Plot: Anna (Lindsay Lohan) is a teen rebel. She has a rocky relationship with her mom, Tess (Jamie Lee Curtis). Tess is marrying a man named Ryan (Mark Harmon) and Anna isn't ready because her father died three years ago. While eating at a Chinese restaurant, they get into another fight: Anna wants to go to a band audition with her rock band, but it's the same night as Tess' wedding rehearsal dinner. An elderly Chinese woman then gives them both a fortune cookie. They open the cookies and read the fortunes and then the restaurant shakes, which only they feel. The next morning, they wake up in each others body. They both live in each others shoes but will they be able to switch back before the wedding?
Review: Plotwise, this remake has some changes compared to the 1976 film. I actually prefer this remake more than the original. The reason I do prefer the remake is because this one has more of an emotional and dramatic feel to it compared to the original. This one is funny but it also has a nice emotional payoff for the audience. I didn't feel that kind of emotional payoff when watching the original.
The acting is very good. Jamie Lee Curtis is absolutely fantastic as Tess/Anna. She's able to portray Tess' adult and slightly controlling nature and Anna's rebelling like it's no problem. She's able to balance comedy and drama (especially with the rehearsal dinner scene) perfectly. Lindsay Lohan is also very good in this. Like Jamie Lee Curtis, she's able to portray a rebellious teenager and a stern, stodgy adult perfectly. I also like the supporting cast, they provide great comedy. Like Harold Gould (who plays the Grandpa), Ryan Malgarini (who plays Harry, the son). It's a great balance of comedy and drama throughout the film.
I especially liked the film's ending. Not because they switch back and everything is happily ever after, but because I feel that they actually learned something through their ordeal. When I watched the 1976, I know they learned something, but with this remake, it was more obvious to the audience.
While I enjoyed the 1976 film, I prefer this one a lot more. A fun and entertaining movie for the young and old.
Rating: 4/5
Wednesday 30 November 2011
Freaky Friday (1976)
Plot: It's Friday the 13th. Annabel (Jodie Foster) and her mother, Ellen (Barbara Harris) haven't been getting along lately. That same morning, while Annabel is in a diner with a friend and Ellen is in the kitchen at home, they both say at the same time "I wish I could switch places with her for just one day" and then they switch places. They then switch places and live in each others shoes for that one day.
Review: This is the original adaptation of the 1972 novel by Mary Rodgers. There have been several remakes made since 1976, but this is the first one. I love the premise of the plot, where parents and kids switch places. Of course we want to see if our parents could live our shoes, but our parent would be just as thrilled to see us live in their shoes.
The acting is good. Barbara Harris and Jodie Foster are hilarious. They're both great at playing the different ages of the characters. They way they speak and their facial expressions are great. The rest of the supporting cast is good as well.
This is actually a nice movie for the entire family to watch. A lot will prefer the 2003 remake with Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan, but this one is just as good and entertaining.
Rating: 3.5/5
Review: This is the original adaptation of the 1972 novel by Mary Rodgers. There have been several remakes made since 1976, but this is the first one. I love the premise of the plot, where parents and kids switch places. Of course we want to see if our parents could live our shoes, but our parent would be just as thrilled to see us live in their shoes.
The acting is good. Barbara Harris and Jodie Foster are hilarious. They're both great at playing the different ages of the characters. They way they speak and their facial expressions are great. The rest of the supporting cast is good as well.
This is actually a nice movie for the entire family to watch. A lot will prefer the 2003 remake with Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan, but this one is just as good and entertaining.
Rating: 3.5/5
The Exorcist (1973)
Plot: Chris (Ellen Burstyn) is an actress who notices dramatic and dangerous changes in her 12-year-old daughter, Regan's (Linda Blair) behavior. She has a seizure, shows unusual powers like enhanced strength and levitating. Doctors suspect she has a lesion in her brain. After many medical testing, nothing is found out of the ordinary and she's taken to a psychiatrist, whom she assaults. The paranormal activity continues including the bed shaking and strange noises. A doctor suggests an exorcism and Chris seeks out Father Damien Karras (Jason Miller), who is a priest and psychiatrist. Father Karras doesn't believe she's possessed, until he hears her speaking English backwards. He then seeks permission from the church to perform an exorcism. Father Lankester Merrin (Max von Sydow) is summoned to help with the exorcism. But will they be able to save Regan in time?
Review: This is one of my favorite movies and horror movies of all time. This is an adaptation of the novel, which is based on a supposedly true story about an exorcism performed in 1949. I like the plot. It's been done over and over again since its release. But what I like is that the film keeps a good balance between science and religion, although the greater majority of the viewers and just going to say she's possessed and stop all the tests and just do the exorcism.
The acting in top notch. There's no weak end. Ellen Burstyn is fantastic as Chris, who is a worried and overwhelmed mother who wants her child back. Jason Miller is fantastic as Father Karras, a priest struggling with his faith. Even though I think he's a little underused, Max von Sydow is great as Father Merrin. Linda Blair is a different story. While she is very good in the movie and carries the role well on her shoulders, there is some doubt about how much she did. When she was possessed, a voice-over actress did the demonic voice. There are some instances in the film where she had a body double, which is understandable but there are some scenes that didn't necessarily require a stunt double. So while Linda Blair did a good job, I don't think she deserves all the credit for the role of Regan because it was shared among different actors.
The film was originally released in 1973. It has been called the scariest movie of all time. Religion, a timeless subject that is basically explored throughout the entire movie, was taken much more seriously than it is today in 2011, the year I'm writing this review. So I do have a personal belief that the portrayal of religion and demonic possession during that time had an affect on the audience. Is the film scary? It absolutely is. The makeup of possessed Regan is disturbing, we have the famous pea soup vomiting scene (still gross to this day) and in the re-release we have Regan coming down the stairs like a spider, the head spinning, the bed moving. There are so many great scares. So it is the scariest movie of all time? To me, it's one of them. I can't be sure if it's the scariest movie of all time because there are many great scary movies that have been released since then. But it's without a doubt in my mind one of the scariest and most disturbing movies I've seen.
Rating: 5/5
Review: This is one of my favorite movies and horror movies of all time. This is an adaptation of the novel, which is based on a supposedly true story about an exorcism performed in 1949. I like the plot. It's been done over and over again since its release. But what I like is that the film keeps a good balance between science and religion, although the greater majority of the viewers and just going to say she's possessed and stop all the tests and just do the exorcism.
The acting in top notch. There's no weak end. Ellen Burstyn is fantastic as Chris, who is a worried and overwhelmed mother who wants her child back. Jason Miller is fantastic as Father Karras, a priest struggling with his faith. Even though I think he's a little underused, Max von Sydow is great as Father Merrin. Linda Blair is a different story. While she is very good in the movie and carries the role well on her shoulders, there is some doubt about how much she did. When she was possessed, a voice-over actress did the demonic voice. There are some instances in the film where she had a body double, which is understandable but there are some scenes that didn't necessarily require a stunt double. So while Linda Blair did a good job, I don't think she deserves all the credit for the role of Regan because it was shared among different actors.
The film was originally released in 1973. It has been called the scariest movie of all time. Religion, a timeless subject that is basically explored throughout the entire movie, was taken much more seriously than it is today in 2011, the year I'm writing this review. So I do have a personal belief that the portrayal of religion and demonic possession during that time had an affect on the audience. Is the film scary? It absolutely is. The makeup of possessed Regan is disturbing, we have the famous pea soup vomiting scene (still gross to this day) and in the re-release we have Regan coming down the stairs like a spider, the head spinning, the bed moving. There are so many great scares. So it is the scariest movie of all time? To me, it's one of them. I can't be sure if it's the scariest movie of all time because there are many great scary movies that have been released since then. But it's without a doubt in my mind one of the scariest and most disturbing movies I've seen.
Rating: 5/5
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)
Plot: The McCallister family is now going to Florida for the holidays. At the airport, Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) goes to the wrong boarding and goes to New York instead of Florida, where the rest of his family is. Kevin checks himself into the Plaza Hotel after tricking the staff. Meanwhile, Marv (Daniel Stern) and Harry (Joe Pesci) have escaped from prison and are now in New York with Kevin. Now, Kevin is planning to trap them again with better booby traps.
Review: The plot isn't entirely different compared to the first. The film starts off with everything pretty peaceful but than there's an argument and everyone goes against Kevin. They don't forget at home, but he gets lost at the airport. It's an improvement- sort of. The plot isn't all that different. There's a fake movie called Angels with Filthy Souls in the first one and there's another fake movie in this movie called Angels with Even Filthier Souls. We had Old Man Marley in the first one and now we have a Pigeon Lady. So it's not that different.
The acting is good and keeps on giving. Macaulay Culkin is just as good as he is in the first one. Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern are hilarious as the burglars. Catherine O'Hara and John Heard are good as Kevin's parents. I also liked Dana Ivey, Tim Curry and Rob Schneider, who play employers of the Plaza Hotel. Brenda Fricker plays a Pigeon Lady and I really liked her.
Now for the booby traps. I wrote in my review of Home Alone (1990) that the booby traps are just cartoon violence for the most part and it's lucky that the burglars are still alive. The same applies for this movie, but the booby traps just got bigger and better or worse depending on how you look at it. We had some booby traps from the first one (going back to my point that the plot isn't that original) like the torched head, the paint cans thrown in the face except they use pipes instead. Like the first movie, it's lucky the burglars are even still alive. They get bricks thrown in their faces and fall from who knows how many feet. There are even parts where we hear bones breaking and cracking. Some kids watching might not like that.
We also have some nice touching scenes as well. We have some nice scenes with Kevin and the Pigeon Lady. We also have a nice scene with Kevin and Mr. Duncan, a toy store owner. So there's another good balance between comedy and drama. The ending scene is also very touching.
I like this and it's almost as good as the first. But like the first, the movie is very cartoonish and we just have to accept that. I accept certain parts of both movies, but some I just can't get over. But this is still a nice, entertaining movie for the holiday season.
Rating: 3.5/5
Review: The plot isn't entirely different compared to the first. The film starts off with everything pretty peaceful but than there's an argument and everyone goes against Kevin. They don't forget at home, but he gets lost at the airport. It's an improvement- sort of. The plot isn't all that different. There's a fake movie called Angels with Filthy Souls in the first one and there's another fake movie in this movie called Angels with Even Filthier Souls. We had Old Man Marley in the first one and now we have a Pigeon Lady. So it's not that different.
The acting is good and keeps on giving. Macaulay Culkin is just as good as he is in the first one. Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern are hilarious as the burglars. Catherine O'Hara and John Heard are good as Kevin's parents. I also liked Dana Ivey, Tim Curry and Rob Schneider, who play employers of the Plaza Hotel. Brenda Fricker plays a Pigeon Lady and I really liked her.
Now for the booby traps. I wrote in my review of Home Alone (1990) that the booby traps are just cartoon violence for the most part and it's lucky that the burglars are still alive. The same applies for this movie, but the booby traps just got bigger and better or worse depending on how you look at it. We had some booby traps from the first one (going back to my point that the plot isn't that original) like the torched head, the paint cans thrown in the face except they use pipes instead. Like the first movie, it's lucky the burglars are even still alive. They get bricks thrown in their faces and fall from who knows how many feet. There are even parts where we hear bones breaking and cracking. Some kids watching might not like that.
We also have some nice touching scenes as well. We have some nice scenes with Kevin and the Pigeon Lady. We also have a nice scene with Kevin and Mr. Duncan, a toy store owner. So there's another good balance between comedy and drama. The ending scene is also very touching.
I like this and it's almost as good as the first. But like the first, the movie is very cartoonish and we just have to accept that. I accept certain parts of both movies, but some I just can't get over. But this is still a nice, entertaining movie for the holiday season.
Rating: 3.5/5
Monday 28 November 2011
Home Alone (1990)
Plot: The McCallister family is going on vacation to Paris. They sleep in on the day they're suppose to leave and hurry to the airport. They forget eight-year-old Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) at home. While his parents, Kate and Peter (Catherine O'Hara and John Heard) try to get back home, Kevin has to defend the family home from burglars, Marv (Daniel Stern) and Harry (Joe Pesci).
Review: This is a classic. There are no other words for it. It's a favorite among families during the holidays. And it's one of my favorites too. It's a really fun movie. First of all, the plot is fun and everything. We have cartoon humor and heartfelt, heartwarming moments. So we have a good combo of comedy and drama.
In the beginning of the movie, I found nobody in the family sympathetic. Especially Kevin. I thought they were annoying and didn't have sympathy for them and the situation they were in. But later in the film, like half-way through, the characters I thought were more sympathetic and I felt sorry for them.
