Change Your Image
IamWilliamBlake
Reviews
Juno (2007)
Perfect? Yes, perfect.
A perfect movie, does not mean it is is the best ever, though I would not argue with if someone felt this way about Juno.
Everything about this movie worked for me. The story, the characters, the pacing, the camera-work, the direction, the production, the screenplay, the soundtrack... . How many categories are there?
I came away from Juno inspired, not simply because of the story, lesser films have been able to inspire. An idea or a simple act of kindness can accomplish just that. Juno offered a different kind of inspiration not often found in films. I am talking about the overall production. It reminds me of all the bands that say they started the day after watching the Ramones perform at the Roundhouse way back in the seventies. Juno is that kind of a movie. It will inspire, future directors, writers, producers, actors, editors, set designers, you get the picture.
It will very likely make you demand more from the films you spend your money to watch. I say this with a straight face, Juno is an important film. It is more than a family comedy melodrama teen angst slice of life with a hip soundtrack. It is what I expect to see when I go to the movies. Unpredictable, engaging, uncompromising, able to distance you from the reality of your surroundings, and above all, entertaining. Juno works on every level of movie-making. There is not one fatal flaw.
I am certain that some will disagree, some will point out something that they hated, didn't work, or they would have changed. That is the great thing about movies, you can always remake them yourself.
But for me, quite simply there is nothing I would change. Juno is perfect.
Two Headed Cow (2006)
Unless you are a Fan of the Flat Duo Jets this movie will bore you.
This movie is best described as a myopic. Behind the Music has done better work in bringing to life far less interesting musicians.
I really wanted to like this documentary, but it failed to examine Dexter, rather resorting to merely hearing from him and people that did not want to say a bad word about him. Not a word from his critics. Not a word to support or refute his recollections of the events surrounding his former friend and band mate Crow.
It has some great music. It has Dexter and that about it. It looks like a movie that was made by a friend that did not want to risk the chance of hurting Dexter.
It has Dexter and that is the only reason to watch.
An American Haunting (2005)
An Awful Job of Directing
The movie does not live up to the legend of the Bell Witch. No fault of the acting, special effects, or score. The failure of this film rest solely in the hands of Courtney Solomon. As a writer and director of one of the most researched and written about ghosts you would think that he would have read more than a novelization that posits a theory that only a handful of researchers consider.
This is supposed to be a ghost story not a message movie. If i want to see a Melodrama I will watch Lifetime or a movie of the week. The payoff in this film was a complete waste of my money. If going to the movies was not such a gamble i would consider suing the producers for wasting my time and money. The payoff is so bad that you will feel insulted.
The Bell Witch is much more exciting to read about even the web provides more entertainment and suspense than this movie.
Avoid this American Haunting.
War of the Worlds (2005)
Two things this movie has in common with the book
It is easy to write a bad review. You can figure the two commonalities without much thought.
This movie is just plain bad. If it were't for the effects (no point in calling them special since such computer generated effects have become commonplace) there would be a boring story about a crappy dad trying to get his children back too their mother so he can prove he is not a crappy dad.
Tom Cruise shows a depth of emotion that would not even fill a petri dish. From the beginning of the picture we are greeted to a character that is not likable, if this is by design or by poor direction it is unclear. He is a selfish jerk and he becomes a whiny jerk.
The movie is void of drama. How is it that a movie with this budget could not even fake dramatic tension. there are scenes which you know something is gonna happen, but you don;t care. You know how it is gonna end. You don't care for any character or what happens to them. Not even the kids. Kids?! How can a director make you not care about kids? The ending is sentimental and contrived.
It is just plain awful.
Unless of course you just like to see stuff blow up and find yourself laughing at what is little more than a hack job of storying telling... then just maybe.
Pootie Tang (2001)
Sign yo' Pitty on tha Runny Kine
This is one of the funniest movies I have ever watched. Funnier than Holy Grail, Amelie, and all of the Cohen Bros movies. A better film than any one of those, debatable. The difference between the aforementioned movies and Pootie Tang is budget, production values, and an audience that will accept it even if it is crap. (I am looking at Cohen Bros, you know which movie I am talking about).
