Change Your Image
MrBoBomb
Reviews
Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004)
an old review
As a documentary, this film is supposed to shed more light and inform the general public about a certain event or situation. And 9/11 is certainly an event,I think, everyone would like to know more about. After seeing this film, even if it's biased material, I have learned more about this great tragedy of our time. And also after watching this film, i had a sick feeling in the my stomach. As part of the American public, I"m used to being like too. But, the agendas shown here go far beyond that. To know that the Saud Arabians provide nearly 7% of our economy was frightening. To watch our President's dumbfounded look and ten minute rest after he was informed of the 2nd plane hitting was shocking. And to know that Bush Sr. was meeting with a member of the Bin Laden family that morning, and that two days later, 124 Saudi's, including members of the Bin Laden family were flown out of the US, without being questioned of Al-Queida involvement was appalling. Many people i've told about this film disregard it, saying it's meaningless propaganda, as if brainwashed. I'm objective enough to watch this film and also watch a Bush speech and judge them both on their own merit. But many others I've talked to are not that open-minded. If even half of this film's discoveries are the rock-hard truth, we need to vote Bush out of office because with him will go Rumsfeld, Ashcroft, Cheney, and the ties and money the Bin Ladens have with our Presidential seat. Even if John Kerry was brain dead, he would prove to be a more rational and level-headed president than Bush. I highly recommend this film to any man or woman who will be voting this year.
The Village (2004)
not a fair shake
For all the criticism it has received, there's an undeniable fact that sets this movie apart from all the usual fares we see: it is unique and tries something different. People are upset that the commercials put a different idea of the movie in their heads, then it turns out completely not what they thought they were going to see. what's wrong with that? If you like watching the same thing over and over again, M. NIght Shymalan's films are not for you.
I loved "The Village" for every reason we watch movies: entertainment. I didn't know what was going to happen. That's a good thing. You shouldn't be scared of that. The ideas and the notion of this "amish-like_ society is interesting because I'm sure there are people out there like the elders and have wanted to live in another world. Phoniex and Howard both played this innocent love story so well and showed that love can be pure and simple. This movie also made me jump in some points, and I haven't done that since I saw "Signs." Hmm, another Shymalan film, interesting. For all it's detractors, I will stand by his work because it continues to shock and delight at least this movie-goer.
Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)
This is me, at my most masichiostic
Was there a cooler film in 2003 than Kill Bill? I don't think there was. Kill Bill has all the elements of what a good time at the movies is all about. The way a director stays fresh and interesting is to continue to broaden his/her horizons, not rehash the same thing they've done three times before. Let me point out some of Kill Bill's strong points and then some weak ones in my eyes: While this picture may not have captured the exact "way of the samurai", it did show what revenge is capable of. I would like to remind people that no one waits for the other person to attack anymore, there's no such thing as a fair fight, so honor is right out of the window, and The Bride had all the motivation in the world for what happened to her. So, her fight at the House of Blue Leaves, was justifiably violent and unmerciful. Sword fights aren't tennis matches. They can be permanently fatal. All the actors established a character very well, and how great was the anime sequence? Kill Bill is not trying to be anything, it's trying to remind people of a type of film that has been forgotten. It's a love affair of Tarantino's( just like Uma is to him) and it shows. There are plot holes in the first, such as her sitting in the Pussy Wagon for 13 hours while no police, or medical staff from the hospital check the dead man's car when they see his keys missing. And I would also say the catchy dialouge Tarantino was known for is fading, as it wasn't too strong in this film. But, there are some things I would like to be explained in the 2nd film and I wait in anticipation for them. This is what going to the theaters is all about.
The Last Unicorn (1982)
a film missing from my youth
I recently bought my girlfriend this film because she said it was one of her favorites as a kid and I was suprised I had never heard of it. After watching it, I enjoyed the story and the animation, but like most movies of it's kind, there were too many songs for my liking. One thing interesting about the movie is it's pretty adult. One of the themes in it is about being who you are and not straying away from that. There are so many false veils and a few of the characters hide using them( such as the old witch lady.) But, one of the weird things that makes me think this wasn't just made for kids is that there are several instances of the word "damn" in it and two of the characters in the movie had large breasts, one with nipples. I found that a little disturbing, but overall I can see a good message in it for impressionable children, as well as open-minded adults.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)
remakes are a strange bird
Ending Spoiler here!
To remake a movie of such cult, iconic status is a noble and unwanted task by many, I'm sure. So, I give the director credit for wanting to tackle this particular movie and I also give him credit for not just rehashing the exact same movie because we've seen it already and now we're sick to death of it. But, they were some things in it, I thought didn't give this movie the same feel the original had. One, was we spend too much time with Leatherface, or Thomas Hewitt, whichever. This is a character that there is no justification for, yet we get all this dialouge and setup for someone we have no intention of caring for and it doesn't seem as scary when he shows up. Another thing about this film is there are too many characters and, spar the sheriff, were not really frightening at all and quite frankly were quite annoying. The little boy I didn't understand, just a plot to help them out. I also don't understand the whole plotline of the baby and the girl that shot herself. The Hewitts won't kill babies, but anybody else that comes near them they'll kill. In a way I understand because how disgusting is it to hurt an infant, but these people aren't really portrayed as the remorseful type. I did like the final ending of the film with the old police tape and Leather face being down there, but I hope they do not go with a sequel. That would be a true muderous blow to this series.