The acting in the movie is very good. Macaulay Culkin is great in this. He was only ten when they released this and I'm very impressed that he's able to portray the innocence of childhood yet intelligence beyond his years in certain scenes. Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern are hilarious as the dimwitted burglars. Catherine O'Hara and John Heard are good as the parents. Roberts Blossom plays Old Man Marley, a kind elderly man who people say murdered his entire family, thus causing Kevin to be scared of him. I thought his performance was probably a highlight for me.
The traps that Kevin sets for the burglars are fun and entertaining. I laughed at many of them. But are they realistic? Of course not. Not all of them. I joke that I'm surprised that those burglars are even still alive after I finished watching it. One gets his head set on fire, they have paint cans thrown at them, they plunge into a wall and more. Of course it's unrealistic that they aren't more hurt than they are. But it's still fun. It's cartoon violence and we're just suppose to accept it.
There's humor for kids and adults alike. There are some jokes that kids won't get when they're young, but will get when they're older. So I like that there's a mixed-balance for the old and young in the audience.
While the humor in the movie is fun, I also appreciate the heartfelt moments we get. The scene with Old Man Marley and Kevin in the church is probably my favorite scene in the entire movie. It's very heartfelt, moving and we are able to relate. The last scenes of the movie where the family is reunited is also very touching.
This is a fun, entertaining and touching movie for the entire family to enjoy.
Rating: 3.5/5
Review: This is a classic. There are no other words for it. It's a favorite among families during the holidays. And it's one of my favorites too. It's a really fun movie. First of all, the plot is fun and everything. We have cartoon humor and heartfelt, heartwarming moments. So we have a good combo of comedy and drama.
In the beginning of the movie, I found nobody in the family sympathetic. Especially Kevin. I thought they were annoying and didn't have sympathy for them and the situation they were in. But later in the film, like half-way through, the characters I thought were more sympathetic and I felt sorry for them.
The acting in the movie is very good. Macaulay Culkin is great in this. He was only ten when they released this and I'm very impressed that he's able to portray the innocence of childhood yet intelligence beyond his years in certain scenes. Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern are hilarious as the dimwitted burglars. Catherine O'Hara and John Heard are good as the parents. Roberts Blossom plays Old Man Marley, a kind elderly man who people say murdered his entire family, thus causing Kevin to be scared of him. I thought his performance was probably a highlight for me.
The traps that Kevin sets for the burglars are fun and entertaining. I laughed at many of them. But are they realistic? Of course not. Not all of them. I joke that I'm surprised that those burglars are even still alive after I finished watching it. One gets his head set on fire, they have paint cans thrown at them, they plunge into a wall and more. Of course it's unrealistic that they aren't more hurt than they are. But it's still fun. It's cartoon violence and we're just suppose to accept it.
There's humor for kids and adults alike. There are some jokes that kids won't get when they're young, but will get when they're older. So I like that there's a mixed-balance for the old and young in the audience.
While the humor in the movie is fun, I also appreciate the heartfelt moments we get. The scene with Old Man Marley and Kevin in the church is probably my favorite scene in the entire movie. It's very heartfelt, moving and we are able to relate. The last scenes of the movie where the family is reunited is also very touching.
This is a fun, entertaining and touching movie for the entire family to enjoy.
Rating: 3.5/5
Cursed (2005)
Plot: Jimmy (Jesse Eisenberg) and his older sister and guardian, Ellie (Christina Ricci), are driving one night when they hit an animal and another car. They try to save the driver of the other car, but she's dragged away and eaten by an unknown creature. Both Ellie and Jimmy are scratched by the creature. Jimmy believes the creature was a werewolf, but no one believes him. It turns out that that Ellie's boyfriend, Jake (Joshua Jackson) is a werewolf. But did he bite them and can Jimmy and Ellie break the werewolf curse in time?
Review: This is labeled as a horror film. And it is in a sense. But it's more horror-comedy than anything else. The way I saw it is that this is a parody of werewolf movies. Kevin Williamson wrote this movie. He also wrote the Scream movies. And Scream makes fun of slasher movies and horror movies. And Cursed makes fun of werewolf movies.
The plot is decent. What I like is like An American Werewolf in London, we have werewolves in a modern and big city. This time, it's in Los Angeles. The plot is nothing we haven't seen before in term of werewolf movies.
The acting is good too. I like Christina Ricci and she's good in this. Jesse Eisenberg, Joshua Jackson and the rest of the supporting cast are also decent. The script isn't that strong, so it's not like the actors have much to work with to begin with.
The werewolf visuals and the creatures itself are good. They use a stuntman and robot werewolves according to the DVD special features. I like it. The werewolf isn't all that scary and the transformation scenes aren't that scary either.
Overall, this is a decent horror movie. You're not going to scream and cover your eyes. You're going to laugh because like the Scream movies Kevin Williamson wrote, this movie does have it's funny moments. I still believe that Kevin Williamson was aiming to make a parody of werewolf movies and I applaud him for his efforts. But the film didn't work on me the same way Scream did.
Cursed an alright movie to watch, but this isn't the movie you'll be wanting to watch over and over again.
Rating: 3/5
Review: This is labeled as a horror film. And it is in a sense. But it's more horror-comedy than anything else. The way I saw it is that this is a parody of werewolf movies. Kevin Williamson wrote this movie. He also wrote the Scream movies. And Scream makes fun of slasher movies and horror movies. And Cursed makes fun of werewolf movies.
The plot is decent. What I like is like An American Werewolf in London, we have werewolves in a modern and big city. This time, it's in Los Angeles. The plot is nothing we haven't seen before in term of werewolf movies.
The acting is good too. I like Christina Ricci and she's good in this. Jesse Eisenberg, Joshua Jackson and the rest of the supporting cast are also decent. The script isn't that strong, so it's not like the actors have much to work with to begin with.
The werewolf visuals and the creatures itself are good. They use a stuntman and robot werewolves according to the DVD special features. I like it. The werewolf isn't all that scary and the transformation scenes aren't that scary either.
Overall, this is a decent horror movie. You're not going to scream and cover your eyes. You're going to laugh because like the Scream movies Kevin Williamson wrote, this movie does have it's funny moments. I still believe that Kevin Williamson was aiming to make a parody of werewolf movies and I applaud him for his efforts. But the film didn't work on me the same way Scream did.
Cursed an alright movie to watch, but this isn't the movie you'll be wanting to watch over and over again.
Rating: 3/5
Friday 25 November 2011
Gone Baby Gone (2007)
Plot: Private detective Patrick (Casey Affleck) and his girlfriend/partner Angie (Michelle Monoghan) are hired by Beatrice (Amy Madigan) and Lionel (Titus Welliver) to find their missing niece, Amanda, who was abducted. Patrick and Angie work with Captain Jack Doyle (Morgan Freeman), a police officer who's own daughter was murdered decades earlier. Amanda's mother, Helene (Amy Ryan), is a woman deeply involved in drugs and criminal activity. As the search for the little girl continues, the danger and secrets revolving the little girl's disappearance surface.
Review: This is a really good movie. The plot is very well constructed. All of the characters in the film aren't superhuman. They're everyday people and they have their flaws. The film has its twists and keeps the audience engaged. The identity of the abductor and its accessories to the crime really surprised me. I especially liked the ending. It's not an entirely happy ending and of course I wish it would have been different, but it avoids the cliches.
The acting is also great. Casey Affleck shines as a leading actor. Morgan Freeman is also great as a cop who struggles with the deep guilt that he could have saved his daughter when he didn't and wants to save this young girl. Amy Ryan is absolutely fantastic as Helene. Her capability for an audience to have sympathy for what should be an unlikable character is amazing to me. The rest of the supporting cast is very good. In the special features on the DVD, several of the actors and extras are from Boston and the Boston area, where the film is set. I like that feeling of authenticity.
This is a thrilling and suspenseful mystery-thriller that will shock you with the twists. This film also has a timeless question which is: "where is home?". A great watch.
Rating: 5/5
Review: This is a really good movie. The plot is very well constructed. All of the characters in the film aren't superhuman. They're everyday people and they have their flaws. The film has its twists and keeps the audience engaged. The identity of the abductor and its accessories to the crime really surprised me. I especially liked the ending. It's not an entirely happy ending and of course I wish it would have been different, but it avoids the cliches.
The acting is also great. Casey Affleck shines as a leading actor. Morgan Freeman is also great as a cop who struggles with the deep guilt that he could have saved his daughter when he didn't and wants to save this young girl. Amy Ryan is absolutely fantastic as Helene. Her capability for an audience to have sympathy for what should be an unlikable character is amazing to me. The rest of the supporting cast is very good. In the special features on the DVD, several of the actors and extras are from Boston and the Boston area, where the film is set. I like that feeling of authenticity.
This is a thrilling and suspenseful mystery-thriller that will shock you with the twists. This film also has a timeless question which is: "where is home?". A great watch.
Rating: 5/5
Thursday 24 November 2011
Coraline (2009)
Plot: Coraline is a 10-year-old girl who is ignored by her parents. They've moved to a new home. While exploring, she discovers a small door in the wall. One night, she follows a mouse and it leads her to the door. She opens it to discover a tunnel. Curious, she crawls in, to discover an alternate version of her real life, where her "new parents" worship her and a boy she meets in the world that she finds annoying mouth sewn shut. Coraline repeatedly visits the alternate world, enjoying herself. But she later discovers her "New Mother" has dark secrets that make the world she thinks is perfect a nightmare.
Review: Henry Selick directed this movie. He also directed The Nightmare Before Christmas so I had a feeling the film was going to have a horror feel to it. But I was very surprised at how dark the plot is. It's very creepy and scary and kids under 12 are probably going to find this film scary. This is based on a novel written by Neil Gaiman. What I love about the plot is that it takes a child's dream and turns it against them. We've all wanted at some point to have a better world than what we live in. And I like that they've taken this wish and turned it into something scary.
Another thing that I liked about the movie is that like traditional horror films, the alternate world Coraline's discovered appears innocent and amazing, but slowly and suspiciously we realize it isn't what it appears to be. So I like that feel of suspense.
I really liked the ending. Just when you think everything is good, something happens. The actual last scene is good because it gives the audience a happy ending, but the imagery used in the very last shot I really like because it gives that sort of feeling that it's not completely over. The imagery used also gives the possibility for a sequel.
The animation is beautiful and flawless. The film was released in 3D and in 2D. I like both film versions, but I think it would be better for young kids to see this in 2D. They might have a lesser chance of getting scared.
This is a great animated film. It's aimed to a certain age group. So I think parents should be cautious if they decide to watch this movie as a family. I like seeing an animated film that isn't entirely happy and goody-goody two-shoes like so many animated films are these days. So this feels really fresh.
Rating: 5/5
Review: Henry Selick directed this movie. He also directed The Nightmare Before Christmas so I had a feeling the film was going to have a horror feel to it. But I was very surprised at how dark the plot is. It's very creepy and scary and kids under 12 are probably going to find this film scary. This is based on a novel written by Neil Gaiman. What I love about the plot is that it takes a child's dream and turns it against them. We've all wanted at some point to have a better world than what we live in. And I like that they've taken this wish and turned it into something scary.
Another thing that I liked about the movie is that like traditional horror films, the alternate world Coraline's discovered appears innocent and amazing, but slowly and suspiciously we realize it isn't what it appears to be. So I like that feel of suspense.
I really liked the ending. Just when you think everything is good, something happens. The actual last scene is good because it gives the audience a happy ending, but the imagery used in the very last shot I really like because it gives that sort of feeling that it's not completely over. The imagery used also gives the possibility for a sequel.
The animation is beautiful and flawless. The film was released in 3D and in 2D. I like both film versions, but I think it would be better for young kids to see this in 2D. They might have a lesser chance of getting scared.
This is a great animated film. It's aimed to a certain age group. So I think parents should be cautious if they decide to watch this movie as a family. I like seeing an animated film that isn't entirely happy and goody-goody two-shoes like so many animated films are these days. So this feels really fresh.
Rating: 5/5
Wednesday 23 November 2011
The Ring (2002)
Plot: They say there's a videotape that kills you seven days after you watch it. 16-year-old Katie dies suddenly, later being revealed she watched the tape prior to her death. Katie's maternal aunt, Rachel (Naomi Watts), who is a journalist, decides to investigate her niece's death after Katie's mother, who's Rachel's sister, asks her to. This leads Rachel to the cabin where Katie watched the tape. Rachel watches the tape. The phone rings and a voice says seven days. Rachel decides to discover the origins of the tape, getting help from an ex-boyfriend, Noah (Martin Henderson), who's the father of her 9-year-old son, Aidan (David Dorfman), who has been deeply affected by his cousin's death. But as Rachel goes deeper in the history, she puts herself in further danger.