There are a lot of cinematic elitists here on IMDB that refuse to give credit when it is due. These people, and you all know who they are, rail against anything they feel is unworthy. Somehow beneath them. The point here is that comedy is not something can be effectively quantified. Something is either funny or it is not. Amelie is funny, as is Super Troopers. Do you leave each movie having experienced the same thing? Hardly, but both were quite enjoyable.
Among the complaints is that Pootie Tang cannot be understood. This is one of the best running jokes in the movie. A lot of the cinematic elitists loved the communication between Forrest Whitaker and Isaach De Bankolé in Ghost Dog. Yeah, it was funny and it added to the texture of the movie's characters while commenting on the value of language and communication. But is that what you are thinking about when you are watching a movie? Pootie Tang is a comedy that is void of the pretense that is saddled with the Amelie's and Cohen Bros comedies. (Not that these directors are pretentious, just that many of their fans are.)
Bottom line. Pootie Tang is a laugh out loud comedy classic that will have you stomach hurting. You will repeat the lines to friends and you will be taken away by the warmth and good nature of the film. The movie does have depth and contains a social comment that is not shoved down your throat. Pootie focus on humor first and the message it delivers third, (there is a whole bunch of satire in there takin up spot number two).
Papa Pootie "You have to give respect, to get respect!"
The Butterfly Effect (2004)
Best episode of Punk'd ever
This has to be the best episode of Punk'd ever produced. Seeing Ashton getting duped into thinking that he can actually act in a serious film is hilarious. What is even more amazing is that audiences have been duped into thinking that this is an actual movie. A self-reflexive punk on the viewing public. Curious why they did not show his reaction to getting so beautifully punk'd.
To Be or Not to Be (1942)
A controversial classic that was actually made in 1941
This movie was made before while the US was still playin' both ends against the middle. Makin' huge profits while staying "neutral" The film was not allowed to be released until after, the US entered the war.
Easily the best of the screen versions. The cast is tight and the timing is impeccable. You can really tell that the cast believed in the film. Since America had not taken a formal stance at the time this went into production the producers, cast, and crew were really making something revolutionary and controversial. So much so that the making of this movie was not even mentioned on the Jack Benny radio program. Which is a major deal for those familiar with Old Time Radio, Jack's film career provided excellent material for comedy writers on the radio show, but also the radio show was an excellent opportunity to promote a movie. It is doubtful that this was a missed opportunity, what is more likely is that his sponsor or perhaps the network did not want to advocate a position.
This movie is wonderful for so many reasons. Not only is it hilarious, there is suspense, intrigue, and history. Another poster, mentions the Nazi's jumping out of the plane at the order of a radio transmission by Hitler. The thing to remember here is that the Nazi army was seen as an unstoppable war machine, so efficient, that soldiers would commit suicide if asked. This was less humor than it was to evoke fear of fascism.
Everyone remembers Bob Hope and his travels during WWII, well Jack Benny and Carole Lombard were no slouches either. After all they made this movie. Carole died in a plane crash along with her mother and twenty others returning from a war bond rally before the film was released. Jack went where few if any cameras or radio transmitters could reach. He could be found in the most remote parts of the world entertaining the troops. Not to take anything from Bob, he went there as well, he just had more photo ops.
Bottom line watch this movie--twice, maybe more, the dialogue is so quick and witty there is a good chance you might miss it the first time, them again it is worth at least to looks.
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
Too short-really.
There are a lot of people complaining about the length of this movie. Most say it is too long. I, for one, do not agree. Simply put, Pirates of the Caribbean is too short.
My attention span along with a lot of other people craves for a longer more involved story. Sitting in a theater for two or three hours is no great task. Especially when the action on the screen is entertaining, the characters are engaging, the dialogue is funny, and the suspense is gripping. This can apply to any movie that you find interesting.
I did not know the film was over two hours long until I read a negative review about it being two hours. I thought that I must have seen a different movie, because the one I saw was not long enough. When it ended, I wanted more. I wanted to see where Jack Sparrow's next adventure would take him. The other characters, even the minor ones, presented a curiosity that made me want to see their stories as well. The character arcs of the Norrington, Will Turner, and Miss Swann are well paced and compelling--not at all forced. At the end of the film you look forward to their adventures and hope that they cross paths with Capt. Jack Sparrow.
