, you are just watching and waiting for something to make you either give up on it, or really want to keep watching it. In fact, that is what I feel when I watch the TV Show also, one more common thing between them.

I was also expecting something more from this movie since most of the actors are well known (in the comedy area). It was a bit of a disappointment in that chapter.

Eitherway, if you like "Curb Your Enthusiasm" you should definitely watch this movie, if you hate it don't watch it. If you are like me and liked some and hated some, watch it because it's only 80 minutes long.

Blind Dating (2006)

Better then expected

[6/10 · 20 February 2008]

I would say that this movie came as a surprise, I was waiting on that comedy/romance/drama movies that you laugh hard in the beginning that it just starts get dramatic and you lose complete interest in the movie.

This movie has a steady flow of funniness, although it won't make you laugh your pants off, it can still make you laugh a few times. Also there are some dramatic parts that are nice and you can have an overall nice time watching this movie.

I liked some parts of the acting, but the main character must have forgotten sometimes that he was supposed to be blind, because he acts like a regular guy, doing regular stuff. Also the I think the part near the ending is a bit over-dramatic and over-acted.

The script takes the cliché story and add a bit of originality to it, and the result is a nice solid 6

The Comebacks (2007)

Not all bad

[4/10 · 19 February 2008]

This movie is a nonsense/spoof comedy, in the lines of The Airplane or Naked Gun, but it doesn't even come close to this two, because it lacks originality and a little more intelligent jokes, rather then just throwing you with the same old easy jokes.

You can figure out some references to other movies, from the top of my head I identified Dodgeball and Rocky, so you can have some fun with that, trying to find out what movies are spoofed.

The movie also offers you an occasional laugh, but nothing that can cause you injuries, thus nothing really funny.

I liked the character IPod in some ways (even though some of the jokes with him are standard comedy 101).

I think this movie (and like most of nonsense/spoof comedy) depends on the mood you are in, so if you think you will laugh to any joke watch this movie. If you are in a serious mood forget about this (re)watch The Airplane instead, it will definitely make you laugh

88 Minutes (2007)

What's happening Al?

[4/10 · 18 February 2008]

This movie is really bad, so bad that the lead should have been Matt Damon and not Al Pacino. I don't even know how he accepted this job, maybe he producer is a friend or something.

This is a mild thriller, the kind that we have seen over and over again, with nothing really new to add or to make you think about. The story is bellow average, the acting it's not that great, then after that what more could you expect? Everything just falls apart, and the ending? Oh my God the repetitive, expected and boring ending. There isn't a single point of the movie where you think, well this is interesting.

Save 88 minutes of your life, and skip this one (specially if you are an Al Pacino fan like me)

Sleuth (2007)

Really Bad

[3/10 · 16 February 2008]

This is a long movie (the running time is not to big, but if you start watching the movie you will feel that it's a really long movie) The whole premise of the movie it's just stupid. Who can believe that a relationship of this could ever exist? And even if it did, that both parts will behave the way they do in the movie.

Dividing the movie in three parts (those who have seen it will know which parts I am talking about), I would say the first part has terrible acting, and you almost sleep watching so much stupidity together.

The second part brings us a better Jude Law and the most exciting part of the movie where I made the big mistake of thinking that from that point on the movie would get any better.

Then you get to the third part and everything collapses again, with more terrible acting and stupid scripting.

In a sentence I would say bad script, terrible acting (except for Jude Law in the second part of the movie) and a very predictable story (you can always guess what will happen next).

Don't watch this movie, even if it's on TV and you have only one channel.

Elite Squad (2007)

Great Movie

[10/10 · 16 February 2008]

This is one hell of a movie. I don't like to give 10 ratings to movies, because it's hard to find a movie that is excellent, but this one is.

While you watch the movie it's unavoidable to compare it to City of God (Cidade de Deus), and until the middle of the movie I was thinking to my self that City Of God was a better movie then this one, but when this movie ends and I summed everything I saw, it's was harder to choose one, but I believe this one is better, for several reasons.

First of all this movie has a great story, and focuses on real life issues, I'm not from Brazil, but I know some of this stuff is true. This story has emotion, feelings, twists, action, romance and even comedy for those who understand Portuguese I would say "Bota ai na conta do Papa" is a real funny statement. One of the things I loved about this movie was the acting, where Wagner Moura does one hell of a job, as a Captain trying to find a substitute so he can leave his job and be with his family. I wouldn't say I'm surprised because Brazilians are great actors, but still, I loved it.

In conclusion, if you like action, and like City of God, then you should definitely watch this movie.

Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (2007)

What the Hell ?

[6/10 · 26 January 2008]

I first heard about this movie on BBC with a film critic saying it was already the strongest candidate for an Oscar, and he would go all the way as saying it was the best movie of the year (2008 that is).

Well I saw the movie and I have to tell you, the plot is not bad, but it could have been a lot better, some things just don't make any sense to me. And the whole - starting at a point then going in the past, then back in to the future, then changing character - thing is used, in fact it's so used that it's starting to be annoying. Why don't they just show us a regular movie from beginning to the end? Start from the end and go back to the beginning if you want. Just don't start in the middle, go to the beginning, then back to the end, then to the middle, then to the beginning, it ruins the entire movie.

I will give one thing to this movie - great (I mean great) acting And not just Philip Seymour Hoffman (most people only talk about him when talking about this movie), I think all main characters had great acting from Marisa Tomei to Albert Finney to Ethan Hawke, etc etc

And that's the only reason I give it a 6, otherwise it would be a flat 4

Hitman (I) (2007)

Movie Hit-man Not Game Hit-man

[4/10 · 26 January 2008]

I can't say I'm a huge fan of the Hit-man game, but I've played I couple of them and enjoyed it, I mean who would like to be a Hit-man? A heartless killer who gets payed to kill people and escape without leaving a trace? Sweet

But in there lies the problem with this movie. The Hit-man movie doesn't quite depict the same person as the game, this Hit-man has a heart and the other doesn't. The are some scenes where he could just kill the person and he doesn't and then he starts liking the girl? What kind of Hit-man is that? It's quite disappointing (I do understand that this types of movie sell better, but...)

As for the movie, it's just another Rambo/Die Hard kind of movie, where a real badass just starts killing everyone and no one can't even hit him with a punch. Don't get me wrong I'm all pro action movies, but this is just too much.

The acting is not all bad, but some scenes you can see them just standing around waiting to die, why don't they move? Are they bad actors? Or no one told them to try and save themselves, it would made the scenes more believable.

Also just because a guy has Russian accent doesn't make us believe that he is Russian. These guys have Russian accents but say sentences with words I didn't even knew existed.

All things considered if you are home alone in a Sunday afternoon, the rain is pouring outside and the movie is on the TV or just sitting on top of your DVD Player then you should put it on, otherwise save yourself time and money.

Breaking and Entering (2006)

Inconsistent Movie

[6/10 · 26 January 2008]

When I first came to check for info on this movie, I thought this would be a bad (or at least, not very good) movie.

But this movie surprised me, it catched me almost from the beginning, the big problem is that it loses you in the middle, and then picks you back up a little further down the road. It's a movie full of ups and downs in interest, otherwise it could have had a better review I suppose.

I didn't care much for Jude Laws performance (not that is was bad, it was nothing special), but I really liked Juliette Binoche in this movie (and I not her biggest fan) you can feel real emotions with her acting, and for me she's the main reason to stick with the movie when it's loosing you.

As for the hole plot of the movie, I would say it's interesting, not very believable though.

This movie shouldn't be your top pick of the week, but definitely try to watch it.