Review: This is considered by many what started the string of Japanese horror remakes. But this is one of the better ones, if not the best one. I really, really liked this movie. The plot is very unique and interesting. It is confusing. This is one those movies that you can't leave without pausing. You have to focus in order to understand the plot and the clues. I really like the images that are used when Rachel and other characters are watching the tape. But again, you have to pay close attention in order to make the connections yourself.
The acting is pretty good too. Naomi Watts is very good as the heroine. Martin Henderson is also very good as Noah. David Dorfman is great at playing the troubled and slightly creepy yet innocent child. Daveigh Chase plays Samara, who is behind all of the chaos with the tape. She's very, very creepy and convincing in this role. She doesn't even appear on screen that much but she shines and sends chills down your spine.
The makeup effects in the movie are also very well done, especially with the bodies of those who were killed by the tape, like Katie and amongst others. It's very disturbing and very well done.
I will say that I really loved the twist in the end. The reason I liked it is because it isn't completely cliche, where you have a resolution but the problem hasn't completely gone away. That's what I like. But that ending also leaves the opening for sequels, which have been done.
Overall, a very creepy and suspenseful horror film. There are so many horror films that have been remade. I feel that since 2000 or so, horror films are constantly being remade. This is one of the better remakes. Check it out, it's worth it, unlike some remakes that I've seen.
Rating: 4/5
Review: This is considered by many what started the string of Japanese horror remakes. But this is one of the better ones, if not the best one. I really, really liked this movie. The plot is very unique and interesting. It is confusing. This is one those movies that you can't leave without pausing. You have to focus in order to understand the plot and the clues. I really like the images that are used when Rachel and other characters are watching the tape. But again, you have to pay close attention in order to make the connections yourself.
The acting is pretty good too. Naomi Watts is very good as the heroine. Martin Henderson is also very good as Noah. David Dorfman is great at playing the troubled and slightly creepy yet innocent child. Daveigh Chase plays Samara, who is behind all of the chaos with the tape. She's very, very creepy and convincing in this role. She doesn't even appear on screen that much but she shines and sends chills down your spine.
The makeup effects in the movie are also very well done, especially with the bodies of those who were killed by the tape, like Katie and amongst others. It's very disturbing and very well done.
I will say that I really loved the twist in the end. The reason I liked it is because it isn't completely cliche, where you have a resolution but the problem hasn't completely gone away. That's what I like. But that ending also leaves the opening for sequels, which have been done.
Overall, a very creepy and suspenseful horror film. There are so many horror films that have been remade. I feel that since 2000 or so, horror films are constantly being remade. This is one of the better remakes. Check it out, it's worth it, unlike some remakes that I've seen.
Rating: 4/5
Ponyo (2009)
Plot: A little-fish girl named Brunhilde lives in an aquarium undersea with her father and numerous sisters. Curious about the world outside a bubble she's confided in, she goes exploring and washes ashore a fishing town and is rescued by a five-year-old boy names Sosuke. When her father retrieves her, she declares her name to be Ponyo and her desire to be human. She grows legs and arms, a consequence of when she licked human blood. She's releases her father's magic to make herself human and releases magics in the ocean, causing a tsunami. She then finds Sosuke and adapts to human society. Later in the film, Sosuke's home is covered by the ocean and go to find Lisa, Sosuke's mother who has yet to return home. They go through a tunnel, where Ponyo turns back into a fish. Her father takes them to the ocean, where a nursing home where Lisa works is protected. Sosuke is asked a question that will determine Ponyo's fate.
Review: This is the Japanese version of The Little Mermaid. The plot is pretty much the same thing as The Little Mermaid, except the characters are much, much younger. The plot is fairly simple and will appeal to kids. It's the least complicated of Miyazaki's plots.
Noah Cyrus and Frankie Jonas, who are siblings of Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers, voice Ponyo and Sosuke respectively. So I have a feeling that kids are going to want to see this movie for that very reason.
This is a great family movie. Kids can be entertained by the beautiful animation and there's even enough substance in the film so that adults won't get bored. This isn't my favorite Miyazaki film, but it's not a weak link in his long list of masterpieces. This reminds me of My Neighbor Totoro, which is also one of his more family-friendly movies that's mainly aimed to kids, but also has enough substance for adults to enjoy. Both of these are great movies for the entire family.
Rating: 5/5
Review: This is the Japanese version of The Little Mermaid. The plot is pretty much the same thing as The Little Mermaid, except the characters are much, much younger. The plot is fairly simple and will appeal to kids. It's the least complicated of Miyazaki's plots.
Noah Cyrus and Frankie Jonas, who are siblings of Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers, voice Ponyo and Sosuke respectively. So I have a feeling that kids are going to want to see this movie for that very reason.
This is a great family movie. Kids can be entertained by the beautiful animation and there's even enough substance in the film so that adults won't get bored. This isn't my favorite Miyazaki film, but it's not a weak link in his long list of masterpieces. This reminds me of My Neighbor Totoro, which is also one of his more family-friendly movies that's mainly aimed to kids, but also has enough substance for adults to enjoy. Both of these are great movies for the entire family.
Rating: 5/5
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
Plot: The Grinch (Jim Carrey) is a creature who lives in a cave on Mount Crumpit, located above Whoville has a heart two sizes too small and has always hated Christmas. The citizens of Whoville fear the Grinch. Cindy Lou Who (Taylor Momsen) is a young Who who isn't scared of the Grinch and wants to help him enjoy Christmas. She invites him to a Christmas feast in Whoville, which goes horribly wrong at the end. He wishes he could stop Christmas from coming to Whoville. When he sees his dog, Max, covered in snow looking like Santa, the Grinch comes up with an idea. He disguises himself as Santa and Max as his reindeer. The Grinch steals everything from the Whos and waits for their cries. But they celebrate anyway, with the Grinch now realizing Christmas isn't made of material things. The sleigh he had made to get all of the gifts almost falls off the cliff. But his heart has grown three sizes because of this realization and his heart growing gives him the strength to stop the sleigh. He returns everything to Whoville and participates in the holiday feast.
Review: This is a live-action version of the famous children's book. The plot changes in this version compared to the 1966 TV special. We're given a background of the Grinch. We're given a background of his upbringing and the reason why he became so cruel. I actually like that we see some background on his character. But then again the only reason they added the extra footage is because they needed to stretch the film's length. Another thing I didn't like about the plot itself were all the gags that they put in that I didn't think we're entirely necessary. I understand that Jim Carrey is a great comedy actor, but plenty of the gags I found a little annoying.
Anthony Hopkins does the narration for this and I actually really like it. Jim Carrey portrays the Grinch and I think he does a great job. The Grinch is more comical than you'd expect but he makes it work. I also enjoyed Taylor Momsen as Cindy Lou Who. The rest of the acting was decent. There are a wide variety of new characters including Augustus (played by Jeffrey Tambour), the mayor who bullied the Grinch during their youth. Martha (played by Christine Baranski), the Grinch's longtime crush and Augustus' love interest. I didn't find the majority of the characters, except the Grinch and Cindy Lou, sympathetic. I don't know if that was the intent but either way I didn't really care for the other characters except the two of them.
I'd like to point out the makeup, costumes and set decoration that was done in this film are very impressive. The Grinch and the Whos makeup was very well done. The costumes they wear I actually believe make sense for the kind of world they live in. The same goes for the set design. The film won an Oscar for Best Makeup and were also nominated for Set Decoration and Costumes. Well-deserved nominations and win.
Overall, this remake of the Grinch is entertaining and is funny. But I also found certain aspects of the film to be annoying. But this is still a movie that I like to watch during the Christmas holidays.
Rating: 3.5/5
Review: This is a live-action version of the famous children's book. The plot changes in this version compared to the 1966 TV special. We're given a background of the Grinch. We're given a background of his upbringing and the reason why he became so cruel. I actually like that we see some background on his character. But then again the only reason they added the extra footage is because they needed to stretch the film's length. Another thing I didn't like about the plot itself were all the gags that they put in that I didn't think we're entirely necessary. I understand that Jim Carrey is a great comedy actor, but plenty of the gags I found a little annoying.
Anthony Hopkins does the narration for this and I actually really like it. Jim Carrey portrays the Grinch and I think he does a great job. The Grinch is more comical than you'd expect but he makes it work. I also enjoyed Taylor Momsen as Cindy Lou Who. The rest of the acting was decent. There are a wide variety of new characters including Augustus (played by Jeffrey Tambour), the mayor who bullied the Grinch during their youth. Martha (played by Christine Baranski), the Grinch's longtime crush and Augustus' love interest. I didn't find the majority of the characters, except the Grinch and Cindy Lou, sympathetic. I don't know if that was the intent but either way I didn't really care for the other characters except the two of them.
I'd like to point out the makeup, costumes and set decoration that was done in this film are very impressive. The Grinch and the Whos makeup was very well done. The costumes they wear I actually believe make sense for the kind of world they live in. The same goes for the set design. The film won an Oscar for Best Makeup and were also nominated for Set Decoration and Costumes. Well-deserved nominations and win.
Overall, this remake of the Grinch is entertaining and is funny. But I also found certain aspects of the film to be annoying. But this is still a movie that I like to watch during the Christmas holidays.
Rating: 3.5/5
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966)
Plot: The Grinch is a creature who lives in a cave on Mount Crumpit, located above Whoville has a heart two sizes too small and has always hated Christmas. He wishes he could stop Christmas from coming to Whoville. When he sees his dog, Max, covered in snow looking like Santa, the Grinch comes up with an idea. He disguises himself as Santa and Max as his reindeer. The Grinch steals everything from the Whos and waits for their cries. But they celebrate anyway, with the Grinch now realizing Christmas isn't made of material things. The sleigh he had made to get all of the gifts almost falls off the cliff. But his heart has grown three sizes because of this realization and his heart growing gives him the strength to stop the sleigh. He returns everything to Whoville and participates in the holiday feast and cuts the roast beef.
Review: What can I say about this special? It's a Christmas classic that has been treasured for decades and will continue to be treasured for decades to come. It's a simple story with well done animation. I love Boris Karloff's narration (he also voices the Grinch). A very well made special that shows us kids and everyone alike the true meaning of Christmas. A short TV special that's always enjoyed by the entire family.
Rating: 5/5
Review: What can I say about this special? It's a Christmas classic that has been treasured for decades and will continue to be treasured for decades to come. It's a simple story with well done animation. I love Boris Karloff's narration (he also voices the Grinch). A very well made special that shows us kids and everyone alike the true meaning of Christmas. A short TV special that's always enjoyed by the entire family.
Rating: 5/5
Red Eye (2005)
Plot: Lisa Reisert (Rachel McAdams) is taking a red-eye from Dallas to Miami. She then meets Jack Rippner (Cillian Murphy) and they have drinks while waiting to board their delayed flight. On the plane high in the sky, Rippner reveals he's an operative terrorist who is planning to assassinate a worker for Homeland Security. He's staying at the hotel where Lisa is acting manager. Rippner needs her help to make the assassination happen. Rippner tells her if she doesn't do what she's told, her father will be killed.
Review: This is a very good psychological thriller. Firstly, what I like about the plot is that the film's main focus is between Rippner and Lisa. A great portion of the film is just the two of them, just talking. They're talking when they're waiting for their delayed flight, they talk while on the plane (which is for a great part of the film) and they're talking near the film's ending. To be able to make two people talking suspenseful and thrilling is quite an accomplishment.
The acting in the film is also great. Rachel McAdams and Cillian Murphy work really well together. With McAdams and how she portrays Lisa, you want to comfort her when she cries and you clap when she stands strong towards Rippner. That's one aspect that I love about this character. That she's a strong female lead, but also vulnerable and has her own inner demons. Cillian Murphy is very good as Rippner. He's able to pull off the charming persona and the frightening and smart terrorist. Brian Cox plays Lisa's father, Jack, and I thought that for the limited amount of screen time he was on, he did a good job. We have a variety of recurring and minor characters and they all blend in the film well without taking away from the main focus. Some of these minor and recurring characters also add humor to the film which I like because there's so much tension and drama going on between Lisa and Rippner that I like that we're able to see these minor characters and laugh.
Wes Craven, known for his horror films, directed this thriller, which is outside of his comfort zone. He did a great job and I like that there certain shots that add to the suspense of the movie and keeps the tension going.
This is one of my favorite psychological thrillers. Some might not say it's the greatest and I can agree that it's probably not the greatest psychological thriller because it does have certain flaws. But this is still an entertaining and intense thriller that should be able to please moviegoers.
Rating: 4/5
Review: This is a very good psychological thriller. Firstly, what I like about the plot is that the film's main focus is between Rippner and Lisa. A great portion of the film is just the two of them, just talking. They're talking when they're waiting for their delayed flight, they talk while on the plane (which is for a great part of the film) and they're talking near the film's ending. To be able to make two people talking suspenseful and thrilling is quite an accomplishment.