Versus (2000)
good action clouded by ridiculous story
Versus was a myriad of many things: action, horror, and comedy.( the character in the double breasted suit with green shirt was a nut) The fighting is the only thing I saw that was really effective. The zombies were pretty serious at the beginning, but turned into an eventual joke somewhere around the middle. This movie tried to be so many things, I just eventually lost interest in what I was watching. And lessen the amount of characters. It was really unecessary. The ending, I won't spoil it, was a twist but at that point, god himself couldn't have appeared and I would have been any more enthralled. The fighting sequences were pretty cool, and I do enjoy my share of Japanese film humor, so there were things in this that were commendable.
Quills (2000)
a poetic tragedy, steeped in eroticism
SPOILERS MAY APPEAR!
I thoroughly enjoyed Quills from start to finish. It was a brilliant screenplay and should have gotten an Academy Award nomination. First off, the setting was a quirky and fun place as well as a dreary and destitude place towards the ending. Each character was played to perfection and the story unfolded with anticipation and delight. The Marquis de Sade was one of the best characters I have seen in a movie in a very long time, and what's more interesting is that he was actually alive. Someone that vibrant and controversial is what has stemmed our current society towards it's free speech and uninhibtedness, what little of it we have. I thank him for that. I thought the writers of the film continued that honored tradition by displaying him in his full range and Geoffrey Rush should have won an Oscar hands down, if for nothing else, being naked through the last 3/4 of the movie. Kate Winslet was a tragic heroine, and her love story with the Abbey was right out of a Shakespeare play. She was a free spirit who thrived on the work of the Marquis and it was fun to see her get excited over his material. Joaquin Phoniex is a tremendous actor and can play any part in the world. He showed his whole gammet of emotion and the course of his character is as tragic as Hamlet. Michael Caine played a wonderfully wicked villain and really played him to the hilt. Another amazing thing about this picture is that is was inspired from true events and it really makes you appreciate the world in which we live, as well as hate and despise the things that have transpired, but had they not would we be where we are today? This could have easily been made into a self-glorified porno, and I'm sure it has in another market of films, but the director and writer really made the movie about people and subject matter that is still relevant today, and not just sex, but also religion and power, which seems to always corrupt. I thought Quills was a great, great film.
Hellboy (2004)
exciting comic book action
Hellboy was another movie based off of a comic book, and like all protects seem to be doing, it tried to stray from the normal fare. Well, I think in some ways it did and some it didn't, but if you look at the material it's hard to not do it like that and stay true to the original story and characters. I enjoyed Hellboy, for it's characterization. Hellboy and Abe and Liz were all unique and very interesting. Just casting a smaller actor like Ron Perlman makes this movie intriguing because it's a new face and he brought a lot of warmth and dulled down humor that made this movie stand out. The action was good and all the heroes were highlighted, but not as gods or unbeatable people which makes them more personable. The father-son conflict was another good twist and the romance between Hellboy and Liz helps a movie that has a good story and good effects not become a cliched comic book movie. There was also that theme we saw in X-Men, with outcasts of society and how there's that unity even between people who may be excluded or live in loneliness. And the relationship with Hellboy and his father brought it back to every man, woman and child's level again, because it's a concept anyone can relate to.
Jackie Brown (1997)
when you absoulutely, positively have to watch a great movie, make sure it's Tarnatino
Jackie Brown is the least liked of all 3 of Tarantino's films, but one with the richest character development. You really get to know all the main characters in this movie, which is why it makes it such a fun ride. DeNiro, Jackson, and Fonda make a great trio, and it's always entertaining when they are in the same room together. Overall, this film has a complicated plot, filled with interesting turns, and amazing performances.
Signs (2002)
Amazing!
Signs is a movie that left me with chills and excitement in my stomach twenty minutes after I had left the theatre. In one span during the last half hour, I was scared to death and then nearly in tears from the sadness portrayed in the next scene. There's a scene of a birthday party shot on a home video camera that I will never forget and is one of the creepiest things I could ever witness in my entire life. During the first twenty minutes of the movie, I thought everything in it was so weird and confusing, but this story weaves itself together so perfectly that it makes you just be in awe of M. Night Shymalan. If he keeps making these visually spectacular, deep human emotion dramas filled with incredible story telling, I will keep watching as long as my eyes are able. This movie was just simply amazing.
Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust (2000)
action toned down, but quality turned up
Vampire Hunter D is a legend in some aspects of the anime world. It was the first anime I saw as a child and it was a movie I never forgot. I borrowed the sequel from my friend and I was very happy with it. There isn't as much fighting as in the first one, but the story is deep and thick with great characters. Meijer Link, a vampire with noble intentions with a human girl, is the first decent vampire we see in the D movies. You root for him, yet D never loses in battle, so it's really tough watching them fight. We see again D's constant struggle with his self and the life that he leads. He's stuck between a human life and a vampire's life, never truly fitting into either. He meets a bounty hunter, Leyla, who finds something truly magnetic about D and his loneliness in that she has felt the same way in her life. It truly is a somber tale full of lively characters, a tremendous love story, and of course, D's usual blood spilling action. A great movie that I think most audiences will enjoy.
Black Knight (2001)
the black knight is defeating
This was a more toned down version of Martin Lawrence, which to me isn't as funny as his usual raunchy self. His TV show was very good and his comedy specials are funny, but I haven't enjoyed any of his movies except Bad Boys. This was tolerable at best but his best jokes were racial ones. You can't have a movie solely depend on that. Not to mention the weak plot.