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Reviews
American Splendor (2003)
Hmm not sure....
Okay...this film was very strange.
After I had finished watching it I wasn't sure whether I had sat thru 100 minutes of drivel similar to fly-on-the-wall documentaries or 100 minutes of pure insight into the ordinary life of an ordinary man.
I can not tell whether the film is amazingly and refreshingly different or whether it was just low brow waste of time.
Don't get me wrong, the acting is very capable and the direction and production are very good, i just feel they could have made a lot more of the story which would have then removed this complete uncertainty that is in my mind.
sorry wouldn't recommend it...
Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004)
Poor cash-in sequel. (slight spoilers)
I only watched this film because someone had lent it to my wife and she wanted to see it.
I have seen the first film, and although I wouldn't say that it was superb it was at least watchable.
The sequel quite simply was nothing like as good. The plot was so simple my cat could probably have understood it; Boy gets Girl. Boy looses Girl. Boy gets Girl again. Thats it.
The talented and experienced actors (or the ones I recognised at least) were wasted. Hugh Grant had a few scenes, and although his ability shone through, the lack of plot or any kind of quality lines let his performance down. Neil Pearson had better lines but still nothing anywhere near becoming his ability. But the biggest waste of talent, to me, was Jim Broadbent as Bridget's father. He was only in a few scenes and he had next to no lines.
However Jim Broadbent did have one funny line, about smoking. I wont re-tell it here, as it no doubt gains a lot in the telling.
The ONLY other part of the film that actually made me even smirk was right near the end when Bridget learns the truth about the woman she thinks is trying to steal her man.
Yup thats it. TWO funny bits. Nothing else.
I wouldn't watch this again if I was paid to. It really was that dire.
King Arthur (2004)
Good film, but not Lord of the Rings
I have read quite a number of reviews for this film, and the opinions seem to vary wildly from really love to really hate.
The problem I have is that the many of the people who really hated it seemed to be making the assumption that the film was meant to be the 'Legend of King Arthur'. This it simply was not.
The actually legend of King Arthur is about the Roundtable, the knights, the sword Excalibur, Merlin, Lancelot and Camelot. If that is what you want to see then go and watch 'Excalibur' or the TV series 'The Legend of King Arthur'. These film/series are merely re-telling (well I might add) the legend and myth that has perpetuated for many years.
This film clearly states at the beginning that it is NOT trying to follow this well beaten path, but is trying to tell the actual story on which the myth and legend is based. How much historical truth there is to this story, I do not know.
Because I am able to take the film in this perspective I really liked it, however there were weak points. The characters could easily have been developed more, and there were a few chronological discrepancies for example. Unfortunately a lot of people will think that this is an attempt to re-tell the myth when it is not.
Jerry Bruckheimer has quite a reputation as making really big showy films that simply end up as eye candy with limited plot. 'Gone in Sixty Seconds' for example was great eye candy for car lovers and Angelina Jolie was good for the boys, but the plot was limited and the characters with one exception were not developed.
Unfortunately Mr Bruckheimers influence does show quite clearly in this film, but personally I don't think that it is ruined by it.
The fight scenes are excellent, especially the one on the ice flow, and although the plot was a little poor, I can quite happily recommend this film.
The Machinist (2004)
Well done remake of an old theme.
I will have to watch this film again.
It was good, but not excellent. But i am going to have to re-view it in order to catch what i missed the first time round.
Trevor Reznik (Christian Bale) starts the film by being caught trying to dispose of a body, and the film then jumps back on the timeline and we discover what happened prior to this event.
It was quite horrible to see the extent that Mr Bale had gone with his weight lose in order to appear in this film. He is alleged to have eaten only a can of tuna and an apple each day for some time and managed to loose 60+ pounds.
Mr Bale's dedication to the character is self evident, and not just through this willingness to alter his physical appearance so significantly.
The whole film is quite dark both in plot but also in style. The film is filmed in low light with drained colours, but this adds to the atmosphere.
Unfortunately the basic theme of the plot is nothing new; A confused mix of scenes both real and not so real, with the connectors and clarification only becoming evident near the end of the film. The Usual Suspects revisited.
Worth watching, but Don't read ANY reviews beforehand. Although you probably need to see it more than once, a spoiler could ruin the first viewing and therefore the whole film.
Shaun of the Dead (2004)
Excellent
I saw this as a pre-screener, or whatever they are called, where the producer etc fill a cinema with the public to get their opinions before finalising the film.
Taking into account for the unfinished sound work, and the occasional blip in the picture, i thought the film was excellent.
As soon as i am able i will be watching the final version to see if it has been changed much.
However, as a review, i feel i must give the film a minimum of 8/10. Even though the actors arn't world famous, many of them have done various other things in the UK. Because of this none of them steal the show away from the storyline or the quality of the production.
As a whole the film comes across as a spoof, but the kind that asks nicely before it pokes the finger of fun at the original.
For those that are in the know there are many many references to horror movies of the past, and even though i only spotted a few, it enhanced the watching experience.
The film has a good pace, good characters that are developed, great direction, great humour, superb use of music and is well worth seeing as and when you can, tho it is not necessary to see in the cinema.