The acting in the film is also great. Rachel McAdams and Cillian Murphy work really well together. With McAdams and how she portrays Lisa, you want to comfort her when she cries and you clap when she stands strong towards Rippner. That's one aspect that I love about this character. That she's a strong female lead, but also vulnerable and has her own inner demons. Cillian Murphy is very good as Rippner. He's able to pull off the charming persona and the frightening and smart terrorist. Brian Cox plays Lisa's father, Jack, and I thought that for the limited amount of screen time he was on, he did a good job. We have a variety of recurring and minor characters and they all blend in the film well without taking away from the main focus. Some of these minor and recurring characters also add humor to the film which I like because there's so much tension and drama going on between Lisa and Rippner that I like that we're able to see these minor characters and laugh.
Wes Craven, known for his horror films, directed this thriller, which is outside of his comfort zone. He did a great job and I like that there certain shots that add to the suspense of the movie and keeps the tension going.
This is one of my favorite psychological thrillers. Some might not say it's the greatest and I can agree that it's probably not the greatest psychological thriller because it does have certain flaws. But this is still an entertaining and intense thriller that should be able to please moviegoers.
Rating: 4/5
Tuesday 22 November 2011
Marley & Me (2008)
Plot: John and Jenny Grogan (Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston) decide to adopt a puppy to see if they're ready to raise a family. They adopt a puppy they name Marley, who proves himself to be quite the handful. But Marley also proves himself to be a loyal and loving member of their family, through the laughs and hardships that they face with their growing family.
Review: This is an adaptation of John Grogan's autobiography. And I like it. It's a great watch.
Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston have great chemistry that holds the film together. If they didn't have the chemistry, the film would've fallen flat. When they cry, you believe it. When they laugh, you want to laugh with them. The rest of the cast was pretty good too. There are a handful of supporting characters, including Sebastian Tunney, a friend of John's (played by Eric Dane) and Arnie Klein (Alan Arkin), John's editor, provide nice comedic moments.
What I love about the plot is that it works great as a comedy-drama. We have the comedic moments where Marley is being a complete handful and being mischievous. We also have nice comedic moments between other characters. We also have the dramatic moments like the loses that John and Jenny endure in the film.
This is a good watch for the family. It's a film that will make you laugh and will make you cry. It will make you laugh and cry because it's relatable to the audience.
Rating: 4/5
Review: This is an adaptation of John Grogan's autobiography. And I like it. It's a great watch.
Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston have great chemistry that holds the film together. If they didn't have the chemistry, the film would've fallen flat. When they cry, you believe it. When they laugh, you want to laugh with them. The rest of the cast was pretty good too. There are a handful of supporting characters, including Sebastian Tunney, a friend of John's (played by Eric Dane) and Arnie Klein (Alan Arkin), John's editor, provide nice comedic moments.
What I love about the plot is that it works great as a comedy-drama. We have the comedic moments where Marley is being a complete handful and being mischievous. We also have nice comedic moments between other characters. We also have the dramatic moments like the loses that John and Jenny endure in the film.
This is a good watch for the family. It's a film that will make you laugh and will make you cry. It will make you laugh and cry because it's relatable to the audience.
Rating: 4/5
My Sister's Keeper (2009)
Plot: Anna (Abigail Breslin) was conceived via in vitro fertilization in order to be a match for her older sister, Kate (Sofia Vassilieva) who suffers from leukemia. Anna is now eleven years old and Kate is in renal failure, meaning Anna must give Kate one of her kidneys. Knowing her parents will force her to do this, Anna realizes she will not be able to live the life she wants to if she goes through with it. Deciding she doesn't want to do it anymore, Anna files a lawsuit against her parents for the rights to her own body. Overprotective mother Sara (Cameron Diaz), determined to keep Kate alive, represents her family in the lawsuit filed by her own daughter. The film is told through a series of flashbacks of Kate's memories and shows the relationships between her family members and how her illness has affected all of them.
Review: I like this movie. I really do. I'm a fan of Jodi Picoult's novels and was looking forward to seeing this. First of all, the plot is deals with controversial issues like in vitro fertilization, having donor children, the right to make your own decisions in a life and death situation will have people talking. One of the reasons I like Jodi Picoult is because in her novels, she deals with real-life issues. Real-life issues and social issues that many people would be afraid to talk about.
The acting is pretty good. I liked seeing Cameron Diaz in a serious drama because we're usually used to seeing her in comedic roles and I liked this change. Abigail Breslin and Sofia Vassilieva stood out to me. I found them very believable as sisters and I enjoyed that Abigail Breslin portrays Anna with a level of maturity which reflects on how she's lived her life. Alec Baldwin plays Anna's lawyer and I also enjoyed him. Jason Patric plays Brian, the conflicted father who sees both sides of the situation. Evan Ellingston plays Jesse, the middle child and troubled teen. I wish we saw more of him and Brian and their issues because I feel that much of the film mainly focused on the mother and daughters. I've read that the film is very different compared to the book. I've yet to read it so I can say for sure how different it actually is.
Another aspect I loved of the plot is that we get so many different sides to what's happening and I like that out of all the characters, there's one we'll agree with. Everyone might choose a different character, but the point is that we understand.
Rating: 4/5
Review: I like this movie. I really do. I'm a fan of Jodi Picoult's novels and was looking forward to seeing this. First of all, the plot is deals with controversial issues like in vitro fertilization, having donor children, the right to make your own decisions in a life and death situation will have people talking. One of the reasons I like Jodi Picoult is because in her novels, she deals with real-life issues. Real-life issues and social issues that many people would be afraid to talk about.
The acting is pretty good. I liked seeing Cameron Diaz in a serious drama because we're usually used to seeing her in comedic roles and I liked this change. Abigail Breslin and Sofia Vassilieva stood out to me. I found them very believable as sisters and I enjoyed that Abigail Breslin portrays Anna with a level of maturity which reflects on how she's lived her life. Alec Baldwin plays Anna's lawyer and I also enjoyed him. Jason Patric plays Brian, the conflicted father who sees both sides of the situation. Evan Ellingston plays Jesse, the middle child and troubled teen. I wish we saw more of him and Brian and their issues because I feel that much of the film mainly focused on the mother and daughters. I've read that the film is very different compared to the book. I've yet to read it so I can say for sure how different it actually is.
Another aspect I loved of the plot is that we get so many different sides to what's happening and I like that out of all the characters, there's one we'll agree with. Everyone might choose a different character, but the point is that we understand.
Rating: 4/5
Sunday 20 November 2011
Doubt (2008)
Plot: Set in 1964, Sister Aloysius (Meryl Streep) is suspicious of Father Brendan Flynn (Philip Seymour Hoffman), who is new to the church and the school that is attached to it. She then suspects that Father Flynn has an inappropriate relationship with Donald, the school's only black student and altar boy. Sister James (Amy Adams), who is a young and naive teacher, is conflicted. Despite having no proof and being told repeatedly to drop the matter, Sister Aloysius remains firm on her belief and doesn't let go.
Review: The film is based on a play. John Patrick Shanley wrote the original play and he adapted his original play into a film. He also directed it. We have the sense that this is based on a film because the film has limited locations.
The performances in the film are top notch. Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Amy Adams are all brilliant. They all portray the different sides in real-life incidents like those that happen in the film. Viola Davis portrays Donald's mother. She's only on-screen for roughly ten minutes or more and she stands out. All four actors received nominations at the Oscars for Meryl Streep (Best Actress), Philip Seymour Hoffman (Best Supporting Actor), Amy Adams (Best Supporting Actress) and Viola Davis (Best Supporting Actress). The film received five Oscar nominations and the acting in the film earned four of them. That speaks volumes.
The plot itself and the themes addressed are timeless. Religion, possible abuse within the church and more. What I like about the film is that we're never told whether or not Father Flynn actually abused the student. Supposedly, writer/director John Patrick Shanley only told the actor who portrayed Flynn if whether or not the abuse happened. Although some might find it frustrating, I think it's a realistic approach and leaves our imaginations to wonder.
A film with timeless themes and top-notch acting that will be appreciated by any moviegoer.
Rating: 4.5/5
Review: The film is based on a play. John Patrick Shanley wrote the original play and he adapted his original play into a film. He also directed it. We have the sense that this is based on a film because the film has limited locations.
The performances in the film are top notch. Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Amy Adams are all brilliant. They all portray the different sides in real-life incidents like those that happen in the film. Viola Davis portrays Donald's mother. She's only on-screen for roughly ten minutes or more and she stands out. All four actors received nominations at the Oscars for Meryl Streep (Best Actress), Philip Seymour Hoffman (Best Supporting Actor), Amy Adams (Best Supporting Actress) and Viola Davis (Best Supporting Actress). The film received five Oscar nominations and the acting in the film earned four of them. That speaks volumes.
The plot itself and the themes addressed are timeless. Religion, possible abuse within the church and more. What I like about the film is that we're never told whether or not Father Flynn actually abused the student. Supposedly, writer/director John Patrick Shanley only told the actor who portrayed Flynn if whether or not the abuse happened. Although some might find it frustrating, I think it's a realistic approach and leaves our imaginations to wonder.
A film with timeless themes and top-notch acting that will be appreciated by any moviegoer.
Rating: 4.5/5
Saturday 19 November 2011
The Big Year (2011)
Plot: Stu (Steve Martin) is a business man who is retiring. Brad (Jack Black) is divorced, works a crappy job and lives with his parents. Both of these men have one thing in common: to do a big year, which is to outdo others in finding the most species of birds in North America. Kenny (Owen Smith) holds the record for seeing the most species in North America. He's a cocky man who's married and he and his wife are doing fertility treatments to try and get pregnant. When he learns that someone plans to break his record, he's determined to outdo his own record. Their competition is an allegory faced in their lives.
Review: When I heard of the movie's plot, I was very skeptical about it. But it works really well. I didn't even know what a big year was. It does take passion and dedication and the three main characters have it. Another thing that I like is how distinct and different the three main characters are. Stu is a businessman desperate to leave his company behind and move on with his life, but continues to be pulled in by his employees. Brad is misunderstood and belittled by his father, who thinks his goal to do a big year is ridiculous. Kenny is a cocky and selfish man who is determined to hold onto what he thinks is his (his record) and as a result is putting his wife behind him. The plot overall works well and I did like the ending. It wasn't the typical cliche ending that was to be expected and I'm happy that the characters' lives turned out the way they did in the end.
This is labeled as a comedy. But I would label it as a comedy-drama instead. The film has its good, funny moments but the film was also more dramatic than I would've thought.
The three leads of Steve Martin, Jack Black and Owen Wilson work well together. They feed off each other's energy well. I liked the relationship between Martin and Black's character, felt to me like father and son, which interlinks with Brad's relationship with his father.
Overall, it's a surprisingly good and entertaining movie for what it is. It's not the most amazing film I've seen so far in 2011. It's just a fun and simple movie that will keep you entertained.
Rating: 3/5
Review: When I heard of the movie's plot, I was very skeptical about it. But it works really well. I didn't even know what a big year was. It does take passion and dedication and the three main characters have it. Another thing that I like is how distinct and different the three main characters are. Stu is a businessman desperate to leave his company behind and move on with his life, but continues to be pulled in by his employees. Brad is misunderstood and belittled by his father, who thinks his goal to do a big year is ridiculous. Kenny is a cocky and selfish man who is determined to hold onto what he thinks is his (his record) and as a result is putting his wife behind him. The plot overall works well and I did like the ending. It wasn't the typical cliche ending that was to be expected and I'm happy that the characters' lives turned out the way they did in the end.
This is labeled as a comedy. But I would label it as a comedy-drama instead. The film has its good, funny moments but the film was also more dramatic than I would've thought.
The three leads of Steve Martin, Jack Black and Owen Wilson work well together. They feed off each other's energy well. I liked the relationship between Martin and Black's character, felt to me like father and son, which interlinks with Brad's relationship with his father.
Overall, it's a surprisingly good and entertaining movie for what it is. It's not the most amazing film I've seen so far in 2011. It's just a fun and simple movie that will keep you entertained.
Rating: 3/5
The Sixth Sense (1999)
Plot: The movie begins with child psychologist Dr. Malcolm Crowe (Bruce Willis) returning home to his wife, having been honored for some his work. He and his wife then realize that a man in their apartment is a former patient of Malcolm's, who accuses him [Malcolm] of failing to help him as a child. Malcolm is then shot. Malcolm then starts working with a nine-year-old boy, Cole (Haley Joel Osment), who has a similar condition of his former patient. Once Cole starts to trust Malcolm, he reveals his secret and what he sees: the dead.