After all, what is a movieÕs prime goal? To entertain? Doubtful, though it could be. Film is a business. If a film can fill seats and get you to do it more than once then it is a success. POTC is the first movie I have gone to and paid full price twice. I will buy the DVD, I will probably get the game, and I will go to the sequel on opening night.
This movie is laugh out loud hilarious, has heart pounding action, breathtaking thrills, a romantic touch, and it actually makes you care for the characters on the screen. Heck you even genuinely care for the villains.
This is not a movie you should expect to find deep meaning and cultural superiority. It is a fun movie that lets you remember what it was like to dream of faraway away places doing amazing things and winning in the end... unless you want to be a villain, but even the possibilities are only limited by your imagination.
Second String (2002)
Bills finally have a shot at winning the Big One
Craptastic! This movie is as wonderfully predictable as it is cheesy. Primarily because the characters are fairly enjoyable. Set your expectations low and you will not be disappointed.
This is not a rip-off of "The Replacements" it is far superior. Instead of watching a bunch scabs, (the lowest life form on the planet-read Jack London's definition of a scab), the audience is treated to a much more inventive, though highly improbable, reason as to why the the starting squad is not available to play football. The story takes you away with groans and yeah rights. Chances are you will laugh out loud at the contrivances and trickery.
On an added note of actual production value. The cinematography is actually pretty awesome during the game play, especially since the budget was far less than an actual feature film.
Not worth renting, not worth planning to watch, but definitely worth your time. I would have much rather seen this whilst trapped on a plane than The Replacements.
Reptilicus (1961)
I have actually met the writer
I think that there should be a different grading chart for low budget films. To automatically make fun of the production value is unfair. The makers of such films are well aware of the limitations of their vision due to budgetary constraints. While a movie like Reptilicus may not be a ten it is a hell of a lot better than Anaconda. Ib says he substituted imagination for dollars.
And this is how it should be viewed. A great task of suspending belief is what the audience is required to do. Set the sophistication of our current media consumption aside and enjoy a campy horror/sci-fi/adveture/whatever film that was probably meant to be a fun time at the drive-in that worked double duty at putting the kids to sleep before the picture everyone went to actually see begins.
Reptilicus is certainly more watchable for this reason alone than many simliar in the genere that had a much larger budget.
That being said, Reptilicus, still, is not a classic.
Check out Ib's other movies. Deathrace 2000 you might actually fall in love with.
Detour (1945)
Stanwyck was great, but Savage is perfect
This has to be one of the best of the genre. At noir festivals I have organized, this is the film that people talk about. Many of the old-tymers feel cheated that they never had seen the movie before. Those that have wondered why it was not available until recently.
Cutting to the quick, this movie was made from idea to answer print in a little over two weeks with next to nothing in the way of a budget. The actors are not glamorous or even remotely likeable. Neal's character, Al Roberts, is not the smartest guy, he makes all the wrong decisions and never makes an attempt to try--period. He alone is responsible for his troubles. Savage's Vera is not the prettiest femme fatale, but she is the sexiest, most devious, and fatal in a hatchet-face sort of way.
But it is Goldsmith's masterful script and Ulmer's brilliant direction that make Detour a cinematic masterpiece.
Like a punch in slow motion.
Troll 2 (1990)
Nilbog is Goblin spelled backwards
There is no doubt that this is a bad movie---yet this movie is still a must see. If only for the simple fact that Joe D'Amato (if this is indeed his real name) is one of the most prolific movie makers living today. This does not mean he is a good director, just that he is able to accomplish something few ever will, make over a hundred movies that people actually talk about. Though most of his reviews are quite negative.
There is a certain charm to Troll 2 that does not exist in far better films. For example--The way in which young Joshua saves his family from the feast evil vegetarian goblins have prepared for their last supper?
Not wanting to spoil... the plot simply put if you do not find evil vegetarian goblins charming, then Troll 2 is definitely not for you.
And you know it might just be that Joe D'Amato is making movies so bad that it inspires others to do better. Maybe?