Do Not Disturb (1999)
Not brilliant, but watcheable
A ten year old mute witnesses a murder in a foreign country. Sillyness ensues. The whole film was quite watcheable, but came across as pure eye candy. Child orientated humour (I can only presume this was intended) with a couple of violent scenes and a rather facile car chase as a finale. The acting was rather so so IMO, with the exception of Denis Leary as the childs initial saviour. Cheesey ending, dubious plot development, including a rather big jump in the plot development, ok acting and a dodgy car chase. Watcheable but not worth going out of your way for. Watch it if you would like to fill some time.
Impulse (1984)
Very missable
I have been known to fall asleep during films, but this is usually due to a combination of things including, really tired, being warm and comfortable on the sette and having just eaten a lot. However on this occasion I fell asleep because the film was rubbish. The plot development was constant. Constantly slow and boring. Things seemed to happen, but with no explanation of what was causing them or why. I admit, I may have missed part of the film, but i watched the majority of it and everything just seemed to happen of its own accord without any real concern for anything else. I cant recommend this film at all.
The Big Lebowski (1998)
Superb and unmissable film
I first watched this film some years ago, and at the time was probably worse for wear from sleep deprivation and all I can remember was that I liked the film. As I watched it this time I was concerned that my memory was playing up again, or remembering wrong. But then the movie started to get going. Basically Jeffrey Lebowski, The Dude, (Jeff Bridges) is mistaken for the millionaire Jeffrey Lebowski. Chaos ensues as The Dude becomes embroiled in the kidnap of Lebowski's trophy wife who owes big money to big people, and he would much rather be bowling. A Joel Coen film that grows on me each time I have seen it. The dream scenes are enough of a reason to watch the film, but the superb acting from the likes of Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Julianne Moore and Steve Buscemi, the non-stop story line that, once it has started, hardly gives you a chance to think or work out what is going on and the great direction and production make this a superb unmissable film.
Jackass: The Movie (2002)
Crap film, great entertainment
The whole concept - much copied, never bettered.
Where do I start? As a movie this sucks. However as a series of inane, mad, stupid, dangerous and sometimes life-threatening stunts then it is superb. If you liked the TV series you will love the film. All the gang are there. Johnny Knoxville, Bam Margera et all doing stupid stunts. They manage to involve Tony Hawk (website) and Mat Hoffman (website), perhaps against their better judgement. Many of the stunts pulled are just silly but still funny to watch. Others are obviously painful to those taking part, but in no way putting others at risk, and make the viewer wince. Whilst still other scenes are very dangerous and in one instance comes close to doing Mr Knoxville some very serious injury. Somehow everyone has managed to avoid serious injury, despite numerous scares and hospital visits, during filming this film and the associated TV series, but I feel that one day a serious injury will occur.
So if you want to see skateboarders, giant pandas, one sided boxing matches, tightrope walking (over an alligator pool!), golf cart trashing and an x-ray of a toy car up Ryan Dunn's butt-hole then go for it.
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
BRILLIANT
Stunning film. Graphically superb, visually impressive all round a brilliant amazing sequel to a brilliant film. And we are told that this is just a taster of what is to come, as the third part of the trilogy, The Return of the King, is supposed to be even better than both of its predecessors. It has an all star cast lead by Ian McKellan and Elijah Wood and co starring the likes of Liv Tyler, Cate Blanchett and Bernard Hill. But to single out any of the actors is to do an injustice to the rest of the cast. All the performances were stunning doing justice to what is a long enduring story. J. R. R. Tolkien wrote this story over one hundred years ago and it is still read and told to children today. My wife and I are now counting the days (well not quite but it feels like it) till The Return of the King is released. The story grips your mind from start to finish. Each time I have watched this film (twice so far) I have totally engrossed in the screen with nothing else distracting me.
Crimson Tide (1995)
Letter of the Law, or Common Sense, with the World in the balance which would you do?
A very good tense cold-war influenced thriller with good acting from the leads and all the supporting cast. The beginning of the film takes a short while to get 'moving' but once it has the whole film is non-stop tension of one sort or another. Being a nuclear submarine (which are no longer used by the US Navy, as now all control of nuclear weapons is held only by the US President) it has the potential to stop or start a war or nuclear holocaust. This is the whole issue. The two lead officers on the sub have a difference of opinion. The captain (Gene Hackman) holds the opinion that a message fragment is just that a fragment and can not be acted upon and that the fall-back standing orders should be followed. The XO (Denzel Washington) opinion differs. Whilst he agrees that the fragment is a fragment and can not be acted on, he believes that an attempt should be made to obtain the completed message to ensure its content. A classic clash of wills and views. The captain - old school, an order is an order and you follow them to the letter, with many years experience in the field. The XO - new school, orders are orders but there should be room for a little interpretation and intelligent thought, with no field experience but numerous years experience in theory.
...E tu vivrai nel terrore! L'aldilà (1981)
Now dated, but good for its time
This film is very dated, but for its time is well crafted horror/zombie movie. There are seven gateways into hell, and they are hidden in seven cursed places. One of the seven just happens to be a house that the lead actress has recently inherited. After a number of mysterious accidents things start to get nasty. The plain bricks and mortar wall that has held tight for, who knows how many years, is broken down by a plumber investigating the source of a water leak. From here on in it is zombies here there and everywhere. The owner does make a friend in the town, and he happens to work at the local mortuary. And surprise surprise they end up in the mortuary near the end of the film, a worse place to be in a zombie movie I can not think of. Great horror movie ending. well worth watching for all the gore (which although dated is quite graphic) and the ending.