Review: I really enjoyed this film. Firstly, this is a psychological thriller and I like the psychological aspects of the plot and characters. Not just with the main characters, but minor characters, like the ghosts. The film is known for its twist ending, which I didn't expect at all when I first saw it. There are several indications of this twist, which are shown near the end. It's honestly one of those twists that you feel stupid for not noticing when realizing all the hints were there.
The acting is also very good. Bruce Willis is very good as a troubled psychologist who doesn't want to repeat what he believes are his past mistakes. Toni Collette, who plays Cole's working single mother, is also very good in this. She has a limited amount of screen time, but she shines whenever she's on. But the real standout is Haley Joel Osment. Haley Joel Osment shines throughout the entire film as a troubled young boy who is carrying a huge secret. Haley Joel Osment rightfully earned an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor and Toni Collette was also nominated for Best Supporting Actress. I am a little surprised that Bruce Willis didn't receive an Oscar nomination for Best Actor because I think that he deserved to at least be nominated.
This isn't a movie that's going to make you jump out of your seat every five minutes. This is a psychologically thrilling film. And I think that this film is just as creepy and suspenseful than most horror films that are sometimes way over the top with predictable scares. The film does have it's scary moments, but they won't necessarily make you jump out of your seat. It'll probably make your skin crawl a little.
Overall, a very thrilling, entertaining, suspenseful psychological film that has it's twists and turns that will leave you satisfied.
Rating: 4.5/5
Review: I really enjoyed this film. Firstly, this is a psychological thriller and I like the psychological aspects of the plot and characters. Not just with the main characters, but minor characters, like the ghosts. The film is known for its twist ending, which I didn't expect at all when I first saw it. There are several indications of this twist, which are shown near the end. It's honestly one of those twists that you feel stupid for not noticing when realizing all the hints were there.
The acting is also very good. Bruce Willis is very good as a troubled psychologist who doesn't want to repeat what he believes are his past mistakes. Toni Collette, who plays Cole's working single mother, is also very good in this. She has a limited amount of screen time, but she shines whenever she's on. But the real standout is Haley Joel Osment. Haley Joel Osment shines throughout the entire film as a troubled young boy who is carrying a huge secret. Haley Joel Osment rightfully earned an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor and Toni Collette was also nominated for Best Supporting Actress. I am a little surprised that Bruce Willis didn't receive an Oscar nomination for Best Actor because I think that he deserved to at least be nominated.
This isn't a movie that's going to make you jump out of your seat every five minutes. This is a psychologically thrilling film. And I think that this film is just as creepy and suspenseful than most horror films that are sometimes way over the top with predictable scares. The film does have it's scary moments, but they won't necessarily make you jump out of your seat. It'll probably make your skin crawl a little.
Overall, a very thrilling, entertaining, suspenseful psychological film that has it's twists and turns that will leave you satisfied.
Rating: 4.5/5
Black Swan (2010)
Plot: Nina (Natalie Portman) is a ballerina who lives with her overbearing mother (Barbara Hershey), a former ballerina who retired after she became pregnant. The ballet company Nina dances for is doing a production of Swan Lake. The dancer who gets the lead must be able to portray the distinct personalities of the White Swan and the Black Swan. She auditions, which goes horribly, and is told while she may be able to portray the White Swan, she lacks the passion to portray the Black Swan. Thomas (Vincent Cassel), who is directing the production, introduces Nina to Lily (Mila Kunis), a dancer who has the qualities that Nina doesn't have to portray the Black Swan. The dancers' begin a friendship. As Nina becomes obsessed with perfecting the role, she goes to the dark side.
Review: This is a fascinating psychological film. This is the kind of movie that you really have to pay attention or otherwise you'll get lost or confused. When I first heard of the movie's plot, I didn't think it would be confusing at all. What's confusing is that what happens on the screen later on in the film, you cannot be entirely sure if it's real or if it's in Nina's head.
There's no weak actor in this movie. Natalie Portman gives the performance of her career in this film. I always liked her, but didn't really see her shine as an actress. She shines here. She won almost every major award for her performance including the Oscar for Best Actress. The way that she portrays Nina's timidness and her descent into madness is great to watch. Mila Kunis was great in this. She is essentially the title character. I felt that we didn't see enough of her on screen. The same goes for Barbara Hershey, who plays Nina's mother. I think that her portrayal makes you wonder if the madness runs in the family. I felt that while we saw a good amount of these characters on screen, I still felt like it wasn't enough. I was also disappointed that they didn't get recognition at any major award shows like the Oscars. Mila Kunis did get a Golden Globe nomination, but I feel that both Kunis and Hershey should have been nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the Oscars. I highly doubt they would've won but I would've liked to see them being acknowledged. Vincent Cassel was also great as Thomas. You could see a very scheming and manipulative character who is taking advantage of these young dancers for his own benefits.
The film is visually stunning. I like the color of the setting, especially during the performance of Swan Lake at the end because we get that sense of eeriness. Director Darren Aronofsky did an amazing job and I am happy that he got recognition at the Oscars, even if he didn't win, he deserved to be acknowledged.
This is the kind of movie that you either love or hate. There are many films that are sometimes an in-between. This isn't that kind of movie. This is a movie you'll either love or hate and I fore one loved it.
Rating: 4.5/5
Review: This is a fascinating psychological film. This is the kind of movie that you really have to pay attention or otherwise you'll get lost or confused. When I first heard of the movie's plot, I didn't think it would be confusing at all. What's confusing is that what happens on the screen later on in the film, you cannot be entirely sure if it's real or if it's in Nina's head.
There's no weak actor in this movie. Natalie Portman gives the performance of her career in this film. I always liked her, but didn't really see her shine as an actress. She shines here. She won almost every major award for her performance including the Oscar for Best Actress. The way that she portrays Nina's timidness and her descent into madness is great to watch. Mila Kunis was great in this. She is essentially the title character. I felt that we didn't see enough of her on screen. The same goes for Barbara Hershey, who plays Nina's mother. I think that her portrayal makes you wonder if the madness runs in the family. I felt that while we saw a good amount of these characters on screen, I still felt like it wasn't enough. I was also disappointed that they didn't get recognition at any major award shows like the Oscars. Mila Kunis did get a Golden Globe nomination, but I feel that both Kunis and Hershey should have been nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the Oscars. I highly doubt they would've won but I would've liked to see them being acknowledged. Vincent Cassel was also great as Thomas. You could see a very scheming and manipulative character who is taking advantage of these young dancers for his own benefits.
The film is visually stunning. I like the color of the setting, especially during the performance of Swan Lake at the end because we get that sense of eeriness. Director Darren Aronofsky did an amazing job and I am happy that he got recognition at the Oscars, even if he didn't win, he deserved to be acknowledged.
This is the kind of movie that you either love or hate. There are many films that are sometimes an in-between. This isn't that kind of movie. This is a movie you'll either love or hate and I fore one loved it.
Rating: 4.5/5
Pan's Labyrinth (2006)
This is one of the, if not, the best foreign language films I've ever seen. It's also one of my favorite movies of all time.
Plot: Ofelia is a young girl obsessed with fairy tales who moves to Spain after the Spanish Civil War. She moves with her mother to be with her new stepfather. Whilst moving in, she encounters an insect creature that she follows into a labyrinth. Later that night, the creature returns and transforms into a fairy. The fairy leads her to a labyrinth, where Ofelia meets a faun. The faun claims she's Princess Moanna, princess of the underworld. To prove she hasn't become mortal, the faun tells her she must complete three tasks before the full moon. But each task is deadlier and more dangerous than the other.
Review: This is a beautiful film.
Firstly, the makeup that's done with the creatures such as the faun and the Pale Man are extraordinarily done. The faun has a beauty in him that makes you unsure if you should trust him or not. Whenever he smiles, you're not sure if he's good or evil or if he's both.
The set design is phenomenal. The house, the forest and the labyrinth all have an eerie feeling to them that makes you wonder if you should trust it. All of these sets have a sense of uncertainty. It all comes down to trust.
Ofelia is fascinated by fairy tales, I like that there are many instances in the film that make us question if the fantasy world is real or if it's all in Ofelia's imagination. I like the unknown factor in this. Usually in fantasy world films, we know if a fantasy world is real or not. In this case, we might think we know, but we aren't 100% sure. We are given hints, but it all comes down to how you interpret the story.
The tasks themselves I love and the reason I do is because they reflect on Ofelia's character. She has to trust instincts and has to decide to for herself if whether or not she must go through with those instincts. With every task, she doesn't do what is expected of her. She acts like any other child, she disobeys and trusts her own gut. Granted, they don't always work in her favor, but these tasks show us what her thinking process is.
This movie takes place after the Spanish Civil War after Francisco Franco has come into power. Ofelia's stepfather believes in fascism strongly and has been assigned to root out any anti-fascist rebels. Even if you don't like the fantasy element of the film, you might enjoy the war elements of the film. What I like about the war aspect of the film is that it brings a sense of reality in a world of fantasy.
Trust is a huge theme in the film as you can see and Guillermo del Toro somehow managed to beautifully craft it in so many elements of the film. The sets, how the characters interact with each other and the worlds themselves. It's magnificent.
I also like the many instances in which the fantasy world and the human world interconnect in many aspects. We have the keys that are used in the human and fantasy world, we have the mandrake root healing the mother and so many others.
The movie is in Spanish and there are English subtitles. Some might be bothered that they have to read them, but I always put subtitles whenever I'm watching movies on DVD so I have no issue with it.
Guillermo del Toro is a fantastic writer and director and this movie shows it. A beautiful and violent fairy tale for grown ups. This is not a film for children by any means. It was rated R for a reason.
This is one my favorite movies of all time and will always remain in my top 5.
Rating: 5/5
Plot: Ofelia is a young girl obsessed with fairy tales who moves to Spain after the Spanish Civil War. She moves with her mother to be with her new stepfather. Whilst moving in, she encounters an insect creature that she follows into a labyrinth. Later that night, the creature returns and transforms into a fairy. The fairy leads her to a labyrinth, where Ofelia meets a faun. The faun claims she's Princess Moanna, princess of the underworld. To prove she hasn't become mortal, the faun tells her she must complete three tasks before the full moon. But each task is deadlier and more dangerous than the other.
Review: This is a beautiful film.
Firstly, the makeup that's done with the creatures such as the faun and the Pale Man are extraordinarily done. The faun has a beauty in him that makes you unsure if you should trust him or not. Whenever he smiles, you're not sure if he's good or evil or if he's both.
The set design is phenomenal. The house, the forest and the labyrinth all have an eerie feeling to them that makes you wonder if you should trust it. All of these sets have a sense of uncertainty. It all comes down to trust.
Ofelia is fascinated by fairy tales, I like that there are many instances in the film that make us question if the fantasy world is real or if it's all in Ofelia's imagination. I like the unknown factor in this. Usually in fantasy world films, we know if a fantasy world is real or not. In this case, we might think we know, but we aren't 100% sure. We are given hints, but it all comes down to how you interpret the story.
The tasks themselves I love and the reason I do is because they reflect on Ofelia's character. She has to trust instincts and has to decide to for herself if whether or not she must go through with those instincts. With every task, she doesn't do what is expected of her. She acts like any other child, she disobeys and trusts her own gut. Granted, they don't always work in her favor, but these tasks show us what her thinking process is.
This movie takes place after the Spanish Civil War after Francisco Franco has come into power. Ofelia's stepfather believes in fascism strongly and has been assigned to root out any anti-fascist rebels. Even if you don't like the fantasy element of the film, you might enjoy the war elements of the film. What I like about the war aspect of the film is that it brings a sense of reality in a world of fantasy.
Trust is a huge theme in the film as you can see and Guillermo del Toro somehow managed to beautifully craft it in so many elements of the film. The sets, how the characters interact with each other and the worlds themselves. It's magnificent.
I also like the many instances in which the fantasy world and the human world interconnect in many aspects. We have the keys that are used in the human and fantasy world, we have the mandrake root healing the mother and so many others.
The movie is in Spanish and there are English subtitles. Some might be bothered that they have to read them, but I always put subtitles whenever I'm watching movies on DVD so I have no issue with it.
Guillermo del Toro is a fantastic writer and director and this movie shows it. A beautiful and violent fairy tale for grown ups. This is not a film for children by any means. It was rated R for a reason.
This is one my favorite movies of all time and will always remain in my top 5.
Rating: 5/5
Friday 18 November 2011
Schindler's List (1993)
Plot: Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson), a German business man, saves the lives of over a thousand Jews during the Holocaust by employing them in his office. I would normally like to give a more detailed plot, but I think a film running at 195 minutes is too long to summarize in just a few words.
Review: Schindler's List is hands down one of the greatest movies ever made. I'm going to start off by saying that people need to know about Oskar Schindler. They need to know about his bravery and his determination to help the Jews. The ending scene just shows how much he wanted to help and even though he did what many see as extraordinary, he still felt he didn't do enough.
The acting in this movie is simply amazing. Liam Neeson's performance as Schindler is just amazing. I cannot describe it. Ben Kingsley as Itzhak Stern (Schindler's accountant and business partner) is just as great. Ralph Fiennes' performance as Amon Goeth really stands out for me. His performance as a SS officer assigned to work in a concentration camp honestly sent chills down my spine.
This is a very difficult film to watch. You can feel like you're in that concentration camp. The film shows how inhuman the SS officers were and how they were in simple terms, evil. They had no soul and no conscience. When the Jews are killed in cold blood and lured into the gas chambers, you can see that they have no conscience or guilt for what they're doing.
The film being shot in black and white makes the film that much more eerie to me. I think that colors are used as some sort of comfort. I think if you're going to watch a movie about the Holocaust, you shouldn't be comforted. You should feel uneasy and uncomfortable. The only color that we see is a little girl who wears a red coat. The visual of that little girl running and hiding under a bed sticks with you. When the Jews are killed in cold blood, we do not see the color of red, of blood.
Steven Spielberg has made many movies that are considered to be masterpieces. This is his number one masterpiece. You can see the dedication that Spielberg gave to this.
The movie runs at 195 minutes, so many could find this film long. My response to that is that the Titanic runs at approximately 194 minutes, so I think people will be fine.
The ending scene with the closing credits is just genius. I don't know who came up with it, but it's simply amazing to see the Schindler survivors with the actors that portrayed them.
I cannot emphasize enough the amazement that is this movie. This is without a doubt one of the films you have to see before you die. You have to see it because if not, you might regret it.
Rating: 5/5
Review: Schindler's List is hands down one of the greatest movies ever made. I'm going to start off by saying that people need to know about Oskar Schindler. They need to know about his bravery and his determination to help the Jews. The ending scene just shows how much he wanted to help and even though he did what many see as extraordinary, he still felt he didn't do enough.
The acting in this movie is simply amazing. Liam Neeson's performance as Schindler is just amazing. I cannot describe it. Ben Kingsley as Itzhak Stern (Schindler's accountant and business partner) is just as great. Ralph Fiennes' performance as Amon Goeth really stands out for me. His performance as a SS officer assigned to work in a concentration camp honestly sent chills down my spine.
This is a very difficult film to watch. You can feel like you're in that concentration camp. The film shows how inhuman the SS officers were and how they were in simple terms, evil. They had no soul and no conscience. When the Jews are killed in cold blood and lured into the gas chambers, you can see that they have no conscience or guilt for what they're doing.
The film being shot in black and white makes the film that much more eerie to me. I think that colors are used as some sort of comfort. I think if you're going to watch a movie about the Holocaust, you shouldn't be comforted. You should feel uneasy and uncomfortable. The only color that we see is a little girl who wears a red coat. The visual of that little girl running and hiding under a bed sticks with you. When the Jews are killed in cold blood, we do not see the color of red, of blood.
Steven Spielberg has made many movies that are considered to be masterpieces. This is his number one masterpiece. You can see the dedication that Spielberg gave to this.
The movie runs at 195 minutes, so many could find this film long. My response to that is that the Titanic runs at approximately 194 minutes, so I think people will be fine.
The ending scene with the closing credits is just genius. I don't know who came up with it, but it's simply amazing to see the Schindler survivors with the actors that portrayed them.
I cannot emphasize enough the amazement that is this movie. This is without a doubt one of the films you have to see before you die. You have to see it because if not, you might regret it.
Rating: 5/5
Grizzly Man (2005)
This is probably one of the most fascinating documentaries I've seen.
Plot: Narrated and directed by Werner Hezrog, this documentary tells the story of Timothy Treadwell, a man who lived with grizzly bears during the summer in Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska. Treadwell did so for thirteen summers, until 2003 when he and his girlfriend were killed and partially eaten by a grizzly bear in the park. During his summers, Timothy shot over 100 hours of video footage, which we see. Hezrog also adds footage of his own. We see footage of grizzly bears, many of which Treadwell is in close proximity. He interviews numerous people involved with Treadwell, including his longtime friends, the coroner and the man who found the bodies.
Review: As I mentioned, this is probably one of the most fascinating documentaries I've seen. Grizzly Man shows us the story of a man who was possibly mentally ill, but loved what he did. I admire that Treadwell was able to survive as long as he did. He didn't have pepper spray or anything else along the lines of protection. But then again, many people who are interviewed believe that Timothy Treadwell was doing more harm than good. I can see there points of view. He is in very close proximity to the bears, at some points he's actually touching them.
I like Hezrog's narration, but I feel that he's very judgmental. He immediately judges Treadwell as an insane human being who basically had a death wish. I don't think that Treadwell had a death wish. It's obvious that he loved the bears and that he did think he was doing right by the bears.
This is a documentary that will have people talking. People will see both sides of the story. It's a documentary that will have people wonder if man and nature are allowed to interact in the extents that Treadwell was.
Rating: 5/5
Plot: Narrated and directed by Werner Hezrog, this documentary tells the story of Timothy Treadwell, a man who lived with grizzly bears during the summer in Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska. Treadwell did so for thirteen summers, until 2003 when he and his girlfriend were killed and partially eaten by a grizzly bear in the park. During his summers, Timothy shot over 100 hours of video footage, which we see. Hezrog also adds footage of his own. We see footage of grizzly bears, many of which Treadwell is in close proximity. He interviews numerous people involved with Treadwell, including his longtime friends, the coroner and the man who found the bodies.
Review: As I mentioned, this is probably one of the most fascinating documentaries I've seen. Grizzly Man shows us the story of a man who was possibly mentally ill, but loved what he did. I admire that Treadwell was able to survive as long as he did. He didn't have pepper spray or anything else along the lines of protection. But then again, many people who are interviewed believe that Timothy Treadwell was doing more harm than good. I can see there points of view. He is in very close proximity to the bears, at some points he's actually touching them.
I like Hezrog's narration, but I feel that he's very judgmental. He immediately judges Treadwell as an insane human being who basically had a death wish. I don't think that Treadwell had a death wish. It's obvious that he loved the bears and that he did think he was doing right by the bears.
This is a documentary that will have people talking. People will see both sides of the story. It's a documentary that will have people wonder if man and nature are allowed to interact in the extents that Treadwell was.
Rating: 5/5
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Plot: Jack Skellington is the Pumpkin King from Halloween Town. He's sick of the same old thing every year. One day, he opens a portal that leads to Christmas Town. Jack is fascinated by the feeling and style of Christmas. He shows his discovery to the creatures of Halloween Town and they fail to grasp it. Jack does several experiments and becomes obsessed. He decides to take Santa Clause's place. Henchmen for the evil Oogie Boogie kidnapped Santa Clause (Sandy Claws called by the creatures of Halloween Town). Jack takes Santa's place in Christmas Town, giving children horrifying gifts. He fails his task, but this leads back to his love for scaring people. He then returns to Halloween Town to save Santa and Sally.
Review: Another favorite of mine. I love the plot. I love the idea of every holiday having their own world and embracing only their holiday. The animation is very well done. I'm not a fan of musicals by any means, although I can tolerate musicals, I generally don't enjoy them that much. I loved the songs because they aren't all happy, cheery songs that we would expect out of musicals. I just like the combination of Halloween and Christmas in one film and that this is a film that you can during either Halloween or Christmas.
The film isn't entirely scary, but it can be scary to viewers of a certain age. Overall, this is a funny, charming and entertaining animated film that is a favorite to many, including myself.
Rating: 5/5
Review: Another favorite of mine. I love the plot. I love the idea of every holiday having their own world and embracing only their holiday. The animation is very well done. I'm not a fan of musicals by any means, although I can tolerate musicals, I generally don't enjoy them that much. I loved the songs because they aren't all happy, cheery songs that we would expect out of musicals. I just like the combination of Halloween and Christmas in one film and that this is a film that you can during either Halloween or Christmas.
The film isn't entirely scary, but it can be scary to viewers of a certain age. Overall, this is a funny, charming and entertaining animated film that is a favorite to many, including myself.
Rating: 5/5
Don't Be Afraid of the Dark (2011)
Up next, I'm going to give my thoughts on the horror-thriller film, Don't Be Afraid of the Dark, a remake of a 1973 television film. This remake is for me as a horror film fan, is one of the better ones to come out in the last year or two that I actually enjoyed.
Plot: Sally (Bailee Madison) is moving in with her father Alex (Guy Pearce) and his girlfriend Kim (Katie Holmes) into an old home that they're restoring for a client. While exploring, Sally discovers a secret basement. In that secret basement, is a latched fireplace. She takes an interest in the fireplace when she hears voices talking to her, asking her to free them. She unlocks the fireplace, to release creatures that feed on children teeth. The creatures are now free and after her, wanting to claim her as one of their own.
Review: I really, really liked this movie. I wasn't expecting much, but I was surprised in certain aspects. But that doesn't mean the movie didn't have its flaws. The plot is very interesting, but there are certain plot holes that I was curious about. For example, we're never really told the history behind the creatures and why they reside in the house. It's just something like that that has me curious. The plot does have it's cliches (the parent who doesn't believe their child) and there are predictable parts, but almost every horror film I've seen that's been released in the last ten years is predictable in one way or another.
The film's acting is pretty decent. Bailee Madison is very good as Sally. She's carrying the film on her shoulders and for being eleven, she's pretty convincing. Whenever she's scared, you feel her fear. Or when she's angry, you feel her anger. I like Guy Pearce as an actor, but he's pretty dull in this, but in his defense, he's not given much to go on, except the cliche parent who doesn't believe their kid. Katie Holmes is also surprisingly good as Kim. I'll also make a point of mentioning Jack Thompson, who plays Harris, is also very good.
The setting and design of this film is extremely well done. For a film that's title is Don't Be Afraid of the Dark, they use a lot of shots of dark and dark lighting. It can be difficult to see in certain shots, but I like that the director is trying to use as much dark setting as possible. The house is also very well done and has a very creepy atmosphere.
The creatures are creepy looking, but I think they should have waited to show the audience the creatures what they look like until later on in the film. I think they showed them way too soon and it killed a little bit of the suspense. They are creepy looking, but they're so small it looks like you could step on one and kill it. So there's another fault.
Overall, despite its certain flaws, I found this movie to be creepy, suspenseful at certain plots and just entertaining.
Rating: 3.5/5
Plot: Sally (Bailee Madison) is moving in with her father Alex (Guy Pearce) and his girlfriend Kim (Katie Holmes) into an old home that they're restoring for a client. While exploring, Sally discovers a secret basement. In that secret basement, is a latched fireplace. She takes an interest in the fireplace when she hears voices talking to her, asking her to free them. She unlocks the fireplace, to release creatures that feed on children teeth. The creatures are now free and after her, wanting to claim her as one of their own.
Review: I really, really liked this movie. I wasn't expecting much, but I was surprised in certain aspects. But that doesn't mean the movie didn't have its flaws. The plot is very interesting, but there are certain plot holes that I was curious about. For example, we're never really told the history behind the creatures and why they reside in the house. It's just something like that that has me curious. The plot does have it's cliches (the parent who doesn't believe their child) and there are predictable parts, but almost every horror film I've seen that's been released in the last ten years is predictable in one way or another.
The film's acting is pretty decent. Bailee Madison is very good as Sally. She's carrying the film on her shoulders and for being eleven, she's pretty convincing. Whenever she's scared, you feel her fear. Or when she's angry, you feel her anger. I like Guy Pearce as an actor, but he's pretty dull in this, but in his defense, he's not given much to go on, except the cliche parent who doesn't believe their kid. Katie Holmes is also surprisingly good as Kim. I'll also make a point of mentioning Jack Thompson, who plays Harris, is also very good.
The setting and design of this film is extremely well done. For a film that's title is Don't Be Afraid of the Dark, they use a lot of shots of dark and dark lighting. It can be difficult to see in certain shots, but I like that the director is trying to use as much dark setting as possible. The house is also very well done and has a very creepy atmosphere.
The creatures are creepy looking, but I think they should have waited to show the audience the creatures what they look like until later on in the film. I think they showed them way too soon and it killed a little bit of the suspense. They are creepy looking, but they're so small it looks like you could step on one and kill it. So there's another fault.
Overall, despite its certain flaws, I found this movie to be creepy, suspenseful at certain plots and just entertaining.
Rating: 3.5/5
Flightplan (2005)
Plot: Kyle Pratt (Jodie Foster) is an engineer who is flying from Germany to the United States with her six-year-old daughter, Julia, to bury her husband, who has recently passed away. During the flight, Julia goes missing. But when Kyle asks passengers if they've seen Julia, nobody remembers and many say she wasn't even on the plane.
Review: I liked this movie. Jodie Foster is great as usual. She's the main standout for me. The other supporting characters are good, but a greater majority if them are so unsympathetic that I don't really care for them. There are some, but not many. It's a good thriller with a tight plot, some good twists and good performances. This isn't the kind of thriller that you're going to want to watch over and over again, but it's still one of the better thrillers I've seen in a while.
Rating: 3/5
Review: I liked this movie. Jodie Foster is great as usual. She's the main standout for me. The other supporting characters are good, but a greater majority if them are so unsympathetic that I don't really care for them. There are some, but not many. It's a good thriller with a tight plot, some good twists and good performances. This isn't the kind of thriller that you're going to want to watch over and over again, but it's still one of the better thrillers I've seen in a while.
Rating: 3/5
Precious (2009)
Hey everyone,
I'm going to review one of what I consider to be one of the most difficult films I've had to watch, which is Precious.
Plot: Precious (Gabourey Sidibe) is 16-years-old, illiterate, overweight and pregnant with her second child. She's repeatedly raped by her father, who fathered both of her children and constantly physically, verbally, emotionally and mentally abused by her mother, Mary (Mo'Nique). Precious is kicked out of school because of her second pregnancy. Her principal arranges her to attend an alternative school. Precious is inspired by the teacher, Blu Rain (Paula Patton) to read. She regularly visits a social worker, Miss Weiss (Mariah Carey), who learns of the abuse. Precious has her second child, a son, and she continues to achieve academically and grow and evolve despite her abusive home.
Review: Firstly, let's start with the plot. The story is very graphic, heavy and sad. It's incredibly heartbreaking of what's happening to Precious and it's sad to think that that happens to people. The story itself is not for everyone and what I greatly appreciate about the plot is that it does make you think about not judging others without knowing their circumstances.
Now for the acting. The acting is top notch. Gabourey Sidibe is simply amazing in her on-screen debut. I've seen interviews with Sidibe. She's funny, confident and has a sass about her. The complete opposite of Precious. Her capability of portraying Precious' growth and the heavy material that's presented with her is amazing to see. Mo'Nique is also amazing as Precious' abusive mother. Mo'Nique is a comedienne, so as an audience, the greater majority of us don't expect this kind of performance from her. She was disturbingly convincing as an abusive, possibly mentally ill woman. She was completely deserving of her Oscar. Paula Patton was also great as Precious' teacher. Her drive and determination to not only help Precious, but her entire class. Mariah Carey was also surprisingly great as the social worker assigned to the case. I will admit that I'm disappointed Mariah Carey and Paula Patton didn't get more recognition at some of the bigger awards, like the Golden Globes and/or the Oscars.
Lee Daniels and Geoffrey S. Fletcher, the director and screenwriter respectively, didn't waver at all. They gave the audience the entire, heavy weight that is Precious' abusive home life and it's very difficult to watch, but I have an amount of respect for them being honest with the material.
This is probably one of the more difficult movies to watch, but it's an important one which shows us that you cannot judge others because you don't always know what's going on behind closed doors.
Rating: 4.5/5
I'm going to review one of what I consider to be one of the most difficult films I've had to watch, which is Precious.
Plot: Precious (Gabourey Sidibe) is 16-years-old, illiterate, overweight and pregnant with her second child. She's repeatedly raped by her father, who fathered both of her children and constantly physically, verbally, emotionally and mentally abused by her mother, Mary (Mo'Nique). Precious is kicked out of school because of her second pregnancy. Her principal arranges her to attend an alternative school. Precious is inspired by the teacher, Blu Rain (Paula Patton) to read. She regularly visits a social worker, Miss Weiss (Mariah Carey), who learns of the abuse. Precious has her second child, a son, and she continues to achieve academically and grow and evolve despite her abusive home.
Review: Firstly, let's start with the plot. The story is very graphic, heavy and sad. It's incredibly heartbreaking of what's happening to Precious and it's sad to think that that happens to people. The story itself is not for everyone and what I greatly appreciate about the plot is that it does make you think about not judging others without knowing their circumstances.
Now for the acting. The acting is top notch. Gabourey Sidibe is simply amazing in her on-screen debut. I've seen interviews with Sidibe. She's funny, confident and has a sass about her. The complete opposite of Precious. Her capability of portraying Precious' growth and the heavy material that's presented with her is amazing to see. Mo'Nique is also amazing as Precious' abusive mother. Mo'Nique is a comedienne, so as an audience, the greater majority of us don't expect this kind of performance from her. She was disturbingly convincing as an abusive, possibly mentally ill woman. She was completely deserving of her Oscar. Paula Patton was also great as Precious' teacher. Her drive and determination to not only help Precious, but her entire class. Mariah Carey was also surprisingly great as the social worker assigned to the case. I will admit that I'm disappointed Mariah Carey and Paula Patton didn't get more recognition at some of the bigger awards, like the Golden Globes and/or the Oscars.
Lee Daniels and Geoffrey S. Fletcher, the director and screenwriter respectively, didn't waver at all. They gave the audience the entire, heavy weight that is Precious' abusive home life and it's very difficult to watch, but I have an amount of respect for them being honest with the material.
This is probably one of the more difficult movies to watch, but it's an important one which shows us that you cannot judge others because you don't always know what's going on behind closed doors.
Rating: 4.5/5
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
Hey everyone,
I'm going to start off today by writing a review on the original A Nightmare on Elm Street, released in 1984, and was written and directed by Wes Craven, known for his horror films.
Plot: Nancy and her friends are terrorized in their dreams by a burned figure, now known throughout the world as Freddy Krueger. As Freddy kills Nancy's friends one by one in their dreams, Nancy must figure out a way to stop him once and for all.
Review: The original A Nightmare on Elm Street is one of my favorite horror films. I really enjoy it. I found the plot to be very entertaining and it can be a little hard to follow, especially when they're going off into the dream world. It's one of those horror movies that you have to pay attention in order to follow it clearly.
As far as acting it's pretty good. Heather Langenkamp is good as Nancy, our heroine. The supporting cast is pretty decent. But the real standout in the film is Robert Englund as Freddy Krueger. Englund is so terrifying and will be remembered for decades to come as one of the best horror movie villains in my opinion.
This film was released in 1984 and had a budget of approximately 1.8 million dollars, so the special effects that we see are pretty cheesy to be straightforward. For example, there's a scene where a character is chocked with a blanket I believe and you can see the wire in the sheet. But it's expected considering the budget.
Overall, I really enjoy this movie. It's scary, bloody, suspenseful and entertaining. I always say that horror movies from the 1970s and 1980s were probably the time period where the greater ones were made and this is one of them to check out.
Rating: 4/5
I'm going to start off today by writing a review on the original A Nightmare on Elm Street, released in 1984, and was written and directed by Wes Craven, known for his horror films.
Plot: Nancy and her friends are terrorized in their dreams by a burned figure, now known throughout the world as Freddy Krueger. As Freddy kills Nancy's friends one by one in their dreams, Nancy must figure out a way to stop him once and for all.
Review: The original A Nightmare on Elm Street is one of my favorite horror films. I really enjoy it. I found the plot to be very entertaining and it can be a little hard to follow, especially when they're going off into the dream world. It's one of those horror movies that you have to pay attention in order to follow it clearly.
As far as acting it's pretty good. Heather Langenkamp is good as Nancy, our heroine. The supporting cast is pretty decent. But the real standout in the film is Robert Englund as Freddy Krueger. Englund is so terrifying and will be remembered for decades to come as one of the best horror movie villains in my opinion.
This film was released in 1984 and had a budget of approximately 1.8 million dollars, so the special effects that we see are pretty cheesy to be straightforward. For example, there's a scene where a character is chocked with a blanket I believe and you can see the wire in the sheet. But it's expected considering the budget.
Overall, I really enjoy this movie. It's scary, bloody, suspenseful and entertaining. I always say that horror movies from the 1970s and 1980s were probably the time period where the greater ones were made and this is one of them to check out.
Rating: 4/5
Hide and Seek (2005)
Hey everyone,
These are my thoughts on Hide and Seek, a psychological thriller that was released in 2005. I've always liked this film and think that it's very well done for what it is for the most part.
Plot: After his wife's suicide, Dr. David Callaway (Robert De Niro) decides to take his daughter, Emily (Dakota Fanning) to upstate New York to help her recover from the trauma of her mother's death. There, Emily makes an imaginary friend named Charlie, who might not be as imaginary as David suspects.
Review: I'm going to start off with the plot. I actually really liked the plot. It's not like we haven't seen this before, where a kid has an imaginary friend that's not entirely imaginary. But what I liked it's that the protagonist is in the field of psychology and his daughter is traumatized after her mother's death, which makes you wonder if the trauma is causing this or it's supernatural. I will say that the last third act of the movie was a little bit predictable, even though who Charlie is did surprise me when I first saw it, but there are hints that watchers will catch.
The acting in the film is pretty good. Robert De Niro is fantastic as a concerned father and especially towards the ending. Dakota Fanning is also great in this. This has a different feel compared to her earlier films. The supporting cast was also pretty good. There aren't that many characters, so it's not difficult to really follow.
Overall, I think that this is a very entertaining movie. The first hour or so is very creepy and scary and it does loose a bit of it's edge to the ending, but I still enjoyed it. I especially enjoyed the four alternate endings on the DVD.
Rating: 3.5/5
These are my thoughts on Hide and Seek, a psychological thriller that was released in 2005. I've always liked this film and think that it's very well done for what it is for the most part.
Plot: After his wife's suicide, Dr. David Callaway (Robert De Niro) decides to take his daughter, Emily (Dakota Fanning) to upstate New York to help her recover from the trauma of her mother's death. There, Emily makes an imaginary friend named Charlie, who might not be as imaginary as David suspects.
Review: I'm going to start off with the plot. I actually really liked the plot. It's not like we haven't seen this before, where a kid has an imaginary friend that's not entirely imaginary. But what I liked it's that the protagonist is in the field of psychology and his daughter is traumatized after her mother's death, which makes you wonder if the trauma is causing this or it's supernatural. I will say that the last third act of the movie was a little bit predictable, even though who Charlie is did surprise me when I first saw it, but there are hints that watchers will catch.
The acting in the film is pretty good. Robert De Niro is fantastic as a concerned father and especially towards the ending. Dakota Fanning is also great in this. This has a different feel compared to her earlier films. The supporting cast was also pretty good. There aren't that many characters, so it's not difficult to really follow.
Overall, I think that this is a very entertaining movie. The first hour or so is very creepy and scary and it does loose a bit of it's edge to the ending, but I still enjoyed it. I especially enjoyed the four alternate endings on the DVD.
Rating: 3.5/5
My Neighbor Totoro (1988)
Hey everyone,
I posted a review of Spirited Away earlier today and decided to review another Miyazaki film, the family-friendly My Neighbor Totoro.
Plot: Satuski and her sister Mei are moving with their father are moving to the an old rural home in Japan, while their mother recovers in the hospital from an unnamed illness. While exploring their home, the sisters encounter soot sprites. Another day, while playing outside, Mei sees two rabbit-like creatures and follows them into a patch, leading to the hollow of a large tree. There, she encounters a larger version of the spirits, who identifies himself as Totoro (this is how Mi interprets it). The sisters have there own adventures with Totoro and deal with family issues.
Review: This is a very kiddie movie and is aimed to a specific age demographic, but I think that families will enjoy watching this together. The plot is very simple and although is very kid friendly, does have it's dramatic moments that some younger kids might not like.
The animation is simply flawless. I can't emphasize the genius that Hayao Miyazaki is. He is dubbed the Walt Disney of Japan and it's been said that he doesn't like the title. He is the Disney of Japan and I have no doubt that he will be forever known as one of the best animators of all time.
This is another great masterpiece by Hayao Miyazaki. Some might not like this as much because it is very kiddie and simple, but it's simplicity makes it that much greater to watch.
Rating: 4.5/5
I posted a review of Spirited Away earlier today and decided to review another Miyazaki film, the family-friendly My Neighbor Totoro.
Plot: Satuski and her sister Mei are moving with their father are moving to the an old rural home in Japan, while their mother recovers in the hospital from an unnamed illness. While exploring their home, the sisters encounter soot sprites. Another day, while playing outside, Mei sees two rabbit-like creatures and follows them into a patch, leading to the hollow of a large tree. There, she encounters a larger version of the spirits, who identifies himself as Totoro (this is how Mi interprets it). The sisters have there own adventures with Totoro and deal with family issues.
Review: This is a very kiddie movie and is aimed to a specific age demographic, but I think that families will enjoy watching this together. The plot is very simple and although is very kid friendly, does have it's dramatic moments that some younger kids might not like.
The animation is simply flawless. I can't emphasize the genius that Hayao Miyazaki is. He is dubbed the Walt Disney of Japan and it's been said that he doesn't like the title. He is the Disney of Japan and I have no doubt that he will be forever known as one of the best animators of all time.
This is another great masterpiece by Hayao Miyazaki. Some might not like this as much because it is very kiddie and simple, but it's simplicity makes it that much greater to watch.
Rating: 4.5/5
Thursday 17 November 2011
Spirited Away (2001)
Hey everyone,
I haven't posted in a while. Life got in the way. For this review, I decided to review an animated film and I decided to pick one that's always been in my top five of best animated films I've ever seen, one of which is Spirited Away.
Plot: Chihiro is a 10-year-old girl who is moving to a new home. She doesn't want to. While driving to her new home with her family, they get lost. They stumble onto a mysterious town and Chihiro's help themselves to food. She goes to a bridge, where she encounters a boy telling her to leave. She goes to find her parents, only to see they've transformed into pigs. The boy, Haku, returns and helps her. He tells her she'll have to get a job in order to survive in this world. She goes to Yubaba, a witch who runs a bathhouse for spirits. There, she gets a job. As she works and tries to find a way to help her parents, she grows.
Review: I love, love, love this movie. I just love it. Firstly, the story is fun and unique. This could be a story that any child could think up of yet it works beautifully on screen.
I love the range of characters that we have. We have a protagonist who is initially a brat, which is to sometimes be expected from 10-year-old kids. We also have the numerous spirits in the world. We have a stink spirit who turns out to be a river god, we have a big baby, identical twin witches etc.
I also like the look in the world. There's the influence of Japanese culture and it's a beautiful setting.
The animation is flawless. Hayao Miyazaki is an animation genius. He contributes so much to his films. He directs, writes, draws for his films and has even written songs. The dedication that Miyazaki has for his work shows in this masterpiece. Hayao Miyazaki has released several amazing and breathtaking films but this will forever be remembered as his masterpiece.
Rating: 5/5
I haven't posted in a while. Life got in the way. For this review, I decided to review an animated film and I decided to pick one that's always been in my top five of best animated films I've ever seen, one of which is Spirited Away.
Plot: Chihiro is a 10-year-old girl who is moving to a new home. She doesn't want to. While driving to her new home with her family, they get lost. They stumble onto a mysterious town and Chihiro's help themselves to food. She goes to a bridge, where she encounters a boy telling her to leave. She goes to find her parents, only to see they've transformed into pigs. The boy, Haku, returns and helps her. He tells her she'll have to get a job in order to survive in this world. She goes to Yubaba, a witch who runs a bathhouse for spirits. There, she gets a job. As she works and tries to find a way to help her parents, she grows.
Review: I love, love, love this movie. I just love it. Firstly, the story is fun and unique. This could be a story that any child could think up of yet it works beautifully on screen.
I love the range of characters that we have. We have a protagonist who is initially a brat, which is to sometimes be expected from 10-year-old kids. We also have the numerous spirits in the world. We have a stink spirit who turns out to be a river god, we have a big baby, identical twin witches etc.
I also like the look in the world. There's the influence of Japanese culture and it's a beautiful setting.
The animation is flawless. Hayao Miyazaki is an animation genius. He contributes so much to his films. He directs, writes, draws for his films and has even written songs. The dedication that Miyazaki has for his work shows in this masterpiece. Hayao Miyazaki has released several amazing and breathtaking films but this will forever be remembered as his masterpiece.
Rating: 5/5
Friday 4 November 2011
Juno (2007)
Hey everyone,
I'm going to write a review for one of my favourite movies. Released in 2007, I've loved Juno since. It's a hilarious and touching movie that you'll either love or hate. And I for one, love it.
Plot: Juno (Ellen Page) is a 16-year-old girl who becomes pregnant after a one-night stand with her best friend, Paulie (Michael Cera). The smart-mouthed teen decides to give her baby up for adoption after bailing on an abortion. She decides to give her baby to the seemingly perfect couple Mark (Jason Bateman) and Vanessa (Jennifer Garner). But as the months go by, Juno finds herself in the world of adults, which despite being mature beyond her years, isn't ready to face.
Review: Now for the dialogue. The film's dialogue is very different and distinct. Oscar-winner Diablo Cody certainly has a voice and it's shown in this. Some of the dialogue is a little over the top, but it's nonetheless funny and at many points touching.
Now I'm going to touch on the acting. Ellen Page is absolutely brilliant as Juno. She's able to portray Juno's maturity and her inner fears of her situation perfectly. Michael Cera is also very good as Paulie. J.K. Simmons and Allison Janey are also great as Juno's supportive parents. Jason Bateman is also great as a man who wants more out of his life and Jennifer Garner is also fantastic as a woman who has long wanted a child.
This is Jason Reitman's second film and he received his second Oscar nominated for Best Director. That speaks for itself. I saw this movie before the hype it received from audiences and award shows.
I'm going to write a little about the music. Most of the music comes from Kimya Dawson and the Moldy Peaches, an indie band that Ellen Page suggested to Jason Reitman. I've heard that most people find the music very unusual and don't like it. Personally, I think the music fits in very well. Kimya Dawson has an innocent, childlike voice and tone when she's singing and I think that it applies well to the story itself and Juno's situation.
I love that the film has a more humanist approach to teen pregnancy, where we see Juno receive support from her parents and Paulie and that they don't turn against her. Typically when teen pregnancy is portrayed on television and film, you get the one supportive parent, the angry parent and the absentee baby daddy. In this case, you have everyone supporting Juno and wanting what's best for her and the baby. Another aspect of the film I liked is Juno's no nonsense approach to the adoption. She knows what she wants and does it. The ending very much applies to Juno's thinking. Although some may disagree, I prefer the film to have gone that way. Why? Because it's realistic. The option of adoption in teen pregnancy is something I think that writers don't generally explore and isn't shown that much, even though it happens. So I like that Diablo Cody attempted and successfully avoided most cliches with teen pregnancy.
Now I'm going to touch on the acting. Ellen Page is absolutely brilliant as Juno. She's able to portray Juno's maturity and her inner fears of her situation perfectly. Michael Cera is also very good as Paulie. J.K. Simmons and Allison Janey are also great as Juno's supportive parents. Jason Bateman is also great as a man who wants more out of his life and Jennifer Garner is also fantastic as a woman who has long wanted a child.
This is Jason Reitman's second film and he received his second Oscar nominated for Best Director. That speaks for itself. I saw this movie before the hype it received from audiences and award shows.
I'm going to write a little about the music. Most of the music comes from Kimya Dawson and the Moldy Peaches, an indie band that Ellen Page suggested to Jason Reitman. I've heard that most people find the music very unusual and don't like it. Personally, I think the music fits in very well. Kimya Dawson has an innocent, childlike voice and tone when she's singing and I think that it applies well to the story itself and Juno's situation.
I love that the film has a more humanist approach to teen pregnancy, where we see Juno receive support from her parents and Paulie and that they don't turn against her. Typically when teen pregnancy is portrayed on television and film, you get the one supportive parent, the angry parent and the absentee baby daddy. In this case, you have everyone supporting Juno and wanting what's best for her and the baby. Another aspect of the film I liked is Juno's no nonsense approach to the adoption. She knows what she wants and does it. The ending very much applies to Juno's thinking. Although some may disagree, I prefer the film to have gone that way. Why? Because it's realistic. The option of adoption in teen pregnancy is something I think that writers don't generally explore and isn't shown that much, even though it happens. So I like that Diablo Cody attempted and successfully avoided most cliches with teen pregnancy.
Now this is a movie you'll either love or hate. Some might find the dialogue and music annoying, but for me, it's what makes the film more original and fun.
I think Juno is a highly entertaining, funny and touching film that will remain in my top five of favorite films.
I think Juno is a highly entertaining, funny and touching film that will remain in my top five of favorite films.
Rating: 5/5
Thursday 3 November 2011
The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Hey everyone,
This is my first official review on this blog. I'm excited to share my thoughts with you. I was conflicted to which film I would review first but I decided to review the last movie that I saw, which is The Silence of the Lambs.
Plot: The Silence of the Lambs, based on the best-selling novel, is the story of Clarice Starling (played by Jodie Foster), an FBI trainee, who is asked to question Hannibal Lecter (played by Anthony Hopkins), a cannibalistic serial killer, in hopes to catch another serial killer known as Buffalo Bill. The FBI agent becomes involved in a game of cat and mouse as Hannibal Lecter's obsession with Clarice grows and the twists continue to come.
Review: I first watched this film about four years ago, I had heard good things about it but was still reluctant when I knew of the plot and subject matter. I was completely taken aback. The film is very suspenseful and thrilling.
The acting is top notch. Jodie Foster, who won her second Academy Award for this film, is fantastic as Clarice Starling. She isn't a weak character, stands strong and knows what she wants. Anthony Hopkins is brilliant as Hannibal Lecter. He's on the film for a limited amount of time, but every time he's on-screen, he shines. He portrays Hannibal's insanity to perfection and it's scary to see. Hopkins won an Oscar for Best Actor and was only on-screen for sixteen minutes its been said. That speaks for itself. for Scott Glenn is great as Jack Crawford, fellow FBI. Ted Levin is also fantastic as Buffalo Bill. Just like Hopkins, he's able to portray his character's own insanity to perfection.
The plot is very intriguing and suspenseful. There's so much insanity to the villains in this movie that it could make you wonder how the brain works and how people who appeared to be functioning well could become what they've become. After all, Lecter was a psychiatrist before he started killing people.
I also loved the film's ending. I honestly expected a cliche ending, but it was far from it and I'm pleased that the film didn't necessarily have a complete happy ending.
This is one film that you need to check out. A suspenseful, psychological and thrilling movie that will be enjoyed by, I think, the majority of moviegoers.
Rating: 5/5
This is my first official review on this blog. I'm excited to share my thoughts with you. I was conflicted to which film I would review first but I decided to review the last movie that I saw, which is The Silence of the Lambs.
Plot: The Silence of the Lambs, based on the best-selling novel, is the story of Clarice Starling (played by Jodie Foster), an FBI trainee, who is asked to question Hannibal Lecter (played by Anthony Hopkins), a cannibalistic serial killer, in hopes to catch another serial killer known as Buffalo Bill. The FBI agent becomes involved in a game of cat and mouse as Hannibal Lecter's obsession with Clarice grows and the twists continue to come.
Review: I first watched this film about four years ago, I had heard good things about it but was still reluctant when I knew of the plot and subject matter. I was completely taken aback. The film is very suspenseful and thrilling.
The acting is top notch. Jodie Foster, who won her second Academy Award for this film, is fantastic as Clarice Starling. She isn't a weak character, stands strong and knows what she wants. Anthony Hopkins is brilliant as Hannibal Lecter. He's on the film for a limited amount of time, but every time he's on-screen, he shines. He portrays Hannibal's insanity to perfection and it's scary to see. Hopkins won an Oscar for Best Actor and was only on-screen for sixteen minutes its been said. That speaks for itself. for Scott Glenn is great as Jack Crawford, fellow FBI. Ted Levin is also fantastic as Buffalo Bill. Just like Hopkins, he's able to portray his character's own insanity to perfection.
The plot is very intriguing and suspenseful. There's so much insanity to the villains in this movie that it could make you wonder how the brain works and how people who appeared to be functioning well could become what they've become. After all, Lecter was a psychiatrist before he started killing people.
I also loved the film's ending. I honestly expected a cliche ending, but it was far from it and I'm pleased that the film didn't necessarily have a complete happy ending.
This is one film that you need to check out. A suspenseful, psychological and thrilling movie that will be enjoyed by, I think, the majority of moviegoers.
Rating: 5/5
Welcome!
Welcome to my blog everyone! My name is Guy. This is my first official blog post. The main focus on the blog is going to be reviews. Right now, I'm going to focus on reviewing movies. When I'm reviewing films, I'll be reviewing films ranging from old to current and various genres. I'll admit that some reviews might be lazy because I believe there are some films that we can emphasize on more compared to others. I might also review books I've read and television shows. If I'm going to review a television series, I'm probably going to blog about a season and maybe just an episode that caught by attention, but right now I'm going to focus on film. When I review, I'll give a general plot of what I'm reviewing, my thoughts and my rating, which will be out of five stars. I hope that you enjoy my reviews!
- Guy
- Guy
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